I'm so sad this is the end but I hope Dany and Drogo will live on in your thoughts and imaginations. I love Dany and Drogo and I hope I did them justice. I can't say how much I appreciate all the love and support I received from all of you. I hope you enjoyed the story and if anyone has any requests about what I should write next please don't hesitate to tell me!
Much Love,
MaidenP
I'm sitting at a table under the shade as I sip my tea and watch my grandchildren frolic in the grass. The dragons lay off to the side, watching the children play. Their scales shine and glisten in the sunlight and I smile at them. Rhaenys the littlest one runs up to me and launches herself into my side. I barely manage to catch her and she lets out a great peal of laughter. Her silver hair sparkles in the sun and her violet eyes shine with mirth. For only a child of six she is a bright intuitive little girl.
"You caught me grandma!" Despite her diluted Targaryen blood she still shines of old Valyria. I chuckle and smooth out her wild hair. She is a beautiful child and my heart warms with love for her.
"Yes I did. I will always catch you little one." Rhaenys smiles and I see she has lost another tooth. Rhaego comes out from the main tent and makes his way toward us. His black hair hangs down his back in the longest braid I've seen since Drogo. He stops beside us and leans down to kiss my cheek.
"You must be more careful Rhaenys, you could hurt your grandma." Rhaenys turns to me with wide eyes.
"It's alright Rhaego, she is just excited to see me as I am her." I tweak her chubby cheek and she giggles sweetly. Rhaego sits across from me and watches as the children play. The twins Aemma and Aenar wrestle and Rhaella braids Koro's hair. Aemma throws Aenar to the dirt and she grins triumphantly from above him. He scowls at her and Rhaegal snorts as if amused. She helps him up and he playfully pushes her. Despite being twins, Aemma has dirty blond hair while Aenar has pale silver hair. They both have lilac colored eyes. Rhaella has hair the color of corn silk and deep burgundy colored eyes. Koro takes more after her Dothraki side with her dark black hair and bright indigo colored eyes.
"Papa where is mommy?" Rhaenys sits in my lap and I run my fingers through her hair. It flows down her back in waves and always manages to get tangled. Rhaego looks toward the tent and his wife Jirri waddles out. She is heavy with child and I am excited to add another babe to the family. My heart hurts looking at her. She is Irri and Rakharo's daughter and she looks so much like my dear friend. Irri passed two years ago in her sleep and Rakharo soon followed from what I suspect was a broken heart. Rhaego moves a chair under the shade for her. She smiles gratefully at him and settles beside me. I place my hand on her stomach and smile.
"It won't be long now." Jirri smiles and pats her bulging stomach.
"I am excited to meet the new babe. I'm ready to hold him." I arch my brows at her. She laughs and waves her hand in the air.
"It's just a feeling I have. I have three beautiful daughters already. It's time I finally give my sun and stars a son." Rhaego leans down and kisses her head.
"I care not what the gender is as long as the babe is healthy." I smile at Rhaego. My heart is heavy with sadness today. All of my closest friends and my sun and stars are gone. Jorah passed away three ago after losing Alva to sickness with Irri and Rakharo passing away two years ago. Drogo left me to go to the nightlands four months ago and still my chest grows tight with the loss of him. Rhaego resembles his father so much that it hurts to see him sometimes. But despite the sadness my heart fills with love for my family.
"Has anyone seen Baelor?" Baelor tends to hunt for days. Ever since losing his beloved Laena he tends to spend much time alone. I close my eyes and say a prayer to the great stallion to help heal my sweet sons heart. His children Aemma and Aenar were only two years old when their mother was struck with illness. They have just celebrated their fourteenth nameday. Despite losing his beloved, he has always been a devoted father to the twins. Rhaenys shifts on my lap and my back spasms. I gasp and grip the table.
"Mother! Are you alright?" Rhaego swoops Rhaenys up and sits her beside Jirri. He hovers over me, concern shinning in his eyes.
"I'm fine. Just very old." I smile through the pain. Lately my body has been wracked with spasms of pain. I have grown frail and brittle with age and I suspect my time is coming. Rhaego wraps his arm around my waist and helps me stand. I smile and pat his face.
"My sweet son." Rhaego kisses my cheek and I pat Rhaenys on the head. I shuffle off to my tent to rest.
...
"Mother!" I blink open my eyes. Rhaego squats next to my furs, his expression wild.
"Rhaego? What's wrong?" I rub the sleep from my eyes and he helps me sit up.
"It's Jirri. Her water broke but the babe isn't coming." I gesture for him to help me and I push my hair from my face. My body aches but I know I must help my daughter. I wave for him to come and we walk quickly to their tent. When we enter I see the midwife is with Jirri. Jirri lays in the furs, her face covered in sweat and her chest heaving up and down. For a moment I'm flashed back to when Irri gave birth to her. She also had trouble birthing Jirri and she was the only child they had. Rhaego helps me to kneel beside the midwife.
"How long has the babe been stuck?" The midwife wrings her hands, her face nervous. She is new to birthing, her mother our previous midwife.
"About an hour." I smash my lips together and nod. I instruct the midwife to bring in hot water and strips of cloth. Once I scrub up as best I can, I settle between Jiri's legs.
"Jirri this is going to be painful but it must be done. Try to bear with me." Jirri grits her teeth and nods her head. I get to work and after what seems like hours the babe finally gets in the right place. The babe comes squalling into the world with a ferociousness I've never seen. He is very large with a head full of silver hair and when he opens his eyes they are a deep lilac color. I wipe the babe down and swaddle him in the softest leather we have. He screams his anger to the world and I hand him to Jirri. She weeps tears of joy and holds him close. Rhaego sits beside them and watches with an awestruck look as Jirri feeds him. I wash my arms and hands and smile at my family.
"He is a beautiful babe. Congratulations my daughter." He suckles with a lusty vigor and his eyes are narrowed in concentration. My body screams at me and I sigh wearily. I am bone tired and I struggle to my feet.
"Wait, don't you want to know what we are naming him?" I shuffle to her side and sit next to Jirri. She clasps my hand and beams at me.
"Drogo. His name is Drogo." Tears well in my eyes and trail down my weathered cheeks. I hug her and kiss her forehead.
"Thank you my daughter." Rhaego wipes at his face and kisses Jirri. I lean down and kiss my new grandson. He watches me with bright eyes.
"Goodnight my children. I love you." I blow them a kiss and walk out of the tent. A spasm moves down my spine and I sag against the tent, trying to catch my breath.
"Mother?" I look up and Baelor rushes toward me. I smile and he wraps his arms around me. I lean against him and sigh.
"I'm just tired dearling. Will you help me back to my tent?" Baelor nods and we walk slowly to my tent. Once there he helps me settle in the furs. I release a pained breath and close my eyes. Baelor sits next to me, silent.
"Your dying." I open my eyes and look at my son. His silver hair is tangled around his face and his pale violet eyes watch me warily. Between him and Rhaego he looks the most like me. Though he still carries the characteristics of Drogo. Despite the pale shade of his skin, he has the sharp angles of Drogo's face. His lips are turned down in a frown and his expression is pained.
"I believe so. I feel myself slipping away more and more." I want to dispute his words but I know that wouldn't be fair. Baelor grips my hand and squeezes, his face devastated.
"Please don't leave mother. We still need you. I need you." I smile slightly.
"I'm ready. I miss your father." These past few months without Drogo by my side have been torture. I am ready to ride beside him in the nightlands. Baelor looks away, his eyes full of tears. I raise his hand to my lips and brush a gentle kiss to his trembling fingers.
"Does anyone else know?" I think they suspect but I've hidden my pains and fatigue so who truly knows.
"I don't believe so but you boys always were good at hiding things from me." Baelor's lips twitch and I squeeze his hand.
"Will..will you tell Laena I love her and miss her everyday?" My heart clenches in pain and I let out a gasp.
"I will my son. Will you tell all the children that I love them and I will see them again one day?" I think of the twins and Rhaella and Koro and little Rhaenys. How I will miss the children. I will miss seeing little Drogo growing up into the mighty warrior I know he will be. Tears stream down my face and I close my eyes.
"I"m tired my son. Please look after our family. Be brave and strong and love with your whole heart." Baelor kisses my forehead and I close my eyes, breathing in his scent. How I will miss them.
"Sleep mother, I will be here. I will protect our family." My lips twitch and I smile. I close my eyes and let sleep take me.
...
A spasm wracks my body and I gasp awake. Baelor sleeps next to me, his hands clutching my night shift like he used to do when he was a child. I brush his hair from his face and place a tiny kiss to his cheek. Despite the warm night, I shiver. My skin is cool to the touch and I struggle to my feet. I tuck the furs around Baelor and take one last look around my tent. All of the little trinkets and treasures I have found over the years. The satin gown that I wore when I married Drogo. I say my silent goodbyes to Baelor and shuffle from the tent. I stop by the small tent that all the children decided to pile into tonight. I smile to myself. They said they all wanted to have a sleepover together. Aemma and Aenar sleep close, their hands locked together. Rhaella and Koro sleep with little Rhaenys tucked safely between them. They all look so sweet and my heart breaks that I will not get to see them grow up and become who they are meant to be. I say a silent prayer to the great stallion to watch over and protect my sweet little ones. I take one last look at them and shuffle off to the next tent. I open the tent flap quietly and nearly shriek in surprise to see Rhaego sitting by the fire, sharpening his arakh.
"Mother? Is everything alright?" Rhaego hurries to my side. He grips my elbow to steady me and I pat his face.
"I wished only to check on Jirri and little Drogo before I go to sleep." The lie tastes like dirt in my mouth but it's worth it to see the worry fade from his eyes. He smiles brightly at me and helps me shuffle over to their furs. My body protests when I kneel and my vision fades slightly before coming back. I smile lovingly at Jirri and Drogo and lightly run my fingers over the babes soft tuft of hair. My lips twist in a bitter grin and I place a small kiss to his face before doing the same to Jirri. I hold out my hand and Rhaego helps me to my feet. He follows me from the tent, his grip strong on my elbow.
"Let me help you back to your tent mother." I gently pry his hand from my arm and softly pat his face.
"I can make it just fine my dearling. Go back to bed with Jirri and Drogo." Rhaego looks like he wants to argue but I hold up my hand. He searches my face as if looking for something before he finally nods. He leans down to wrap me in his arms and I melt into his embrace. I want to cry and tell him that I am not long for this world but instead I choke it down.
"I love you Rhaego. Always take good care of our family." Tears sting at my eyes. I wrap my arms as tightly as I can around my son and take one last look at his face. He smiles at me and brushes a kiss to my forehead.
"I will mother. I will come in the morning and we can all have breakfast together." I smile brightly at him and nod along. He watches me shuffle away before going back into his tent. The last stop on my list is the dragons. Viserion and Rhaegal snore softly together. I place my hands on their snouts and feel their bumpy scales. I place a kiss to each of them and move on to Drogon. A clutch of eggs lay in a pile next to Drogon and I place my hand to them, feeling the tiny life pulsing within. Drogon huffs slightly before blinking at me. I place my hand on his snout and he blows warm air on my palm.
"Hello my love. I have come to say goodbye." Drogon shakes his massive head and blinks sleepily at me. I pet him slowly and wait for him to fully wake up.
"Let's go for one last ride." Drogon snorts and lays flat on the ground. It's harder than it used to be and my body screams in protest but I manage to slide up on his back. I grip his scales in my wrinkled hands and hug my body close to his spine.
"Valahd!" I whisper the word and Drogon ambles off the ground. The air rushes all around me and the ground fades from view. I look up at the stars dancing across the night sky and smile. I feel weightless and free. I lay my head down on Drogon and watch as the world around me fades to black. The last thing I hear is the sound of Drogon's cry.
...
"Moon of my life. Wake up my moon." That voice. It's like a soothing balm to my aching heart. I struggle to open my eyes but when I do, I am greeted by the most glorious sight. Drogo leans over me, a wide smile on his face. He helps me stand and I just stare at him. He stands tall and proud, looking like he did the first day I met him. I look down at my hands and gasp. They are no longer wrinkled and spotted but a smooth pale color. My body no longer trembles with the pain of old age and my vision is bright.
"Where are we?" I look out around us. We stand in a field of grass, our horses grazing a few yards away. The wind blows softly through the field and the sweet smell of honey and lemon swirl around us. I feel so peaceful.
"The nightlands my moon.I have waited here for your arrival." Drogo lifts my hand and kisses it. His dark eyes are warm and full of love. I throw my arms around him and breath in his scent. How I have missed him. Sobs rack my body and I cling to him. Drogo rubs my back and murmurs soothing words to me.
"I've missed you so much. How I've yearned to be with you again." Drogo wipes the tears from my face and kisses me softly.
"I know my moon. I have felt incomplete without you." I cup his face in my hands and kiss him sweetly on the mouth, my heart mending. I miss the family I've left but I have faith that they will be alright as long as they have each other.
"My sun and stars. Never leave me again." I whisper against his lips and he grins at me. He grips my waist and pulls me close.
"Never again moon of my life. Are you ready to ride?" I look over and Silver looks up from grazing, her gaze on me. I gaze uncertainly around us and Drogo cups my face. He kisses me fiercely and tangles his fingers in my hair.
"Our friends are waiting for us my moon." I pull back and look at him with wet eyes. He grins crookedly at me and catches my falling tears with his fingers. I grab his hand and pull him toward our horses.
"Let's go." Drogo lifts me onto Silvers back as he mounts Thunder. He grins at me and my heart thumps unevenly in my chest.
"Care to race?" I bare my teeth at him and kick my feet in Silvers flanks. She immediately breaks into a run and I laugh.
"Try to keep up!" Drogo roars with laughter and races after me. The wind whips through my hair and my heart is at peace. I will always miss the family we left but I know one day, a long time from now they will join us in the nightlands. I look back at Drogo and smile. Until then I look forward to spending eternity in the nightlands with my sun and stars.