ALL NOVEL Chapter 154: Epilogue: Bonus II
(Third Person POV)
[King's Landing]
"Your Grace." Lord Tyland Lannister approached the young King Aegon III, "We should head back. The rest are beginning to be restless."
Aegon III Targaryen, stood on the hill that overlooked the city in the distance. The sky above was dark and full of clouds, representing the young boy's heart and mind. He had been through a lot, Aegon has. He witnessed his mother be bathed in the flames of the dragon that belonged to his uncle. But just shortly before, he had witnessed his own Father fight that Dragon and plunge his sword into the eye.
The same sword that was strapped to his side, Lady Rhea. The young King had just turned eleven and was currently escorted by his loyal Hand, Tyland Lannister, to get some air. One would think that this was incredibly dangerous and the rest of his Regents would constantly be restless, demanding for the King to return to the Keep.
Aegon, however, did not care for what they thought. He merely wanted a moment of peace in this unforgiving world, the world that took his parents from him. The world that separated his sister from him and the one who disappeared his brother.
"A little longer...." Aegon said softly
"Right." Tyland said as he wore his cloak, "Stormcloud might cause some problems in the Pit....so....just a bit longer, then."
"Aegon!" they heard a voice call
Aegon and Tyland turned around to see a young girl walk up to them, accompanied by two Kingsguard behind her. She was wearing a black dress and had her long and lush white hair flowing down to her shoulders.
This was the Queen; Visenya Targaryen. She was beautiful, the spitting image of her mother when she was young, and had the same unruly nature that Rhaenyra once had. She had been married to her younger brother since the end of the Targaryen "Civil War", The Dance of The Dragons. And ever since then, she had been overprotective of her younger brother.
The eldest of Aerion Targaryen's children, a young girl with the heaviest of burdens.
"Visenya." Aegon said softly
Tyland bowed slightly, "My Queen." He said, "I apologize, His Grace wished to take a walk."
"And you don't take guards??" Visenya scowled as she reached them, placing her hand on Aegon's shoulder, "Not even Stormcloud, Aegon?"
"Sorry." Aegon said, "I just wanted to be alone. And Lord Tyland is quiet when I take my walks."
Visenya sighed, "Brother..." She said softly, "Are you having nightmares again? You can always join me in my bed at night....I will comfort you...."
Aegon looked away, saying nothing.
Tyland shifted uncomfortably as the Kingsguard did the same.
"Oh, you lot know what I mean!" Visenya frowned, "I will only hug him so he can sleep peacefully! I swear, Men always have the vilest of minds. Was our Father like that?"
"No." Tyland said with a slight chuckle, "If you don't mind me speaking, but I've known your late Father since he was a boy. He was never in any way like most men. The Mightiest of them all.....Aerion was."
Aegon looked at him, "I would appreciate it if you don't speak his name." He said softly with a sad frown
"Aegon..." Visenya said softly as she patted his cheek, "It's okay.....He was our-"
Aegon pulled away, "You did not see what I saw, Visenya!" He shouted as he turned around, "You did not watch our mother be burned alive while our Father bled out! You did not see Father fail what he swore he fought for!! He failed, Visenya! He lost! He could not save Mother! I...."
"Y-Your Grace..." Lord Tyland said as he stepped forward
Visenya sighed, "I know, Aegon. I am sorry." She said, "But still, he was our Father. You understand that, right? You don't wish to hear his name, yet you carry his blade...."
Aegon placed his hand on Lady Rhea's handle, "I...." He said, "It's not what you think..."
"You feel the pain, I understand that, brother." Visenya said as she approached him from behind, "But how do you think it makes me feel? You are not the only one who lost someone, Aegon. Everyone lost loved ones during that war. Everyone. I lost our brother right in front of me, I was so young...too young to understand what happened...How do you think it makes me feel to return and find out that not only our Mother died but our Father as well? The same Father we both had, the person who seemed Invincible....someone greater than life itself...It hurts, Aegon.....It hurts me as well...."
Aegon didn't say anything, merely looked up at the sky. The Kingsguard and Lord Tyland watched this in silence, agreeing with what their Queen had just spoken.
"You can brood all you want, Aegon." Visenya said, "But as I see it, I am the eldest of our Mother's children now. Viserys will be returned to us, wherever he is....I have faith that he's alive, I know it. And Rhea....she's safe too....I have made a vow to our dead parents, that I will look after you....I promise you, Aegon, nothing will ever happen to you as long as I am alive."
Aegon glanced at her, "Is that so?"
Visenya nodded, "You think you're the only one with a fancy blade?" She smiled, "I am better than you with the sword. This dress is just a formality to walk the city's streets. I am my Father's daughter, Aegon."
Aegon looked away, "Hm...." He said
"Now come, our Aunts are about to arrive to the City." Visenya chuckled, "Let's greet them. Aunt Rhaena brings us gifts."
"Yea..." Aegon said, "I guess so-"
He was cut off by the sound of a distant nasally roar.
Lord Tyland widened his eyes, "W-What?!" He exclaimed as he recognized the roar and looked up to the skies, "It can't be!!"
The Kingsguard instinctively placed their hands on their swords as both Aegon and Visenya were frozen in shock.
They all looked up to see red wings through the dark clouds above them, another roar resounding through the air.
Aegon placed his hand Lady Rhea, "D-Dragon?!"
Suddenly, bursting through the clouds, the massive figure of the Blood Wyrm was seen, swooping down.
"C-Caraxes?!" Tyland exclaimed, "I thought he had died!!"
Caraxes swooped down and extended his wings, gliding in front of the hill, and as he let out another roar, he landed hard right in front of them.
"Your Grace!" one of the Kinsguard exclaimed as he drew his sword and stepped in front of Aegon and Visenya, "Behind me!"
Visenya widened her eyes, "T-The...." She said with pure shock, "That's Grandfather's Dragon..."
Caraxes let out a snarl, swaying his long neck as he glared at the Kingsguard, snorting loudly as he slowly crawled forward.
"Your Grace, let's get you out of here!" Lord Tyland exclaimed
Caraxes stopped several dozen meters away and reared his head upwards as he snarled viciously, his eyes piercing all of them as the Kingsuard got in front of The King and Queen.
Suddenly, Visenya rushed past them and stopped before Caraxes, extending her arms outwards defensively.
"My Queen!" Tyland exclaimed as he ran towards her, "What are you doing?!"
Tyland tripped and fell down hard on his stomach, letting out a pained grunt.
"Lord Hand!" one of the Kingsguard exclaimed
"Stay back!!" Visenya shouted
"What are you doing, Visenya?!" Aegon exclaimed with fear in his eyes, "Get away!!!"
"No!" Visenya said as she looked at Caraxes, "I will not!"
Caraxes lowered his head and growled viciously, looking right at the young Queen.
Visenya scowled, "I will not let you harm my brother." She said, "You hear me?!"
Caraxes began to sniff the air and suddenly, he stepped back. It is almost as if he had recognized the scent, Visenya's scent. Maybe, just maybe, the Blood Wyrm, after years of wandering the skies and land riderless, had picked up a bit of Daemon Targaryen in Visenya.
He narrowed his eyes as he leaned his head forward, snarling at Visenya, who stood tall without fear.
"If you're going to do something..." Visenya said under her breath, "Do it to me....."
Caraxes large snout was inches from the Queen, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed her completely. And within the moment, his snarling stopped and he let out a large vocalization.
"What?" Aegon said with a surprise
Caraxes then nudged his snout against Visenya, pushing her gently
The Queen stumbled back as she looked at him with surprise, "Eh?"
Caraxes let out a rumble, akin to a whimper as he blinked, stepping forward as he nudged Visenya once again.
"What?" Visenya said as she stumbled again and reached her arm towards the dragon
She placed her hand on Caraxes's snout and the Blood Wyrm closed his eyes, letting out a soft rumble.
Lord Tyland stood up, "By the gods....this can't be...." He said with surprise, "S-She claimed a dragon...."
Visenya looked at Caraxes, "I...." She said softly as Caraxes opened his eyes, looking directly at her, "It happened....F-Father.....I told you...."
Caraxes reared his head back up and let out a roar, almost happily. The sound of the Blood Wyrm's distinct call was heard throughout the air, reaching down to the City.
It was at this moment that Aegon III's power was solidified.
The Blood Wyrm, Caraxes, had been claimed by Aegon's Queen, Visenya. A woman who would later be responsible for a pivotal moment for Aegon's reign known as the Night of The Bloody Queen.
Tears ran down Visenya's cheek as Caraxes leaned his head back down to her, "Father..." She said, "I did it...."
"I got my red dragon..."
******************
[Essos]
Aerion sat under a tree, looking down the hill towards the Manse he was held captive. His entire body was covered in bandages and his left eye was closed.
He was enjoying the gentle breeze that hit him in the face as he turned to see Helaena in the distance, sitting on a blanket in the middle of the grass, holding a butterfly in her hand as she smiled.
"Hm....." He said
"Lord Aerion." A voice said
He glanced to his side to see Mysaria standing next to the tree, "What is it?"
"Word has reached us that Caraxes was spotted in King's Landing." She said softly, "It appears your daughter has claimed him."
Aerion smiled slightly, "My girl...." He said softly, "I'm proud of you....."
"Everyone else seems fine as well." Mysaria said
"Good." Aerion said as he looked back down
"Don't you wish to see them?" She asked
"I do. It's all I want." Aerion said as he placed his hand on the grass beneath him, "But I cannot. For that is not my fate."
"Fate?" Mysaria asked
"I am Accursed, Mysaria." Aerion said as he pulled some grass from the dirt and raised his hand, releasing the grass into the air, flowing in the breeze, "Do you truly think I deserve happiness at the moment?"
"I...." Mysaria said, "Well, Hela-"
"I killed my Father." Aerion said seriously, "I killed my cousin. I am a Kinslayer. I am forever Accursed. There is a duty that must be done.....not to the Realm....to the World. To Humanity. That is my punishment."
"I see." She said as she looked at him, "I am sorry. For everything."
Aerion looked at her, "What are you saying?"
"Maybe....If I convinced Daemon to see you...." She said, "You would not harbor ill feelings that would have led you to..."
"He killed my Mother." Aerion said, "He had to be paid back in blood. Nevertheless, that is the past. We should focus on the future. And I tell you one thing. I will not be used by these Witches."
"I see." Mysaria said, "What do you have in mind?"
"I'll need your help." Aerion said, "For the sake of the world.....I need to break free from these chains. And most importantly, for her sake."
He nodded at Helaena who was ignorant of the current conversation.
"What should I do?" Mysaria asked
"What needs to be done." Aerion said, "We'll both play our part in breaking free. And of course, we should keep it from Helaena. Her peace....her happiness is my priority at the moment."
"I understand." Mysaria said, "I have overcome the first trials to become a Black Priestess...their....plans are unsettling....the rituals they have planned for you.....and what they wish to do with the black dragon...."
"Cannibal..." Aerion said, "Never thought he and I would be bound like this."
He looked at his left arm, which was covered in bandages.
"They wish to perform a tradition, a sick one." Mysaria said, "The High-Priestess will bear your child...a daughter...and from there....well, you can imagine."
"No." Aerion said, "We'll break free from that. But there's no choice. I have to push forward."
"The Long Night is coming."