Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken [Aegon Targaryen]

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - DRAGONS, DEATH, DAMAGE

AEGON SENT RHAENYS TO CASTERLY ROCK TO ASSIST SARELLA'S MEN IN SETTING THE LANNISTERS STRAIGHT. She was happy to go, flying west on Meraxes at first light. Aegon, upon seeing her on her dragon, took Sarella out to see Balerion.

She would have to go back to Sunspear that day, and she wanted to see his magnificent creature again before she left.

He walked with her arm in arm down to where Balerion had landed outside of the city with a meal he caught that morning. His teeth tore at the flesh of whatever animal he had killed, hardly paying attention to them as they approached.

"He is spectacular," Sarella breathed.

"He is," Aegon agreed. He sighed and smiled at the dragon. "I sometimes feel bad that I do not take him out as often as Visenya and Rhaenys take Vhagar and Meraxes."

"You are a king, you hardly have the time to eat and sleep, let alone go flying." She paused for a moment, then continued. "Not that I think that excuses it. If I had a dragon I would ride it every day."

Balerion seemed to notice them then, and perked up at the sight of Aegon. He rose to his feet and slowly, yet somehow gracefully, walked over to them. Aegon stepped in front of her to shield her, and reached up to touch Balerion's nose.

"Stay back. They sometimes do not take kindly to new people. The first time he met Orys, he tried burning him."

"I do not blame him," Sarella replied, grinning at the look Aegon shot her.

He whispered to Balerion for a while, until the dragon looked past his rider to her. He gently pushed Aegon aside and took the last steps to get to her. He looked down at her, curious.

When he did not make any move to harm her, she reached a tentative hand up to him. And he leaned into it, allowing her to touch his head gently and run her fingers over the warm skin.

"Incredible," she whispered. After a few minutes, he pulled away gently, turned, and flew off.

"He liked you," Aegon commented, "strange. He usually thinks new people are food."

"That was. . . amazing."

"You are sure you have no Valyrian blood in you?"

"Certainly not," she scoffed. "Nymeria was of the Rhoyne, and every Martell before that from Dorne. We never married Valyrians. Never married anyone who was not Dornish."

"Perhaps you will be the Martell to break with tradition," Aegon said, quietly, casually. As if he had not subtly asked her if she would wed him.

"Perhaps," she replied. Neither yes nor no. She looked toward the city and let out a long breath. "I should go back inside. Jayne has been ready to leave since dawn and Lena is nearly finished with packing our things."

"How I wish you could stay." Aegon's soft reply made her frown and look back at him.

"My people need me home, Aegon. I have been away far too long."

"I know." He nodded, understanding. "Yet every day you are gone I feel a little more like strangling the posh lords at court."

She laughed and offered a small comforting smile. "I think you will survive."

"When will you leave?"

"Midday, at latest mid-afternoon."

"So you would definitely have time for. . ." Both eyebrows rose and she laughed again.

"With you? Yes, several times," she teased, making him frown. She only smiled and took his hand.

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Sarella was ready to leave mid-afternoon after Aegon delayed her past midday. Jayne, uncharacteristically, came out of the castle looking unkempt. Lena, hair smooth and perfect as always, came out of the castle looking pleased with a small smile on her lips.

"All right, Commander?" Sarella asked Jayne from atop her horse, who swung her leg over her own horse and hauled herself up.

"Of course. Why would I not be?"

"You look as if you just rolled out of bed."

"Perhaps I have." At Sarella's raised brow, she told her everything. "The Queen. . ."

"You slept with Visenya?" Sarella exclaimed in an excited whisper, sure to keep her voice down.

"Yes, and you with Aegon. What of it?"

"Nothing." Sarella shrugged her shoulders and turned to face forward on her horse, ready to leave.

Then suddenly, the gates flew open and a rider came bounding into the city. Immediately, the man on the horse demanded, "Where is the King?"

"What is this?" Sarella asked, brows furrowed in confusion as she looked over the man.

"Where is the King?" He demanded again. "I have urgent news."

"I am here," Aegon's voice announced as he walked past their party, up beside Sarella. "What news do you bring, messenger?"

"I am sorry, my King." The man's eyes grew sad, could barely meet Aegon's eyes as he told him. "Queen Rhaenys is dead."

Aegon grew deathly still, and his eyes went dead. He tried to take a step but stumbled. Sarella climbed down off of her horse to steady him.

A pained noise left the King's lips, and Sarella whispered softly to him. "Not here, love. All right? Not here."

He nodded silently, not saying a word as she lead him on foot back through the city, into the castle, and into his bedchambers. As soon as he sat down on his bed, he burst into tears.

Sarella simply held him, giving him what he needed— quiet comfort. He cried and cried, as much as she had cried for Myles. Perhaps more.

She simply held him, for she knew that as soon as the tears dried, she would have to help him make a plan to destroy whomever killed his sister.