| | MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR: | |
I know you guys have seen HBO's House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 4: "The Red Dragon and the Gold" which depicted the show's version of the Battle of Rook's Rest. But how does it compare to mine?
I'll let you be the judge.
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King's Landing ― Dragonpit...
Nettles had silently gathered all her belongings in her bag, preparing for the arduous journey ahead of her to unknown lands. She had loved Prince Viserys with all her heart, and his death had left a void in her soul that would never be filled. With her lover dead, the dragonseed felt she no longer belonged anywhere among the pureblooded Targaryen dragonlords. Nettles had noticed the disapproving glances from the older, traditional lords of the royal court: a lowborn commoner, a bastard, possessing a wild dragon. She had to seek refuge elsewhere, where she could live freely without fear of persecution or betrayal. Otherwise, how much time would pass before one of them saw her as a danger and chose to end her life?
"Leaving so soon, are we?"
Nettles glanced over to find Daemon Targaryen, the Rogue Prince, leaning against one of the stone columns by the entrance. She knew he was a dangerous man with a reputation for ruthlessness and cunning, one of the best swordsmen of House Targaryen's generation, and an experienced warrior. Nettles knew that she had to tread carefully, for one wrong move could mean the end of her. She had expected Daemon to try to arrest her at first, presumably by order of Aeonar the Deceiver. Still, upon noticing his gaze, she detected no ill will in the older Targaryen prince. Despite being 52, the creases on Daemon's face and under his eyes made him appear older than he looked. Lately, the prince had a camaraderie with this brown-skinned girl, admiring her fearlessness and disregarding protocol when addressing the other highborn lords. His dragon, Caraxes, was also nearby. It would be prudent for a wise lord to eliminate one while the other was away, lest the prince unleash his wrath and burn almost everything in sight. "I can't stay here any longer," she admitted.
"Because of what some cunt said or done? Or is there more than you're not willing to tell me?" Daemon asked.
Nettles didn't answer.
"It was Viserys, wasn't it?"
Nettles flinched, averting her eyes. Seeing her abrupt shift in her posture, Daemon uncrossed his arms and approached her. His intuition had been spot on. Nettles was unmistakably still mourning Viserys's death. She had been putting on a brave face, trying to appear strong and unaffected by the loss of her lover, but Daemon could see through her facade. He knew she was struggling to accept that Viserys was gone and that she was feeling lost and alone without him.
« I don't hate you because you're a bastard; I'm annoyed because you keep asking me so many ridiculous questions like that over and over again! »
"He was named after my brother, the King Viserys. But he and Aegon were always mischievous when they were children, always making jokes. Gave the gold cloaks a run for their coin when they eventually gave chase, but they somehow seldom caught them. But I guess when enough time passes, at least Viserys eventually learned to grow out of it." Daemon glanced at her. "After Driftmark, he took his training more seriously. He even took up learning medicine and poison. Old Otto even tried to convince my nephew to send Viserys to the Citadel in Oldtown for training under the archmaesters, but Aeonar refused. He needed every heir he could sire."
YOU ARE READING
Fire and Blood
FanfictionPrince, dragonrider, spymaster, heir to the Iron Throne... Aeonar Targaryen had it all growing up and strived to prove his worth. But when the people he cared deeply about betray him, he strikes out on his own to leave his mark on the world - his ac...
