Chapter 8 - Maliketh

(Rhaenys pov)

It didn't take long to reach the city, but my mind still continued to go back to the screams on the shore, but I calmed my heart, there was no going back now. I would stand beside the man I love, just like I always have, and while guilty for my affair, I could not lie to my own heart.

'It will become a mess after the child is born, but hopefully, he has a plan, I do not wish to tear my family completely apart.' walking through the halls of the red keep, I thought to myself as I looked at the guards from driftmark that followed me.

"Where is my lord husband?" I said, asking the nearest guard to me. My body stopping at a door, tilting my head back as I looked back at him.

"He is in the council hall, discussing with the other lords, as for what about, I do not know my lady.." The young guard said, his head low as I nodded lightly.

"It is fine, do not concern yourself with the matter, just inform him that.." I could tell the young knight was nervous, I was not serious, but before I could put his concerns to rest.

*sfx echoing roar

The walls felt like they shook, the roaring loud enough to reach everyone within the halls, my ears had already grown used to this, but I couldn't help but roll my eyes. My guards, the maids, and every other person gripped their ears lightly as they looked around in confusion.

'He sure has a way of making an entrance, I'm sure he wishes to piss off every lord within his brother's Council.' Sighing lightly, I moved towards the curtain, pulling it back slightly as I looked out to the city.

It seems my simple movements, spurred others to do the same, watching guards, maids, and maesters alike move toward the row of windows that lined the hall. Whispers could be heard as even from here, the size of Fortassax could be seen, her body standing on the side of the pit as she stood like the queen she was.

"Never seen a dragon that big, is it, vhager? she is the only dragon that large.." Next to me, a guard of the red keep spoke, his hand trembling lightly.

"She is slightly bigger than Vhager.. a lot more angry as well." hearing their words, I spoke out, as a targaryen, most knew the stories of all the dragons still alive. That said even the common people knew the names of some of the dragons, especially those living among their riders.

"My apologies lady Velaryon, I did not see you." Upon hearing my words, the guard turned to me, bowing his head lightly. As if the others had heard him their heads nodded in respect. "If I would be so bold as to ask, you know this dragon?" He questioned, while the others acted as if they were not interested, even if they stayed close.

"Fortassax is her name, the largest dragon still living.." Waving my hands at the guard, showing I did not care about the matter of not knowing I was here, I spoke as I looked at Fortassax lying along the side of the dragon pit.

"Fortassax.. where have I heard that name.." Suddenly, one of the young maesters spoke, his eyes focused as if he was trying to think back on something.

"ah!" Tilting my head, I leaned slightly against the wall as I watched him think for a while, his hand raising as he made a sound of knowing.

"Fortassax.. the dragon who followed vhager during Aegon the first.. she was born in the wild, and grew far larger then the rest like her sister. She was a dragon that many were killed trying to bond with her, only for Aegon to give up the endeavor as the loss of his men and family was far to great. But that did not stop Aegon from trying to breed her, hoping she would birth more dragons of her size, but she has never had any off spring." The maester went on, recounting the tale I was told as a child, he was missing details but he was smart enough to put some of the information together.

"She did not give birth to dragons, nor did she stay in one place for long, but its to be expected of a dragon her size, being the sister of vhager, they say thats the only reason she followed." the maester said, his voice growing as the young flowers around him looked smitten with his story.

"When she settled, She no longer wandered and lived near driftmark for many years, until the night of madness.. uhh." My head no longer looked at him, as he spun his tale, until he brought something up that should be forgotten and never spoken of again.

My eyes looked at him, as I held my hand tight around my dress, watching as he coughed, clearing his throat as he tried to move past that part of the story.

"She had a moniker, uhh.. Fortassax the.. the.." Listening to him get caught in his words, I let go of the cloth around the window, casting a side long look as I walked to the door once more.

"She is called Fortassax, the mother of dragons.. or.. as most called her long ago, The queen of madness.." My guards moved with me as I pushed the door opening as I left these words behind.

The maester, guards, and made were captivated. they looked out to the pit once more, watching Fortassax laid on the rim of the pit, her body in all its glory for everyone to see as the each thought of a question no one asked, if she was a wild dragon, the only reason she would be here is if she had a rider.

"Who is her rider.." The maester said, as he looked at the flowers walk away, left alone to think as he walked slowly through the hall.

(??? pov)

'I grow tired of long-winded talks, all I wish is to be with Aemma, it is growing close to her time.' I thought to myself, picking up an egg from my plate as I looked around at my Council.

"My king, the problem within the stepstones.." My head hurt as lord Corly Velaryon spoke, once again about the free cities, now was not a time for war, not with my son so close.

*Sfx loud roaring

"What, what.. the hell is going on? Who is letting their dragon run amuck, when I already enough shit filling my ears." My voice raised as I looked around, dropping my egg as I and the others within this room grabbed their ears.

"My lord, there is a problem.." After the ringing died down within my ears stopped, a guard next to the window spoke.

"Well don't keep us in anticipation?" I couldn't help but say sarcastically, seeing him just look at me, not telling me the information immediately.

"It seems vhager has come to kings landing.. a-an-and, she landed outside the dragon pit!" Hearing my sarcasm, the guards answered quickly as he looked out of the open window.

'Vhager? Why would she she come here, or have my guards made a mistake?' Confused, just like the rest of my Council, I stood, slowly making my way to the window, peaking out to the vast City, seeing a massive creature laying outside of the dragon pit.

'Of course, it is..' It didn't take me long to understand what was happening and why most didn't know this dragon, or mistook her for vhager. "Fortassax is still larger than life.." words escaped my lips as I shook my head, feeling the growing headache that would soon fall upon me.

"Fucking Maliketh.."