Targaryen Who Turned Dragon

Chapter 6 - The Old Man

In the open field there stood two warriors. One used a Warhammer while the other used a great sword. Every time their weapons clashed the entire world quivered. Robert was no longer the fat king, he was the beast that defeated Rhaegar, the father, at the Trident.

Aerion looked as handsome as ever. His silver hair was beautiful and well cared for, his lilac eyes shined brighter... they were filled with energy, his smile could melt any maiden's heart and his body was just perfect. Even after all of the sparring, though, Aerion couldn't dare hope to beat Robert in a real fight.

"I think we're done for today."

I wipe the sweat off my forehead. I started walking back to Bloodstone keep.

"...?"

Robert stood still. Weird, he would usually follow me to the dungeons.

"If you think I will stay in that cursed dungeon for one more night..."

Oh, he wants better conditions.

"No. You will stay in those dungeons. If you captured me at the Battle... I would be dead already. In comparison, I believe, I am quite merciful."

"..."

~At the Second Small Council meeting~

"Willis, master of coin, what news do you bring?"

"Stepstones is prospering, Your Grace. There are many new structures being built, Stepstones has become a central point of trade, many merchants come to sell and buy and the treasury is rapidly growing. There are no pirate activities near Stepstones, making more merchants come."

"This is great news. Send 10% of the gold in the treasury to my uncle."

"I will, as soon as possible."

"Good. Ren, master of sh.i.p.s, what news do you bring?"

"In all of Stepstones, there are about forty war galleys. I am using half as merchant galleys for trade and the other half as battlesh.i.p.s. We currently have five shipyards, which produce around twenty galleys a year. Most of the pirates of Stepstones are trading goods and protecting merchants, for gold."

"Good. Arthur, how are the laws?"

"Not many dare to break your laws, Your Grace. But those that have, they have been well punished and do not cause any more problems. Stepstones is a safe haven for all merchants, as you have envisioned."

"Greg, master of whispers, what news do you bring?"

"My spies tell me that the Regent, Jon Arryn has died."

"What...how? Who is the new regent?"

"I believe it was a natural death, Lord Tywin Lannister was made Regent."

Tywin Lannister... the person I hate more than anything. He caused the deaths of my mother, brother and sister... for no reason. Robert at least had a reason for killing my father. One day, I will slay him with my own blade... one day I will see his head on a spike. This, I promise.

"Anything else?"

"My spies tell me that Tywin is drafting up an offer to bring King Robert back to the Iron Throne... he doesn't seem quite focused on it, though. It's as if the longer Robert is away, the better it is for Tywin."

"It has been three months since we captured the King and brought him here... guess we will have to keep him longer."

~

After the meeting was over, I went straight to bed. I slept like a baby. Then some dreams came to me.

A Dragon and Stag fought. Sword met Warhammer. The two were equally matched until the Dragon fell. The Warhammer came crashing down the Last Dragon... my father. If this wasn't a dream, I would be crying by now. If my father won... maybe life would be different, maybe I would be a crown prince by now.

Damn the Usurper... I should have ended his life at the battle. He dares to demand something... does he not know the pain that I had to go through? Of course not. The only thing keeping him alive is his value... and Tywin isn't exactly rushing to make a deal. Perhaps, I should kill him once and for all to avenge my father.

~

The next day I decided to officially form the Dragonsguard.

"Jon, I have decided to make you a Dragonsguard."

"The Dragonsguard...? It is a great honour, Your Grace... one that I will take."

Right, now I need at least two more. In the end, I selected two loyal crewmembers of the Mad King to join the Dragonsguard. I asked the blacksmith of Bloodstone to forge me four sets of black and crimson armour for the Dragonsguard. He agreed and said that it will be done in a few weeks.

Well... what do I do now? Perhaps it's about time I take Viserys and Daenerys to Bloodstone. Meh, I can do that later... what I really want is a dragon egg, a dragon to be precise. I want to ride a dragon into the skies like the Targaryens of old used to.

"My Lord... please save my daughter. I'll give you anything you want...please save my daughter."

A man in his fifties was begging me. Jon was about to punch the beggar but I stopped him.

"Although I doubt you have anything of value... I shall still assist you."

"My Lord... you are truly a man of great virtue."

"What happened?"

"We were attacked by five bandits I... I ran away."

He lowered his head. Jon shook his head.

"Tch, now we're helping cravens. If I-"

"Silence."

Robb interrupted.

"Thank you, Robb. I would have shut him up myself but you saved me the effort. Old man, where did you last see these bandits? Perhaps, you could lead us there."

"Follow, I remember the way."

The Dragonsguard and I took our weapons and followed the beggar for a few minutes until he suddenly stopped.

"Right here... they attacked us here."

"You can go back now, we will take it from here."

He started walking back, reassured and confident. How am I supposed to find his daughter? The bandits are nowhere to be seen and there are n-

"Your Grace, look at this."

Robb held up a strand of hair.

"She might have left a trail..."

I sigh.

"We have no other choice..."

We walked for a few more minutes. At the end of the trail, there was a cave. This is probably where the bandits are hiding.

We cautiously sneaked into the cave. There was a dim light ahead which we followed. Soon we could hear the voices of the bandits.

"She is a feisty one, pretty too."

"We will have so much fun with her."

"Remember the old man?"

"The one that sprinted for his dear life when we appeared?"

"Yes, that one."

"The best part was when he tripped on a rock and crawled away."

They all laughed. I walked closer, close enough to see the fire and the bandits themselves. I could see only about five bandits. The girl was in a tent, her mouth was sealed. Four Dragonsguard and myself against five, potentially eight undisciplined bandits. In addition, we have the element of surprise... victory is almost certain. All I had to do was start the battle.

I walked up to the nearest bandit and slit his throat. The Dragonsguard roared into battle while the bandits were still in still in shock. The sound of battle covered the entire cave, sparks flew and blood was spilt. The Dragonsguard made quick work of the bandits.

Jon shoved the girl out of her tent and Robb cut off the rope on her mouth, allowing her to speak again.

"We save the girl and she doesn't even thank us. What a j-"

"Shut it."

Robb spoke up and Jon was defeated yet again. I turned to face the girl and smiled.

"She was about to be r.a.p.ed, she must be traumatised... give her a break. We shall bring the girl back to her father and go from there."

"Very well."

Jon agreed.

Then we went back. The girl didn't say a single word, hell, nothing came out of her mouth. It was like Robb didn't even cut the rope off. Jon was also, surprisingly, quiet. The road back to Bloodstone Castle was short and sweet. Once we returned to the Castle, the beggar ran towards us... I was worried for his old bones.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you... Kind Lord. My daughter is finally back home..."

Jon jumped in.

"Now for the reward."

I was about to speak but the old man was quicker.

"Yes, the reward...the reward is my daughter."

"What?"

I was confused. You ask me to save your daughter... and the reward is... her? Maybe he's so old he can't think straight.

"I don't understand."

"She is a beautiful girl... a suitable reward, just keep her safe. I'm sure you will find her useful in one way or another. Oh... I almost forgot, take this."

He gave me a jar and vanished into thin air. I didn't move for a while. The old man... vanished? Perhaps the "begging old man" thing was all an act. To vanish like that... is he a warlock or a wizard?

"Who... who is he?"

Robb asked to no one in particular.

"A warlock or wizard, most likely..."

Then the girl, finally, spoke.

"My father is no wizard... he is a cultivator. He is so strong that he could crush you all with one finger. I can't believe he left me here with you... weaklings."

Cultivator... what the hell is a cultivator? Still... her insolence ends here, we went a long way to save her.

"Permission to slap the ungrateful lass."

"Granted, Jon... be gentle."

"Of course, Your Grace."

He tried to slap her but... he ended up touching the dirt on the floor. He looked up at the girl, he could see her ice cold eyes... they were emitting killing intent.

"Don't touch me."

Even I was a bit scared. What is the purpose of me keeping her safe? She can clearly take her of herself.

"So, are you coming with us or..."

"I'm coming with you... where else can I go, pretty boy?"

"Umm...very well. Let's return to the keep."

~

"What a day."

I think to myself while laying on my bed. The short quest to save the girl, the old man vanishing into thin air and Jon getting manhandled by a girl slightly older than me.

The jar remains closed, I haven't looked inside yet. Wonder what's inside. I looked at it for a few seconds, then my curiosity took over my body. I took the lid off and looked down to see what's inside.

A drop of blood... is this supposed to be funny? A whole jar for one drop of blood... I can already imagine the old man laughing at me.

"Drink it."

The girl sneaked up on me. Where did she come from?

"Don't worry, it's not poison. If my father wanted you dead...you would be a corpse already. Success will grant you great strength..."

One drop of blood, how bad can it be?

After a few seconds of hesitation, I drink.

The drop of blood entered my body. My body started burning from the inside. I felt like I was going to...die. The pain was too much... I dropped to the floor and started rolling. What kind of blood is this?

"Father was right... you are special."

Special...?

Then the fire and pain faded away... like it never existed. I climbed back on my bed to rest. Seconds later, I fell into a deep slumber... forgetting about the girl.

"He survived... he actually did it, something thousands before him have failed. The sacred blood of Gods runs through his veins..."

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