CHAPTER FIVE. 

MERANAX

106 AC

TWO days. Two days was how long Visenya Targaryen had been asleep after her bonding with the dragon known as the Cannibal. The whole of Dragonstone was doused in worry and neither Daemon nor Rhaenyra had left her side. Viserys and Aemma visited every hour to see if something had changed, which it had not. 

In the afternoon of the third day, Visenya's eyes fluttered open. The headache that had plagued her as she slept subsided and she was met with the sun filtering through her chamber curtains. She rose onto her elbows and frowned. 

Daemon who'd been seated beside her looked up at the movement, "You're awake," he breathed in relief. He'd felt extremely guilty for the past two days. He told Viserys he'd look after Visenya and yet hadn't. 

"What happened?" the woman asked groggily. 

"You bonded a dragon, Senya," he said. 

Visenya could only recall fractions of what happened. As she turned, she caught sight of Rhaenrya curled into her side, asleep. A wicked smile crossed the young woman's face as she violently poked her younger sister. 

"Ow!" Rhaenyra cried, waking up. Daemon stood to alert the castle of her consciousness, stopping a passing maid. 

"You sleep whilst I could possibly die, how dare you?"

"Enya!" Rhaenyra jumped up and tackled her in a hug, "You gave me such a fright. When I saw Daemon carrying you inside, I thought you were..." she trailed off and Visenya got the gist of what she was implying. 

"Well I'm perfectly okay," Visenya smiled as she caressed her sister's small face.

"We've been anxious that you wouldn't wake," Daemon said, returning to his seat. Visenya turned to look at him as Rhaenyra clung to her desperately. She could tell guilt was all he was feeling, especially by the worried look he gave her. 

She fixed him with a deep reassuring stare, "I'm alright."

"I should've been paying more attention," Daemon muttered to himself. 

"I snuck off."

"It's my fault you were hurt."

"I'm not hurt now."

"No, just bonded to that... thing," Daemon scowled. 

Visenya's soft stare turned steely, "You may not like him, but he's mine."

At that moment, the door burst open. Aemma entered hurriedly, Viserys on her heels. The woman embraced her tightly, muttering that if she ever scared them like that again, she'd lock her in her room. Visenya smiled gently before Aemma moved and Viserys took her place. He cradled her head gently and pressed kiss after kiss to her forehead, thanking the Gods she was alive. 

A low rumble went through the castle and the group went quiet. Visenya looked up at her father, "Is that him?"

Viserys gave a sharp nod. 

"I need to go," Visenya said, shifting the covers away. 

Daemon protested, "You've just woken up."

"And I want to go riding. Solidify the bond," Visenya replied softly as a small smile crossed her face. Viserys sighed and gave his brother an exasperated look. Daemon followed his sigh and stepped away. Visenya jumped up excitedly and pulled on some trousers before dragging Daemon from the room. 

"Why are you pulling me?"

"Because I want you to be there," Visenya insisted, "You'll catch me if I fall, right?"

"Always, Senya."

Visenya smiled widely and continued to tug him. They arrived on the hills where the dragons lay and Visenya breathed in awe. The Cannibal was a massive dragon, she had no doubt. But he was as beautiful as he was large. Now in proper lighting she could see every scale and every inch. His dagger like tail swished in anticipation as he saw her near. 

He padded forward and she instinctively reached out a hand. He nestled against it, his hot breath fanning her skin. 

"What would you like to be called?" He only rumbled in response, too busy rubbing against her like a cat, "Maybe something after the Gods of Valyria, like Verax?" He huffed in distaste, knocking her hand away. "Xandros? Aerion? Meranax?"

At all he huffed. All but the last. 

"Meranax," Visenya decided. He purred under her touch, nudging her toward his back. 

Daemon who'd been standing off to the side as they decided upon a name, spoke, "Visenya he does not have a saddle."

He growled in the direction, seemingly insistent that she didn't need one, "It seems I do not require one, Dae," the girl smiled, her eyes bright with adventure. She clambered up her dragons back, finding a position that was not comfortable, but right. She gripped the horns protruding from his back tightly, hearing Daemon protest but not listening. 

In great bounding leaps, the dragon began to run before taking flight with flaps of his great black wings. Visenya's heart leapt as they soared, Meranax taking her on a flight around Dragonstone. 

Daemon, clearly worried for her, mounted Caraxes at once and took off after her, flying just below in case she fell. However, it seemed as though she'd be just fine. Even without a saddle, Visenya was a natural at riding. 

The young woman could feel the strain on her muscles as she fought to keep her seat, but paid no mind as the wind rushed through her silver hair and whipped at her cheeks. 

She tugged Meranax to the left and he banked smoothly. Caraxes followed and Daemon shouted over the wind, "Where are you going?"

"To Driftmark, to see Aunt Rhaenys," Visenya yelled. 

"Driftmark? Are you mad, Senya, it's your first ride," Daemon chastised. 

"And it shall be a memorable one," Visenya replied, urging Meranax faster. And it seemed he was just being slow for her sake because he shot off leagues in front of Caraxes. The dragon famously known as the Blood Wyrm had a hard time keeping up. 

Driftmark came upon them quickly and soon Visenya had view of the Keep. Meranax began to lose speed before landing safely on the hills beside the castle. The dragons already there rumbled at the sight of him. Meleys, Rhaenys' mount approached, unafraid of the larger dragon.

Visenya dismounted as Meleys came close. Meranax growled, the bond still fresh. Caraxes landed beside him, joining in with the snarl. The Red Queen retreated as Daemon slid from his saddle. 

"What is wrong with you? Your first ride Visenya."

"And so far my most exciting," Visenya responded, running her hand against Meranax's scales. They had a different pattern to Caraxes', entirely unique to him. She turned to look at the prince, "I'm glad you came with me."

"I couldn't just let you go off to Driftmark on your own," he scoffed. Visenya suddenly smiled and jumped into his arms. He hugged her back tightly, feeling his anger with her reckless behaviour waver. 

"Thank you," she whispered, "It means so much to me that you came with me."

Their hug was interrupted as Meleys chittered at the arrival of her rider. Rhaenys approached quickly to see why the Cannibal had descended on her island. 

"Aunt Rhaenys," Visenya smiled widely, parting from Daemon to hug her Aunt. 

"Visenya?" Rhaenys was shocked by her arrival. Visenya visited at least once a year for a week to spend time with her aunt, uncle and cousins. However, her time had already passed and she certainly never arrived on dragonback, "What are you doing here?"

"I claimed a dragon," the young girl told her excitedly. 

"The Cannibal."

"Meranax."

"You claimed The Cannibal," Rhaenys spoke, stunned and wide eyes. Meranax huffed and seemed to stand a bit taller behind the humans in what looked like pride, "My sweet girl, I'm so proud of you."

Rhaenys hugged her tightly. Visenya was like another daughter to her. Since her sister had died, she never fully recovered. Their father had only died a few years before and losing Laena had made everything worse. But gaining Visenya was the only good thing about it. She was just like her mother, down to the small strand of dark Baratheon hair at the back of her head. 

As Rhaenys pulled back, she gripped her niece's shoulders, "You're like us Visenya. A dragon rider. Your mother would be so proud."

Visenya smiled softly. Rhaenys did not speak of Laena often, but when she did, it was always in the presence of Visenya or Laena, her daughter, and she always cried. And in turn, it always made Visenya cry. Even now, she felt the prick of tears in her eyes. 

They were interrupted as a shout came, "Mother, who is it?"

"It's Visenya."

"Visenya?" Laena questioned, coming bounding up the hill. She wrapped her cousin in a large hug, "You claimed a dragon."

"Yes."

"Now you can take me on rides when you come back next year," Laena smiled widely. The girl was only six, younger than Rhaenyra and Visenya. Yet all three had good relationships and could often be seen around the Keep giggling like children. 

"No you are too young," Rhaenys protested, "Maybe in a few years." 

Laena pouted and Visenya glanced at Daemon, who was laughing to himself. The protests reminded him very much of two days before when Rhaenyra had argued to see the Wild Dragons also. He was now glad she did not attend considering what had happened. He looked up at smiled, "Senya, we should probably return to Dragonstone."

"Dragonstone? You flew from Dragonstone?"

"It's her first ride. Without a saddle," Daemon deadpanned. 

"Visenya Targaryen! What kind of lunacy—" Rhaenys began to yell before Visenya calmed her. 

"I'm perfectly okay. And I will be. Daemon is right, we must return. I'll see you when you next come to court," Visenya hugged her Aunt and looked down at her cousin, "And I'll see you next year." 

"I love you," Rhaenys whispered. 

"I love you too Aunt Rhaenys."

Rhaenys smiled as she pulled away and mounted her beast of a dragon. Her heart clenched as they flew off, looking so much like her older sister who she missed so dearly.