Work Text:
Merax laid in his bed, listening to the sounds of destruction reverberate through Valyria. He couldn’t move: something had crashed into the roof, dislodging a beam that fell on his legs. Tiles and debris were scattered in his room. An instinctual part of him knew this was the end.
Even if someone could move the beam, one glance out the window told him the truth. The Fourteen Flames were raging: chunks of flaming stone thrown upward, clouds darkening the sky, it was getting harder to breathe the sulfurous heat. Joining the symphony were screams of the damned and dying: human and dragon alike.
Staring up at the ceiling, his mind aflame, legs numb, the only choice he had was contemplation.
Tears began to fall, his last lament, as Merax thought of all that would never be now. His mind first went to his parents: why was I so stupid? I should have hugged Mother more; learned from Father when he tried to show me sailing… I should have said yes when they wanted to go on walks together. Said yes to everything. All I told them was no. Is that what they are thinking of now? He shut his eyes in a grimace as he wondered what was happening to them.
Then came his estranged brother. All those times I avoided reaching out to him because I was afraid… Now I can never tell him what he meant to me. How sorry I was for what I had done as children. A coward’s heart beats in my chest. When I see you next, Argel, I will tell you everything I never said. I’ll take you to my favorite places, the best spots to eat in town and the loveliest of gardens. We’ll talk and play and sing together. One last time.
Merax wiped tears from his eyes as he heard the whistling scream of boulders falling from the sky, roaring thunderous booms as they crashed into eyries, shops, temples and houses. The earth shook whenever one hit near his apartment.
Then came his cousins, aunts and uncles - flung to the corners of the empire. Why did we only meet a few times a year? Write so sparsely? Why did we run away from each other? All the memories we could have made… He wondered if the wrath of the volcanoes reached them.
When we meet again I will tell you all everything I should have said. Kiss every cheek and hug you all so tightly. Every favorite memory, gift and letter will be shared. Every hurt I will forgive. He would make sure his family felt every ounce of love he had to give.
He watched the ashes fall outside.