Time passed slowly in Meereen.
Days after the conquest, the city had begun to heal. Walls were mended, streets swept clean of ash, and the scent of smoke began to fade. But amid the warmth of peace, something else stirred: the dragons were growing.
Drakaina, Rhazal, and Viserion were beginning to hunt and test their wings more fiercely. Their freedom had never been taken — no chains, no cages — and in that freedom, they thrived.
This morning, a fresh herd of goats had been released into the open grassy field. Rhazal and Viserion were the first to dive. The pair moved almost in sync — Rhazal darted low with practiced precision, while Viserion came in high, striking like lightning. In a matter of moments, two goats were down and devoured.
Drakaina had stayed behind with Daenerys, resting her head against her bonded rider's shoulder as the other two fed. She watched them with sharp, calculating eyes. Her tail twitched once.
Meanwhile, I was lying next to Vaedron, his warm side a steady comfort under the early sun. I watched Tiraxes, Nyxarys, and Sorynth — the trio of battle-born hatchlings — dart among the goats with surprising coordination. Though still smaller, their speed made them dangerous. They snarled and snapped, scattering the herd as they tested their instincts.
Then it happened.
Drakaina suddenly charged forward into the field, forcing her way between Rhazal and Viserion and tearing into what remained of Viserion's catch. Viserion hissed, backing off quickly, but Drakaina didn't stop. She shoved Rhazal aside as well, greed taking over.
The trio of hatchlings noticed the disruption and snarled as Drakaina pushed too far into their space. Their hissing drew my attention sharply.
"Drakaina, enough!" Daenerys stepped forward, her voice firm.
But Drakaina, wild with instinct and hunger, didn't heed her. When Daenerys moved to touch her side — perhaps to pull her back — the great black-red dragon whipped around and snapped.
Her teeth stopped inches from Daenerys's throat.
Time froze.
I didn't shout. I didn't run.
Because I knew.
Vaedron's body shifted beside me. Without warning, he unfurled his wings and launched himself forward.
With a thunderous thud, he landed between Daenerys and Drakaina. One massive claw slammed Drakaina down onto the grassy field, pinning her effortlessly. His eyes burned, not with rage, but command.
Drakaina struggled once. Twice. Then stilled.
Vaedron loomed over her, chest rising and falling slowly. He let out a deep, resonant growl — low, guttural, and final. Then, as if to make his point, he stepped up onto her back with one heavy foot and remained there until she let out a low, apologetic chirp.
Only then did he release her.
Drakaina sulked to the far side of the field and laid down with her head on her claws, breathing hard.
Vaedron didn't even glance at the others. He returned to me, slow and unbothered, and curled up beside me again, yawning.
Daenerys was pale.
"She… she almost bit me."
"She didn't," I said gently, stepping close. "If she meant to, you'd be on the ground."
"But she did snap—"
"She's in her rebellious phase. They're like teenagers now — impulsive, wild, sometimes aggressive. But they know who we are."
She looked at Drakaina, who wouldn't meet her gaze.
"She didn't mean it," I said. "It was instinct. Hunger. That's all. She would never harm you, Dany. None of them would."
Daenerys sighed, then crouched slowly, letting Drakaina see her from a distance. "No chains," she murmured. "We promised them freedom."
"They've never known chains," I reminded her. "They'll grow better because of it."
She nodded and looked toward Vaedron. "And he… he's different."
"He always has been. Stronger. Smarter. But lazier, too."
Vaedron opened one eye lazily, then shut it again.
Later, we stood at the edge of the pyramid, watching all seven dragons.
Rhazal and Viserion flew laps around the tallest spire. Drakaina remained grounded, clearly subdued. Tiraxes and Sorynth wrestled in the open field, while Nyxarys practiced her dives from higher ledges. Vaedron, as ever, remained atop the sun-warmed dome, half-asleep.
"They're growing fast," Daenerys said.
"They're still just getting started."
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