House of The Dragon: The blind warrior

Hey everyone, author here!

I apologize for the delay on this one—life has been keeping me busy with work and other responsibilities, and I've barely had the time to sit down at my computer.

But as I promised when I first started this fic, we're in it until the very end! So, as always, buckle up because this is going to be a wild ride.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment, and I'll do my best to answer. And for those of you who might want to read ahead... well, you know where to find me—check out my Patreon!

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As always, enjoy! And may the force—wait… wrong universe

(POV 3rd)

Rhaenyra was standing on one of the many balconies of Dragonstone, watching as the stars reflected on the pitch-black sea, which had just moments ago held the orange hue of the setting sun.

She had been standing on the balcony for hours now, having arrived moments after the council meeting where she and her son had their first disagreement.

She understood where her son was coming from and how he thought, but as both a mother and a ruler, she worried he did not.

Rhaenyra stood on the balcony a moment longer by herself before she was taken out of her musings by a set of footsteps.

"Your Grace," she heard the calm voice of Rhaenys, as she approached her, stepping forward to stand next to her.

They stood together in silence for a moment, both of them not saying a word, just being content with the silence.

"Odd, isn't it?" Rhaenys began, humming thoughtfully, getting Rhaenyra's attention as she turned to look at the side profile of the older Targaryen descendant, who was still as beautiful as ever.

"What is odd?" Rhaenyra asked, unsure of what the Queen Who Never Was was getting at.

Rhaenys, who had heard the question from the queen, turned to look at her with eyes that gave nothing away. "How the lords suddenly seemed to come to their senses. Don't you agree?" she asked, a hint of something behind her words that Rhaenyra deciphered as her trying to speak for Velor.

Rhaenyra turned back to look at the sea, a small, regretful look marring her face as she sighed lightly. "I know what you're trying to do, Rhaenys," she started, as Rhaenys herself raised a brow in question.

"I know it was Vealor who set them straight, the lords— that boy has an iron fist when it comes to discipline." She revealed to Rhaenys, as the person in question only stood there in silence, a hint of something aching to confusion on her face.

Rhaenyra, who saw this from the corner of her eye, shook her head in resignation. "You're wondering why I opposed his idea in the council room?" she asked, Rhaenys turning to look at the queen as she nodded. "It was a sound plan, and if I didn't know any better, it looked like you were jealous of his quick thinking." Rhaenyra's head whipped around as fast as she heard the comment from Rhaenys.

As she was going to rebuke the claim, Rhaenys raised her hand slowly in a show of friendship. "I did not mean it as an insult, Your Grace, only to make you aware of how it might have seemed to the other lords and people in the room at the time," she revealed, as Rhaenyra went back to look at the shadow-covered sea in silence.

Rhaenys, seeing the queen going back in thought, decided to wait for her patiently, knowing she would speak soon.

"I will admit," Rhaenyra began, sighing to herself, not moving her violet eyes that were being reflected by the fires illuminating the balcony, as her eyes never left the sea. "Vealor is a competent leader, much more competent than I ever was" she said, before Rhaenys turned around to refute her.

"Your Grace, that's not..." she started, but did not finish, as Rhaenyra turned around to look at Rhaenys with a small smile.

"It's the truth, and everyone knows it," she said, locking eyes with the older Targaryen, who seemed to be having an internal battle whether to refute the queen or to listen to her.

And as Rhaenys waited for the self-deprecation rant she thought the queen was going to go into, she only saw a genuine smile appear on her face. "And you know what?" she asked rhetorically, her tone changing.

"I could not be more proud of his accomplishments," she said, the cold wind from the sea blowing her soft, intricately braided hair, as Rhaenys looked on with her passive face, which was also blooming into a soft smile.

"It makes me happy to know such a person is not only my son but a prince whom I can trust will do what is right for the realm," she added, the smile on her face slowly dimming as the silence once again descended. Rhaenys looked at the queen with a patient look.

"But if I know my son well, then I am sure he has already taken measures to undermine the command I gave him in the council," Rhaenyra revealed her thoughts, as Rhaenys, who was looking at one of the torches lining the stone railing, whipped her head fast, hearing such an accusation.

"Your Grace..." Rhaenys said, in defense, before Rhaenyra raised her hand to show she wasn't done speaking.

"I will not deny that I forced his hand. If we followed what he and Lord Corlys said in the council, he would not have had to do it. But because I was against it..." Rhaenyra said, stopping mid-sentence as her mind drifted back to the dark sea, which had no reflection or light coming from it.

Rhaenys, who was confused at the notion, asked the question that had been eating at her this whole time. "Then why, Your Grace, why oppose his idea when you know it's good for the realm and for your cause?" she asked, a hint of desperation in her tone, as Rhaenyra turned her head to look at the Queen Who Never Was calmly.

"Because I know, if the sons of dragons ride off, he will be at the head of it, commanding his army as he has been doing for years," she said matter-of-factly. Rhaenys, who heard the reasoning, raised her brows in realization. "You don't want him to march into war, do you?" she asked the queen, as Rhaenyra nodded with a solemn look.

"He just came back to me," she said with a cracking voice, covering her mouth and turning away from Rhaenys so as not to show any weakness.

Rhaenys, seeing her emotional turmoil, couldn't help her motherly instincts from kicking in. Hesitantly, she approached the queen and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Your Grace," she said lightly, catching Rhaenyra's attention. The younger woman turned around to look at the older woman, who had a kind smile on her face.

"You have to trust him," Rhaenys said, keeping her gaze on the queen. "We thought him dead for all these years, and yet he came back to us alive and well." She continued, as the queen slowly turned around to fully face the older woman.

"I'm sure there are many horrors he has experienced that we do not know about, and yet, he stands here with us," she said, smiling at Rhaenyra, whose eyes reflected the worry and fear she held.

Rhaenyra nodded slowly, clearing her throat to compose the little dignity she could hold in front of the Queen Who Never Was.

"I apologize. I've shown you a side of me that should not be shown by a queen," Rhaenyra said, looking at Rhaenys, who held a kind and understanding gaze.

"Which a mother is bound to show when it comes to her children, Your Grace," Rhaenys said, understanding the queen more than anyone could at the moment. She knew her worries. How could she not? She herself had thought the same thing when Velor and Corlys had suggested the idea in the council meeting.

Yet she was already used to it. How could she not? Her husband, the man she loved and cherished, had been going to war as long as she could remember. Her late son, the very father of her grandson, had fought in the Stepsons with Corlys. So she had already made peace with it. As she looked at Rhaenyra, she could only hope for their sake, the queen would make the same peace with her children going to war.

Rhaenys, who was about to speak, was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps, as both the younger and older women turned to look at the new arrivals.

"Dragon keepers," Rhaenyra said, as three dragon keepers stepped forward—two younger men and the last an older dragon keeper whom Rhaenyra knew well from her time here on Dragonstone.

"Your Grace," all of them bowed as they greeted Rhaenyra, each with varying degrees of worry marring their faces.

Rhaenyra, who clearly noticed the hurry in which they came and the worry they were showing, stepped forward to ask, "Elder, what has happened?" she asked with a much more composed nature.

The three dragon keepers, who looked between each other, seemed to hesitate before the oldest of the bunch, the one the queen had addressed, stepped forward.

"Your Grace, we bring urgent news from the Dragonmount," he said, a little out of breath, showing the difficulty with which he had climbed from the depths of the castle.

Rhaenys, who now stood behind the queen, observing their interaction, had a bad feeling as she took a step forward. "Calm your breathing first, Elder, and then tell us what has you in such an urgent state," Rhaenys said, still having the patience to wait for the elder to compose himself, despite the bad feeling in her gut.

After a moment of waiting for the older man to catch his breath, the queen and Rhaenys exchanged a glance before turning to the elder to hear what he had to say.

"I apologize for the way I present myself, Your Grace," the elder said, his voice shaky, "but I could not, in good conscience, watch as one of the blood lose their life." He dropped the bombshell, and both the queen and the older woman stepped forward in immediate concern.

"What do you speak of, Elder?" Rhaenyra asked, her face tightening with worry, while Rhaenys stood just behind her, her expression mirrored in a similar look of concern.

The elder, seeing such a reaction from both women, hesitated for a moment before steeling himself. "The prince, Vealor, came to the Dragonmount just a moment ago with the young Rheana, hoping to bond her to a dragon."

A gasp rang out on the balcony, echoing in the cold night air.

"What?" Rhaenys said, her voice laced with shock and worry as she took a step forward, but she was stopped by Rhaenyra's hand, signaling for calm. The roles were now reversed—Rhaenyra was the one holding herself together, while Rhaenys looked visibly rattled.

"What dragon did they call?" Rhaenyra asked, her voice sharp, a quiet edge of panic creeping into her tone. The dragon keepers looked between each other, but none seemed to have an answer. They all remained silent.

Suddenly, a monstrous roar cut through the air, so deafening it seemed to shake the very balcony beneath them. The two women's eyes widened in terror and realization as the earth trembled beneath their feet. The elder spoke again, his voice filled with horror.

"Vermithor."

Before the elder could say anything further, Rhaenyra and Rhaenys sprang into action. Without a second thought, both women turned and raced toward the Dragonmount, their hearts pounding in their chests, their minds consumed by one singular thought—praying with everything they had that no one would be harmed.

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POV(Vealor)

"Magnificent," I said, watching the dragon my great-grandfather used to ride in his days, standing there menacingly as it slowly opened its large mouth and let out an ear-piercing roar that shook the entire cavern we were in.

This made Rheana, who stood to my right, in awe of the dragon as well, cover her ears in fear, while Abraxas, standing to our left, ever patiently watched the dragon called the Bronze Fury, his eyes promising pain if it dared attack us.

"Alright, Rheana, are you ready?" I asked the girl who stood to my left, fear emanating from her, yet an undertone of excitement as well, as she looked at me hesitantly.

"I'm not sure," she said, swallowing audibly as she looked at the bronze dragon, which did not dare approach while Abraxas was there.

Hearing her answer made me recall what my master always used to say: "Do not doubt yourself, for doubt is the killer of success." My master's voice rang in my ear as I turned to face Rheana, who seemed to be full of doubt.

"Do not doubt yourself, Rheana. It will only kill any chance of you succeeding," I said to her, as she looked at me with a face full of fear. "Besides, I will be right here with Abraxas if anything happens. Trust us." I finished, gently grabbing her shoulder to reassure her, before she hesitantly nodded.

"Good," I said, looking through the eyes of Abraxas as the great dragon stood there, patiently waiting for Abraxas to move back as its gaze stayed locked on me and Rheana.

"Step back, Abraxas," I urged my companion, as I approached the edge of the platform. Abraxas hesitated as his coiled form stood to my right and slowly backed off, making sure not to take his eyes off me or the dragon.

The moment Abraxas had backed off, it was like shackles had been lifted from Vermithor. He snarled and let out a stream of fire that lit up the cavern, as I stood there, observing the dragon with a temper as hot as the very fire that was burning in the cave.

I felt Rheana's heart racing, and I could hear its pace quickening as Vermithor drew closer, bearing his teeth in a warning fashion.

Yet there was no fear in me. I brought my walking stick up and slammed it on the ground, creating a sound loud enough to get Vermithor's attention.

"Vermithos Lykirri," I commanded the dragon, watching it from both the eyes of Abraxas and my own as the dragon, still bearing its teeth at me, stopped in hesitation before slowly continuing its approach.

"Vermithos, Doeharass," I spoke the command as its ever-inching face came to a halt right in front of mine. The dragon stared at me for a moment before slowly inclining its head in understanding. I then reached up and caressed its maw.

I heard the familiar snarl of Abraxas as he shared his dissatisfaction of me touching another dragon with his presence.

Ignoring my companion, who I knew to be jealous, I greeted the dragon I'd heard many stories of—the great Bronze Fury, my great-grandfather's mount.

"It is good to meet the legendary Bronze Fury," I started, as the dragon made a sound oddly similar to a greeting. Smiling lightly, I added, "You may have smelled my blood, but if it is still unclear, I am the descendant of your last rider, Jeaherys." I spoke with the dragon, as he hummed in recognition of the name.

Caressing its maw as it closed its eyes, I said, "I'm sure you've been lonely all these years. Silverwing can only do so much." I said, knowing the dragon and Silverwing were mates. "But do not fret, for I have brought you a new rider to share the skies with," I explained. The dragon's eyes opened in alertness at my proclamation.

Seeing the way the dragon in front of me got both excited and doubtful at the same time, I knew it was time for the two pieces that completed one another to meet.

"Rheana," I said, slowly stepping back so as not to agitate the calm dragon. As Vermithor's head inclined backward to see who the person I claimed to be his new rider was.

Rheana, who heard my voice, took a couple of measured breaths to psyche herself up before slowly starting to approach. Both of us met in the middle.

"Remember what I said?" I asked her, as I heard her raging heart pounding so hard that it sounded like it would break through her ribcage.

"Find common ground," she whispered, and I nodded at her, before slowly continuing to walk backward. I watched as Abraxas inched his head forward and nudged my back, both concerned for Rheana and displeased at the way I was familiar with Vermithor.

"Be ready, my friend," I spoke to Abraxas as he grunted in understanding, both of us watching from our shared vision as Rheana slowly approached the menacing form of Vermithor, who seemed to look at her with curiosity and doubt.

As I watched my cousin approach the edge of the platform, where her fate would be decided, my ears picked up two sets of hurried footsteps. The familiar voice of my mother rang through the cavern.

"Vealor, Rheana!" she shouted, conveying worry as I turned to observe my mother and grandmother, who was also with her.

Both approached with hurried steps, before I extended my hand in a stop motion as Abraxas roared lightly to do the same.

"Stop!" I said, both women halting as they showed varying emotions of confusion and anger. I continued, "If you approach, Vermithor may get agitated." I explained, both of the women looking at me with shocked expressions before they looked past me to see Rheana close to Vermithor, a look of desperation on her face.

"Vealor, stop this at once. Vermithos will kill her!" my mother shouted from where she stood as my grandmother kept her gaze locked on Rheana's form, watching the look her granddaughter was making.

"Trust me, mother. I know it may seem that way, but Rheana is much more formidable than you give her credit for. She can do this. I believe in her!" I spoke up, hoping the words I spoke reached my cousin as both comfort and a drive.

My mother, who heard my protest, went to say something but was stopped by my grandmother's arm grabbing hers.

My mother turned to look at my grandmother, who held her gaze for a long moment before shaking her head in resignation. "It's already too late," she said, both women watching as Rheana neared the edge of the platform and Vermithor took notice of her.

"Now we can only trust that Vealor will keep her safe and pray to the gods," she said with a grave tone, as I turned around and watched from Abraxas's eyes. Rheana finally came to a stop just at the edge of the platform, and Vermithor inched closer to her, curiously.

There was a silence as Vermithor stood there, looking at Rheana, and she did the same. My mother and grandmother's fears reached my nostrils as I watched vigilantly, ready to intervene if anything went amiss.

Vermithos, who finally decided to test Rheana, reeled back a little before snarling at her and closing his jaws close to where she stood. Rheana, startled by the action, jumped back in fear as I heard the shouts of both my grandmother and mother.

"NO!"

Rheana, who had quickly gotten back on her feet after throwing herself back, took a shaky breath as her fear reached my nostrils.

"You can do this, Rheana, I believe in you," I whispered, gripping my walking stick so tightly that my hand became white. The girl in question turned around to look at my masked face, almost as if she heard what I said, before I nodded and urged her on. Her face went from fear to resolution in an instant.

Turning around, Rheana braced herself before doing something that made me smile under my mask.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!" she shouted at Vermithor, who reeled back in surprise. His attention was now fully on Rheana as he slowly calmed down and began growling. As Rheana approached the edge, she made a proclamation.

"I am Rheana of House Targaryen, daughter of Laena Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen. The blood of the dragon runs thick in me, the very same blood your previous rider, Jehaerys, had." She began, as both my mother and grandmother looked on in wonder, seeing the meek Rheana standing up to the great dragon Vermithor.

"I do not ask you to serve me, nor do I ask you to bend to my will. I only wish for you to be my companion, someone I can soar with, far and high, and who will help me show my enemies what Fire and Blood mean," she continued, taking a deep breath before saying, "So will you, Vermithor, Bronze Fury, be my companion in this life, until the day my bones become ash?" She finished, as silence descended, the only sound being Rheana's heaving breath as she caught her breath.

While I watched from where I stood, a smile on my face yet not having broken my focus for a moment, Abraxas was ready to jump in if anything were to happen.

I could hear the racing hearts of both my grandmother and mother, who stood a ways from me.

The tension in the cavern was so thick I could practically touch it, and as Vermithor, who had until now remained silent, reeled back and started producing fire from his throat, I heard the screams of horror from my grandmother and mother.

And just as I was about to act, I was stopped by my companion, who sent a reassuring feeling through our connection, which could only mean one thing.

So, as I observed Vermithor spew fire from his maw and once again light the cavern, I watched as he slowly inched his face toward Rheana and nudged her on the stomach before he made an almost purring sound.

Rheana, who couldn't believe what was happening, turned around to look at where I was standing, her face filled with the wonder of a child and the disbelief of a person who had been looked down upon for years.

And as I looked at her through the eyes of my companion, finally bonded to a dragon, I said the words I knew she would appreciate.

"Congratulations, cousin, you finally have a mount."

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