𝐒𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐍 ( 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬. )

chapter eighteen.

( ACT II; the age of the dragon. )
⟵ ◊ ⟶
chapter 18: treachery within.

THE anger that Vaegon often battled with was a well known fact among those within his company. They'd seen the way he'd sliced through the soldiers of Yunkai as if they were but training dummies made of straw and burlap, how he'd been forced to battle with his inner instinct rather than destroy any semblance of peace during high tensions. Vaegon was lethal and his prolifically well known temper had managed to make it a crossed the Narrow Sea, he'd been told, to the lords and ladies of his home that feared his return. Whispers of his return had already begun to spread throughout the Seven Kingdoms. Part of him understand the dragon that Viserys had always threatened them with; Vaegon was not cruel like him. He was not weak, either.

The exact anger that had made him so notorious was dangerously close to boiling over. The only thing that kept it from unleashing was the deep, heart wrenching betrayal that plagued his heart like a festering wound. If it hadn't been for the rage, he may have shut down entirely, too encumbered by the weight of such treachery.

Jorah had betrayed him. Despite all they had been through, despite the fatherly advice and words of wisdom the knight had offered him in their late night conversations and times of strategy planning, Jorah had been an informant for the Usurper. A royal pardon mistakenly delivered to Selmy had uncovered his actions, dated the year they met. Signed by Tywin Lannister, no less. It had been enough proof to the king as much as he'd wanted to deny it.

Vaegon, in his anger, had brought Jorah before Haelyx and Drokar in the prairie. Part of it was his momentary intent to order Daenerys to burn him where he stood, as a dragon only obeyed one rider and Rhaellor was still nowhere to be found. Instead, he allowed the charcoal and emerald dragons to serve as a reminder of who they were, what they stood for. Any person would find themselves horrified to be on their knees before such terrifying beasts. He wasn't entirely sure if he'd let the knight leave that prairie alive. His history with the knight was the only thing keeping the king from speaking the word to turn him to ashes.

With Drokar and Haelyx flanking behind the spot where Vaegon, Raina, and Dany stood, they looked to the knight that was being guarded by a pair of Unsullied, pitifully sunk on his knees. Selmy and Grey Worm stood off to the side, their expressions hardened with disgust.

"I want you to tell me now," Vaegon stated with a noticeably unstable voice. He lifted up the pardon, the paper crinkled in his iron grip since he'd first been handed it by Selmy. "What in the seven hells this is."

Jorah held a look of utter defeat, or perhaps, fear, in that moment as he looked between the furious king and the paper. Fear was what he deserved, Vaegon told himself. He told himself Jorah deserved to fear the dragon fire that he could have incinerating him within moments. The betrayal of someone he'd trusted with his life hurt far worse than he could have ever expected. Jorah had been part of his stronghold, the father he'd never had.