Chapter 223: The Source of the Nightmares
Every time Daenerys awoke from another nightmare, she found herself unable to fall back asleep for hours.
After several nights of restless sleep, the exhaustion had begun to show. Even during the day, her spirits were noticeably lower.
Drogon could no longer ignore it.
He decided that from now on, he would sleep beside Daenerys every night. Perhaps his presence would help her rest more peacefully.
The next day, inside the throne room, Tyrion finished reporting on the progress of King's Landing's sewer reconstruction.
Unlike the others, however, he didn't leave after the meeting. Instead, he remained behind, waiting for Daenerys to descend from the Iron Throne.
"Your Majesty," he said respectfully, "everyone—from the great lords to your own council—is deeply concerned about Jon. I would like to ask... do you truly intend to name him your heir?"
Tyrion had privately discussed Jon's move to Dragonstone with Varys.
As the former Master of Whisperers, Varys had quickly concluded that Jon was most likely Rhaegar's bastard.
Though Tyrion had known Jon for years and considered him something of a kindred spirit, the matter of naming an heir was far too important to ignore.
Even if Daenerys restored the Targaryen name to Jon, many uncertainties would remain.
More importantly...
Tyrion shared the same question that troubled the Martell brothers.
Why would Daenerys choose her nephew over her own future children to inherit the Iron Throne?
"Leave Jon's affairs alone," Daenerys replied calmly. "I have my own plans."
She had no intention of revealing Jon's true parentage—not even to Tyrion, her Hand of the Queen.
"Your Majesty," Tyrion continued cautiously, "instead of naming Jon your heir... perhaps it would be better to choose a noble house from the Seven Kingdoms for a political marriage, and then..."
He stopped before finishing.
He assumed Daenerys understood what he meant.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?"
Daenerys suddenly turned toward him, fury flashing across her face.
"I told you to stay out of it!"
Her voice echoed throughout the hall.
Even Ser Barristan, walking just behind her, was startled. He frowned slightly, surprised by the sudden outburst.
Of course Daenerys understood Tyrion's meaning.
But his suggestion had struck directly at the deepest wound in her heart.
It filled her with frustration and anger.
Looking up at the queen who had just shouted at him, Tyrion stood frozen.
This was completely unlike the Daenerys he knew.
Silently, he lowered his head and said nothing more.
Even after rebuking Tyrion, Daenerys remained visibly agitated.
Drogon understood exactly why.
Tyrion had unknowingly touched upon the one subject Daenerys could never bear—her inability to have children.
Ever since Tyrion had become her Hand, Daenerys had always treated him with respect.
Although his words had reopened an old wound, neither he nor Drogon had expected her to react with such overwhelming anger.
As for Daenerys's infertility...
Drogon wasn't sure whether the divine healing abilities he had used on his followers could cure it.
That was something only time would answer.
Back in her chambers, Daenerys still couldn't calm herself.
She picked up a book, hoping reading would settle her mind.
After only two pages...
She tossed it aside in frustration.
Seeing how restless Daenerys had become, Drogon knew the real cause was likely her lack of proper sleep over the past several days.
She had even tried napping during the day to make up for it, but no matter how tired she was, sleep simply wouldn't come.
[Let me take you out for a while.]
Drogon suggested.
"I don't feel like going anywhere."
She lowered her head before asking quietly,
"Drogon... was I too harsh on Tyrion earlier?"
Remembering the way Tyrion had silently lowered his head after being scolded, she couldn't help feeling guilty.
[It's fine. Tyrion's tougher than he looks.]
Drogon deliberately joked about the little dwarf in an attempt to cheer her up.
Thinking about everything her diminutive Hand had endured throughout his life, Daenerys finally managed a faint smile.
---
That night, Daenerys stayed awake reading by candlelight until exhaustion finally overtook her.
Only then did she climb into bed.
Instead of returning to his own little nest, Drogon curled up in her embrace, intending to keep her company while she slept.
Knowing he was worried about her, Daenerys gently held him close, letting his small head rest on her arm.
After chatting with him for a while, she slowly drifted into sleep.
Listening to her gentle breathing, Drogon didn't close his eyes.
He intended to stand watch over her throughout the night.
---
Deep into the night, just as drowsiness began overtaking him, Drogon was startled awake by hurried, ragged breathing.
He immediately looked up.
As expected...
Daenerys had fallen into another nightmare.
Her breathing was uneven.
Her head tossed restlessly across the pillow as though she were desperately struggling against something she couldn't escape.
Yet no matter how hard she struggled...
She couldn't wake up.
Instead of shaking her awake, Drogon decided to verify a suspicion that had been forming in his mind.
He expanded his Divine Domain.
It spread gently over Daenerys's body before extending throughout the entire room.
The instant his Divine Domain touched her head...
He sensed it.
A trace of malevolent intent.
So there really is something here...
Without hesitation, he used his Divine Domain to drive the evil presence away.
But unlike ordinary wisps of spiritual corruption that dispersed with ease...
This one was astonishingly stubborn.
It clung tightly to Daenerys's mind as though rooted there.
It was almost as if her very consciousness was irresistibly attractive to it.
Reluctant to leave.
Unable to force it out in one attempt, Drogon slowly compressed it with the power of his Divine Domain.
Little by little...
The sinister presence was peeled away from Daenerys.
Only after it drifted farther from her body did it begin dissolving more rapidly into the air.
The moment it completely left her...
Daenerys stopped struggling.
The tension faded from her brow.
Her breathing gradually returned to a calm, steady rhythm.
Only then did Drogon finally relax.
He continued driving the lingering evil farther away until it had been pushed beyond the room itself.
Only then did he stop.
Yet almost immediately...
The scattered malevolent energy began gathering once more.
It slowly drifted back toward Daenerys.
Fortunately, it was blocked by the barrier formed by his Divine Domain and couldn't enter.
Left with no other choice, Drogon remained awake, maintaining the barrier while listening to Daenerys's peaceful breathing.
---
It was already the middle of the night.
He had been sleepy long before discovering the strange presence.
The discovery had briefly awakened him, but as time passed, drowsiness returned.
Every time he nodded off...
His Divine Domain weakened and began shrinking inward.
He had no choice but to repeatedly force himself awake, maintaining the barrier so the malevolent force couldn't approach Daenerys again.
---
The next morning, Daenerys slowly woke after turning over in bed.
The first thing she noticed was the unusual weight resting against her arm.
Only then did she remember Drogon had slept beside her.
Turning her head, she found him already looking at her.
"Drogon... you're awake so early?"
Drogon: ...
He very much wanted to tell her,
I'm not awake early—I simply never went to sleep.
But he worried she'd only become anxious, so he kept the thought to himself.
"Drogon, sleeping with you beside me felt wonderful."
"I don't think I had a single nightmare."
"Will you stay with me again tonight?"
Seeing the healthy color returning to her face, Drogon nodded.
As long as she could finally sleep peacefully, losing a night's sleep himself was a small price to pay.
He could always catch up during the day.
Still...
Keeping his Divine Domain active throughout the entire night wasn't a permanent solution.
He needed to find a way to eliminate that malevolent presence once and for all.
Fortunately, once Daenerys woke, the evil intent gradually dispersed on its own.
Otherwise...
Drogon might well have become the first dragon in history to literally die from sleep deprivation.
---
After washing up and finishing breakfast, Daenerys headed to her office.
Drogon didn't accompany her.
Nor did he immediately go catch up on his sleep.
Until he understood exactly what that sinister force was...
There was no way he could rest peacefully.
He needed someone who truly understood such things.
And among everyone he knew...
The Drowned God, Adins, was undoubtedly the best person to ask.
Flying to Blackwater Bay, Drogon summoned Adins once more.
The sea god's severed tentacles had fully regenerated.
He had completely recovered his enormous, terrifying form once again.
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