Aegon's hand hovered before the enormous skull, his fingertips almost touching its cold, smooth surface.
After a moment's hesitation, he finally lowered his hand, resting his palm on the fearsome skull.
It felt cold.
He gazed into Balerion's hollow eye sockets. Through a century of silence, he could almost see Aegon the Conqueror riding him, trampling the banners of the Seven Kingdoms beneath dragon claws, one after another.
House Targaryen had risen through dragons and held its power through dragons.
Yet as the dragons died out, royal authority had withered with them.
The lords of the realms no longer obeyed. Ambition flourished, until the War of the Usurper erupted, the dragon dynasty was utterly overthrown, and House Baratheon took its place.
Aegon slowly withdrew his hand and turned toward the candlelight flickering in the dim chamber.
"The tides of magic have returned," he said, his voice echoing underground. "Dragons have returned to the world. Then House Targaryen, too, should return to its rightful place."
He looked at the guards behind him. "Gather the men. Clear out this skull and all the other dragon bones down here-intact skulls, broken vertebrae, wing bones, all of them-and take them to the Dragon God Great Sept."
"Dragons are the symbol of House Targaryen, the embodiment of its majesty. They should not be forgotten in this sunless vault, with only dust and rats for company."
The guards exchanged troubled glances at his words.
After a moment, an older guard reluctantly stepped forward on their behalf and bowed.
"Your Highness, that... may prove rather difficult."
"Hmm?"
"This skull is simply too large to fit through any of the existing doorways."
He considered for a moment, then said slowly, "Perhaps... the entrance used to bring it in was sealed during later renovations."
Aegon surveyed the spacious underground