“Roar!”
The young dragon stretched its neck and let out a roar to announce its birth. Its body was covered in bronze-colored scales, its horns were a fiery red, and its wings were a bright yellow with blood-red veins. At first glance, it looked like it was made of gold inlaid with rubies.
“Ka-boom!”
Hungry and eager, the young dragon bit down on the shell, nearly shattering its fine dragon teeth. It cried out in frustration and broke through the hole in the shell, as if to say, “This is not what dragons eat!”
“Father, a baby dragon!” After the initial panic, Lyanna’s eyes sparkled with excitent. She quickly got up and reached out to grab the baby dragon.
“Roar!” The young dragon glanced at her with its red pupils and flew away.
Pop!
It smashed into Lyanna's little head as she pounced, flapping its wings and bouncing back and forth. Lyanna was taken by surprise and was trampled by the baby dragon, her already unruly chestnut hair now even more like a bird’s nest.
“Roar... Roar...” The young dragon was so excited that it stomped and called out, as if laughing at her.
Seeing this, Rhaegar wanted to put down the weak Daenerys and rescue his clumsy daughter.
“Yah!” But then Lyanna suddenly exploded with energy, and one of her chubby little hands grabbed the young dragon by the neck. The dragon’s neck was slender and unable to fight back when pinched.
“Ga!” The baby dragon’s neck was almost broken, and it rolled its eyes in pain.
Lyanna’s eyes were teary as she indignantly scolded, “Bad dragon, even my mother never hit !” Her small fat hand flailed, and the young dragon was forced to flail in the air.
“Ga~”
The young dragon let out a weak cry, feeling the imminent threat of death.
“Lyanna, stop!” Rhaegar called out, his worry evident. From his perspective, the baby dragon was flailing around like a rag doll, dangerously close to dying. He even called out his daughter's na in desperation.
Plop!
Startled by his shout, Lyanna threw the baby dragon away like a rag doll. The young dragon tumbled through the air, landing with a series of sorsaults.
Rhaegar was montarily stunned, then said in amazent, “Anna, you’re amazing.” His three-year-old daughter was showing the strength of a true warrior. If he hadn't intervened, the baby dragon might have perished before fully hatching.
“Wa wa wa...” Lyanna's mouth pouted, and tears fell like confetti. “Oh, my head hurts,” she cried, holding her head with both chubby little hands. Her head was a bit too big, and her arms too short and fat, barely covering her ears. This realization made her even more sad.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry. The dragon likes you and is just playing,” Rhaegar said, flustered. He took his eldest daughter in his arms to comfort his youngest.
“Really?” Lyanna sniffled, her big eyes filled with innocence.
“Yes, when has Father ever lied to you?” Rhaegar reassured her, picking up the confused dragon and placing it in Lyanna’s arms.
Lyanna looked down at the baby dragon, then up at her father. “It seems like he hasn’t lied to ,” she pouted.
Rhaegar forced a smile, feeling both helpless and amused. 'Of course I haven’t. Before today, you silly girl, you didn’t even rember you had a father.'
“Roar…”
The young dragon suddenly woke up, finding itself in the arms of the little devil king. It hugged its head and shivered in fear.
Lyanna, with tears in her eyes, said softly, “Don’t be afraid, I won’t hit you.”
“Roar…” The baby dragon remained scared, lying on its soft little belly, not daring to move.
Rhaegar placed Daenerys on the bed and said, “Anna, the baby dragon hatched in your arms. Give it a na.”
It was a curious situation. The Bronze Dragon Egg, laid by Syrax, had been placed in Baelon's cradle by Rhaenyra herself. For six years, it did not hatch. Lyanna had the blue egg for three years, yet it never hatched either. But within a short ti of being with Lyanna, the Bronze Dragon Egg hatched. It seed that the hatching of dragon eggs truly depended on fate.
Lyanna sobbed, pinching the baby dragon’s wings with both hands, her clumsy brain working hard. “How about calling it Fluffy?” she suggested.
The castle’s dog breeder had a sheepdog nad Fluffy, black and white, known for tricking children into ditches.
Rhaegar was at a loss for words and said tactfully, “No, a dragon deserves a na that befits its grandeur.”
Lyanna lowered her head in disappointnt. “I can’t. You do it, Father.”
Rhaegar thought for a mont. “Let’s call him Vermax.”
“What does it an?” Lyanna asked, her wide eyes reflecting Rhaegar’s face.
“It cos from the Valyrian god of freedom,” Rhaegar explained. “Vermax represents freedom, flight, and enlightennt, and is also known as the god of wisdom.”
Vermax, although idealistic and not very powerful, was a subordinate god of the goddess of fertility, Syrax. The god of battle, Arrax, and the god of thunder, Tyraxes, served as the shield and sword of the goddess of fertility when she was threatened.
Captivated by the story, Lyanna rubbed her cheek against the baby dragon, saying happily, “Good, his na is Vermax. He’s my little dragon.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Rhaegar said, relieved to see his daughter happy. He hesitated before adding, “Dany needs to sleep for a while. Let’s not disturb her, shall we?”
Lyanna looked at her sleeping sister and reluctantly agreed. “Okay.”
Rhaegar, satisfied, picked up his daughter and the baby dragon and left the room.
...
Evening
In the hall, the dinner party began.
Daenerys, having just woken up, sat down in a chair, looking exhausted. Rhaegar naturally took the seat next to her, with Lyanna, his little shadow, by his side. Jeyne sat across from them, with Jessamyn and Skylar standing as her companions.
As the al was about to begin, Jeyne turned to her companions. “You should go and eat as well.”
The two won exchanged a glance and tactfully excused themselves. The four didn’t need them for dinner.
Rhaegar smiled and cut the roast for his two daughters. Lyanna, a glutton for everything, not only ate for herself but also took ti to feed Vermax, who looked like a dragon-shaped doll clamped around her waist.
“Father, I’ve had enough to eat,” Daenerys said, her cheeks flushed.
Rhaegar shook his head. “Eat more. You’ve lost a lot of weight since the last ti we t.”
Daenerys reluctantly opened her mouth and accepted her father's feeding. There's a kind of hunger that only cos out when her father is around.
Jeyne sipped her wine, her eyes never leaving the three of them. Since the dinner began, her lips had been curling up into a smile. Rhaenyra was truly amazing, giving birth to three sons in one go. But she wasn't bad either. Both of her daughters were very much loved by Rhaegar. This affection could even be called pampering.
Rhaegar looked at her and continued to dwell on his daughters. Before he knew it, he had many children. Compared to the others, his two daughters and his youngest son, Maekar, were his favorites.
Dany was born in winter, pale and fragile. She inherited his talent for dreaming and was plagued by nightmares. She was a very obedient child. Even when Rhaegar didn't co to the Vale for long periods of ti, she understood and didn't complain, treasuring every mont they had together.
Lyanna, on the other hand, was a bundle of charm and personality. Who doesn’t love a little girl who loves to laugh?
Baelon and Aemon were twins, but their personalities were very different. The eldest son was calm and honest, talking and acting like a little lord. When Rhaegar discussed business with him, it felt like he had another father.
The younger son was mischievous and often got caught and beaten up by the older son. Every ti Rhaegar saw him, he felt like he had a grandson. What a nuisance!
The atmosphere was harmonious when Rhaegar suddenly suggested taking his two daughters back to King's Landing to et their grandfather.
Daenerys and Lyanna both stopped, the latter still chewing on a piece of at. Three pairs of eyes fixed on Jeyne across the table.
Jeyne, unperturbed, thought carefully. “Dany still needs a last na, so it’s not good for her to leave The Eyrie,” she said, implying that Lyanna could go with them.
Rhaegar’s eyes twinkled, understanding the unspoken aning. Lyanna had been given the Targaryen na at birth, linking her to the royal family. Jeyne wanted an heir, so Daenerys would need to take the na of Arryn to inherit The Eyrie.
Rhaegar nodded. “When the war is over, I’ll take Dany to King’s Landing.”
“I don’t want to be separated from my sister,” Lyanna whispered, lowering her head.
Daenerys blinked her purple eyes, her small hands clasped together in a conflicted expression. She didn’t want to be separated from Anna, nor did she want to miss seeing her father for a long ti.
Jeyne, seeing the sisters' reluctance, said softly, “I promise you’ll see each other again soon.”
The two little girls nodded in unison, not wanting to contradict their mother.
Jeyne sighed and turned to Rhaegar. “The troops in Gulltown have assembled. They are waiting for your command.”
“Thank you,” Rhaegar replied.
Jeyne, feeling slightly awkward, added, “I’ve heard about Daemon and the events in Slaver's Bay. You need to be careful.”
“Don’t worry,” Rhaegar said reassuringly.
“I an, there are many things to be cautious about,” Jeyne continued, her tone serious. “Daemon has the right to marry more than once, and Sea Snake and Laena will not let it go. You have to be careful that Rhaenyra doesn’t get involved.”
She paused, then added, “And the new Dragonlord—if you can eliminate him, don’t hesitate.”
Though no longer at the center of politics, as a female Lord, she remained inford about everything happening. She understood many things at once.
Rhaegar was very pleased and said gently, “Don’t worry, I’ll pay extra attention.”
...
Seven Days Later
Ti flew by, and it was ti to say goodbye.
Rhaegar mounted the Cannibal, holding a weeping Lyanna close, and flew towards the Stormlands.
He had tasked Aemond with recruiting troops from the Stormlands, but there had been no response from him yet. Rembering Helaena’s last words before he left, Rhaegar wanted to ensure Aemond wasn’t slacking off.
...
The Afternoon, Sea of Dorne
Roar!
Cannibal soared through the sky, carrying Rhaegar and his weeping daughter, Lyanna, through a sea of clouds.
Rhaegar looked calm, taking the opportunity to inspect the Sea of Dorne and the rebuilt city of Yronwood. Everything seed peaceful and normal.
“Let’s go, partner,” Rhaegar said, patting the dragon’s back as he prepared to return to Storm’s End.
Roar!
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the sky, and a dragon crashed through the sea of clouds. Rhaegar, stunned, looked back.
Roar...
A light silver dragon, its wings flapping wildly, fell unsteadily from the clouds. After much tossing and turning, it barely managed to regain its balance, soaring beneath the clouds in an agitated state, whinnying up and down.
“Seasmoke?” Rhaegar recognized it instantly, surprised. Seasmoke was known to wander near the Sea of Dorne, familiar to local fishern for its loyalty. Though not a battle-hardened dragon, it was no ordinary beast either. How could it fly so unsteadily, almost falling into the sea?
Roar...
Cannibal’s green pupils turned cold as it suddenly looked into the distance. Rhaegar’s face changed slightly as he hugged Lyanna tightly. Cannibal sensed danger, its mouth emitting a green fla as it entered a state of alertness.
Man and dragon stared intently in the sa direction—from which Seasmoke had co.
Roarr!
Suddenly, a muffled roar like thunder reverberated, causing the sea to tremble.
Hoo—
In the sea mist, a dragon as big as a mountain erged. Its thick, powerful tail pushed aside the misty clouds. Rhaegar’s eyes widened as he glimpsed a flash of moss-like dark green scales.
A dragon! A wild dragon he had never seen before!
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