The Dragon in the North

Awake

High Valyrian is in italics

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Just before Vhagar's talons could tear Daenys apart, they both heard the roar of another dragon. This made Vhagar recoil and the other dragon took advantage of this moment. The other dragon closed its talons around Daenys and flew away. Vhagar and Aemond were out of sight when the dragon opened its talons and Daenys landed on Vermithor's back. She now had the chance to see who had come to her aid. 'Helaena, what are you doing here?' 'Hello, Dany. I couldn't let Aemond do anything to you. He wasn't talking about anything else. It's terrible. I didn't want to stay there any more. I want to be free. How is Aegon?' 'He's fine. Let's get out of here.' Vermithor flew towards Dorne and Dreamfyre followed him. Daenys turned round several times to see if Aemond was following them.

Vermithor and Dreamfyre landed outside Sunspear. Aegon, who was looking after the dragons, ran up to Daenys and took her in his arms. 'There you are again. Is everything all right?' 'Your brother found me, but I'm still alive. You can thank Helaena for that.' At that moment, Aegon realised that Helaena was standing next to his beloved. 'Sister, it's so good to see you. I hope he treated you well.' 'It's good to see you too, Aegon. I've missed you and our conversations. Aemond is a cruel man and husband. I just wanted to get away from there. I was able to pick up a few things before I flew off with Dreamfyre.' 'Let's talk about it tomorrow. I'm very tired.' Aegon looked sympathetically at Dany.

The three of them walked to Sunspear together. After a chat with Prince Qoren, he showed Helaena to her room. Aegon and Daenys also walked to their room and went to bed. Daenys fell asleep relatively quickly. Even though her thoughts were on a rollercoaster, the young princess was able to sleep. She woke up early the next morning and went to the room where Rhaenys was lying. 'I need you, grandmother.' Silent tears ran down Daenys' cheeks. What was she supposed to do?

'I'll always be by your side.' Surprised and wide-eyed, Daenys looked up and gazed into Rhaenys' eyes. 'You're awake. How are you?' 'I'm fine so far. Aegon told me that you came to our rescue with Vermithor and were able to seriously injure Vhagar. I'm afraid I can't remember that exactly.' Daenys took her grandmother in her arms and was delighted that she was feeling better and had woken up.

'I see that you now know that Rhaenys has woken up again. She wanted to tell you herself and asked me to keep quiet.' Daenys got up from her chair and ran to Aegon and kissed him passionately. 'I'm so glad I could save you both.' A few minutes later, Helaena also came walking into the room. The three of them sat down on chairs and Helaena began to tell them what she had overheard. 'That doesn't sound good.' 'I have to agree with you, Daenys. Aegon, you can't show your face in Westeros any time soon. Even if you are the king, as soon as your brother discovers you, he will kill you.' 'I realise that Rhaenys. But I must be able to do something. How can I help?' Daenys thought about it and then an idea came to her. 'You can't go to Westeros, but who said you couldn't go to Essos? My idea would be for you, Aegon and Helaena, to fly to Essos with Seasmoke and Dreamfyre and conquer it. Grandmother, you will stay here in Sunspear and when you are recovered, you will command the Dornish forces together with Prince Qoren. I will make my way back to Dragonstone to try and set my mother on the right path.' Rhaenys, Helaena and Aegon looked at each other briefly and Rhaenys turned her gaze back to her granddaughter and spoke, 'I'm so proud of you and I think I can speak for the three of us and say we're in.' Aegon and Helaena nodded in agreement.

Daenys hoped fervently that she could get her mother off this path and back on the right one. She didn't want any more innocent people to die. Her mother had never wanted to be such a queen. She would have to try.