iris message

[unstinting]

[Alcuin's grateful for one of the powers he inherited from his mother, for once- at least he doesn't have to show the whole camp how hard he's been crying. He looks as pretty as ever, but his aura of calm and happiness has been replaced by one of intense purpose.]

I need to learn to fight better than I do. Sword, dagger, bow and arrow, hand to hand- I need to improve my skills. Would anyone be willing to tutor me? I'll owe you a big favour.

Comments

[wokethedragon]

[It's a split second between the moment her hand bursts into flame and the moment he says that - she realizes it, and gasps. She almost screams, but she catches herself. She doesn't want to draw much attention to herself, but she does drop to the floor and start rolling, in an effort to put the flames out.]

[unstinting]

Daenerys!

[He tries to see something around her that she could use to smother or douse the fire, but he has no idea what the hell is going on the first place.]

[wokethedragon]

[After a bit more rolling, she manages to get herself up, running a hand through her now-mussed hair. She'll need to rebraid it. Her eyes are wide, but she's trying to regain composure.]

...yes, Alcuin?

[unstinting]

Are you all right? What happened?

[Her hand doesn't look burned, but- it was definitely on fire.]

[wokethedragon]

I'm quite fine.

[She lets out a shaky breath, and Drogon curls up near her still-warm hand.]

Please...do not tell anyone of what's just happened.

[unstinting]

I won't. You have my word.

[Now that he knows she's all right, he relaxes.]

[wokethedragon]

[She gives him a soft smile - she doesn't see so much of Viserys in Alcuin anymore, despite the striking similarities in appearance. Viserys is hard, cruel, unjust...but Alcuin is much softer, and there's no bite in his eyes.]

I'll hold you to it. It's my secret to bear, and I'm sorry you had to experience it.

[unstinting]

I was only worried you might have been hurt.

[Everyone has difficult powers to deal with- charmspeak and the ability to control desire are no game, after all. Who could trust someone with those? So he understand wanting to keep it quiet and not bothering anyone else with it.]

[wokethedragon]

That's nonsense. Fire cannot kill a dragon.

[She holds up her completely unscathed hand to Alcuin. At the very least, that's a part of the Blessing she's proud of.]

[unstinting]

I can see that. I'm glad.

[There are so many ways that could be useful, but he's sure she's thought of them.]

[wokethedragon]

As am I. I would have burned myself many times trying to teach my sons to cook their meat if not for this.

[Fortunately for Dany, there shouldn't be any reason for her to walk headfirst into funeral pyres.]

[unstinting]

I never thought of how dangerous caring for dragons might be for someone without such a skill.

[wokethedragon]

There were others, long ago. Dragon tamers.

[There are entire books about them, though she's not been able to read many of them personally.]

I believe they wore gloves, actually!

[unstinting]

Ah, they'd have to be quite thick.

[This is an almost-mundane conversation to be having. It's kind of soothing, weirdly.]