✦ New Faith ✦ Aegon Targaryen

○ fourty seven ○

◇

As soon as my feet touched solid ground, I groaned softly, feeling a flood of relief. Without waiting, I strode toward the familiar gates of Sweetport Sound, Aemond trailing behind, his presence as cold and looming as ever.

The guards posted at the entrance stood stiff, their faces blank with unfamiliarity, and I knew they likely wouldn’t recognize me in my new role. I squared my shoulders, projecting all the confidence I could muster.

"Hello," I began, my voice clear and steady. "I am Queen Tanda, wife to King Aegon, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms. I've come to visit my family."

Their eyes went wide as recognition dawned, and they quickly scrambled to open the gates, stumbling over their words.

"Y-yes, my queen! Of course."

With a nod, I walked past them, the familiar halls of my childhood filling me with a bittersweet nostalgia. Each stone, each corner, seemed to whisper memories of simpler days. I knew exactly where I’d find my parents; there was only one place they would be at this time of day — one of the small, quiet septs nestled within the castle walls. I quickened my pace, feeling Aemond’s footsteps steady and foreboding behind me.

Entering the sept, the familiar scent of incense hit me, the warm glow of candles casting a soft light over the room. My mother and father knelt in silent prayer, their figures slightly bowed, both wearing the calm, distant expressions they so often wore. I swallowed hard, feeling an unexpected tightness in my chest.

"Mother, Father," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

They turned slowly, eyes widening as they took in the sight of me. For a long, awkward moment, none of us moved. My father’s eyes softened, but he remained still, looking at me as though he were struggling to bridge a distance that felt both short and impossibly vast. My mother blinked rapidly, as though unsure how to react.

Finally, I took the step forward, closing the gap between us. My mother hesitated before lifting her arms, giving me an embrace that was warm. My father followed suit, patting my back with a stiff hand. And yet, despite the awkwardness, there was a tremor of emotion in their gestures—a slight crack in the wall that usually held them so contained. I felt my eyes prick with tears, and for a brief, raw moment, we held each other, our breaths mingling, and it was like I was a child again, seeking the comfort of their presence.

"Please come be with me for this moment" I murmured, my voice thick.

My mother’s hand rested on my cheek, her usually distant eyes becoming clearer as she nodded.

Aemond cleared his throat from behind, reminding me of the journey still ahead. I straightened, stepping back and collecting myself, gesturing toward the door.

"Come. Primce Aemond will take us to kings landing. We’ll fly on Vhagar," I said, a mixture of excitement and apprehension in my voice.

My parents exchanged uneasy glances. I could see the apprehension in their eyes—Vhagar was not a sight many could face easily, especially those unaccustomed to dragons. Still, they followed me, their faces set with determination.

Outside, Vhagar awaited, her immense form casting a shadow over the green valley. My mother gasped softly, her hand tightening around my father’s arm. Even I, familiar now with dragons, felt a chill looking up at Vhagar’s ancient, immense form. She was a beast out of legend, her scales dull and thick with age, her eyes watching us with an intelligence both mesmerizing and terrifying.

“Up you go,” Aemond said coolly, nodding toward Vhagar’s saddle. He wasted no time, climbing up and extending a hand for me, then assisting my parents with what little patience he could muster. It was clear he wasn’t thrilled to be acting as chauffeur, but he said nothing.

I clung to Vhagar’s scales, bracing myself as we took off. My mother’s grip on my arm was iron-tight, her face pale as we rose higher and higher into the sky. The winds whipped around us, chilling but exhilarating, and though the flight was uncomfortable, the thrill of it almost made me forget the tension of our meeting.

As we neared Dragonstone, I tensed, scanning the skies. The dark shape of a dragon appeared in the distance, its scales catching the sunlight with a flash of red—a harbinger of danger.

My mother noticed my sudden tension, and her gaze followed mine. She blanched, clutching me tighter, and I leaned in to murmur to her, my voice barely audible above the wind. "It's Caraxes. Daemon’s dragon."

Aemond shifted, his grip tightening on Vhagar’s reins. He muttered a command in High Valyrian, calming Vhagar’s instinct to roar. I held my breath, hoping desperately that Daemon’s dragon would keep his distance.

Thankfully, Caraxes wheeled away, his crimson form disappearing into the clouds. I let out a shaky breath, glancing back at my parents. They were visibly shaken, my father’s hand clutching his chest, and my mother’s eyes squeezed shut as she clung to me.

The rest of the flight passed in a tense silence, each of us absorbed in our own thoughts. As the walls of King’s Landing came into view, I felt a mix of relief and anticipation. Finally, as we landed near the Red Keep, my father helped my mother dismount with uncharacteristic gentleness, both of them looking weary but relieved.

I turned to them, offering a small, tremulous smile. "Welcome back to King’s Landing," I said, taking both of their hands, feeling an odd surge of emotion.