Chapter 19. The Age of Dragons.

'Dracarys'

--Daenerys Stormborn.

297AC.

Essos.

It was rather jarring to hear the rebirth of dragons. In Just a few days, the rumors had spread as far as it could go, and Essos was one of those places much like Westeros where things were never secret for long.

It started slowly but surely. From the merchants and ship crews, spreading through the people. Inn and taverns listened eagerly as travelers spoke of the greatness of Westeros and the rise of dragons. They gasped and hissed at all the right places, and when it was time to leave, went about their ways spreading the news as they went about their destinations.

But key figures got to know just as well. From the leading head of Braavos who wondered just how this would change the calm connections they had with that side of the world, to the Iron Bank itself.

The bank rarely concerned themselves with issues that had no business with them. But this was different, wasn't it? There had been no rumors of the dragons being deformed or weak. There had been talks of a girl walking through fire. If it was all true, then perhaps they needed to establish an even closer relationship with the ruling house. Only an idiot would think the Targaryens wouldn't hoard those dragons. No matter who brought them into the world, they belonged to them now.

And it was always good to be on the side of dragonriders. Especially with the rumors of a certain Magister being the cause. Oh yes, the Iron Bank knew about the existence of the last blood of the Blackfyres, but they never cared seeing as the Targaryens did nothing to offend them. They owed no money and their coffers were quite strong after years of careful planning. Not to talk of the Kingdom's account itself.

And then there was the other families involved. Stark and Dayne.

And besides… talks of Illyrio Mopatis dealing in slaves? Now that, they were interested in. Braavos frowned on Slavers after all. And if Pentos so much as geared up for war against Westeros, well… Braavos would just have to step in, wouldn't they?

Interesting times indeed.

In fact, all the way in a Red Temple in Volantis, the Red Priestess Melisandre stared deeply into the fire.

Dorne.

"Is it true, father?"

Doran continued to read the letter in his hands from his brother even as his eldest walked into his solar without so much as an invitation.

It was a cool night in Dorne, and Doran's feet did not hurt as much as usual, which he took as good.

He ignored his daughter as he pondered the letter once more.

Lyarra Dayne. Child of Ashara Dayne. What were the odds…

This certainly could lift the Targaryens back to the power they were before the Dance happened.

And Dorne was on the winning side, it would seem.

Hearing an irritated huff, he finally glanced up at his heir, Arianne.

Much like her mother in height, she stood at 5'2. Arianne was what one would call a beauty of Dorne.

Buxom and beautiful with olive skin, large dark eyes and long, thick black hair that fell in ringlets to the middle of her back. Full lips, a husky voice, and a voluptuous figure usually concealed with flowing silks, jewels, and other ostentatious displays of wealth.

A Calculating, adventurous, and fierce-tempered woman who never shied away from using her looks to get what she wanted, nor from seducing men to get them to do her bidding, occasionally granting sexual favors in this context.

In fact, Doran sometimes compared his daughters nature to his brother Oberyn's. And much like him, she was a rather impatient child.

He stifled an eye roll, glancing at her unimpressed but she wasn't moved, throwing back the same look and looking more like him in that moment.

He sighed.

"You expect me to believe you haven't gotten letters from your cousins?"

Arianne stifled a sly smile as she crossed her arms.

"Perhaps I have. But it changes nothing. Nymeria only talks about the girl with such interest it makes me want to go to King's Landing and find out for myself."

She glared slightly at her unconcerned father.

"You came to me wanting to learn how to rule Dorne before your time truly comes. You will have to forego some things in life, if you want to learn."

She huffed, sitting opposite Doran's desk.

"But this is also Rhaenys' wedding! What would they think of me, if I do not show up??"

"Oberyn and your cousins already represent. I believe my dearest sister and your cousin understand already."

"You still haven't answered, father. How does this change things? Dragons? And this Dayne girl. Will she be up for pickings?"

Doran massaged his thigh slightly grunting in pain.

"She is not up for pickings, daughter. For she belongs with House Targaryen now. No matter who dares to contest it."

He looked at her and she hummed slightly.

As she walked back to her chambers, Arianne thought about the Dayne girl once more.

Walking through her doors, she unclasped her gown, letting it fall to the ground and leaving her as bare as the day she was born.

"So, it is true then…"

A voice resonated around the large room as Arianna slowly walked towards her bed where a figure lay in her bed, naked.

"This unknown cousin of mine has brought dragons back?"

Arianne hummed slightly as she slowly climbed into her bed, eyes dark with seduction as she moved towards the figure in her bed.

Gerold Dayne, the 'Dark Star' wet his lips as he watched his lover move towards him.

"It would seem so. My father believes she will be a Targaryen in no time."

Gerold grunted slightly as Arianne straddled him and slowly slid across his member, his breath slowly picking up.

"Prince Aegon… hm?"

He sighed as she guided him into her warmth and moved at a torturingly slow pace and Arianna hummed mostly to herself as she cupped her breasts and played with herself.

"I would very much like to meet her. Lyarra Dayne. She must be a spectacular girl."

Gerold huffed, grabbing her waist tightly and overturning them so he was above, and Arianne let out a startled gasp.

"Not as spectacular as you, my princess."

Arianne smirked.

"Oh I'm sure of that."

The Westerlands.

Cersei Lannister's eyes glanced out of the window for a second and back into her tea room as she twirled her goblet of wine, a look of disinterest in her eyes even with her children in the room with her.

Her eldest, Joffrey who shared her total Lannister looks looked just as uninterested as she did, though his eyes would occasionally trail over to his sister.

Her beautiful boy was 14 name days as of now, and he reminded her of Jaime as he aged, something she found comfort in. He might not be the blood of her other half, but at least she had this of him. Next were her twins, Myrcella and Tommen. Her darling daughter at 13 name days looked just like her, and sometimes whenever she saw Joffrey and Myrcella together, her mind would… trail off to past memories. Memories of her and Jaime growing up… having more time to themselves and finding comfort in their arms and bodies.

Cersei shivered with lust just thinking about such times.

Now though… now things were different.

She smacked her lips in distaste, pouring herself some more.

Everything had changed those years back. If only… if only her father were still alive! Jaime would be the heir to Casterly Rock and she would not be married of to a Vassal house!

The worst of it all was being ruled by that monster who had killed her mother.

Oh how she wanted to kill him.

She breathed in an out in disguised fury.

The times she'd been invited to the Rock, oh how it angered her, seeing him with that bitch of a commoner who lorded being the Lady of Casterly Rock in her face! As if someone like that deserved such! That dreg deserved to be thrown to the lowlifes and used without care!

And those children of hers!

Not as beautiful as her own children. And with those strange eyes of their monstrous father.

They didn't deserve the Rock! They deserved to be thrown out. Her darling Joffrey deserved that seat! He deserved it over everyone!

She huffed.

If only Jaime had fought to have her control the West. Damn the Targaryens!

Was it because of them Jaime hadn't come to visit for over a decade?! He was her other half, of course he missed her just as much as she did him. He must long for her… long to be in her…

She bit her lip, closing her eyes as she thought of old times. Those times shared with him. As her brother… her lover.

A knock on the door snapped her out of her reverie and she glared harshly at the door before sighing.

"Enter."

She called out and a servant girl walked in, moving to curtsey at her.

"What do you want?"

"My lady, the Maester has news on your Lord Husband."

Cersei looked up from her wine, eyes filtering towards Myrcella. The girl loved her father so. It wouldn't do to let her hear anything untoward.

And so, she lowered her voice.

"And what of it?"

"He says he won't last a few days, my lady."

Cersei stifled another sigh.

Finally.

She was beginning to think he wouldn't die.

Adam Marbrand might have been a spectacular lover, and his obsession with her had certainly amused her all these years, but he wasn't who she wanted. And she grew tired of having him around.

It had been rather easy to take him out… pity he was one of the good ones. And she had grown fond of him too… but not fond enough.

She needed to gain some power to start what she had planned.

Oh Tyrion perhaps thought he was doing well curbing the Lords of the West… but not everyone wanted to be led by that monstrous imp.

It helped that she had some leash on Gregory Clegane too. Let him continue causing trouble. It only did her good. When things got worse, they would look to the rightful heir of Casterly Rock.

Her.

Noticing the servant still by her side, she gave her a look.

"And why are you still loitering about? Leave."

She commanded, and the girl shook slightly, head bowed.

"Forgive me, my lady… but I have heard news… from King's Landing."

"And what care do I have of that place?"

Her priority was the Rock. If Rhaegar Targaryen preferred to remain blind to the price that she had been… the worthy queen she would have been for him, then it is not her fault.

Of course she still dreamt of him… of being his queen… of being the one to warm his bed and not that sick thing that stood by his side… but for now, she would make do with what she could.

"What is it?"

"My Lady… rumors say… that dragons have been born once more."

The servant whispered with a small amount of awe and Cersei paused, as if she had not heard quite clearly.

And a derisive scoff escaped her lips as she got to her feet.

"Lies, obviously. Dragons. What nonsense. I shall hear your lies no more. Follow me."

She marched off towards her sick husband's chambers in a mood.

With no one to keep her company or warm her bed for moons, she had been more prone to irritation lately.

Mayhaps some of the lesser Lannisters could be invited to Ashemark for a while. It would be good to have them around while she put her plans in motion anyways.

Now it was time to speak with the Maester… Addam's affairs needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.

Dragons.

What nonsense.

As she left the room, Myrcella opened the next page of her book, eyes going over to her brother Tommen who played with his cat, Ser Pounce.

While they looked nothing alike, they shared the same love for all things from animals to flowers and all. Tommen was shorter though, plum with quite the baby fat and wasn't a lover of books like herself.

Even her elder brother hated books… well Joffrey hated a lot of things.

Speaking of, where was Joffrey—

A feeling of wariness filled her.

Joffrey was rarely ever quiet.

He only ever was in the presence of their Lady mother and father.

She glanced behind her and her heartbeat quickened as she noticed Joffrey had been staring at her.

Like he had been doing for some time now.

His eyes were what scared her though, more than anything.

The way he leered at her… with such hunger and viciousness.

It scared her.

The North.

Wintertown was calm and collect. It being the farthest Kingdom in Westeros, it being a land of ice, it being uninterested in the floweriness of the South and rather focused on themselves and surviving the vast cold of the land of their ancestors.

The new moon was in a few days and everyone went about doing their things, unaware of what had happened a few days back.

In Winterfell, the morning cold chilled many to the bones, but the hot springs of the Keep protected it's inhabitants just as well.

The Stark family sat in the hall, enjoying their breakfast. Robb discussing with an half asleep Theon who pretended to listen to what the boy was saying.

Arya and Bran were engaged in a form of food war while Sansa watched them with a pained expression.

The Lady Stark, unaware of what was happening as she tried to convince Rickon that growing boys actually needed food and not sweets as the boy frowned disapprovingly at his mother while banging his pudgy hands on his laps in a huff.

Lord Stark stifled a smile as Rickon's actions kept reminding him of his elder brother, Brandon.

His eyes slid over to his slightly exasperated wife and he thought of how she seemed more at ease these past few moons.

It showed in her easy smiles, her easy laughs. The way she walked around the Keep like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Just the other day, she had let Arya off of her embroidery practice earlier than usual.

But when he thought of the reason why, a small pang in his chest made him feel grimmer than he usually would.

Now that Lyarra was gone from the Keep and the North in general, she didn't have to see her face anymore and be constantly reminded of what her existence meant.

Sometimes… sometimes Ned felt disappointed in her… and disappointed in himself. But, he could understand her feelings as well.

He had loved Ashara, and he would always love her. But as years had passed, that love was more wistful and in remembrance of who she had been. The star of Dorne. The shining one of Starfall.

But he had come to love his wife as well. The woman who gave him his five wonderful children. She was steadfast in all things. Grew to see the North as her home regardless of her inexperience with it. Her strength to wed the brother of the man she was meant to marry.

She was good and true. And he adored her.

But it didn't mean his daughter was one he would ever be ashamed of.

Oh how he had overlooked a number of things in his household. How foolish of him to believe he could have it all. That he could keep everyone happy.

She was in the South now. Far from him, but in the company of those he believed would protect her. And as much as he wished she could have the Stark name, he was no fool to believe it would be that easy.

At least she carried the Dayne name. And he knew Alistair Dayne would protect her. Though the man did not like him. Not that he could blame him.

"Are you well, Ned?"

His wife whispered next to him with an inquiring look and he smiled, placing a hand over hers.

"All is well."

Catelyn smiled sweetly at him before he dropped his hand, moving to stand.

"I should head to my solar now. Luwin should have some matters for me."

He turned to his son.

"And do not forget to join me after you break your fast, Robb."

His son looked up and nodded.

"Of course, father."

He had decided to take a stronger hand in training Robb on his duties as an heir to the North. Perhaps he should have started quite a while back. Seeing the King and his son had sealed it into his head.

After his father and brother had died, leaving him as the new Lord of the North, and one raised in the South, he was not shamed in any way to admit it had taken years for him to acclimatize back to what it truly meant to be a Northerner. To be of the North.

Never again.

He did not believe a war would come up anytime soon, the last one being years prior and with the ironborn.

But still, it would only take a sickness or an infected injury for him to die and Robb become the new Lord of Winterfell.

He wouldn't leave him helpless like he had been.

Ned's Solar.

He hadn't even relaxed yet when Maester Luwin knocked and he allowed him in.

"My Lord, before other matters, I believe you have a letter from the South. Specifically from Ser Arthur Dayne."

Now that confused Ned for a moment. If there was anything he was sure of, it was Ser Arthur's continued dislike of him.

And yet, he was sending him a letter?

A feeling bloomed in his chest, one that he did not like as he took the letter.

Had something happened to Lyarra?

Was she hurt??

…Did she maybe… want to come home?

He shook himself out of that thought.

"Thank you, Luwin."

The old man bowed and Ned immediately unsealed and opened the letter.

It was simultaneous.

His eyes popped out. His hands shook, and his breathing became rather erratic.

"Um… My Lord Stark?"

Luwin's worried call went ignored.

Dragons?

D-dragons!!

Lyarra had walked out of fire with… dragons?

Lyarra had walked out of fire?!?

He should laugh in disbelief.

No. He should go to the South and take his daughter from the mad Southerners.

And yet… a little part of him knew that Ser Arthur would never send such a letter. Would never send letters to him at all!

"Dragons…"

He croaker out and Luwin came closer with a concerned frown.

"Dragons?"

Ned looked him in the eye, his heartbeat quickening.

"Lyarra… Ser Arthur has written. Lyarra walked through fire unscathed… and brought dragons out with her."

Luwin blinked in confusion first, before a scoff subconsciously escaped his lips.

"Impossible, Lord Stark. Dragons have ceased existing decades ago."

Ned said nothing, only holding out the letter for the Maester who quickly read through it, and he paled slightly before a look of awe grew across his face.

"My word… h-how can it be??"

He whispered to himself as Ned bowed over his table as his mind waved a war in his head.

"I got a strange letter from an Archmaester friend of mine at the Citadel, Marwin… just last night. He had rambled away about how the Maesters were all in disbelief at the awakening of the glass candles but I... I had thought it a jape. I—I…"

He stumbled over his words, not knowing what to say.

Not like Ned was listening, as he got to his feet all of a sudden, looking here and there, a grim look on his face.

"I have to go South."

"Lord Stark?"

Just then, the door to his Solar was knocked on.

"I have to see my daughter! If this… if this letter speaks truth, then she is in danger! I need to journey South! Come in!"

He barked out as Robb and his mother walked in, confusion in on their faces at Ned's pacing around.

"Ned?"

A worried Catelyn called out to her husband while Robb looked at Luwin who still seemed to be in awed silence at the rebirth of dragons.

"I do not believe it would be nice to just—"

Ned's thunderous glare focused on the old man.

"You believe? You believe when my daughter is in danger?!"

Catelyn gasped and Robb frowned.

"Oh my! Daughter—Is Sansa in trouble, husband? Arya?"

Catelyn rushed over to her husband in fear and he calmed down slightly, letting out a soft sigh.

"Apologies, Cat. I just… read the letter."

He gestured to his son who took the letter in Luwin's hands, and together, mother and son read the letter that had come from the South.

Slowly, as they read the letter, Catelyn stifled a gasp, going pale in the face and Robb's eyes widened and his jaw dropped in shock.

"Lyarra has dragons?? Someone tried to kill her?!"

Robb whispered mostly to himself while Catelyn continued to look unresponsive in her shock.

Robb looked at his father.

"But… how does she have dragons? She is a Stark."

Maester Luwin cleared his throat here, preparing for a lecture and Robb cursed internally.

"Yes, Stark she may be…"

And here he threw a cautious look at the still unresponsive Lady Stark.

Clearing his throat, he continued.

"But she is also of house Dayne. House Dayne carry not only the blood of house Targaryen, but also a blood of a mainline house of old Valyria. She has dragonriding blood running through her veins, young Stark. But for her, it must be rather potent. Walking through fire? What a wondrous thing!"

Robb swallowed shakily, glancing back down at the letter.

"I… I never knew she could do that."

Ned finally spoke up once more.

"I need to go South."

He announced, and Catelyn finally snapped out of her funk as she glanced at her husband.

"What for?"

"The repercussions this'll have on Lyarra. Why, everyone would try getting their hands on her, she won't know friends from foe. The possibility of her having suitors who only want the beasts. I have to go South."

Catelyn placed a hand on her chest, as if to still her beating heart.

"You cannot!"

Ned glanced at his wife, surprise and small anger in his wife, but Catelyn beat him to his explosion.

"That would put a target on our children, Ned."

Ned frowned.

"She is my child too."

"The Queen will look out for her. She took her to be her lady in waiting after all. You do not need to go South."

Ned continued to stare at his wife for a moment, and Robb exchanged a look with Luwin.

His father and mother had never actively discussed his sister before from what he could tell, and for good reason too.

"I am going South, Cat. That is final."

Ned finally spoke up, a finality in his words and Catelyn swallowed tightly at that while Robb looked at his father.

His father disliked the South. Never interested himself with traveling beyond the Riverlands for much.

To see him declaring such a thing seemed like such a milestone to the 16 name days old boy.

Until his father looked at him.

"You are coming with me, Robb."

Catelyn gasped out at that and Robb's grin widened.

"Ned!! You cannot—"

"He is to come, Cat. That is final."

He rarely ever talked to his wife like this, except perhaps their first years of marriage, and it churned in his heart at the sight of his wife's blank face. But it had to be done. He needed to see his daughter.

"Perhaps, my Lord you could use the princess's upcoming wedding as an excuse for a visit."

Ned perked up at Luwin's words. He hadn't planned to go for the wedding at first, seeing as it wasn't the Prince's wedding and so most weren't obligated to make it, but perhaps this was indeed a blessing in disguise.

He turned to his son whose face slowly grew with excitement. He knew the boy not only wanted to see the famed King's Landing, but also wanted to see his sister once more.

Robb nodded at his father.

"When shall we leave?"

"The wedding shall take place on the third week of the next moon. We shall have to ride hard and fast."

Robb's face blanched.

"Oh… of course, father."

"Indeed. We should be able to arrive a day or two before the wedding."

"Oh… of course…"

Weary he might be at that, it didn't stop the undertone of excitement that grew in him at the thought of seeing his sister once more! Grey Wind and his siblings had also missed their other brother. At least his direwolf would see Ghost once more.

But most importantly, dragons! He got to see the flying beasts of time! The so-called fire incarnates of ages back!

He got to see dragons!!

Ha!

That evening, as the family gathered for their dinner, Lord Stark announces it to the rest of his family, as well as his travel South.

"Lyarra has dragons?!"

Arya screamed out in elated glee while Bran's eyes widened with awe.

"Keep it down, Arya."

Robb ruffled her hair and the younger girl slapped his hand away, focusing on her father.

"Can I come South, father?"

"Me too! Me too!"

"Shut it, Bran. I asked first!"

"You were only faster—"

"No."

The two children turned to their father with looks of betrayal.

"But—"

"You are not to go South. Either of you."

Catelyn cut in with a sharp look and Arya opened her mouth to fight back, but their father cut her off.

"You are both Starks of Winterfell. No. You will stay here and guard the North for your brother and myself. Is that understood?"

Robb stifled a snort.

Stark of Winterfell.

When he was around Bran and Arya's age, he had believed that. About how a Stark was expected to stay back and guard the North.

'There must always be a Stark in Winterfell.'

Yes well, his uncle Benjen had told him it was his father who made it up.

Of course for good reason.

After the war of the mad king and many of the Starks scattered around the seven kingdoms, it was a miracle not all of them died at some point.

"That is final, Arya!"

Arya huffed angrily, folding her arms at the injustice of it all.

She wanted to see Lyarra and her dragons too! And Ghost!!

They must miss the North!

She wanted to see Lyarra!!!

She angrily stood up and ran off, ignoring her mother's call.

Nearby, Bran who had gotten over it, gushed.

"Maybe when I grow some more I could be a dragon knight! Robb, do you think Lyarra would let me ride one of them?"

At the mention of her name, Rickon looked up from his food, glancing at his mother with what looked like hope.

"Lya sweets?"

His innocent question brought a look of chagrin to his mother's face and Robb stifled a snort.

Of course Rickon would think of sweets when it came to Lyarra.

He glanced at his sister, Sansa, and it took all he could not to laugh in her face.

Sansa was as pale as her mother as she glanced around that evening.

Lyarra had dragons now!

All the things she'd said to her. Calling her a bastard. Ignoring her.

Oh, wouldn't Lyarra ride her dragons to Winterfell and burn her for everything??

Sansa let out a shriek at the thought of her beautiful red hair getting burnt to her scalp and she ran off into the night, ignoring her mother's call.

Catelyn sighed, not that she could blame Sansa.

She herself could understand the ramifications of Lyarra owning dragons. She might live in the North now, but the South was where she grew up.

She knew how the Targaryens used to hunger for dragons. How most of them died. She knew the political side of what this really meant… and it shook her to the very core.

At the end of the day, it would seem she could never win over the girl, could she??

As for Theon, his eyes glimmered at the remembrance of Lyarra.

She had really gone and made herself stand out in the world, hadn't she?

A small quirk of a smile grew on his face as he ate.

He knew he couldn't go South to see her, but it didn't stop the small twinge in his heart as he missed her. He couldn't get her out of his mind. She was like a siren of the dark waters, the daughters of the drowned god, said to reel you in with their seductive beauty and wondrous voices. Never to let you go.

He would tell Robb to send his greetings. It was all he could do from here after all.

That night, it would spread around Winterfell, from the guards to the men at arms and the servants.

The rebirth of dragons at the hand of one of theirs. It would spread to Wintertown through the night and the following day, and slowly spread across the North, from many sides.

As Old Nan prepared Bran for bed while the Lady Catelyn prepared the boisterous Rickon in his own chambers, Bran gushed continuously on the thought of dragons.

"Do you think I would be able to ride dragons?"

He asked the old woman as he climbed into his bed and Old Nan snorted.

"You shall not be able to, young Stark. You are of Stark blood so you can run with your wolf, but Lyarra is a daughter of Dorne and the North. A daughter of Fire and Ice herself."

She then pondered quietly to herself.

"Perhaps she would be the one to seal the pact of Ice and Fire after all."

Bran huffed.

"What's all that boring stuff??"

Old Nan tutted pityingly at him, patting his head and walking towards the door as his now named direwolf, Summer, climbed his bed and made himself comfortable.

"You are still too young to know these things, dear boy. But you will know them soon. I can see it written all over you."

As Bran slept… he not only ran with the wolves, but he flew ravens and crows.

And when morning came, Lord Stark and his retinue rode off for the South.

It would be a long journey.

So that's it!

Rumors have spread and unfortunately it'll take a little while for some to believe. *Cough* Cersei.

I decided to cameo some characters just to let you know i didn't forget these people. I.e Cersei and her brood. And as you can see, Joffrey is still the same sociopath we know and hate. And Myrcella just might be in his line of sight. For what though...

And then Arianne and the other Dayne family. We might not hear of them soon but they're all still around in the story.

Ps. I think it's hilarious that Ned's first thought after reading Arthur's letter was to name the Southerners mad and plan to ride off to take his innocent daughter back home where it's sane, lmao!

Poor Sansa though. I could have made her thoughts more serious, but Sansa is thirteen years old with a childish mind still, so of course she's going to look at things from an obviously horrific side. Poor girl thinks Lyarra's gonna burn her but Lyarra is in the South living it up with Aegon.

But it seems Arya and Sansa have some things in common. Running off that is. Catelyn is definitely going to have a lot to think of now.

And yes, i haven't forgotten Bran too! My man's got things to look out for.

NEXT CHAPTER, wedding preparations begin, Lyarra and Aegon spend more time together as Lyarra prepares to be plunged into the spotlight as Mother of Dragons.

Please don't forget to comment!!!