"I hate it!"
"Cool down, Emil! It's not that bad."
"It's a suicide mission! No one ever returned from the Sunset Sea! Nobody found those mythical lands beyond!"
Lalli ran to check if all windows were closed, and briefly opened the room's door to check if anyone was behind it. Satisfied, he returned and rest his hands on Emil's shoulders. "We've been talking about that since yesterday's audience. You already admitted that's not entirely true. We heard the evidence they presented, the reports about the Sun Chaser being seen on Asshai, that map..."
"The map? Mikkel is a cartographer. He may have just made it up. The rest are tales, legends! Stories told by drunk fishermen to impress! No a single proof!"
"We discussed it before. There's proof, but not exactly convincing."
Emil stared at Lalli's eyes. "Now that's an understatement!"
"Remember, no one ever had the resources we will have. Four, Emil! Four big, brand new ships, the Realm's very best, plus the Braavosi one! All with experienced crews. And commanded by Admiral Asa Ashwood herself! She's a legend, I've heard. If she's willing to go it can't be that risky."
"Yeah, perhaps it isn't... Anyway, there's nothing I can do." Crossing the large room, Emil sat on his bed and reached for his boots, looking defeated.
Lalli followed, sitting next to him. "This can be your great opportunity. You've heard your father. You can become the ruler of the new lands, set your own domain, answering only to the King."
His face became a bit more illuminated. "Yes, I've told you... That part sounds good, being away from the court and the constant gossip... Almost too good to become true." Emil put a hand on Lalli's back and smiled. "Right, I agree that would be good, if we survive."
Lalli smiled back. "We will be together, remember? You, me, Kitty..."
Emil smile became larger. He bent a little closer to Lalli, touching his jet black hair, and muttered. "That's the best part, I suppose."
Lalli's heart beat faster. "Hum... Of course it is."
"I guess there's still some time before my first lesson."
"I'm sure there is."
---
"You're late, prince. I was about to go away."
"My apologies, Lady Sigrun." Said Emil, with a guilty look on his face while he entered the training ground, almost tripping on the steps. "We had a small problem to solve." He said, pointing at Lalli that walked by his side. "Small court things."
The sun was high on the sky, heating the stones of the large walled space between the Red Keep's main wall and the sea. At least there was some wind to refresh them.
All that light made Sigrun's hair a particularly intense shade of red. She was wearing a large white shirt, black pants and grey boots, and holding two wooden swords on her hands. Her eyes were on Emil, evaluating him.
"Yes, I'm sure a prince always has small court thing to do." She glanced at Lalli, and then at Mikkel, that stood behind her, still all in black, under the shadow of a balcony. "But my time is precious, prince. We have many things to arrange before our departure, and two weeks will hardly be enough."
Emil removed his vest, passing it to Lalli. "I have no doubt on that, my lady. Shall we begin?"
"And what about that small dragon hatchling of yours? I was told you're always together."
"Well, many times, but hardly always. Kitty is flying with her mother and a sister, somewhere."
"See, Mikkel? I told that "big bird" we saw far away was a dragon."
"They usually take off at sunset, and fly mostly over the sea. We don't let them all fly at the same time, it scares people."
"Fine. Let's begin. And remember, prince, I only agreed on teaching you the art of water dancing on condition of your full commitment, and that includes being always on time for your lessons. I'm not here to bow and kiss your... boots."
"I'm glad for that, lady Sigrun. And assure it won't be a problem. Also, while we are alone you can call me Emil."
On that precise moment Onni arrived, wearing a lighter version of the Kingsguard armour. "My prince." He bowed slightly towards Emil and Lalli, and turned to face Sigrun and Mikkel. "M'lady, my lord."
Sigrun wasn't impressed by the deference. "What's this? The prince needs a guard for his lessons?"
"These are my orders, m'lady, whenever the lesson can be dangerous, and particularly when there are foreigners present. Orders from the Hand." Onni answered, finding a shadow to remain away from the sun.
"Humpf, I supposed that my agreement with the King implied a higher degree of confidence, but that's fine anyway." Sigrun threw one of the wooden swords to Emil, that failed to grab it. The sword made a loud noise hitting the floor, and Emil, already a bit ashamed, bent to catch it.
There was a faint smile on Sigrun's face, while Lalli, Onni and Mikkel remained impassive.
"Show me what you know, prin... I mean Emil. Come, and try to hit me. Have no mercy!"
Trying to remember all his many lessons on sword-fighting, Emil advanced, sword raised, while Sigrun kept her sword pointing down and waited, looking very relaxed.
High, low, one side, the other... Emil attacked the best he could, forcing Sigrun to step back. He kept swinging the sword, and all she did was parrying his moves. Maybe, he thought, all these stories about water dancers where a bit far fetched, exaggerated to bring fear to anyone considering to fight the Braavosi.
Then Sigrun winked to him and began to dodge every blow, moving with amazing agility. Emil insisted, but she seemed to know where he wanted to strike. Then she advanced, storming him, blow over blow, without stop, and all Emil could do was deflect and move back. He began to sweat and got hits on both legs, shoulder and the other arm.
Sigrun made a lightning fast move that ripped-off Emil's sword, throwing it on the air. She made a twist, grabbed the falling sword and crossed it with her own, having Emil's neck between both blades as if it was a giant scissor ready to cut of his head.
Emil was still trying to understand what just happened when he saw Kitty coming down from the sky. Soon she began flying in circles around them, hissing at Sigrun.
"This is between me and Emil, dragonling! Go away!"
However Kitty insisted, getting closer and closer, until Sigrun dropped one sword. Next instant her hand was grabbing Kitty's tail. The small dragon flapped her wings fiercely, and let out several acute squeaks.
"No! Sigrun, let her go! Don't do that!"
"Don't worry, prince! Just giving it a small lesson on good manners! I'll let it go... Ouch!"
Kitty's still very young, and her bit wasn't strong, but her teeth were sharp, probably piercing Sigrun's glove. She let go the tail and started to run after the dragon, waving the wooden sword. "Your little..." And she said something in The braavosi language that Emil's tutors never bothered teaching to the young prince.
Kitty didn't fly upwards, choosing to keep her distance to the ground, squeaking and dragging Sigrun behind her. Everybody was looking at the comedic show, including Emil. When he finally understood what was happening he began to run all he could after Sigrun, yelling as laud as he could. "STOP! LET HER GO! DON'T FOLLOW!"
But Sigrun didn't listen, or care, and kept running away from them towards the opposite side of the training ground. Emil kept running, but soon a large shadow covered the sun. Kitty squeaked again, and this time got a reply in the shape of a thunderous, guttural roar that filled the air, making everybody stop and look up, except Emil, that kept running towards Sigrun.
A second later a powerful gush of wind hit the ground, raising a cloud of dust on every direction. When Emil managed to reopen his eyes he saw what he feared.
A good part of the training ground was now occupied by an immense winged figure, it's black scales and multiple horns reflecting the sun. The dragon huge head, with a mouth large enough to swallow an ox whole, was turned toward Sigrun, that looked very small in contrast.
Kitty was perched on top of the one horn, longer than a man, while the dragons eyes, red and furious, looked intensely at Sigrun, that dropped her wooden sword and just stood there, paralyzed.
"NOOO! NO! BACK!" Emil managed to reach Sigrun and put himself between the massive dragon and her, raising both arms. He switched to High Valyrian and began to shout at the dragon. "VEMO CKAB, BALERION! TUBI DAOR! DAOR EMILUN! DAOR MORGOTH!*"
Those huge eyes narrowed, looking straight at Emil, that repeated the words, adding others as he pointed at Sigrun. "DEFRIN TARGARYEN! DAORUNI GIMI! PIDSTU! ESH EOSAPOLGIZ!**". The dragon seemed to ponder what to do next for a while, and then let go another deafening roar, together with a breath as hot as if Emil opened one of those ovens used to make bread at the kitchen. He stood his ground the best he could, covering Sigrun, and watched with great relief as those enormous wings unfolded, flapping powerfully as the dragon lift off in the cloudless sky.
Seconds later it was far away, looking just like a big bird. Kitty didn't follow, choosing to land at Lalli's shoulder.
Emil turned to face Sigrun. "We are very lucky! Balerion is on a good day, otherwise we would both be toast by now."
She remained without words. "And never attack a dragon hatchling, particularly is you don't know if the mother is close. They can be very protective, as you saw."
"You saved me!" She managed to say, wide eyed. "You ran to me, and put yourself between me and that thing!" Sigrun bowed, and her voice took a serious tone. "You saved my life, Prince. You and your father already had my loyalty, as I pledged yesterday. Now you have my gratitude, and my promise to pay back in the same coin if your life is at risk."
"Thank you, my lady. Your gratitude is welcomed. I hope you never have to pay your debt, though. Now, let's take a look at that hand and continue our lesson... or not, if you feel too shaken from this unpleasant incident."
Sigrun took the fallen sword and they walked side by side back to the entrance. The skin under the glove showed two small, clean punctures. "Hum, I've had worse." She said, putting the glove back. "Tell me, prince, how did you know it was going to show up?"
"Not an "it", my lady, she. All dragons are female, as they all can lay eggs when they find a suitable match. I believe Kitty just act on her instincts, dragging the threat... I mean you, to a larger area where her mother could see better when she came after the calling."
"And you knew that how?"
"Since childhood Targaryens learn many things about dragons, as you can imagine."
"Yes, I suppose so." Sigrun answered. The way she looked at Emil had somehow changed. There was a hint of admiration, and respect, as she now saw him as a young man and not a spoiled overgrown child. "So Kitty is the daughter of Balerion, the Black Dread itself! Gods, she's huge!"
"Yes, Kitty the red, or Kitherion, her true name, together with her sister, Tessarion, the blue. Both are Balerion's hatchlings. Yet we don't expect them to reach their mother's size."
Lalli, Onni and Mikkel were together, waiting for them. Kitty looked tranquil over Lalli's shoulder.
Discreetly pointing at her, Sigrun muttered to Emil. "Won't she be mad at me?"
Emil smiled. "Who? Kitty? No, I'm sure she just wanted to give you a scare. Not the kind that carry grudges. Just keep in mind to never underestimate dragons. They are not common animals. They are very smart and full of tricks."
Sigrun agreed, nodding towards Kitty, the replied with a soft chirp. She smiled to Emil. "Shall we start again? This time I'll teach you a few simple moves."
Note: I've checked a page about the High Valyrian language, but it doesn't has much info, so I had to make up a few words. The ones in bold are canon for the TV series
*: VEMO CKAB, BALERION!
TUBI DAOR! DAOR EMILUN! DAOR MORGOTH! *: MOVE BACK, BALERION!
NOT TODAY! NO COMBAT! NO DEATH! **: DEFRIN TARGARYEN!
DAORUNI GIMI! PIDSTU! ESH EOSAPOLGIZ!
**: TARGARYEN FRIEND!
KNOWS NOTHING! STUPID! SHE APOLOGIZES!
And here's the source page:
https://www.makinggameofthrones.com/production-diary/2014/5/8/high-valyrian-101-learn-and-pronounce-common-phrases/
