Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire it is owned by G.R.R. Martin.
Return of Valyria
Chapter 1
In a chamber located high in the Palace of the Freeholders, the Triarchs of the Valyrian Freehold sat around a large, round table of polished wood. Large, open windows looked out over the great city of Valyria itself, and let natural light shine into the room. The walls were decorated with fine, Qohori tapestries, depicting scenes of victory from Valyria's long and storied history.
"…what did you say?" Triarch Aenerya Baelarion asked incredulously. "How much of our army is left?"
"We have twenty legions left." Triarch Laeraenar Aggaeron answered. "About one hundred thousand legionaries all told. And about the same number of auxiliaries, for a grand total of an estimated two hundred thousand men in the Valyrian Army."
"Two hundred thousand…out of six hundred thousand…you do realize this means the Valyrian Army is effectively destroyed, don't you?"
"Calm yourself." Triarch Laeraenar said. "It could be worse. No…we know it was worse, if not for that failsafe our ancestors put in place. To think we never knew…"
A somber silence and air fell over the Triarchs, the mightiest men and woman in the entire Valyrian Freehold, or indeed, the known world. To think it could all have been over in an instant, how thousands of years of history would have become as nothing…
"We've forgotten much, though it's understandable." Triarch Laemar Lennareon said with a sigh. It's been five thousand years, after all. Plenty of time to forget a lot of things."
"Some things should never be forgotten." Triarch Aenerya snapped.
"I agree." Triarch Laeraenar said with a nod. "I propose we have the sorcerers and other bodies look into obscure and half-forgotten – if not all but forgotten – elements of our history. What was done, both openly and in secret, why and how, virtually everything related to them, and compile them in public – if not necessarily open – record. What is written endures, after all."
"A prudent call…" Triarch Laemar said with a nod. He glanced at Triarch Aenerya, who nodded at him. "Very well, we'll adopt the proposal. Back to the army though…will two hundred thousand men be enough to reclaim all of Essos?"
"Probably not all at once…" Triarch Laeraenar said with a sigh. "And that doesn't factor in other limitations that will slow down reclamation. The economic implications of our being…displaced, into the future will be troublesome to say the least. That said, our ancestors started out with much less, and look where we are now."
"Well, that much is true." Triarch Laemar agreed. "It might have taken us thousands of years to get here…but here we are."
"In other words," Triarch Aenerya said. "Even if we can't finish it, we should at least reclaim a strong foundation for our children to build on, and for their children or their children's children to finish what we started?"
The Triarch paused and laughed. "I suppose that's not so bad." She said.
The other Triarchs nodded their agreement. "On brighter notes," Triarch Laeraenar began. "We have plenty of dragonriders to call on. It's not the be all and end all of war, but it will greatly multiply what we are capable of, even with less than half our army available. And while we've lost the station fleet at Dragonstone, or the one at the Jade Gates and other places, the Grand Fleet is still intact, as are other, smaller fleets stationed here at the homeland."
"So the navy is virtually intact then?" Triarch Laemar asked. "That's good to know. And very reassuring indeed."
"I wouldn't say virtually intact," Triarch Laeraenar corrected. "But yes, it's largely intact. Enough to establish naval supremacy in the Summer Sea at least, and once our economy has recovered a bit, to project power into the Narrow Sea as well."
"Assuming we can count on the Free Cities to support us, of course." Triarch Aenerya remarked, tapping her fingers thoughtfully on the table. "It's been four hundred years from their perspective, after all. A lot of things can change in that time."
"You don't really think they'd have turned from the Freehold in that time, do you?" Triarch Laeraenar asked.
"Against the Freehold?" Triarch Aenerya echoed. "No…but since we haven't been around for four hundred years, I would say they've drifted away from us. And can we blame them? We've been gone for so long, it's only natural they'd diverge from the way things stood centuries ago."
There was a thoughtful silence at that. "Certainly," Triarch Laeraenar began unhappily. "Considering what we've seen…the banners of the various daughters fighting in the lands of southwestern Essos…to think they've broken the taboo…"
"Valyrians against Valyrians…civil war in all but name…" Triarch Laemar grumbled. "What a mess…and we might just have to sink to their level to restore order as well."
"…it might be a case of 'cannot be helped', I'm afraid." Triarch Aenerya said softly, sighing as her fellow Triarchs nodded as well in unhappy agreement. "Though it does bring up an important point: reclamation is all well and good, but we cannot assume that can we bring things back to the way they used to be four hundred years ago, at least from the perspective of the people of this time."
"What?" the other Triarchs asked incredulously.
"Don't misunderstand." Triarch Aenerya said. "I'm not against reclamation, I'm just saying we should adapt our plans and strategies for doing so with the times we're in. Take the Great Grass Sea, for instance. I find myself wondering that even if we gathered together every auxiliary we've levied from the kingdoms which once stood there, and had them try and rebuild their former nations, would they succeed? The answer is fairly obvious, isn't it?"
"…then what do you suggest then?" Triarch Laemar asked.
Triarch Aenerya shrugged. "They're auxiliaries." She said. "Once they complete their term of service, they'll be granted citizenship in the Freehold. I say we add to that land grants in the Great Grass Sea once they've been reconquered, and annex the whole region into the Freehold."
"…that's not such a bad idea." Triarch Laemar said after a few moments' thought.
"Indeed," Triarch Laeraenar said with a slow nod. "We'll have to look into the details further, but it's not a bad idea at all."
Triarch Aenerya nodded her acknowledgement, and Triarch Laemar smiled. "Any other bright ideas, Honored Triarch?" he asked.
"Flattery will get you nowhere, Honored Triarch." Triarch Aenerya said. "But yes, I do have another idea."
"Oh?"
"I say we make our first move towards Volantis."
"Volantis?"
Triarch Aenerya nodded. "Yes, Volantis." She said. "The Eldest Daughter has always been very…loyal, to the Freehold. Where the other Free Cities experimented with and adopted other variants of the Freehold's government, Volantis followed our model almost slavishly. The same goes for their society, albeit with a marked prejudice for those of actual Valyrian descent not present in the Freehold."
"…almost as though they're compensating for something…" Triarch Laeraenar said softly. "Not really certain why, though. They're as Valyrian as any of the other Free Cities, or as the Freehold itself."
"The Volantenes' issues with their identity aside," Triarch Laemar said. "It's not a bad idea. And I see the point: Volantis has historically been the most loyal and supportive of the Free Cities. The cities to the far north have always chafed at our decrees, though given Qohor, Norvos, and Lorath were all founded by a bunch of religious fanatics it's to be expected. And don't even get me started on the Bastard Daughter."
"We should reach out to Volantis diplomatically." Triarch Aenerya said. "If they remain as loyal to us now as they were four hundred years ago, it would make a good first step towards reclamation."
"I notice you say 'if'." Triarch Laeraenar said with narrowed eyes.
"Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst." Triarch Aenerya said with a shrug. "Which means that while we should reach out diplomatically, we should also back it up with a show of force."
The other Triarchs looked at each other, and then back to their fellow Triarch. "What do you have in mind?" they asked, and Triarch Aenerya smiled.
Several days had passed since the Triarchs and the Assembly of the Lords Freeholder had publicly admitted that the heartland had been transported about four hundred years into the future, thanks to an incredibly-powerful enchantment cast by their ancestors in the past. A grand and powerful undertaking of sorcery to protect the cradle and heart of Valyrian civilization, should the whims of nature turn the source of Valyria's power, the Fourteen Flames, against it.
It was a source of comfort in these uncertain times, that even in those ancient days, the Valyrian people and their sorcerers possessed great foresight and power to protect against such a calamity. And uncertain times it was, for in the four hundred years since as the rest of the world perceived it, much had changed.
Dothraki hordes rampaged unchecked across the grass-covered ruins of Central Essos. A new, Ghiscari Empire was gestating in the waters and coasts of the Gulf of Grief to the east, while to the west the Free Cities had fallen into near-anarchy, consumed by petty ambitions and feuds that pitted Valyrian against Valyrian.
The Triarchs gave their word to the people that come what may, the Freehold would endure, and overcoming its trials, restore unity, order, and justice to the lands of Essos. All that was left of the Freehold might be the ancestral homeland of the Valyrian Peninsula, and the rich and fertile Lands of the Long Summer to the north, but their ancestors had started out with less, and over thousands of years of perseverance and fortitude had become the greatest bastion of civilization in the known world.
The knowledge that Valyria had faced worse in the past and had triumphed, and that even the whims of nature were nothing against the power and knowledge possessed by Valyria anchored the Freehold with renewed purpose to reclaim what had been, and to build greater in the future. From the mightiest dragonlord in their palaces to the poorest citizen on the street, Valyrians guarded against despair.
In contrast, the slaves despaired. Neither nature's wrath unleashed nor the divine retribution of the gods it seemed could bring down the self-proclaimed Lords of the Flames and the Sky…
…and so they resigned themselves, that nothing would change, and their lot in life would continue as it had, bound by chains of iron and magic to their gold and silver-haired and violet-eyed masters. So it had been. So it is. And so it will ever be.
In the city of Aryros, a large building loomed over a garden of green grass, flowing water, flowering bushes and fruiting trees. Valyrians wandered over the grounds, or sat in the terraces and balconies, relishing in the cool air and shadows, served food and drink by slaves.
Jaenera sat on a second floor balcony, alone at a table nursing a glass of wine. Soft strains drifted out of the room behind, a musician from distant Yi Ti playing a three-stringed instrument on a platform in a corner.
The dragonlord raised her wineglass to her lips, taking a sip while narrowing her eyes at the sound of approaching footsteps. "Ah, I knew it." Manaemys Vaelgyreon said as she approached, and took a seat even without being invited. "Drowning your sorrows, I see."
"Come off it, Manaemys." Daerys Tarralis said, also taking a seat at Jaenera's table. "Besides, you can talk. Your family, both immediate and extended, are still here in the homeland. Jae's though…"
Daerys nodded sympathetically at their friend. "You have our condolences." He said.
"Thanks." Jaenera said, and Manaemys scratched her head.
"Yeah, sorry about that." She said. "I suppose it was rather insensitive of me."
"It's fine." Jaenera said, gesturing for a server to bring more wine. "It's just like you though. Besides, we dragonlords of low rank have to stick together, so let's not become enemies over small and petty things, especially when the offending party is willing to apologize."
There was laughter at that. "That's true." Manaemys said as a slave brought more glasses and ice along with a bottle of wine.
"Leave us." Jaenera said. "We can pour our own wine."
The slave bowed and left, Jaenera pouring wine for her friends. "To friendship." She said, toasting her friends.
"To friendship." They chorused, but Manaemys paused to add something.
"And to finding family." She said.
Jaenera raised an eyebrow, though she took a mouthful of wine before replying. "Do you really think my brother's descendants are still around?" she asked.
"Hope springs eternal, as my grandmother used to say." Manaemys said.
"Hmm…how very optimistic…"
"You aren't optimistic, I take it." Daerys said.
Jaenera scoffed. "You heard what the Triarchs said." She said. "Even Dragonstone and their surrounding islands are lost, and to Andals of all people. Oh I'm sure Aenar and my sisters or their descendants would have made them pay for it, but there's no way the islands would just have been given up. Damn Andals…when the campaign to retake those islands is launched, I'll be asking to join. Any Andals burned will be as funeral sacrifices to my family's memory."
Daerys shrugged and nodded sympathetically. "Well," he said. "I suppose I can't argue with you there. But…don't you think they might have just gone to one or another of the Free Cities?"
"…I can hope." Jaenera said with another drink of wine. "But, while hope might spring eternal, it might also be the first step on the road to disappointment."
"Oh…very pessimistic…but all too true." Manaemys said with a drink of wine. "That said, don't get too hung up on either outcome. That is, on one hand your family might have died fighting to the last man to defend the last stronghold of the Freehold, or on the other hand, they were forced to flee in defeat, to exile in one of the Free Cities."
"If the former," Daerys said. "Then feel free to avenge their memory on the Andals when the time comes. If the latter, then rejoice! You won't be alone anymore."
"I don't mind being alone." Jaenera said. "Besides, as long as I have Aelarys, I'm never really alone."
"He was your mother's dragon, wasn't he?" Manaemys asked.
"He was." Jaenera said with a nod. "But now he's mine…my other half…"
Daerys and Manaemys nodded in agreement. As dragonlords themselves, they knew what Jaenera was talking about, the deep bond that linked a true rider with their mount.
"Either way though…" Daerys began. "Seeing as you're by default the senior member of House Targaryen, wouldn't you be Lord Freeholder now?"
"Lord Freeholder Jaenera Targaryen…it has a nice ring to it." Manaemys said.
Jaenera laughed. "Maybe," she said. "I'll have to check up on the legalities of such things when I have the time. Not that being Lord Freeholder of what is by now the smallest and weakest of the forty families is worth much but…"
Jaenera paused and took a drink. "I wouldn't want to have my ancestors turn in shame when I join them on the other side either." She concluded. "Really…if I really am the last Targaryen, I'll have the responsibility of rebuilding the family…literally. What a pain…a son and a daughter as a bare minimum…"
Daerys and Manaemys looked at each other, and then smiling mischievously, Daerys turned back to Jaenera. "Well," he said. "If you ever need…help, rebuilding your family, I'm sure my father said his doors were open to you. And my family has too many sons and too few daughters, so I'm sure we can part with one of the former, if you get what I mean."
"Oh? Are you propositioning me, Daerys?" Jaenera slyly said, as Manaemys nudged Daerys with an elbow.
"What? No! I was just…! Oh damn it!"
Jaenera and Manaemys laughed at Daerys' expense, the dragonlord drinking deep of his wine to mask his embarrassment.
Two days later, and Jaenera was walking through the Palace of the Freeholders, down a marbled hallway lit with candles in golden scones and decorated with sculptures, portraits, and tapestries. The man guiding her came to a halt outside a door, and knocked a few times. "Dragonrider Jaenera Targaryen has arrived." He said.
"Send her in." a muffled voice said from inside.
The man opened the door, and with a bow and a gesture, bade Jaenera to enter. The dragonrider entered…
…and as the door closed behind her, Jaenera bowed respectfully to the man within. "Honored Triarch," she said. "How may I be of service?"
"You will know soon enough, young dragonrider." Triarch Laeraenar said. "You have heard of the planned dispatch for Volantis, yes?"
"I have." Jaenera said. "Aryros is a major port, and while not a naval base enough ships pass by for word to spread of warships mustering elsewhere for sea. That, and merchant shipping being commandeered to carry men and supplies."
Triarch Laeraenar nodded. "And what else do you know of the planned dispatch?" he asked.
"Apart from a large fleet, at least two legions, maybe more, will be sent to Volantis." Jaenera said. "Auxiliaries, of course, and a few dragonriders."
"Hard to believe those could be gathered from mere rumors."
"With all due respect, there are rumors, and there are rumors."
"Oh?"
"I am part of the Aryros garrison." Jaenera said. "And an officer, so I hear more and from more reliable sources. Albeit lacking in details, and of course, I know better than to pry."
"Indeed." Triarch Laeraenar said with an amused snort. "I trust you have been discreet with what you have heard though...?"
"Some things are not meant for public consumption, at least until the Freehold sees fit for them to be."
The Triarch laughed. "Indeed," he said. "Very well…yes, we will be sending a large fleet to Volantis, about four hundred and thirty ships in fact. Three legions will be coming, along with the same number of men in auxiliaries. And forty dragonriders…"
Triarch Laeraenar paused and tilted his head. "I'm sure you're aware of the significance of that number." He said. It wasn't a question, and Jaenera knew it.
She drew herself up. "One from each of the forty dragonlord families." She said.
"Yes," Triarch Laeraenar said with a nod. "And now you see our problem. House Targaryen is all but gone. They fled in advance of the mass eruption, thanks to the unfairly-dismissed visions of Lord Freeholder Aenar's daughter warning them of the coming catastrophe. Most wise of him, and most unwise of us to dismiss it: if not for our ancestors' precautions, neither you nor I would be standing here and now."
Jaenera closed her eyes. "My…brother, and my sisters…" she said softly. "It's been four hundred years. Even us dragonlords don't live that long."
"No, we do not." Triarch Laeraenar said with another nod. "Even we are not untouchable by death itself. And we don't know if your brother and his sister-wives have any remaining descendants in this day and age. Dragonstone after all, was entrusted to them. And yet it is now in Andal hands."
"My brother at least…would not have allowed it to fall into enemy hands." Jaenera said. "Not without a fight…"
"Indeed not," Triarch Laeraenar said with a nod. "But Lord Freeholder Aenar was no fool either, as we now know. There may yet be descendants of his living in some of the Free Cities. If so…then perhaps you are not the last of House Targaryen."
Jaenera was silent for a moment, and then bowed slightly. "I can only hope, Honored Triarch." She said.
The man smiled sympathetically. "There is more hope than not." He said. "In any case, you are now the senior member of House Targaryen. And while there are those who simply argue for your house to be dissolved and declared extinct…it would be a shame for one of the forty, whose lineage goes back to the founding of the Freehold, to disappear. Especially when hope still remains for its revival. Small, yes, but it is there. You understand what I'm saying, do you not?"
Jaenera bowed low. "I am humbled and grateful for your confidence, Honored Triarch." She said.
Triarch Laeraenar nodded. "Then, Lord Freeholder Jaenera Targaryen," he said. "Go and prepare. The fleet will be departing from Inneqor tomorrow morning, and the Lords Freeholder will be honoring its departure with their presence. You should be among them…and you will be among those who rendezvous with the fleet when it arrives at Volantis, as well."
Jaenera drew herself up. "I understand, Honored Triarch." She said. "With your leave, I shall depart, and prepare to meet my humble responsibilities."
The Triarch nodded, and with a bow Jaenera turned to leave. But even as her hand touched the door handle, the Triarch spoke behind her. "Lord Freeholder Targaryen," he said. "I will have expectations of you."
Jaenera turned and bowed in silence, and then opening the door, left.
The sea breeze blew cool and crisp from the sea, the morning skies above clear and blue dotted with white and puffy clouds. Dragons wheeled and flew in the air, children across the city of Inneqor pointing and chattering in awe at the great beasts high above.
The fleet to be dispatched to Volantis was anchored in formation in the waters off the harbor, mostly single-banked galleys but also including a number of older, two or even three-banked dromon-type vessels. There were no carracks though, as the new type of warship was still relatively-rare, with the Valyrian Navy's only carracks being concentrated in the Grand Fleet.
Though the new, Myrish-designed vessels were completely superior to any kind of ships on the high seas (in shallower or narrower waters the galley retained the edge against a carrack), ships were expensive to build or replace. As such, dromons remained the backbone of the greater part of the Valyrian Navy…for now.
In addition to warships, the fleet also included a large number of cogs, not the best for warfare on the high seas, but excelling as transports, for both men and supplies. Legionaries and auxiliaries from the Valyrian Army stood at attention on their decks, in contrast to the bustling decks of the warships. There, sailors busied themselves on their duties, with the exception of the artillery crews, who stood at attention next to their ballistae and traction trebuchets. Originally designed in Yi Ti, the Sarnori had introduced the traction trebuchet to Central Essos during the Third and Fourth Ghiscari Wars, and through Valyria into Western Essos.
More soldiers stood on the docks or the battlements of Innoqor's seawall, legionaries providing an honor guard to see the dispatch to Volantis off. The Triarchs were all present, seated in a shaded pavilion atop the seawall, the pavilion flanked by the Lords Freeholder and their companions as they saw the fleet off.
"That's a lot of ships." Daerys observed.
"No, really, it isn't." Jaenera said before smiling at her friend. "In about two days I'll be off to Volantis as well. Shame neither you nor Manaemys will be able to come along."
"Father wants my eldest brother to represent the family at Volantis, and as far as I know the same goes for Manaemys' family." Daerys said.
"Shame."
"Right," Daerys said. "Still…there's hope for the future. There's New Ghis to the east, and while I doubt Volantis will put up much of a fuss, the same can't be said for those damn Ghiscari. Maybe even the Qartheen. If so, then the three of us will be able to ride together."
"And from the skies they reign," Jaenera softly sang. "On wings of fire, the Lords of the Flames and the Sky, whose coming heralds the wrath, the ruin, and the world's ending…"
Jaenera trailed off as trumpeters blew stirring and triumphant notes, crimson cloth emblazoned with golden dragons hanging from bronze instruments. Thrice the trumpeters blew, and from the fleet more trumpets answered as they raised their anchors. And then slowly, rhythmically, drumbeats could be heard, oars stirring as the fleet set out.
Their destination: Volantis the Great, Eldest Daughter of Valyria.
A/N
Just for reference, it's 290 AC.