The Dragonborn Comes

4. Royal Blood

Aegon Targaryen

It was hot.

The sun was burning down on me with a fierceness that had sweat dripping down my skin, bathing it in a pale golden glow that contrasted with my blue hair.

I looked around, my eyes fluttering close momentarily to adjust to the bright light as I crouched down in the center of the courtjard, sword raised defensively.

Three men circled me, all dressed in dark leather breeches and brown boots. A swordbelt was fastened around their waist, and they were shirtless. They all held swords in their hands, which glistened in the sunlight.

I was dressed in a similar matter, and as the sun burned onto my back I smiled.

Suddenly the men darted forward, swords raised as they came at me. We met in a volley of shalshes, the sound of metal against metal ringing across the courtjard.

As I met one sword head on I let my sword slide down until the hilt of my opponents, before quickly twisting mine, causing the other sword to clatter to the ground. In the samw movement I pulled back, blocking the vicious slash of the next mans assualt inches away from my side. The third was fast, changing the direction of his blow in mid-air. Barely managing to jump out of the way I ducked low and darted forward before the third man had time to react.

Slamming the hilt of my swords into the mans midriff, I heard his grunt of pain as he crumpled to the ground.

A hard blow landed to my back, making me stumble. Recovering quickly I turned around and blocked the next blow from the first man, his sword lying on the cobblestone floor several paces away.

Twirling on my feet I delivered a roundhouse kick that hit the man square in the chest, sending him flying backwards. My sword was still in my hand, and I darted forward, slashing at the remaning man. My blows were vicious and quick, driving the man backwards until his back pressed against the wall of the mansion.

"Yield" I snarled, my sword pressed against the mans neck. Groans and grunts could be heard behind me.

"I surrender, Master Aegon" the man said, bowing his head.

"Well done Aegon. Well done" A voice sounded from next to one of the stone pillars next to me.

"Thanks, Lord Illyrio" I said, smiling as the man appeared from the shadows.

"You have become well versed in the art of swordfighting" Illyrio said.

"You once told me that if I ever wantes to conquer the 7 Realms, I needed to excell at everything I did. I am trying" I said, looking at the three men as the got back on their feet and picked up their swords.

"Did I? Hmm.... Then i'm indeed a smart man" Illyrio said, chuckling as we started walking down the hallway.

Sunlight fell in between the stone arches, giving the sandy rocks that made the mansion a golden appearance.

When we reached my personal quarters I opened the door and allowed Illyrio to go in first.

As he sat down on a wooden chair next to a heavy oak desk, i reached for a towell on the dresser on the far side of the room. Toweling my chest dry from all the sweat I put on a white linnen shirt.

As I was buttoning up the last few buttons I saw Illyrio appreciative glance.

"Don't give that look Illyrio. I'm not one of your boys" I said with a teasing smile. Illyrio's taste in bed-partners was no secret around the mansion. I was one of the few allowed to jest with him about it.

"I was just admiring the man you have become over the years. When you were brought to me, you were nothing short of an infant. Now, you're a powerful mam in your own right" Illyrio said, waving his hand through the air.

"....Should I feel insulted?" I said, pressing a hand against my ches in mock suprised.

"Of course not. If you were anyone other than Aegon Targaryen, rightful heir to the 7 Realms and King of the Lands of Man, I would love to take you to my bed" Illyrio said in a mocking tone.

"Hmm" I shrugged "You know my interests lie elsewhere"

"I know, I know. Conquering the Kingdom and taking back the Iron Throne...bla bla bla" Illyrio rolled his eyes as I laughed at his words.

"I wanted to say that pretty maid you bought on the slave market a few moons back, but sure, conquering sounds good" I said as I walked up to the mirror embedded into the wall next to the heavy wooden bed.

I had always been annoyed at my pale skin. Growing up in a place where everyone was tanned and most had brown eyes or darker hair, I always felt very exposed.

And for someone who was supposed to be dead.... that wasn't necessaeily a good thing.

My hair, originally a pale silver, had been dyed red an opal blue nkt a week after my arrival in Pentos. Exiled Lord Connington had agreed on taking me under his care, and together with Illyrio they raised me. I underwent an intense schooling in High Valyrian, History of Westeros, Politics and Swordfightng as well as inense physical training.

I explained my odd apperance by saying my mother was a Tyroshi that had dyes her hair blue and that I dyed my own hair in her memory.

"Lets get to the point, Illyrio. Why did you come? You are a powerful and busy man and you woukdnt be here unless it was important" I said, turning around to look at him.

"Its Daenerys" he said, his eyes cast downwards.

That stopped me dead in my tracks.

My aunt. My sister. The last remaining Targaryen besides myself. The only female in our line.....

She would have been my wife.

Could still be, under the right circumstances.

I didn't want to think about that yet, though. First I had to focus on what I had been trained to do. Conquer. Regain the Kingdom. Reclaim the Iron Throne in the name of the House Targaryen.

"What is it?" I managed, my mind still on Dany.

"The rumors have been confirmed. Daenerys Stormborn has three dragons in her possesion. She is called Mother of Dragons, and after Conquering Astapor and Yunkai she has taken Mereen as well. She rules there as queen now" Illyrio said, his eyes rising to meet mine.

My blood turned to ice at his words.

Dragons! She had dragons! Creatures that hadnt roamed the earth in over a century, and now SHE had awakened three of them..... How could that be? How did this happen? Wasn't I the elder brother? Wasnt I "the last dragon", title my older brother Vhyseris had wrongfully claimed?

As I mulled this over I passed a hand through my hair.

"Anything else? What news from Westeros?" I asked, trying to take my mind off the depressing spiral of thoughts.

"After Joffreys death and the accusation of the dwarf for his murder, Cersei did everything in her power to keep Tommen on the Iron Throne. She married him to Maergery Tyrell. Shortly after some of our allies in Kings Landing arranges for the Imp to escape. He killed his father, and the Kigdom is now weakened from the war. Winter is coming, and they are not prepared" Illyrio said, his eyes darting to the door behind me.

"What is it, my friend?" I asked him as I looked briefly over my shoulder.

"There's someone I think you should talk to....." Illyrio stated.

"Who is it, Illyrio?" I said, noting the nervous edge to the mans voice.

"Tyrion Lannister" Illyrio managed as he looked me straight in the eyes.