In the Embrace of Green Flame

FIVE

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣୧‿︵‿︵

As days turned into weeks, Vaella found herself further immersed with her dragon. The bond between them grew stronger with each passing day, their connection solidifying into a partnership fueled by trust and understanding. They soared through the skies, their synchronized movements a testament to the hours of training they had invested together. The people of King's Landing were always excited to see the princess take flight, marveling at her grace and the majesty of Pyrothor.

However, something had changed after their first flight. Aemond, who had been Vaella's mentor, seemed to withdraw, distancing himself from their shared training sessions. Each day, she would arrive, hopeful and eager, only to be met with a hollow emptiness. The absence of Aemond's presence left her feeling abandoned once again.

Vaella couldn't help but notice that the only times she saw the prince was when he was with his mother or sister. His interactions with them seemed strained and filled with tension.

The weight of these observations bore heavily on Vaella's heart. The plague of estrangement seemed to haunt her, permeating her relationships and leaving her feeling adrift in a sea of unspoken emotions. Her mother and brothers remained nonexistent. Alicent and Helaena, though they tried to be there for her, were often consumed by their own duties and responsibilities. And now, her betrothed, who was told to come back specifically to court her, seemed to have no interest in seeing her.

Lost in her thoughts, Vaella took to the skies with Pyrothor, seeking a temporary escape from her emotions. She allowed the wind to carry her, oblivious to the world around her as she soared higher and higher. Unbeknownst to her, Pyrothor had taken her further than she was allowed to go, venturing into the outskirts of King's Landing.

As they flew, the skies darkened and storm clouds gathered on the horizon. The once serene atmosphere transformed into an ominous scene, with thunder rumbling in the distance. But Vaella's preoccupied mind failed to register the impending danger.

Suddenly, the first raindrops began to fall, splashing against her face and the dragon's scales. The realization struck her, and panic coursed through her veins. She urgently tugged on Pyrothor's reins, attempting to steer him back towards safety.

But it was too late. The storm unleashed its full fury, with rain pouring down in torrents and lightning crackling across the sky. Pyrothor's wings beat against the powerful gusts, struggling to maintain stability in the turbulent winds. Vaella clung onto him, her heart pounding in her chest as fear gripped her.

She desperately searched for any sign of familiar landmarks, but the storm had disoriented them, obscuring her sense of direction. The rain lashed against her, drenching her to the bone, as she tried to navigate through the tempest.

In the midst of the chaos, a bolt of lightning struck nearby, illuminating the darkened sky with a blinding light. Pyrothor shrieked in fear, his wings momentarily faltering. He's never been out while it was raining.

With Pyrothor struggling to maintain stability, he decided to land in a relatively safe clearing at a beach to wait out the storm. Vaella dismounted, her body trembling from both the cold rain and the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

At the shore, Vaella grabbed driftwood to try to get Pyrothor to create a fire but it was no use. There was not enough wood and the rain was too heavy.