(Accepting Defeat)

[decisiveconquest]

Who: Daenerys & Rhaegar (Second Prompt is Open~)
What: Giving a sacrifice to open another subarchway.
When: Now?
Where: Fayren
Warnings: Game of Thrones destruction/death themes.

(I. For a Son -)

(She sent a message to her brother, clutching a sharp pair of scissors in her hand. This is long overdue, yet she is glad she has waited. This way, the loss will serve a purpose; a great purpose.)

Rhaegar,

I am bringing my son home.

(Drawing her thick braids over her shoulder, she begins to cut them, paying no attention to how haphazard the cuts might be. Her fingers ache under the strain and as the braids fall, she begins to shake, tears welling in her eyes.)

(II. Aftermath -)

(The great black Dragon stays close to his mother, making soft sounds of relief whenever she turns to touch his muzzle or cheek. Daenerys's pale hair now barely reaches her shoulders - the cuts she made haven't been evened out, but there is a sense of renewal about her. The past can't be shed entirely, of course, but now that she has truly, fully admitted defeat, maybe she will be able to find some peace.)

Easy. (She coaxes Drogon when she sees the people of Fayren.) They're not here to hurt you or me.

Comments

II.

[embracethewind]

[ The staff in Amatsu were having talks about a giant creature in the skies of Fayren. A giant black Dragon with a silver-haired rider. That caught Souji's attention immediately.

Hāedar and Valonqar were growing fast but it would take long for them to be huge, so he decides to leave the inn with Tomoe's permission (everytime he did so, those absences were repaid with double shift, of course!), trying to follow the Dragon's trail under the description of his co-workers.

Until he finds them being almost surrounded by people who are wary and keeping their distance from afar. The woman beside the Dragon... her new appearance leaves him stunned, walking in between the spectators and just... looking at Daenerys. Just... looking. ]

[decisiveconquest]

(She sees him quickly enough and she points him out to Drogon, murmuring about their friendship. The great Dragon lumbers towards Souji, rumbling deep in his throat. He will lower his head to look into the young man's eyes, measuring him; weighing him in a way only a Valyrian Dragon could. Daenerys runs a hand over his side soothingly the entire time, smiling when Drogon turns his head to nuzzle against her.)

Souji, this is...Drogon. He is my son.

[embracethewind]

[ Oh, his Lord! He would lie if said he isn't scared, paralyzed, even with his katana in hand in case something goes wrong. Drogon's eyes as red and gold as fire and blood are fierce and intimidating while somehow seeing himself reflected in them, only seemed to turn gentler with Dany's touch.

Her voice brings him out of his trance so he can be introduced. ]

Ah--! H-Hello Drogon! Nice to-- to meet you! [ He dares to raise a hand, tempted to touch the Dragon. ]

[decisiveconquest]

(Drogon is exhausted, sad and ready to kill anyone who threatens her or him. Daenerys understands this - her son has had to shoulder all she has and more since he has to live through her death. But Souji is a friend and, after a moment of the Dragon being fixated by the young man, he gives a huff. His head lowers so his nose can be touched and Daenerys leans against him, smiling proudly.)

He is wise; he isn't a monster. What he needs is a good meal and rest. I'm thinking of leading him to the meadow or forest.

[embracethewind]

[ This is when he half pulls a Jon Snow moment when touching that huge nose, petting it gently as beads of sweat fall from his forehead and temples. All those breakfast sweets will ruin his loincloth if Drogon roars at him. ]

Y-Yes... but... [ Somehow, Souji feels bad for Drogon. Not only the dragon: getting closer to them, standing at Dany's side, eyes run through her hair along with his now free hand tempted to touch it. ]

... What have you done?

[decisiveconquest]

(Drogon is incredibly imposing and he likely knows it. He shows Souji his teeth for good measure before he raises his head far above their heads to sniff the air. Daenerys watches him with nothing but affection in her eyes until she hears Souji's question.)

I had to make a sacrifice. (She touches her much shorter hair self-consciously.) I was defeated, so I no longer deserved my braids, but this way, I was able to bring Drogon to me.

[embracethewind]

[ Those... teeth. He better not stir things up with him in any manner. Daenerys touching her undone locks of hair causes his own hand to stop halfway, uncertain of her decision. He knows she missed her son terribly and wanted the remaining of the three to be with her. Never thought it would be possible by doing such thing, considering how much those braids meant to her it seemed reasonable to let go of them with a purpose. ]

I suppose that is. [ Looking back at Drogon. ]

[decisiveconquest]

(Her hair needs to be evened and it only barely brushes her shoulders. She touches his hand, bringing it to the pale strands.)

I would have cut off a hand or a leg for him. At least losing my hair was painless.

1/2

[embracethewind]

[ That certainly upsets him. ]

NO!!! I wouldn't let you do that!

[valiantdragon]

[The message doesn't surprise him, considering what they've been talking about. And it doesn't take him long at all to reach her. Rhaegar doesn't stop her, only stands at her back, hands moving to rest on her shoulders.]

You are not alone.

[Somehow he feels he shouldn't cut her hair for her. But he is there for her. Supporting her.]

We will bring him home. [But this sacrifice is hers to make.]

[decisiveconquest]

(She has grown the braids since she first became a Khaleesi of the Dothraki. They have been with her through all of her trials and now they litter the ground at her feet. Rhaegar's support steadies her and when she is finished with the task, she lifts the pieces of silver and gold, offering them properly for the subarchway to be opened.)

We will have to find him. He can't be far.

(The magic consumes the braids and an archway appears in the wall she had chosen. The ruins of King's Landing can be seen beyond, still smoldering and Daenerys grabs onto her brother's hand.)

It's time to go through.

(If they listen close enough, they can hear the mournful cries of a Dragon on the other side.)

[valiantdragon]

[She remains stunningly beautiful. He sees her heart and mind. That is what he loves. Rhaegar brushes stray strands of hair off her shoulders before stepping to her side and taking her hand.]

We will.

[Any dragon would be easy to find. Especially one mourning. And once they step through, its as if his chest clenches around his heart. Not just the sound he can hear, the dragon they seek, but the damage to the city that had once been his home.

No. It doesn't matter. He brings her hand up to kiss the back of it before walking carefully through the rubble in the direction of the painful cries.]

[decisiveconquest]

(Her throat and chest are just as tight and she doesn't let go of him, sensing that this will be difficult for him too.)

I love you, Rhaegar, and I'm sorry.

(She sees what is so wrong with what she did. There are charred corpses lining the streets and some of them are very small. Tears roll relentlessly down her cheeks and she tips her head back to watch the skies. Her poor son is in agony too; she needs to take him somewhere better.)

Drogon! Come to me!

(Her voice carries through the lifeless streets and she sighs when they are obscured by a large shadow overhead.)

[valiantdragon]

[It hurts to see the city in such a state, and know how it had come to be. Yet there is nothing he can do, and his sister desperately needs him. He kisses her hand one more time.]

This does not change my love for you, Daenerys.

[She knows what she's done wrong. There's nothing he can do or say to make her understand more.

He stays close, arm brushing against hers as they look up to the skies. He lets his sister call for her son, knowing the dragon would come. Soon enough, his thought is proven right. Awe fills him, rather than fear and he squeezes his sister's hand gently.]

[decisiveconquest]

(She can never tell him what that means to her; the words don't exist in any tongue. Instead she will do something she has never done with any other. As Drogon lands before them, something in his eyes desperate despite his - some would call - monstrous form, she knows she will share him with her brother. He will ride Drogon too.

But later. Daenerys hurries forward, embracing her beautiful son, only able to hold onto part of his neck. But Drogon doesn't complain. The sounds he makes are agonized, but deliriously happy too. His eyes close, all of his barriers lowered.

Until he focuses on Rhaegar. Someone new, but...

They smell familiar. They smell like Mother. He squirms to sniff the man and Daenerys laughs shakily.)

Drogon, this is Rhaegar. My brother and your father.

[valiantdragon]

[To Rhaegar, Drogon is just as beautiful as Daenerys. This is no mindless beast, he sees, releasing his sister's hand so she can run to her son.

He listens to the sounds the dragon makes. How happy Drogon clearly is. How dearly and fiercely this son loves his mother.

He smiles and calmly approaches when Drogon notices him and his sister introduces them. He holds out a hand, giving the dragon a chance to smell him properly.]

You are beautiful, Drogon.

[decisiveconquest]

(Daenerys has seen many fantastic sights in her travels, but none can compare to her sons. They are perfect, wise and, quite simply, her family. She has lost two; she won't lose this one.)

Isn't he? (She beams, pleased that Rhaegar agrees with her. Jon hadn't. Perhaps he was too much of a Stark to see.)

Will you ride him? He can carry us to Fayren and...there is nothing like it.

II.

[liorafae]

[After agreeing to celebrate the Brightshine Jubilee, Liora goes out into Fayren to meet with Daenerys. As she flies, she certainly doesn't expect to see the great big unfamiliar dragon beside Dany. Liora instantly drops to the ground, keeping herself as flat as possible as she crawls closer. All the while, she keeps her eyes on Drogon, hoping that she won't become his next lunch. Not that she's ever heard of dragons eating one another, but she's come to learn that dragons of other worlds are different from Sornieth dragons.]

[Liora still stops a good distance away, her gaze still fixed on the great dragon.]

Daenerys...? I'm...here...

[decisiveconquest]

(Daenerys's expression instantly softens when she hears the voice.)

Liora? It's alright. He won't hurt you.

(The small Dragon can't help but be frightened, but she has long known that her Drogon isn't a mindless eating machine. He partakes of animals raised as meat and leaves all others alone.

His brothers had been like that too. Her sons are good and they have always been good.)

His name is Drogon.

[liorafae]

[The reassurance works, as Liora approaches closer, straightening herself on her feet.]

Oh...I see. Hello, Drogon...

[But something about the name sounds familiar.]

Wait a minute...wasn't Drogon one of the Dragons you were looking for when you arrived? You found him??

[The excitement is rising her voice.]

[decisiveconquest]

(She bends down and holds out her arms to Liora. If she lets her, Daenerys can give her a better view of the mighty Dragon.)

Yes, I managed to open a subarchway and I found him. He can rest here and not worry about battle or war.

(Drogon does look relieved, resting on his belly in the soft grass.)

[liorafae]

Well...

[Although Genessia is generally more peaceful than either of their home worlds, Liora doesn't necessarily want to set the illusion that they wouldn't have to battle sooner or later. But she doesn't want to alarm Drogon either, so she'll stray from that subject.]

[She doesn't recognize Daenerys's gesture of wanting to pick her up. Instead, she leaps into the air and spreads her wings, flying up to Drogon's height to get a better look at him.]

Hello, Drogon! I'm Liora! I'm a dragon, too!

[After a moment, she lands on the ground again.]

He doesn't talk, does he? How do you communicate?

[decisiveconquest]

(Daenerys can't help being charmed by Liora's wings. She lays a hand on Drogon's cheek and he focuses on the little Dragon curiously, making a soft rumble.)

No, he doesn't talk like you. But he has his own way of communicating. All of those sounds he makes, you learn how to identify them.

(And thankfully Drogon is patient enough to make his stance very clear if he has to.)

I trust all of my sons to make good decisions, but he is the one I trust the most.

[liorafae]

That's...interesting. Maybe one day I'll learn how to do that...

[The curiosity is quite mutual as she continues to stare up at Drogon.]

Is he...is he saying anything now?

[decisiveconquest]

(He can make himself heard.)

I think he likes watching you.

(Daenerys smiles, peering into Drogon's eyes for a moment.)

Isn't she pretty? I like her colors too.