Chapter 2: Born of hope

283 AC

Tower of Joy: outside

Arthur Dayne stood outside the Tower of Joy, with his sworn brother Ser Gerold Hightower and Ser Oswell Whent, waiting for Lord Stark and his company of northerners to arrive.

Five days have passed since Lord Varys informed them about the fate of the capital and the fate of House Targaryen. The news of Rhaegar's death has upset them, but the way Elia and her children were killed, has destroyed them and they swore that one day the Lannisters will pay the price, with Fire and Blood.

"Lord Stark should arrive soon, and we all know how this will end" Ser Gerold said.

"Yes with their death! We are the bests swordsman in the Seven Kingdom" Ser Oswell responded firmly an proudly.

"We won't win this time, and even if we beat them, what come next?" Ser Gerold said.

"What came next!? We crown the child, and retake the..." Oswell started, but was cut off by Ser Gerold.

"And with which army will we retake the throne? Everyone who was loyal to House Targaryen have bent the knee. We don't have the support for now."

"So what we do now?" Arthur asked.

"We? We will do nothing. But you Arthur," Hightower said softly "when the baby's born, I want you to take the child to Essos."

"We can't flee like cowards. We are..." Ser Oswell responded.

"Quiet!" Ser Gerald said "Arthur, you will take the child to Starfall or Spottswood, and from there to Essos. I'm not a fool. She's been in labor far too long and I know she will not survive the day."

"Then why don't we all go to Essos?" Arthur said.

"Because someone needs to remain here and make sure that only Lord Stark remain alive of his party. When he will find his sister's body, one of the midwives will tell him to go to Spottwood, where you will meet".

"And why should I meet with him? He and Robert are best friends" Ser Arthur asked.

"The child needs the North if he's going to retake the throne" Hightower responded.

Arthur nodded.

"Now kneel," he said.

"Ser Arthur Dayne do you swear to protect Rhaegar's last child, to protect them and advise them? And help them take back their rightful throne?"

Arthur closes his eyes and nodded.

"Then rise, Ser Arthur" Hightower commanded. "From this day, I name you Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Now go and fulfill your duty."

Arthur nodded again, and run to the Tower.

Tower's room

Entering the room, Arthur looked around and saw the midwives handing the child to the mother.

He slowly approached the bed and saw it. The dark hair of the Starks and eyes so gray, almost black that they remind him of the eyes of his friend Rhaegar.

At that point, Lyanna smiled at him and said, "Arthur. Come closer. Greet your new King. "

"What is his name?"

"His name is Aenar Targaryen. Rhaegar wanted to name him after the Lord who rescued House Targaryen from the Destruction of Valyria." Lyanna responded slowly with the strength she had left.

"Yes a great name. And a new name, for the royal house. A name that will bring House Targaryen back to its former glory " Arthur said. Knowing that what she will ask now will break her heart, but must do it there is not much time "Lyanna, I'm sorry for what I'm about to ask you, but you have to give me the baby."

"What? You can't take him from me. I had held him for so a short time. He is my baby and I don't want to be separated from him. "Lyanna said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I know, and I'm sorry, but I have to take him away before the Usurper's men arrive. Your brother Eddard is already coming in with a contingent of men" Arthur said.

"Ned would never hurt him. He will protect him "Lyanna said faintly.

"He may not, but Robert's advisors are above all Lannisters," Arthur said lowly but firmly.

Lyanna nodded and said with tears"Let me hold him one last time before I die."

"Promise me, Arthur, you will tell him who his mother was and how much she loved him. "

"I promise you Lyanna." Then Arthur kissed Lyanna on the forehead and took the child from her arms and went out of the room with a painful heart, hearing the cry of his friend.

Before leaving the tower with one of the wet nurse he said to the other.

"When Lord Stark arrives and my brothers are dead, tell them to meet me in Spottswood in two weeks." She nodded with her head and Arthur goes out.

Outside the tower, his brothers were preparing to welcome the enemy.

When they saw him come out they approached, and Arthur said" Here is Aenar Targaryen, King of the Seven Kingdoms. "His brothers knelt to their new king.

Gerold and Oswell at the same time said "Aye".

"Now you have to go, Arthur, protect our 'hope' and our 'vengeance'."

Arthur nods his head, get on his horse and gallop towards Starfall, with the wet nurse and the child

Two hours later...

Eddard Stark arrived at the tower and saw two Kingsguard, standing before the entrance.

"I looked for you on the Trident. Why weren't you there protecting your Prince? "

"Our Prince wanted us here," replied Ser Gerold Hightower, Lord Commander of the royal guard.

"If we had been your friend, the usurper would have died," replied Ser Oswell.

"The war is over, Rhaegar is dead as well as Aerys, killed by Jaime Lannister. Kneel and live. "Eddard answered

"We don't kneel easily," replied Ser Gerold.

"Ser Willem Darry fled to the Dragonston, with your queen and Prince Viserys. I thought you'd gone with them, "said Eddard.

" Ser Willem is a good man and true," said Ser Oswell.

" But not of the Kingsguard" added Ser Gerold. "And the Kingsguard does not flee."

"We swore," Ser Oswell added.

"Where is Ser Arthur Dayne?"

"I wish you good fortune in the wars to come. And now begins." Ser Gerold said.

"No." Ned said "Now It ends."

And so the battle began. For every injury to the royal guard, one of his men died, but after a grueling duel, Eddard and Howland managed to kill Ser Oswell.

At this point, there were four of them against the White Bull.

Despite being wounded the White Bull fights like a demon, killing one of Eddard's best men and wounding Howland.

Then Eddard ran to the tower.

Entering the room, he shouted "Lyanna" and saw her in a pool of blood and without life. He cried over his sister's body and said that part of it was also his fault.

A midwife approached him and told him that his sister had given birth to a male child, and that Arthur Dayne had been attending him at Spottswood in two weeks.

After burying the bodies of his men and of the kingsguard, Eddard and Howland headed for Spottswood with his sister's body.

Starfall

After three days of riding, Ser Arthur reached Starfall. When his sister, Ashara, saw him she immediately ran up to him and with tears and sobs said "They killed Aegon and Rhaenys, and reapt Ellia with their blood still on their hands. Then killed her to" she said crying again. "They are monsters."

"I know," said Arthur, holding her in his arms and feel a few tears fall from his eyes.

Then he looked into her eyes and said "I promise you, on my honor as a sword of the Morning, that we will avenge him. But first I have to go to Essos to protect... "Arthur didn't even finish that Ashara already asked" Who is the Child? "

"That's our rightful king, Aenar Targaryen, son of Lyanna and Rhaegar "Arthur answered "and that's why I need to go to Essos. In Westeros, he would be sold, killed or worse, because we don't know how he will look when he grew up. At least in Essos, I have more chances to raise him in secret and eventually raise an army. After all, Essos is full of mercenaries ".

"Then I'll come with you," Ashara said. "I have nothing here. I lost my baby, and Ned is married to another. At least with you, I can be a mother to Aenar. "

Arthur nodded, and said, "We will leave in four days".

Before leaving Ashare asked, "what will you do with Dawn?"

"And a sword too famous to carry it with me. I would be recognized right away, and I could put Aeinar in danger. I will leave her here that she can be wielded by a new Sword of the Dawn, "Arthur answered.

Ashara nodded.

Before she could leave, Arthur added "Sister, I'm sorry you lost your baby."

She gave a sad smile and left.

Spottswood

Two weeks later...

Arthur stood on the docks of the harbor, waiting for Eddard Stark to arrive.

"Brother, what is the plan?" Ashara asked silently.

"First, we go to Braavos where I have to meet someone, and from there we will go to Pentos where we will stay with a friend of mine I know" Arthur answered.

"Regarding the army that will help us to recover the throne, do you already have in mind?"

"Yes. The Golden Company. An army of 20,000 men and 100 war elephants. But that will happen in time. I don't know yet where they are."

"What about Viserys Targaryen?"

"He is at Dragonston, for what I know from Lord Varys. If he survives, which I don't think so, I'll search for him. But I want to warn you that he has already begun to be like Aerys as a child and I think he'll be a treat to Aenar and to the Seven Kingdoms. His mother knew that he was too much influenced by Aerys. And also Rheagar. For now, we go to Braavos."

He saw Eddard Stark arrive in the night.

"Lord Stark, I was waiting for you," Arthur said sarcastically.

"Where is he? Where is my nephew? "Lord Stark asked.

"Patience, Lord Stark. Before you see him I have to ask you something, and I hope you answer well: 'When the war begins, and your dear friend the usurper will risk the throne, where do you stand? Will you choose the duty to your so-called king or the duty to your family, of which your nephew is also a member?'"This time Arthur asked.

Eddard began to think "...".

"You have already disappointed your sister when you wanted her to be married to your so-called friend, do not disappoint your nephew." After these words, Arthur showed him the baby.

"What's his name?" Eddard asked.

"Aenar Targaryen" Arthur answered.

"He will grow with my children, he will be loved and..."

"I don't think we understand each other. I'll take the child to Essos" Arthur answered

"Where he'll live under the name of Jon Snow. But when he grows up, he will discover the truth of his origins, and also will know his true name. "

"If not to give him to me, then why did you call me here?" Eddard asked.

"To show you where your loyalty lies" Arthur answered.

With this last sentence, Arthur gets on the ship that will take him to Braavos.

Dragonston

Outside there was a stormy night, as there were not until now and she knew that this pregnancy was different.

The master tried in every way to alleviate the pain. And I, turning to him, said.

"Master, I want you to promise me that if you had to choose who to save between me and my baby you will save him."

"Yes, I will. But now you have to push, your grace. Push. "

Rhaella gathered all the strength she had and pushed.

Suddenly she heard a whimper of a child, and the master saying"Congratulations, your grace! You have a beautiful girl. "

Finally, a Targaryen princess.

"Give her. Give her to me, now, "she said, extending her hands.

The master placed her in her arms and she saw her red cheeks and beautiful silver hair. But when she opens her eyes. Her breath took off, her eyes were purple, but not dark like those of her Rhaergar, but almost as clear as the water of the Oceans. A true Valyrian princess, and she knew at that moment that this little girl would become one of the greatest queen, bringing House Targaryen back to its ancient glory. Our hope.

But she wasn't sure of her son, who was on his father's way for every day that passed.

"Viserys. Come and meet your little sister "and he approached the bed and looked at her curiously." You will have to protect her from all danger, love her, and never leave her alone. Because a Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing."

"Your grace. How do you want to call her? "Asked the master.

"Daenerys. Daenerys Stormborn, of House Targaryen."

Rhaella heard the door of the room open, and it was Ser Willem.

"Your grace, Stannis Baratheon has come to Dragonstone. We must leave immediately. "

But suddenly she didn't feel good, her eyes started to darken and she heard Ser Willem tell the master to do something.

Before I lost my senses, I told Ser Willem.

"Ser Wyllem remember the promise you made to me. Take Viserys and the baby, and get in... "

And then she lost consciousness.