Hey!

This story has now surpassed 400, 000 words … My original outline had this story to finish at this amount but I predict now there is at least another 100,000 words of my AU story left and who knows how much extra scenes and alternative scenes I will post after that.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the latest chapter :)


Chapter 83: Brightroar

A day later …

Yohn and Jorge Lannister's chambers, The Great Keep, Inner Castle, Winterfell, The North, Westeros


Sansa sat on the cold stone ground and watched in delight as Yohn crawled towards her with a mischievous smile on his face.

The one-year-old tumbled to the floor halfway through his journey, lying flat on his tummy. When he saw Sansa watching him, he started to giggle and reach out for her with his tiny hands.

"You are always getting into scraps, aren't you?" Sansa said playfully as she picked up the stranded Prince and returned to her sitting position with the active babe secured in her gentle hands.

"Just like his mother then," Arya quickly replied.

Sansa started bouncing Yohn up and down in front of her but she turned her face to see Arya sitting still in the middle of the room with her legs crossed.

Her little sister didn't sit alone though. Jorge was mirroring Arya's position a metre away from her and the two were engaged in an intense staring match.

The presumed heir to Casterly Rock was giving Arya a worthy contest. His shining green eyes never wavered from Arya's cold grey ones.

"Does Bran seem different to you?" Sansa asked giving Yohn an encouraging smile as he gurgled in front of her and tried to grab her long red hair.

"He is no longer simply Bran Stark. He is the Three-eyed Raven," Arya shrugged not breaking eye contact with the little blond babe, "His time north of the Wall changed him."

"I just miss him how he was," Sansa said trying to not let her emotions show in front of the twins.

"This one is definitely Tywin Lannister's," Arya announced as she creeped towards Jorge on her knees and picked him up, ending their contest.

"Arya," Sansa warned in a hushed tone as Yohn squirmed in her arms. Winterfell was not King's Landing but secrets were still best kept in silence.

"You didn't tell Robb? Why?" Arya demanded.

"The truth about the twin's parentage is not something he needs to know. It is for Kenna to reveal. You didn't tell Jon, did you?"

"Not yet. You are protecting Kenna, why?"

"Because she protected me in King's Landing when you were gods knows where."

"It was not easy for me either after Father's death," Arya bristled, "I will tell Jon and Robb if it becomes an issue for our family. Bran probably already knows."

"If we are to keep Jon's parentage a secret, we can surely keep Yohn's and Jorge's a secret too. If people know it will only put them in more danger than they are in already."

Yohn had finally tired himself out in Sansa's arms and was lying flat against Sansa's chest with his head nestled in her neck. Jorge by contrast was still eagerly observing everything around him as Arya's arms cradled him, listening to the words between the sisters which he could not hope to understand.

Arya looked from Yohn's slumbering frame to the little lion cub in her arms who tried to stifle a yawn.

The ice in her eyes thawed ever so slightly, "You have more experience with secrets than I but if I think Jon and Robb need to know then I will tell them Sansa."

Sansa nodded appreciatively knowing Arya was trusting her, "They are innocent and do not deserve to be judged for who their parents are and what they have done."

"I know," Arya replied placing Jorge back in the cradle, "I leave with Jon tomorrow."

"Are you going to King's Landing?"

"Yes. Jon hopes to talk to Daenerys Targaryen and Tommen before any serious clashes occur."

"I wish you luck then sister," Sansa said lowering a sleeping Yohn into the cradle beside his brother and when she turned around, she found Arya right in front of her.

Arya drew her into a hug, "I am sorry for leaving you again."

Sansa replicated the embrace, "You had to the first time just as you have to now. Winter is coming and we need the cooperation of the South to stop it."


A day later on a crisp cold afternoon …

Throne Room, in the Stone Drum, Dragonstone Castle, Dragonstone, Blackwater Bay, East Crownlands, Westeros


Varys watched as his Queen departed the Throne room, her agitation was clearly written across her face.

"It seems that now our Queen's objective is with her reach she is eager to snatch out and grab it," Varys said out loud knowing he was being observed.

"If the one thing you have always desired was within sight would you not run towards it?" Missandei defended.

"Of course," Varys turned to Daenerys's closest advisor, "but there is a danger in rushing forwards without caution and I am not just talking of acquiring the Throne but of keeping it."

"The people of Westeros will know that she is the Prince that was Promised. The one that will lead them out of the darkness towards the light," Melisandre said with passion dancing in her eyes.

"And I suppose you are with us to help her in that endeavour," Varys snarked back.

"I am very persuasive; some would almost say seductive in my devotion to the Lord of Light."

"Some would say insane," Varys chirped back.

Melisandre only smiled patronisingly at the sceptical man in front of her, "Many have said that of me and all were wrong."

Missandei felt the tension between the two Essos natives, "We are all on the same side."

Varys's hard expressionless face immediately morphed into a polite smile as he switched his attentions from Melisandre to Missandei, "Our Queen will need your gentle heart and honest council in the days to come."

"Just as I am sure she will need your cunning mind and knowledge as well," Missandei replied.

Varys reached out and squeezed the young woman's hand in acknowledgement of her comment.

A moment later he felt a tug at his elbow.

They were all surprised to see a black haired bedraggled little girl pulling on Vary's silk covered arms incessantly trying to get his attention.

She was successful. The eunuch dipped down to the little child but she didn't speak only kept a tight grip on his elbow. Varys knew she was one of his little birds and why she remained silent but the message in her eyes was clear to him.

Follow me.

Varys looked up at the two women who were watching the exchange and politely excused himself, "I am afraid I am needed elsewhere."

"Remember Spider we both have to die in this strange country," Melisandre called after Varys while Missandei watched the plump bauld man and little girl disappear from their sight.

Both wondered about the exchange they had just witness but both knew Daenerys had the Spider's loyalty.


Fifteen minutes later …

The cliffs just outside of Dragonstone Castle, Dragonstone, Blackwater Bay, East Crownlands, Westeros


Daenerys looked to the cliff edge where Drogon was perched. He looked magnificent, spreading his wings at the approaching party. It was hard to believe he had ever been small enough to sit on her shoulder.

"In just a few weeks you will be sitting on the Iron Throne," Jorah said by her side shielding his eyes from the wind waves Drogon was generating from flapping his wings at his mother.

Daenerys cast her eye beyond Drogon to the shimmering sea that stood between her and her destiny, "I want the Iron Throne and I want it now. I have no more patience to pretend otherwise. I have waited long enough and suffered enough."

"I understand Khaleesi-" Jorah started but was cut off by his Queen.

"Everyone who hurt us, betrayed us, killed our loved ones is just beyond these waters. When we get to King's Landing, we will make them all pay for everything."

"Ser Jorah is right in what he is trying to say," Ser Barristan said calmly causing Daenerys to turn away from Drogon and listen to her old protector, "Your enemies are not stupid. They will have fortified King's Landing and made provisions to oppose you. We need to be careful now, not reckless."

Daenerys walked up to Ser Barristan and her Hand, "You are right, you are both right but all the good fortune in the world won't save them from my dragons."

"What do you think Lady Cersei?" Daenerys asked flicking her head towards the lone woman who was gazing at Drogon with awe in her eyes.

"If I have to wait a little longer to see my father and brother's heads on spikes so be it," the Lannister Lady replied with venom in her words, "But I remind you that Tommen is an innocent. He has done no harm to any of us."

Daenerys gave Cersei a sympathetic smile, "No parent should ever lose their child."

Cersei nodded at the sentiment but she noticed Daenerys's choice of words.

"Excuse me," Daenerys said to her three advisors, "I would like to see what Aegon saw before he invaded Westeros."

Daenerys walked towards Drogon, who lowered himself to help his mother climb on top of him and then mother and child set off into the air together.

"Anyone that opposes her will be reduced to ashes, won't they?" Cersei asked the two loyal men, trying not to think about Jaime roasting alive in his armour.

They all watched Drogon glide through the stormy sky above them but Ser Barristan gave her an answer.

"A Targaryen that is not embraced by their people will burn them to feel the warmth they think they deserve."

"She deserves the people's warmth," Jorah said firmly with pure conviction, "and if we do not fail her the people of Westeros will love her just as much as the people of Essos do."


A minute later ..

Underground vaults underneath the Stone Drum, Dragonstone Castle, Dragonstone, Blackwater Bay, East Crownlands, Westeros


Varys followed the child leading him through the dreary, but lit, corridors of the underground vaults beneath the Stone Drum keep. Being below ground in the earthy smelling tunnels was even more drab than the gloomy stonework of the castle above but at least the lukewarm sun rays could reach the castle at the surface.

The small child stopped suddenly and gripped his hand tighter.

Varys looked down and saw the little girl was pointing ahead to an open door. Varys still holding the child's hand continued onwards.

They reached the open door at the ends of the tunnel and saw there was a row of vaults that lined the wall they had come to stop at.

Varys poked his head through the threshold and inspected the room. The only light was from the torch lit corridor. He could see barrels stacked on top of each other and they nearly filled the entire room. He backed out and turned to investigate the other rooms but he nearly bumped into a small boy holding his hand over the flame of a candle as he carried it in his other one.

They locked eyes.

The boy dropped the candle and started fleeing back into the darkness of the tunnel.

"Go after him," Varys instructed the little girl as he let go of her hand.

The girl nodded and held a small dirty knife in her hand as she started running after the little boy.

Varys unhooked a torch from the wall as the pitter patter of the children's feet became more and more distant.

He walked into the next vault along from the one he had already been in and it was the exact same as the first one except for two things.

The floor was wet, with murky green liquid and there was a single lit candle on the floor.

Varys for the first time in years ran.

He ran towards the candle and pressed his hand on the flame to extinguish it as his other held the torch revealing the horrifying contents of the room.

The pain of his burnt palm was nothing compared to the thundering of his heart as his mind put two and two together.

These barrels contained wildfire and if a single spark from the candle had fallen on the green liquid at his feet then not only would he have died but he suspected that everyone within the vicinity of the Castle would too.

Varys let out a shaky sigh of relief as he stepped out of the room with the used candle in his hand. He let his back hit the wall of the corridor and quickly replaced the torch back in its holder.

That is when he saw all the other open doors of the underground vaults. There were at least ten other vaults which he could see in the looming darkness.

No, surely not, he thought as he willed his body towards the next door.

He looked inside the vault.

It was the same as the second one. In the middle of the room, there was a solitary lit candle surrounded by a lake of green.

Varys dropped the extinguished candle in his hand and sprinted as fast as he could into the room nearly losing his balance on the slick floor in his endeavour to reach the centre.

He saw the low wick and the flickering flame.

He lunged for the candle.

He didn't make it in time.

The wildfire ignited sending a wave of heat through the room that smashed through Vary's body and tore through his scream of panic.

The fire wave consumed the wildfire filled barrels placed in the multiple vaults and shot through the tunnels soaking them in a blinding destructive light that swept away everything in its path. The devouring fire drove upwards in search of fresh air and erupted right underneath the castle of Dragonstone as if a dragon was being born at the heart of it. The fiery green flames began eating away at the black stone at the centre of the ancient castle and all who were unlucky enough to be in its path.


Same time ..

Sky above Dragonstone, Blackwater Bay, East Crownlands, Westeros


Daenerys couldn't believe what she was seeing as Drogon flew circles around the island.

The tall centre keep, the Stone Drum, of the castle had been completely engulfed in green flames that left nothing in their wake.

The other towers and walls surrounding it had been peppered with flaming debris causing the structures to partially collapse before her very eyes.

Despite her lofty position above Dragonstone, she could still hear the cries and screams of those who were not incinerated by the explosion and were caught beneath the rumble and dust. She could see her Unsullied soldiers crawling over the broken dragon stone pieces that had been Aegon's legacy since he first arrived in Westeros.

Now it was all nothing more than a smoking ruin.

The place of her birth was no more. The safe haven that her mother had been smuggled to had been destroyed. The last stronghold of Targaryen history had fallen and she felt all those losses deeply.

All she could think about in that moment was who had been caught in the blast but as she urged Drogon back down to the island her mind turned to what she was going to do to those responsible.


A few minutes earlier …

Outer balcony facing Blackwater Bay, Red Keep, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Lannister/Tyrell) in the Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms


"This is a delight," Tyrion said letting the wine swirl around his mouth before swallowing it.

"I thought you would appreciate a good Dornish red," Kenna said across the table before looking out to the clear sky that sat above the rolling waves of Blackwater Bay.

"The fact you took this from Sunspear only makes it taste sweeter."

"Are you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Tyrion asked refilling his empty goblet.

"Why you requested my presence?" Kenna asked impatiently.

Tyrion was amusing company and clever conversation always ensued when they met but she was a busy woman with an army, Lords and two Kings to keep happy.

"I want to know your thoughts on my plan," Tyrion replied knowing full well that was only half the reason, the other being that he was concerned about the possible plotting between the King in the North and the Queen of the Mountain and Vale.

Kenna exhaled through her nostrils, "I already agreed with it."

"That isn't the same as sharing your thoughts," Tyrion prodded sipping his wine and playing with the goblet in his hands noting Kenna had refused to partake.

Kenna leaned back into her chair resigned to the fact this was not going to be a quick discussion, "It is a good plan, if a bit self-destructive."

"Yes, well with any luck my destructive plans will never have to come to pass."

"What do you mean?" Kenna asked, her curiosity piqued by Tyrion's ominous words.

"We will see," Tyrion purred keeping his secret for now, "Join me in a drink."

Kenna reached out for the wine jug and when her hand curled around the metal handle Tyrion leaned across the table, "Tell me Kenna, is revenge like sex? It is best when it comes on slow, quiet, until it all seems inexorable?"

Kenna cocked her head at the direction Tyrion was dragging the conversation in and withdrew her hand from the handle, "I suspect you have had more sex than I Lord Tyrion so you are in a better position to answer your own question than me."

"Ah, but I think you have had more experience with revenge."

"Is this about Oberyn?" Kenna guessed.

"He killed the woman I loved," Tyrion slammed his cup down on the table between them, "I want to know if killing him will make the pain in my heart go away."

"That pain of losing a loved one never goes away," Kenna revealed with sadness overcoming her features, "Most people try to forget or replace what they have lost but that just covers the pain, makes it easier to bear."

Tyrion dipped his head and closed his eyes, that was not what he had wanted to hear, "Who did you replace your sister with? Her son? Is Lord Royce a better father than Jon Arryn was? Have you forgotten about Jasper Egen or is my father his substitute?"

Kenna resisted the urge to grab the wine jug and throw it all over Tyrion. It was his grief and alcohol that fuelled the cruel sharp words coming from his mouth but knowing this didn't soften the blows or blind Kenna to the truth of them.

Kenna kept her hands firmly on the arms of the chair she sat and strained to keep her anger contained to her inner mind.

"You want Oberyn to suffer, yes?" Kenna gritted out wanting to move the conversation on to safer ground, "Well believe me he is. He has been suffering since Elia's death. His failed assassination attempt of your father earned him a crossbow bolt to the chest. You orchestrated his brother's murder. He lost five daughters when Sunspear fell. He is in pain."

"Yes, I remember firing the crossbow," Tyrion opened his eyes and combed his beard with one hand while his other flexed on the table's surface.

"That was you?" Kenna mumbled to herself.

Tyrion nodded then suddenly asked, "Do you think we will win this war?"

"We have to. The alternative is chaos and fire. Our families end."

"You know war only works when both sides see themselves as the good ones," Tyrion said reaching for the jug and refilling his cup.

"Are you saying we are the bad ones?" Kenna queried, watching Tyrion bring the cup to his lips.

"I am saying that there are only winners and losers."

"I have lost a war before; I do not intend to lose another."

"Well, this one is against a little girl with dragons," Tyrion said in light mockery.

"Dot not underestimate Daenerys Targaryen. A ruler needs a good head and a true heart," she looked directly at Tyrion. "A cock is not essential."

"We are not underestimating her."

"You underestimated me."

"I think you will find my father underestimated you, not I and as you just said you still lost that war against us," Tyrion stated firmly, "It would have made all our lives easier if Robert's assassins had been successful."

"Killing children is no way to rule."

"Children all seem to grow up into dangerous cunts," Tyrion said letting the wine go to his head, "And that is if they aren't already killers."

Kenna knew enough to know he was referring to his Uncle's death but decided to let Tyrion tire his anger out and listen to his ramblings.

"From history and our current predicament, it seems that people should either be caressed or crushed. If you let them live, allow them a chance at revenge, they will take it, like you did on Lysa and Littlefinger. Like I will do with Oberyn, like Daenerys is doing."

"You point?" Kenna asked wondering if there was one.

"An enemy needs to be killed or crippled in such a way that there is no hope of retaliation, so there is no need to fear their vengeance," Tyrion justified to himself.

"You are sounding more and more like your father," Kenna remarked.

"Well, you would know," Tyrion jabbed out.

That was one slight too far for Kenna. She stood from her chair and leaned down on the table, imposing her stature on the dwarf.

Before she could unleash her tongue a sudden flash of green swept through the sky over Blackwater Bay.

"What was that?" Kenna said in alarm looking from Tyrion to the roaming waves.

"That was my first blow in this war and me paying my debt to my Uncle for saving my life. It may have just ended this war earlier than anticipated with any luck," Tyrion raised his cup towards Dragonstone, "Welcome to Westeros Queen Daenerys."


Author's Notes

Yohn jnr and Jorge get a cute little scene with Sansa and Arya. They are about one year old now. I placed Sansa more with Yohn jnr because of the simping Lord Royce on the show was doing for Sansa in the later seasons and Jorge with Arya as bit of a call back to those Harrenhal scenes between Arya and Tywin.

So Little Lucas (from last chapter and Chapter 79) blew up Dragonstone (as well as himself). This was Tyrion's and Qyburn's secret. I suspect for a considerable time before this chapter that wildfire barrels have been smuggled, under Tyrion's orders, onto Dragonstone and placed in the vaults beneath the Drum Tower (which houses the Throne room and the Painted table room) in anticipation of Dany occupying Dragonstone. I just thought Dany landing on Dragonstone was obvious and that Tyrion would have set a trap there and he has experience with wildfire so … boom! No more Dragonstone (the castle).

I bet a few thought the title referred to the Valyrian blade but it was all about that wildfire explosion at Dragonstone. The inspiration for the wildfire explosion at Dragonstone was of course the canon explosion at the Great Sept of Baelor but Tyrion had months to transport the wildfire over so I imagine the amount of wildfire and the power of the explosion was doubled to tripled so that is why the majority of Dragonstone castle was caught in the blast. I know that the green flash of the explosion probably wouldn't have reached King's Landing but indulge me.

If Tyrion seemed a bit aggressive in the last scene it is because he is mourning the loss of Shae and the guilt over Kevan's death.


RIP

Varys (Died in Wildfire explosion)

Tyrion once again manages to kill Varys lol. Even if Varys had managed to get the second candle there were many other vaults prepped to go off so he was doomed as soon as his little bird discovered the barrels and alerted him. However the true target of the 'Wildfire plot' (inspired by the real life gunpowder plot in the UK) was Dany and she luckily wasn't in the castle, though I am not actually sure if she would have survived being burnt by wildfire or not?

Vary's death might have caught a few people off guard. I wanted Varys to die at the hands of 'little birds' as I thought that would be poetic but I also knew he wouldn't be caught out with a sneaky physical assassination attempt so I went with the opposite, a massive explosion that wasn't specifically aimed at him. His insight, knowledge, and intrigue will be missed by Dany's side as Missandei stated in this chapter and his absence might let other characters step up …. looking at Cersei.

Little Lucas and the little girl (Both died in Wildfire explosion as she chased him or the little girl with the knife might have got to him first or he might have strangled her)

I know these are very minor deaths in the grand scheme of things but they still have to be noted. Lucas was the boy in the vaults setting up the candles. His death is deceptively dark as he didn't actually know what he was doing, he was just following Qyburn's orders and he certainly didn't inform the little lad that he would be committing suicide by setting the candles alight and placing them near the wildfire barrels.

Unsullied Soldiers (Died in Wildfire explosion and from the partial collapse of the castle)

I'm not sure what would have killed more people; the explosion/fire or the collapsing castle of Dragonstone but I think roughly 2,000 Unsullied would have been caught up in the destruction as some would have remained on the ships due to space issues. Not too many died in the end but this could be a significant amount later down the line.


Reviews:

Tohka123 – Yep and I also thought there was no way 100,000 Dothraki would fit on Dragonstone so they had to continue onto the next step of the invasion.

Supremus85 – That summery was *chef kiss* couldn't have done it better myself :P You could add (probably would have been overkill) that Ser Loras killed Lord Royce's son, that Tommen is technically a bastard and has no right to the Throne and his Grandfather and Grandmother-in-law killed his brother who was briefly married to his current wife. Wild.

Guest (commented 14/12/2020) – I guess it is hard not to use the OP weapon at your disposal but Dany's actions in this story have yet to unfold.

Guest (commented 14/12/2020) – I think Aerys started of relatively sane but the paranoia of being King and seeing enemies everywhere got to him. Dany maybe the same, I like the coin toss flip analogy that Cersei/Varys used in the show. Ticking time bomb makes it all seem rather predetermined which is sad. Not every child who has a parent with a mental disorder inherits it but I suppose genetics do play a role.

Ser Dorito of Aisle 13 – Fancy lol. Both names are long but Ser Dorito is growing on me and making me hungry XD I just didn't want to telegraph the entire siege/battle plans as then you as the readers wouldn't have any surprises to look forward to but I wanted you to know enough to feel the suspense of what was to come. I won't go crazy on the tactics as to me the overall physical fighting is always secondary to the fights between individuals and what they represent but a good battle scene is pretty nice once in a while! You hope …. Hahaha okay well I am not sure how I am going to work that in lol.

Shadow Wolf 15846 – I mean my personality type is apparently that of Lord Voldemort's so I am probably evil :P


Next Up: Daenerys's rage cannot be contained in the aftermath of her significant losses, and Kenna receives a unique message that has her questioning herself.

If you are enjoying this story please *Toss a coin to your writer, Oh valley of readers* and review, follow and favorite!

Only 2 or 3 chapters left before an xmas break :)