Chapter 2: Dreams and disagreements

Aenar reads the prophecy in shock. He turns to Rhaenar

"How many of these prophecies come true?"

He shrugs, "it's hard to say my Lord. Considering how advanced she has travelled in a short amount of time and how it relates to your wife's final prophecy I would say it's likely to come to pass. But how I don't know and I certainly can't say when"

He shakes the prophecy in his hand, "we need to act Rhaenar if this is true this is the end of Valyria as we know it"

"They won't believe you, you know this Aenar"

"So we do nothing?!" He shouts angry that he lost his wife to this prophecy and he's probably going to lose his family and himself to this too.

"Not necessarily. These prophecies tend to come in advance ahead of time, sometimes well in advance. We are given a choice, we either heed them and do what needs to be done or we do nothing and deal with the consequences"

Aenar puts his head in his hands wondering how he's ever going to sleep right again.

Rhaenar enters the impressive Temple of Dreamwalkers traversing through the beautiful white marble temple with pastel magic clouds illuminating the roof.

He reaches a dream walker, an elderly man who's hair is more grey than silver and his eyes are milky white staring into nothing. The man stirs and returns from his dream walking. Rhaenar hands him the written prophecy.

"Master this is the third one like this."

The man takes the prophecy and reads it, concern slightly furrowing his brow.

"Do you have an orb of this prophecy?" He replies looking up at his acolyte

"I do"

He retrieved the orb from his robes

"We will view this away from other eyes"

Rhaenar looks around, the hall is empty, "They're always watching my student"

He nods and follows the old man to a chamber which is pure darkness. Like walking into a blank dream state.

"We are safe now to open the orb my son"

Rhaenar sends the orb into the room and it explodes with brilliance

The old man walks around the prophecy slowing it and stopping it at will. A skill which was impressive to Rhaenar.

He would stop and look at the scenery in Valyria, he slowed down the explosions and watched the dragons fall.

The rest of the prophecy he allowed to flow in real time.

When it finished the orb returned to Rhaenar's hand

"Put that somewhere secure my son, we will need to examine that again"

"What are your thoughts Master?"

"We have time before this comes to pass. It's just like the others. Many of the buildings this prophecy shows destruction of haven't been built yet. Some of the wonders of Valyria in these visions haven't been discovered yet and some of the dragons who's lives we see lost aren't alive yet."

"What of the other prophecy she saw?" Asked Rhaenar

"They're too far in the future for us to touch. They served merely as a warning of what comes many years after Valyrian destruction. We need to focus on the events closer to us"

"How much time so we have?"

The man turns to look at Rhaenar his old face hardened and serious, "Less than 15 years"

Rhaenar smiles, "That's plenty of time isn't it?"

The man slowly shakes his head, "When have you known the high Lords of Valyria to heed our advice?"

Her footsteps echoed down the hall. It was day time but it was dark and she knew something was wrong. The sights were familiar but she didn't know where she was in time. Her family home was shaking and being destroyed in front of her eyes. She tried to change what was happening but her dream magic didn't work.

She calmed her breathing, another prophecy she thought.

'I can get through this now, I've done so much training'

She was jerked back into the prophecy by a pained shout.

She ran in the opposite direction while the house crumbled all around her. The precious house she'd been born in that was so beautiful was crumbling around her to never be seen again. She exited the building and saw her father gasping for air, his skin cooking from the intense heat. Her brother was not far from her father, he seemed older and taller. His fate the same. She watched the life leave their bodies as the sky rained ash and larva, the sun blotted out by volcanic clouds. Their eyes lifeless their skin burned and blistering

Their bodies burned before her eyes and turned to ash. She turned and ran tears streaming down her face as she saw the streets littered with piles of rubble and thousands of bodies turning to ash before her eyes. Noble, slave and dragon burning and turning to ash as one. As if they didn't matter.

Suddenly the world was dark and she was floating. She calmed her breathing and went through what she'd learnt with Rhaenar. She could feel her body, move her hands and feet slightly and breathing nice and even. Letting the emotions wash over her and dissipate into the blackness. Her eyes fluttered open and she was in her bed, alone. This was the first time she'd dreamwalked without waking drenched in sweat and tears with handmaidens and guards watching over her in fear. She was relieved what she had been learning was starting to take effect and mentally she thanked Rhaenar.

"No need to thank me I'm already here" she jerked her head up and saw him sitting in her room.

"Oh Rhaenar you bloody scared me! For once I thought I'd done this on my own" she said feeling disheartened.

"Oh but you did sweet girl. I was merely observing I didn't intervene at all"

She sat up on her elbows and studied him closely, "You didn't?"

"Not at all. You're learning incredibly fast which isn't surprising considering your mother."

She was confused, "what about my mother?"

Rhaenar looked down and then straight at her eyes, "your father never told you" he said flatly

"Told me what?"

He sighed, "her dream walking began when she was pregnant with you. Which doesn't usually happen. Youre either born with it or you're not. It's not something that's just acquired. Something about you and her blood mingling had such power it created a strong reaction in her. The visions and dreams were mixed into intense dream walking states. It was like she was awakened to full power and that had never happened before"

"Are you saying I killed my mother?" She weakly asked dreading the answer.

He smiled kindly, the first time she'd seen him do so, "No child it wasn't you that killed her. Something unlocked within her which was dormant in your family line and it was too strong for her body to handle. Don't worry yourself when you've just successfully dream walked alone. Now come here and tell me what you saw"

She approached the table and relayed the prophecy to him. He wrote it and stroked the orb on the table as she spoke. When she was done she pointed to the orb, "will I learn to use these anytime soon?"

He regarded her and continued writing, "yes you will. What do you know of them?"

"It's high magic that records events, dreams, real life things and is a record of what happens. A true record because they can't be tampered with. You can also stop them and slow them down when viewing them over again"

He raised an eyebrow slightly, "impressive you know that much on them"

"My father uses them, we could never get away with anything in this house. He'd always have a bloody orb to show us we were lying as children" she chuckled at some of the memories.

"Your father is rather talented with magic you know" he turned to her, "and he will get that magic back in time"

"Yes" she replied " a lot of his magic died with her didn't it"

Rhaenar gathered up the paperwork and placed the orb in his robes, "No it didn't die with her, his own grief has merely shrunk it. Your father will have an awakening and very soon. Which is important in the events to come"

She looked at him puzzled, "you have prophecies too?"

"I'm aware of many prophecies and they all point in a similar direction. It's deciding how to act that poses the most...difficulty"

He abruptly spun and left her pondering this as he exited the room.

Rhaenar made his way to the domed roof at the top of Targaryen House. Aenar was there drinking and the family dragons were laying around the room. Balerion, Aenar's dragon lay closest to him regarding him with cold eyes. The room was large but in Valyrian standards not as expansive as the more powerful, wealthier families. Aenar's face looked strained with worry and when he saw Rhaenar he looked relieved

"Please, tell me some good news"

Rhaenar inclined just head, "She has managed to dream walk a prophecy on her own Lord Targaryen."

Aenar let out a relieved breath and he stood to shake Rhaenar's hand.

"Thank you"

They clasped elbows and shook.

"Don't thank me yet until you see the prophecy she saw"

Aenar grimaced and braced himself for what was to come.

"Be aware this will not be easy to see"

Aenar nodded his head and quietly murmured, "Let's get this over with Rhaenar".

Rhaenar released the orb and it exploded with fiery visions of pain and death. Aenar watched stone faced as he burned to ash and was no more. When the same happened to Gaemon he gripped the back of his seat and when the devastation of Valyria unfolded his knuckles went white as he gripped the seat harder.

The vision faded and he turned to Rhaenar

"How long do we have? You must've spoken to the First Dreamwalker of this"

Rhaenar summoned the orb to his hand and placed it in his robes, "I have my Lord. He says less than 15 years judging by the images of buildings and such"

"Are there others?"

"Other prophecies? Yes there are"

"How many?"

"Three so far sir"

"And what are we doing about it?"

"For now a course of action hasn't been decided. The Lords of Valyria don't always place value on dreams and visions as you know"

Aenar nodded still gripping tightly to the chair. Deep in thought he pushed away and went to his drink sipping thoughtfully.

Balerion shifted slightly causing the other dragons in the dome to stare at him, he edged closer to Aenar who reached out and stroked his nose once with his free hand.

"You have to awaken what's in you Aenar"

Aenar spun and looked at the man confused as he had never called him by his first name.

"You have to and you know it" he repeated

"What are you taking about Rhaenar?"

Rhaenar strode forward his face an inch from Aenars

"If you don't wake the dragon within you you'll fail"

"Fail at what exactly?"

"What you've been waiting to happen. You know it and I know it. Change is coming. If you're not ready, well, you saw the prophecy"

"No amount of magic or preparation can prepare for that" he replied heatedly, pointing to the air where the prophecy just was.

Rhaenar shrugged in disagreement

"We saw people stronger than me falling to this event. People who control the fires of Valyria were powerless...what hope do I have?"

"If you're not in Valyria you have plenty of hope good man"

Rhaenar bowed slightly and left Aenar to his thoughts.

Aenar slipped into his dreams effortlessly thanks to the drinking before bed. He saw many events of his life, childhood and his family. And then she was there. Their wedding.

Two families coming together, dragons and desire. Their love was an energy that filled the room. He watched the dream with red eyes.

Then he felt her next to him.

"You've finally let me in my love" her silvery voice slightly chiding him

He looked sideways at her, she was shimmering and mostly made of light but it was her.

"It's really me Aenar I've been waiting for you to come" she sighed.

He let out a breath, "I didn't know I needed to let you in?"

She laughed her silvery laugh, "The liquor helped break down those walls my love"

She reached up and stroked his head, and where she touched him he felt shivers of energy down his spine.

"It was the happiest day of my life" he said choking back tears

"And mine too"

He turned to look at her beauty which wasn't diminished by death and the afterlife

"Where did it go wrong?"

She smiled and shook her head, "But it didn't. It's going exactly as it's meant to"

"How do you mean?"

"I was only meant to bring her into the world and then I had to leave. That's how it was supposed to be. But now you're torturing yourself in here" she touched his heart and it leapt at her touch, "and If you let yourself you know the outcome"

He turned his head to see the prophecy of his death and it startled him

"Gods warn me before you show me that again"

She smiled warmly, "It's not set in motion. If you wake the dragon it'll never come to pass."

"Rhaenar mentioned this, what are you talking about Maerya?"

She waved her hand and showed him his past magic training and skills. He was growing his skills in an area of magic unheard of in his family line.

"You have power in those veins that you're not using. You'll need them in the times to come"

She waved her hand again and they were on a black ship with a huge dragon figurehead and the Targaryen sigil on the sails. Facing a large volcanic island. Aenar was on the deck with his children saying an incantation and moving his hands. The island shifted and stone came from the mountain to grow into figures of dragons and a palace was born.

"See what's inside you Aenar?" She marveled as the vision dissipated.

He looked in awe at the place as it dissolved.

"How do I-?" He started

He turned to face her, "You know how..." she said.

She smiled broadly and looked so happy, as radiant as the day they became man and wife and the day they became parents.

Her smile made him melt inside.

She kissed his forehead, his nose, his mouth. She unbuttoned his shirt and kissed the place where her necklace lay hidden in his shirt over his heart.

He felt the change in himself.

He grabbed his wife and as his hands tingled he pulled her closer to him.

"One last kiss..."

And as her lips touched his the energy was so strong he had only just felt her mouth on his when it was too much and he jolted awake.

Instinctively he reached for her side of the bed and feeling the empty space sank back on his pillow panting.

Aenar sat contemplating the events of the night. Daenys prophecy, Rhaenar's comments and Maerya's dream walking. He summoned his personal guard, "Summon my whole family Raemon"

His guard bowed, "As you wish"

Aenar reaches and grabbed the young mans wrist as he turned away

Raemon looked back quizzically, "Sir?"

"All of my family"

Raemon looked troubled, "I understand"

The children entered laughing and in good spirits, two perfect silver haired children he was so thankful for. It took a lot for Aenar to shake his feelings of the night just passed.

He looked warmly at his children and the images of his son dying by his side fluttered around his mind and it hurt his heart.

"Morning father" smiled Daenys

"Morning my dragons" he replied as best he could

"What's wrong Father?" Said Gaemon as he leaned forward to move in his seat.

Aenar sighed, he wasn't good at concealing his emotions.

"We are having a family meeting tonight."

Gaemons face darkened, "The whole family?"

He nodded, "Yes son, the whole family".

"For what reason?" Interjected Daenys tightly

Aenar glanced at her, "Your prophecy"

She looked down into her food and looked as if she didn't want to be there.

"What are you going to tell them?" She said in a small voice.

"My plans for the family"

Both children looked at him in shock, "What plans?" They both said at once

He smiled slightly, "We are leaving Valyria"

Gaemon looked shocked and Daenys looked relieved but apprehensive

"They're not going to like it father." Said Daenys reaching for his hand, "Especially not..."

He glanced sharply at her, "I don't care what your mothers family think anymore"

She withdrew her hand and weakly nodded, dreading tonight. Her mothers family blamed her for her mothers death even though she was a young child at the time. Now she knew the truth from Rhaenar it made sense why they suddenly disappeared from their lives and father never spoke of them.

"But for today, no lessons, no fighting" he looked at Daenys who looked disappointed, "today we ride as a family"

And suddenly both children looked pleased.

Daenys loves being on dragon back almost as much as fighting with her two swords. She rides without a saddle so she can feel Aeryra's warmth underneath her.

Aeryra dives and the world drops around her

She holds on and feels the rush of fear and adrenaline mixing in her veins. Her father and brother twirl around her and they and their dragons dance as one.

The dragons play and nip at each other as they fly and talk to each other in clicks and screeches. Her blond braids streaming behind as her the instincts of her body scream in danger, she is exhilarated in the moment of flight. Aeryra follows her dragon kin to a mountain ledge overlooking Valyria where Aenar and Gaemon are dismounting. The dragons rest before going on a hunt for food to roast and enjoy before flying home.

Valyria stretches out in all directions. They see the mountainous areas in the north and look down over the city of Valyria on the south. The huge crystal domes and houses of the wealthiest and powerful are the largest. The smaller houses of middle class families are littered all throughout the city along with the various temples and houses of government. This made the city look impressive no matter where you viewed it.

"Do you really believe this will all be gone?" Says Gaemon to his sister

"I've seen it and felt it. It's going to happen"she replies with certainty

"What do you think father's plan is?" He asks as he stares out over the city

"I really have no idea"

"You haven't seen it in dreams?"

She turns to him and says uncertainly, "I've only seen his death nothing else"

Gaemon feels uneasy and a feeling of dread settles over him, "And what of me sister?"

She turns away, "You meet the same fate"

Gaemon nods and becomes silent processing what she has told him. They both feel terrible after such an exhilarating flight.

Aenar comes back from relieving himself and sees his children silently looking over Valyria.

He smiles as he remembers how happy he was when they came into the world

"So silent my little ones?"

"We are troubled" says Daenys.

He stands between them and puts a hand on each of their shoulders, "Dont let dreams ruin reality. We know what we have to do but for now let's be happy"

They smile at him but he still senses their unease.

"Now I have you both here where there are no eyes and ears let me show you something"

He beckons to them and they follow him into the Valyrian forest.

The trees tower over them and the roots arch high over their heads. These trees know and feel magic, the air is tingling with magical energy. Through the tree tops the majestic mountain peaks tower above covered with patches of snow.

They enter a clearing with numerous boulders and rocks scattered over the ground. Nothing of note is here and they look at him confused.

He motions for them to stay where they are and he walks into the midst of the stones.

He mutters something and raises his hands, nothing happens. He pauses and gathers himself again.

He says it louder again and raises his hands quicker and hands open wide. The stones begin to move and Daenys looks closer.

Aenars hands are conducting the stones and he now has his eyes open and is creating something to grow from the stones. He steps back to allow the stone shapes to grow and they see a winged figure forming. It is primitive but they can make out the outline of a stone dragon.

He turns back to the children and grins, they look at each other and shrug.

"Wait wait I'm not done yet"

They smile and as he waves his hands the stone dragons features come to life. The scales, his face, the spikes down his back and tail, all come into focus as if they were blurred before but now they are sharpening before their eyes.

The dragon crunches and moves as it stretches its wings high into the air and rears up onto its hind legs balancing on its tail.

And at the peak of its movement Aenar clenches his fist and the dragon falls still. The life has gone from the stone and this magnificent dragon statue remains.

Daenys and Gaemon are standing dumbfounded mouths open in disbelief at the high magic their father has performed.

"Father", Daenys whispered, "how?"

His father smirks, a look she hasn't seen on his face in a long time, "I've woken the dragon"

When they return from the woods they're waiting for them. The theee dragons they ride are Aenars favourite part of being a Valyrian. He can't imagine what it would feel like to live without a dragon. The thought just seems so pointless and miserable to him. But the blood of the dragon knows nothing else. And his dragon is one of the biggest in Valyria.

Balerion looks at his rider as he approaches, eyes gleaming bright and tail swishing over the side of the cliff. Effortlessly creating a shower of rocks down the side of the cliff, luckily there are no dwellings down there

Aenar climbs onto Balerion and doesn't use verbal commands anymore, when they dance they do as one. Communicating with the slightest mental cues and movements. The bond they have is the strongest he's ever heard of with a dragon. Balerion flies into the sky and blacks out the sun on his way back home.

It was dark when the dragons returned home and flying towards their family home brought a return of anxiety in Daenys mind. She had to face people she didn't want to see tonight. Her mothers family. Their guards and closest servants waited for them to dismount and they bowed slightly as they approached.

"Pleasant flight?" Quizzed Raemon

"Definitely what was needed" smiled Aenar

"Very good" smiles Raemon, "your guests are waiting. Would you all like time to change?"

Daenys smiled at the thought of presenting herself in the best she could.

"No need. I don't care what they think of our appearances. They'll listen or ignore us no matter what state we are dressed in" replied Aenar still feeling euphoric from his time on Balerion's back.

Daenys looked at him shocked.

He laughed a light laugh at her expression, "Child a pretty dress won't bring open ears and minds to you. Words are where the power lies"

She swallowed her disagreements and followed her father, conscious of being in her riding breeches and her hair wild from riding.

The Targaryens entered the dining hall looking united and strong. Aenar walking in front flanked by Gaemon on his right and Daenys on his left. They walked with purpose and strength. The whole room stopped and glanced at them. Most of them were friendly relatives but a small group held malice towards them.

"My family!" Boomed Aenar happily, "So long it's been since we were all in one place"

He smiled around at them.

"I see you're all being looked after and happy. Please excuse us for being late. We were letting the dragons stretch their wings. Something we haven't been doing much of late"

A man steps forward of same age as Aenar, "I've heard you've had your hands full lately cousin"

Aenar dipped his head at his cousin who he knew would support him, "Valaer you're right. There's been some developments but I think words don't really do this kind of thing justice"

He reaches in and produces an orb. Daenys looks worried and feels her stomach drop at the thought of seeing the prophecy again.

Gaemon stands strong by his father but she recognises his nervous movement of his face even though it's ever so slight.

Aenar sends up the orb and prophecy explodes into the room filling the space with flames and explosions. Few people gasp most look shocked at what they're seeing. When it finishes all eyes turn to Daenys.

"You've seen this more than once child?" Asks an older woman with dreamy white eyes

She swallows and nods

The woman clutches her pearls to her heart and kisses an opalescent bead.

A small group break away and leave the room.

"Excuse me" says Aenar.

He follows the men down the hall, they're talking quietly amongst themselves.

"Wait Daghar!" He yells

The men all stop and look back. Their leader Daghar is Maerya's brother, a tall man with broad shoulders and a permanent scowl.

He walks towards Aenar, "If you think I'm going to heed dreams of a child you're wrong!"

His face is red and angry

"Why do you blame her?" Says Aenar despairingly.

"My sister died because of her and those dreams. You think I'll forget what mixing with your blood did to her? There's no dream magic in my House"

"And how do you know? Can you see along the threads of time?" Questions Aenar.

Daghar growls and threateningly moves forward, "You and those children are not part of our family. We will have no part in this bullshit magic. When was the last time a prophecy came true anyway? Every prophecy that's been made has come and gone to no effect. Valyria will not fall" he spat his last words at Aenar.

"Valyria will fall" he replied quietly his eyes downcast to the floor.

"And what makes you so sure?!"

"Maerya showed me as well..."

"Is this when she was alive, happy and strong? Or when she was a figment of your imagination and dreams?" Raged Daghar.

Aenar was silent, "I thought so..." sneered Daghar.

"My family has magic but Magic we can control with our hands and eventually just our minds, when our eyes are awake. We make metals and build great architecture. When we are awake!" He slammed his fist into his hands. "Dreams and visions shift and change Aenar you know this!"

He spins and begins to leave the House

"We are leaving Valyria" Aenar states.

Daghar looks over his shoulder, "If you follow the child's dreams it will be your downfall Targaryen" he spat the last word at him.

And he left the building.