✶|𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺|✶ 𝘈𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘯 𝘐𝘐𝘐 𝘛𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘦𝘯

✶𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 33✶

――✴✯✴――

Between Books 

――✴✯✴――

✯Aegon's Pov ✯

Year 133 A.C

Westeros

Red Keep, King's Landing

Aegon was practically dragged out of his chambers by Ser Amaury Peake, the knight's grip firm and uncompromising. The young king stumbled a little before falling into hurried steps behind him, his heart hammering against his ribs like it was trying to escape. 

Gaemon followed a few strides behind, flanked by two more guards, all of them moving swiftly down the corridor.

"It's flying toward the gardens!" A guard yelled as he rushed past them.

Ser Amaury gave a sharp nod. 

"Faster, Your Grace!" He barked, picking up the pace and chasing after the guards ahead. 

Aegon did his best to follow, but his legs felt like lead. His breath came shallow, too fast, his lungs burning with every step.

As they neared the open doors leading outside, Aegon could already hear the shouting, the rising panic. Then he saw it.

Stormcloud.

The massive dragon was perched on the inner wall above the gardens, his wings half-open, golden eyes fixed on a girl and her handmaiden. His posture was tense, coiled. Not friendly.

Bile rose in Aegon's throat, and he forced it back down. His knees were shaking now. A chill ran through his spine, and it wasn't from the wind.

No, not again...

"Gods, what are those two doing just standing there?!" Ser Amaury exclaimed, clearly horrified by the scene. He turned to Aegon. "Your Grace, give an order!"

But Aegon couldn't move.

He was frozen. His hands trembled at his sides, his breath shallow and ragged. Panic clawed at his chest, and old memories slammed into him with brutal force, screams, fire, the smell of scorched flesh, his mother's cries.

He could barely see. The edges of his vision blurred. He could hear the guards shouting, but their voices were distant, muffled. Like he was underwater.

"Get out of there!!" Another voice shouted, one of the guards.

The girl still didn't move. She stood, calm or paralyzed in front of the beast.

"What the fuck is she doing?" Someone behind Aegon said. "She's going to get eaten! Seven hells..."

Then she started to walk toward the dragon.

Aegon's breath caught.

"Lady-y Serena!..." The handmaiden screamed, her voice cracking with desperation.

That name. Aegon's eyes widened slightly. He knew that name.

No, no, no...

She took another step. And another. Stormcloud lowered his massive head.