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The sun had just risen over the Red Keep, casting a golden glow over the red and black tapestries of House Targaryen. The morning air was still cool, with a gentle breeze passing through the doors of the Dragonpit. In the Dragonpit, Princess Jaenara Targaryen—known as Jean to those closest to her, was dragging Lady Ororo Arryn through the caverns with an excited look on her face.
"Oh, trust me, Ororo, you'll love it!" Jean said, her voice echoing against the stone walls.
Ororo couldn’t help but giggle at her friend’s enthusiasm. She had traveled to King’s Landing once more with her parents, Lord Dave and Lady N’Dare Arryn, as she did every year to visit her betrothed. Engaged to Jaenara since birth, Ororo and Jean had always shared an unspoken bond, their connection deeper than duty. The scent of sulfur and damp stone filled the air, mingling with the distant rumble of a dragon’s breath.
“You told me that last time,” said Ororo, brushing her white hair behind her ear. “When you asked me to teach you how to swim in Blackwater Bay, you nearly drowned.”
Jean laughed a melodic sound that cut through the otherwise eerie silence of the pit. “You can't compare my dragon to swimming lessons. Phoenix is a gentle beast.” She led Ororo deeper into the shadows where the faint rumble of dragon breath could be heard.
Ororo’s heart pounded. She had heard tales of dragons—their scales shining like precious gems and their flames melting through even the strongest of Valyrian steel—but this was different. She was seeing a dragon up close for the first time.
As they approached, Ororo saw the faint glow of a dragon's ember-like eyes. Phoenix lay coiled, her vibrant red and gold scales shimmering even in the dim light. The dragon's head lifted, and she let out a low purr at the sight of Jean.
Jean stepped forward, unafraid, and placed a gentle hand on the beast’s snout. Phoenix nudged her, exhaling a warm breath that ruffled Jean’s red hair. “This is Phoenix,” Jean said, looking at the creature fondly, “My heart made flesh.”
Ororo stepped closer, captivated. “She's...beautiful,” yet those words felt inadequate.
Jean’s eyes sparkled. “Do you wish to fly her?”
Ororo hesitated, torn between the thrill of adventure and the consequences it might bring. She wasn’t afraid of Phoenix—how could she be, knowing the dragon belonged to Jean? But she knew her parents would not approve of such a reckless act. Still, the infectious excitement in Jean’s eyes was impossible to resist.
Jean swung herself effortlessly onto Phoenix's back, then reached a hand down to Ororo. "Come on, my lady. I will not let you fall."
Ororo took Jean's hand, her nerves mingling with exhilaration as she climbed up. Settling behind Jean, she wrapped her arms tightly around the princess's waist. Phoenix shifted beneath them, powerful muscles tensing in anticipation. With a command from Jean, Phoenix let out a roar that shook the walls of the Dragonpit, then launched into the sky with a mighty beat of her wings.
Ororo's breath hitched as they shot upward, the world below shrinking away into a patchwork of red rooftops and distant waters.
The wind whipped through Ororo’s hair as they soared over the red keep. Ororo had always felt a strong connection with the wind, being so high in the air with dragon scales underneath her fingertips made it feel stronger. The city of Kingslanding stretched out under them, a sea of life and movement that seemed so small from the sky. and the sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon. The first rays of dawn painted the sky in shades of pink and gold, casting long shadows over the city below. Phoenix's wings sliced through the morning mist, each beat a reminder of the power and majesty beneath them.
Jean guided Phoenix higher, breaking through a layer of clouds until they emerged into a world of blue sky and endless sunshine. Ororo gasped as they hovered above the blanket of clouds, the sun reflecting off Phoenix’s scales, making them glow like molten fire. The air was crisp and cold up here, but with Jean in front of her, Ororo felt nothing but warmth.
“Look,” Jean said, her voice soft and reverent as she pointed towards the horizon. “The world is ours up here.”
Ororo’s eyes widened at the sight of the rising sun, a radiant ball of light that seemed close enough to touch. The beauty of it left her breathless. She tightened her grip around Jean’s waist, feeling the steady beat of the princess’s heart against her own.
“It’s… it’s perfect,” Ororo whispered, her voice tinged with awe.
Jean glanced back at her, eyes gleaming with an emotion that went beyond the thrill of the ride. “No,” she said, her voice thick with sincerity, “you’re perfect.”
Ororo met Jean’s gaze, her own heart pounding in her chest. There, above the clouds with nothing but the sky around them, everything felt right. “Jean, I—” Ororo hesitated, the words catching in her throat. She had always known she loved Jean, but saying it out loud felt different—final, powerful, and terrifying.
Jean reached back, her fingers finding Ororo’s hand and squeezing it gently. “I love you, Ororo. Not just as a friend, not just as my betrothed, but with everything that I am. I have since the first time I saw you.”
Ororo’s breath hitched, tears welling in her eyes as she leaned closer, resting her forehead against Jean’s. “I love you too, Jean,” she confessed, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I have always loved you.”
They stayed like that for a moment, the world around them lost in the glow of the rising sun and the warmth of their shared confession. With a soft nudge, Phoenix descended, gliding gracefully back towards the Red Keep. When they landed, Jean dismounted first, turning to help Ororo down, but neither let go of the other’s hand.
As their feet touched solid ground, Jean pulled Ororo close, her lips brushing against her cheek before finally finding her mouth. The kiss was soft, a promise of what was to come, of a love that had been there all along but now had the freedom to grow.
The sun continued to rise behind them, bathing the two women in light, as if blessing their newfound love. For Jean and Ororo, the world below might still hold expectations and duties, but up here, above the clouds and closer to the sun, they were free.