first. }{ video.

[iwillnotlookback]

 [ The girl on the screen looks younger than her years, and she is still rather young. Only sixteen, the burnt-away stubble of silvery-blonde hair highlights her sharp cheekbones and draws attention to her large violet eyes in a way that makes her look like a doll. A very feral sort of doll. Her expression can be best described as a mixture of irritation, weariness, and childlike curiosity. And over it all a mask of regality. Nearly bald and ragged-looking she may be, she still looks every inch a queen. ]

Tell me, are all our dear hosts so exceptionally skilled in making obeisance and providing obfuscation for their master? I ask the reason for my presence and they tell me that knowledge is the Emperor's. I demand to know where my dragon is and they simper and apologize. Not one will deign to give me a clear answer, only riddles. More riddles. I am weary of riddles.

[ Dany sighs, a certain something in the way her eyes slip briefly closed betraying just how very tired she is. It never ends, does it? At least she is clean now. The first thing she did when the kedan led her to her quarters was bathe, soaking away her aches and pains and scrubbing off the accumulated weeks' worth of filth and blood in water heated near to boiling. Merely world-weary is marginally better than being both world-weary and filthy. ]

Very well. If we are to be companions in entrapment, we might at least know one another. I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Mother of Dragons, a khaleesi of the Dothraki, Queen of Meereen and rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. I would know you, and whatever you can tell me. [ Pause. ] And if you have seen a dragon, say, the size of an aurochs, colored black and red, I would know that too. You will be well rewarded, I swear. Though I beg you not to approach him, as his temperament is…quite volatile.

Comments

[iwillnotlookback]

[ She would roll her eyes if the expression were queenly. Why is it some men feel the need to be impudent for no cause? ]

Please.

[shadowroads]

[Hmph. He is not a man, he is a cat... okay, a cat fairy. Whatever.]

He is about thirty feet long, and black. He seems quite interested in science, of all things, though I can't imagine what use a dragon has for it.

[iwillnotlookback]

Black, but with no red markings? You're certain?

[shadowroads]

Quite sure. If your dragon is here, he hasn't been causing enough trouble to be noticed.

[iwillnotlookback]

[ If there is anything Drogon excels at, it's trouble, and of the deadliest kind. ]

Regardless, you have my thanks.

And your name?

[shadowroads]

[If he were a cat, his ears would have gone back at that, so he's glad he's in his human form. Fairies don't use 'thank you'- but humans do, and getting used to that is going to be troublesome.]

Don't mention it.

I'm Rand Stratford.

[An almost-fake name. He was Rand a long time ago.]

[iwillnotlookback]

Your gracious aid is appreciated, Rand.

[ Do you detect a hint of sarcasm there? Indeed you do. ]

[shadowroads]

[Better than a thank you, but still...]

Please, say no more. Your gratitude is entirely too much.

[Oh, there's more than a hint there.]