Chapter Text
Rhea stood in the cavernous chamber where Maegor had called for them. Vermithor’s roars still echoed in her ears, her heartbeat thrumming with the exhilaration of her first flight. But now, as she faced her father’s cold, unreadable expression, her excitement gave way to apprehension.
Maegor’s violet eyes bore into her with an intensity that could freeze a wildfire. He turned his gaze to Jaehaerys, who stood beside her, calm and resolute. “Explain,” Maegor demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
Jaehaerys took a step forward. “It was my idea,” he said, his tone steady. “I took Rhea to Vermithor. I thought it was the right thing to do.”
Maegor’s jaw tightened. “You disobeyed me,” he said, his voice rising. “You went behind my back, risked your lives, and acted as though you knew better than your father!”
Rhea’s instinct was to intervene, to shoulder some of the blame, but Jaehaerys shot her a warning glance. She hesitated, biting her lip.
“Rhea is a dragonrider now,” Jaehaerys continued, his voice unwavering. “And Vermithor has chosen her. That cannot be undone.”
Maegor’s fist clenched at his side, but he didn’t shout. Instead, he let out a long, slow breath and shook his head. “No, it cannot,” he said, his tone heavy with resignation. “Vermithor is hers now. But you—” He fixed his gaze on Jaehaerys. “You think you can walk away from this without consequences? Do you understand what you’ve done?”
“I understand,” Jaehaerys replied, his chin held high. “I take full responsibility for my actions. Punish me if you must, but leave Rhea out of it.”
Maegor studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, to Rhea’s surprise, his shoulders relaxed slightly. “I won’t punish you,” he said at last. “But know this, Jaehaerys—you cannot run from your destiny. You are meant to be a dragonrider, and you will choose a dragon, whether you think you’re ready or not.”
Jaehaerys frowned, but he didn’t argue. He simply nodded, his face carefully neutral.
Maegor turned back to Rhea. “You’ve claimed Vermithor,” he said, his voice softer now but no less commanding. “Prove yourself worthy of him. A dragon like that is not a prize to be won but a partner to be respected. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, Father,” Rhea said, her voice firm.
“Good,” Maegor said. He cast one last glance at Jaehaerys before turning on his heel and leaving the chamber, his heavy boots echoing against the stone.
****
Once Maegor was gone, Rhea let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She turned to Jaehaerys, who was staring at the floor, deep in thought.
“Why did you do it?” she asked softly.
Jaehaerys looked up at her, his violet eyes meeting hers. “Because I know how much it meant to you,” he said simply. “You’ve always been the one to protect the rest of us, Rhea. I thought it was time someone did something for you.”
Rhea felt a lump form in her throat. She wasn’t used to hearing such raw honesty from her brother. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jaehaerys smiled faintly. “You don’t have to thank me. Just… promise me you’ll be careful with Vermithor. He’s a powerful dragon, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Rhea nodded, touched by his concern. “I promise,” she said.
For a moment, they stood in silence. Then Jaehaerys reached into the pocket of his tunic and pulled out a small, intricately carved box. He held it out to her, his expression shy.
“What’s this?” Rhea asked, taking the box.
“Open it,” Jaehaerys said.
Rhea lifted the lid and gasped. Inside was a stunning ruby necklace, the deep red gemstone catching the light and gleaming like fire.
“I made it for you,” Jaehaerys said, his voice barely audible. “It was supposed to be for your birthday, but I thought… today was fitting.”
Rhea stared at the necklace, her heart swelling with emotion. She glanced up at Jaehaerys, who was watching her nervously. “It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice thick with gratitude.
Jaehaerys smiled, relief evident in his eyes. “I’m glad you like it.”
Rhea slipped the necklace around her neck, the cool metal resting against her skin. She touched the ruby lightly, marveling at its craftsmanship. “I love it,” she said, looking at him with a warmth she hadn’t felt before. “Thank you, Jaehaerys. Truly.”
He nodded, his cheeks turning pink. “You’re welcome.”
As they walked back to their chambers, Rhea found herself stealing glances at her brother. For years, she had thought of Jaehaerys as the studious, rule-following sibling who always played it safe. But tonight, he had shown her a different side—a side that cared deeply, that was willing to take risks for her sake.
It was a side of him she hadn’t fully appreciated before.
“You know,” she said as they reached her door, “you’re not so bad for a bookworm.”
Jaehaerys raised an eyebrow. “And you’re not so bad for a reckless warrior.”
Rhea laughed softly. “Good night, Jaehaerys.”
“Good night, Rhea,” he replied, his smile lingering as he turned and walked away.
As Rhea closed her door, she touched the ruby necklace again, her thoughts swirling. For the first time, she saw Jaehaerys not just as her brother but as someone who truly understood her. And that realization left her feeling closer to him than ever before.
****
Rhea felt the chill of the Eyrie’s mountain air the moment Vermithor landed on the stone courtyard. The massive bronze dragon folded his wings, his growl reverberating through the cliffs. Maegor dismounted first, his expression as unreadable as ever. Rhea slid off Vermithor’s side with practiced ease, her boots landing with a satisfying thud on the stone.
Jaehaerys followed behind, his face calm but his eyes distant. Unlike Rhea, he had no dragon to command, and though he hadn’t mentioned it during their return, she knew it weighed on him.
The doors to the Eyrie opened, and Alyssa rushed out, her dark hair blowing in the wind, followed closely by their mother.
“Rhea!” Alyssa called, her face lighting up when she saw Vermithor. “You did it! You’re really a dragonrider!”
Rhea grinned, her chest swelling with pride. “Of course I did,” she said. “Did you expect anything less?”
Jeyne approached more slowly, her eyes brimming with both pride and concern. “You’ve made your father and me very proud,” she said, reaching out to clasp Rhea’s hands. “But I hope you remember that riding a dragon is not just about power. It’s a responsibility.”
Before Rhea could respond, Maegor spoke. “Well said,” he said, his voice firm. “Rhea, you’ve done what few can achieve. But Vermithor is no simple beast. He is a force of destruction, and you must wield him wisely.”
“I understand,” Rhea said, though part of her bristled at the constant reminders. She had tamed Vermithor, hadn’t she?
Jeyne turned to Jaehaerys. “And you, my son? Did you not choose a dragon?”
Jaehaerys shook his head. “No, Mother. I don’t feel ready yet.”
Alyssa, who had been admiring Vermithor, spun around, her eyes wide with surprise. “You didn’t? But you’re always the one who talks about duty and legacy!”
Jaehaerys sighed. “Riding a dragon isn’t just about taming it. It’s about knowing when you’re prepared for the responsibility. I’ll choose one when the time is right.”
Alyssa’s eyes narrowed slightly, as though she didn’t quite believe him. Her gaze shifted to Rhea, and something flickered in her expression. “That’s a beautiful necklace,” Alyssa said, pointing to the ruby hanging from Rhea’s neck. “Where did you get it?”
Rhea’s hand instinctively went to the necklace, her fingers brushing against the smooth gem. “It was a gift,” she said simply.
“From who?” Alyssa pressed, her eyes narrowing.
Rhea met her gaze evenly, refusing to give her the satisfaction of an answer. Alyssa pursed her lips but said no more.
****
A few days passed, and Rhea began to settle into her new role as Vermithor’s rider. The dragon was demanding, his fiery temperament requiring constant vigilance. But Rhea relished the challenge. Every time she soared through the skies on Vermithor’s back, she felt invincible.
It was during one of these quiet days that the letter arrived. Maegor called his children to his study, his expression grim as he held the parchment in his hands.
“This,” Maegor began, holding up the letter, “is from King Viserys. Or rather, from his Hand, Otto Hightower.”
Rhea exchanged a glance with Jaehaerys, who frowned. Alyssa leaned against the edge of the table, her arms crossed.
“What does it say?” Jaehaerys asked.
“It concerns you, Rhea,” Maegor said, fixing his gaze on her. “And Vermithor.”
Rhea’s heart sank. “What about Vermithor?”
“Rhaenyra is displeased,” Maegor explained, his voice cold. “She claims that Dragonstone is her domain and that I had no right to bring you there to claim a dragon without her consent.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Rhea exclaimed. “The dragons belong to House Targaryen, not just her!”
Maegor nodded. “You are correct. But Otto Hightower has seized upon this opportunity. He argues that as my children, you have no legitimate claim to the dragons. He says that right belongs only to the king’s children and grandchildren.”
“That’s absurd,” Alyssa said, her tone sharp. “We’re Targaryens too. We have just as much right as they do.”
Jaehaerys frowned. “What does the king say about this?”
“Viserys has said little,” Maegor replied. “But I know my uncle. He will avoid conflict at all costs.”
Rhea clenched her fists. “So what do we do?”
“We go to King’s Landing,” Maegor said, his voice hard. “We will confront Otto and make it clear that this slight against our family will not stand.”
Alyssa raised an eyebrow. “You think that’s wise? Confronting Otto directly could make things worse.”
“Perhaps,” Maegor admitted. “But I will not allow anyone to question our right to the dragons.”
Rhea felt a surge of pride at her father’s words. Despite his flaws, Maegor always stood firm when it came to protecting his family.
Jaehaerys, however, looked uneasy. “What about Rhaenyra?” he asked. “If we go to King’s Landing and argue our case.”
Maegor’s eyes darkened. “Rhaenyra has already made her position clear. If she wishes to side with Otto against her own kin, that is her choice. But I will not stand idly by while our family is insulted.”
The room fell silent for a moment. Then Alyssa spoke up. “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow,” Maegor said. He turned to Rhea and Jaehaerys. “Prepare yourselves. This will not be an easy journey, and the court will be watching your every move. Show them that we are Targaryens, strong and unyielding.”
Rhea nodded, determination hardening her resolve. “I won’t let you down, Father.”
Maegor’s gaze softened slightly. “I know you won’t.”
****
Later that evening, Rhea found Jaehaerys in the library, poring over a thick tome. She knocked softly on the doorframe, and he looked up, surprised to see her.
“Can I come in?” she asked.
“Of course,” Jaehaerys said, setting the book aside.
Rhea stepped into the room, hesitating for a moment before speaking. “I wanted to thank you,” she said. “For everything. For taking me to Vermithor, for standing up to Father, for…” She touched the necklace around her neck. “For this.”
Jaehaerys smiled, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. “You don’t need to thank me. I did what I thought was right.”
“Well, it means a lot to me,” Rhea said, her voice soft. “I know I don’t always show it, but… I’m glad you’re my brother.”
Jaehaerys’s smile widened. “And I’m glad you’re my sister. Even if you do have a knack for getting into trouble.”
Rhea laughed. “Someone has to keep things interesting around here.”
As she left the library, Rhea felt a sense of calm she hadn’t known in weeks. Whatever awaited them in King’s Landing, she knew she wouldn’t face it alone.