Like Father, Like Son | House of the Dragon

Dragonstone

Aerion stood at the helm of the ship, looking over at the island ahead of them, there was a large volcanic mountain with a great fortress beneath it. He was amazed to finally be setting his eyes upon his family's castle and it was just as extraordinary as written in the books.

It was built by the Valyrians long before the doom fell upon them. Magic was said to be used in its foundation, and that the dragons of old were capable of liquefying and reshaping stone with dragonflame. He often wondered if there was a way to relearn such magic to help his own cause.

They docked at a small fishing village south of the castle. There were ten ships from the royal fleet that remained anchored on the deep-water ports, stationed to protect the gullet from any potential pirate attacks.

Dragonstone lacked the fertile land to grow crops, and instead relied on fishing and cattle to feed its small populace, the dragons were said to be active on the eastern and western sides of the dragonmont, and some even made their own within it, leaving the smallfolk to remain away unless they were itching to be roasted alive.

The cold and damp wind continued to blow against his skin as he set foot off the ship and down the wooden path of the village, he cocked his head to Rodrik who stood beside him, with his hand rested on the sword that hung off his hip.

"I have an unsettling feeling about this place, my prince." Rodrik said.

There was a darkness to Dragonstone that was unmatched by any other place within the known world, apart from the smoking sea itself, you could feel the magic pulling at you and wanting to keep you there, though Aerion felt like he had found something missing from his soul.

"I feel it as well, Rodrik, there is no need to worry yourself about anything, whatever it is will not harm us." Aerion smirked, though he noticed the frown his sworn shield gave.

They made the long walk from the docks to the inn and had many of the inhabitants looking to him as he passed, perhaps noticing the strains of platinum hair that hung from his hood, or his lilac eyes that burned with a constant fire behind them.

When they entered the desolate building, they found the nearest table and took a seat. Aerion pulled back his hood and immediately got the attention from the innkeeper, who came rushing towards them, knocking himself into a table on his way.

"You grace us with ya' presence, lord." the innkeeper kneeled to the ground, and Aerion made a small chuckle before cocking his head away.

"Stand up, man, and don't call him lord, this is your prince." Rodrik replied "Get us two ales and a bowl of oats, with goat's milk."

"Yes, lord.." the innkeeper stumbled as he got back to his feet "Sorry, m' prince." he bowed his head and disappeared behind the counter.

Aerion looked back at Rodrik and smirked, though his thoughts soon went back to thinking of the dragons that had made Dragonstone their home for years. He had read all about them in Runestone, there was a whole section of a book dedicated to what they looked like, how they behaved from previous riders or rumours spread from the inhabitants of the island.

He thought to go for the safer route of attempting to claim one that had already been ridden by someone previously, rather than putting himself in even more danger that he would be in if he tried to claim one of the wild beasts.

"What are you thinking about?" Rodrik asked.

"Dragons." he said plainly "Vermithor and Silverwing made their lairs within the Dragonmont shortly after the deaths of King Jahaerys and Queen Alysanne. They say it's because of the heat that the volcano emits."

"Is that right?" Rodrik replied, hardly interested in the subject.

The innkeeper returned with two mugs of ale and a bowl of oats mixed with goat's milk, and refused to make eye contact with either one of them, turning around and disappearing once again.