Dragon's flame

[DRAGONSTONE]

[AERION POV]

I sat on my kepa's lap while muna cradled my newborn brother, Baelor. He looked just like Gaemon when he was a baby. Aemon and Aemma are inseparable, always clinging to each other. Gaemon, though only two name days old, spent most of his time learning about dragons from Rhyun. He had shown a remarkable interest in dragons.

I mean, who wouldn't love dragons? I just wished my egg had hatched. None of my younger siblings' eggs had hatched either, though.

Then I saw elaena enter the chamber with a bright smile. She had striking red eyes, silver hair, and... she was my future wife—or so muna said.

I jumped down from my father's lap and rushed toward her. Together, we ran toward the chamber's doors before kepa's voice stopped us.

"Aerion, it's time to sleep. Gather your brothers and sisters," kepa said firmly.

---

Darkness surrounded me. Then suddenly, the sky filled with dragon-like creatures. But they weren't dragons. They were smaller, uglier, and lacked the majestic aura of true dragons. Their green and white scales gleamed under the light, and unlike dragons, they didn't breathe fire.

Atop these creatures were riders, tearing apart crossbows at King's Landing. I watched as Grandsire's dragon, Vermithor, burned many of the creatures alive, only to be overwhelmed by numerous of them. The rest of the creatures charged toward the Red Keep.

Some of these creatures threw off their riders mid-flight and began attacking them. It looked like there was no bond between them, or perhaps... there never had been.

I woke suddenly, sweat coating my brow. I was lying beside Gaemon and Aemma, who clung to me even in their sleep. Rhaena was on my right side, with Aemon between us.

---

[AELYX POV]

It had been nearly a year since the Tyrosh War. I had another son, whom I named Baelor. I wanted to stop having children, but Daenerys wouldn't hear of it. She wanted more children than Queen Alyssane and King Jaehaerys.

All I wanted was for my children to be happy. Gaemon had a deep passion for dragons, Aemma and Aemon were always sneaking around Dragonstone, and Rhaena and Aerion spent most of their time in the yard, training with Ser Willis Fell of the Kingsguard. Father had assigned him to us some time ago.

Soon, Helaena would join us too. When she reached ten name days, Alicent planned to send her to Dragonstone until her marriage, which she would soon discuss with Father.

"Kepa."

I looked down to see Aerion clinging to my pants, his face a mixture of excitement and worry.

I picked him up in my arms. "What is it, my little dragon?"

"Kepa, I had a dream."

My senses sharpened. I was a dreamer. Daenerys had been one too, before the blood ritual in her previous life . It was highly likely our children had inherited this gift.

"What did you see?"

Aerion's innocent yet serious voice replied, "I saw small, dragon-like creatures with green and white scales attacking King's Landing. They hurt Grandsire and Vermithor. People were riding those creatures."

My blood ran cold. Wyverns. Wyverns from the Green Hell of Sothoryos. But why were they in King's Landing? And riders?

Wyverns were far too ferocious to be tamed. According to ancient Valyrian chronicles, the Valyrians had once tried to tame them, but even blood magic had failed. Partial control had only been achieved through the sacrifice of thousands of lives, and the method was now lost to the Doom.

Had someone rediscovered it? Were they planning an attack on House Targaryen?

I kissed Aerion on the forehead and gently set him down. "Go play."

Aerion ran off toward the yard.

---

[DAENERYS POV]

The future had shifted drastically—events like the Heir's Territory and the War with Tyrosh had set us on a different course. But it had to be this way if we were to save the dragons from extinction.

I cradled my newborn son. Aelyx wanted to stop having children, but I didn't. They were so beautiful, so tiny, and watching them grow brought me far more joy than my conquests in Westeros or Slaver's Bay ever had.

Still, if my family was ever in danger, I wouldn't hesitate to burn King's Landing again.

Vaxylis had grown, now rivaling sea smoke in size, while Vhagar had become even larger. She would rival Balerion's size in a few more years. Aelyx spent most of his days riding her with our children.

None of their eggs had hatched yet, so they compensated by riding Vhagar with Aelyx. At first, she had been grumpy, but over time she accepted them. The children had even started calling her "Grandma Vhagar." It was amusing to hear.

Suddenly, Aelyx burst into the chambers, his hair disheveled as if he had been running.

"We need to talk," he said urgently.

I handed Baelor to a maid and listened as he explained everything. My initial shock turned into a grim resolve. After some thought, I spoke.

"We need to inform the rest of House Targaryen, but only after our spies confirm this."

"That might be too late," Aelyx said gravely. "We should send a raven to Father with what we know."

I nodded. Together, we walked to the maester's chambers. Our maester was a Rhoenar we had bribed into the Citadel to Admit some Rhoenar into the maester order and then assign those maester's wherever we want to act as our spies.

The ravens flew off with orders for our spies and a warning for King's Landing.

---

[KING'S LANDING]

Ser Harrold Westerling walked swiftly toward the King's chambers, holding a red-sealed letter from Dragonstone. Prince Aelyx always used red seals for urgent matters and blue for casual correspondence.

Ser Rickard Thorne and Ser Arryk Cargyll opened the chamber doors upon seeing the urgency in the Lord Commander's stride.

Inside, Viserys Targaryen was carefully assembling a model of Old Valyria. Thanks to the Rhoenar healers and bonding with Vermithor, Viserys had regained his health. He was more energetic now, and his complexion had improved significantly.

"What is it, Harrold?" Viserys asked, his tone bored.

"It's a red-sealed letter from Dragonstone," Harrold replied cautiously.

Viserys immediately stood, taking the letter and reading it carefully.

_____________

[Letter]

To the King of the Seven Kingdoms and my father,

Aerion had a dream of wyvern riders attacking King's Landing and laying it to waste. I would have dismissed it, but the details were too precise. I urge you to prepare King's Landing for such an assault.

—Aelyx Targaryen

_________________

Viserys's expression darkened as he reread the letter. His mind raced with speculation.

"Call the Master of Whisperers and prepare King's Landing for an attack from the skies," Viserys ordered.

Harrold's shock was evident, but he wasted no time. Whenever a red-sealed letter came from Prince Aelyx, it meant war for House Targaryen.

He stormed out to carry out the King's orders, leaving Viserys alone in thought.

"Seven above, seven below... wyverns. Thank the gods I claimed Vermithor."