After telling King Ghidorah to stay behind and keep a close watch on the eggs, Viserys headed back with Rhaenys and Meleys.
By the time Viserys returned to Dragonwing Castle with Rhaenys and Meleys, dusk had fallen.
The Hatchling Dragon had already fallen asleep in Rhaenys's arms. Her scales rose and fell gently with her breathing, like a living ruby.
The first person they encountered in the castle was Missandei.
The girl from Naath was carrying a stack of parchment. After greeting them, she was about to leave, but when she caught sight of Meleys in Rhaenys's arms, she stopped dead, her eyes widening.
"Princess, is that..."
"Meleys," Rhaenys said, her voice still full of excitement from the flight home. "My dragon."
Missandei approached cautiously and looked at the Hatchling Dragon in her arms. "She's beautiful," she murmured. "Like the Flame Crystals in the legends."
Just then, Ashara arrived with Daenerys. They had heard Blackflame landing.
Ashara's gaze went first to Viserys. He had left rather abruptly that day without explaining why. Only after making sure he was safe and unharmed did she turn her curious gaze to the little creature in Rhaenys's arms.
The moment Daenerys saw the Hatchling Dragon, she hurried closer, her violet eyes wide. "Rhaenys, you have a little dragon? Let me see!"
Rhaenys's face shone with irrepressible pride and tenderness as she held Meleys out for them to see. Roused by the movement and voices, the Hatchling Dragon drew her neck back warily beneath their staring eyes. But at Rhaenys's encouraging look, she poked her head out again and gave a faint hiss.
"Gods above," Ashara murmured in admiration, a flicker of wonder crossing her pale violet eyes. "She's beautiful, Rhaenys. Like a burning ruby."
"Her name is Meleys," Rhaenys told them again, pride in