With a crash, Vermithor and Silverwing descended upon the ruins of Sallosh, their massive forms shaking the earth as they landed with great force.
Nearby, Dreamfyre rested, her pale blue scales shimmering in the sun.
Noticing the commotion, she cracked open one eye as she watched the other two dragons land. She gave a soft grunt and, as though satisfied, closed her eye once more, returning to her rest.
Unlike before, when they had been forced to rest outside the city's crumbling walls, they now landed within the heart of the ruins.
The city, still bearing the scars of its former grandeur, remained a mess of shattered stone and dust.
Yet, in the three months since Baelon's arrival, the landscape had changed.
Rubble had been cleared, and the area where the dragons now rested had been specifically prepared for them.
The smaller debris had been cleared through the use of ropes and cloth, which Baelon had traded with the village earlier.
The dragons, under his command, used their claws to lift and shift rubble, moving large pieces of stone and broken pillars into more manageable piles.
To entertain the bronze and silver duo, dragon fire had also been used, albeit sparingly; mostly to burn away smaller pieces of wood and vegetation.
Baelon dismounted Vermithor with ease and his bond with practice, lowered his head, allowing Baelon to easily slide off the saddle atop him.
With the saddle and associated satchel free, Baelon was able to move each box and supply into the deeper parts of the city.
He made several trips, carefully storing the wool, resin, and various other goods in a small storage area they had established in a more sheltered corner of the ruins.
The storage area was humble, with shelves made of sturdy wood, but it served its purpose well enough.
After ensuring the supplies were safely stored, Baelon began walking through the winding paths of the city.
He eyed the noticeable sense of progress in the air as he walked.
In the now clear streets, small streams of water had replaced the dry cracks in the stone.
Shimmering, crystalline water flowed from small channels, winding through the city's heart, bringing life back to the forgotten place.
Baelon's mood lightened at the sight. In just three months, they had transformed the city from a desolate ruin into something that felt, if not alive, then at least breathing again.
He continued along the path until he reached the eastern ward of the inner city. Unlike the rest of the ruins, this area had been much more thoroughly cleared.
Weeds and moss that had once overtaken the streets were now gone.
Most of the fountains that had once adorned the area, despite their ruin, were also gone, their infrastructure to create the winding streams that ran through the city.
Baelon couldn't help but smile. Progress. It was slow, but tangible.
As much as it pleased him, he knew that it was thanks to the dragons' strength and fire that so much had been accomplished.
And though he had often wished for more, he couldn't deny that the hard work and sacrifice of these first few months had been worth it.
There was no going back to what had been; this was the future. For now, at least.
Walking further, Baelon soon neared their home, a small, somewhat intact residence that had been untouched by the destruction.
While most of the grander homes had been reduced to rubble, this one remained, though it was not without its faults.
Originally, the walls were cracked, and much of the roof was missing, but it was more than enough for them.
However, having traded timber and stone with the villagers before, he had managed to repair the home, though it was by no means a pretty sight.
Around the house, small channels of water ran through the soil, irrigating fields that had already been cultivated.
In the small garden, various crops were thriving: figs, peaches, and herbs had all begun to grow and bear fruit.
Baelon smiled softly as he saw Helaena sitting outside, a chair set up under the shade of the fig tree.
She hummed to herself in a soft melody. She had a blanket on her lap, stitching it together with care.
The blanket was a simple coarse woollen fabric that she had woven with her own hands.
On its surface, she had stitched the images of the dragons: Dreamfyre on the left, Silverwing on the right, and Vermithor in the middle.
Thanks to her embroidery, the coarse blanket was given a delicate touch of warmth.
When she saw Baelon approaching, she paused her stitching and looked up at him, her face lighting up.
"Baelon!" She chirped, setting down the blanket and standing up. "You're back."
"I'm back," Baelon said, a soft smile tugging at his lips, ruffling her hair. "The meat, milk and wool are safely stored. I've left the resin you asked for in the storage, too."
Helaena's face brightened as she looked at the supplies. "Thank you! I'll go preserve the meat once I'm done, but I'll need some help from you."
Baelon hummed in agreement. "Sure, I'll go check the crops in the meantime. They're almost ready for harvest."
Though the idea of crops being ready for harvest in less than a few months was preposterous, it was a reality for him and Helaena.
After all, they had a secret weapon.
Dragon droppings.
'No, seriously. Who would have thought their faeces could act as such a potent fertiliser? At this rate, we'll probably have to deal with having too much food…'
Helaena murmured as she continued her sewing. "Once we're done with all this, then I can use the resin for…" However, her words pattered off as she realised something.
"Use the resin for what?" Baelon raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said you needed the resin to preserve the meat, though?"
Helaena hesitated for a moment before she responded, her voice barely a whisper.
"Well, yes, the resin will help smoke the meat and preserve it for longer… but I also thought it could help preserve my collection..." She didn't look at him directly, her fingers still working on the blanket.
Baelon's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing. He knew exactly what she meant, as in recent months she had lapsed into her childhood hobby.
She kept a room in their home full of preserved insects, varying in shape, colour and size.
Some she had made him catch in the Dothraki Sea, and some she had caught herself whilst exploring the ruined city.
With an exasperated sigh, Baelon looked away.
He had long since given up trying to understand why she kept such strange collections.
No matter what oddities she indulged in, she was his sister, and that was enough for him to protect her.
"It's fine, Helaena," Baelon said, shaking his head. "Just think of it as a treat for all the hard work you're doing."
Helaena's eyes twinkled as she looked up at him. "But who's going to reward you for everything you've done?"
Baelon blinked in surprise. "Isn't everything here already a reward for me?"
He truly meant it; he enjoyed their simple life, their time with their dragons, their newfound freedom.
Helaena smiled softly. "I guess so," she murmured, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before returning to the blanket.
Staring at Helaena humming away as she worked, Baelon felt the weight of their new life hit. Almost as hard as Vermithor's playful nudges.
This was it. Everything they had asked for.
No more schemes. No more obligations.
Even his melancholic sister was regaining her joy and innocence from her childhood.
However, Baelon still had a twinge of curiosity lingering in him.
What happened to Westeros whilst they were away?