285 A.C.

House with the Red Door/Braavos

"The Golden Dragon Prince" Maegor Goldfyre

It seemed like a lifetime since Maegor last sat and spoke to Naela. Seeing her and her siblings regale Viserys with tales from their lives made Maegor remember when he was Viserys' age.

He remembered when he and Rhaegar were still boys in the Red Keep, Naela told them stories about her ancestral homeland in the distantly far East, beyond the Golden Empire of YiTi and Asshai by the Shadow.

A place she constantly referred to as the Old World. Simply because his true name was no longer allowed to speak. Another one of the many things Naela labeled as an 'unspoken rule' like how the best time to kick someone is when they're already down.

In her Stories, she spoke of how the many creature statues on Dragonstone could be found in great abundance in the Old World.

Creatures like Dragons, Wyverns, Manticores, Minotaurs, Basilisks, Cocktrices, Hellhounds, Griffins, and much more.

Maegor just thought that Naela was trying to scare the two of them. If that was her intention, she succeeded tenfold.

The Old World was apparently a mountainous and volcanic continent much larger than Westeros, green valleys and deserts of more than one sand color. There was, however, a region in the west, like Northern Westeros, hardy and frigid with endless snowfall year round. and even worse in the Winter. But unlike the North, the region wasn't sparsely populated, nor were the people hardy or mistrusting or cold to outsiders.

Naela said her mother was from that region and was considered to be as warm as the sun, despite being conceived by the will of Winter itself.

When pressed by he and Rhaegar for a larger explanation, Naela simply answered. "My Song is that of Ice and Fire. You could say that my siblings and I as a whole are the original Prince that was Promised."

"That what you were doing Rhaegar?" Maegor thought out loud as he held Jon, the last of his brother's children, in his arms. "Did you know that Naela was under oath and couldn't fight? Is that what this was about? You destroyed out family in the hopes that this boy would save humanity? It looks like you failed and died for nothing, and everyone else died for Nothing!"

Jon started crying then. Maegor trying to rock him back to sleep.

"Try singing to him," Maegor turned to see his wife, Maelyria, standing there behind him, their son Jaehaerys clinging to her skirts.

"My love, you know I can't carry a tune. Not like Rhaegar could."

"Mayhaps I should give it a try then," another voice said. Behind them all stood a slender woman, taller than Maelyria, with ivory hair braided in the form of a monkey's tail, eyes like fiery bronze, dark oliver skin like that of Elia and little Rhaenys.

"You're one of Naela's sister, are you not?" Maelyria asked.

"Aye, you may address me as Syrax or Auntie, if you prefer." Her voice was so velvety and warm. "The 9th born and 5th daughter of Alyssandria and Tyraenyx."

It must be a prominent family trait? Maegor thought. As Rhaegar had it. their father Aerys had it, even after he went insane. Steffon Baratheon had it. Naela definitely had it.

"I know we've met before, but-"

"We'll talk after this bundle of joy goes back to sleep." Syrax took hold of Jon and started humming before singing.

Rest my child, beneath the dragon's wing. Listen close, and hear it sing: A song of fire, sweet desire, and a kingdom once lost.

Rest my sweet, while the dragons fly. They're flying to a clear blue sky. You'll be fine, they are kind, but not to the kingdom once lost.

Wake my dear, when the time is right. Stand up, when you have to fight. They'll be there, they will care, and you'll have the kingdom once lost.

Placing Jon back in his crib, They all left the nursery.

"Now then," Syrax started. "I'm amazed you've forgotten me so easily Maeggy," that was a nickname he hadn't heard in a really long time.

"I-I feel so ashamed. How could I have forgotten about you?" He fell to his knees before her.

"Papa," Jaehaerys ran from behind Maelyria to his father.

"Let me guess, she came to the Red Keep once?" Maelyria questioned.

"Very often actually. My love, Syrax here is the one who taught Rhaegar how to sing and play the harp."

Maegor's wife struggled to keep her balance until Maegor rose to hold her steady.

Maelyria was still a bit weak after she miscarried what would've been twins. Maegor blamed himself, as she was worried about him and he chose not to consult her on what he was feeling, thinking that the last thing she needed was his stress.

"I thought Rhaegar was a prodigy."

"Even prodigies need to be taught something." Syrax remarked.

"Why did you leave all of a sudden back then?" Maegor asked.

"Once Rhaegar was making his own songs I felt that my work was done. So I left him my harp and headed to my own domain. Not to mention, singing just wasn't your thing, sweetheart. that is not to say that I didn't stop in every now and again to see his and your progress."

"Good thing you mentioned that," Ser Jonothor appeared then, holding something behind his back. "Naela thought you might want this back," she revealed that very same silver stringed harp that Rhaegar was known for.

Syrax had tears going down her face then as she took hold of her harp. "Oh Rhaeggy..."

"For what it's worth, Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought honourably-"

"And he died for it," Syrax spat. "To fight with honour means you have no intention of winning. Even when faced with the destruction of his family, he still chose to be foolish."

"How could you say that!" Maegor demanded. "You think he wanted to die? I'm sure he put his best efforts in his fight with Robert!"

"If he truly did, he'd be standing here now!" Syrax growled. "To fight with honour is to fight with restraint! Where I come from, you never hold back against the enemy, even if killing them isn't your intention! Bottom line, I loved you both as if were were my own children. Now he's dead, a victim in a completely avoidable war that he started! And for what? A prophecy? Maegor, my sweet summer, surely you realize now that your wasn't the brightest, especially if everything he did was driven by a prophecy he read as a boy. All that talent, wasted and now lost to us forever. In my mother tongue, the word for honourable is the same word for foolish. I can only hope that my grandnephew, Jon, grows up to be a better man than his father. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a song of lament that needs be composed before the next dawn."

Syrax had left them all there in the hallway, the grief of Rhaegar's loss weighing heavy on them.

Later that night, in the gardens of the Sealord's Palace, Maegor heard Syrax play upon the harp. She had met her obligation and had completed the song.

The song was full of sorrow and pain. And though it wasn't in the common tongue, it would still drive all to tears.

Even everyone in the house were in tears from the song. The kingsguard, the Dragonguard, even Naela and her other siblings.

Not even Maegor was immune to the Dragon's song, as he was nearly blind from his own tears.

Syrax was such a powerful singer, that her voice was carried on the water. Sailors could boast of hearing merlings.

All of a sudden the singing and harp playing ceased and was replaced with the masses screaming in horror, and a great rumbling.

"My love, what's happen-"

"Don't get out of bed," Maegor insisted to Maelyria as he went to investigate.

Upon opening the door to his bed chamber, he was surprised to See Tioman and Ser Oswell there.

"Gather all your essentials," the knight in red said. "We must leave now!"

"Why?"

"The Sealord has passed, and our safety here is no longer guaranteed." Said Ser Oswell.

"Papa, where are we going?" Maeleron asked him as they boarded onto Daesyus' vessals called "Dragon's Mercy", a massive war galley with an ebony hull and coral red sails, armed to the bone with scorpions, spitfires, cannons and forms of weapons that Maegor had never seen before.

"I don't know, lad. I'll ask Naela."

When they had all assembled on the galley, the crew hoisted the anchor on Daesyus' command.

As the Dragon's Mercy sailed southward, Maegor could see green flames and smoke.

"What happened?"

"The House of Black and White was infiltrated." Elliope said grinning. "Let's just say, the Faceless Men won't be taking any new kill contracts anytime soon."