Chapter 129: The Return
(Third Person POV)
[King's Landing]
The streets of King's Landing were locked down, very few people were allowed to walk freely outside of the assigned 5 hours. The entire City was being patrolled by large groups of black armored soldiers that were accompanied by the turned forces of the City Watch.
Despite the city being controlled, there was not much chaos or havoc. Due to Valerion's decree, many criminals that ran rampant were executed save for the ones that Vaelor vouched for. The people who were on the Poverty side of things were given supplies and food. They were even given some shelter as most buildings were cleared out in order to house the people that had no homes.
This was done for two things; to keep the civilians happy as a riot within a controlled city will create problems and to keep every single person organized and monitored.
Vaelor Blackfyre was in charge of every single movement outside the Red Keep. He went back into his elusive hideouts, making sure that nobody got in or out of the city. Decades of acting as the Grey Snake allowed him to create a vast network of spies within King's Landing. Not even Varys or Baelish were able to discover how Vaelor worked. Nobody knew what he looked like but they knew he existed.
He was the elusive Grey Snake, a man with a title passed down by underground criminals in the Capital. He, however, was more than just a criminal. He was an agent sent by Zaldrizes Jaes to embed himself in the Capital to emerge at the right moment. And that moment was here; as ridiculous as it was.
Whether or not it was executed perfectly, it mattered not. Valerion and Vaelor worked together to get two things done; Get Rhaegar and Rhaegon out of King's Landing, keep Rhaegon in Dorne and to cut off every single region in the Realm by invading in specific areas. Vaelor had access to multiple Stormsingers, who were boosted by a strange power that was wielded by the Black Priestesses. With this, they created the storms necessary to create the necessary opening they needed to take the City.
It went too smoothly, something that the Dragon God made sure of. He had been constantly fighting against Bloodraven's influence over the past few months and the Three Eyed Raven was left stumped. Especially considering that the threat in the North has risen and is soon to be a serious problem.
Winter is Coming and the Capital was feeling it's effects; the temperatures were dropping each day. While this was the case, the smallfolk were given warm clothes by The Black Army and many towers that were erected around emitted warmth to keep anyone from feeling the low temperatures.
Even in the Red Keep, the Black Priestesses kept everything locked down tight but everyone was kept comfortable. Of course, any signs of trouble were quickly crushed by the Black Army and their imposing warriors that did nothing but follow the witches' orders. Valerion had ordered the safety of the Royal Family and to keep Tywin and Jaime Lannister alive. He considered them valuable hostages, especially Tywin who was the Lord of House Lannister, one of the most powerful Houses in the Realm.
Houses Stark and Baratheon were currently busy with their own conflicts; Ned and Robert were fighting the war in the North while Renly was in Storm's End, fending off constant attacks from the Golden Company and The Black Army. Despite that, Renly did not seem to be in serious trouble. It appeared that the enemy were purposely putting pressure to keep the rest of the Baratheon forces at bay.
The Queen and her Daughter were in their chambers, joined by Shaena and Nymeria who were merely spending each day filled with anxiety. Valerion rarely interacted with them but when he checked in on them, he merely wanted to see how their morale was holding up. He told the Queen that he did not intend to harm Myrcella specifically, since she was carrying Rhaegon's child.
This made Shaena suspicious but she did not protest anything. The Princess was more worried about her dragon.
But Meylax was kept sedated by the powerful incense in the Dragonpit that was mostly used on her. The keepers were forced to constantly check on them as the Drakeknights were subdued or killed.
In the Dragonpit, while Meylax was sleeping, the young dragon that Monica had attempted to claim was thrashing around, breathing flames.
The Black Warriors were trying their best to subdue it as they corralled it. The other dragons were asleep, only this one broke free from the incense's effects, which was expected.
"Subdue it." A massive Warrior said as he wielded a long spear-like weapon, "Prince Valerion does not wish to Kill any dragon. Sedate it quickly."
They threw chains at it, wrapping its tail and wings with the steel binds. The chains glowed, apparently imbued with some sort of strange magic.
The Dragon fired flames in the air as it let out a vicious shriek, trying to pry off the chains as the group of warriors planted their feet on the ground. One of the hostage keepers then walked over and smashed a glass egg on the dragon's feet, the green mist-like substance flying out and hitting the dragon.
Despite this, the dragon kept thrashing around, shrieking loudly.
"It's not working?" a Warrior said in high-valyrian
"The strongest of the Incense is being used on the largest one." another said, "But this one should work on this one!"
As the Dragon shrieked, it was cut off by a loud roar that resounded through the dragonpit.
Everyone stopped and looked up, hearing the loud flapping of the wings.
"Is that the Prince's...?" A Warrior said
"That does not sound like him...nor the Cannibal....that's.....Yes....it's that one...." another warrior said
Suddenly, the air got a serious chill followed by an intense heat. It was a strange combination but this caused everyone in the vicinity to become alarmed. The dragon's roar was heard even louder, the pit slightly shaking.
They then heard the slow yet imposing footsteps of someone approaching. They looked over to see a figure shrouded in a dark mist, making its way toward them. There was a single green glow on what looked like a head.
The warriors were frozen in what seemed like fear, still holding on the chains, "Zaldrizes, Jaes..."
The young dragon shrieked even more as Zaldrizes Jaes approached, covered in a deep shadowy aura.
"Pitiful creature...." He said, his voice deep and intimidating, "You're in despair.....in eternal agony....it is expected....some dragons are not meant to soar the skies...."
He reached the Dragon who bit at him. He stopped its maw with his left arm, clutching it lightly which shocked the dragon. It widened its eyes as it tried to jerk his body back, to free itself from his grasp.
"There is no choice." Zaldrizes Jaes, "Not all of the incense will work on any dragon. It is best if we.....cut the rot out...."
Suddenly, the dragon's body began to steam as it tried to jerk away from his grasp but his claws were digging into its scales. As it let out a pained shriek, Zaldrizes Jaes pierced the dragon with his glare, his green eye staring right into the dragon's being.
"The Dragon...." a Warrior said
The dragon then burst into green flames, its entire body burning up and turning into ashes, flames raging in its place as Zaldrizes Jaes only held the burning head of the dragon as the rest of the body collapsed into a large pile of burning flesh and scales.
"The smell of burning flesh....." Zaldrizes Jaes said with a menacing tone, "It takes me back. So this is the rebuilt Dragonpit....."
"Interesting....."