The Maiden and the Drowning Boy

Chapter 6 - Here With Me

The late morning sun was shining warm and bright, and the gravel courtyard outside the Dragonpit felt as if it was baking as Abby followed Aegon out of the carriage, taking his offered hand to help her down before he quickly dropped it. She fingered the golden buttons on the leather riding jacket the Queen had given her, the pad of her thumb dragging along the imprint of the high tower embossed on each one. The lining of the frock was a deep, verdant brocade, similar to the elegant pattern the Queen often wore at feasts and at court. Soft fleece lined the cuffs and the neck to keep the chill of the air at bay. It was an awkward fit, but not uncomfortable given that it was not made for her.

Helaena had brought up her lack of actual riding gear that was meant for her, and not modified hand me downs. "She'll be the wife of a dragonrider and a princess. Abby should dress the part," Helaena had said idly and the truth in the statement had rung clear in the room. The Queen had been reluctant to speak about why she had such a garment. The leathers had been neatly folded and wrapped in protective cloth at the bottom of a trunk and the melancholy look in her brown eyes had kept Abby from inquiring further as she accepted the gift.

The carriage left, Sers Arryk and Lorent remaining behind on their horses, who whickered and pawed uncomfortably on the ground when the dragon emerged from the pit.

Sunfyre was a breathtaking sight.

All dragons were, truthfully. Even growing up among the clutch, even having ridden them, they still astounded her. Sunfyre arched his neck, calling out a warbling greeting and shaking out his wings. She giggled as the beast almost trotted in the way Theraxis did when she called her cat sweet baby. Sunfyre's purrs and chortles of glee were only matched by Aegon's sullen quiet melting away as he rushed to close the distance with a loud whoop of greeting.

The dragon's head bent down to knock into his rider and Aegon's arms embraced his snout, rare Valyrian words flowing from him. Abby kept her distance until it was safe to come closer, her hands having finished buttoning up her coat and now folded in front of her. A surge of affection coursed through her at the bright sound of Aegon's laughter, and when he looked at her over his shoulder, arm out to beckon her closer, she did not hesitate.

"Rytsas, Sunfyre," Abby sang out in greeting and Aegon guided her hand to Sunfyre's warm snout. It had been months since she'd been there, and her already awkward Valryian felt even more hesitant. "Olvie gevie iksā," she said in crooning tones pulled sort of purring sound from Sunfyre that sent her giggling. She gently scratched at his scales the way Aegon showed her, right around the curve of his nostril. "I've missed you very much," she said, and pressed a kiss against his nose, the scent of dragon musk filling her senses and the heat of him almost too much. "Thank you for letting me ride you today." Aegon made a sound beside her, and she scoffed. "He doesn't have to let me ride him, so of course I should thank him."

"Do you thank everything that you ride?" he asked, innocence lacing his tone, and Abby glanced over at him in confusion.

"You mean like the horses? Of course I do! It's called being polite," she said primly. "You could stand to use your manners more." Aegon's lilac eyes flashed with amusement, mouth half curled up as if he was enjoying a joke she wasn't in on. Abby pressed her lips together as the meaning dawned on her, which turned Aegon's half curl into an impish grin. "You are utterly ridiculous."

He tilted his head towards her and his hands moved closer to hers along Sunfyre's snout, scratching and stroking. "I'm not the one calling Sunfyre a good and beautiful boy and speaking to him like a kitling."

Abby rolled her eyes, unable to help the smile on her face. "But he is a good boy. And don't think that just because I don't speak much Valyrian that I don't know that you are telling him the same thing. Jealous?" She cocked her head and reached up to stroke her fingers along Aegon's jaw with a laugh. "Aegon, you're such a good and beautiful boy. Thank you for taking me riding." Not that he had given her much choice in the matter, but she didn't really mind that much.