#idk Daemon does kind of give me brothercon vibes from the clips
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Unslaad prt 3 [wip]
â-and then Dov dove into the hole.â
Rhaenyra attempted to curb her laughter but couldnât help the small giggle that escaped, hand out to accept Prince Lucerysâ help down from her stallion.
âAfter which Lucerys laughed so hard he tripped over a rock and fell into the hole with meâ Dov bowed under Lucerysâ attempt to swipe at them. âHe tried to climb out on his own for almost a full hour before he gave up and let me carry him out.â
What fortitude Rhaenyra was able to drag together was subsequently destroyed in less than three sentences as she clutched her stomach and let out a full-belly laugh. Surprising a large majority of the staff secretly bustling about the Red Keep as they paused to watch the Realmâs Delight quickly redden in embarrassment. She cleared her throat and ruthlessly attempted to cull the flush in her cheeks.
She watched as King and Prince exchanged looks again, one outright smiling while the other was doing his best to keep his lips flat.
âI apologize, I donât know what came over me.â Rhaenyra straightened where she stood, in this moment she represented the Targaryens, and therefore needed to-
âLaughter is the best medicine in existence, you need not say your apologies where no offence was takenâ King Dovahkiin said softly, then louder âbesides, itâs good to know that I wasnât the only one to find the moment humorous. Lucerys keeps trying to convince anyone who would listen that the âDov doveâ is hilarious. Which I will say again Lucerys, a joke is not funny if it needs an explanation.â
Lucerys scowled âthe pun is hilarious, I donât know what youâre talking about.â
King Dovahkiin, in their infinite grace and courtly presence, stuck out their tongue at the Prince and blew a raspberry.
Rhaenyra didnât laugh this time, but she did crack a smile at the antics.
She wondered if this was what was like to have siblings.
-
Despite the levity, and the surprising rapport two royals from Dremvothkrif built with the servants, the grand dinner arranged for Rhaenyraâs official announcement as heir to the Throne was a tense affair. Officially now, the Princess of Dragonstone, Rhaenyra sat with her father and Prince Lucerys â while King Dovahkiin was sat next to her fatherâs remaining side. Decidedly pushing out Otto Hightower and Daemon.
She could feel her uncleâs stare like a weight upon her brow, but somehow, she didnât quite feel the need to return the stare, not with Prince Lucerysâ oddities set before her like a particularly interesting puzzle. The Prince had no issues dining; indeed, his table manners were impeccable and his voice polite and actually riveting as he described some of the places that were safe for people in the Shadow Lands. Certainly, she could tell there was much he was hiding, but the very way he seemed to poignantly avoid speaking of it seemed to be a quiet message to keep away from the topic without lying to her outright.
She appreciated it, the older she got the more times sheâs had to sift through the lies of the court even when she was still her fatherâs cupbearer. ânow I must ask Prince Lucerys-â she watched as another servant delivered a plate of carefully arranged cooked vegetables and fruits, adornments of which were clearly picked off another dish before being delivered to the Prince. â-why are you receiving so many of these odd dishes?â
Prince Lucerys swallowed before glancing around and leaning towards her, Rhaenyra leaning forward just a little closer so the younger of the Septums wouldnât have to speak any louder than a whisper.
âDov canât stomach vegetablesâ he said quietly âand usually they prefer to eat meat raw, product of having lived in the Shadowlands for so long and they donât really have enough Valyrian blood to counter it. We didnât want to be rude so I just try to eat what I can while Dov quickly sends over the things they canât eat.â
âOhâ Rhaenyra looked around âI can have the servants send it away.â
Lucerys seemed to wince before smoothing his expression once more, smiling at a passing servant who quickly emptied another plate of vegetables into his. âWe canât waste food, much of Dremvothkrifâs traditions stand on being the most efficient as possible with the resources we have so throwing out otherwise perfectly fine food is looked down on, but Dov just really doesnât like it on a personal level, bad experience with it. Normally we would host a feast with the rest of the town butâŚâ
Rhaenyra nodded sympathetically, âOf course, would you feel better if I merely had the servants off-duty take what they can and perhaps pass out the rest?â
Lucerys smiled gratefully âthat would be wonderful if you can â but ah, if anyone questions it, please place the blame on me. We appreciate you being so accommodating. I donât want you to have to go through any ire because of it.â
âYou are our guests, and of the blood of Old Valyria, it is the least we can doâ Rhaenyra rested her hand on his shoulder briefly before signaling for one of her maids to whisper the order. Lucerys in the meantime did a wonderful job distracting several nobles from interrupting her, regaling stories of storms and mountains that spewed fire. It wasnât long before she could divert her own attention to the on-going conversation between her father and the King of Dremvothkrif; listening intently as King Viserys asked questions of Dremvothkrif and the Shadowlands.
âI apologize if I come off as rude Dovahkiinâ King Viserys said âbut I am personally intrigued by your name, it does not seem Valyrian in origin.â
âIt isnâtâ Dovahkiin confirmed, choking down a well-cooked piece of hog as quickly and as politely as they could manage given the circumstances. âit is a Septum tradition actually, usually the child receives a title of sort for their deeds in the traditional tongue made up of words in the Dragon Tongue. Dovah kiin, in my case, can be translated roughly into Dragon born. My personal name is kept secret save for family unfortunately I am unable to share it. It is the opposite for Lucerys as he is of Valyrian blood, and therefore it is his Septum name that is kept personal.â
âOf course of course, I do hope you can forgive my curiosity. I have always been somewhat of a scholar, and remorse the fact that the Targaryen clan had managed to save all but the barest hints of its literature and cultureâ King Viserys smiled, tired and weary. Reminding Lucerys of the King the man would become in a few yearsâ time. âIâm glad that Dremvothkrif was so open to reconnecting, I swear to you Dovahkiin that you and yours will be treated as close as family during your stay. Ah, I have noticed you have not drunken any wine, is it perhaps not to your taste?â
Dov winced âI apologize, it is a habit of mine not to drink any liquid that is inebriating. The surroundings of what is livable on Dremvothkrif is rife with danger and beasts seeking to reclaim and expand their own territory, so I am amongst the first to respond to attacks of the like. The largest one we had was a Hydra that would have almost destroyed Graolerin a few months ago had it not been for our paranoia. I am sure the wine is very delicious.â
Rhaenyra glanced towards Lucerys and noticed that he too had not partaken in a drop of wine. Interesting.
âA hydra?â King Viserys asked, intrigued.
âA three headed beast; one head spews acid, another of flammable gas, and the third lights the gas. Furthermore, they are known for their accelerated healing and cutting off one head merely rapidly guarantees growth of two more. We try not to kill any if we do not have to, as they are the natural hunters of the dragons that call the Shadowlands home. Though they are thankfully not as dangerous when still in their fledgling ages â they usually have only the three or five heads â thereby making it easier pierce the body through to the heart.â
âThat soundsâŚâ Viserys winced âgruesome.â
âIndeedâ Dov laughed âIâve many scars to prove their danger, but thankfully as much as they are territorial, many of the established Hydras keep to their own. It is the young ones that tend to press against the boarders on the rare occasion.â
âThen, a toast to you then King Dovahkiinâ King Viserys presented his cup before Dovahkiin, standing and addressing the other guests now that attention has been called for. âMay my daughterâs reign be a wonderful one when she comes of age and may yours be many years still, so that the Westeros and Dremvothkrif would stand together, as allies in this harsh world. To new beginnings!â
Dovakiin politely toasted with their cup before setting it down, a boisterous chorus of echoes repeated after the King.
Talks continued, with Princess Rhaenyra and King Viserys both taking in tribute from the other Lords for her official ascension as heiress to the throne. It was around the time of the party winding down and people beginning to drunkenly find their way back to their rooms when Dovahkiin spoke again in regards to a matter outside of sharing knowledge and history.
âI believe it would be about time to present gifts of our ownâ Dovahkiin said, a smile quirked on their lips.
âOh?â King Viserys looked on as two servants came forward.
âThank you Edward, Arthurâ Rhaenyraâs eyes snapped to the King of Dremvothkrif as they greeted the servants by name. Rising from their seat to walk around and help support this massive square shape covered in a black silk. Daemon had moved up the tables by then, sliding closer with a drink in his hand to the scene while the guests that remained sober lingered in interest. Whispered gossip of this new ally coming to such an event without bearing tribute suddenly halted in the face of evidence otherwise.
Dovahkiin snatched black silk off, revealing what was underneath.
Rhaenyra allowed herself to gape before forcibly shutting her jaw closed.
Presented in a beautiful frame of dragon glass and a clear pane of glass was a map of delicate detail. Carefully drawn specs presented mountains and forests and rivers while washes of ink seemed to make each little detail rise up from the parchment. The map had some age, slightly yellow with time and slight scuffs at the edges where it must have been torn slightly in some places â it would have been an insult had the work of the map not been so fine.
Even the Shadowlands, normally a jagged blob of ink on any map, was beautifully rendered and revealed a mountainous landscape with slightly darker swirls that appeared like smoke.
âI will freely admit that Dremvothkrif has not been as isolated as we would like people to thinkâ Dovahkiin explained with a mischievous quirk on their lips. âFor the past ten years we have been sending teams of explorers to assess a large majority of the known world and record them to the best of their ability, to expand on the knowledge gathered generations ago closer to the founding of Dremvothkrif and the arrival of the survivors of the Doom. This is the most complete result of our labor for now. I hope you donât mind the lack of lettering, it is the master copy and therefore I wasnât to add any locations until the information recorded was certain.â
Daemon was the one who spoke this time. âYou made this?â
If Dovahkiin was surprised by the sudden new voice, they did not show. âI did, sort of? Itâs really just a culmination of the work my people did once they returned home. But having a hand in the creation of a gift is a type of tradition in Dremvothkrif. To show oneâs regard and sincerity, the gift is usually of oneâs own creation. Although admittedly-â they reached out for one of the bags held by the servants and pulled out several very old set of books covered with a deep colored leather, as well as one in black that seemed very different from the others. âthis one is a bit of a cheat, itâs merely my copy of some of the books we were able to save from Old Valyria, and my own findings regarding some of the translation work.â
Dovahkiin walked over, presenting the books to Daemon, drawing Viserysâ eyes, and barely held together hysteria as it was the first time in a very very long time the older had seen his usually mercurial brother flush and in awe as he carefully reached out for the books as if they were his own children. Which might actually not be too far off actually, considering the history of Old Valyria and anything to do with the Targaryen motherland was something of a precious hobby both brothers shared.
Rhaenyra just stared unashamed, though she herself was taken aback by the gravity of what her family had just been given, what can she say? Her uncle was quite fetching in that shade of red.
âAnd finally, to the Princess of Dragon Stone and Realmâs Delight, to Princess Rhaenyra Targaryenâ the Dovahkiin reached into a different bag, this one subtly glowing before fading back into the fabric, quicker than the eyes could catch. Dov presented a beautiful set of leather armor that gleaned with iridescent scales complete with a pair of trousers, gauntlets, and boots.
Instead of allowing the servants or maids to take it away, Dovahkiin presented the armor to Rhaenyra directly, not letting go until Rhaenyra clutched the armor between her hands. Surprised at the lightness of it all, and watching the scales shift in a rainbow of color under the light. It was then that Dovahkiin allowed others to take the gauntlets and boots, all of which seemed to be a hybrid of some sort of thick black material that seemed almost wood in texture, only select parts of it being lined with this strange leather. It was well made, and definitely created with her growth in mind â the armor having several carefully tucked and hidden straps for the ultimate ease of adjustment.
However, there was also a sword.
Bladed at one edge, it was a stretch of sword that seemed to be forged to almost look like an odd tree branch, twisted until coming to a delicate bend that met with a straight line at the back of the sword. The hilt was curved at the end with a gold pommel that had just enough space to rest a pinky within the bend, closer inspection would reveal the fine filigree carved into tiny details but not enough to make the sword particularly unwieldy. Near the tang of the blade was a sprinkle of what seemed to be rubies that shined in twinkles under the firelight, almost giving the sword a glow of its own. It would be long for her age, but in time the length would be comfortable.
Lucerys, who could recognize an enchanted weapon when he saw one, knew it fucking glowed.
The rest remained in awed blissful ignorance.
âNormally, I would have the intended wielder name the weapons I makeâ Dov said, voice seemingly carried by nothing more than the hush that overcame the party. âSo I hope the Princess would pardon me for naming it before I would ask, the name of the blade is thus: Yolvey, the Fang of Flames. May it protect you well Princess.â
Dovahkiin manipulated the sword with nimble fingers, the metal singing as it cut through the air until they held it in front of them. The flat of the blade comfortably in the middle of their face.Â
Suddenly it wasnât just a King presenting gifts, suddenly it was something else. Something more. Something otherworldly, although there was only one person in the entire room who could figure out why.
The Laat Dovahkiin closed their eyes and placed a reverent kiss on the flat of it, the blade seeming to hum before settling â before Dovahkiin walked around to kneel on one knee before Rhaenyra, blade presented forth.
With shaking fingers, Rhaenyra accepted the sword, the handle warming pleasantly under her hands â and in her mindâs eye a voice whispered beneath her subconscious.
âMaster.â Whispered the sword.
Now given life.
^0~0^
âIt might have been too much, was it too much?â Dovahkiin asked, pacing the room.
âWhat exactly did you enchant her sword with?â Lucerys hissed âit glowed.â
âOh you know, if she cuts it with the right motivation it may or may not make the victim burst into flames.â
â...Dov.â
âI thought it would be useful! Plus! Dragon rider, flaming sword? I couldnât just give her a regular sword, what was I going to do? Make the thing poison whoever it cuts? Thatâs so boring.â
âIt sets people on fire Dov.â
Dov huffed crossing their arms. âI was an adventurer too you know, before I took an arrow to the knee.â
âBut did you have to do that whole ceremony? I think my Step-Father, Mother, and grandfather might have fallen in love at the same time for a short time and I am very uncomfortable with that factâ Lucerys said, partially joking, just to see the abject look of horror on the old dragonâs face.
He took a swig from a privately acquired pitcher of wine in front of his seat at Dovahkiinâs fireplace. They had given them what looked like the near best damn room in the entirety of the keep, he was fairly certain this room had been reserved for one of his siblings at one point, but he couldnât really figure out if it was him or Jace.
âItâs Skyrim traditionâ Dovahkiin defended weakly, suddenly meek âyou canât gift an enchanted weapon like that without blessing it, I had to. Besides, your family is too young for me Drog.â
âI donât think thatâs what did it Dov.â Drog made a vague motion with his hands, deliberately referring to all of Dovahkiin. âItâsâŚthis. Being around you can be very intense very quickly.â
âHuh.â
Lucerys blinked, moving away from his drink for the moment. âYou know I meant that as a joke right?â
âNo, you arenât as wrong as you may thinkâ Dovâs fingers twitched, a chair dragging itself from the side closer than what would have been advisable to the open fireplace before crashing in. âI just didnât expect them to be influenced by my presence to such a degree, I hadnât realized it would be different here.â
Dov paused before turning to the blazing fire, reaching out and arranging the wood so that they were neatly stacked. Expression contemplative before taking back their hand and patting out what cloth managed to catch on fire. âI just didnât expect the level of magic seeped into their bones; I could hardly tell them apart from the Dov that laid within that pit.â
Lucerys leaned forward âAnd Iâm only learning this now? What do you mean you have an influence?â
Dovahkiin shrugged. âI donât know the exact nature of it, I only know that my presence has an effect on living creatures. They kept my body the same, so Iâm uncertain if it is something they added, or it is simply a result of my age. Could also be my magic or the souls of the Dov I carry. It could even be whatever magic Old Valyria had used to bond riders to wyverns. The only thing I know of for certain is that most Dov recognize me, perhaps on some level, that bond they share with their wyverns might give them more insight than most would have normally. And when we metâŚâ
âArrax had diedâ Lucerys muttered, taking a bigger gulp straight from the wine pitcher. âAnd I was dead.â
Dov tilted their head to rest on their shoulder, knee tucked into the seat. âAre you going to sleep?â
âNo.â
âMe neither.â Dov drummed their fingers against the arm of the chair. âSomething doesnât feel right.â
Lucerys straightened âtrouble?â
âNot sure yetâ they said softly âI just know itâs coming.â
âYeahâ Lucerys whispered, holding the pitcher close âI feel something too. Storm. Big one.â
âMn.â
They sat in silence for the rest of the night.
-
The Targaryens that called the Red Keep home perked up as a maid came in and curtseyed before them at their breakfast.
She bowed apologetically âIâm sorry your Majesty, my Lady, my Lord. Neither their highness King Dovahkiin nor Prince Lucerys were in their rooms.â
Rhaenyra frowned âdid they leave any note as to where they were going?â
Thunder ominously rolled throughout the town, shuddering through the Red Keep.
âNo my lady, but I did inquire to some of the morning hands and they said they had both sped out of the room near sunrise in a most urgent manner.â
Then another ran through the door, one of the watchmen stationed around the city walls, a younger recruit by the look of him as he bowed before the royal family hastily. Stopping short of crashing into the dining hall completely by the Kingâs guard âT-the guests- the Prince-â
âTake a breath boyâ Daemon commanded âspeak clearly.â
The watchman took a deep breath, lungs audibly wheezing as he did so before straightening to the young manâs full height. âAt twilight his highness Prince Lucerys and the King Dovahkiin had run out and jumped off the wall.â
Rhaenyra nearly dropped her utensils. âExcuse me?â
âSomething had sped past the walls and caught them, we werenât entirely sure what to do save for raising the alarm but King Dovahkiin- they said not to and to call up however many able-bodied maester we could rouse to the wall. He- After an hour Prince Lucerys delivered two crewmembers who seemed on the verge of death. Another hour later two more. As far as we gathered, lightning had struck the main mast during the night and the combination with the storm had capsized their ship before they could make it to harbor.â The watchman took another breath âJust a few minutes ago I was ordered to report and request linen wraps to dress wounds.â
âHas the Prince returned?â King Viserys demanded.
âWe saw something at a distance, but I had been sent off before it was confirmed Sire.â
Daemon rose to his feet âwhat the actual fuck is with these royals-â
âDaemonâ King Viserys sighed.
âYou canât argue against their oddness brotherâ Daemon moved to walk out the door âIâm going to figure out what the fuck happened â you, get the linens that were requested.â
âYes my Lord.â
âIâm coming with you.â
âRhaenyraâ King Viserys sighed.
âYou placed our guests under my responsibility Father, if they are still out there, I should be among the first to fly out for their return.â
ââŚvery wellâ King Viserys grumbled âbut come straight here after, I want to know what happened.â
âYes father.â
-
âWhat in the fuck.â
Rhaenyra agreed.
âMove out of the fucking way.â The King of Dremvothkrif yelled.
Maesters and guards scrambled out of the way as the bird-like dragon dipped down in slow circles. Prince Lucerys sat behind the reigns by himself.
Which meant that King Dovahkiin was was hanging by the dragonâs talons. Daemon would be impressed if he wasnât so damn distracted by the makeshift sling that was holding one man aloft in the dragonâs grip, a series of clothes tied in complicated knots that looked like they came out of a hodgepodge of rope, cloth, and what seemed to be two shirts that made up the handle of this strange looking sling.
The King landed on the stone wall without so much as a pause, reaching out to catch the bottom of the sling.
âBo mulhaan.â
Daemon could feel his body freeze before he could wonder what happened, yet something in his mind whispered, ânot youâ.
Exchanging glances with Rhaenyra confirmed that she had felt the same thing.
Yet above them, the feathered dragon Rhaenyra had faced managed to hover just until Dovahkiin was able to catch whoever remained in the sling, setting them down gently onto the floor. Impressive considering whoever the man was laid wider than the foreign King was tall.
âHi lost drehâ Dovahkiin yelled up.
âMindoraanâ Lucerys called out.
Riiziizul screeched before turning to land, Prince Lucerys leaping from the seat to land into a roll.
âWhere are those fucking linens?!â Dovahkiin hissed.
âHere!â One Maesterâs apprentice sped past Daemon and Rhaenyra, who stood in watch as the two royals seemed to command the chaos to heel in an admittedly admirable fashion. To the point where almost everyone present for the storm seemed to skip over their presence.
âFascinating.â Rhaenyra muttered under her breath.
Daemon tilted his head in her direction without moving his eyes away from the scene before him.
âItâs as if theyâre in battleâ Rhaenyra continued âbut what are they fighting?â
Daemon glanced at some of the rescued men that seemed to have glanced the touch of the Stranger. Some passed out with their wounds but breathing. Others awake and encouraging their fellows to stay awake, the few still standing was up to their necks deep in the chaos alongside everyone else. Whether motivated by the adrenaline running through their veins or the energy dragged out of them by the foreign royalties who told them to move or be moved was anyoneâs guess.
There was a maniac energy in their eyes, a frenzied movement to each command with each moment of running from one injured man to another. Screamed or yelled or snarled over the thunderous storm and flashing lightning. Uncaring of wet clothes, uncaring of wet stones and the sweat that mixed with the cold rain. There were grim expressions on all the maesters of the like that Daemon had seen very few of; whatever this battle was, youâd think that everyone was racing to snatch away each and every soul from the Stranger.
âThe hell are you two standing around for?!â Dovahkiin barked at them âhelp me hold this man down so I can set his shoulder back!â
Daemon moved forward before he realized he was doing it, and he swore he was going to get to the bottom of why that is.
As soon as he finished with whatever this tyrannical king wanted him to do.
Unbeknownst to any party, Lucerys was in a crisis.
The frantic chaos of a team of maesters, his stepfather and his own mother was bizarrely familiar. Even with the crazy old dragon ordering them around and somehow getting the two most stubborn people heâs ever known to take orders from someone who wasnât each other or his grandfather.
Ignoring the storm was second nature to him now, ignoring the hair sticking down to his head and the wet fabric that clung to his form and made his entire body heat amongst the chill. He worked quickly and efficiently as he could afford, cleaning and wrapping wounds and carefully assessing and noting down any major injuries he could find. The years had taught him to be a passible healer, but he wasnât quite good enough to fix every single thing.
As the storm slowly began to pass over Kingâs Landing, sunlight filtered through. Rain petering into a soft drizzle that washed some of the blood away into the crack of the stone walls. He wiped and cleaned and bandaged as he could, checked and double checked to make sure the man was breathing and the lungs were clear of water. Attempting to avoid looking at this manâs face as best he could until he could avoid it no longer.
High cheekbones. A handsome face with a sharp jawline that was showing just the slightest hint of beard, wet and long blond hair curled from the humid storm, one eye shut from exertion. Another that was no longer there.
âHowâ he thought, half hysterical âhow are you here?! Why?!â
He felt someone nudge him at the edge of his mind, Dovahkiin, sensing his ongoing conflict. Pushing him back from the brink with a firm but gentle shove.
Lucerys bit his bottom lip as he carefully brushed away the damp near silver locks from his current chargeâs face, fingers gently sinking beneath to assess any damage to the skull â and finding only one spot that was slightly beginning to swell. The coldness of the rain had halted some of the progress, but he could tell based on the size and location that he would be unconscious for some time.
No blood from there though, which he supposed was good.
â-ire? Sire? Does this man require anythingâ one Maester asked.
He shook his head âhead injury and some minor bruising, he should be fine once he gets dried off and warmed. Are there any others who need assistance?â
âNo sireâ the maester glanced in a direction that drew Lucerysâ eye. Towards Dovahkiin who was hovering over someoneâs leg, expression blank before twisting the foot back from its odd position and ignoring the howling screams of its owner. Daemon at the other side holding the man down while Rhaenyraâs brow furrowed in concentration to focus on their instruction, wrapping the splint as evenly as she could in such.
âAny dead?â Lucerys asked, startling the maester, counting the heads â what brief glances he was able to take of their ship had informed him that there shouldâve been at least thirty crew members, it was a little over the number.
âN-no sire, all of them are alive, if not awake.â The maester bowed âI-I admit I havenât- this is-â
Lucerys turned back to face the maester, rather young, maybe not quite a maester but an apprentice of one â or just someone who was misfortunate enough to have enough knowledge in the matters of medicine and healing to be dragged along with Dovahkiinâs orders.
â-why sire?â he was asked.
Lucerys blinked before shrugging. âThey needed help. So we helped.â
âBut they are- theyâre just-â the man tried and failed to continue his sentence, but the message was clear enough to understand. âTheyâre just sailorsâ, these men were just regular people. Why is it that a King and a Prince would try so hard to save them? Lucerys himself hadnât quite realized that it probably was odd that a King and a Prince were trying so hard to forcibly drag a couple of sailors to the land of the living with so much vigor. That was just how things were in Dremvothkrif; he hadnât realized it was so odd.
Lucerys whipped the water running down his face, the sun beginning to warm the rocks below as the whole world seemed to calm. Seemed to take a breath, a moment of respite from the chaos of the storm.
âIâm not sureâ Lucerys said honestly âwe just wanted to.â
He watched as Dovahkiin turned on their side to lie on the wet stone, heaving, just before laughing and yelling something into the sky in a language Lucerys had never heard before.
He laughed regardless. Â
Daemon and Rhaenyra, wet and damp with dirt clinging to fancy silken cloth â sat near them, looking on incredulously.
-
âHow soon are they leaving?â Daemon hissed.
Viserys looked up to find both his brother soaked to the bone and his daughter nowhere in sight, giving leave for the King to stare daggers at his brother in question.
âDo you know what we saw when we got to the wall?â Daemon paced in front of his brotherâs desk âthat Prince Lucerys flying in on a feathered dragon with the King dangling off its foot.â
King Viserys frowned âwhat for? That dragon seemed perfectly fine flying with the two of them.â
âThey were transporting some injured manâ Daemon hair flew into his face as he gestured âand then proceeded to order the rest of us around like we were some sort of pack dogs and the worse part is I followed, Rhaenyra and I just fell in line like a couple of pups and I cannot figure out how.â
King Viserys expression morphed, as if the sheer idea that either Daemon or Rhaenyra would just allow themselves to be ordered around without fuss was the true horror in the entire situation.
âWe canât just send them away merely because their presence isâŚunsettlingâ King Viserys motioned towards the pile of books âthey gave us anecdotal literature from Old Valyria, never mind the map and the armor. These records and books provide a clearer image of Old Valyria than weâve ever hand in the past few centuries after Aegon the Conqueror â and this-â he lifted up the dictionary âhas been the key to understand all of it.â
Daemon sighed, dragging over a nearby chair and crashing into it. ââŚI donât like it Viserys. Theyâre tooâŚstrange.â
King Viserys snorted âyou sound like every other preacher of the seven Daemon, are you sure your coin isnât teetering?â
At Daemonâs continued silence, King Viserys paused in his reading to really look at his brother. Watching the youngerâs expression twitch every now and then, no doubt going through plan after plan after plan.
âWhat is this really about Daemon?â he asked softly. âIâve spoken little with King Dovahkiin, they seem kind.â He kept an eye on his brotherâs expression â tracking every twitch and minute shift of expression with an expert eye. It could have been a number of things, but as much as he wished it wasnât the case, it has been a very long while since either of them had really sat down to talk much about anything these days.
Especially after Aemma passed.
âI donât trust that power they wield, and I donât trust they wonât use it to burn us to the ground.â Daemonâs fingers tended to twitch a little when he was restless, drumming against his thighs or against the arm of the chair if he wasnât up and moving around. If Viserys remembered their childhood correctly, the number of tutors who failed to train the habit out of it couldnât be counted on both hands.
âHave we given them reason to?â Viserys rose a brow.
ââŚno.â
âDo we plan on giving them a reason?â
ââŚno.â
Viserys nodded, leaning back into his chair. âI spoke with the maids in charge of seeing to their needs.â
âAnd?â Daemon snapped.
Ignoring this, Viserys continued âshe said that Prince Lucerys requested a pitcher of wine and entered the room after King Dovahkiin. Inside there was no noise save for the sound of conversation, the context of which we have no idea of. She did hear, however, that they were worried for an oncoming storm.â
Daemon frowned.
âThen, two hours before sunrise, when the morning servants were beginning their duties. Both ran out of their rooms as if the Stranger himself was at their heels. Ser Westerling told me that Dovahkiin bellowed loud enough that he thought a dragon was attacking the keep. They jumped off the ledge and onto the dragon just as soon as she appearedâ Viserys let that sit for a little while longer while he poured himself something to drink. âTheir ways of dragon riding is mysterious Daemon, even Rhaenyra couldnât make heads or tales of it. Only that King Dovahkiin and Prince Lucerys of Dremvothkrif spoke, and the dragon responded to it. Which means a quite a few things.â
Daemon inched closer, head tilted sideways in curiosity.
âThey have an entirely different way of dragon riding, one that could not have come from Old Valyria â but they do hail from the Shadowlandsâ Viserys nodded to the hand drawn map encased in a frame of dragon glass, now hanging in his office. âMy guess is that much of both their behaviors stem from the dangers living in such a place entails.â
âWhich is..?â Daemon drawled.
âOne simpler, but more brutal than ours brother. I do not think Dovahkiin was attempting to make their accolades impressive when they described Hydras, there wasnât any attached story of some grand battle against one of the creatures. It was condensed, informative. As if I was simply being told how to get to an inn faster through a shortcut. It means that the Septum clan most likely rose to power from sheer strength and home advantage, rather than cunning. They are dragons that happen to be resting Daemon, give them no threat and they will have no reason to retaliate.â Viserys took a drink before setting it down, a smile faint on his lips. âItâs honestly rather refreshing not needing to worry about political interests or manners of the court. I can feel safe knowing that if my daughter ever were to find herself in trouble with them around, theyâd sooner more likely rip heads off the one responsible than see how they will make themselves heroes in my eyes and the eyes of Rhaenyra.â
After another moment of silence, Viserys sighed and turned to stare at Daemon amidst his brotherâs obsession with preparing for every little moment of potential betrayal. Not that he blamed him too much for it, after the announcement of Viserysâ ascension to King, his brother had grown twice as weary when the whispers began of Viserys being ill fit for the throne. Too soft, too cautious, not daring enough. A scholar rather than a warrior. Daemon apparently took it upon himself to be the extreme version of what everyone wanted if only to counter-balance his brother and make Viserys seem the obvious better choice.
It isnâtâ that Viserys was ungrateful for it, but he mourned the man Daemon could have been if he didnât have to lean into his extremes.
âIt isnât wrong that youâre so weary Daemon, but I truly believe they donât wish to pose any threat to us so long as we do not give them any reason to. If you so wish, spend time with Prince Lucerys if King Dovahkiin is too influential for your liking. I know Rhaenyra has a soft spot for the boy.â
âShe what?â
He rolled his eyes. âOh stop embarrassing yourself, itâs unbecoming of you. When I asked of Prince Lucerysâ marital status, his King said in no uncertain terms that any offer of marriage to the Prince of Dremvothkrif will be declined or ignored and rudely rejected if I so much as breathed such a request. They said, and I am repeating in verbatim: âMy brother is uninterested in such prospectsâ and changed the subject. Not that you would have known considering how hard you were staring at Rhaenyra and the Prince as they talked.â
âWhat the- no marriage alliances? How the fuck do they maintain peace between families?â
King Viserys shrugged âWhen I tried to ask, all they said was âI tell them to cut it out, and if they donât I drag the ones pushing the argument and throw them into the sea to cool offâ.â
Daemon snickered despite himself, âif only it were so easy.â
âYes well, I imagine thereâs a very good reason they made Dovahkiin King in a land known to be the home of dragons and what other man-eating creatures also live there for a very good reason.â King Viserys frowned âI only worry that I donât know the extent of that power. Is it magic? Is it simply strength? Resourcefulness? Perhaps all those things combined in certain combinations â I am unsure. And we wonât know unless they remain as guests for a while longer.â
Daemon groaned âso you want me to hang around the boy for information.â
âI am certain theyâre more genuine than most of the people in this kingdom Daemonâ Viserys deadpanned âbut I like the fact that we know virtually nothing about them just as much as you do. I will pursue the thread with King Dovahkiin, can I trust you and Rhaenyra will figure something out with the Prince? And no, you cannot deliberately humiliate him or pick fights with him.â
Daemon sighed but nodded. âFine. You really are lucky I love you, you know that?â
âSometimes I wonder if itâs more of a curse than a boonâ King Viserys muttered to himself.
Daemon scowled.
âYes yes, love you too, now get your wet ass off my furniture.â
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#lucemond#unslaad#now featuring the rest of the Targaryen fam who I think I know of#I'll bring in the others soon enough don't worry#I just wanted to establish these two first#honestly i'm pretty sure they ooc#but yunno what you don't fuckin give ur brother an entire conquered kingdom that you originally conquered yourself and not love him a littl#tho whether that's platonic or romantic is anyone's guess#idk Daemon does kind of give me brothercon vibes from the clips#also i did insert maybe a little bit of 11's habits into this man#he really is an amazing actor#but i just wanted to give daemon something other than this looming murder cat he's got going on#just too hard to write for me#I also like to imagine that the way dovahkiin does things is really odd to this court because all of them are fuckin nobles#lucerys just has about a couple centuries worth of experience getting used to it#but if you think about it#the dragonborn in skyrim the game is pretty much a commoner#a landing owning commoner after a while#but a commoner still with the option of being murder hobo or just a person who takes job requests from people#and coming from a land where e v e r y t h i n g wants to kill you#when someone calls for help or is being attacked the usual instinct is to see what's up and kill the attacking thing first if it's attackin#but that's just how i played the game#also one the men they saved#hohohohoh#p l o t#now to murder or not to murder ser cole#idk that man gives me bad vibes i might just off him#or just maybe knock him around a lil#next time on dragon riding the drama-#if ur reading the tags here's a fun fact
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