Chapter Text
Aerion’s body swayed slightly with the rocking of the ship. He was already sick of the foul smell of it, the terrible food and drinks. Is it not enough that a dragon prince needs to put up with all these things, now he also needs to deal with the nauseating movements in the sea.
The whole things was put in haste apparently, or maybe his father did not care to give him a ship for a prince of the blood. The only respectful things on this sad piece of wood, other than the prince himself were the guards assigned to him.
They did not make for good company though. Avoiding the princes gaze and trying to be far away from him and his actions, but close enough in case they have to step in.
Aerion looked around the sad bunch he was surrounded by. all filthy peasants who do not comprehend that greatness that is near them, doing their simple minded labor. He was bored beyond anyone understating,
And worst of all,
He was alone.
An alone dragon. How terrible. How unfair.
His eyes caught someone. A woman. Which was strange since all he saw on the boarded ship were men, who no lady, or even a peasant maiden, would be comfortable with.
She had blonde hair that almost passed as white. She had a nice figure as well. She looked at him with grey eyes and smiled shyly, before disappearing through a door.
Aerion smirked, “ stay back here” he orders the knights and went after the maiden to pleasure himself.
He followed after he steps but did not find her. Instead , an old woman was sitting down, a marble ball infront of her. she glanced up at the exiled prince with deep grey eyes.
“ your grace, welcome!”
She said,
“ a girl passed though here, where has she gone ? ”
“ A girl? No I have not seen what you think you saw my prince”
Aerion face twisted “ do not lie to me! I saw a girl come here, and I want her”
“ oh please forgive me my prince, my eyes are not what they were in the past, perhaps you are right and I simply missed the maiden you are speaking of, forgive me my lord dragon “
The title of lord dragon calmed Aerion down. Finally someone is understanding who stand before them.
“ Since I cannot aid you in your Search, maybe I can offer you something else?”
Aerion made a disgusted face, causing the woman to laugh.
“ not like that my prince! I am a wish-maker you see from Lys, I can grant you one if you’d like”
Aerion rolled his eyes at her. “Why not. But when I get bored of this you will regret it”
Aerion sat down infront of the woman, the crystal ball between them.
“ oh this is hard! What to give a prince such as yourself? You possess beauty that rivals nature, a strength that many men can train to gain but they never can. The grandson of the good king. How can I possibly satisfy you your grace?”
Aerion tsked, he wanted to take his anger on the woman and be done with this show.
“ oh I know! Your family’s hearts, their love! Would you wish for that?”
Aerion blinked slowly. He slammed the table and it shook, almost breaking the crystal ball.
“ how dare you suggest that the royal family does not care for me?! I’m their son! A knight who is stronger than the heirs heir, who Excels at everything that has to do with our house! And you suggest that they have no love for me ? Fire and blood binds them to me!”
“ of course my prince! I would never dare suggest such thing! What I mean is that they don’t show you the love you think you deserve don’t you ? You deserve more from them”
Aerion took a step back,
She was right.
His family does not show him the adoration and love he has earned and deserves.
He is a prince of the blood, yet they see him as a curse more than a blessing.
He surpassed every family male member in his age. instead of being proud, his family worries whenever he holds a sword.
He tired to protect their family’s name, they fight against him and exile him. blame him for their poor choices.
If he was not related to them , they would’ve beheaded him a long time ago, he knows that. They are clueless to how blessed they are with him.
“ you want to shine in their eyes, don’t you ? I can make that whenever they look at you, you be someone they would love to no end, They would want to satisfy your every whim and wish, even the king himself, your grandfather”
She looked at him with a gentle smile, as the crystal ball started filling up with red and orange smoke.
Aerion looked down at her,at the fire that always called for him from a young age.
“ do you make that wish, my prince ?”
Aerion sight did not leave the fire,
“ yes”
The crystal ball cracked , and a burning green consumed Aerion before he can let out a piercing scream.
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He woke up still screaming, having not stopped even thought his skin ceased melting.
He was feeling his body, making sure it is still there, that it has not turned into ash like his uncle’s did.
“My prince!!” A knight yelled as he entered the room, sword drawn looking for the threat.
The prince was still withering and letting out soft sounds of pains, cooling the fire that was on him.
“Aerion!” His father, prince Maekar, entered the room and went to his son.
“ what happened boy? “ his father asked, and Aerion must’ve been dead, since his father’s tone was soft. Makear Targaryen
soft.
“I-I-I there was a fire….the ship and the the lady!” Aerion looked at his dad with frightened eyes.
“ just a bad dream Aerion, you are fine son” Maekar said, Aerion thinks so, he refused to believe his father was able to sound gentle.
“ you can go now” the prince orders the knight before returning to his son,” let’s go to bed, alright? You had an exhausting day, traveling is what prompted this”
Makear tucked, TUCKED, Aerion into bed, wiping a tear that the young Prince was not even aware of.
“ where am I …..?” Aerion whispered, trembling.
“ At Ashford Aerion, we’re safe, alright? Now sleep son, I’ll be here beside you” makear took Aerions hand into his.
Confused, the young Prince shut his eyes, hoping to wake up to from this weird dream and back onto the ship headed for Lys.
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“ Aerion, Aerion….”
A voice called. Aerion refused to open his eyes, dodging himself more into the soft cushion.
“ Aerion, you need to eat….”
The familiar voice kept calling, but awrion ignored it, hiding his face under a pillow. He heard a soft chuckle right before a hand grabbed the pillow.
“ sweetling…. You must eat” the pillow was taken away from him. Aerion finally opened his eyes only to let out a startled yell and crashing on the floor as he tired to get away from the person who disturbed his sleep.
The man hurried to the other side of the bed to help, but Aerion crawled away from him.
This is Revenge, this is hell!
What else would it be?
If Baelor Targaryen is standing before him breathing, what else would be but punishment for aerions sins ?
“ whats wrong?! Did you have another nightmare !”
His uncle, his breathing uncle, came close to him and kneeled.
“ oh poor boy, your dreams have frightened you very much, haven’t they? I’m here you are safe now”
Baelor helped the young princeling to his feet, Aerion face full of fear still.
“ your father was not exaggerating I’m afraid, sit down so we can get you some calming tea”
Baelor guided his silent nephew to a chair. He went to the knight standing outside and orders Aerion the drink.
“ make sure it is not too hot”
Baelor went back to Aerion, who was in the chair gripping his pants and shaking at the whole ordeal.
None of this can be real, none of it.
A Warm hand stroked through his silver hair.
“ its alright sweetling, nothing bad will happen to you now, your uncle is here”
Aerions head was about to explode. How can he react to any of this?
He would have had an easier time believing that his uncle rose from his ashes back to life than for him to call Aerion “sweetling”.
“ my prince” the knight came into the room with a cup of tea. Baelor thanked him before taking it, blowing on it once, and putting it near Aerions mouth.
Aerion simply opened up allowing his uncle to help him drink the tea, maybe he truly needs it.
“ there, I’m sure you feel better” Baelor held his nephews face tenderly, making the boy look at him.
Baelor cooed at the sight of streak of tears on the pale face, “ your father would go mad if he saw you”
“ I-i do not understand uncle,
Why are you here ?”
The heir smiled at him, “ you took too long coming downstairs,and yoru father was busy with your siblings”
“No no how- how are you here ? Here?”
“ I’m afraid I do not understand your question sweet nephew, but I’m sure it all would be answers after you had some food in you”
Aerion doubted that deeply.