Bringing the Dawn

XII.

Jaeron Targaryen

Castle Black, 299AC

Something didn't sit right with Jon at Jeor's words. It was rare he ever felt uncomfortable as he'd been spurned for most of his life. He knew what it felt like to be looked down on for something that was out his own control. Even whenever he fell and hurt himself he didn't feel uncomfortable. But there was no denying it. Something about these bodies wasn't right, and it tied his stomach in knots as he looked down upon them. Sam's words ringing in his ears. The older knew what he was talking about, and this surprised Jon that no one else had said the words he'd spoken. Immediately, he walked over to Ghost to check him over for any injuries, only scratching his ear fondly when he realised there seemed to be none.

All bodies stink of rot, but the only scent there was in the courtyard was smoke, mould, sweat, and something else he couldn't put his finger on. He'd never experienced the stench of rot before on a person, but from words spoken in Winterfell, he knew it was horrendous. Still, a few brothers stepped forward to grab the bodies to take them to a spare room. This thought calmed him down somewhat, as he didn't want to leave Aemon alone in a room with two bodies. The man has probably seen hundreds of them, but the terrible sense of foreboding just would not go away no matter how hard he tried.

"You'd best get to sleep, Jaeron. You're going to need a lot of that considering we will be leaving for Eastwatch in three days."

This caused the younger to close his eyes and nod in acceptance. He wanted to stay until they had concrete news on Benjen, but that would hinder their plan. No misstep can be carried out at all. They've already stalled long enough. He followed Aemon upon hearing Howland's words, his elderly uncle giving him a curious stare. Despite him being blind for almost three decades now, somehow he just seemed to know everything that was going on around him. He left the door open just enough for Rhaegon and Lyrax to fly in, the blue one immediately to land on Aemon's shoulder and the silver one on Jon's. They'd only started flying a few days beforehand, and they couldn't do so for long periods of time. Them now being about the size of dogs. For creatures that had been barely the size of kittens a month prior, their growth rate was shocking to him. If they continued growing this quickly, he suspected they would be rivalling hunting dogs in the next month.

"Aemon, how long does it take for a dragon to be large enough to mount?"

The question echoed throughout the room, reminding the pair of just how cut off they were from everyone else in the castle. Aemon's quarters were in the opposite tower from Jeor's, and most rooms nearby him were practically a ruin now. Much of the Nights Watch was a ruin now, only three of nineteen castles were manned and occupied, and they weren't occupied by many. Castle Black had approximately five hundred, Eastwatch three hundred, and the Shadowtower had a little over one hundred.

"It's difficult to say, because all dragons grow at different rates."

Jon's eyebrow quirked at this before sitting down at the desk as Aemon stood up to grab a small book from one of the shelves. He placed it down in front of them and the younger realised it was written in High Valyrian, the language of their ancestors and most Targaryen's mother tongue.

"I had Samwell transcribe this just before you arrived. It documents all dragons our family had, who their rider was, their colouring, when they were hatched, and when their rider mounted them. I know you're still learning the language, but it may be useful for you. There isn't a ridden date for Balerion for obvious reasons considering he was hatched in Valyria unlike the others."

He took the small book carefully and opened it to read into it.

Balerion. Kipagon ondoso se Aegon, Aerea, Maegor, se Viserys. Mele se zōbrie. Āzma isse Valyrio 114BC. Ēlī jēdar kipagon daor bardutan. Morghūltan 94AC isse se zaldrīzes ripo hen uēpa gūena. (Balerion. Ridden by Aegon, Aerea, Maegor, and Viserys. Red and black. Hatched in Valyria approximately 114BC. First ridden date unknown. Died 94 AC in the Dragon Pit from old age.)