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"Mother, he is so small." The girl's hand gently touched the infant's soft face. "Will he grow big? As tall as Father?"
The woman smiled tenderly. "Of course. He will become the greatest king and knight in the Seven Kingdoms, and little Rhaenys's husband."
"Will I marry him?" the girl asked innocently.
"His name is Aegon, the greatest dragon king of House Targaryen, and you are Rhaenys."
"I know, Mother. Aegon the Conqueror and his queens Rhaenys and Visenya." The little girl waved her hands, then scooped up a black cat. "And of course, my Balerion."
The woman was amused, her laughter mingled with a few light coughs.
Her face was delicate, with unmistakable Dornish features.
Rhaenys hadn't seen her mother smile for quite some time. Her father wasn't present, and he always made Mother smile.
The sleeping infant seemed to stir at the noise and began to wail loudly.
The mother quickly lifted him, gently soothing his cries.
He's nothing but a fool who only sleeps and cries, Rhaenys thought. He has silver hair like Father, while hers matches Mother's.
"I don't want silver hair, Balerion," she confided to the little black cat in her arms.
Rhaenys still remembered what her grandfather the king had said: "Take this Dornish woman away. I don't wish to see her."
"Hmph, he's fierce. I'll teach little Aegon to be gentle, just like Father."
"Meow~"
"You agree?" She scratched the cat's belly.
The little black cat rolled over, jumped down, and scampered away.
"Wait for me, Balerion!" The girl chased after it.
The black kitten led her on a merry chase, bounding up and down throughout the castle.
Rhaenys stopped, breathless, before a thick doorframe.
Darkness yawned below, and cold air made her shrink back.
"Balerion!" She called into the cellar, her voice echoing as if from the depths of the seven hells.
Rhaenys staggered backward two steps. She tried to convince herself to turn back—Balerion would return on his own.
She began to turn away, then hesitated. What if monsters lurked below? What if they took Balerion?
"Balerion!!" She shouted again.
"Meow~" This time, finally, came a response.
"Can you hear me?"
"Meow~"
She lifted the hem of her skirt slightly, then stepped onto a spiral staircase. One hand clung to the damp, cold wall. "Don't be afraid," she murmured, uncertain whether she comforted herself or the kitten.
The deeper she descended, the harder it became to see her path. She moved cautiously, hearing only her heartbeat and the drip of water.
It was bitterly cold. She navigated the steps with difficulty, calling "Balerion" periodically.
The kitten's voice seemed to drift from near and far.
Suddenly, she stepped into empty air, nearly tumbling forward. The stairs had ended, though she'd expected more steps.
A hollow echo reverberated through the darkness.
"Balerion, where are you?" Her voice trembled on the edge of tears.
After several steps, she realized she could no longer find her way back, and Balerion's meows had fallen silent.
Her fingers brushed against the uneven wall. A water droplet fell upon her dress, startling Rhaenys into jumping away and running blindly.
Her foot caught on something, and she tumbled to the ground with a thud.
"Wuwuwu~" Tears streamed down her face as fear consumed her heart.
"Someone help me!" She sobbed.
The only answer was the whistling wind moving through the cavern.
She wept for what seemed an eternity. Eventually, she drew her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly as she curled into a ball against the wall.
The cold made her tremble uncontrollably.
"Mother," she whispered, then called, "Father."
No one appeared. Monsters seemed to swim through the darkness, their roars rising and falling around her.
She squeezed her eyes shut, silently calling for her mother.
Am I going to die? she wondered. Would the monsters devour both her and Balerion? Would Mother weep? Would Father avenge her? And little Aegon—she would never marry him and become his queen.
"Meow~" A sound suddenly reached her ears.
Rhaenys opened her eyes hopefully and saw a pair of green eyes staring at her. She screamed in terror.
The green eyes responded with another "meow."
"Is that you, Balerion?"
A warm, furry body leapt into her arms. Her Balerion had returned.
"Where did you go, you little rascal?" Her voice still trembled with sobs, but the cat's presence seemed to dispel much of her fear.
The black kitten nuzzled against her, then wriggled free and jumped down.
"Don't leave me alone, please." She reached for him.
The kitten paused before her, then slowly began to lead the way.
Rhaenys didn't know where he was going, but she followed closely.
Suddenly, a ray of light appeared, nearly blinding her after the darkness.
They had reached a cliff's edge. Light streamed through a hole in the wall, connecting the castle to a cavern. The opening wasn't large. Balerion slipped through, and Rhaenys followed.
Wind howled around them. Outside lay a towering cliff face with a large cave opening. Far below, she could hear the crash of waves.
"Meow~" Balerion's voice carried to her.
Her eyes finally adjusted to the sunlight. She saw Balerion pawing at something.
Rhaenys approached. "What are you digging for, Balerion?"
The cat continued until a black stone began to emerge.
"What's this?"
As more of the object was revealed, she recognized its shape, though Balerion had only uncovered half.
"An egg?" A black egg covered in rich patterns gleamed with metallic luster in the light. Rhaenys touched it gently, feeling what seemed to be fine scales across its surface.
"It's beautiful, Balerion." She began to dig alongside the cat. "This is a dragon egg," she exclaimed joyfully.
"Meow~"
"It could hatch into an enormous dragon. I've seen their bones in the hall. Your namesake was the biggest dragon of all." She rubbed the black cat's head. "I'll give this to little Aegon as a gift, Balerion."
"Princess Rhaenys!"
"Your Highness, Princess!!"
Suddenly, shouts echoed from within the cellars.
Someone had come to rescue her. Rhaenys ran happily to the cave entrance to answer their calls.
The little black cat, startled by the noise, darted away.
"We've found you at last, Princess." A woman lifted her into her arms. "Your lady mother has been beside herself with worry."
"Balerion, gift, our gift!" she called after the retreating shadow of the black cat.