Refusing the Request

"Ride a dragon! I want you to take me for a ride on a dragon."

Rhaegar blurted out his heart's desire.

Rhaenyra couldn't help but smile, ruffling his hair. "I knew you wouldn't look for me unless you needed something. You'd never seek me out otherwise."

"Then, my dear sister, can you grant your little brother's request?"

Rhaegar let his sister ruffle his hair, looking at her expectantly.

"I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. I've arranged to fly to Dragonstone and back with Uncle Daemon, and we'll be back very late."

Rhaenyra refused gently.

"I can go with you to Dragonstone. I haven't been back to the ancestral lands yet, and it doesn't matter if it gets late."

The desire to ride a dragon overcame his reason, and Rhaegar tugged on Rhaenyra's hand.

Seeing the pleading in her brother's eyes, Rhaenyra hesitated.

She glanced at Daemon, her eyes asking a question.

Noticing his sister's expression, Rhaegar also looked at Daemon.

He wanted to see how his generous uncle would respond.

To his surprise, Daemon seemed indifferent. "If he wants to go, take him. But your father might not be pleased if he knew I was taking his heir and eldest son on an outing," he said calmly.

His meaning was clear.

I can take him, but who will be responsible if something happens?

A very cliché refusal tactic.

Rhaenyra had no choice upon hearing this. She squeezed Rhaegar's hand and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Rhaegar."

"It's really too far today. How about I take you for a dragon ride over King's Landing next time, just for you?"

Rejected, Rhaegar felt an indescribable disappointment.

Proud of his status, he couldn't throw a tantrum like Aegon; it would be too damaging to his image as a Prince.

He pulled his hand away from Rhaenyra's grasp and took a step back, forcing a smile. "Okay, then I'll wait for you to keep your promise."

His words were sensible, but the loneliness in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

"You're a good boy. Go back to the Red Keep after visiting the Dragonpit, and don't wander off."

Rhaenyra couldn't help but see his disappointment, but thinking of her promise to her uncle, she had to harden her heart and pretend not to notice.

I'll make it up to you properly later, Rhaegar!

Rhaenyra thought to herself.

Just then, the dragonkeeper unchained Syrax and reported to Rhaenyra in High Valyrian.

"Princess, you may mount Syrax and fly."

Rhaenyra replied in the same language, "I know."

Rhaenyra took Rhaegar's hand again and led him to an open space far from the dragons, handing him over to Illyric.

She instructed, "Keep an eye on my brother, and don't let him run around the Dragonpit."

Illyric nodded. "Yes, Princess."

After patting Rhaegar's hair and saying a few comforting words, Rhaenyra walked towards Syrax.

Daemon remained quiet, observing the exchange between the siblings.

"Uncle, let's go."

Rhaenyra mounted the dragon, secured the safety chain around her waist, and said to Daemon.

"I thought you'd bring him along."

Daemon mounted Caraxes, making small talk.

"Rhaegar is still young. He wouldn't be able to handle a whole day of wind on a dragon's back."

Rhaenyra explained with a smile.

"You could ride a dragon at seven. Rhaegar is a boy; it's beneficial and harmless for him to be exposed to dragons early."

Daemon's words were fair.

Who among the Targaryen family wasn't a dragonrider?

"There will be opportunities in the future."

Rhaenyra disliked the double standards for men and women, changing the subject. "Let's not talk about Rhaegar. Shall we race to see who gets to Dragonstone first?"

Daemon shrugged and closed his mouth indifferently.

Behind them, Rhaegar stood at the front of the crowd, watching the two dragons spread their wings and take off, gradually disappearing into the clouds.

Illyric kept a close eye on Rhaegar. Seeing that his calm expression didn't betray any significant emotional turmoil, he finally relaxed.

He wasn't the only one watching Rhaegar.

Menas stood in the crowd, his gaze fixed on the small, clenched fists behind his back.

"A golden opportunity!"

Menas's face remained impassive, but his heart cried out, his limbs trembling slightly.

He was tired of being looked down upon.

Those noble-born Maesters disdained him.

Even though he possessed more knowledge than most Maesters he had met, it couldn't change their prejudice.

After being assigned to the Dragonpit, he had hoped that diligent work would earn him recognition.

Perhaps even the attention of a royal family member.

Targaryens could ride dragons; who knew if he might encounter a benefactor and soar to the heavens one day.

Alas, that was a fantasy.

Dragonriders only needed dragonkeepers to guide the dragons; they didn't need Maesters reporting on the dragons' every bodily function.

He had no chance to interact with the royal family.

And now, a perfect chance lay before him.

Wasn't the young Prince, neglected by his sister, in need of comfort and companionship?

The prerequisite was that his actions had to be interesting enough.

He needed to accurately gauge the young Prince's psychological needs.

With a thousand thoughts racing through his mind, Menas gathered his courage and spoke with a trembling voice:

"Your Highness, did you not wish to see a dragon? There is another dragon in the Dragonpit named Dreamfyre. It is larger and older than those two."

Rhaegar looked over at the sound of his voice and saw that the young Maester's face was pale, his voice trembling as he nervously swallowed.

He paid no mind to this small detail.

A bastard, initiating conversation with an aloof Prince, was already under immense pressure.

However, his suggestion was indeed appealing.

"Take me to see it!"

Rhaegar's voice was calm, carrying an unyielding tone.

Illyric wanted to dissuade him, but Rhaegar turned and glanced at him, his eyes chilling.

Illyric immediately lowered his head, unwilling to anger the Prince who was already in a foul mood.

He knew the Prince had been in a terrible mood since morning.

"Let's go, today's journey is still long."

Rhaegar took the lead, pushing aside the dragonkeepers who didn't understand High Valyrian, and descended the stairs under Menas's guidance.

The Dragonpit contained many dragon nests.

Most were underground, to prevent the dragons from crashing into the ceiling and causing a collapse.

Upon receiving Rhaegar's command, Menas's heart bloomed with joy.

As he led the way, he used every word he had ever learned to describe the beauty and power of the dragon "Dreamfyre" to Rhaegar.

Dreamfyre was a fierce female dragon who had laid several clutches of eggs.

The dragon egg in Rhaegar's hand came from Dreamfyre.

"Dragons hatch their young through laying eggs, but strangely, dragons have no gender. People's distinctions of male and female dragons are mistaken."

Menas happily recounted dragon lore, eager to display his knowledge.

"So, dragons reproduce asexually?"

Rhaegar interjected, bored.

Menas chuckled, "I don't know. Vermithor and Silverwing, the mounts of King Jaehaerys, were a well-known pair, unlike other solitary dragons."

"Enough, Maester. I've heard enough about dragons. When do we reach Dreamfyre's nest?"

Rhaegar impatiently interrupted, tired of the inconclusive topics.

"I am very sorry, Your Highness."

Menas apologized repeatedly, his humility ingrained, and nervously added, "But we have already reached the entrance to Dreamfyre's nest. I won't waste any more of your time."

Hearing him say this, Rhaegar realized they had already walked through a long tunnel.

A huge cave entrance appeared before them, a pitch-black abyss that swallowed all light.

Chapter Four, the final chapter will follow shortly.