Chapter 26.1- The Seadragon's Roar

XXXXX- LAENA VELARYON.

“Ser Ben, go get the Maester” She heard mother say as Laenor began to close his eyes. Mother had left Daemon to come over to them now. The older man— she didn’t know how he was…didn’t care either. Leanor’s body was burning up to the pot t that it was beginning to feel uncomfortable to hold him.

“No. We need to get him to Igneel” She said.

“What?”

“He asked for Igneel. We need to get him to Igneel” She argued.

“No. The Maester can know what to do in this situation. He’s been poisoned. What would a dragon do about that?” Mother didn’t seem to understand. Laenor wouldn’t have asked for Igneel if he didn’t think there was something the dragon could do.

“Bernard doesn’t even have a link in medicine. He won’t be able to do anything. Ser Ben, please” She begged the Knight.

“My Lady?” He looked over at Mother.

“Seven give me strength. Let’s go to the dragon” She sighed. Laena would have enjoyed the small victory if her brother wasn’t dying on the floor right now. Ser Ben swung him into his grip and began to run. Laena and her mother followed, neither sparing much of a thought for the other person that had been poisoned. The one that presently lay on the floor dying….alone and unloved.

The halls of Bloodstone Keep were a blur to her eye. Between the tears that had begun falling of their own volition and the speed at which they covered the castle, there was no chance for her to take note of the turns they took. Ser Ben, however, led them through the castle like he knew it as well as he knew his own hand. Of course Laenor’s incessant need to explore every nook and cranny of the place would pay some dividends.

“Is he still…” She heard mother huff as they struggled to keep up with the Knight even thought he was wearing a full suit of plate armour and carrying a teenage boy in his arms.

“He is, my Lady” Ser Ben’s voice betrayed none of his own exhaustion. It took them what felt like an eternity to reach the castle’s exit. And it struck her then just how empty the castle had been. Apart from the cooks and a skeleton crew of guards, they had been the only ones in the castle.

The doors swung open and then they were in the Courtyard. Igneel was waiting for them. He practically rushed their position, forcing Ser Ben to drop Laenor lest the dragon devour him.

This better work. Igneel let out a roar as he reached, Laenor’s position, before nuzzling Laenor’s head. Then came the whine, and that was the saddest sound Laena would ever hear in her life. She felt her eyes moisten anew. They were too late? No. It wasn’t possible. Before she could move though, Igneel had leaned his head back and opened his mouth wide.

“Igneel no” She cried, voice instantly swallowed by the roar of flames as her brother’s dragon burnt his body.