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]

[ Blood magic is reviled, and Dany is hardly going to tell a stranger the dear price she paid for her children. Instead she gives a smile she hopes looks mysterious. ]

Mine is the blood of old Valyria, where dragons dwelt before the Doom. The blood of the dragon runs in my veins.

[fotia]

[wow that sounds just like some of the mysterious lines the gods like to pull tbh] Right. Awesome. Blood of old Valyria. Now why didn't I think of that before? I mean, really, you can't possibly go wrong with that!

[iwillnotlookback]

Forgive me. I forget none here are from my home, and do not know the world as I do.

The Valyrian Freehold was the greatest empire ever known, built by powerful men and women who bonded with dragons through sorcery and strength of will. My ancestor, Aegon Targaryen, was a lord of old Valyria, and as his blood runs through me, so too does his affinity with dragons.

As for the how, well—let us say it was not without pain and great sacrifice, and leave it at that.

[fotia]

Whoa, bonding with dragons? You can do that? Pretty awesome. I mean, not the pain and sacrifice stuff when you hatch eggs or whatever, that sounds like it sucks, but the rest is kind of cool.

[...And okay he is finally getting to that second part of your earlier statement.]

W-Wait, did you just say nurse dragons at your... your...? [YEAH HE CAN'T SAY THAT WITHOUT BLUSHING]

[iwillnotlookback]

Where else does one nurse a child?

[fotia]

[askdlfjlk INTERNALLY SCREAMING

...Also blushing really hard]

But, I mean, dragons? Does it hurt—Wait, no, don't answer that. Forget I said anything. We can forget I said anything, right?

[iwillnotlookback]

If you wish.

[ He's embarrassed, she realizes. She almost asks why, but the poor boy's flushed so red he looks ready to boil. ]