Thanks so much for the reviews. Glad you continue to enjoy, and I hope everyone is doing well in these strange times.
For the guest asking about the oath: I meant to answer that last chapter, but the simplicity of removing the oath was made impossible by the fact that it was a two-way agreement, and they feared Viserys absolving Aegon of his promise meant the magic would consider him reneging on his side of the vow. A tricky situation, but the ritual - while not seen - works more along the lines of a mutual release of the promise without affecting either of them magically.
Daenerys
"Ready?" Lord Harry asked, crouching down before her.
"Yes, my lor—Harry," she corrected herself, seeing the look on his face.
Lord Potter-Black was a most strange man; he had insisted Dany call him by his name, telling her there was no need to stand on formalities with him when they were almost family.
And what a strange family it was.
Dany had only known Viserys for so long – had not dared to consider the family lost to her – that it was odd being given a larger family in such a short time. Dorne had welcomed them as it's children – had opened it's arms wide for two lost children who shared their blood – but Dorne was not nearly as odd as the Targaryen prince and princess, and Dany had tucked away the part of her that didn't belong as Viserys had told her to.
Now; now, Dany could not recall the many reasons she was certain she had feared her oddness in the sands of Dorne.
The family before her were the oddest people Daenerys had ever met. Lord Harry sometimes forgot he was meant to be a lord, sitting on the floor as his youngest child insisted on playing with his hair or come into my castle as Maia's cousins had taught her. Princess Elia was everything Viserys had told her she was like; the part of Dany that had feared the woman's reaction to them had uncoiled at receiving nothing but gentle kindness, and she imagined her own mother had been the same – gentle and good, but with a fierce sharpness to her that was a warning for anyone fool enough to harm her loved ones.
Aegon, Rhaenys and Edward – Egg, Rhae and Teddy, they had insisted – were impossibly more boisterous than Prince Oberyn's daughters, and Dany worried at the chaos that would occur should the cousins ever decide it was in their best interest to work together.
And cousins they were; Teddy had a secretive smile on his face whenever someone looked in askance at him when he referred to Egg and Rhae as his siblings. When Daenerys had asked, Teddy had smiled. "They are blood of my blood," he told her, referring to their shared sister. "And of my blood."
Teddy had winked, a sly glint in his eyes, and Dany decided she was perfectly fine with not asking for more information. She was sure she would learn the truth of the matter in time.
Dany had watched them use magic for all manner of things since they had met – from simple household tasks, to entertaining Maia or pulling tricks on each other, to clearing some of the rubble and deadened grass from the island once they returned to Bloodstone.
Lord Harry had forbidden the three of them from assisting, reminding them of the oath that was in place, and Daenerys had instead practiced her stitching with Princess Elia in their apartments, stifling her snickers as Viserys regaled them with a tale of Lord Griffin's run in with the portraits. Lord James had been speaking to his uncle when Ser Jon was near – unable to resist visiting the portrait of the man Dany had been told taught him all manner of mischief – causing the other man to splutter in shock at hearing voices in an otherwise empty corridor.
That Lord Julius had been alone in his portrait when the Stormlands knight looked again, as immobile as a drawn painting, had left him flummoxed.
Yes, quite the strange family, Dany thought, remembering the multitude of portraits that had introduced themselves to her and the almost hissing tones that Maia and Teddy used when speaking to the dragons.
Compared to them, Dany was sure her dreams were a minor thing.
"I can't promise that it won't hurt," Harry continued, green eyes soft as he waited for Dany to get comfortable. "But you shouldn't feel it for now."
They were in a room on the lowest floor at the other end of the godswood, the walls a shining black that looked darker in the light. The floor had been covered in intricate sketches, three interlocked circles for where Dany, Egg and Viserys were meant to sit. Lord Harry had warded the area to keep the others safe – and Daenerys had been amazed when she realized the same wards kept their rooms safe from prying eyes.
"How will I not feel it now?" she asked, brow knitted in confusion.
He had a small phial in hand, the purple tinged with a milky sheen. "Dreamless sleep. Good for most cases of pain," he said, handing the phial to her.
"I won't dream?" Dany questioned, chancing a quick glance at Viserys.
"Not exactly," Harry answered, a small grimace on his face. "You might still have dreams if they're strong enough. This makes sure you can't wake in the middle of the ritual because of pain."
Before she could lose her nerve, Dany swallowed the potion, the odd taste leaving a sour feeling in her mouth.
It's not so bad, she thought, settling in as Lord Harry explained the ritual to a tense Viserys.
Her eyes began to droop, a sudden heaviness coming over her before Dany fell into a deep sleep, for once free of the whispers of ghosts that seemed to strengthen since her coming to Bloodstone.
"Careful, Dany," Aegon called, rushing forward to grab hold of her. "Let him come to you."
"I'm not scared," Dany told him, purple eyes glinting in determination. "Fire cannot kill a dragon."
Egg smiled ruefully, tapping her lightly on the shoulder. "Perhaps, but dragons can harm each other."
Daenerys nodded in begrudging acknowledgement, recalling her lessons on the Dance of Dragons.
But I am not Rhaenyra to be eaten by a dragon, she thought.
Dany had the sound of wing beats in her ears, rushing in tandem with her heart. Each night she dreamt, she imagined herself in the air, soaring along the open sky on the back of a dragon, silver-gold hair fluttering in the wind.
Always, Daenerys rode as her ancestors might once have – freely, joyously, and with the knowledge that dragons were not dead to the world.
Seeing two of them in the flesh was enough to convince Daenerys that her dreams might one day become reality.
Seeing Bloodstone in all its glory had cemented those dreams.
It was exactly as she had imagined it to be, down to the most minute details of the rubble lingering on the island, the shelters that had been destroyed by pirates and dragged out to sea. If she closed her eyes, she could picture the labyrinth that was the keep embedded in the mountains, the godswood they stood in that held the most trees to be found on Bloodstone with enough room for the two dragons.
Dany had dreamed of this island before, yet it was not time for her to find what she sought most.
"Go on then," Egg told her, pointing at the dragon before them. "Iacomus won't harm you now."
"How do you know that?" Dany asked, reaching forward. Iacomus was warm beneath her hand. Fire made flesh, she thought, running a hand along his snout. Silver eyes watched her lazily; the dragons had warmed to them in the moon they had spent on Bloodstone, but Egg and Rhae were leery of leaving them alone with their dragons.
"The bond," Egg said simply, smiling as a hot gust of air hit him. He leaned into his dragon, face smoothing of the small lines that seemed to cover him.
As overjoyed as he had been at the breaking of the oath, Dany had seen the change in the boy. He spent the past moon seated with the council they had formed as Lord Tarly walked him through battle tactics from the Wars of the Marches, Prince Oberyn and Lord Willas discussed the different Houses and their current, supposed loyalties, and Ser Allyn gave as much detail as he could on the Westerlands and the Houses along the coast.
Throughout, his siblings and Viserys had surrounded Aegon – the trio refusing to allow him to go it alone. Dany had seen the glances from the other lords at the sight of them, a pleased expression on Prince Doran's face.
The Prince of Dorne had come to Bloodstone a fortnight ago for his sister's birth; Dany could still remember the smug smile Prince Oberyn wore when his brother was introduced to the dragons.
Auriga and Iacomus had remained calm, their riders no doubt keeping them docile, but they were most comfortable with Aegon's parents and siblings.
"What does it feel like?" Dany asked him.
Egg frowned, eyes crinkled in thought as he absentmindedly smoothed a hand over Iacomus' scales.
"It's…it feels like a bond," he said, sighing as Dany sent him an unimpressed look. "I don't know how to explain it properly. I can feel him – his emotions, what he's doing – and I'm certain Iacomus can feel mine as well. He's a part of me, if that makes sense."
It did, in some odd way. Dany watched as Maia skipped over to them, the little girl hissing at the dragon before she clambered up his wing barefoot. Maia seated herself on Iacomus, features morphing to mimic Aegon's, and Dany's breath caught, imagining that was how she would like atop a dragon.
"Really, sister. What would Mum say if she saw you running around barefoot? Don't you dare, Iacomus," Egg warned.
She hid her smile at the exasperated expression that crossed Egg's face as the grey dragon shifted to accommodate Maia; Iacomus was as helpless as his rider when it came to the little girl, and Dany was sure it was only the bond that kept Iacomus from flying.
"Mama's busy, Egg," Maia retorted, a pleased look on her face as she hissed at the dragon. Her smile turned into a pout as Teddy ran over to join them, his voice no doubt instructing the dragon to ignore the child.
"Maia."
"Teddy," Maia pouted, green eyes wide.
"I suppose you won't get the chance to fly on your broom then," Teddy said sadly, turning disappointed eyes on her.
"A broom?" Viserys laughed, watching the two Potter-Blacks hissing at each other. "A flimsy stick to take you up as if it were a dragon?"
"That's how magicals fly," Rhaenys told him, an amused look on her face. "We haven't explained quidditch?"
"That sounds like an illness," Viserys said. "Kidditch?"
Dany smothered her laughter at seeing the stricken looks on the faces of the three older magicals as they took offense to Viserys words.
"An illness?" Egg mouthed, disbelief etched in his features.
Teddy had managed to get hold of his sister, her silver-gold hair blending with his dark curls as he said, "Vis, really? I'd expect a Targaryen of all people to be quidditch mad."
"What is this kidditch?" Viserys asked, lilac eyes dancing with amused confusion.
"Quid-ditch, quidditch," Rhae said slowly. "It's only the best game in the known world."
"How do you play?" Dany asked, snorting as all three rambled in explanation of their preferred stopped mid-way through her explanation of a seeker's role, head snapping to where Auriga had shifted. Rhaenys' purple eyes shone lightly, the others turning to glance toward the keep, and any wonder Dany had over whether her niece and nephew could see through their dragons' eyes was gone.
"Uncle?" she called, voice carrying effortlessly.
Auriga barely grumbled as Oberyn came into view, one eye on the dragon lounging too close for comfort.
Daenerys felt the barely hidden tension return, the siblings anxiously waiting for Oberyn to tell them everything had gone well. Elia had taken to the birthing bed in the early hours of the day, a flurry of movement from the keep's servants as the maester bellowed orders.
They had been shoved out to wait, shrieks reaching them briefly as Lord Harry scandalously entered the birthing chamber, before Teddy ordered them outside, unable to stand the waiting period in their rooms.
"Our mother?"
"Resting. She and your brother are both well," Oberyn said. "Your father is calling for you."
A broad smile split his face as a whoop of glee escaped Egg, the tension escaping as a sigh of relief seemed to split the air.
"C'mon Maia," Egg crowed, sweeping the laughing girl into his arms before making his way inside.
"Seems we're outnumbered," Rhae said, a rueful smile on her face. "Come along then. We'll go say hello to the littlest Potter-Black."
Daenerys blinked, seeing the expectant look on Rhaenys' face. "Wha—me?"
"No, the other Daenerys. Yes, you," Rhaenys said. "Dad means all of us."
"But I'm not—"
"Family?" Rhaenys questioned, tilting her head to look at Dany with smiling indigo eyes. She nudged her head toward the exit, where Viserys was speaking lowly to Teddy as they headed inside.
Daenerys followed her inside, slightly puzzled as she made her way to the family wing. The bottom floors of the keep were buzzing with activity; servants moved to and fro, guards were present in greater the numbers the closer they approached the upstairs, and Dany had seen crabby Lord Griffin frowning at one point as he spoke to an irritated looking Lord Tarly, the portrait behind him empty.
It wasn't until they reached the upper hall that Dany realized they had truly meant to introduce her to the newest child as family.
Princess Elia had been in a room a floor below the family rooms, allowing for a number of people to move about without the wards deflecting them. They came across Lady Ashara and Lady Larra, the two speaking to Prince Doran as Egg ran ahead, his two Kingsguard remaining in the outer hall.
Dany hesitated, glancing at Viserys. Her brother seemed tense but he let Teddy lead him inside, and Dany followed his lead.
Elia was nowhere in sight, likely resting inside the bedroom; Lord Harry was seated on an ottoman, Maia perched next to him as she peered at the bundle in his arms.
"…so tiny," Maia was saying, reaching a hand out carefully.
"You were just as small," Egg said teasingly.
Green eyes looked up, a warm look in them tinged with something undecipherable.
Rhaenys tugged on her hand, dragging Dany closer so that she could see.
The babe looked like his sisters, all bronzed skin and black hair, though his was impossibly more unruly than either of them, looking more akin to the hair Dany had seen on the portraits. He looked very Dornish, with little of his father in him that Dany could see.
"What's his name?" Rhaenys asked.
"Lewyn James Potter-Black," Harry answered.
She felt a slight twinge of guilt, knowing she should not be wandering around the castle at this time, but this was perhaps the only chance Dany would have to see her dreams to life.
Daenerys' nameday had heralded a pause in their lessons, a large cake of lemon tart served along lunch courtesy of the she-elf she had met – Winky, she was called.
They had taken lunch privately– just the Potter-Blacks and the four Targaryens amongst them. Even little Lewyn was present, the babe sleeping soundly in his mother's arms as his siblings bellowed a terrible rendition of some song they insisted was a nameday tradition in their father's lands.
A part of her thought they were having her on; Lord James – James, he had told her to call him, or Ser James if she so wished – smiling along didn't give her much confidence in their words, but that Dany could faintly hear Elia humming along softly.
Dany had been surprised at seeing how much the boy took after his father; he had his mother's colouring and some her features, but his thick ringlets were as unruly as any Potters, and the Potter ladies swore he looked like his father had as a babe. Only time would tell how much Lewyn continued to resemble his eldest brother, but Dany thought the boy was an adorable mix of both parents.
It was for that reason Dany had second-guessed her night time adventure; Elia had regained colour and much of her strength in the last moon, but Daenerys knew there was still some worry amongst the family.
Prince Doran and Prince Oberyn remained in Bloodstone for the time being, the elder Martells united in their worry over their only sister.
Daenerys swallowed nervously, steeling her spine as she ruthlessly pressed down her fear and guilt.
I am the blood of the dragon, Dany reminded herself, ignoring the lingering darkness.
Bloodstone had heightened Dany's dreams; they came nearly every night now, leaving her gasping for breath when she woke. Always, Dany had the sound of wing beats in her ears, urging her to find them.
Lord Harry had spent a fortnight teaching Daenerys and Viserys about magic after they had successfully removed the oath, but it wasn't his lessons she recalled now. There was a faint tug of magic, leading her deeper into the darkness of the castle, yet it was her dreams she relied on, the memory of these halls letting her slip past the guards to the first keep.
The cool air whipped at her hair, the breeze from the sea carrying the smell of salt and damp earth. Dany's footsteps left a mark on the floor, the earth disturbed as she followed along the wall of the keep to the groove where the mountainside met the towers, the stars shining brightly, almost as if anticipation for this moment.
The rain had softened the ground, the earth giving way easily as Daenerys dug her fingers into the soft soil beneath the walls in a frenzied manner until she was elbow deep in dirt. A sharp prick of her palm put pause to her movements before a grin crossed her face, the princess doubling her efforts until she managed to wriggle the two eggs free.
The eggs were heavy and covered with dirt and streaks of blood. The first was a cream with swirls of purple and blue, the other egg a deep red, veins of black running through it.
Fire and blood, Dany remembered, ignoring the faint sound of voices screaming her name.
She had thought the dreams meant that Dany was to light a torch, but she understood now; Daenerys was the blood of the dragon – was fire made flesh – and she let Lord Harry's words guide her as a small flame sparked to life. Small cracks formed, the egg shaking before the shards exploded outward.
They found her like that, sitting in the dirt with the two creatures clinging to her nightclothes, the song of dragons filling the air.
Gotta say, I can't imagine Dany without the title Mother of Dragons, so there's that. We're now 2-3 months further than we were at the end of the last chapter, and closer to the restoration.
To answer any questions/comments;
exillion: Harry's powerful, but he's not a master legilimens like Snape or Dumbledore. Even so, he would need the memories of someone who has visited the castles of all the important lords to know where he's going. He also hasn't figured out the key to apparating across Westeros, as the magic levels are still too low overall and he's a bit leery of splinching himself painfully. Ultimatum or not, people scoffed at Aegon the Conqueror when he had three dragons and decided to go to war against him. People might remember the danger of dragons, but they'll also consider that they might get a lucky shot and take them out. Regarding his being the ultimate weapon, all it takes is one moment of distraction/exhaustion for someone to get an opening. It's why he tells Teddy he needs to focus on redirecting weapons coming their way. One man against 50k plus soldiers - even if he's a magical powerhouse - can get nasty pretty quickly. Does he want thousands dying for his son? No, and he'll try to do as much as he can to mitigate the disaster. He's not perfect, and he's underestimating how powerful the resentment against the Lannisters and Robert's rule is among certain regions. Westeros is a hotbed for war right now.
TianYi: cheers! Thanks for the well wishes, and I hope you and yours are doing well. Sending good vibes your way.
osterreicher97: nope. She's definitely suspicious, even if Caleotte has been fairly loyal, and her memories of King's Landing are starting to play a stronger role in her interactions. Lol, Connington remains the same for now. Elia's read the board when it comes to the Reach and in one move cemented Randyll's loyalty to their cause as well as in future, since he remains one of Willas' closest advisors. As for the magic, I'd consider the Doom almost on par with the Breaking. Probably more disastrous, since it wiped out almost all of the dragons and it's ruined the lands around Valyria. We'll touch more on the Breaking in a few chapters as well as what differences there were in the weakening of magic in both continents, but yes, the cutting of the weirwoods would have played a strong role I suspect.
red demon161: the closer she got to her due date the more suspicious she was of the maesters, but she'll be keeping an eye out. We'll get a more rounded accounting of their household in the next Harry and Elia chapters. JonCon has definitely forgotten himself. Aegon actually being alive has thrown him, and Elia being alive, pregnant and the regent was infuriating enough that he ignored all sense. Elia's not the frail princess he thought, and Aegon's far more aware of the legacy he has to contend with. He'll slip back into his courtier role, but Harry's shown to be a touchy subject so they're bound to clash again.
Up next; Harry deals with the newest dragons as a new ally shows up.
