House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men

(Drakken's POV)

[The Dark Shade]

I stood in front of the Golden Tree, feeling its power emanating into the air. There was an unusual warmth to it, one that stood out in this cold place. 

I let out a sigh and pulled something from out of my pocket, "Let's hope it works." I said as I looked at a folded piece of cloth, "Hm....." 

I looked at it for a couple of seconds before placing it back into my pocket. I then walked towards the tree and placed my hand on it, seeing the light pulsating, giving off a glow. 

For a few more seconds, I stood there, adjusting to the power of the Dark Shade and this Tree specifically. The Foundation had gotten stronger as of late and I was now able to come back to this place. 

I closed my eyes and pushed myself forward, feeling my entire body phasing through the tree and I was suddenly sucked into it. 

I felt the quick, cold feeling of the Dark Shade's plane, hearing Thanatos's wings fluttering in the distance as he let out a growl in response. Ignoring that, I simply allowed myself to be transported into a certain pocket dimension where I had her. 

My Daranne.

Next thing I knew, I was standing in her room, the sun was shining through the window and illuminating everything. 

I looked around, seeing that nothing much has changed since the last time I came here. 

I then heard the sound of a baby laughing and I looked over to see her standing across the room, her back turned to me. 

I froze, seeing the sight of her long and blonde hair, fluttering in the breeze that came through the window. 

"I...." I said as I stood there, not knowing how to react

She wore a red dress with golden embroidery, it reminded me of her favorite one she enjoyed wearing. 

I watched as she turned around, holding a much older babe in her arms, one who seemed to be almost a year old. He looked exactly like Sylas did at that age, his big and round red eyes staring right at her as she had a beautiful smile on her face. 

I stared at her face, it was so beautiful, so ethereal. 

I didn't know what to do. 

"He grew up, didn't he?" She said suddenly, looking at me with a warm smile, "It just happened....it was the usual routine of him disappearing and when he appeared on his cradle, he was this size. Isn't he just precious?" 

"Daranne....." I said seriously

"Are you going to stand there?" She asked, "Or are you going to come here and hold your son?" 

"I....." I said as I looked down

"How long has it been for you, My Lord?" She asked me as she walked over to the couch, sitting down, "Because.....to me, not much time has passed. I suppose time is different...." 

"A little over a year." I told her

"Ah." She said as she patted the babe's head, "Is that so? You must have been busy." 

"You can say that." I said

"Don't feel bad about it." She said with a warm smile, "I am dead, you are not. You have so many things to worry about, rather than me." 

I walked over to her, seeing how she held the babe in her arms, "This isn't our son." I told her, "You know that." 

"To you, that may be so." She said softly as she smiled at him, "Because you see him every day, you are watching him grow up. But to me? He is my boy, my beautiful Sylas." 

The babe suddenly turned into dust, dissipating into nothingness as she simply sat there, lowering her arms slowly. 

"Daranne...." I started

She sighed, "It happens." She said, "I'll wait until he comes back and we'll continue our moment...." 

I reached for my pocket, feeling the piece of cloth in it, "I....." I started, "Sylas was sparring with Riktor one day, and he tore his shirt apart. Mya offered to help repair it, but I told her not to...." 

I pulled the cloth out of my pocket and unfolded it, revealing that there was a handprint on it, one that belonged to a child. 

"My Lord...." Daranne looked at it with surprise, "This....." 

"I had him mark it with his hand." I said, "He was confused and eager to return to sparring so I had no time to explain to him the reason for this....." 

I reached for her hand, taken aback by the fact that I could not feel her touch. I then placed the cloth on her palm and patted her cheek. 

She looked at the cloth, "This is his hand.....?" 

I nodded, "Yes." 

"He's growing...." She said softly, "Sylas..." 

"He is." I told her

She looked up at me with a warm smile, "Thank you." She said, "For taking care of him." 

"He is our son." I said, "I will always take care of him." 

"You cannot feel me, can you not?" She said softly, a sad tone to her voice, "I cannot...." 

"No...." I said

"But...." She said as she looked at the cloth, "I can feel this.....this belonged to him.....it is...as if I am touching him.....m-my beautiful boy..." 

Her voice was shaky and tears formed in her eyes as she closed them, wiping them away instantly. 

I pulled away, "He misses you." I said as I turned around, "As do I." 

"Y-Yes...." She said, "I miss him....." 

"I don't want to get your hopes up." I said, "But-" 

"Don't." She cut me off, "Don't do that." 

I looked at her, "I am getting you out, Daranne." I told her, "I am not joking." 

She looked down, "Neither am I." She said, "Just....don't do that. I don't want.....I don't want hope...." 

"You don't belong here." I told her, "You belong out there. With me. With him." 

"I made my decision." She said softly, "I am here because of it." 

I stared at her for a couple of seconds, "Maegelle and I.....we had gotten in a fight recently." I told her, "Well.....a few months back." 

"Eh?" She looked at me with a surprised look, "W-Why?" 

"I was being myself." I said, "And I did something that hurt her." 

"Oh, Lord Drakken..." She said softly, "Why would you hurt her?" 

"It wasn't my intention." I said, "But she and I made up soon after. And well, let's just say that I didn't let her rest afterwards.....and she is with child again." 

"Oh!" She said, her eyes lighting up, "Is that so? Oh, I am so happy for her!" 

I smiled slightly, "I cannot wait." I told her, "I want it to be a son, another brother for the boys." 

"Yes..." She said with a smile, "Congratulations, My Lord...." 

"Yea....." I said as I looked down, "Well.....I....nevermind....." 

"How are your daughters?" She asked, "Are they growing fast?" 

I sighed, "Too fast." I said as I turned to face her, "Vaella is a sweetheart, my beautiful girl is just like her mother. She does no wrong, she is.....you would adore her.....she is like a little bundle of kindness and joy...that one.....Every time she walks up to me, she thaws out the coldness in my heart, I don't know how to explain it." 

"Aw, is that so?" She said with a smile, "And the other one? Astorias?" 

I let out an exhale, "She is..." I said as I looked up, "She is too much. She is just like her mother, incredibly clingy.....and she is loud.....abrasive....she loves to bully Riktor and sometimes wakes me up by jumping on my stomach. A little rascal, that one....." 

"Oh my." She chuckled

I looked at her, "You should see her, Daranne." I said with a slight smile, "That girl.....she has white hair....and red eyes.....isn't that amazing? A perfect combination of a Targaryen and Myself....." 

"She sounds like she is beautiful. Maegelle's girl too..." She said

"They are both beautiful." I said, "I.....hm....." 

"What is it?" She asked with a frown

"I wanted one....." I told her, 

"From you."