"Hey, Jaime, long time no see! Hrakkar, say hello!" Lancelot patted the head of the massive lion he was riding.
Hrakkar let out a low roar that vibrated through the entire Red Keep.
Hearing the lion's roar, Jaime Lannister was reminded of his family's words: Hear Me Roar.
Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen also rushed out from their respective quarters. They were all incredibly curious to see Lancelot riding such a magnificent lion.
"Lancelot, where did you find a white lion?"
Joffrey cautiously approached Hrakkar and asked.
"Don't worry, he doesn't bite. I have gifts for you too."
Lancelot waved his hand, and Podrick brought out the three lion cubs. There was one for each of them: Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen.
These cubs had already grown to the size of hunting dogs. Under Lancelot's guidance, they each acknowledged their new masters.
The three children happily led their cubs away, planning to feed them pork and sausages. Joffrey even considered giving his some red wine.
"They really love your gifts. Thank you," Jaime Lannister said, watching the children leave with the gaze of a father.
"I have gifts for you and Grandfather too! Come get them!"
Lancelot led Jaime to his room, where Tyrion had already arrived.
Lancelot had Podrick and the others stand guard outside. Then, he opened several large mahogany chests, revealing two suits of Valyrian steel armor, five dragon eggs, two Valyrian steel swords, and a spear.
Tyrion immediately threw himself in front of the dragon eggs. He carefully cradled one with both hands, staring at it obsessively. Its patterns were beautiful, and to Tyrion, it was more attractive than any woman's breast.
Jaime, on the other hand, first examined the two suits of armor.
"Valyrian steel armor... and full plate at that! You've found a priceless treasure!"
"That's not all!" Lancelot laughed.
Jaime picked up one of the Valyrian steel swords. It was the ancestral sword of House Constantine, unknown to him.
However, the lion's head on the pommel of the other sword astonished him.
"Is this... Brightroar? Our family's lost sword?" He gently picked it up and drew it from its scabbard. The blade was dark, covered in complex ripples, possessing a unique beauty.
"The sword King Tommen lost—I brought it back!" Lancelot declared.
"Lancelot, you've done a great service this time!" Jaime said solemnly.
"However, we shouldn't flaunt our wealth. Our family is already rich enough. If people know we've acquired so many treasures, those targeting House Lannister in the shadows might increase."
"The dragon eggs must be kept secret. As for the rest... no need! This is an opportunity to display our family's power and wealth. Let all of Westeros know that House Lannister not only recovered Brightroar but also gained another sword, a spear, and two suits of armor," Tyrion argued, hugging a dragon egg. He couldn't bear to put it down.
"You're right, Uncle! The dragon eggs must be a secret because we don't have the means to hatch them yet—unless someone is willing to undergo a trial by fire, using blood and fire to bring dragons back into the world," Lancelot said.
"You mean... dragons could actually hatch? Really?" Tyrion asked. He would die to have a dragon of his own.
"Yes. If you're willing to risk everything, Uncle, I can have Melisandre try to use fire magic and blood magic to wake the dragon from the stone."
"Melisandre? Who is that?" Tyrion asked.
"My lords, I am Melisandre."
She appeared quietly behind Lancelot in her red robes. Neither Jaime nor Tyrion had noticed her before.
"You are a Red Priestess? Like Thoros?" Tyrion asked.
"Thoros... I have heard his name. He has been in Westeros for many years," Melisandre replied.
Back at the Temple of the Lord of Light in Volantis, Melisandre's seniority, magical power, control over fire, and mastery of prophecy and resurrection were far inferior to Thoros's potential.
"Yes, he's practically King Robert's drinking buddy now. They drink, fight, and joke together," Tyrion noted.
"Lancelot, what did you mean about blood and fire magic? Can it really wake dragons? If there is even a sliver of a chance, I'd be willing to risk my life," Tyrion said.
He was obsessed with dragons. Ever since he saw illustrations of those god-like beasts in books as a child, he had dreamed of riding one and soaring through the sky.
Sadly, dragons had gone extinct over a hundred years ago.
Over thirty years ago, Aegon V tried to hatch dragons at Summerhall using pyromancers and wildfire. The result was tragedy: the King died, the Prince died, Ser Duncan died. Summerhall was destroyed.
"Blood and fire are of the same source, as House Targaryen says. To wake a dragon, a price must be paid. A life for a life!" Melisandre stated.
"Is there no other way?" Tyrion asked again.
"Once magic begins to return, a life for a life will no longer be necessary. Rebirth through fire will be enough to wake them. My lord, I see you suffer from dwarfism. Rebirth through fire... perhaps it could even allow you to be born anew, shedding your old form," she continued.
"Born anew? You're not tricking me like that 'Dragonbone Pill' scam, are you?" Tyrion asked skeptically.
Previously, following a folk remedy, he had taken a piece of dragonbone from the Dragonpit, ground it into powder, and boiled it into a porridge with milk and honey, rolling it into pills. He had been eating them for two months with no effect.
"Magic has not yet returned. When it does, you can be reborn through fire. My lord... I sense the blood of the dragon flowing in your veins," Melisandre said, looking at Tyrion.
Both Jaime and Tyrion's faces changed.
"Is the rumor true? Am I really not Tywin's son?" Tyrion asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"Stop, stop! Melisandre, don't scare him! Uncle, don't worry. We share the same blood. But nobility isn't just about bloodline; it's about other things. Your knowledge and wisdom are enough to make you noble," Lancelot interjected.
"Nobility isn't about blood, but my wisdom! You speak well. Regardless, Jaime is my brother," Tyrion said.
Lancelot gave one suit of Valyrian steel armor to Jaime and sent the other to Casterly Rock for Tywin.
As for the weapons, Brightroar was the ancestral sword and belonged in the hands of the Lord of the House, so it was also sent to Casterly Rock.
The other sword was given to Jaime, who named it Lion's Roar. The spear remained with Lancelot.
Lancelot wasn't particularly skilled with the spear, certainly not compared to the sword. In Westeros, knights practiced with lances for tourneys, not typically for battlefield combat where swords were preferred. In knightly culture, the sword was king; you could carry one anywhere.
Lancelot presented many of the gifts he bought in Meereen and Pentos to King Robert and Queen Cersei. After all, Robert was the King, and Cersei was his aunt.
In Cersei's chambers, Lancelot stood while Cersei sat. She held an exquisite necklace in her hand.
"Lancelot, I didn't expect your trip to yield such a great harvest. I imagine Father will be very pleased as well!"
Cersei glanced at Lancelot with her beautiful eyes before returning her attention to the necklace.
"Your Grace, it is all thanks to the blessing of the Seven and the King's divine might!" Lancelot offered a polite platitude.
Cersei's expression shifted.
"Since the fact that you are Jaime's son cannot be changed, you may call me Aunt from now on! We shouldn't let our relationship grow distant!" she said.
"Yes, Aunt!" Lancelot replied.
"Come here!" Cersei commanded, looking at him.
Lancelot, confused, walked toward her.
Observing her up close, Lancelot realized Cersei really was breathtakingly beautiful. The "Light of the West" was no exaggeration.
Cersei gently cupped Lancelot's face with both hands.
"You don't look much like Joffrey, do you, Lancelot?" she suddenly remarked.