Game of Thrones, Ice and Fire, I hatched the Black Death.

Chapter 11 Survive First

The aroma of grilled fish mingled with the soft crackling of firewood, filling the narrow cave.

The flickering firelight cast the shadows of the two men and the dragon onto the damp cave walls, stretching them into grotesque shapes.

Shadowflame had an instinctive affinity for flames. It lay at Will's feet, its dark gold vertical pupils staring at the leaping flames. Occasionally, it would extend its claws to tentatively touch the sparks that shot up, then quickly retract them, making an interested gurgling sound in its throat.

It had accepted Daenerys's presence—mainly because she had brought food, and was now clumsily but earnestly turning over the eel pieces skewered on the branches.

Meanwhile, Will was carefully whittling a straight and sturdy reed stalk with a thin, sharp-edged stone slab to make a more handy harpoon.

Daenerys' movements were clumsy, and her fingers were burned red in several places, but she was very focused. Her purple eyes sparkled in the firelight, and she would occasionally steal a glance at Will and Shadowflame beside him.

Whenever Shadowflame makes a small move, or Will gives a brief instruction, the corners of her mouth can't help but turn up slightly, as if she has received great affirmation.

The simple dinner took place in an almost cozy silence.

The eel was grilled to a crispy exterior and tender interior. Although it was only seasoned with a little coarse salt, it was a rare delicacy for them who had been going hungry for a long time.

Will gave the largest and thickest piece to Shadowflame, and shared the rest with Daenerys.

Shadowflame ate to its heart's content. After finishing, it even rubbed against Will's hand, then strolled to the entrance of the cave, lay down, rested its head on its front paws, like a dutiful little guard, its dark gold vertical pupils glowing eerily in the darkness.

Daenerys ate her fish in small bites, but her gaze remained fixed on Will.

The firelight outlined the contours of his profile; he was thin and covered in mud, but the calmness in his eyes and the way he focused on making tools gave her a strange sense of peace.

This was a quality Viserys had never possessed before.

There was no hysterical roaring, no neurotic sensitivity, only a silent, rock-solid sense of strength, even though he looked so young and thin.

"Will..." she spoke softly, breaking the silence, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "Have you... always been alone? With it?" She pointed towards the direction of the shadow flame at the cave entrance.

Will paused in his actions, without looking up: "Hmm."

"What about your family?" Daenerys asked, then immediately realized this might be inappropriate and quickly added, "I mean...where are you from? Do you...do you remember?"

Will lightly toasted the tip of the harpoon on the fire to make it harder.

He paused for a few seconds before simply replying, "I don't remember. I woke up in Braavos, almost dead, and then... I met Shadowflame."

He was telling the truth, or at least part of it.

Memories from before the transmigration are mixed with the vague, dying impressions of the original owner of this body, making them impossible to distinguish clearly.

Meeting Yingyan was the true turning point in his life.

Daenerys, however, automatically combined this vague answer with her own conjecture—that the Targaryen bastard, who had been separated from his family, might have suffered some misfortune, lost his memory, and miraculously obtained and hatched a dragon egg while on the verge of death…

This is as romantic and tragic as an ancient legend.

The look in her eyes as she gazed at Will held a newfound tenderness and a sense of kinship born of shared suffering.

“Viserys and I…we’ve been wandering from city to city since we escaped from Dragonstone,” she said softly, as if she had found someone to confide in. “People call Viserys ‘the Beggar King,’ they mock us, they’re wary of us, and they want to use us. Governor Illyrio…he gave us shelter and food, but I know he’s also watching to see what price we can fetch.”

A hint of bitterness crept into her voice. "Viserys always says we are true dragons and will eventually return, but... but sometimes I'm afraid. Afraid of wandering like this forever, afraid of being sold to some terrible person, afraid... of never being able to go home again."

She looked up, her purple eyes reflecting the firelight and Will's image. Her tone became firm again, even urgent: "But things are different now! You have Shadowflame! You are our brother! You will take us back, won't you? Just like Aegon the Conqueror in legend!"

My elder brother. Aegon the Conqueror.

Will sighed inwardly.

The hope and dependence in the girl's eyes were so intense that they almost burned a hole in his calm heart.

But he knew very well who he was and what he wanted.

The Iron Throne? The Warring States Period?

That's too far away and too dangerous.

All he wants now is for Shadowflame to grow up safely, and then...

Perhaps we can find a quiet place and, with the power of Shadowflame, live a life where we no longer have to worry about our next meal or hide from the elements.

As for leading the Targaryens to restore their kingdom? He had no interest, nor the ability—at least not now.

"Survive first." Will dipped the tip of the roasted harpoon into a nearby puddle to cool it, his voice calm and even. "We'll talk about the rest later."

Daenerys seemed to take this as a yes, her eyes shining even brighter. She nodded vigorously: "Yes! Survive first! I'll help! I... I can learn to fish, learn to find food, learn to take care of Shadowflame!"

She looked at the little dragon at the cave entrance with tender eyes.

Shadowflame seemed to hear its own name. Its ears twitched, it turned its head, glanced at Daenerys with its dark gold vertical pupils, then turned back, its tail tip gently patting the ground.

That night, Daenerys slept inside the cave, while Vell and Shadowflame guarded the area near the entrance.

The girl was clearly exhausted and soon fell into a deep sleep, breathing evenly, warmed by the embers of the fire and a strange sense of security.

Will, however, was not sleepy.

He leaned against the cave wall, with Yingyan curled up beside him, her body heat seeping through their clothes.

He watched the flickering, dying embers, and listened to the distant hooting of swamp owls and Daenerys's soft breathing.

Should we take her with us?

Viserys is a nuisance—cowardly, selfish, and insane, yet like a persistent leech.

Bringing Daenerys along is practically tantamount to acknowledging her identity as the "Targian brother," which also means potentially facing Viserys's entanglement and hidden dangers.

Leave her behind?

Looking into her hopeful and dependent purple eyes, Will found it hard to harden his heart.

She was just a fourteen-year-old girl. In her original destiny, she would have experienced many hardships such as being sold into slavery, rape, losing her husband, and losing her son before finally growing into the Dragon Mother.

At this moment, she is vulnerable and innocent, yet she also possesses an unyielding resilience and a deep longing for "home".

and……

Yingyan didn't seem to dislike her.

Will looked down at the slightly rising and falling back of Shadowflame sleeping in his arms, its tiny fledgling wings fluttering gently with each breath.

He needs more information, and he also needs a safer and more stable base.

The area around Braavos is no longer safe. Viserys knows the general direction and will find out sooner or later, or leak the information.

He gently patted Yingyan's head.

In his sleep, Xiaolong unconsciously rubbed his palm.

Before dawn, Will made his decision.