Chapter 180: Dragon's Dream
Viserys's fist struck, landing on Daenerys. As always, he was beating her.
Daenerys endured his blows, terrified and helpless. She tried to run away from him, but her body wouldn't obey. He struck again, knocking her to the ground.
"You have woken the dragon," he screamed as he punched and kicked her. "You have woken the dragon! You have woken the dragon!"
Daenerys finally found a chance to break free and began to flee frantically. She ran into a long hall with high stone arches above. She dared not look back, only running desperately. Far ahead of her was a door, quite small due to the distance, but she could still see that it was painted red. She quickened her pace, her bare feet leaving bloody footprints on the stone floor.
Finally, she reached the door, and just as she was about to push it open, that hateful voice came from behind her again: "You do not want to wake the dragon, do you?"
Daenerys didn't have time to answer before Viserys blocked her way once more.
"You little fool, you've woken the dragon!" he roared, reaching for her.
Daenerys mustered her courage and shoved him, knocking Viserys to the ground.
The next moment, Viserys screamed, and Daenerys looked closely to see a steel crossbow bolt as thick as two of her fingers embedded in his chest.
The setting sun streamed through the skylight onto Viserys, who curled up, muttering, "Help me!" He reached out to Daenerys. "Help me, sweet sister, help me." Viserys's voice was hoarse, like a serpent's hiss.
Daenerys hesitated for a moment, then reached out to him.
"You have woken the dragon!" His voice boomed in her ears once more.
Daenerys jumped in fright and rushed through the door.
Behind it stood a knight in black armor, a three-headed dragon made of rubies adorning his breastplate, and a steed as black as his armor.
"You've come? My sister," the black-armored knight said gently.
Sister? He called me sister? Daenerys instinctively took a step back, fearing the dragon's wrath.
But she quickly realized that the knight before her was not Viserys. He could never be so valiant.
This was Rhaegar.
Her elder brother, the last true dragon, the finest knight who ever lived.
Thinking this, she felt a little calmer.
But the next moment, a giant in silver-white armor appeared before Rhaegar, wearing a helm crowned with antlers and wielding a warhammer, and clashed with him.
Daenerys wanted to help, but she was helpless—she could do nothing.
So she could only watch helplessly as the antlered giant drove his warhammer into her brother's breastplate, scattering ruby fragments everywhere.
Rhaegar was knocked to the ground, barely alive.
Daenerys rushed to check his wounds, but when she lifted his visor, she saw Viserys's face.
"You have woken the dragon!"
Daenerys was knocked to the ground again, her thighs bleeding profusely. She was groaning with her eyes closed when she suddenly heard a horrific tearing sound, followed by the powerful roar of wood burning in a great fire.
It was as if someone was answering her prayers.
Daenerys opened her eyes and saw that Viserys was gone. Huge pillars of fire rose around her, and in the center of the flames was a dragon.
It slowly turned its head, its eyes like molten lava meeting hers.
Daenerys awoke with a start, trembling and drenched in cold sweat.
"It was just a dream," she sighed, but a sudden realization struck her.
There would be no more waking the dragon, no more Viserys.
"I am the last of the dragon's blood. I am Daenerys Stormborn, Princess of Dragonstone, with the blood of Aegon the Conqueror flowing in my veins," Daenerys murmured. "But what am I supposed to do? I know nothing."
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered Ian's presumptuous actions when she was weakened yesterday, and her face, which had returned to normal because of the dragon dream, flushed crimson once more.
"What are you thinking about?" Daenerys touched her burning cheeks. "You are his Queen. He is your knight. You shouldn't have tolerated his overstepping!"
"But even queens have to marry. If the Usurper's assassin hadn't suddenly killed Viserys, I should be at Khal Drogo's wedding right now!" Daenerys looked out the ship's window, her view filled with the azure sea.
The sky above the sea was exceptionally clear and bright, the sun's reflection shimmering on the water.
"But now, it seems I don't have to marry him." Daenerys recalled the giant who terrified everyone, and a faint sense of relief welled up inside her, even though she knew she shouldn't feel it.
She knew that she didn't have to marry Drogo because of Viserys's death, which was definitely not something to be happy about.
But she couldn't help feeling relieved.
Only then did she realize that her feelings for Viserys, apart from that sliver of familial affection, were entirely fear, and that her reaction to Viserys's death was more relief than grief.
As long as I don't admit it. She told herself this, then categorized the matter as a secret in her mind.
Having completed this mental exercise, Daenerys was in better spirits and opened her mouth to call Doreah to help her dress. But the moment she uttered the first syllable, she suddenly remembered that she was now on Ian's ship, and none of the servants Illyrio had given her had come with her.
Thinking of Doreah, Daenerys couldn't help but recall the techniques Doreah had taught her to please Khal Drogo. As she thought, Doreah's face in her memory unconsciously transformed into Ian's.
Daenerys quickly realized this, and she hurriedly shook her head to banish these strange images, glancing at the clothes at the foot of the bed.
She decided to challenge herself with the most difficult thing she had ever done—dressing herself.
Ten minutes later, Daenerys emerged from the cabin.
"Not so difficult after all," Daenerys muttered. Successfully putting on the somewhat cumbersome dress made her feel confident, as if the perilous road to restoring her kingdom had become a little smoother.
She decided to have breakfast with Ian to find out what had happened yesterday and also to get a good understanding of his plans, since he was now leading her restoration effort.
"Your Grace."
"Your Grace."
Daenerys had just stepped out of her cabin and into the ship's common area when she saw everyone bowing to her, so she smiled in response.
"Your Grace, are you feeling better?" Rol approached Daenerys.
"I'm much better now, ser." Daenerys replied with a smile, a little nervous. This was the first time she had spoken to a vassal as Queen, and the first time in many years she had spoken to a Westerosi knight other than Ian. She was afraid she might do something improper.
But Targaryen pride wouldn't allow her to show weakness, so she decided to end the conversation decisively: "Where is Lord Darry?" She deliberately used a more formal form of address. "Please tell him I wish he would join me for breakfast."
(End of Chapter)
Hope you liked the chapter 😄
Want more?
500 Power Stones = New Chapter
10 Reviews = New Chapter
20+ chapters ahead on P8treon: Soulforger