Scales and Hearth and Flame

You are a bastard.

Born of a whore who could not afford moon tea, and a father of no name.

Living in the harbour beneath Dragonstone was not easy, farmers tended near destitute land and fishermen eked out what meagre living they could from the seas. But you were unfortunate enough to be a child born of the only profitable profession unmarried women could make enough to survive with.

Your mother did not want you at first, scrambling down to the beach with blood streaking down her legs. She knew she could not afford to keep you, her world was no place for an innocent like you. But the pity and provision of coin from an older woman walking past changed her mind.

That generosity saved your life, and your mother a few years from working the whorehouses. A new life before her where she could live on the generosity of strangers who took pity on you both. A poor mother and child, orphaned from a war your father fought in the east.

She lied and made all forms of grandiose claims each day, but sympathy made more coins clink into her pan. She was determined to keep the ruse alive as long as possible.

But times change and children grow, it was not your fault you did not want to sit in your mother's lap and play the part of a helpless infant. There was a whole world out there to explore beyond the confines of her knees. From the outside looking in it seemed beautiful, a child of the streets with bright eyes and mind not yet filled with the true dangers of the world.

People passing took notice.

The coins given to your mother in pity dwindled.

"The child is able."

"It can work."

"I never had it this easy on the streets."

Their words grew harsh and your mother knew that time had caught up, the ruse was over.

As you lay in her arms sleeping soundly at dusk, she went back to the very same spot all those years ago where she almost abandoned you. There was no kind stranger this time, no one to spare a coin to the whore for her child. You were left amongst a pile of rope and nets discarded by fishermen on the docks. She would have covered you more from the cold if not for the dragon's roar from the sea.

Your mother stood on the docks, shedding a few tears at the loss of you, before heading back to the streets she knew. There were new ships at the harbour, plenty of weary travellers to pay for her services.

You awoke the following morning with a heavy and strange sensation weighing you down, ropes and netting feeling scratchy and rough on your skin. Your little arms stretched out for your mother, but nothing and no one was there.

A few tears began to spill out of fear, but the realisation dawned on you.

No one was here to watch your performance. You need not cry or look pathetic.

And in your mother's absence, a new feeling overtook the fear you felt.

Freedom.

You scrambled at breakneck speed, throwing the netting and ropes off of yourself, you could worry about your mother finding you later. For now, the sea was calling your name. You ran towards the waves and played a game of cat and mouse with them, squealing with glee. The few sailors awake at the ungodly hour turned their heads towards you, a few smiles adorned their faces seeing you splashing around. You could not recall ever feeling this free, every aspect of your life was an act dictated by your mother.

But here you were, defying her whims in the chilly morning sun.

Your little fit of glee was soon interrupted, the beat of heavy wings echoing in the skies. The low growls of something foreign above scattered the sailors on the docks. But not you. The curiosity of seeing what was making those noises took you further into the waves, sea foam caressing your ankles.

That was when you saw it.

The huge flying beast, grey as the mists of the morning sun surrounding him like a cloak of protection. It flew down, skimming the surface for any fish unfortunate enough to be swimming too close.

You should have run away in fear, but the creature was otherworldly. The way it flew so effortlessly, catching fish like it was born to do it. It spoke to your very soul, the image of freedom you would treasure for the rest of your life.

Maybe one day you could meet it? You thought to yourself. As long as your mother said it was okay, of course.

The creature soon flew off into the mists, the sailors waking up for the day startling it so. The hive of activity made you nervous too, what was your mother doing that was taking so long?

Dawn turned to dusk and still your mother had not returned to you. The freedom you enjoyed in the morning now cursing you with fear as the dangers of the world were knocking at your door. Your stomach rumbled with hunger and your tongue was dry with thirst. You had already tried to drink the saltwater of the sea and would not make that mistake again.

You decided to go and search for food, turning your back to the beach to make a mental note of the place to return to so your mother could find you. The streets were dark and scary without her to protect you, strange people stared at your near-white hair flowing behind you as you walked towards the only place you knew.

The tavern was bustling and noisy compared to when you were there usually, the night bringing a different side of it out. Wenches were lingering around as men pouring foul-smelling liquid down their throats, laughter and all kinds of sounds filling your ears. You moved in and around the patrons, be seen and not heard you were always told. Ignoring those around you in favour of reaching the large wooden bar at the back of the room. Normally your mother would do this, but she was not here to coddle you. You climbed atop one of the stools, getting the attention of the barmaid there.

"Food, please?"

You asked her politely, but you have never done this before. You do not understand everything in this harsh world you live in costs, you have never seen what your mother did with the coins the strangers gave to her.

"Pay up then you little bastard."

She spoke down to you, exercising what little power she had in a world not designed for you or her. People with hair like yours were known as little more than mistakes made by the highborn in the castle above the harbour. You tilt your head to the side in confusion, not understanding what she meant by asking you to pay.

She rolled her eyes and scoffed at you, then walked around the bar towards you. She picked you up by the scruff of your shirt at your neck and threw you onto the floor.

"You little bastards waltz in here and think you can eat for free because your white hair puts you above everyone else? No, you pay like everyone else here."

She shouted harshly and spat at you, causing the other patrons to stop and stare at the scene in front of them. You could not stop the tears from falling, no one had ever done anything like this to you before. Your mother would have protected you, but she was still nowhere to be found.

Another woman came rushing over, you did not recognise her as your mother, but her face was a friendly one. She helped you up, checking you over for any injuries. The other woman shrugged and went back behind the bar, not having time to deal with you. The rest of the patrons resumed their business, except one who kept their eyes on you.

"You silly thing! You know you're to come me with what your mother gives you?"

She looks down at you with kind eyes, but the confusion on your face changes hers to a look of concern.

"She didn't leave you with anything, did she?"

She deflated a little, feeling worried for you.

"I'm sorry, I can't do much to help if she didn't send you here with anything."

Tears began to fall again as you explained to her you had not seen your mother since you had awoken at the docks that morning. A flicker of realisation crossed her face at what had happened, but you did not catch it, only seeing the sadness etching it's way across her face.

The stranger staring at you was the opposite, an eerie smile draped across their face, stark in contrast to the woman's shadow they stood in.

"I apologise for interrupting, but I think I could help here."

Their hand reached over to you, taking a loose strand of your hair in theirs as they felt it, keeping their eyes focused on you.

"I'm sure we could come to an arrangement."

The stranger didn't make sense to you, but he did to her. She yanked you away from them, stepping between you both and standing as a shield.

"You will have no such arrangement," anger was evident in her voice, "Fuck off now before I cause a scene."

Her eyes were lit with the very fire that fuelled her anger, aimed solely at the stranger. Their smile soon faded as they stepped away from you both, exiting the building via the shadows that welcomed them. The woman stood so bravely in front of you turned around, anger fading to something softer across her features.

"Won't be having none of that at your age! Right, let's get you fed. You'll need to earn your keep in future, but I'll teach you how."

She chirped at you as she walked to the back door to the right of the bar, ushering you to follow her. You hesitated before following her, still feeling like you should head back to the docks to wait for your mother. But there was something unsaid in that look of concern on her face before.

So you followed the only person who'd shown you any kindness without obligation to do so.

Part ii will be coming soon, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it <3

Do not feed my work to ANY form of AI.

Dragonwing spacers by me.