Sister's Keeper
Edited by xXFallenSakuraXx52
Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones
Languages:
Common Tongue
Valyrian
Dothraki
Chapter 66: Runes from the Children
I wandered through the books in the library in search of documents that can resurrect the dragons. Ever since Vhagar told Visenya who passed the message onto me, did I find the Cannibals three eggs. Three petrified eggs. Probably turned to stone decades after the Dance of Dragons. Daenerys managed to revive the three dragons of Asshai, so there must be a chance to bring back more dragons to the world. Especially when the remaining three dragons were all male. Unless one of the dragons changes their gender to produce eggs, the chances of that happening are slim. As Visenya stated, it is a rare occurrence. So, what are my chances that within one of these three eggs lays a female dragon?
When Daenerys revived Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal, it was through fire and blood as Drogo and Rhaego were being burned in the funeral pyre along with Mirri Maz Duur. Therefore, magic was involved since that godswoman was indeed a witch, who dwell in blood magic. Then there was a previous attempt from my Great-Grandfather, Aegon the Fifth, as he tried to resurrect the dragons from the two eggs he acquired. Sadly, it resulted in the tragedy of Summerhall, the night half of the Targaryens perished and the birth of Rhaegar, along with the family gift of immunity towards fire…but only two. Something must have gone wrong, also Aegon V must have done the ritual incorrectly. Then again…he was dealing with petrified eggs, not fresh eggs. Visenya knows how to do the ritual, except she won't tell me. She wanted me to learn and discover it by myself. If she told me everything, then I don't learn in becoming a Queen. Only a puppet.
Therefore, my free time when not training or planning for the siege has been going through the library in search for any document that contains information in how to perform a successful ritual. In the beginning, fresh eggs were put in a Targaryen newborns crib. The first set of hatchlings were born when Princess Rhaena Targaryen placed dragon eggs in her younger siblings' cribs of Jaehaerys and Alysanne — the result was the birth of Vermithor and Silverwing. This practice continued thus leading to the belief that if the egg hatched, the baby was a true Targaryen; however, if the hatchling dies in the following weeks, then it is a bad omen. Unless a living dragon bonds with the Targaryen.
The thought of children saddens me. As time passes on, I remained unmarried and childless. It was a safe option to holdoff on starting a family. The last thing I need is to be pregnant during the war, or have a child that Cersei can use against me. If the Long Night weren't in existence or the Army of the Dead, I would have started my family in Meereen, as Queen of the Bay of Dragons. If Jorah hadn't been exiled or contracted Greyscale, no doubt our relationship would have gone farther to what I always desired as the Warlocks confirmed that my deepest desire was to have a family with Jorah. Especially when I realized during the previous dreams, I had of a little boy who was Jorah's child. I loved Jorah, but we can never be together. My Bear was probably by now dead mentally from the disease or killed himself before becoming a stone.
Lost in my mind, I hummed a sad melody of a song I have written during the voyage:
"My love, my love
My fearless love
I will not say goodbye
Sea may rise
Sky may fall
My love will never die
Go on, go on
Go bravely on
Into the blackest night
Hold my breath
'Til your return
My love will never die
My heart, my heart
My drowning heart
Oh all the tears I've cried
Oh I may weep forevermore
My love will never die
My love, my love
My fearless love
I will not say goodbye
Sea may rise
Sky may fall
My love will never die
Sea may rise
Sky may fall
My love will never die
My love will never die"
"I've seriously have become my brother," I thought out loud to myself.
Rhaegar was constantly writing songs and playing music. If I weren't in exile no doubt, I would have learned how to play a musical instrument. Probably a harp just like my brother. No doubt Jorah was my first true love. Yes, he had betrayed me, but thinking about it, his betrayal happened before our relationship occurred. During when Viserys was going to be King and Jorah was a desperate man wanting to go home. When he fell in love with me, I will never know. But our relationship was not love at first sight, it developed overtime. Jorah was my link towards home, he's what I had of home, my mentor, my advisor, and my dearest friend. My confidant that I can trust, as his words of wisdom, helped me through my internal struggles. And after what happened in the Veil, he knew me body and soul.
"That you have," Ser Barristan confirmed.
I jumped slightly, not expecting a response. I turned around, seeing a very amused Ser Barristan.
"Can I help you?" I asked.
"King Jon has something to show you something," Ser Barristan answered.
"Show me what?" I asked.
"Something in the mines," Ser Barristan answered again.
I nodded, sighing in defeat as I had yet to find any documents that could help me resurrect the petrified eggs. Did Stannis Baratheon destroy any evidence of the Targaryens dynasty under his brother's command? Leaving nothing but the tombs and architectures as they are. It was already devastating to discover the temple for the Seven was destroyed. Since the statues were carved from the ships of the Valyrian, the last wood from Valyria. As Varys informed me after Melisandre departure, that she told Stannis to burn the Seven, calling them false idols. Once more proof to be cautious with the R'hllor religion.
Anyway, I left the library and joined Daenerys and Missandei who were curious for Jon Snow's request to show us what he has discovered in the mines. We made our way down the spiral steps towards the beach, accompanied by Daenerys Dothraki guards, of Kovarro, Aggo, and Qhono. As other Dothraki were preparing for battle as it was expected we would be taking back Highgarden. We were merely giving the Lannisters time with a sense of security before we attack.
"Your Grace, there's still no word from the Unsullied," Missandei commented.
"Soon, my dear friend," I assured her. "He will come back to you."
"He'd better," Missandei heaved, with much determination.
Daenerys and I stopped, looking at her.
"What happened?" Daenerys asked curiously.
Missandei couldn't help but smile, "Many things."
Daenerys rested her hand on Missandei shoulder, "Many things?"
The Naathi blushed, as her smile widened. Daenerys and I were curious and surprised. So…Grey Worm was not emasculated. We were interested in her answer to the longest question we had since acquiring the Unsullied. Does the Unsullied have their pillars and lose their stones, or is all of it gone? Because the word castrated has become generic than its actual definition.
Missandei was about to answer the desperate question when footsteps approach us.
"Your Grace, Your Highness," King Snow called out, at the bottom of the steps from the beach.
"We're not done with this," I told Missandei in Valyrian.
Daenerys looked at her guards, "It's all right."
Missandei, Ser Barristan, Daenerys and I joined King Snow as he escorted us through the beach towards the closest mines. At the entrance was Ser Davos who held a torch. King Snow accepted the torch, leading us further into the cavern.
"I wanted you to see it before we start hacking it to bits," King Snow said.
We travel further into the cave, the gravel sand turning to solid stone as the light from the entrance of the tunnel vanished. We turned to another tunnel, noticing the volcanic rock being smoothed out from the ages of winds and tides. We continue onward in the darkness, relying on the torch to give us light. After some time, we entered a cavern where Jon Snow placed the torch in a brazier providing more light. All-around on the walls and ceiling protrude dragonglass. As if it was gold under Casterly Rock. A gem that was never given the same respect of value.
"Well, this is it. All we'll ever need," King Snow said, happily.
Daenerys and I stood there in awe for the beauty in that have been hidden by nature.
"There is something else I want to show you, Your Grace," he added.
Keeping the torch, we went through another tunnel that took us to a different chamber. Like the previous one, dragonglass exposed itself like scales. Only when the light illuminated the room, there were more details on the walls. Symbols of spiral shapes and circles. My eyes widen having a flashback of the vision back from the House of the Undying. The Boulder that had a spiral on it. Now an entire cave had these runes.
I placed my hand on one of the runes, "I've seen these before."
"From your vision?" Daenerys asked.
I nodded, tracing my finger over the carved spiral.
"The children of the forest made these," King Snow explained.
"When?" Daenerys asked.
"A very long time ago," King Snow answered.
"They were right here, standing where we're standing," Daenerys whispered. "Before there were Targaryens or Starks or Lannisters. Maybe even before there were men."
"No," he disagreed, leading to a cave drawing. Figures in the shape of humans. Although there were two different sets. One in shape of children, while the other was bigger as of men with etchings of what could possibly resemble clothes, with blades in their hands. "They were here together, the children and the First Men."
"Doing what? Fighting each other?" Daenerys asked.
King Snow looked at Daenerys, as he took her hand and directed the torch to reveal another cave drawling. Only this one was far more detail, adding pigment of the color that resembled blue. My eyes widen for the center of the drawing was the Night King from my dreams and visions. The man made of ice.
"They fought together against their common enemy," He answered. "Despite their differences, despite their suspicions. Together."
I stared at King Snow, seeing how serious he was about this. I believed in him on his words, for it was Visenya that told me to trust the White Wolf. These cave drawings solidify the fact that he was indeed telling the truth from all this.
"We need to do the same if we're going to survive," he said glancing at the White Walkers. "Because the enemy is real. It's always been real."
"And you say you can't defeat them without our armies and dragons?" Daenerys asked.
"No, I don't think I can," he confessed.
Daenerys paused and looked at me. The King in the North knows he has my support, from my Unsullied and Viserion. However, the one with the most significant assets were Daenerys, who has a hundred thousand Dothraki warriors and two dragons. I gave her a silent look to accept the arrangement for the sake of the realm. Daenerys stepped forward to King Snow looking into his eyes.
"I will fight for you. I will fight for the North." Daenerys said. "When you bend the knee."
I mentally groaned.
King Snow sighed, "My people . . . Won't accept a southern ruler. Not after everything they've suffered."
Because Daenerys could speak, I stepped forward putting an end to this discussion, "To which I understand. One day all Seven Kingdoms will join as one. But it will not happen during our generation, in our lifetime. They chose you to lead them. They chose you to protect them."
King Snow nodded in acceptance.
"Isn't their survival more important than your pride?" Daenerys interjected.
I scowled at her.
King Snow stared at my sister's eyes a questionable look. There was this look from his eyes that I questioned that he was giving my sister. Shaking my head, thinking it was an illusion from the flames, I decided we should join the others. In the main cavern, we saw Ser Davos telling a story about dragonglass that entertained Missandei. Afterward, we started to head outside so the miners can prepare for the excavation on the dragonglass. Outside the cave stood Varys and Lord Tyrion.
"What is it?" I asked.
"We took Casterly Rock," Tyrion answered.
"That's very good to hear," Daenerys said, yet both men held a serious face. "Isn't it?"
I took a deep breath and have them give me the full report. As expected, there wasn't much of the Lannister Army in Casterly Rock, as the estimation was an eighth of the army was there defending the castle. Also, as predicted, a partial of the Iron Fleet attacked my navy by the Rock. We still captured Lannisport; however, none of the Lannister family were they, they too have been evacuated, except for the city. Fortunately, the Redwyne fleet that remained in the Arbor lead by Ser Garlan and Lord Paxter two sons Horas and Hobber has taken down a hundred of the Iron Fleet, some have escaped, yet they were not the extreme battleship that took down the Greyjoy Fleet. Along with confirmation that Highgarden has been taken, which was known and that the Lannister and Tarly army have begun collecting the harvest.
Daenerys became furious, I tried to calm her down, for this was expected, but she didn't see it that way. We started walking fast, speaking in Valyrian while our company followed.
"You'll want to discuss this amongst yourselves," Ser Davos said. "Perhaps—"
"You will stay," Daenerys ordered. Then looked at me, "All our allies are gone."
"They are not gone,"I told her. "We only lost the Greyjoy fleet and a few dozen ships. It was anticipated."
"Well, your navy has been taken from us while you've been sitting here on this island."Daenerys challenged.
"Mind your tongue," I growled.
"You still have the largest armies," Tyrion tried to reason.
"Who won't be able to eat because Cersei has taken all the food from the Reach," Daenerys countered changing to Common Tongue.
"Have you forgotten I made arrangements to get supplies from the Bay of Dragons on a routine schedule. We might have lost Highgarden temporarily, but we did not lose the Reach. House Tyrell still stands." I corrected her.
"Call Grey Worm and the Unsullied back. We still have enough ships to carry the Dothraki to the mainland. Commit to the blockade of King's Landing." Tyrion advised. "We have a plan. It's still the right plan."
"The right plan!" Daenerys bellowed, glaring at Tyrion. "Your strategy has lost us the Iron Island, and delayed Dorne's assistance, and now the Reach."
"Daenerys," I snapped getting her attention. "Do not underestimate my council. Ser Barristan, Lord Tyrion, Lord Varys and I made a calculated decision. We can't predict from our enemies—"
"Our enemies?" She growled. "His family, you mean. The family that killed father, and Rhaegar's family."
"Don't go there," I warned.
She glared at Tyrion, "Perhaps you don't want to hurt them after all."
The dragons screech gaining out attention as they flew over to the ocean. Daenerys turned her attention to them.
"Enough with the clever plans." She said and looked at us. "We have three large dragons. We are going to fly them to the Red Keep."
"Daenerys," I warned. "We've discussed this."
"Our enemies are in the Red Keep." She challenged. "What kind of a Queen will you be if you are not willing to risk your life to fight them?"
"A smart one," Tyrion objected in my defense.
I took a deep breath and looked at Jon Snow. He has fought in wars. He has experience in this. So, needing his guidance, I walked over to him.
"What do you think I should do?" I asked.
This caught him off guard, "I would never presume to—"
"I'm at war. Trying to reclaim my home. What do you think I should do?" I clarified, staring deep into his brown eyes, seeing a familiar look Rhaegar used to give. But he is not Rhaegar.
He pulled back, staring at the dragons, "I never thought dragons would exist again."
"No one did," Varys chirped.
Jon Snow looked at me, "The people who follow you know that you and your sister made something impossible happen. Maybe that helps them believe that you can make other impossible things happen. Build a world that's different from the shit one they've always known." He glanced at the dragons, "But if you use them to melt castles and burn cities, you're no different." He looked me in the eyes, "You're just more of the same."
Comprehending his words, I stared at the dragons. I allowed Cersei to have a sense of victory, it is now time to show her what I am capable of. However, I will not take the dragons and destroy the Red Keep like Aegon did to Harrenhal. House Hoare was a violent House that caused trouble to the Rivermen being Ironborn. The Castle filled with the family and loyalists. As legends said, Aegon gave the servants a chance to escape. Then I thought of one of Aegon's Conquest. The Field of Fire. I did promise Lady Olenna I will reclaim Highgarden.
I turned to Ser Barristan and Missandei, "Ensure that the Dothraki are ready to sail to the mainland. It's time to show the Lannister army what they are dealing with and take back Highgarden."
Ser Barristan nodded in understanding. We are still keeping the war away from innocent people. But it's time to show Cersei what will happen if I unleash the dragons on King's Landing. Also, to raid like a Dothraki scream.
Varys informed me that a journey from the shores towards Blackwater Rush will take a week or two on the route we were taking. Knowing the Dothraki, it will be a week. We will meet the Lannister Army on the border between the Reach and the Crownlands by the river rush. We will take back the provisions of the harvest that was stolen from the Tyrells and reclaim Highgarden. As we make the arrangements, Missandei will be in charge of Dragonstone with a quarter of the Dothraki on the Island with Kovarro.
On the day we were leaving, I put on my armor and secured my weapons. I stopped holding my helmet, it was a cross between a close helm and the unsullied helm. As the visor was shaped like the Unsullied leaving the eyes open along with the comb though shorter, on the sides, were details that took the shape of dragon wings, it doesn't stick out like a decorative helm, but it showed my character. Once I had my pack and satchel secured, I walked to the field with Daenerys who wore her winter coat, with a leather vest over it for protection.
"Alysanne, about what happen earlier…" She started.
"Don't doubt me or embarrassed me like that again," I warned.
"But—"
"No, the North will have its independence, they've earned it. Also, you questioned Ser Barristan who spend the majority of his life in wars. As well as Tyrion and Varys who gathered information. We are not perfect, and I plan to get the Lannisters comfortable before striking them down."
Daenerys realized her mistake.
"I am not going to be Queen of the Ashes," I told her. "We are going to redeem House Targaryens name, and what you are suggesting will make us no better than father."
Daenerys nodded.
I walked over to her, "We will not burn the wagons, we need the supplies. We'll have the dragons burn around the soldiers. I will decide on the death toll."
Daenerys only nodded. The plan was simple, and the Dothraki are receiving the message, this will not be a blood bath. Well, as long as the enemy is not stupid enough to strike after the first trample. Nothing else to say, we got on our dragons. Viserion was wearing the saddle I'd custom made. As I took the harness strapped and secured it to the belt I wore. Drogon, unfortunately, refused to wear a saddle, and Daenerys prefers riding freestyle. Once we were ready and took off to join our armies.
Hey guys, what did you think of this chapter.
Song used was My Love May Never Die, by AG ft Claire Wyndham.
Thanks for reading and please leave a review!