OF BASTARDS & DRAGONS || Aenar Targaryen [1]

85 • THE QUEEN WHO NEVER WAS

There was something strangely comforting about the underbelly of Dragonstone that was at odds with its gloomy appearance. Besides a few flickering torches, King Aenar and the dragon keepers were submerged in relative darkness, surrounded by high walls of jagged rock and a steep drop into the water far below.

Such a place should have left someone feeling nothing but dread, along with an aching desire to be free of its confines. Yet there were times when this felt more like a home for Aenar than any other spot at Dragonstone.

What helped those calm feelings was the presence of Roach in all his glory, purring affectionately at his rider as the keepers prepared him for flight.

Most of them had already backed away, knowing how unwise it was to get in between the creature and its bonded human. As his hand grazed against Roach's black scales, Aenar was consumed by that familiar sense of warmth.

There was an affinity there, beyond their usual shared connection. The dragon wanted to leave just as much as Aenar wanted to, accounting for the excitement Roach was now displaying.

"It would seem that I owe you a great debt, Your Grace.... thanks to your spy at Kingslanding." a soft voice spoke behind him.

Aenar had been wary of the prospect that someone from his council would arrive before he could leave, arguing against his plans. He'd expected it to be Cersei, they've been having issues in their marriage, because he still refuses to touch her. Not that he didn't find her desirable, he just didn't like the woman one bit.

Or rather than the more vociferous of his advisors, with the likes of Celtigar and Massey far too fearful of the beasts dwelling in these parts to ever venture underneath the rock.

For it to be Rhaenys, Aenar was only partly surprised, though the older woman's demeanour was lighter than that of someone carrying bad news.

"It is an ever growing list, of course," Rhaenys added. Even with Targaryen blood flowing through her veins, she might have been forgiven for being nervous around the other dragon.

There was never knowing how they would react to a perceived stranger, regardless of their lineage. But Rhaenys had no qualms in approaching Roach, even going as far as stroking his softly moving belly, though she didn't linger for long, as if she didn't want to push her luck. Or maybe she just had a different priority for meeting with the departing King.

Aenar wore a puzzled look. "I'm sure you're going to enlighten me…"

"Word has reached us from Rook's Rest. The castle has fallen."

"I wouldn't imagine that is a point for celebration." Aenar sighs.

It was something that still troubled Aenar. From a certain perspective, he'd sacrificed the life of Lord Staunton and his men by refusing to get involved.

Would the other lords start to fret that he'd do the same to them, that she didn't really value their lives in the grand scheme of things? For the time being, they seemed to have begrudgingly accepted that it was simply the cost of war, that there would be plenty more people who died before the war was won.

"Perhaps not. But personal accounts have surfaced claiming that Otto Hightower is now the Regent of Kings Landing, ruling in Aegon's stead." Rheanys informs.