The Gods Eye, Harrenhal.
At that moment, Vhagar landed.
The old dragon's descent made the entire forest shudder, sending clouds of dust into the air.
She let out a low rumble, not a roar of anger, but more of a call.
Helaena's Dreamfyre hesitated for a moment before slowly approaching Vhagar.
The silver-blue she-dragon looked petite before the colossal ancient.
She lowered her head, letting out a submissive whimper; Vhagar was her mother, an instinct carved into her very blood.
Vhagar nudged Dreamfyre's head with her snout, a gesture of rare tenderness. The two dragons hissed softly, communicating in a language only they could understand.
Aemond watched the scene.
"You see? Dragons are far simpler than men. Blood, power, and obedience. No schemes, no betrayal."
Helaena's emotions finally settled. She looked at Aemond, the boy who, just moments ago, was gambling with his life in the clouds, but was now speaking calmly about the nature of dragons.
"Why do you do such training?" she asked.
"Just to... prove you can?"
"For war," Aemond said, his voice turning serious.
"The rider is a dragon's greatest weakness. We sit on their backs, exposed in the sky with no cover and no retreat. In a dragon duel, if you kill the rider, the dragon loses its command, falls into chaos, and loses control."
He walked over to Morghul, stroking the black scales of the dragon's neck.
"Everyone assumes that dragon combat is dragon against dragon, breathing fire or tearing at each other. But what if... what if I can personally kill the opposing rider?"
Helaena gasped.
"Close quarters. Face to face," Aemond continued.
"No dragon can protect its rider when the enemy is on its own back. And the rider is pinned down by their saddle straps. At that point, it depends on courage... and who is more insane. And I, Helaena, was born to command two dragons. I can jump from one to another, switch mounts in mid-air, and do what everyone deems impossible."
Helaena felt a chill. She looked at Aemond and realized that all his training, all his preparation, was for a single purpose: a war that had not yet happened, but one he was certain would come.
They strolled through the forest beside the Gods Eye. Aemond held Helaena's hand while Vhagar and Dreamfyre rested in a clearing nearby.
Morghul circled above them like a sentinel.
Helaena finally asked the question that had been weighing on her mind.
"Are you doing this for 'that day'? But the Realm is at peace now. Rhaenyra has relinquished her claim."
Aemond smiled.
"Peace? Based on the intelligence I've gathered, the Blacks are preparing for war on a massive scale. They are recruiting, stockpiling grain, weapons, timber, and medicine. The shipyards at High Tide are working day and night. If that isn't preparation for war, what is?"
Helaena was stunned. "But... if Princess Rhaenyra has given up the Throne, why would she prepare for war? Who would they be fighting?"
Aemond stopped and turned to her.
"If it's not for a civil war, guess who they plan to strike?"
Helaena thought for a moment, her brow furrowed. If not a civil war, who was the enemy? What foe required such a massive mobilization?
Suddenly, it clicked.
"The Triarchy..." she whispered.
Aemond nodded with approval.
"Lys, Tyrosh, and Myr."
Helaena's breathing quickened. She grabbed Aemond's arm.
"Then I must tell Aelyn! The Rogars... they are our allies! We are joined in marriage! If the Blacks attack Lys, shouldn't we help them?"
Aemond laughed. "Our Father has already given his tacit consent."
The sentence hit Helaena like ice water.
"What do you mean?"
"It means," Aemond said, facing her and emphasizing every word, "that the agreement between Father and Daemon likely includes this: the Blacks will embark on an Eastern crusade against the Triarchy, and His Grace will keep the Greens neutral. He might even encourage it. In exchange, the Blacks abandon the Iron Throne."
Helaena's lips trembled.
"That... isn't that betraying our allies? House Rogar trusted us; they gave us their daughter."
"There is no trust, only interest," Aemond said bluntly.
"Father needs the Blacks out of Westeros to avoid a civil war. For that, he is more than happy to sacrifice a relative by marriage in a Free City to save his own House. Daemon needs a war to prove himself and a territory to settle his supporters. The Triarchy is the perfect target. And Aelyn? She has no idea. Father is keeping it from everyone, or rather, he thinks he can keep it from me."
Helaena felt dizzy. "So... Aelyn doesn't know her family is about to be attacked?"
"She doesn't know," Aemond confirmed.
"And I don't plan on telling her."
Helaena looked up at Aemond. The breaking sunlight behind him gave him a golden aura, but his face was cast in shadow, hiding his expression.
"You... you won't do anything?" she asked.
"You'll just ignore the fate of House Rogar?"
Aemond stepped closer. He reached out and gently tilted Helaena's chin up, forcing her to look into his eye.
"Why should I interfere?"
"Let them go and conquer the Triarchy. Father doesn't have much time left. Let the Blacks exhaust their soldiers, their gold, and the power of their dragons. When they are drained, when they think they have succeeded... that is when we go and conquer them. Let everything they do be for our benefit."
Helaena's pupils contracted. She understood perfectly.
Aemond didn't care about the Triarchy or the Rogars. He only cared about watching the Blacks wear themselves out in the East, waiting for the moment he was ready to harvest it all.
"What are the Seven Kingdoms?" Aemond continued.
"What is Westeros? In this world, we Targaryens should stand above all. We will redraw the borders with dragonfire. Let our blood decide everything. Everyone should submit to our will, the Andals, the First Men, the Rhoynar, and those self-important Lords in the East."
His hand slid from her chin to her cheek, cupping her face.
"You are the one I trust most, Helaena. These thoughts... I only say them to you. Because I need you to understand. I need you by my side as the only person who truly knows me."
Helaena was shaking slightly.
She thought of her dreams: blood-soaked earth, dragons tearing at each other, fire consuming everything. She had always feared those dreams coming true, hoping Aemond would avoid that path.
"Will you burn everything?" she asked softly.
"Only the things that stand in our way," Aemond replied.
"I will clear every obstacle for the Targaryens."
He let go of her face and took her hands. His palms were warm.
"Are you willing? Willing to go with me to see a world... reforged by our dragonfire?"
Helaena was silent for a long time. She looked at Aemond, the dangerous, brilliant boy who might set the world ablaze.
She also saw the only person who understood her, who didn't treat her like a freak, and who promised to protect her forever.
Finally, Helaena nodded. It was light, but firm.
"I will always believe in you," she said.
"Where you go, I will go. Whatever you burn, I will watch it turn to ash."
Aemond smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile. He pulled Helaena into a tight embrace, as if holding onto the only light in the darkness.
-----
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