𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 | Dragon Pit

{ Malkym }

✧✦✧

𝕿he dragon pits were still the largest part of the city, complete with underground catacombs for the dragons to live, a large pen for livestock and an arena for training. They were far larger than the dragon pit at Alterwoode, and even after many years of visiting the place, Malkym still felt intimidated by the size of it all. It was the largest testament to the Targaryen line and old Valyria ever built.

Clicks and whistles filled his ears as Malkym turned, finding a large eye by his.

"I have already told you, Syrax." The dragon whistled, allowing Malkym to pat her cheek gently. "You know she would come if she could, but Rhaenyra is on bed rest."

The dragon huffed.

"I am disappointed too. I also miss her. I do not like the fact that we had to come to King's Landing so close to her giving birth." Syrax snorted, before shaking her head and nudging Malkym. The man chuckled briefly, leaning against the wall beside her, as Syrax settled once more. "She will be back with us soon, after the babe is born. Then, it is time for home."

Syrax chirruped at that causing Malkym to nod. Over the years, he and Syrax had come to some form of understanding with each other. It had taken a while, but now, Malkym felt comfortable visiting the large dragon when his wife was not with him, knowing that Syrax appreciated the company whilst Rhaenyra was busy.

"Father! Father, look." Malkym pushed himself off of the wall as a small figure rushed into him, arms clutched around his legs. The man chuckled, sinking down so that he was at eye level with his son. "You will never guess, Father? Guess!"

"I do not know." Malkym's eyebrows furrowed as his hand came up to run through Lucerys' hair. Lucerys was his second son, and shared his father's dark curls and eyes, though with his mother's familiar grin.

"Father, you have to guess!"

"Um, you have ridden a dragon." Lucerys burst into peals of laughter, shaking his head. "A dragon tried to eat you!"

"No, no." Lucerys shook his head once more, still cackling that familiar cackle that Malkym adored. 

"This is too hard, Luke. What has happened?"

"Arrax and I were able to complete the training that the Dragon Master gave us. I managed to get him to halt for the first time." Malkym gasped, before lifting his son up and swinging the boy around as the six year old laughed loudly.

"That is far better than I could have hoped! I am very impressed." Malkym nodded, before turning to his wife's dragon. "What say you, Syrax? Are you impressed?"

The dragon whistled and clicked as Malkym turned back to his son.

"Syrax is impressed as well."

"Do you think mother will be?" Luke asked, clinging to his father as the man finally stopped swinging him in circles. "I wish to tell her."

"Well, she is back at the keep. After your brother has finished his lesson, and your uncles have finished theirs, we can go and speak with her." Malkym told the boy, who sighed and buried his head into his father's neck. "But she will be incredibly proud. Of both you, and Jace."

"I wish you were watching."

"I did not wish to distract you." Malkym replied, knowing the boy's tendency to become distracted when there were others around. "Plus, Syrax needed someone to keep her company whilst your mother was not here."

"Is Syrax lonely?"

"Both of us are. We cannot wait for your mother to be back."

"When will she?"

"Well, she has to give birth first. But in the next few weeks, you will have a new sibling." Malkym nodded, before grinning. "That will be exciting."

"Jace and I have to pick a dragon's egg."

"You do."

"Will you come with us?"

"Of course." Malkym nodded, before kissing his son's head. "Go on, go find your brother and watch him. I will be here when you are finished."

"Yes, father." Malkym smiled, giving the boy a small shove as he ran away to join his brother in the main arena.

"You must be excited for the new child as well." Malkym turned to look up at Syrax, who was watching him with those all knowing eyes. "Rhaenyra will be back after that, to fly with you."

Syrax groaned, before nudging Malkym gently as the man almost toppled over. 

"I know that you have missed flying!" Malkym patted her flank gently. "When the boys and their dragons are a little older, we can fly more. We can show them around Alterwoode."

Syrax snapped her jaw, before Malkym turned at the sight of a nervous guard edging towards them.

"Yes?" Syrax growled, as both her and Malkym stood once more.

"Your Grace." He bowed. "The Princess has gone into labour."

"What?" Malkym's eyes furrowed. "She is early. The babe is not due for another two weeks."

"The Maester asked me to inform you immediately." The guard bowed once more, as Malkym turned to Syrax.

"You may be seeing her sooner than you think." Malkym patted her on the cheek, before brushing past the guard and hurrying up the stairs until he found his sons and their uncles. "Jace, Luke. Come."

"What?" Jace turned, the eldest of Malkym's boys. Like his brother, his dark hair and eyes came from his father, but he shared Rhaenyra's temperament and quietness. "But Father, I am just about to train."

"It can wait. Your mother has gone into labour. Come on." He waved the boys onward. Turning, he looked at Rhaenyra's siblings, who he was supposed to also be in charge of. "The Thorne guards will stay with you and bring you back when your lessons are over."

Aegon and Aemond both nodded, as Malkym turned and took his boys out of the dragon pit. Their horses were waiting, guards ready to go as Malkym placed Luke onto his horse and jumped up behind him. Luke was merely six, and not yet old enough to ride his own horse, so for now, he rode with Malkym or in the royal carriage. 

Jace had just about mastered horse riding at ten, his own pony a little smaller than Malkym's gelding. 

"Come. Let us go." Malkym urged his horse onwards, as Jace settled in beside them. He was more than ready to get back to the Red Keep and see his wife.

✧✦✧

"Your Grace, you cannot enter." Someone called behind him, as Malkym pulled his gloves off and merely rolled his eyes. He hated King's Landing and it's customs. When they were in Alterwoode, Malkym would stay by Rhaenyra's side whilst she laboured, keeping her company through the ordeal. In King's Landing, he was forced to wait outside.

"I will see her before she gives birth." Malkym pushed the doors to his chambers open, hearing his wife's pants and groans of pain before he saw her.

"The Princess is indecent, you cannot come in."

"It is nothing he hasn't seen before." Rhaenyra's voice sounded, as Malkym brushed around the midwives to hurry to her side.

"Rhae..." She turned, forcing a smile and clinging to his hand as Malkym crouched beside her. "Is there anything you need?"

"This baby out of me." Rhaenyra joked, as Malkym laughed and squeezed her hand. She groaned again, her face contorting in pain as Malkym winced, not liking to see her like this. "The boys...?"

"Mother." Jace and Luke appeared, hurrying after their father to crowd around her. They seemed to have escaped their nursemaid once more. "Are you alright?"

"Of course."

"Wish your mother good luck, boys." Malkym urged, as both boys reached onto the birthing bed to kiss their mother and hug her gently.

"Good luck." Luke smiled as Rhaenyra patted his cheek.

"Will you be alright, Mother?" Jace questioned, as Malkym wrapped an arm around his eldest's waist, allowing the boy to sit on his lap as Luke leant into his side.

"Of course, sweet boy." Rhaenyra smiled. "I will be alright."

"Go on. Wait outside, I will be out in a moment." Malkym patted both of them, sending them to wait with the guards as Malkym leant back over his wife to kiss her gently. "You are strong. You can do this."

He hated having to leave her, more than anything. He knew how childbirth scared her, what it meant for her and symbolised. He would much rather be by her side, but apparently 'customs' meant that Malkym could not.

"I will be outside the entire time. If you need me, you shout and I will break down the door, tradition be damned." Rhaenyra chuckled through a groan of pain. "I love you."

"I love you too." Rhaenyra smiled, as Malkym kissed her once more, smoothing her hair. "You'll be outside?"

"The entire time." Malkym nodded, knowing that this would be the first labour that they would be apart. "I fear I might smell when I first meet them."

Rhaenyra laughed at that, before a midwife approached.

"Your Grace, you must be outside."

"The boys and I will see you soon." Malkym promised, before kissing her one final time and then kissing the top of her stomach. Rhaenyra smiled, watching him go. 

Once Malkym reached the door, he turned and winked, waiting to hear her laughter, before settling down against the wall beside the door. 

"Father..." Luke and Jace both attempted to clamber into his lap, burying their heads into their father's shoulder as he waved their nursemaid off. He could handle his boys. "Mother will be alright, yes?"

"Of course, Jace." Malkym nodded, before squeezing both of them and kissing their heads. "She will be alright."

"We can stay with you and wait?" Jace questioned again as Malkym nodded at his oldest. Jace was a little more nervous than most, but Malkym was more than content to talk to him and explain what was going on, knowing that it would calm his nerves.

"Normally, I would be with your mother and you would be with your cousins." Malkym ran his hand through Luke's hair, leaning back against the wall as both boys settle down. "But we are not at home, so things are a little different."

"When are we going home?" Luke muttered innocently. "I do not like it here."

"I am not sure. Your grandfather wishes to see you." Malkym explained, shifting both boys gently. "But we will not travel for a bit, not so soon after your mother has given birth. That would be far too hard on her."

Both boys nodded sagely, as Malkym smiled and tugged them a little closer.

Hiya,

So, we have the first chapter of the new book after the ten year time skip. the faceclaim had changed now to Malkym's older version, and I love him. Rhae and Malkym are still the sweetest, as is Malkym and Syrax and Malkym with his children. They're all just sweet.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx