Once Cannibal was gone, Aegon signaled Helaena to follow.
Sunfyre took the lead toward Dragonstone, Dreamfyre close behind.
Soon the three children and two dragons reached the island.
Dreamfyre crawled into a cave in the Dragonmont as naturally as if she had lived there all her life.
Sunfyre settled at the entrance to rest.
“Helaena, why did you come?”
Helaena threw herself into Aegon’s arms and murmured, “I saw it.
The shadow above the clouds.”
Aegon raised an eyebrow.
He had not expected Helaena to foresee Cannibal’s attack, let alone ride Dreamfyre out to help him.
Helaena disliked fighting on dragonback.
Yet she had flown against Cannibal for him.
Aegon could not help being moved.
He cupped her small face in his hands and planted a loud kiss on her forehead.
“Thank you, Helaena.”
Helaena beamed, her eyes curving with joy.
Only Aemond stood nearby, lips pressed tight.
If he had a great dragon of his own, he would tear that black beast apart.
“Prince Aegon, Prince Aemond, Princess Helaena.
Welcome.
Shall I arrange a carriage?”
A Dragonkeeper approached and bowed deeply.
“Arrange the carriage first.
Is Silverwing inside the Dragonmont?” Aegon asked.
“She is.
Aside from hunting, she rarely leaves her cave.
Is it for Prince Aemond?”
“Yes.”
The Dragonkeeper’s face tightened.
In 54 AC, Princess Aerea mounted Balerion and vanished for over a year.
When she returned, she was dying, and no maester could save her.
After that, the Dragonkeepers were formed.
No Targaryen blood was permitted to claim a dragon without the king’s leave.
“I have spoken with my father.
Rest easy.
Arrange several Dragonkeepers to accompany us.”
“Very well. Get faster updates on g.com.
I will send five experienced keepers with you.
Please be careful.”
Helaena remained outside while Aegon, Aemond, and the Dragonkeepers walked deeper into the Dragonmont.
Soon they reached Silverwing’s lair.
The keepers called to her, and Silverwing crawled out, her eyes full of curiosity.
Silverwing was the gentlest she-dragon the Targaryens had ever known.
Even when roused from her rest, she showed no irritation.
“She is a true lady.
The opposite of Vermithor in every way,” one keeper said.
Aegon slowly extended his right hand and stepped closer.
“Silverwing.
Good girl.”
Hearing pure Valyrian, Silverwing sensed the dragon on him, yet she lowered her head and let his palm rest against her snout.
“Good girl.” Aegon praised her again, then nodded to Aemond.
Aemond took a deep breath.
Once Aegon stepped back, he moved forward slowly, trying to touch Silverwing the same way.
But just as his hand neared her, Silverwing let out a low growl, turned, and retreated into her cave.
Aemond stumbled and fell.
“Careful, my prince.” A Dragonkeeper hurried to help him up.
Aegon frowned.
This made no sense.
He had a feeling that if he did not already have Sunfyre, Silverwing would have accepted him just now.
So why had she refused Aemond?
Aemond lowered his head, tears spilling down his face.
He had let his brother down.
“I’m sorry, brother.
I’m sorry.”
He was heartbroken and ashamed.
Aegon had brought him to Dragonstone, shown him how to claim a dragon, and survived an attack on the way.
Even Helaena had ridden out to drive off Cannibal.
And still, in the end, he could not claim Silverwing.
Aegon looked at his little brother crying and almost laughed.
“Stop that.
You are my brother.
You are every bit as good as I am.
You will have a dragon.
Swordsmanship, riding, lance work, command.
All of it can be learned.
All of it can make you strong.”
He clapped Aemond on the shoulder and grinned.
“Dry your eyes.
Chin up.
You are not Helaena.”
Aemond gathered himself and followed Aegon out of the Dragonmont.
When he saw Helaena, his head dropped.
“I’m sorry, sister.
I failed.”
Helaena tilted her head at her tearful brother, then stepped forward and hugged him.
“Do not worry.
It was always meant to be.
You will not have to close one eye.
Brother will help you.” Her voice was soft.
Aemond did not understand what she meant, or why he would ever close one eye.
But he thanked her.
Aegon listened nearby, eyes narrowing.
Aemond did not understand Helaena’s words.
He did.
In the original story, after Aemond claimed Vhagar, he was cornered by Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey on his way back into the castle.
He lost his right eye.
Aegon would never allow that to happen.
“Enough.
Whatever the result, you two go to the Stone Drum.
You can play in Aegon’s Garden.
I have matters to attend to.”
It was not a suggestion.
“Escort the prince and princess to the Stone Drum,” he told the Dragonkeepers.
“Understood.”
Once Helaena and Aemond had gone, Aegon reached out with his mind.
Sunfyre crawled over at once.
Aegon climbed onto his dragon and flew toward the fishing village on Dragonstone.