Chapter 3.5- The Seadragon's Roar

From the skies, King’s Landing was a jewel of a city. It made Driftmark look drab in comparison with its ills, its massive walls, its multiple gates, and at the very center of it the behemoth of red stone— the Red keep. It was a massive castle that put most others to shame. In my opinion, High Tide was more beautiful but there might have been some bias there. In the harbour, we could see the ships bearing the Velaryon sails and how they put all the others next to them to shame. Meleys’ roar announced our arrival as she sharply banked and began a circuit around the city that would have been hers if the world was fair.

I leaned down on my saddle and rubbed Igneel’s scales, pulling at our bond. He took the signal and roared an answering roar before banking as well, joining Meleys’ circuit. We had rehearsed this so many times that I could see it all in my mind’s eye. But Igneel and I were not the cause for concern. That was why I turned in my saddle to see behind me— Igneel knew his role well enough that I did not need to direct him. In every rehearsal, Vhagar had done one of two things— either followed through and performed her place or gone rogue and done something else. ‘Come on, you Bronze Bitch’ I silently prayed and it seemed she could somehow hear me because she turned her head right in my direction.

Those green eyes met mine, and I could see an intelligence in them. An intelligence that knew just how important this would be to me. So I was not truly surprised when instead of roaring, she shot bright flames all around her, obscuring her head from view for a second, and then she moved. I almost fell off the saddle in shock as she moved at what had to be double her usual speed for a few seconds, mouth open and snapping in my direction. Fuck. I turned, barely managing to keep my wits about me as I begged Igneel to accelerate.

He listened, and we missed her snapping teeth by the scales of our hide, and then she slowed, moving back to join the formation as rehearsed, growling all the while. For the rest of my life, I would swear that the dragon had been laughing at me on this day, and no one, not even Laena my partner in all things believed me. We completed the seven laps around the village with no issue before landing in the Red Keep itself. Faux pas? Maybe. But Viserys had gotten our knees to bend. We would not see him chain our dragons like dogs as well. At least, I wouldn’t.

At the Keep’s courtyard stood Corlys and his men. He had his wife in his arms bare seconds after she dismounted.