Chapter 2 : Four Years Later.
Alyssa Targaryen
Alyssa Targaryen had always known there was something special about her newest younger brother, Prince Gaemon Targaryen. Even as a baby, he didn't cry unless he was wet or soiled; no other discomfort seemed to bother him. Alyssa discovered this one restless midnight when, worried about her own future pregnancy, she visited the nursery and found Gaemon lying in his crib, wide awake, with a cat—of all things—standing inside it, staring at his face.
As he grew older, it became clear that Gaemon had a unique way with creatures. His calm and steady hand could soothe even the wildest of animals, whether cats or horses. How Gaemon, at the age of three, managed to escape towards the stables was anyone's guess. It was as if he could communicate with them in a language only they understood, and in return, they respected and loved him. But today was different. Today, Alyssa was about to introduce him to the most magnificent and terrifying creatures in all of Westeros: the dragons.
She had been planning this for weeks, ever since Gaemon expressed a passing interest in seeing the dragons up close and she had learned she was pregnant. This was a training for her as well, preparing for the day she would take her own child on a dragon. Gaemon was only four years old, but his curiosity, Alyssa knew, was greater than that of most men ten times his age. The day was perfect for such an adventure—clear skies, a warm breeze, and the dragons had been particularly restless, their roars echoing across the Red Keep as if they, too, sensed something momentous was about to happen.
As they made their way down the winding stone paths that led to the Dragonpit, Gaemon's small hand clutched tightly in hers, Alyssa couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement. She had been his age when she first saw the dragons, and the memory was as vivid now as it had been then—the heat of their breath, the shimmer of their scales, the sheer power that radiated from their massive forms. It had all been overwhelming, yet there was a strange beauty in it, a wildness that called to her blood.
But Gaemon was different, she reminded herself. He wasn't just any Targaryen. He was special—he had even escaped death at birth. There was something ancient and deep in his eyes that even she couldn't fully understand. And it wasn't just because he was her brother; her father had also recognized it. Alyssa knew from Baelon that their father had been keeping a close eye on Gaemon ever since he learned to walk. Their father's foresight was warranted, as Gaemon had shown extraordinary progress in his development, even making their dour brother Vaegon jealous of the speed with which Gaemon picked up learning.
"Are we almost there, sister?" Gaemon's voice was soft, but there was an edge of anticipation that made her smile.
"Almost," she replied, squeezing his hand gently. "Are you ready?"
He nodded, his silver hair catching the light as he looked up at her with those unusually dark violet eyes that seemed to see right through her. "I'm not scared," he said, and Alyssa believed him. Gaemon had never been one to fear the unknown, not like other children his age. He was too curious and wild, too eager to learn, to ever let fear hold him back.
As they rounded the final corner, the entrance to the Dragonpit loomed before them, a massive structure of stone and iron that had stood for centuries, housing the greatest and most dangerous creatures in the world. The air grew warmer, the scent of sulfur and smoke thick in their nostrils, and Alyssa felt Gaemon's hand tighten in hers as the first low growl rumbled through the walls.
"Remember what I told you," she said quietly, kneeling down to look him in the eye. "The dragons are not like the other animals you've seen. They are wild and powerful, but they are also part of us. They will sense your feelings, so you must be calm and respectful."
Gaemon nodded solemnly, and Alyssa could see the determination in his face. He was ready.
They stepped through the gates, the heavy iron doors closing behind them with a resounding clang that echoed through the vast chamber. Inside, the air was thick with heat and the sound of scales scraping against stone. Some of the dragons were awake.
Alyssa led Gaemon forward, her eyes scanning the darkened corners where the dragons rested. Vermithor's bronze scales glowed like molten metal in the dim light, his massive head resting on his forepaws as he watched them with lazy interest. Silverwing perched on a high ledge, her wings tucked neatly at her sides as she preened her silvery feathers. The dragons had not yet returned to the cavern, and they were lying in the center of the Dragonpit under the opening in the dome.
But it was Meleys that drew Alyssa's attention. The young dragon, still small by dragon standards but already fierce and proud, could feel their bond, and Alyssa led Gaemon to the cavern holding Meleys. Gaemon frowned upon seeing Meleys bound by chains.
He took a hesitant step forward, his hand slipping from Alyssa's as he approached her dragon. Alyssa held her breath, every instinct screaming at her to pull him back, to protect him. But she didn't want her own feelings of surprise to affect Meleys more than usual as Gaemon reached the dragon before she could introduce them.
Alyssa panicked, fearing she might lose her brother, as Meleys had not experienced much human presence like other dragons with more interaction. Their bond was only two years old.
"Hello," Gaemon whispered, his voice barely audible over the sounds of the Dragonpit. Meleys blinked, her head tilting slightly as if considering the boy before her. Alyssa immediately sent feelings of calm through their bond, but to her immense surprise, she sensed no hostility from Meleys, just pure surprise and curiosity.
For a long moment, nothing happened. The dragon and the boy simply stared at each other, and Alyssa could almost feel the air crackling with energy, as if some invisible force was passing between them. Then, slowly, Meleys lowered her head, her great snout brushing against Gaemon's outstretched hand.
"Oh, you are so beautiful, like a red queen," Gaemon whispered as he scratched the dragon's scales.
Alyssa gaped at the dragon's reaction. The only person she had ever seen scratching a dragon like this was their bonded rider. Even Alyssa couldn't pat Vhagar like this, even when Baelon was standing right beside her. For Gaemon to do this, even before she had introduced them, was unheard of.
Gaemon's face lit up with a smile, his eyes shining with a mixture of joy and wonder as he stroked the dragon's warm scales. "She likes me, sister. And she loves you," he said, his voice full of awe.
Alyssa smiled, a wave of pride and relief washing over her. "Of course she does. She is mine, and I am hers."
But even as she said the words, a pang of uncertainty crept into her thoughts. Was this what their ancestors in Valyria could do when there were hundreds of dragons from various families? Was this the same connection that had allowed men and dragons to coexist in Valyria without these magnificent beasts killing people every other day?
She shook off the thought, focusing instead on the sight of her brother and the dragon before her. She may have missed her chance to formally introduce Gaemon to Meleys, but she could still give him his first flight.
"Come, Gaemon, let's fly."
"Gladly, sister," Gaemon replied with a truly open smile that made Alyssa grin. She couldn't resist grabbing his cheeks and pinching them, causing Gaemon to splutter in disbelief and try to escape her hold by ducking under Meleys' wings.
One Hour Later
Alyssa tried to land Meleys near the center of the pit, but Meleys was reluctant to go near the Bronze Fury, who growled at her. They landed as far away from the irate dragon as possible. Alyssa wondered why the dragons of the King and Queen were in the center and not in their own caverns.
She moved to help her brother dismount, but there was no need. Gaemon was surprisingly nimble, knowing exactly where to place his foot as he slid down Meleys' wings.
The dragons had watched the scene unfold with varying degrees of interest. Vermithor merely snorted, his tail thumping lazily against the ground, while Silverwing continued her preening, seemingly unconcerned.
"Princess, Prince," the head Dragonguard acknowledged her with a nod.
"Chief, why does the Bronze Fury look irate?" Alyssa asked, her eyes narrowing as she studied the large dragon.
The Chief grimaced. "The moment you left the dome, the Black Dread awoke and roared from his cavern underground. Maybe the wind and your dragon's sounds kept you from hearing it."
Alyssa was always thankful that the Dragonguards helped her by not supporting her aim to claim Balerion.
Roar!
An earth-shattering sound echoed around the Dragonpit as Balerion roared again, as if he was waiting for someone to speak his name.
Alyssa quickly glanced at Gaemon, expecting him to be terrified by the chilling roar, but to her surprise, there was no fear in his eyes—only pity and sadness, though she couldn't understand why.
"Sister," Gaemon smiled, and for a moment, Alyssa wondered if she had imagined the sadness in his face earlier.
"Yes, Gaemon?"
"Let's see the rest of the dragons too. I want to meet them. Introduce me," Gaemon said eagerly.
Alyssa wanted to refuse, but something in Gaemon's eyes made her reconsider. "It's dangerous to approach dragons without their bonded riders nearby, Gaemon. But I will introduce you to Silverwing and Dreamfyre. They are docile and calm enough. I will check if Vhagar is in a good mood to entertain you while you spend time with them."
"I want to see Balerion too," Gaemon immediately said.
"NO!" Alyssa snapped. "I will not take you to him. He is not calm, as you just heard. Mother would feed me to Silverwing if she knew I took you to see Balerion."
For a moment, Alyssa thought Gaemon would protest, but he sighed and nodded, accepting her decision.
Alyssa was no longer surprised when Silverwing greeted Gaemon as warmly as Meleys had. The silver beast preened in pleasure as Gaemon scratched her near her wing joints, praising her shimmering scales.
After several minutes, even Vermithor barged in, pushing his large head near Gaemon to sniff him. He then growled softly and nudged Gaemon away from Silverwing, presenting his own neck for scratching, which Gaemon did with his usual enthusiasm.
It was now, out in the open, that Alyssa noticed something peculiar about Gaemon. Unlike everyone else who used their palms to scratch a dragon's scales, Gaemon was using his fists. He wasn't simply patting or stroking the dragons—he was almost kneading them, his knuckles brushing firmly against their thick scales. And come to think of it, Alyssa realized that every dragon had responded more enthusiastically to him than usual. They seemed to enjoy his touch, leaning into his fists as if craving the sensation.
Later, they ventured into the caverns to visit Dreamfyre. The majestic blue dragon awoke from her slumber, sniffing deeply as she regarded them. To Alyssa's surprise, Dreamfyre growled in clear anger. Startled by the sudden aggression, Alyssa struggled to calm the dragon in High Valyrian, but before she could speak, Dreamfyre's long head lashed out, attempting to batter them against the cavern walls. Only Gaemon's quick thinking—pushing Alyssa aside and lying flat on the ground—allowed them to escape the attack.
"Lykiri!" Gaemon's sudden command echoed through the caves, surprising Alyssa with the authority in his voice. Gaemon was already on his feet, yelling something else at the dragon.
Alyssa added her own command, "Lykiri," but Dreamfyre, recovering from her initial surprise, growled menacingly at Gaemon. The dragon began to open her mouth, and Alyssa panicked, realizing Dreamfyre was about to incinerate them.
Before they could move, or Dreamfyre could unleash her fire, an ear-splitting roar reverberated around them, drowning out everything else. This roar was nothing like the earlier one, and Alyssa knew that the entire King's Landing must have heard it.
Dreamfyre immediately recoiled as if struck by an invisible force, closing her mouth and snuffing out the flames that had built up. The blue dragon growled in frustration, but Alyssa and Gaemon didn't wait to see what she would do next—they ran from the cavern, escaping before Dreamfyre lost whatever sudden restraint had taken hold of her
Alyssa reached the center of the Dragonpit and was shocked to see both Vermithor and Silverwing cowed, lying coiled around each other. She panted and started laughing nervously as Meleys suddenly approached her, almost as if checking to see if she was unharmed.
"I'm fine, Meleys," Alyssa assured, stroking the dragon's warm scales. "It seems that Dreamfyre is nesting; she tried to attack us, Chief," she added as the Chief of the Dragonkeepers approached her.
"My princess, where is Prince Gaemon?"
"Gaemon?" Alyssa gasped, looking around in panic, realizing she had lost sight of him. Her eyes darted back to the cavern they had just fled. A deep, menacing growl echoed from within, and Alyssa cursed the gods as she deduced where Gaemon had gone.
Balerion the Black Dread, the oldest and most fearsome of all the dragons, lay in the deepest part of the pit, his massive bulk hidden in the shadows. Alyssa had never intended for Gaemon to see him—not today, not ever. Balerion was too old, too dangerous, and his temper had grown unpredictable in recent years. King Jaehaerys himself had decreed that no one was to approach the Black Dread, a decision Alyssa had once contemplated defying, only to reconsider after the sage advice of the Dragonkeepers.
"Gaemon, no!" Alyssa's voice rang out, as she sprinted towards the cavern where Balerion rested.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she ran, her mind swirling with fear and anger. She had been foolish to bring Gaemon here, to expose him to the dangers of the Dragonpit. Balerion was not like the other dragons. He was a relic of a bygone era, a creature of such power and ferocity that even the bravest men feared him. If he chose to attack, there would be nothing she could do to stop him.
But when she reached the shadowed alcove where Balerion rested, she found not a scene of violence or terror, but something far more unsettling.
Gaemon stood before the Black Dread, his tiny figure dwarfed by the dragon's immense size. Balerion's eyes, molten gold in color, were fixed on the boy, and there was something in his gaze that Alyssa had never seen before—something almost…gentle.
For a long moment, neither moved. The air was thick with tension, and Alyssa could feel the sweat trickling down her back as she waited, every muscle in her body tensed for action. But Balerion did not attack. Instead, he let out a low, rumbling sound, more a sigh than a roar, and lowered his massive head to the ground, his eyes never leaving Gaemon's.
Alyssa felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it was quickly followed by a deep, gnawing fear. What was this? What was happening? Balerion had never reacted to anyone this way, not since the days of Maegor. The closest was when Balerion tolerated her husband hitting him on the snout. And yet, here he was, lowering his head before a four-year-old boy, allowing him to scratch his face.
"Gaemon, come here," Alyssa called, her voice trembling despite her efforts to keep it steady. She needed to get him away from Balerion, away from the danger, before something went wrong.
But Gaemon didn't move. He stood still, his eyes wide and shining as he stared at the ancient dragon, all the while moving his fist over the dragon's scales. Balerion rumbled again, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through the ground, and Alyssa felt a shiver run down her spine.
For a moment, the entire world seemed to hold its breath, and then, with a suddenness that took Alyssa by surprise, Balerion's eyes slid closed. He let out a long, weary sigh, seeming to enjoy the small human trying to scratch his scales.
Alyssa carefully walked forward until she was standing beside Gaemon. She also raised her hand to scratch the old dragon.
Gaemon stepped back, his hand dropping to his side, and turned to face Alyssa. His eyes were bright with unshed tears, and there was a sadness in them that made her heart ache.
"I felt it," he said softly, his voice barely a whisper. "I felt his pain. He's so old, Alyssa, and he's so tired and sick."
Alyssa didn't know what to say. She wanted to comfort him, to tell him that everything was going to be all right, but the words wouldn't come. How could she comfort him when she didn't even understand what had just happened? How could she explain the kinship he had just formed with almost every creature in the Dragonpit, especially with a dragon older than their very kingdom—a kinship that no one, not even her father, had ever taught them?
She knelt down, pulling him into her arms, and held him tightly, her heart pounding in her chest. "It's okay, Gaemon," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "It's okay."
But even as she said the words, she knew that things were not okay. Something had happened here, something that would change their lives forever. And as she held her brother close, she couldn't shake the feeling that they had just crossed a line, a line that could never be uncrossed.
When they returned to the Red Keep, King Jaehaerys was waiting for them in the Great Hall. His face was as stern as Alyssa had ever seen it, his eyes cold and unforgiving as they locked onto her and Gaemon. The weight of his gaze was palpable, and the room seemed to grow hotter with every passing second.
"What were you thinking, Alyssa?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. The words cut through the air like a blade. "You were explicitly told never to take your younger siblings to the Dragonpit, especially at such a young age, and yet you disobeyed me."
Alyssa flinched at the harshness of his tone, but she refused to back down. She straightened her spine and met his gaze, trying to keep her voice steady. "He wanted to see the dragons," she said, her voice firm despite the tremor in her chest. "He's a Targaryen, just as you and I are. He has a right to see them, and you know that, Father. Besides, you gave that order regarding my other sibling who weren't interested in the dragons at such a young age. Gaemon is different." She finished with a touch of defiance, her cheekiness causing Baelon and Aemon, who were standing nearby, to groan in exasperation.
Jaehaerys' eyes narrowed dangerously, and for a moment, Alyssa thought he might strike her. His anger was a palpable force in the room, and everyone seemed to hold their breath, waiting for the storm to break. But then his gaze shifted to Gaemon, who stood quietly beside her, his small hand clutching hers tightly. The boy's indifferent gaze seemed to give the king pause, though his anger did not diminish.
"And you," Jaehaerys said, his voice cold and sharp as a winter's wind. "What possessed you to approach Balerion? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? You could have been killed, Gaemon. The Black Dread is not a creature to be trifled with."
Gaemon looked up at him, his dark violet eyes wide and unblinking, the calmness of the four year old at the situation unsettling everyone except the King. "I wasn't afraid," he said softly, his voice steady and calm, a stark contrast to the tension in the room. "He wouldn't hurt me."
Jaehaerys' expression darkened at the boy's words, and he took a step forward, towering over his son with all the authority of a king. "No one is to claim Balerion ever again," he said, his voice firm and final, leaving no room for argument. "He is too old, too dangerous. I don't want to see another Aerea after her venture to Valyria ever again. Do you understand?"
Gaemon nodded slowly, but Alyssa could see the stubborn set of his jaw, the way his eyes flashed with a defiance that made her stomach churn with dread. He didn't agree, she realized with a sinking feeling. He didn't believe that Balerion was a threat—not to him, at least. It was a dangerous thought, one that could lead to unimaginable consequences.
But King Jaehaerys didn't notice or ignored the silent rebellion in Gaemon's eyes. He turned his back on them, his cloak billowing behind him like a storm cloud as he strode away, his steps echoing ominously through the Great Hall. "Keep him away from the Dragonpit for now, Alyssa," he called over his shoulder, his voice tight with anger and disappointment. "I will not tolerate any more disobedience."
Alyssa stood there, rooted to the spot, her heart heavy with the weight of her father's words. She felt Gaemon's small hand tighten around hers, and she squeezed back, drawing some comfort from the simple gesture. But as she looked down at him, she couldn't shake the fear that had taken root in her heart.
They had crossed a line today, one that could never be uncrossed. The bond between Gaemon and the dragons especially balerion was something that no one could have anticipated, something that might change the course of their lives—and perhaps the history of House Targaryen itself. And as much as the king wanted to protect her brother, to shield him from the dangers of their world, she knew that some things were beyond even their control.
Authors note: so FD won the poll as expected and here is the 2nd chap. So while writing this, I had to reconsider my initial long term plotlines as they seem to be inconsistent with the butterfly effect of gaemon's actions and balerions survival…. So I decided to experiment here. ADS is something I have fixed plot and I will not change the plans. I have only one thing fixed here and that too in far away future. So hit me with suggestions and whether canon should happen or not. Also know that logan already forgot major details of actual story period of Got and only thing he knows is king jae is supposed to be the good king while queen is known as good queen and a viserys causes dance of dragons making targaryens loose their dragons. Maybe when actual events happens he will remember snippets here and there.
Also going forward, I will try to update monthly as one of the major reason for delay was I planned on using ADS dragonlore, valyrian history for this fic. So to not spoil ADS I kept this on hold .
During the long break and how much ads has moved forward, I decided to not reuse it because ultimately it would be quite boring… also I got another very interesting idea for the dragonlore and valyrian history for FD.. thus I don't see any problem in regular updates for FD. Lets see what happens when I start FD 7 for june update..
To read ahead i.e FD 3,4,5, 6: My Patreon
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