A Dance Of Scales And Shadows | Aemond Targaryen x OC

Part 24 - The One Who Sleeps Beneath

A few days had passed since Aika and Aemond shared a tender kiss. This period felt like the calm before the storm, as everyone prepared for the upcoming war. For Aemond, the days were filled with preparations and discussions, while the nights were for love and closeness.

Aika spent more time with Aegon, ensuring his recovery was progressing well. Larys visited him more often than she expected. As Aegon began walking with assistance, he became more talkative than before. However, his mood was rarely lifted.

"I'm glad the new dragonriders are making my brother nervous," he would say every day, but today was different.

"Come closer to me," Aegon said when Aika entered his room.

"How are you feeling?" she asked with genuine concern.

"Not much better, not capable of anything," he replied. "I just wanted to see you up close once more before everything goes down."

Aika's expression softened with understanding.

"I'm not supposed to tell anyone this, but I agreed to Larys's plan," Aegon began. "But soon, I'll be out of King's Landing, somewhere safer. When things settle down, he'll bring me back."

"Aemond won't hurt you, I won't allow it," she said instantly.

"You know you can't stop him," Aegon said silently.

Did Aika? Or did she believe she is that capable?

"Come with me," he said softly. "Please."

"You know I can't," Aika replied after a brief silence. "Besides, here is the safest place for the king in the realm, so I can't allow you to go Aegon," she continued.

As she closed the door to his chamber, she ordered two of her people to guard the chamber. 

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As the dark sheets of night covered the sky and the stars pierced through with their shine, Aika sneaked out of the Red Keep. She had a couple of hours before anyone would notice her absence. It turned out that sneaking into the Dragonpit was easier than sneaking out of the Red Keep.

Once in, she went into one of the corridors that the young dragonkeeper described, the one from where the remains of the dragons were brought out. Without a second thought, she drifted into the darkness.

Aika could hear almost nothing, not even the faintest sound of dragons. She held a torch in one hand and a sword in the other. After a few minutes of walking, she reached an intersection of corridors. As she closely examined the choices, she realized she could only rely on her instincts.

All the paths she had chosen potentially led her deeper into the lower levels of the Dragonpit, which to her was more like a dungeon for dragons. She previously had no idea there was such a labyrinth beneath the structure.

A cold breeze made her shiver, but it also brought a realization: the path she had chosen wasn't a dead end.

She pressed forward steadily, without looking back. The place felt oddly familiar. It was exactly like the tunnel she had seen in her dreams. However, unlike in her dreams, there was no blood beneath her feet, and no voices calling her name.

Then the wall on her right moved, and that's when she realized it wasn't a wall at all. The sudden stir of air blew out her torch, and all went pitch dark. Not a second later, Aika sensed hot air, like a stale breath, blown onto her. That's when she knew she was in front of the snout of a dragon. Without warning, the dragon's mouth flared open, and a searing blast of fire shot right into her.