Chapter 89: Chapter 42: First of Her Name (Part 2)

8th Moon, 8061

Outside the Dragonpit, Kings Landing

‘’That scheming bitch’’ Laena seethed through her teeth for what was at least the 10th time that day. A day which had been meant to mark an important event for her family had instead been soured by events that even a woman of her intelligence could not have foreseen.

‘’She is barely more than a child Laena…..your own blood….she would not have done something like this on her own, she must not have understood the ramifications…’’ Her husband Jaekar said almost pleadingly.

‘’She understood them well enough….she is not some young girl but a woman grown, older than our Lianna…..true enough her husband and father by law played some role in it I do not doubt….but the treason is her own….she must be punished.’’ Laena fumed.

‘’Laena….she is your blood….my own sister….I beg of you….do not…do not condemn her to a traitor's fate.’’ Jaekar continued in his pleading tone, the same tone he had used every time that the Queens anger had reignited that day.

Laena was quiet at that, the rage slowly dissipating as she forced her mind to calm.

She had made her return to Kings Landing early that morning, finally arriving back from her coronation in Oldtown. What was supposed to be a day of triumph and the true beginning of her reign had been destroyed by the tidings she had received upon entering the city.

While she had been gone in Oldtown, her husbands young sister, and daughter of her uncle Matarys, Daena Targaryen had entered the city, talked her way past the Dragonkeepers and had claimed Moondancer, the beautiful white dragon that had been her father Vaemonds mount, a claiming that was akin to simple thievery in the Queens mind.

The consequences of her rogue cousin and sister-by-law were vast, mostly stemming from the fact that Daena Targaryen was married to Andrey Tully, heir to Riverrun and son of the former hand of the King Samwell Tully.

Samwell Tully had fled the capitol and had gone into self imposed exile at his keep in Riverrun after his scheme to deny Laena the throne and hold a council to confirm or change the succession following the King's death had failed.

Laena had intended to make preparations to drag the man out of his keep once she returned to Kings Landing, but now everything had changed with the second largest dragon in the realm, the 35 foot Moondancer being at the command of the Tullys.

She could simply fly to Riverrun on the back of Vhagar along with her husbands much smaller dragon Oathwing, the two of them would be more than a match for Moondancer, and the possibility of a third dragon joining such an expedition could become a reality depending on how the days events went as well, though Laena was skeptical how much use her husband would be in a fight against his own sister, or even if he would be willing to undertake an expedition entirely.

This plan was not without its risks however, despite being outnumbered and ultimately overmatched, to kill a thirty five foot dragon would not be easy and the potential of major injury to Oathwing or even Vhagar was not insignificant, Moondancer would likely be able to take at least one dragon down with him. Secondly, Laena had no wish to kill her fathers dragon, the dragons were the birthright of her family and not to be wasted, in addition she did not wish to put it in her vassals minds that dragons could be killed, and the potential of a conflict led by dragons could easily get out of control and turn the realm further against her, perhaps even to the point of all out civil war.

Finally, despite all her blustering and raging, there was no way to eliminate Moondancer without eliminating the girl,and Laena did not truly wish her husband's sister dead, despite her statements made in anger.

If she had been 10 years younger she would have made the flight to Riverrun, potential consequences be damned, but Laenas boldness had diminished throughout the years, and even if in the heat of the moment her statements may be rash, eventually cooler heads prevailed.

‘’I find it unlikely she did not know the consequences of her actions…yet even still to kill her would be a rash and poor decision mother, your reign has just begun, do not let it begin with a bloodletting.’’ Syaella said, breaking the silence, out of all her daughters, Syaella was closest to her mother in intelligence, and provided good counsel for one so young.

Laena nodded, by now the anger had passed over her ‘’You speak wisely, the threat of this spreading beyond Riverrun is too large….Samwell Tully is an old man and will be rotting in the ground before long…I will give him the courtesy of a peaceful deathbed, more than he deserves….but his son had best prove loyal…for his own sake.’’

‘’Thank you Laena.’’ Jaekar said, relieved.

‘’Your sister is the one that should be thanking me, I will allow no further disobedience on her part……If she leads her husband down a path of loyalty I will consider this matter finished….if not….I will deal with her.’’ Laena said sternly and Jaekar nodded slowly, he knew full well what sort of methods would be employed should his sister need ‘’dealing with’’.

Before their conversation could continue, the commander of the black armored Dragon Keepers bowed before her.

‘’Everything is prepared your Grace.’’ The man said.

‘’For your sake it had best be prepared well….if any harm should befall my daughter I swear that you and your oafish men shall die screaming…is that understood?’’ Laena said, the man had not made a good impression on her, having allowed Daena inside the dragonpit and even helping her prepare Moondancer to be claimed, afterwards the man had said the girl had claimed her ancient rights as a Targaryen to claim the dragon, with the man stating he had assumed it to be a legitimate tradition, though Laena had called it stupidity, if she meant for the girl to have a dragon she would have made it known.

The man licked his lips nervously ‘’Loud and clear your grace.’’

They made their way inside the massive stone domed dragonpit, which contained many burrows, tunnels and caves twisting downwards into the earth for dragons to nest, while the larger ones were interred in large circular pens of sand.

Currently the Dragonpit housed 8 dragons. First and foremost of these was Vhagar who was just barely big enough to fit in the largest of these chambers, his ‘’pen’’ being as large as the largest of  amphitheaters or stadiums in Oldtown or Kings Landing. With Moondancer gone, the next largest dragon was Narrah, former mount of her mother Queen Nyel, just a few feet smaller than Moondancer. The last rideable dragon was her husband's orange dragon Oathwing, who was approaching twenty feet.

There were also many smaller dragons too little to ride housed in the snakelike burrows descending into the hill itself. Her brother Vaekar, who had not yet been released from his tower cells dark purple dragon Andalax was among these, a dragon that despite being nearly 10 years old was still only the size of a small dog.

The other dragons were but hatchlings, her sister Cymella had Vaedar, a rather dull white dragon only a few feet large, even smaller still were her daughters dragons, Lianna had her dragon Kastax, bright yellow with gray eyes, Syaellas hatchling Honorax was the color of grey mountian cliffs, Jaehara had also recently hatched the dragon Proudwing, a green dragon with blue wing membranes, though thus far the girl seemed for fearful of it than enamored.

The only one of her older daughters without a dragon was her daughter Vaella, a fact the girl was very aware of and was determined to change.

The Dragonkeeper unlocked a heavy metal gate, leading Laena, Jaekar, and Syaella to a row of stone seats overlooking the sandy circular pit that housed the dragon Narrah, her mothers red dragon with horns white as bone from which a long white stripe ran over its back, stopping just before its tail.

In the center of the pit was Princess Vaella, wearing black leather and riding boots holding a whip. Similar to her twin Syaella, she was a rather tall and sinewy girl, in contrast to their elder sister Lianna who was more diminutive.

Behind her stood two dragonkeepers with long spears, while another slowly turned the winch cable that controlled the heavy iron grate that the dragons were stored in when not in the center of the pit.

‘’Her stutter……you don't think?’’ Her husband Jaekar began with a trace of worry in his voice, Vaella had suffered from a significant stutter since she was a young girl.

Laena shook her head ‘’The dragons know the blood….they will respond to her commands….she is the blood of the dragon.’’

Syaella nodded ‘’There is power in Targaryen blood….I read much on the subject while at the Citadel, furthermore she has been practicing day and night….she is ready.’’

True enough, her daughter spoke the words as clear as Laena had ever heard her speak, the ancient Valyrian rolling off her tongue smooth and loud, echoing off the domed walls as the Princess recited the well rehearsed words, claiming Narrah as the birthright of the ancient dragon lords.

By the time it was over, the red dragon prostrated itself, allowing Vaella to latch on a black leather saddle and mount the dragon, following which she led it out of the dragon pits entrance and took to the sky, flying circles above the city, and even from the top of the hill of Rhaenys, Laena could hear the towns folk of Kings Landing taking to the streets to watch the Red Dragon that had been Queen Nyels take to the skies for the first time in years.

As the Queen watched her daughter fly around the city, she was given further confidence that she had made the right choice in regards to the marriage of the twins.

It had been decided that Syaella would leave within the next few days for the Eyrie with an escort led by Ser Hugh Arryn, where she would wed Oswin Arryn the heir to the Vale, her sister Vaella would remain in Kings Landing and wed Ser Renly Arryn, the young son of Commander Lyn Arryn, commander of the city and captain of the gold cloaks, marriages which Laena hoped would firmly bind both the Vale and the City Watch to her.

The decision had not been a particularly hard one. Syaella would do much better at court in the Vale  than her sister, she was well liked and sociable, trained in the basics of stewardship, and more than intelligent enough to deal with and sniff out any plots against her or the crown, she would do well as the Lady of the Vale. All of this was in contrast to her younger twin Vaella, whos stutter would likely cause her some embarrassment as the Lady of the Vale, despite her bold nature. Vaella was also a very restless girl, often going exploring through the city or horseback riding through the forests surrounding the city, she would hate the confines of the small castle of the Eyrie.

The single greatest advantage of this marriage however was that it kept her daughter Vaella and her dragon Narrah close at hand. It was bad enough that the second largest dragon in the realm Moondancer was under the influence of the Tullys, she would not have the third largest in the Eyrie, especially considering the fact that her daughter Vaella could be manipulated into using it for the Arryns own purposes just to experience a little adventure, no it was better to keep her daughter and Narrah close, if anyone was going to make use of Narrah it would be crown.

Syaella placed an arm on her mothers shoulder, who had been silent for a good while ‘’You are thinking too much mother….your schemes can wait until tomorrow im sure…..Vaella has just claimed a dragon for herself and I leave for the Vale tomorrow….let us enjoy this one day at least.’’

Laena smiled and took her daughters hand, pulling her close and kissing her on cheek.

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‘’I will miss your council dear…..truly I will.’’ Laena said, for a girl so young, Syaella had a great intelligence about her, and always knew the best way to suggest things to her mother, who on occasion, was known to have a somewhat volatile personality.

‘’And I will miss you, but I will deliver this same council to Oswin and his father, you will not have to fear any treachery from the Vale….I will do my duty by counseling them to do the same.’’ Syaella replied.

‘’I know you will.’’ Laena said, squeezing her daughters hand as their eyes rose upwards towards the red and white dragon, flying through the air like a red comet.

The following morning, Princess Syaella Targaryen was met by a contingent of knights of the Vale to escort her to the Eyrie along with her own escort led by Ser Hugh Arryn of the Kingsguard. Princess Lianna Targaryen would also accompany the procession to represent the Targaryen family at the wedding, as well as to use the opportunity to build a relationship with Lord Otho Arryn as the realm's master of laws.

 

 

11th Moon, 8061

Mountains of the Moon, the Eyrie

Princess Syaella breathed in the cold frosty mountain air as her mule slowly plodded forward on the winding mountain path.

In truth she would have preferred a horse, sitting on a mule meant she was closer to the ground and the beast seemed rather small to carry a person, and Syaella seemed to slightly sway in the saddle, but the mule keeper assured her that mountain mules were the best way to travel through the mountains and Syaella had never been one to put her own intelligence above the expertise of professionals and the locals.

She scarcely noticed the ledge now in truth, her first journey to the top of the Eyrie had been nervewracking, but it had disbelled any doubts she might have had about the prowess of the mountain mules, small they may be, but they were sturdy and knew the mountain paths well.

She made no effort to lead the mule, it knew where it was going, so she took in the incredible scenery of the mountains of the moon. In every direction massive snowcapped mountains of gray stone reached towards the sky while a thin layer of misty clouds hovered above, seemingly so close that Syaella could reach out and touch it.

Vaella would love this Syaella thought to herself, true enough her sister would not enjoy the responsibilities that came with being Lady of the Vale, nor the small confines of the castle of the Eyrie, but upon her dragon Narrah there would be no shortage of places to explore and to fly a dragon through those clouds over the mountains……

Such a thought filled Syaella with even more determination, while her own dragon Honorax was far too small to ride, she would never have the chance to if she could not find the small grey dragon.

Honorax, who had spent much of its life in the warm volcanoes of Dragonstone had not taken well to the rather abrupt change in lifestyle.

It had been Syaellas habit upon her arrival at the Eyrie to take her lunches with the ladies of the castle, exchanging gossip and entertaining them with Honorax who often perched upon her shoulder, waiting for a scrap of food to burn with its tiny amount of flame, a trick that never seemed to grow old with the ladies of the Eyrie.

Ten days prior however, Honorax had grown disobedient, refusing to take its place upon Syaellas shoulder, when she had reached out to him, he had bitten her upon the hand and flown through an open window towards the vast mountains of the moon.

Every day since, the Princess had set out from the Eyrie, searching day and night for the small grey dragon, each day going in a different direction, Syaella had studied the dragons anatomy, both in practice and in reading at the Citadel to know that its wings could not support it for long periods of flight and the wind would be a challenge to overcome, that much gave her hope that it could not have gone far, but every day she did not find it increased the risk it would be lost to her.

Syaella quickly put the thought out of her mind, she was going to find her dragon.

‘’My lady…..the beast could be anywhere by now….perhaps it is time to accept that it is lost.’’ The captain of her escort said hesitantly, following behind her with five men, similarly mounted on mules.

‘’A dragon is not a sword, or a pair of shoes Ser, it is not something that can be lost as easy as this…..nor will I simply accept Honorax is simply vanished, I will continue the search until Honorax is found….it could not have made it far.’’ Syaella said, not unkindly

‘’As you say my Lady.’’ The man said and they continued on.

They had searched many areas in the previous days with not so much as a sign of the dragon, but today they would search some caves that she thought were especially promising, dragons would seek shelter, and hatchlings especially did not enjoy being out in the elements and would seek a warm place to sleep, and mountain caves would have no shortage of small animals to prey upon.

It took them three hours of plodding through the mountains to reach these caves, the largest of these was not truly a cave but rather a massive stone ceiling standing over the cliffs.

Something about the place gave Syaella a sense that something was going to happen, that this was the place she had been searching for.

Honorax is here She thought to herself, she read at the Citadel about various theories that dragons had not just a physical bond with their riders but also a mental one, as if both rider and dragon could sense some parts of each other, she had initially dismissed it at superstition, but there was no denying she felt some strange sense in this place.

In her mind she ran through her Valyrian, she had been speaking the language ever since she was a girl of four and she felt confident that she would be able to fully bind the dragon to her will this time, she must not have done so in the past which is why it had fled.

It is beautiful Syaella thought to herself once again as she rode past the stone walls which were dotted with small stone enclaves and caves, a waterfall could be heard below, gently falling to the ground hundreds of feet below, somewhere a bird rang out a song.

As she scanned the caves, looking for some sign of Honorax she passed by a small rocky cliff face, with a small grey boulder inside a rocky hole, above the waterfall.

And then the rocks moved.

In an instant she was able to see that the boulder she had seen was no true boulder at all but rather Honorax, coiled in sleep, its stone grey skin making it almost unrecognizable against the stone. The dragons pale gray eyes opened as it perched itself up in surprise.

‘’Dohaerās Honorax’’ Syaella began Serve me Honorax.

The small gray dragon looked to the sky and emitted a shriek that rang throughout the cavern.

What happened after that happened in but a moment.

Syaellas mule, which had not even noticed the sleeping hidden gray dragon amongst the rocks panicked when the shriek rang out, frantically backing away.

The beast's hoof became caught on a stony rock upon the path and Syaella felt the mule slipping and falling.

One of her escort, she could not see who reached out for the mules reigns, coming agonizingly close to stabilizing the beast but it was too late.

The mule went to the icy ground with a heavy thud at the ledge, Syaella slipping out of the saddle onto the icy path, the air being knocked from her lungs.

She attempted to pull herself to her feet, but to her horror she realized there was nothing below her feet but open sky, her arms clinging to the icy rocks on the ledge.

Her men dismounted, while another yelled her name as she desperately tried to hold on.

She could not.

With not even a sound she slipped from the ledge, arms and legs flailing as she fell downwards past the waterfall,, swallowed by the mountains of the moon. Her body would never be found

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