Blood of the Dragon (#DoomsdayProject, Part 1)

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Greetings! As already announced will I publish the first chapter of the collaboration #BardsofWesteros

For those of you who don't yet know about the Project make sure to have a look at this post. I hope you enjoy and thanks for reading.

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Rhaenys' white hair was flying behind the young woman like a shroud when the cold wind was blowing into her face. She was high above the ground, so close to the clouds that she felt like she could touch them. From here she could see the fires of the fourteen flames filling the air with their grey smoke and red sparks. Her hands were holding onto the dragon's silver spikes. Its scales were as black as the night and the dragon's eyes were shimmering in a deep purple colour. She closed her eyes, purple like the ones of the beast that was flying with her into the sky. When Rhaenys was riding her Dragon Silverwing she felt truly free.

No one was there apart from them and the other gigantic beasts they saw from time to time, and often, so she had to it, did the silver-haired girl preferred the Conpany of Silverwing over the company of other people. It gave her the possibility to forget the things she worried about, to let go of the reality for just one moment and even if she had grown up with Dragons all around they were still majestically to her. Some of them had nearly translucent wings, others had dark, heavy ones. Their scales were in the most different colours, shimmering and shining and their eyes looked like an eternal fire was dancing inside them, ready to burn everything to the ground.

The day she was born her parents had gifted her with a Dragonegg, that soon would hatch. It had been nearly black and she could still feel the texture under her hands, as well as its heat. When she reached the age of four she learned how to fly a Dragon, just like all other children of the Dragonlords. A small sigh escaped her and she opened her eyes again. Time had ed so quickly and she commanded Silverwing to fly down again. All dragons had to be trained. Her father had told her once that a Dragon that didn't listen to it's Rider was the greatest danger, yet a Dragon that followed the commands was the greatest friend, and it was true.

Rhaneys jumped of the giant beast while it still was several feet above the stony ground. When she reached the ground the young woman took a few seconds before she straightened herself again and looked at the Dragon that now had landed. He wasn't the only one around. Rhaenys knew that if she would lift her gaze into the sky that was greyed by the smoke and the fire, she would see many more of them roaming the lands around the capital of Valyria. Valyria. She had grown up with them surrounding her, she was the daughter of a powerful Dragonlord. Dragons were what made them so strong. Everywhere their statues where to be found. She walked back, giving a last smile to Silverwing although she knew the Dragon would not return it. It wasn't far back to the center of the city and even from where she had landed Rhaenys could see the giant towers reaching into the sky. She wasn't in a hurry but the young woman knew that her father was expecting her. A few days ago he had told his daughter about a feast he would be giving. She hated feast. She hated being surrounded by so many people at the same time, but she would be mindful of her duty. It was expected of her to attend the celebration and so she would do. What other choice did she had anyway?

Rhaenys walked the rest of the way back to the city of Valyria. Most people didn't even bother to walk and just flew their Dragons to whereever they wanted to be. Nearly all the towers the Valyrian capital was built from had an open space where the winged beasts could land and let their riders dismount, but sometimes Rhaenys enjoyed the comfort of using her own feet. Silverwing had lifted itself into the sky again, it's black wings slowly disappearing between the clouds. When she wandered back to the tower she, her brother and her father lived in, the young woman pulled the hood of her black cape over her head. She wasn't eager to have a useless conversation now and just wanted to get back home without wasting any time. She was clothed in black and violet, matching her eyecolour. Heavily decorated armor pieces were added to her leather jerkin and her feet were covered in boots that reached above her knees. The girl's silverehite hair though was loosely falling over her slim shoulders. Few people were walking the streets and even from far away their bright hair could be seen. They were Dragonlords, mighty and wealthy and silverwhite or nearly golden hair was a common appearance for them.

When she arrived home the guards opened the door for her that allowed her to enter. It was made from heavy steel with dragons addes to it that had shimmering rubies as eyes. Multiple Staircases were leading up the giant tower built from black stone. Several rooms were occupying each etage and on top of the tower a colourful dome of glass was placed. As a child she had often spent the whole day there. The light had reflected in the glass and she d the pages of the books she loved to read being lightened in the most different colours. She had been able to dream there and when reading a book she still was. Worlds far away suddenly came so close.

Rhaenys turned around with a resigned expression on her face when someone tapped her shoulder. It was her brother Viserys, who just like her had silverwhite hair and violet eyes. "Father has been looking for you.", he said in a strict voice, intensively looking at his younger sibling, but Rhaenys knew that he didn't meant it like it sounded. " I know.", she just replied, nodded and then went to her rooms, closing the door behind her. Their father Aerion was ruthless. Perhaps he loved his chidren, but over the years he had seemed to care less and less for them.

Politics and the constant fight for power and influence was stealing most of his time. Rhaenys couldn't deny that he was bad at what he dis. His actions, whether she ed them or not had brought them to where they were now. He wouldn't be the one to destroy the work done by generations and generations before them. She sighed. Rhaenys hadn't asked who was invited to the feast, for she probably already knew. All the other mighty Dragonlords and eventually their families. Most of them she had already met a few times, but with others she hadn't yet crossed paths. Whenever the Dragonlords gathered together there was a slight tension occupying the room, burning like a small flame ready to extend into a giant, all-consuming fire.

A few hours ed. Her servants had helped Rhaenys to get dressed and now she was wearing a black dress with tight sleeves and a wide skirt decorated with metal, chains, and rubies. With her fingers she touched the surface of the red crystals added to the fabric. She knew that it was one of the thousands and thousands of crystals and ores mined by the slaved that worked their whole lives deep under the earth, carving into the black stone looking for treasures. She didn't know what to think about this. Rhaenys wasn't dumb. She knew that the work in the mines was hard, that those people weren't treated like acutal people, but then, what they did was what made the lands of Valyria what they were now. But still, they were their slaves.

Valyria was the most advanced civilisation in the known world. Their knowledge and technology was far above what others had to offer and it was like a veil of magic was shrouding the city. For those who didn't grow up with Dragons and Magic surrounding them it might seem impressive, stunning but fearsome nonetheless. For Rhaenys it had become her life. Most people thought of it as fate, as destiny that so many years ago they had found Dragoneggs in the mountains. Some called it a coincidence and some people... some called it a curse. In the silver-haired woman's eyes, it was all of it together.

Rhaenys opened the door. The guests hadn't yet arrived but she knew about the purpose of the feast. For years know their own house had been in concurrence with another one of the most powerful ones. It was a constant duel for who would rule Valyria and just in a few days the new Archon would be a elected by the houses and families with the most influences. Her father, so she assumed, would try to convince the heads of those families to give their voice to him. His plan was to become the new Archon himself.

As she walked through the big hallway that was framed by pillars and figures carved into crystal and stone her brother ed her, walking next to his sister. He was clothed in Black as well but unlike Rhaenys who was wearing heavy jewelry he was wearing just a brooch showing a dragon to hold his cape on his shoulders. He looked elegant, not extravagant like her. When they entered the great dining hall together their father had already taken seat at the end of the table, discussing with his advisors. When he saw his two children enter he ended the conversation without saying another word. Rhaenys and Viserys took seat next to their father. It would be a feast, Rhaenys though. A feast for those lusting for power and instead of wine they would be served blood.

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#TheNightsWatch

#BoD

#BAS