House of The Dragon-The Beauty, The Bold, and The Black Dread: Chapter 174: Epilogue

(Third Person POV)

[Mereen, Essos]

"So...." Gael said as she stood next to Saera, on the cliffs outside the City, "The moment of truth." 

Saera smirked slightly as Caraxes's loud, nasally roar was heard, seeing the Blood Wyrm descend down in front of them as the figure of Daemon Targaryen was seen. 

As he landed, Saera merely tilted her head, taking in the sight of her late-brother's old mount that was now being ridden by her nephew. 

"Ho....?" She said as Daemon was atop Caraxes as the dragon snarled viciously, "Have you not gotten larger, old boy?" 

Daemon Targaryen was holding onto the reigns as he scowled, seeing both Gael and Saera, "Hm...." He said, "I was told that it was one Bastard Daughter of Saera Targaryen....and you are?!" 

He was speaking to Saera, who raised an eyebrow. Behind both Saera and Gael, Varos and a couple of other soldiers stood. The dusk skinned man was holding Small Baelon in his arms as Gael was merely resting her hand on her hip, an arrogant smirk on her face as she looked at Daemon. 

"Well....the Mother." Saera merely said 

Daemon narrowed his eyes, "Impossible." He said seriously, "You are Saera?!" 

Saera nodded, "It is good to see you, dear nephew." She said with a chuckle, "How is your brother, Viserys?" 

Daemon scowled, "You...." He said, "Do you truly think we are in good terms? To speak so formally and amicably? Do you have any fucking idea what your son did?! Huh?! Not just him! Your other Bastards too!!" 

"Hm...." Saera said with a smile, "I am aware. But I do not control their actions, Daemon. You should know that.....dragons spread their wings freely and choose their own trajectory." 

"Dragons? You think your sons were Dragons?!" Daemon said seriously, "They were nothing but diluted fucks, that is all!" 

"The mouth on this one." Gael said with a scowl

Daemon leaned forward, "If you value your lives, you will hand over Baelon's bastard." He said seriously, "And hand over Hugh as well..." 

"Hugh?" Saera asked, "What for?" 

"Vermithor is a Dragon of House Targaryen. He does not belong to some bastard that was born in Essos." Daemon said, "Do you think that we are going to allow this farce?! Do you?!" 

"Hm....." Saera said as she looked to the side, "If you want Vermithor, so be it." 

Suddenly, as in cue, Vermithor's loud and vicious roar was heard loud and clear. Caraxes immediately growled as he looked up to the sky, the massive shadow of Vermithor cast on them as he flew right above them. 

Gael saw this and smiled, "Does not get old..." 

"No...." Saera said, "It does not....." 

Vermithor circled over them and landed hard on the ground a couple dozen meters away from them. Caraxes let out a returning roar as he swayed his head from side to side as Daemon could only grip on the handle of his saddle tightly. 

Hugh, who was sitting on the saddle, could only look at Daemon with a serious expression. 

"Tell me, Prince Daemon." Saera said, "If it were a 1-on-1 battle, do you think Caraxes could defeat Vermithor?" 

"Tch...." Daemon said, "Vermithor might be vicious, but he is nothing to me. So long as his rider is beneath me, I will not lose." 

"Ho?" Gael said, "Such arrogance." 

"I will make this simple!" Saera said as she took a simple, "Leave us be and we will not touch Westeros!" 

Daemon looked at her, "What?" 

"It is a simple proposition." Saera said, "Peace, Prince Daemon." 

"Peace?" Daemon said as he leaned forward, "Peace?! You want Peace?! After everything that has been done to my Family?! To my Nephew?! To my Nieces?! Do you have any idea the kind of pain Baelon has been through?! Helaena?! Rhaenyra?! And you want fucking peace?!" 

"Pain, you say?" Saera frowned, "You want to speak about pain? What about the pain that I had gone through? To watch my own sisters die.....to learn of my brother being raped and having to raise his son.....all because of the neglect of our Father, the previous King?!" 

"What Jaehaerys did to you and your siblings....it has nothing to do with my brother and his children!!" Daemon said, "We had no say in what the Old Man did to you!! And do not pretend to act like a pure woman, Saera! You know you had your faults!! I knew about my Aunts and what had allegedly happened, but I could not do anything about that either! But I can do something about my family being attacked, being insulted, and being threatened." 

Vermithor slammed his wings down, leaning his snout forward and looking at Saera and back at Daemon. 

"What do you know, Nephew?" Saera said, "You were not exiled by the King. You were not shunned by your own Father.....you still have the liberty of being called a Prince." 

"All I know is that we all suffer the consequences of our actions." Daemon said seriously

"Going by that logic, Baelon suffered his." Gael spoke up, "He was so foolish.....so stupid....and you cannot deny that." 

"I admit." Daemon said, "Him walking into that clear trap....that was on him.....as much as it pains me to say it. Even he would agree...but it does not make it right....and the fact that you are such a cunt of a woman...to name the boy after him after you raped him....I am not surprised that you are your Mother's Daughter...." 

"Watch it...." Gael said, "I will have Vermithor burn you....." 

"Please." Daemon scoffed, "I doubt your brother even wants to be here...well...are you listening Hugh?! This is the only chance you will get! If you do not return Vermithor to House Targaryen, there will be nothing but Fire and Blood that you will be responsible for.....I am tired of being merciful....." 

"Hm...." Saera said, "I gave you an offer, Daemon....you would be wise to accept it." 

"Let me ask you something...." Daemon said with a serious look on his face, "Do you truly think I came here alone?" 

Saera frowned, "Wha-" 

She was cut off by the sound of the distant roar of Vhagar. 

They all looked up to see a massive shadow looming over the city of Mereen, Vhagar's wings being seen through the clouds. 

Hugh, who was atop Vermithor, could only narrow his eyes, "This is not good...." He said under his breath, 

"This is not good at all." 

***********

[Dragonstone]

"So you are serious with your intent, Viserys?" Princess Rhaenys said as she stood next to the Painted Table, "You mean to wage war?" 

Viserys sighed, "They tried to kill my Heir...." He said, "This is not the first time. And for one of our dragons to be stolen....this is something that cannot be avoided, Rhaenys." 

Alicent was sitting down and nodding, "I agree." She said, "I want the heads of those responsible. Do you understand, Princess, that this is not something we can just stand by and watch!" 

"I understand." Rhaenys said, "You almost lost two sons.....and I admit, that is not a pain I want you to feel...." 

"It is a pain that you have gone through, I know." Alicent said, "And Rhaenyra as well....but it is a pain that I cannot bear..." 

"I know." Rhaenys said, "Viserys, do you understand that sending dragons over to Essos into uncharted territory to wage war is but a foolish decision? They have no allies there.....they have nobody to turn to help is something goes awry." 

"I know." Viserys said, "But....." 

"But what?" Rhaenys asked

"The mere idea that dragons are there.....it is enough for the Essosi to either stay out of their way...." He said, "Or aid them...they need to make a choice....and we need to see what choice they will make." 

"And if they make the wrong choice?" Rhaenys asked

"Incursion." a voice said

They all turned to see Baelon slowly walking over to them, wearing a silk robe as Helaena held his arm, supporting him as we walked. 

"Did I not tell you to rest?" Viserys said with a frown, "Baelon..." 

"It is obvious that the Lords of the Realm will not sit idly by...." Baelon said as he reached the table, "There is no other choice.....troops will be rallied and war will be upon Essos." 

"And do you think that is a wise idea, My Prince?" Rhaenys asked

"If you ask me, I could have gone there myself and burnt the place to the ground." Baelon said seriously, "Get all of this over with." 

"And risk burning your own son in the process?" Viserys asked, "Out of the question. Daemon will retrieve the boy and whatever happens, it is up to Fate." 

"Hm." Baelon said with a nod, "That is a good point." 

"There is nothing we could do now." Rhaenys said, "All we have to do is wait on Daemon and Aemond. Right?" 

"A message has to be sent...." Viserys said, "If we do not cause them to yield....then there is no stopping it...." 

"War....."