Chapter Text
Arya POV
Darkness closed in around me the scent of mold plugged up my nose but I was so used to it that I didn't even find it all that bothersome. We had been hidden away down here for months. For so long that I didn't think I even knew just how long I had been down here. I looked over to two sets of golden eyes that shimmered in the Dark. The soft pants of Nymeria and Summer filled my ears as I looked over to Bran.
He leaned against thick heavy brown crates the scent of citrus flooded my nose as his deep blue eyes glimmered in the darkness. His tousled auburn curls were ratty and brown from the filth and muck of the bow of the ship. The loud thunderous clapping of boots and the roar of dragons filled my ears. My body ached and my mind rushed hoping that we would find land and soon.
I looked over to the corner of the bow of the ships where I knew a bucket remained, that was where we made our night soil and water. The thought of having to be stuck down here in muck no longer disgusts me.
Taking in a deep heavy breath the stink wafted into my nose as the soft rocking of the ship only made me sicker. Boats didn't bug me but the scent of shit and mold flooding my nose as the ship rock made me sick to my stomach.
Taking in a long steady breath I did my best not to vomit as gold light flooded my senses as I looked over to see the soft leather boots staring back at me. Soft pants of a third Direwolf filled my ears but even then it was nothing more than a silent whisper. I couldn't even hear his paws hitting against the planks and I knew that it had to be Ghost. He is the only one that could move like that.
“I know that you are in here, food doesn't just go missing, come out now!!” A booming voice that commands respect echoed in my ears. The thick husky voice filled my ears as I noticed the soft drawl of a Northern accent mixed with that of a high valyrian.
My breath hitched as my sweat and grim clung tightly to my skin as I looked over to Bran. His heart stilled I could see the terror and doubt that flooded his grimy skin. We both knew who was standing at the door as golden light flooded the compartment, forcing me to squint.
Shutting my eyes for only a moment the rocking seemed to stop if only for a moment before finally, I opened my eyes. Slowly I started to rise from the ground as did Bran, I knew that he was just as stiff as I was.
My body ached from being crammed into such a small space as I looked around the bow I watched as 100’s of crates swirled back at me. I knew that each of them had to store enough food for a year-long journey. Hopefully, that won't take so long I couldn’t stand to be on a ship for a whole year.
My back let out a chorus of pops as all the stress that had been plaguing my ligaments left and a sense of ease washed over me. Though I was still filthy and gross and would have a bath given half the chance.
However, as I looked over to Vaegon I felt fear flashed in my heart as I noticed the outrage flashing in his deep gray eyes. His shoulders began to shake heavily as his lips pulled into an angry sneer.
“What the hell are you doing here!” Outrage burned in his eyes forcing them to flash with power, I glanced over to Bran he looked just as unnerved as I did but he didn't say a word instead he looked down at his feet in shame. But Vaegon wouldn't shame me or force me to regret my actions. I wanted an adventure and now I got one.
“We wanted to see this island with the dragon lords, I won't go back” I rushed out my word not letting my nerve fail, I stood my ground as Nymeria snapped up at my side her lips curling over her teeth as she looked ready to defend me.
Ghost, on the other hand, gave her a bored snort as he whipped around. Growling over his thick meaty shoulders before making his way up the steps. The soft clips of his nails filled my ears as I felt my heart thundering in my chest.
The roar of beasts filled my ears as my legs shook with anticipation as I took in a long heavy breath I watched Vaegon. I could feel his gaze burning into my chest and then to Bran. The silence was stifling and taunting, I felt like it was going to choke me at any moment but instead Vaegon took in a long heavy breath before speaking in a more outraged voice one that told me he had no intention of sending us back home on one of his other ships.
“Very well then come on let's get you all cleaned up and some food that is actually cooked. I'm sure you haven't seen the sun in a while” His tone cold and warm at the same time I could see the affection in his eyes but I could see the panic in them as well.
I'm sure that father and aunt Lyanna would give him an ear full when he gets back to the kingdoms. On the other hand, I couldn't help the sense of excitement that washed over me as I jumped happily to my feet rushing to the deck of the ship with Nymeria rushing after me.
As I burst up the wooden steps the golden light blinded me but the fresh air was more than a little bit of a relief. The crisp morning air racked against my lung cooling me down as the sweat and grime on my skin felt like iron weighing me down.
I needed a serious bath and that wasn't going to change any time soon. As I stood still I let my eyes run over the lively dock. Saehrys was standing at the bow of the ship a smug smile pulling at her lips as she leaned over the railing.
The heavy rippling in the wide clear bright blue water told me that she must have been looking at the sea dragon. Running over to the ocean I couldn't help the bubbling excitement and warmth in my chest as I looked to see a dazzling dragon in the water. Shimmering white scales turning a rainbow color when the sun hit her scales in the right way.
Her tail swished back and forth the water running easily over her webbed tail allowed her to move forward. Gills flared against her neck as she breathed the water easily, her long coiling neck whipped from left to right as joy bubbled in her bright silver eyes. Her wings didn't move all that much but her webbed legs paddle happily through the water like she didn't have a care in the world.
Seeing her was a starling sight and one that was welcomed after months hidden in the depth of the ship. Shifting my gaze to the sky, I looked up to see 3 dragons darting through the sky, there was a bright gray dragon with leather skin.
Shimmering in the light as a wide dazzling smile pulled at my lips. It thinks that his name is Typhon. He had a wingspan of 65 feet with a long coiling tail and dangerous gray spikes that littered his tail, as it whipped down in the water. Forcing the salty spray to glimmer as it shined in the light. As the water brushed against his skin I listened to the soft pops and sizzles that filled the air.
It was hard to believe that at one point months ago that same dragon was trying to kill the whole kingdom. But they weren’t even the most dazzling sights, Solar the dragon that was bonded to Saehrys stared back at me. She much like the other 2 dragons have a wingspan of 65 feet wide and growing but her best feature was her large diamond shapes scales that were a dazzling yellow color. She gleaned brighter than the sun and her bright yellow eyes were locked on the horizon.
She let out a booming screech that echoed over the air. Her sight seemed drawn to something but I saw nothing but bright blue water as far as the eyes could see. The scent of smoke and salt flooded my nose and pepper my skin lightly.
Finally, there was Vhagar as he flew overhead the water churns with a new ferocity, his wings enveloped the ship in his shadow. This flash of heat overcame me forcing me to sweat as I looked up to see a black underbelly flying just over the mast. I couldn't believe the sight of such a magnificent dragon. His thin white skin gleamed in the bright golden ray that bored down on all of us.
Strong gusts of wind whipped up launching us just a little bit further, as the water slapped against the deck as the ship shook unsteadily. He was massive if that was even possible. He had to grow at least another 20 feet, his legs were thicker, more muscular and his claws were so sharp that I feared if they got too close to the sails the fabric might rip. His legs were outstretched and his shoulders were tense as his wings flapped.
He was by far the more dazzling sight out of all the dragon I didn't even know what to make of him, he had a wingspan of 200 feet from tip to tip he is startling in every way I just wanted to reach out and touch him but as I truly looked at my skin it was a deep dirty brown as if I had been rolling around in shit. “Come on I'll show you to your rooms so that you can bathe I'm sure that the whole capital is stirred into a panic because of you two”
Vaegon rubbed his brow wearily as his shoulder dip at the very thought he was only 21 years old but he seemed so much older, not physically but mentally. The way that he carried himself was different than when he left for the east.
I was younger when that happened but even I remember the sullen boy who wasn't too sure what he should say for fear that it might upset someone. The thought forced a weak smile to pull at my lips as I looked over at Bran.
Awe and shock bubbled in his bright blue orbs as he looked to the sky with amazement, Summer and Nyermia snapped happily at each other as they rushed about the deck. Men were just starting to wake up as they pulled at the thick brown rigging as the soft groans of the ships screamed in protest.
I looked up the long winding step to see that there was a door that I'm sure laid to the cabin, while the steps kept going so that you could get to the helm where a tried and executed man stood. His face the color of worn leather, his salt, and pepper hair combed back while a red and black hat rested on his head.
It was kind of a weird shape, like a triangle and there were his deep blue eyes that looked almost a raven like color, I couldn't help but look at him with intrigue. But the moment didn't last long as Vaegon dragged us into the long winding corridors. The once bright golden light that warms my dirty skin was now long forgotten, instead, the soft scent of water spices filled my nose as the soft orange glow from the torches dance against my skin.
I watched Vaegon for a moment his shoulders were tense and he had this weird look on his face. But he also seemed almost at peace. I'm sure that he had been waiting for this moment for a while. He never wanted to come back to the capital. I'm sure that he dreamed of the east the whole time that he was in the west.
But honor and duty forced him back he could have gotten Dany and left but instead, he made sure that his family had the very dragons that they would need to hold onto their own kingdoms. Now he was finally going to do what he wanted and I'm sure that felt great.
"Are you going to send us home?" The soft voice of Bran ripped me from my thoughts forcing me to look at him. Hate flared in my eyes. I wanted to scream that he shouldn’t have suggested.
But instead, Vae turned back and looked at us. A loving smile pulling at his lips as his gray eyes sparkled with love and joy. At that moment all his exhaustion fell from his face. I'm sure that he has a lot of practice with Rhaenyra.
"There would be no point in sending you home, we send a few birds out each month. Almost always they come back exhausted and have found no land. But just this morning a bird having been gone for 2 months came back with a small twig in its beak. We have determined that in another 3 months or so we will find a landmass. There is no reason to send you back after making it halfway to the island."
He casually shrugged his shoulders like it was no big thing but he couldn't fool me. I watched the way that his body grew just a little bit lighter as joy bubbled in his deep stare. As we walked down the hall the soft thumps of his shoes against the planks were nothing compared to the beating of my heart. We passed a few doors before finally settling on two doors.
Vae pointed to them as a charming smile pulled at his lips as he ruffled my hair. He was always more of a bigger brother then he was a cousin. "By now Dany will have reached Valyria and given time we will be at the island. For now, take a break and relax" The warmth in his tone forced me to smile madly maybe by the end of this I will have my own dragon.
Vaegon POV
It was still so hard that they were here it had been three months since they were found in the bow and I still couldn't leave that they were here. I watched Nymeria. She had been stalking the bow of the ship nonstop since she got out.
Her deep golden eyes were locked on the horizon. I'm sure that if I slipped into her mind that I would see the need to get off this ship. A small smile began to pull at my lips as I looked at Arya. She had been sitting on the rails of the ship. Her eyes locked not on the horizon but on Aqua who I knew hid just below the surface.
The soft rocking of the ships helped to lull me into a sense of ease, I shifted my gaze to Bran, he walked the length of the ships staring at the white sails that were glimmering in the light with two proud black dragons resting on the middle of the sail. One had accents of white the other with accents of red. With a warm gust of wind, I watch the sails ripple in the wind.
Summer was at his heels nipping at anyone that got too close to Bran. I watched the deckhands skirt around the wolves as they ripped at the thick tweed ropes and shifted the mass sails according to the headwinds.
We have been making good speed plus on the days that the winds are dead a strong gust from Vhagar’s wings could give us a push. Plus we have oars that help to push forward on the days that not even Vhagar’s wings could get us going. We had passed a few islands but they were all bare.
“You look in a good mood” Saehrys soft knowing voice forced me to smile gently as I looked to the silver-haired girl that I spent most of my time with. Her luminous magenta eyes were lighter since the death of her parents.
She looked happier at ease even. Her molten silver hair slipped down her shoulder laying flat against her blood-red armor. Her thick black boots gleamed in the light from all the polishing that she did. While her spear rested happily on her face the golden aura of her spear tip sent jolts of power down my spine.
“We are almost there, why would I be happy, it has seen a long 7 years but we are finally going to be there. I just hope that this isn’t just some random island that holds no promises for us.” There was this warmth that began to build in my chest as I watched the ocean waters. Vhagar and Solar screeched happily as they darted high into the sky chasing each other above the clouds.
Typhon gilded just over the water the soft thumps of his spikes over the water-filled my ears as I noticed how close he was to Aqua. When I first killed their riders I feared that they would always view me and an enemy one that needed to be dealt with. But they almost seem revealed really like they knew that the riders that had hatched them through less pleasant means were not the riders that they were meant to have.
A ghosting smile pulled at my lips as I looked over to Saehrys her soft pink lips pulling into a knowing smile as she could peer into my mind. We were great friends and I was thankful to have them at my side.
But there were times like these that she was more than a friend but family. “What do you think is going to await us on that island? If they had dragons then that island could be filled with them. But if they died then they don't have dragons then do you even think that they even have dragon lords left.”
All her statements made a lot of sense but I couldn't really now or neither of us could, their dragons could have died without ever laying a clutch. I have no clue what kind of magic that Aurion’s bloodline has
. There isn't much of it in the books, at least not the one that we have taken from the library but who knows Sam could have that very book. Uncertainty started to dampen my mood as I felt my teeth racking against the bottom of my lips.
The ghost sat beside me as I leaned against the wall that led to the cabins. Simply watching as Bran and Arya looked at everything with wonder, I wonder if that is how I'm going to look when I get to the island. My mouth felt dry with anticipation. I knew that there was only one thing that would parch my never-ending thirst.
“I don't know but I do know one thing even if this island has no dragons or people on it, that would mean that there is an untouched treasure trove of resources that could help us build the empire.”
Even as I spoke I could feel a wide beaming smile pulling at my lips, soon I would have everything that I had been searching for in the west and I will make my way home to Dany to our daughter and our future child. But by the time that I get home, my child will have been born. Anxiety at the thought force unease to wash over me.
“True but I know that you feel it the same as me that pull urging us forward” She wasn’t wrong. Even as I looked at the horizon I felt a chair being pulled taut as I got further west. Something was itching me forward, with each passing moment there was something telling me that I couldn't rest until I made it to this island.
But it made me think there would be some vengeful dragon lord waiting to steal one of the dragons and burn all that oppose them. The last time I felt a sensation like this driving me forwards I had to kill Aurion and then plunged into a 7 year-long journey that ended in a tidal wave of blood.
My jaw clamped shut as the ship jerked, for a moment I thought that there might be something wrong but as I looked at the horizon I could see a coast. Snapping my head up I could see white-hot screech of panic from birds while Vhagar and Solar chased after them hungry and no longer content with eating sharks. Typhon and Aqua joined in on the fun. They were like children playing with toys that are far too small for them.
A burst of laughter left my lips as I pushed off of the wall, my lips buzzed, my mind felt light and my heart thumped so loudly that I could barely believe what was before me. A watched a golden coast staring back at me and I do mean golden. The sand on the shore was a bright gold-colored glimmering in the reflection of the golden light from the sun. Massive green forest stared back at me and for a moment I felt pure euphoria than the storm hit.
The ship lurched to the right as thunderous boomed echoed in my ears but not the dragon wing kind but the actual thunder kind. I snapped my head up while thick black clouds started to roll in and the waves started to grow higher.
Vhagar out a billowing roar as he rushed to the boat in the hope of getting to me. Bright blue water now turned black as the waves slammed into my ship. The ocean waves turned on us in a single moment.
Huge tidal wave at least 30 feet tall started back at me thick blanketing black water that looked a lot like oil greeted me. But that wasn't even the most shocking thing had to be the girl that sat on the tidal wave. Sitting in her hand was a bright blue three-pronged spear that I knew had to be the trident.
She had deep blue ocean eyes that flashed purple in the light with thick gold hair with blue streaks. Her hair even though she had been in the water was dry to the touch. Rippling down her back as a black tight shirt that had a large slit in the middle stared back at me but she had no breast. She was flat as a bored but she had added no ass either but she did have a well-toned stomach. Since there was no bottom half of her shirt her whole body is on display.
She had well-toned arms that were muscular, with long legs that rested in a pair of very short shorts they looked like they had been cut in half. I watched her finger twirling the trident with ease and as it whirled around I watched water swirling around the tips as they crackled with power. The moment that our eyes locked I watched her widen with doubt as she looked at the dragons that were now flying in the stormy sky.
As the waves rocked the 30 ships in my fleet as I stared in shock well I wanted these dragon lords that were the only thought in my mind, her eyes burned with power, as her thin golden brows stared back at me cocked upwards as her lips pulled into a sneer. “Who are you?” A thick husky voice filled my ears as I snapped my head up to see a boy.
He came up from the water sitting on the railing of our ship. Hate flashing in his eyes as he glared at me deep plum colored eyes locked on me in the light they flashed blue. He had clipped silver hair with a light blue accent with an aquiline nose, and a cunning smile, unlike the girl he wore thick gleaming blue armor with wave patterns etched into them. Resting on his back was a long metallic bow with plenty of arrows.
He had a calming aura that rushed around him as he leaned back into the railing of the ship. I could barely begin to understand what was going on. Saehrys, on the other hand, jumped in a fighting stance.
Her spear swirled in the air pointed roughly at his throat as he gave her a smug and charming smile. Ghost jumped up not the least bit shaken by the sight of the powerful wave that seemed to have a mind of its own. “Easy there love, the name is Themistocles you can call me Theo and you're trespassing”
Themistocles POV
The cool ocean water felt like heaven against my skin as I dove deep into the depths of the ocean, to others the water might have been dark and lifeless but my sense came alive under the water.
I could see the shift of the warm and cool water currents and as I took in a few deep breaths I felt the water entering my lungs but it didn't choke me. If anything I was more refreshed at this moment than I was on land.
Darting through the air I flew with joy burning in my chest. I looked at my sister Thea. Her deep blue eyes flashed violet as she darted through the water like a jet stream. Moving faster than the human eyes could track her trident rested on her back as she laughed joyfully.
I was swimming after her when I felt this strange movement in the water forcing me to look up at the surface. Breaking over the surface I watched the bright blue sky staring back at me.
There wasn't a single white cloud that loomed over us, only the bright golden sun stared back at me warming the very inviting. My bow and arrow rested at my back as I looked over to the horizon.
I watched as bright white sails with two dragons stared back at me sitting proudly in the middle of the sails. But that wasn't the most shocking part, it was the massive beasts that flew through the air.
I remember the stories that my mother used to tell us about Dragons, that at one point our ancestor Aurion had dragons of his own. But as our ancestors, only two dragons died after 300 years. Neither had a clutch of their own and as such, they died out but as I looked at the ship I didn't just see one or two dragons but 4.
Each was more astounding than the other, the largest of them was a black and white dragon with four legs and shimmering white wings with glitter like diamonds with matching horns and spikes. He had ahead of a massive carriage. Then there were the dragons that rested behind me. The most dazzling beast is a radiant dragon with yellow scales with a wingspan of 65 feet but closer to 70.
This dragon, unlike the other one, had only 2 hands legs and winged arms, its tail was a blade. The sight of the dragons force a warmth to fill my chest and for a moment I knew that they were truly a sight to behold but it would be foolish to welcome them.
Darting out the water I felt a tugging sensation in my gut telling me to go to the boats even though my mind screamed for me to run back to the island to tell the others about what was going to happen. I turned to the golden coast.
I knew that there was a good chance of me getting to the island before they even noticed me but as I looked back at the sky I could see two more dragons one a smoke gray dragon with matches silver eyes.
A small smile pulled at my lips as I looked at the final dragon and I knew that I just had to have it. A dragon as pure as snow, a glinting white scales that turned a rainbow color as the sun hit it the right way the same way that a fish scales would look.
Flaring fleshy pink gills and webbed ears, horns, and webbed feet stared back at me but unlike the other two dragons that only had hind lands and winged arms, this dragon had four legs and in between the toes were webbed.
“Theo looks like we have company and they have dragons. I doubt that they just happen to come out this way. If we let them get to the island then there is no way that we are going to be able to stop them. We should find out what they want, maybe fly our own magic a bit.”
I couldn’t help but smile as I dived deeper into the water, not giving my sister a second look but I knew that Thea knew what I was planning because the waves shook with thunderous power as they began to raise hair and high.
The water turned choppy and it got harder to swim. She was really going all out in this. If I can't help it I hope that I will be able to get to know them, figure out how he got dragons. Excitement bubbled in my chest as I swam breaking out on the surface.
As I jumped up onto the railing I noticed a gorgeous woman, her rippling silver hair flowing down her shoulder like an enveloping current as he luminous violet-colored eyes locked on me. Hate flashed in them as she jumped in front of some boy with gray eyes and thick black hair. A snarl left the lips of a horse-sized wolf. I felt my eyes lock onto the beautiful warrior in front of me.
She had armor the color of blood and a murderous look on her face as her lips pulled into a sneer and her brow began to furrow as her gaze grew more pointed and cold. The sight of her floating spear shocked me.
It all seemed that they had more than then dragons working for them. The boy, on the other hand, didn't seem the least bit affected. I let my eyes run over his calming form as I watched a sword on his back stare back at me.
It has a pommel in the shape of a black and white dragon one that had pulsing ruby-colored eyes, he didn't move to grab his blade through a smug smile pulled at his face as I spoke in a thick commanding voice shifting to look over the rest of the ship as I did so.
“Who are you?” Scanning the ship I noticed a girl with gray eyes the same as the boy with ratty brown hair but unlike the boy, she didn't have the looks of old Valyria and she had a bit of a horse face.
Her rarity brown hair and boyish figure greeted me as I resist the urge to sneer at her resting at her heels was a wolf the size of a horse with dangerous gold eyes that lock on me with hate flaring in them.
Thunder boomed in my ears as I watched the younger boy. He couldn't have been older than 17 but he had a sword in hand and looked ready to launch himself at me. With a wolf about the same size as the other two readies to rip me to pieces. His lips curled over his teeth, as I gave the gorgeous warrior my full attention. My chest expanded as I placed my most charming smile on my face.
“Easy there love, the name is Themistocles you can call me Theo and you're trespassing” A mix of charming and smugness flooded my smile as I gripped tightly to the railing waiting for her to strike but her face turned a bright red as she glared at me hatefully speaking in a voice laced with a Valyrian accent.
“My name is not loved, it’s Saehrys and we should be asking you what you think that you're doing. These ships are property of the Valyria empire and if you don't get off my emperor’s flag I'm going to run my spear through your chest and present it to Emperor Vaegon”
There was a coldness and protective fury that settled into her voice as I felt my eyes widen when doubt looking over the boy that rested in front of me I couldn't believe that he was who she claimed him to be.
Emperor of Valyria we might be as far west as you can get but even we knew that Valyria had fallen a long time ago. Quickly I shifted over to my sister. Her own eyes were brimming with doubt as her power ebbed as she dropped down onto the deck.
As the water calmed the heavy black clouds that had once blanketed the sky from the sheer power and force of will of Thea began to fade away. Leaving only a bright blue sky looming overhead.
A smug smile pulled at her lips as she pointed her trident to Vaegon, there was fury flaring in her eyes as a cold biter laugh left her lips her lips curling over her gleaming white teeth.
“You the emperor of Valyria, dragon or not you are nothing more than a kid” It's funny saying that since we were only maybe a year older than him, his eyes were cold and filled to the brim with excitement as he gave each of us a welcoming smile.
“We didn't come here looking for any trouble, in fact, we came here looking for you. My name is Vaegon Targaryen. I went to Valyria 7 years ago and left with a dragon. I'm taking over at least but I would like to have dragon riders to help me. We mean your island no harm we only ask that we land and talk things out what do you say?”
His tone was warm and welcoming and all I could think is that I wanted nothing more than to hear his story. For weeks I have been having dreams of flames in the shape of people telling me that I needed to be ready. I could see Valyria begin rebuilt and I was on the back of a dragon but until this moment I had never seen a dragon. Shifting my gaze over to my sister she had her eyes drawn to the young gray dragon.
“Very well, this is my sister Thea. We are from the dragon lord family Laereris as are the rulers of this island. Welcome to Sanctuary. Come ashore your ships can dock at the beach we will take you to the city”