Chapter 6: Birth of a Leader

2 years later:

She paces the room her blonde hair messy and sticking to her forehead from sweat and exhaustion. This might just be the hardest thing she's ever done, and after all her achievements that is saying something.

She's naked and only has one maiden present because this state she's in makes her feel vulnerable and she hates it. But it's familiar having done it twice before. The pain comes again and she grimaces and braces herself on a doorway in the opulent suites she is in. Groaning she makes it through another bout of the pain she's enduring and grits her teeth resolving to be quieter for the next one. Her maiden hovers to see if she needs assistance but she paces on. Her large stomach shifting and moving as the child descends and works their way free. Mother and baby work together for hours until she can no longer walk unassisted. In a rush of pain and glory she's on all fours pushing her little one out using what magic she can conjure to help make the passage easier for her little one to be free.

She yells out a primal scream and as she does it as loud and with as much force as possible she feels a major shift and the baby is free. The maiden hands her the child and smiles, another daughter. Mentally she sends loving energy to her daughter but is too exhausted for much else. She feels another lurch in her stomach and knows this is not over. Her maiden looks at her knowingly and she grins and summons the last magic she can bear to pull in around her for the birth of her fourth child and son.

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A silver haired man slips silently into the darkened room and silently glides over to the baby cribs on the far side of the room. The babies are calm and alert in their cribs looking around at the sights they can see while laying in their crib. Both have white hair and magenta eyes, striking Valyrian features and an energy emanating from them signifying great magical potential. He smiles fondly internally grateful of his betrothal to their mother so many years ago. She had greatly contributed to bringing their family name and reputation further into one of the strongest Valyrian families.

"I don't know why you bother sneaking into my maternity chambers after spending so many years together" she quietly says with her voice soft but steely.

He turns to see his wife standing across from him an amused look on her face. He stretches out his hand and she takes it. They feel the electrifying energy between them.

"We have made more magic here" he says softly and smiling.

"Yes, our family will continue to grow in strength with these two" she says fondly reaching in and stroking their cheeks one at a time.

He watches her, smiling.

She turns to him and becomes serious, "Do you remember what I showed you?"

His heart sinks but he smiles anyway trying to stay non chalant.

"Yes I remember"

"And do you believe it? I can see into you and sense your disbelief my love"

He looks down and paces the room.

"We can't leave here Alaerya we have too much at stake. If we leave we lose everything our family has worked to build for who knows how long"

She slightly sucks in her breath in annoyance, glancing at the babies gathering her thoughts, "What if we didn't leave though?"

He turned to look at her and she could feel he was tired of this subject. They had not been able to agree on the prophecy.

"What do you mean?"

"You stay here and I'll come and go. I have an idea but I need to research it first and for that I'll need to leave"

He runs his hand through his silver mane in frustration, "Do you know what would happen to us if they find out we believe the Targaryens?" He spat the last word in disdain.

"Don't look down on them because they don't have the power we do. Look past that. We have more at stake than just what we have in Valyria. Come on you have your own magic you can't tell me you haven't tried to find the lies in this...and failed"

He looked her in the eyes, "You're right I failed to find any hint of lies."

"And did you see the orb with the priestess?"

"No I haven't and I'm reluctant to. You can't trust those fanatics"

"And I do not...with no fibre of my being do I trust them or the magic they claim to wield. But I've also tried to find falsehoods in her words and I failed"

He grabbed her hands pleadingly, "You are a Valyrian capable of the Highest mysteries. The amount of power in you is irreplaceable. Not just as a wife and mother but for what you can do and what you've done for us. Please don't throw that away on a maybe"

She smiled into his serious face, "You make me sound like I have more power than you do"

He smiled and shook his head, "A man can only try..."

"Flattery will only work in the bedroom my dear"

He looks around and stretched out his arms, "We are already in a bedroom"

She looks at him with mock anger and puts her hands on her hips

He laughs and puts his hands up in surrender, "Fine, we will do it your way. But discreetly I won't have the other families catching wind of your plans. This could undo us"

She nods in acceptance, "I'm capable of discretion"

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Alaerya sits cross legged in the middle of the purple flames. They surround her and dance around her drawing her further into her trancework. She sits for a time in her trance and practices Valyrian mysteries in the flames. She conjures and handles fire, melts and manipulates metals, changes objects into precious stones, and practices her future seering. All her magic practices she drills through daily, a practice hammered into her by her talented mother. Her mother is a fire maege of Valyria so fire magic is strong in her family line. She also has many other unusual talents which led to her mother allowing her daughter to be taught and master the Valyrian mysteries. Magic which is only available to a small circle of the highest Valyrian nobility. Alaerya mastered dream walking, dragon speaking and breeding, creation of magical artifacts and using magic without words or tools. For her age she was unusually powerful and had gifted insight. She was importantly taught from a young age how to disappear in crowds and hide the extent of her powers so she cannot be targeted by others jealous of what she can create.

The orb floats from the chest and silently glides into the flames towards her. It floats in front of her bathing in purple flames of the highest magic in Valyria. She enters the orb and rewatched the scene with the priestess. She sends her magic into the mind of the woman and finds nothing but fervent servitude and honesty, but also...cunning. A willingness to do whatever it takes to serve her lord. Sighing slightly she withdraws from the woman's mind and watches herself interact with this woman. When she removes her cloak in the orb she sees the reaction in the red woman. Even with her powers consciously being diminished this priestess was awed by her latent power.

'That is dangerous' thought Alaerya noting the priestess desire to learn her magical secrets out of greedy desire. She retracts from the orb and it returns to its resting place. A scratching sound begins on the other side of the room as a quill silently begins making notes on parchment as she notes down the information the red woman gave her.

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Her status enabled her to enter any building and speak with the highest officials without being questioned. Although they preferred she made arrangements prior to arriving but she was too spontaneous for organising that. She arrived to speak with the High Governor of Valyria. The tower is one of the largest in Valyria and his office is in the highest dome of a multi domed building. The only building in Valyria with such a design.

'This is a major gamble' she thought to herself as she walked down the decadent hallways being bowed to by servants and lower born Valyrians, 'if this doesn't go to plan my desire to be discreet is blown'

Despite her doubts she felt of the other paths before her this one presented the best opportunities.

She entered the office which was more like a large hall of stunning marble and architecture

The High Governor looked at her in surprise.

"Lady Valreon, this is unexpected"

She approaches him and replies seriously, "Is it really?"

He drops his smile, "What have you brought me?"

She produces three orbs.

He shifts uncomfortably in his seat, "If I never have to see another one of these again..." he mutters

"Yes I know they're rather uncomfortable and inconvenient sir, but they are of great importance."

He shuffles some paperwork and sends files to cupboards on the walls.

"I don't need to see these my Lady. I know why it is you come here"

She seats herself on one of the chairs in front of him and gets comfortable

She looks at him inquiringly, "Please High Governor impress me with your gift of sight"

He sighs, "I remember teaching you your first lessons in this subject. Such a small fierce and talented child you were, or should I say excuse me, are"

She grinned devilishly, "Feels like such a long time ago sir. But you understand I didn't come here to disrespect you"

He removes his spectacles and places them on his desk, "I know that Alaerya, but you come here asking me something difficult all the same"

"You believe the prophecy and you know Targaryen was right. What's the long game here then? Just let us fall away to nothing? Who's really in control here?"

She leans forward defiance clear in her face and her eyes flashing fiercely bright.

He looks at her sadly and smiles, "Yes I believe the girls vision but to evacuate this city with no firm timeline of events is ruin to my position and family. Not to mention the anger of the fourteen flames and the logistics of such a manoeuvre"

She smirks, "Now we know who really holds the power in Valyria"

His face burns in sudden anger, "Dont think because of how long we have known each other I won't throw you out of here with no help Alaerya!"

She bows her silver head, "Forgive me sir, I'm feeling fierce about protecting my family...and saving my people"

"You can't save them all you know"

"No I can't and I know that nor do I want to save them all. There are some noble families I'd be happy to leave behind here to face the fires"

She turns her face to the largest volcano responsible for the major destruction of Valyria which is right by the High Governors building.

"What do you want from me?" He says quietly and with an edge of fear to it.

"Merely your council and some suggestions."

"And if I grant these to you will you offer me something in return"

He has piqued her interest, "if it's within my power to do so, yes"

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Alaerya left the office feeling much happier than she walked in and in her grasp she had words from one of the wisest men she knew to guide her. She didn't agree with everything he suggested but the main theme of it was logical and had the potential for greatness. The magic in her veins was singing so she knew she was on to something.

Upon returning home she dismounted her dragon Vaella in the third largest dome in the city to a sight that warmed her all over. Her four precious children with their dragons or their eggs in the case of the babies. Playing and laughing with their servants, the sun illuminating their heads and their bright eyes shining with happiness. They noticed her and the ones that could came running and screaming into her arms. The delight she felt was better than any other work of magic she had created in her life.

They jumped around her telling her about their day and their dragons to which she smiled, listened and exclaimed in delight in the right places. Her motivation for her plan was right here in this building. She spent time with the children and the servants playing and laughing. A rare joy she usually doesn't have time to do much to her regrets. Something she decided was about to change.

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Her husband read through the scrolls his brow furrowed, "He actually gave you this? Without coercion?"

She nodded, biting her lip trying to quell her happiness.

"Not everything I think is necessary but the overall theme is logical. And it's been done before so it shouldn't arouse any suspicion."

He looked at her sideways, "And the children?"

"A smart way to continue the bloodlines..."

"How are you going to get these people to do that? I mean let's say for a moment you manage to pull all these off or whatever version of these you do..." he circles over part of the writings, "what about the kids? That's going to raise some eyebrows."

"Well I haven't thought about that bit too deeply yet", she said as she came to stand by his side and rest her silvery head on his shoulders, "but so far we at least have something to work towards".

She could feel his unease and doubt, she gently turned his head to hers their eyes staring into the other and noses close together.

"After all this time and everything we have done together, do you believe me?"

He softened under her gaze, "You know I do, I just-"

"Fear the unknown..." she said gently

"Talking about leaving here is one thing...actually doing it?"

She gazed at him some more, her fingers tracing circles over his neck and head.

"That's why we have to take the best of here with us..."

He kissed her gently and cupped her face in his hands, she gently drew him towards the bed leaving the scrolls on the table.

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She walked the dream road like she was taught, her feet padding down soft hallways and doorways opening to possibilities around her. The hallway vanished and she was on a ship sailing away from Valyria. There was nothing to be seen for miles around, she glanced up to the sails and the sigil looked like a seahorse. She put her hand over her face to shield the sun and looked again. Yes, it really was a seahorse. She took deep breaths and continued to explore around. The crew didn't see her, she was invisible to them. Before long there was a shout from up above, land had been spotted. She turned in the direction of where they were pointing but couldn't see anything. She whipped her head around at the sound of wings, Vaella was flying above the ship. She smirked and sent her mind up to her dragon where she was riding. It was strange to see herself in dreams, even if she had seen herself more times than she could count.

Ahead she could see the dark outline of mountains, her dragon surged forward.

On approach it was breathtaking, four islands connected by rock bridges, four mountains reaching high into the air, one on each island. Each island had ample land surrounding the mountainous ranges to be inhabited. They had formed in a crescent formation and stood proud and strong coming out of the sea. She felt her blood singing and knew she'd found what she was looking for. They did a lap around the islands and mentally mapped out the terrain. In her dream state she committed as much to memory as possible for her orb to replay later. She felt the dragon planning to land at the command of her real self and followed their lead. Her real self chose to land on the furthermost island at the end of the ring. And as soon as she set foot on the ground she knew why, she turned back to observe her real self.

She was kneeling with her hands on the ground, she looked up at the mountain eyes glowing bright and looked straight towards her dream self.

"There is magic here"