Only between the shadow of each tree could two silhouettes be seen standing in the dim fall morning sun. Weak shoestring lines of sunlight cascaded down through the evergreen canopy to irradiate the setting dew on everything from blades of grass to hewn logs left to rot or leafy branches of bushes.
Lady Alicent asked you to take a walk in the garden and share her thoughts regarding your brother. To your amazement, they were forming a relationship that did not predict the worst. Cregan was now reminding you of a little boy who finally got his sweets and was joyful almost every time the conversation went about Alicent Hightower. You led her along the path beside a Weirwood tree, taking her under the arm.
"I feel so flurried confessing that I indeed like him too, Lady Y/n."
"It is natural to feel that way, Lady Alicent. Cregan only vents about you." You said softly.
Squeezing a book in her hands, Alicent looked at you dreamily, a pink blush colouring her cheeks forthwith. She was just like Cregan, joyful enough to shift the aura around her, and make the birds sing again like on a spring morning. Reaching the long terrace strewn with flower bushes, you took a moment to admire the city.
"Today is a good day." The sound of approaching steps made both of you turn towards the intruder of the silence. Alicent hurried to bow her head looking at her feet.
"Good morning, my lord." She said.
"Lady Alicent. Lady Y/n." Daemon bowed his head.
"My lord." You repeated after Alicent.
Without a word, Daemon silently looked over at you occasionally looking past you, at the scenery. Squinting her eyes Alicent clearly saw the condition you were in, how tense the air got in a few seconds. Faintly smiling to herself, she cleared her voice and said, "I must hurry before my Father leaves. Thank you for your company, Lady Y/n."
She smiled at you pointedly. "My lord" was the last thing she uttered to Daemon before disappearing behind the garden trees.
Daemon followed her with his gaze until she was no longer seen and turned back to you. "You should put something on over your dress. Preferably a mantle."
"Is there a reason?" Eyes scanning over him, you raised an eyebrow in his direction.
"You might need it while riding a dragon." He revealed.
"Excuse me?" You studied him sceptically but his words caught you off guard, "A dragon?"
"I want you to meet Caraxes." His eyes gleaming.
"Absolutely not." You frowned.
"Yes."
"No!"
"Why?" He asked almost pleadingly.
You pulled at your bottom lip and tried to avert your eyes, "Because I am terrified of them."
"You? Fearless woman with sword skills better than anyone I know?" He cocked a playful eyebrow over in your direction.
He waited ready for you to make a snarky remark. But it never came. Either you were tired or you were waiting to pop off with something he did not want to hear. You lowered your eyes.
He blinked to focus on your face but mostly all he could feel was the faint touch of fragility that you radiated in that moment. You shook your head taking less care to see him slink his way closer to you. Taking your hands into his, he unintentionally pulled you closer to him.
"He will not do you any harm, unless I say so."
"Don't you know the legends? A dragon will not let anyone on himself except for Targaryen." Your ability to control your anger less refined than him.
"I know the legends, because I invented them." You finally looked up to see his focused expression on you.
"Trust me, Y/n." He said, eyes stuck on you. The offer that often lingered in your mind since the day you met him. Unaccustomed sorrow welled up in your stomach. Almost like heartburn you knew standing in the middle of the castle nearing noonday, you couldn't just choke it down. Squeezing his hand as a sign of a long-awaited answer, you slowly nodded.
"My father will have your head, if he burns me alive." You muttered conservatively to Daemon.
Blessed with a genuine smile, Daemon whispered. "He has a name."
***
A sudden eruption in roars before unsettling silence filtered down on the ground of the Dragonpit. Eyes guided towards what caused the disturbance, you caught a glimpse of familiar reason. Now with everything swelling up to a head, you did not realize you were ready for it.
A red, huge, lean creature landed a few feet away from you. Astonished by the size of the dragon, you could not help but envision this creature in battles. He was formidable, fearsome, and experienced. The Dragonkeepers stood behind you, whereas Daemon approached Caraxes. Palms touching the rough skin, he brought his forehead closer against the dragon as a mother would soothe her child in tender touch, sealing the display of affection.
"Give me your hand." Daemon's fixed look separated from his dragon and he gazed out at you.
Tearing your eyes away from Caraxes you looked at Daemon, not a single muscle twitched on your face. "He will not like me. I'm cold."
"What a concurrence. He is fond of cold-hearted women. Come here." His voice accompanied with a deep roar behind him.
Shoulders set back, face lifted forward you approached the two reasons of your unrest, footsteps crunched under the dry gravel of the Dragonpit. You raised your hand up in the air and brought it closer to the skin of Caraxes when Daemon's hand clasped over yours and pressed it against the dragon's face.
Your shoulders remained still, letting your gaze look up at the light brown eye of the dragon that was looking directly at you.
"Don't tremble. He feels your fear." Daemon's voice came beside you.
"Thank you, Daemon. Now that you have said that, I absolutely feel safe." You muttered to him.
Even standing in front of your greatest nightmare, you did not hold back to give a snarky response to the other dragon.
Disregarding your response, his eyebrow shot up, the idea peaking interest in him. "Are you ready?"
"For what?"
"To see the King's Landing from such view that no any man could ever show you."
Helping you to get on Caraxes' back he turned to warn you to hold on tighter and noticed halfway that your arms were already wrapped around his body momentarily you'd gotten up on the dragon. Pulling him to your embrace and squeezing him tightly. Caraxes swayed in his place before taking off to the clouds but you made sure to shut your eyes immediately.
"Don't forget to open your eyes occasionally." Daemon smirked before petting the dragon's back.