From Storms to Thrones (Part 1)

As I followed Rhaenyra through the winding passageways of the Red Keep, I couldn't help but notice the subtle spring in her step. It was slight, something she'd likely deny if I pointed it out, but it was there. Wherever she was leading me, she was clearly excited about it. That was enough to make me trail after her like a lovestruck puppy. I knew I had a big, dopey smile plastered on my face, completely enthralled by her energy.

But that smile began to waver as we delved deeper into the labyrinth of stone corridors. A low, rumbling growl echoed through the walls, faint at first but growing louder with each step. My heart skipped a beat, and a knot of anxiety tightened in my chest. We were underground—I was certain of that—so how was it possible that I could hear the dragons so clearly?

The growls grew more distinct, reverberating through the cold stone, and with a sinking realization, I knew where we were headed.

The Dragon Pit.

I shot a glance at Rhaenyra, but she seemed entirely unbothered, her excitement palpable. My steps faltered just a bit as the reality of where she was leading me began to sink in. I was literally about to walk into a pit filled with fire-breathing monsters—creatures that could incinerate me with a single breath.

Despite the unease gnawing at me, I couldn't help but follow her, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

As we stepped into the Dragon Pit, the darkness swallowed us whole. The only light came from the flickering flames positioned strategically around the cavernous space, casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and something more primal—something that set my nerves on edge.

Against the stone walls, men and women stood in silence, dressed in simple, monk-like robes. They held long, sturdy sticks, their postures relaxed, as if they were perfectly at ease in this ominous place. Their eyes, though calm, held a certain intensity as they watched us enter.

Dragon trainers.

Rhaenyra led me deeper into the darkness, her steps sure and steady as we ventured down a narrow pathway. The walls seemed to close in around us, the air growing cooler, the silence broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing off the stone. I followed her closely, the uneven ground beneath my feet adding to the tension that coiled in my chest.

And then, without warning, the pathway ended. I almost stumbled as I realized we were standing on the edge of a ledge, overlooking a vast expanse of darkness. I could hear the low hum of something massive moving in the shadows below, but I couldn't see anything.

"Surprise," Rhaenyra said softly, her voice carrying a note of excitement as she gestured to the void before us.

I stared into the darkness, my heart pounding. What was she talking about? I squinted, trying to make out what she was showing me, but all I could see was the inky blackness. I was just about to ask her what she meant when, suddenly, the darkness shifted.

What the hell? I froze, my breath catching in my throat as I watched the shadows move, the unease I'd felt earlier intensifying into something sharper, something closer to fear. And then, two massive green orbs caught the light of a distant flame, illuminating the cavernous space for just a moment.

Relief washed over me as I recognized those eyes.

"Oh, it's you," I thought to the Cannibal, the familiar weight of his presence settling in my mind. "I thought it was something scary."

The dragon's eyes narrowed, and a rumbling sound echoed through the pit—a sound that might have been a chuckle if it weren't coming from a creature that could incinerate me in seconds.