Chapter 94: **Chapter 94: Reunion at Sea**
Before Leonor could respond, Baltimos solemnly declared, "Prince, the Celtigar family has always been loyal to the Crown. Your request must not be refused."
Lending a ship was a small matter; gaining the favor of the King's eldest son was far more significant.
Crab Island was only a few hours' sail from Dragonstone.
If one were to ride a dragon, the journey would be even shorter.
Rather than risk the prince returning to Dragonstone to prepare his own vessel, it was better to agree immediately.
Rhaegar didn't understand the intricate political considerations at play, but he sensed that Baltimos had certain expectations of him.
He didn't particularly care, though.
With a serious expression on his young face, he said, "Thank you for your assistance, my lord."
Baltimos maintained his smile and replied, "I will order a ship to be prepared immediately to set sail for the Crab Claw Peninsula."
Only then did Leonor emerge from his thoughts.
His gaze briefly lingered on Baltimos with a peculiar expression, before he lowered his head slightly, keeping a low profile.
Thanks to years of political training, Leonor sensed that the prince's return to Dragonstone was likely to stir up considerable turmoil.
At such a time, it was best not to draw too much attention to himself.
---
Two days later.
Three triple-masted ships set sail from the Crab Claw Peninsula.
The ships, loaded with ragged wildlings, were headed for Dragonstone.
A sharp dragon cry pierced the skies, and an enormous pair of wings cast a shadow over the three vessels before disappearing into the clouds.
Rhaegar stood on the deck, gazing out at the vast blue sea.
Leonor approached him from behind and said in a low voice, "Prince, a raven arrived last night. The princess secretly returned to King's Landing but was taken back to the Red Keep by the Kingsguard."
"She was trying to find me with her dragon, wasn't she?"
Rhaegar thought of Syrax, the dragon Rhaenyra kept in the Dragonpit.
"Yes, ever since that night of the dragon tragedy, the princess has been distraught and unable to eat or sleep," Leonor replied softly.
"Once I meet Father, I'll ride my dragon to King's Landing to find Rhaenyra."
Rhaegar smiled.
The benefits of having a dragon were undeniable—especially when it came to traveling swiftly.
Suddenly, an angry dragon roar echoed from above.
Rhaegar looked up to see the Cannibal breaking through the clouds, flapping its massive wings and staring toward the horizon as if issuing a warning.
In response, another dragon's shrill cry resounded, though it lacked the Cannibal's deep resonance.
The dueling roars caught the attention of everyone on the ships.
Both the freedmen and sailors emerged from their cabins, peering up at the dragons in the sky.
Soon, a golden-scaled dragon appeared in the distance, flying toward them.
On the dragon's back rode a young girl dressed in black dragonrider attire.
The moment he saw the golden dragon, Rhaegar couldn't contain his excitement.
When he noticed the girl riding the dragon, his joy overflowed, and he shouted, "Rhaenyra!"
On the dragon's back, Rhaenyra didn't hear his call but was drawn to the sight of the Cannibal.
This newly tamed wild black dragon belonged to Rhaegar.
Rhaenyra's eyes scanned the three ships below, eagerly searching for Rhaegar.
Sensing its rider's excitement, the Cannibal abandoned its hostility toward the other dragon and swooped down to the sea's surface.
Its sharp claws sliced through the waves as it hurtled toward the ship where Rhaegar stood.
Just before colliding, the dragon abruptly pulled up, soaring skyward with a powerful flap of its wings.
Its long tail brushed the deck and deftly scooped up Rhaegar, who had been waiting for it.
The dragon then slowed and gently placed its rider on its back.
As soon as he was seated, Rhaegar urged the Cannibal to ascend and approach Rhaenyra, who was midair.
The golden-scaled Syrax twisted nervously as the massive black dragon approached, emitting a warning cry.
Rhaegar's dramatic actions didn't escape Rhaenyra's notice.
When she saw him, she was overcome with emotion and called out, "Rhaegar!"
She gently stroked Syrax's scales, calming the dragon in High Valyrian.
Before long, Rhaegar and the Cannibal were airborne, drawing close to Rhaenyra.
For a moment, the black and gold dragons hovered midair, facing each other.
Rhaegar and Rhaenyra, each astride their dragons, gazed at one another.
Rhaenyra's hair was disheveled, her eyes red and swollen, and her face showed exhaustion. Yet her gaze remained fixed on Rhaegar, unwavering.
"Rhaegar…"
She wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.
Rhaegar also gazed at her, his eyes filled with the joy of reunion. He exclaimed in surprise, "Rhaenyra, weren't you locked in the Red Keep? How are you here?"
Rhaenyra sniffled and tried to maintain her poise as the elder sister. With a hoarse voice, she replied, "I came to find you. They couldn't stop me!"
Rhaegar was deeply moved upon hearing this.
As he studied her face carefully, he realized that Rhaenyra was not in good condition.
Compared to just a few days ago, her eyes were weary, and her gaze was lined with red veins.
Rhaegar opened his mouth and softly called, "Sister…"
Rhaenyra's eyes reddened as she spoke sternly, "Come back with me, Rhaegar."
"Of course. I've missed all of you."
Rhaegar complied without hesitation, like an obedient child.
Rhaenyra gave him a glare, then commanded Syrax to turn around and fly toward Dragonstone.
"Gluttonous One, let's follow."
Rhaegar smiled brightly, steering Gluttonous One to follow closely. They soared among the clouds, circling around Syrax.
The two dragons were vastly different in age and size.
In front of Gluttonous One, Syrax didn't even reach half its size.
To avoid startling Rhaenyra's dragon, Rhaegar kept a respectful distance.
Yet he was still overjoyed.
This was his first time flying with his sister, both riding dragons together.
...
Before long, the two riders and their dragons overtook the large ship and reached Dragonstone ahead of it.
Syrax, tense from Gluttonous One's imposing presence, hastily landed on a cliff by the beach.
Rhaegar's eyes never left Rhaenyra.
When he saw her dismount, he intended to land as well.
Unexpectedly, Gluttonous One shook its massive head, unwilling to descend, and kept circling in the sky.
Rhaegar quickly understood—there were two other massive adult dragons on Dragonstone, glaring with hostility toward Gluttonous One.
Recalling the events of the last dragon fight, Rhaegar's heartbeat quickened.
But he had already prepared himself.
Patting Gluttonous One's back, he whispered, "Come on, buddy. Do whatever you need to do!"
Gluttonous One snorted through its nostrils, spread its enormous wings, raised its head high, and began to prepare dragonfire in its throat.
"Hiss-kaaa…"
In the next moment, Gluttonous One let out a roar that echoed across Dragonstone. A jet of dragonfire split the azure sky, declaring the return of the King of Wild Dragons.
"Hiss-kaaa… hiss-kaaa…"
With its roar, two more dragon cries erupted from within Dragonstone, full of rage at the provocation.
Sitting atop Gluttonous One, Rhaegar looked down at the jagged and rocky island below, waiting for his long-estranged opponents.
Soon, two massive dragons of different colors burst out from the Dragonmount and charged toward the sky.
One was bronze, its vertical pupils blazing with fury, and its size rivaled Gluttonous One's.
The other was pale green, with a large chunk of flesh missing from its neck and one wing drooping weakly as it struggled to ascend.
They were Vermithor and Silverwing.
Rhaenyra deeply loved her younger brother, and Rhaegar deeply loved his elder sister.
The first time the siblings danced together with their dragons was a pivotal moment.
---
*(End of Chapter)*