'Oh, this is not good,' I thought as I shook my head, feeling another wave of pain washing over my head.
"Breathe, Drogon," I heard Mother speak, my vision focusing for a moment to see her reaching up to rub my snout. "According to the stories, the first cycle is always supposed to feel like fire in your veins. You mustn't fight it."
"IT...IT FUCKING HURTS!" I growled, taking a step back to get away from her before slamming my head against the ground. All that did however was irritate me more and I snarled before looking at Mother as she spoke.
"Drogon, listen to me. You need to get away. I do not know if it is true given that I heard this from Viserys, but female dragons only enter into a heat cycle when the male does. If you stay here, you will trigger your sisters too."
"W-WHERE?" I asked, blinking a few times as I felt the headache growing bigger.
"Anywhere but here. Either the mountains near Qarth or...the Forest of Qohor. It will take us half a moon's cycle at most to prepare for our travels and then twice that time to get there. Go there and stay there."
"R-RIGHT," I let out a low snarl as my tail smacked against the ground, immediately flaring my wings out and taking up into the air.
Each flap sent shockwaves rolling across the desert as I climbed higher, rising high into the sky before I turned in the same direction that I went in after Pono.
The maddeningly sweet scent of Visenya and Rhaenys was still in my nostrils even after the camp was but a dot in the distance behind me, wondering just how long this was going to take.
'Hopefully, just a few days. Please let it be just a few days,' I thought, but at the same time, I knew it wouldn't be as the fire boiling in my veins did not cease.
The wind tore around me as I flew higher, the cold air cooling my body somewhat before I i let out a pained roar as it returned tenfold.
Letting out a roar to get the pain out, the sky trembled as I drifted higher, keeping my gaze focused forward to the point that I needed to reach.
'I need to calm down. Yeah, just let it be a few days.'
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"This is quite the problem to be facing right now," Aegon spoke with a frown, Missandei staying close to Daenerys who sat on her throne in the central building that once contained the Dosh Khaleen.
Said women were now stationed in another building with their eunuchs, something they argued vehemently against until her daughters 'convinced' them to accept the offer.
"What do we do now, khaleesi? Should we prepare?" Daario asked, Daenerys overlooking the map displayed on the table in between them all.
'It's been two days so he should have reached the Forest of Qohor by now. I travelled through there with Drogo and his khalasar and it was fairly tame so he should be fine. Food wise, I can only hope that he doesn't eat everything.'
"Your Grace?" Daenerys blinked as she heard Barristan's voice, looking up to see her Queensguard Commander giving her a concerned look.
"Apologies, ser Barristan. My mind is occupied elsewhere."
"I can only imagine that you worry for your child, but if I may be blunt, we must first focus on surviving the journey to the forest to meet him."
"Belwas agrees with Whitebeard. The Black Dragon can handle himself. We just need to make sure we survive long enough to meet him again."
"Right," Daenerys murmured, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly while shaking her head.
"Thank you, everyone for helping me clear my mind."
"It's understandable, khaleesi. Now, what is our plan of action?" Daario asked once more and Daenerys stood up, walking over to actively scan the map in front of them.
"What are our numbers?"
"As of this moment, we have 7800 Unsullied soldiers, 40 000 former slave warriors in training to be soldiers, 40 000 former slaves that are now workers, farmers, blacksmiths, teachers and all other professions that are not involved with combat.
From the Dothraki side, we have a little over 100 000 Dothraki riders, screamers, bloodriders and khals all mixed together. From their regular non-fighters, we have a bit under 75 000."
"What of the rules I've established?"
"As expected, there were a sizeable number of those that did not wish to part with their former slaves as well as those that wanted to keep to the old ways of the Dothraki."
"And?"
"We were quick to make them see the error to their ways," Barristan spoke up, Daenerys nodding to that as she looked at the map and traced a finger towards Pentos.
"How long will it take us to stock up on food and whatever other supplies we need?"
"It is unfortunate, but with the mouths we need to feed having grown, it may take longer than the two weeks we originally thought?
"How long, Daario?"
"One moon cycle at most," he replied, to which she grimaced as she looked at the map and nodded.
"Tell them to speed it up. I do not wish to leave my son out there for that long."
"What if they can't, khaleesi?"
"Make them," was all she replied with, to which Daario nodded and left the tent.
"Ser Barristan, Belwas."
"Yes, Your Grace?"
"While Drogon is not here, you two along with my daughters and Missandei shall be at my side at all times. I fear that during this time period, some of my enemies may see it as an opportunity to rid this world of me."
"Understood, khaleesi," Barristan spoke with a bow, Belwas doing the same as Daenerys smiled in return before turning to Grey Worm.
"May I ask that you speak with the Unsullied and see how goes the training of the 40 000 former slaves?"
"It would be my pleasure, khaleesi," he replied with a bow of his head, leaving the tent as Daenerys began to walk around the table.
"Ser Barristan, if you were to invade Westeros with the numbers we had and taking into account their skill level, where would you attempt such an attack?"
"If you wish to invade Westeros with the forces at your command, you must treat this like you are crossing a sea of daggers rather than a conquest for a throne."
"Speak plainly, sir," she replied, watching him as Barristan nodded.
"In terms of pure might, I surmise that only the Reach and the Lannisters could match you, but you lack a navy sufficient to land and supply an army of this size.
You also lack ports that will hold under siege and you lack the surety of allies that won't abandon on you the moment the Lannisters begin to speak."
"You believe that speaking with this Illyrio would be good for my campaign, then?"
"Yes. You need ships, a friendly port and a place that allows you to use your strength. Pentos would be a good start," Barristan replied, tracing a finger from the city in question to the Western coast. "However, while you have the numbers, we still have much more to figure out in regards to forging a true army."
"The Dothraki are terrible on ships, but excellent in open fields," Belwas began, Daenerys paying attention as the burly man began to move pieces on the map. "The Unsullied are excellent for holding ground and forming the spine of an army, but the freedmen must be trained until they can do more than swing a hastily made spear and shoot arrows."
"What if we focused on Dorne instead?"
"You believe it to be a wise decision?" Barristan asked and Daenerys smiled before Aegon spoke up.
"You want to use me as the linking piece between Dorne and your future dynasty, don't you?"
"You are the son of the late sister of the current Prince of Dorne. Along with that, you are also the supposed 'son' to Griff, who reigns as the commander of the Golden Company."
"I suppose you are correct. However, the Golden Company was made by Aegor 'Bittersteel' Rivers, who opposed the Targaryen rule. It's going to take a lot of words to convince him."
"That's good with me. However, all of this planning is completely useless until we get to Pentos itself. How goes the preparations for travel, Missandei?"
"As well as it can, khaleesi," the woman replied and elaborated as Daenerys gestured for her to continue. "Most of the food shortages has been fixed thanks to the food shared by the Dothraki, and the smiths are repairing what remained of the siege weapons we salvaged from Meereen."
"Good. What of weapons?"
"The requests for weapons and armour have grown with the added addition of the Dothraki, but the khals are keeping them under control as a thank you for the Valyrian Steel arakhs you gifted them."
"Glad to hear it. Inform the khals and tell them that we will be moving within the next two weeks because I do not wish to leave my son alone for longer than that."
"Yes, khaleesi," Missandei spoke with a bow, turning and leavign as Daenerys glanced back at the map with a hum.
"You believe that this plan will work, your Grace?" Aegon asked with his arms crossed, Daenerys looking at him before nodding with a smile.
"I do, but we can adjust it further. Let's focus on the path we can take."
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'2, 3, 5, 7, 11...' Drogon repeated prime numbers for probably the fiftieth time as he laid in the middle of a small cave, having forced himself in here to get away from the chaos of the world outside.
"SLOW BREATHS, DROGON. SLOW BREATHS," he spoke out loud, the searing pain from earlier now gone as he kept his head down
It's been about two or three weeks since he was forced into his heat cycle and since then, it's been nothing but pain and forcing himself to not follow after the mouthwatering sweet scent in the air.
The fact that he could still smell his sisters' pheromones told him that the heat cycle was not over. That just irritated him more, which triggered his heat and forced him deeper into his lust.
'The scent is getting stronger every day and Mom did say it would take them two weeks at most to start moving towards Qohor. Fuck, I need to do something,' Drogon thought as he took a deep breath, Unrelenting Force erupting from his maw and sending fragments of the cave flying in all directions.
Now free from his self-imposed prison, joints popped and he rolled his body to get rid of the stiffness, stumbling a bit at the wave of dizziness that was accompanied by a pleasurable pain in his groin.
Every muscle tightened and coiled as he strained his mind to focus, his wings twitching as he opened his mouth and let out a deafening roar.
Storm Call unleashed a vicious lightning storm that killed everything living around him, Drogon slamming his skull against the ground to mitigate the pain.
It did work for a brief moment before he gasped as the heat returned with a vengeance, feeling his head sag as the urge to mate became suffocating.
'You're a fucking dragon! Calm you-Fuck!' He gagged as he felt his body convulse and the last thing he heard was the roar of a monster before everything went black.
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'Come on. He's going to be okay so focus here,' Daenerys chastised herself as she rode atop the largest horse that the Dothraki had, her thoughts moving in between making sure her army moved together and worry for her son.
She knew that he was fine. After all, he was the strongest and most capable of her children, but she supposed a mother does worry no matter the situation.
"Your Grace, is everything okay?" she turned her head as ser Barristan spoke up, looking at the knight riding beside her.
"I wish I could say yes, ser, but my thoughts continue to wonder to worry for my son."
"Drogon is strong. Belwas knows he is fine," Belwas spoke up with a burp and she smiled as Daario and Grey Worm nodded.
"Drogon is rash, but he knows how to take care of himself."
"The dragon was on his own for a moon's cycle when we kidnapped this one and not a word was heard of him until he showed himself," Daario added while gesturing to Aegon, amusing Daenerys when her nephew nodded.
"That is true, yeah. If anything, we'll probably see him n-Well, I guess I'm a prophet," Aegon murmured as everyone turned to see what he was looking at, relief dancing in Daenerys' body as she saw a large winged beast flying through the air.
However, she was slightly concerned when she heard the snarls from her daughters, looking at them to see their slitted pupils and the glow of red in the back of their throats.
"Vise-" Daenerys reeled back as her daughter turned to her with a snarl, the others scurrying back as their Queen was wide-eyed. Turning her gaze to Rhaenys, her youngest was more focused on Drogon as he flew down and Daenerys' eyes widened when she saw the copious amount of drool flowing from his mouth.
Touching down with flaps of his wings that made shockwaves to push them back, Daenerys ordered everyone to stand back as she watched her children snarl at each other.
Rhaenys and Visenya hissed and spread their wings wide, but Drogon was unfazed as he rose to his full height and spread his wings with a growl of his own.
"Drogon!" Daenerys called, her voice shaky but determined as she continued. "Breathe, my son! You must-"
Daenery's eyes widened as Drogon let out a guttural roar, everyone freezing where they stood lest they draw the monster's attention to them.
He then lowered his head back to his sisters, Rhaenys now uncertain while Visenya lunged forward with a hiss.
Whirlwind Sprint launched Drogon forward and his claws wrapped around Visenya's neck before she could even move, the oldest pinning his sister to the ground with a roar.
She roared back in defiance before flinching back when he did so again, letting out hesitant growls as Drogon removed his foot from her neck.
Climbing off of her, Drogon growled as he turned to Rhaenys, stalking closer as she tried her best to backpedal. It was not long though before Drogon was in front of her, the she-dragon slowly lowering his head as Drogon chuffed with pride.
"Drogon?" Daenerys called out once more, watching as her son turned to her with a growl. "I know, son. I cannot imagine what pain you are going through, but please, stop this before someone gets hurt."
"Your Grace, I fear that may be you. Please, step back," Barristan asked, keeping his hands as far away from his sword to show no harm as Daenerys stopped a few paces away.
She didn't do anything other than raise her hand to him, feeling the scorching heat under his scales as he drew closer and pushed her palm out of the way.
She then found herself eye to eye with the dragon, staring at the aching pain in his gaze before she watched as her son scoffed and turned around.
The next moment, she was surprised as he turned and opened his wings, taking off and flying away with his sisters wanting to follow.
"Visenya! Rhaenys!" Daenerys knew that she was going to regret the order, but as she saw clarity returning to her daughters, she smiled and nodded. "Go."
Both looked uncertain before they spread out their wings, taking off into the air with synchronised roars as they followed after their brother.
"Was that the correct play, your Grace? What if they do not return?" Barristan asked and Daenerys smiled before shaking her head.
"Then, I can live or die peacefully knowing that my children are safe," she replied, watching as her two sisters slowly caught up to the fading black dragon in the distance.
'Please, girls. Help your brother as much as you can...even if you must resort to other ways.'
A/N: And we end it off here~! Now, I know, I know. I'm stretching the heat thing, but there is actually a reason for this and hint: it involves elements of growth for Drogon.
Not gonna say more than that.
Anyway, next chapter: Mating.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!