The day was warm and clear, the kind of golden afternoon King's Landing rarely offered. Rodrik had decided to walk the inner courtyard of the Red Keep alone for a change, allowing his thoughts to drift freely, away from the endless politics and stifling luxury. Jaimee had gone off to explore the markets, promising to return with something outrageous. Rodrik, meanwhile, wandered until he found himself near the dragonpit entrance.
As he turned a corner shaded by overgrown ivy, he almost bumped into someone. "Seven help me, can't one take a quiet walk without—" he began, then stopped abruptly. Standing before him was Princess Rhaenyra, her riding leathers hugging her figure, her silver-gold hair braided back, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Oh, it's you," she said, brushing a speck of dust off her glove with regal disinterest. Then a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You looked like you were lost in the Keep Lord Rodrik."
Rodrik offered a short bow, masking his earlier surprise. "Not lost, Princess. Just... exploring."
She tilted her head. "I was heading to the dragonpit. Syrax needs to stretch her wings. Would you care to accompany me? Or do your travels not extend to fire-breathing dragons?"
Rodrik's tensed slightly he was both terrified & extremely curious about seeing the dragons that is one of the many thing which is different from his old world to this world other then things like Giants, Children of Forest, White Walkers among other things. Finally after calming his heart he said "I'd be honored."
They walked side by side, the silence between them not awkward, but crackling with unsaid curiosities. When they reached the gates, the stench of scorched rock and the warmth of dragonfire greeted them like an ancient memory of the world's beginning.
The dragonpit echoed with a deep, rhythmic breathing, like a slumbering volcano.
And then he saw her—Syrax.
Massive, golden-scaled, wings tucked like sails at rest, her body was a blend of beauty and terror. She lay coiled near the far wall, her luminous eyes following their movements with a quiet, chilling intelligence. The ground trembled faintly with her every breath.
Rodrik stood frozen, the reality of the creature shattering all the myths he'd ever heard. This was no mere beast. This was power incarnate.
"You're quiet," Rhaenyra said, already walking confidently toward the dragon.
"I... didn't expect her to be so... Big," Rodrik murmured & he really didn't ask per the Syrax he has seen in the TV shows the dragon was small but this one is very big almost as large as a domestic passenger plane. That is very large.
Rhaenyra laughed, the sound echoing off the stone. " That she is & she is also very temperamental so if I were you I would keep my distance."
Rodrik instantly agreement to the sound advice & saw Rhaenerya going towards Syrax & touching her scales. The dragon was also behaving very intimate with her like she is her kin. That proved his two theories one that dragons are very smart creatures who are able to feel emotions & second that whatever Targeryen's ancestor did to bond with the dragons it didn't quite created a master & slave relationship between them but relationship like partners. Maybe they mixed their blood with dragons through magic.
"She can smell fear," Rhaenyra said by seeing the unmoving Rodrik, resting a hand on the creature's neck.
"Then she must think me soaked in it," Rodrik said.
Rhaenyra smiled. "She likes you. If she didn't, you'd already be ash."
Rodrik let out a breath. "Comforting."
"She is... magnificent," he finally said.
Rhaenyra turned to him. "ok then see you next time Lord Rodrik. & Don't go around getting lost in dragon pit"
He shook his head with a chuckle. " Wouldn't dare Princess."
While seeing Rhaenyra flying off on Syrax Rodrik decided on one thing that day to never cross the Targeryen family no matter what because no matter what inventions he made he would not be able to get to the point in his lifetime where he will be able to compete with that. They can reach anywhere & burn anyone. They can lay the whole Vale to waste if they so desired.
He stood there sometime & then went back to Red Keep.
He also decided that day to keep his distance from Rhaeney no matter what his heart tells him. He knows he can change the future if he wants he can marry Rhaenerya but he can't change the fate of Queen who will die on labour in a few days he can maybe interept the relationship of Viserys & Alicent but he will marry again & would have sons from the second marriage. The conflict between the Blacks & Greens didn't happen because Rhaenerya's children were bastards it may have motivated some more lords to side with the Greens but it was not the main source of trouble. The main source was the decision of King Viserys to keep Rhaenerya as Heir even after the birth of Aegon. He took the right of his own son based on which right he himself became the king as the only reason the Lords of Westeros selected him was because he is a male. That issue will still persists even if he marries Rhaenyra. There can be a chance that he could help Rhaenyra win that war & help save the dragons but there are many variables biggest of which is Daemon as the only two reason he got into the Black's side was his hatred for the Hightowers & his lust for Rhaenyra.