I Am Fire, I am Death; or Why My Stannis Is The Best Human – ASOIAF/SI

AN: My muse temporarily abandoned me. To spark it back up I'm writing up this lighthearted romp with short 1k chapters. This is the story of a Dragon exploring Planetos with his Human Stannis Baratheon.

289 AC – Dragonstone

For the longest time there was nothing. No stimuli, barely any coherent thought to speak off and everything I did recall was pieced together after the fact. I vaguely remembered being content in my cocoon of warmth, even if I wasn't aware of it.

For the longest time I simply was. Until I wasn't.

Bright lights – with the fury of a thousand suns – woke me from my slumber. Sounds assaulted my senses and I felt my entire being reverberate. From one moment to the next, everything changed. A fuzzy and enormous being crowded me, kept screaming at me and I blindly lashed out. Instinctively I attempted to scream, but my screeching sounded underwhelming even to my ears. I threw a hissy fit, flared my wings and frantically fluttered them around.

I felt myself rise momentarily until my wings gave out and I unceremoniously crashed into the large fuzzy creature. It screamed even louder which simply sent me off in a deeper vicious cycle of fear and anger. I felt one of its massive limbs grab hold of me, pinning my wings to my sides while its other limb firmly held me by my jaws. Being trapped thus did nothing to improve my anxiety. My only solace was that the massive monster had finally stopped screaming at me. Instead it hissed, so softly and soothingly that I couldn't help but calm down.

Slowly, ever so slowly the world came into focus for me. The fuzziness that plagued me withdrew from the edges of my sight until everything fell into place. I had long since ceased struggling and let the giant continue it ministrations.

Right now it was stroking my neck and it felt glorious.

And then it stopped!

I focused as best I could despite frustration rocking my very being, "Keep going!"

"What?!"

Ahhh. Why must it be so fucking loud.

"What did you say, Dragon?"

I craned my neck around towards the giant thing, only to realize it wasn't a thing. It was a human. A big – massive - man with the most peculiar shocked expression plastered over his face. Was the man hard of hearing, or was he perhaps simple?

"Big man, keep stroking!"

From somewhere off to my left I could hear another voice vaguely stuttering, "M-most c-curious...p-perhaps it is b-best if we indulge the creature, my Lord?"

At the same time the big balding man went back to work I heard him say, "Seven above, it speaks."

At the time I didn't much care for being named an it, nor did I register my own slight hypocrisy. The glorious rubbing of my long neck was enough to occupy the entirety of my mind. It felt divine, after all that time spent collapsed in on myself.

The big man whispered to me, "What is your name, little creature?"

I barely registered my own response, "How should I know?"

Because, honestly. I just woke up. Clearly something horrifying had happened to me at some point, but I'd been inert for so incredibly long I simply could not care anymore. I'm sure I had a name. And other things. I think...

Was it all a dream?

"Would you care for me to name you?"

That did pierce through my veil of bliss. I still recalled the importance of names. I could tell this was something I should be paying attention to. With some slight effort I freed myself from the big man's arms and gently glided to the ground. Through the workings of some sort of instinct I chased my own tail for a moment, before finally settling down on my hind limbs.

I stared up at the big man and got myself a good look in. He was large, I even got the vaguest of impressions that he was solidly at the high end of large humans, and looked mostly well put together. I noticed both arms intact, both legs easily carrying his weight and a large chest that held it all together admirably. I couldn't quite make a judgment on the state of his head, or the lack of hair upon his head as the other had, but everything seemed to be working.

"I..."

I fell silent.

Did I mind him naming me? I knew I needed a name. I knew it was somehow important, but shouldn't I do that myself? Wasn't that how it was done? And if so...why do I remember someone warm and soft cooing my name?

What was it?

Who was it?

I forced myself to keep focusing, to keep thinking and eventually I was rewarded with a slightly longer flash of memory. I looked down at myself – and was instantly pleased with what I saw – and looked back up at the big man.

"Are you...my mother?"

Before he even answered – and got over his coughing fit - I knew it was wrong. I continued speaking, "That is the wrong word, I think."

The big man frowned and spoke, "No, I am not your mother, little Dragon. Nor, if that is what you meant, am I your father."

"Oh."

For some reason that didn't feel all that good. I could vaguely sense of the other manling behind me frantically waving at the big man, but I didn't pay him much attention. He smelt wrong, was nowhere near as big as the big man, nor did he manage to hold my attention.

For the first time I looked around at the room I found myself in. A massive stone table took up most of it and couldn't help but draw your eye. With four mighty beats of my wings I found myself soaring up and onto the table with its many and bright colors. Green hues did combat with yellow tints all over the thing and frankly it proved rather dizzying.

It was too big to take in for now. Maybe later.

Oh, the humans are whispering to each other.

I could hear the sounds they were making, but could not pick up much more than their respective tones. The uninteresting man with the strange scent still spoke frantically and the big man seemed rather frustrated.

I knew what that was like.

Until the latter finally bit out, "No, I shall not lie to it, Cressen." And turned towards me, "Have you made a decision, little Dragon?"

Well...I certainly didn't want to known as a little anything. And of course I was a Dragon. He was a Human and you don't see me... Shit. I've been calling him big human, haven't I?

"Yes." I caught the big man's gaze and continue, "You may name me, big man, after you share your name." Before he could reply I stormed onward, "Unless I can name you, in which case I would dub you He-Of-The-Skilled-Fingers."

And then he flashed his teeth at me. Did I do something wrong? Why was he threatening to bite me?

I peeling my lips back and showed him my own teeth, which only made him show more of his teeth. And yet...there was no attack forthcoming. He was bigger than me. Much bigger than me. Why would he need to threaten me?

"No, little Dragon. I am called Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone and Master of Ships to my brother, His Grace-."

I interrupted him, "Please don't give me such a long name."

Which seemed to make the uninteresting man screech out loud. And then Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone and Master of Ships to my brother, His Grace...suddenly showed even more of his teeth.

To which I could only respond with peeling my own lips back.

Hmm, he still didn't attack me. What a perfectly strange human.

289 AC – Dragonstone

Stannis Baratheon looked upon me intently, as he had been doing for quite some time. He seemed to be taking in every little piece of me and I couldn't blame him. I, too, like staring at me.

"Black of body, and gold of wings." The big man sighed, "I had thought to name you Maekon, but Maester Cressen's advice rings true. I cannot ignore your auspicious coloring, there's even a golden band around your throat..."

I slowly titled my head sideways, "I do not understand what you mean by auspicious."

His gaze locked with mine as he softly replied, "It means favorable, little Dragon. A sign of fortune to come, if you will."

I contracted my eyelids in anger as I bit out, "I know what the word means, Stannis Baratheon! I know words! All the best of them! What I do not possess is the context to understand your meaning, you big lug of a man!"

The big man narrowed his eyes and leaned in closer. He seemed on the verge of saying something before sighing deeply and leaning back into his chair. A few moments passed before he finally spoke again.

"Your colors correspond with my own House's colors, you insolent beast! Thus I must name you after one of my own, even though I'm starting to have concerns about granting you that.

What do the colors of his home matter? Is it simply a matter of pride? Oh, look how shiny my home is! And look! This Dragon has the same color! God himself must be smiling upon me! And how dare he imply I would be anything less than the personification of divine favor!

I was about to give him a piece of my mind when Cressen spoke up, "Perhaps we shouldn't needlessly aggra-."

Stannis held up a hand and silenced the white haired fellow admirably. The big man stared down at me, ticking with his fingers against his desk. The rhythm was vaguely pleasant, but the big man couldn't keep a coherent tune to save his life.

I, graciously I might say, decided to not bring that up.

"The first of my line, of House Baratheon, was Orys Baratheon." Stannis' gaze now caught my own once again, "He helped his half brother Aegon Targaryen conquer the Seven Kingdoms, with the might of three powerful Dragons, and made them into what they are today."

-Oh, so that's what he meant by House. Why couldn't he simply say family? Kin. Kith. Err..I'm sure there are more, but Stannis is speaking again and perhaps I shouldn't...Wait, why didn't those two share a name? Wasn't that what family did?-

"Orys himself never rode a Dragon, while his Targaryen kin rode all three." Dramatically the big man paused, "And now House Targaryen has no Dragons, no Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms and House Baratheon has both. Perhaps it would be auspicious if I were to call you Orys..."

When he trailed off like that I just knew he was giving me an out in case I didn't like the name, which boded all kinds of well for future. Stannis seems reasonable, and while his story made little sense to me ...I didn't mind overmuch. Orys was a good a name as any, and at least it seems like Stannis is attached to it. Especially if the pride in his voice when he says the name meant anything.

I tried out the name out loud, "Orys."

Hmm, nice.

"Orys!"

I flew up into the air, graceful as can be – I cared not for the displaced parchments – and screamed it from the bottom of my belly, "ORYS BARATHEON!"

Weeeeee.

I slowly glided back down to the table, where Stannis was wasting time attempting to get his desk under control again, only to flap my wings an additional few times.

There. Clean table!

The white haired man put a hand on Stannis when the latter sucked in some air and his eyes went wide, "A mighty fine name, my Lord. Perhaps...perhaps we should see to feeding the Dragon?"

Fooooood!

"Yes! Yes, you should!"

I stood back up on my hind limbs and flared out my wings, "I want all the meat, Stannis Baratheon!"

After an indeterminate amount of time had passed – where Stannis kept his eyes on me, at all times – a fresh group of humans walked into the room carrying an assortment of trays. One by one they were presented before me with a respectful bow. Their supplication was almost as delicious as the meats. I couldn't quite tell what was what, but I gorged myself deeply as I was lost in my ravenous appetite. In the background many things happened, but I found it mattered little when slices of – they cut it for me as if I have no claws - meat found their way down my gullet. For a good while there I was worried someone was going to ask me to share, but thankfully I was spared that indignity.

All was well until a realization rocked me sideways.

-What did he mean; Orys' brother rode Dragons?-

Once again I stood back up onto my hind limbs and twisted myself towards the big man, "Stannis Baratheon!"

As he was still staring at me there was little need to call out for him, but I liked saying his name.

"What did you mean when you said Aegon Targ...Targary-"

"Targaryen."

I nodded in thanks to the white haired man, even as I mentally took a note of his awareness of my deficiencies, and turned back to Stannis.

"What did you mean when you said Aegon Targaryen rode Dragons."

He can't mean actually riding them, right? Unless those Targaryens were much smaller than my Stannis.

Stannis cocked his head slightly to side as I had, "I meant what I said, Orys. Aegon rode his Dragon, singular. His sisters rode the others. As I mean to ride you one day."

I hissed out with as much seething fury as I could muster, "Ride! Do you mean to crush me, big man!"

Before he could respond I continued, "Then why bother feeding me! Why bother naming me, you deceitful-."

Stannis stood up and loud barked, "Silence!"

Which was enough to send me tittering backwards, but the big man caught me in one of his massive limbs easily enough. I kept struggling for a moment longer when he softly spoke, "Quiet down, little Orys. I have no intention of harming you, ever." I cocked my head sideways to look at him when he continued, "Nor will I attempt to ride you until you grow strong enough to bear my weight, Orys. I assure you, you will grow large enough to comfortably do so."

-Ohh. I have to say...that kind of makes sense. I'd apologize, but then the white haired man would have further confirmation of my fallibility. That was simply unacceptable.-

289 AC – Dragonstone

It was a few days after hatching that Stannis finally decided to introduce me to the rest of our family. I wasn't sure if it was because I spent the majority of my time sleeping, or if he was still wary of me that caused the delay. Still, it's happening now and I was unreasonably excited.

It was all for naught.

When Stannis' mate came out to my cavern – which really just were a bunch of unused stables with most of their walls removed – the first thing out of her mouth was horrifying.

"Are you certain it is safe to have the creature unchained like that, my Lord?"

I was so angry that for long moments all I could do was hiss. Thankfully, Stannis proved a loyal ally and immediately ended those preposterous notions of his mate. While grinding his teeth together – making an impressive rumbling sound – Stannis explained just why it would be a horrible idea.

"Enough, my Lady. Orys has given his word he will involve himself in no mischief."

Did the mate need this lesson to be reinforced by my claws, or would Stannis' admonitions be enough? Clearly, my Human was among the more powerful of his kind, but the rules were different for mates. Could she get away with circumventing his will? Would she?

I simply had to find out.

"Why do you wish to chain me, brown haired woman?"

Her eyes fell on me, taking me in whole, for a good long while before she finally spoke, "Seven above, he truly speaks..."

What?

"So, not only do you wish to chain me like I'm some mindless beast...you believe your mate a liar? Are you sure you cannot find a better one, Stannis Baratheon?" The woman made a strangled sort of sound, but I steamed on ahead. "I promise I will help! Maybe we can find one that smells less sick? I think I'd like-."

"Enough." Stannis thundered, interrupting me. He continued, "As long as you hold your word, there shall be no chains in your future, you vexing little beast." The big man turned to his mate before looking back at me, "Sick?"

I nodded my head as fast as I could. Perhaps I could rid myself of this threat, "Yes, Stannis Baratheon! Your Lady Fox is unbalanced of body and she smells of subtle rot. I fear she shall bear you no more little Baratheons."

Speaking of little Baratheons. There was another one somewhere in the castle, but Stannis was most insistent I did not come near it. It was one of his most stringent requirements and one I bore only for the affection I held for him. Occasionally, when I fly past the battlements, I can smell just a hint of the little half fox and she smelled wonderful. Not like a delicious hare, or a juicy rat, but it was the closest scent to the one that Stannis emanated. Surely that meant that Shireen too was my human, even if she wasn't my Human?

Stannis paled significantly at my words, as did his mate, but where she whined and moaned...he simply stared at me.

"Are you certain, Orys?"

Was I?

Not really, but this was an opportunity to get rid of the potential advocate for chains. Besides, she really did smell sick. I may have slightly overemphasized just how sick she was. With some more thought on the subject, however, I could only conclude that lying might only hurt Stannis. Occasionally, mates don't take their dismissals as well as they should and I had no interest in finding out what sneaky revenge she might have in store for him. Or perhaps she'd stoop even lower than I had estimated her and might well reach out to her own kin.

I could not reasonably estimate their strength in relation to Stannis' and I was as yet too small to pick up the difference, if there was any. Of course, the vague hint of pain in Stannis' voice when he asked me outweighed any of those practical concerns. Even potential chains...

"As certain as I can be, Stannis Baratheon. Perhaps discuss this with the white haired healer? I'm still young and perhaps the sickness I smell is not as severe as I believe it."

Slowly Stannis nodded and extended his arm towards his still shaking mate, "Very well, I shall see you later today, Orys."

Ohh!

"Can we go riding again? Perhaps you might pick a slower horse this time?"

He looked backed over his shoulders when he replied, "Not today, Orys."

When Stannis took his mate to his healer I was one again left to my own devices. Well, not entirely alone. There was a young human with me that I had picked out from the castle kitchens. I liked the smell of him, and his purple eyes intrigued me more than I was willing to admit, but gaining his sole service proved to be something of a chore.

Apparently, 'because I want a human to do my bidding' wasn't a proper reason to be given one. Stannis kept pressing me for more until I finally cracked and admitted why I wanted a human in my service. Of course, I requested the white haired healer to be sent away from the room. Admitting that the feral cats that roamed the castle had taken to banding together against me wasn't my proudest moment.

Admitting that they did not fear me was one thing. Admitting to my Human that I feared what they might do was only barely acceptable. Still, it was one of the benefits of having such a loyal Human in corner that after I aired my fear...He sent dozens of his own metal humans to clear the castle of cats, after which he tasked me with keeping the castle clear of rats. It took a moment for me to grasp what he meant.

All the rats are mine.

Muahahaha.

AN: Feedback and reviews are appropriate sacrifices to my muse!