House of the Dragon: son of flames and destruction

The mood on Driftmark was heavy with mourning. Lady Laena Velaryon rider of Vhagar, sister to Laenor, and beloved by her family had taken to the skies once more. But her next flight would not return. With her husband Daemon and their daughters Baela and Rhaena beside her, she had succumbed to the perilous freedom of dragonflight. A tragic firestorm broke upon her, and Vhagar had carried the weight of her final choice.

At the funeral, the air was thick as House Velaryon committed Laena's body to the sea . The hush of grief pressed on the hearts of all present King Viserys, Queen Alicent, a host of riders, and enclaves of Greens and Blacks bound by uneasy blood.

For Aemond, there was no solace. He had come to the gathering as a dragonless prince, mocked by kin who already possessed dragonfire. His blood burned as fiercely as any flame in Valyria.

Claiming the Might of Vhagar

Late that night, under a broken sky, Aemond crept to Vhagar's side as the others grieved. The dragon lay wounded on the beach massive, dark, and raw with loss.

He whispered in High Valyrian:

"Vhagar. Zaldrīzes Zeldilor Zaldrīzo.

"Vhagar. Let me be your rider."

The dragon's gaze, heavy and aged, watched him.

With a trembling resolve, Aemond scaled her ridged spine. Vhagar's power was tangible earth itself seemed to shudder beneath her. But he held tight, driven forward by grief and the need to prove his worth.

Again, she bucked him into the sand, tail lashing him to the ground. His head struck stone blood ran down his face .

Aemond awoke bruised and eyes full of confusion turning to determination as he lifted himself to try again. He climbed with what strength remained and this time, she did not cast him off.

She opened her wings.

By dawn, Aemond and Vhagar appeared in the sky above Driftmark not as a child riding a dragon, but as one born to it. She carried him back, powerful and sure, her roar echoing over the sea and cliffs.

When they landed, the everyone fell silent.

Baela and Rhaena stepped forward, faces rigid with anger and pain. Lucerys and Jacaerys, along with Alicent and Viserys, watched in awe and dread .

Down below, Aemond emerged pale and proud, his shaken form gripping Vhagar's neck. Blood darkened his cheek.

He regarded them all those who doubted him, mocked him, those who watched.

he said with a smirk. "she is mine."

That afternoon, the assembled royals gathered yet again. Aemond stood by Vhagar, steady as stone, silent as death until Lucerys stepped forward.

"You stole her from us—" he started in High Valyrian; anger cracked his voice.

Aemond sneered. "Laena is gone. Vhagar chooses. I was brave enough to take her."

Lucerys advanced. "What do you call this? A blood debt?"

Aigh from Jacaerys echoed while Alicent's face paled.

Words became shoves, shoves became struggle.

Steel flashed Jacaerys tried to intervene, and in the chaos, Lucerys slashed at Aemond's face with a dagger, the blade carving a jagged wound. It claimed his eye .

Blood poured Aemond stumbled, vision darkening, but he held his ground.

A cry split the room .

Queen Alicent launched forward with the king's dagger, but Rhaenyra leapt into its path. The blade nicked Rhaenyra's arm before it was knocked away .

Justice in Blood

Viserys's voice rattled into the stunned air. "Stop this at once!"

Alicent's eyes blazed. "An eye for an eye!"

"Enough!" Viserys roared. "No further violence!" 

A hush fell.

Aemond pressed his palm to the wound, bitter fury and triumph bleeding together. He nodded to his mother, voice low and unfaltering: "She is mine, Father. This is fair."

Otto stepped beside him, stony and proud.

Aftermath

That night, the camp was fractured.

Aemond, one-eyed but triumphant, sat by Vhagar as she purred softly her old rumbling like thunder under skin .

He fingered the scar. Pain had a purpose now.

Lucerys, banned from the dragon's presence, watched with smoldering regret.

Alicent cared for her son's wound, worry etched into her calm exterior.

Rhaenyra nursed her arm, her eyes cold as embers.

Dust settled on Driftmark.

But the war had already ignited.

Because now

Aemond had Vhagar.