A/N: I'd love to skip straight to invading Westeros but there is still a lot to happen in Valyria. The story has a lot of development to go and some twists and turns. Enjoy :)
Chapter 12: Valreon House Grows
Alaerya and Aeyrelis stood in the dragon dome as they all arrived. It was time for their wards to come and join House Valreon. The children all arrived on dragon back accompanied by their parents. They all walked as one group down to a large hall of Valreon House. There was a large desk with paperwork laid out, Alaerya and Aeyrelis stood behind the desk with their children.
"Thank you for coming to our call friends. It is truly a memorable day for all of our houses. We came to you with mutual respect and an honest desire to see our houses grow and weather the changes to our culture together. Trying to claw our way to the top is meaningless if everyone around you is an enemy. But if we all share the mantle together and work together we can create more wealth and power than ever before"
Aeyrelis holds up the papers, "These are the contracts we all signed in agreement of what we are doing here. We take on your children as our wards. We will care for them, educate them, bring them into our home and treat them as our own. If something arises and we need to protect them we will do so as if they're our own. You are not saying goodbye to them, they can come and go as they please. They are not hostages" he smiles calmly.
He looks down at the paperwork and goes through the betrothals again. The children go to their betrothed and take them from the room. The last contracts are the families whose children will be wards for the purpose of education. Alaerya looks up and sees Traeylon as representative for House Ballaer. She internally feels disappointed but accepts she can't change years of resentment in one go.
The wards step forward.
"We only agreed to one ward per house" says Alaerya quietly to the House representatives.
This is due to two children from each house stepping forward
Traeylon cleared just throat, "We were hoping we could request two wards from each house be taken. A female and a male"
Alaerya and Aeyrelis looked at each other
"Where is Lady Ballaer?" Said Aeyrelis
"She was unable to make it today. She was involved with another arrangement regarding our family business"
Alaerya detected the lie instantly
"If she doesn't think the future of her house is important the next time we call a meeting then our agreement will not continue" said Aeyrelis sternly
Traeylon bowed and expressed his apologies. The other families looked on concerned.
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Alaerya kissed her husband long and passionately, "I'm going to miss you my dear. Make sure they whistle the wind to make your journey faster"
He hugged her close and could smell the delicate scent of her hair.
He pulled back and looked in her face stroking her with his masculine hands and losing himself in her eyes.
"I will always come back to you"
He handed her a scroll, "This is my plans for a very measured evacuation. We haven't seen the second earthquake yet but not knowing how long we have I think we need to have a plan in place regardless."
She took it, "Always thinking ahead my dear. Thank you. What can I do while you're gone?"
"Start slowly dismantling the house, start organising everything you want to bring. If there is a structure there for us to set up home we will start ferrying everything there. Two weekly shipments should see almost all our stores transferred and everything in here"
He looks around their room, the stunning golden patterned walls and the vivid dragons with their house sign on their chest. A dragon flying upwards wings outstretched towards a shining star.
"I'll be busy while you're gone. How am I going to explain the library suddenly being empty?"
He laughs, "Just enchant the shelves to look like there's books on them, the children can't possibly read every book in the collection."
She laughs and spins around him hugging him from behind, they look out of their window at Valyria sprawled out around them.
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Aeyrelis left the Valyrian Port with two ships filled with House Valreons wealth. To be undetected Alaerya sourced a large volume of enchanted bags which hold immense volume of material but are light when closed and carried. They looked like inconspicuous sacks of grains which is what the servants helping Aeyrelis thought they were. This enabled the ship to be loaded with over half of the Valreons wealth, this pleased and relieved Aeyrelis. He was concerned about leaving anything behind, as it was his legacy that so much was created in his lifetime and was too proud to just walk away from it. They arrived at the islands and Aeyrelis watched in shock as they arrived. The islands had completely transformed, almost all of them had been developed and were laced with impressive Valyrian architecture. Each island had a large Valyrian tower with a series of smaller towers scattered around. And other buildings and precincts Aeyrelis couldn't distinguish. The port was fully built and functional, even more well built than the port they recently left in Valyria. There were docking yards, a ship building shed and various storage warehouses for exporting and receiving imports. The dock was shockingly well organised and primed for service. Aeyrelis had decided to make the journey to the islands on the boat rather than his dragon as he wanted to personally guard his wealth.
Jaehserys met him at the port and bowed, extending his hand. Aeyrelis shook his hand and looked around him smiling.
"This is incredible, work here is close to completion my friend".
They looked out over the islands, the port was located on the closest island to Valyria and you could see across the bay to the other islands. They were a hive of activity, building was happening at an impressive rate. The crew from the ship looked bewildered, and this is why Aeyrelis took the most loyal men to their family. No outsiders at all and no one to talk about what was happening here.
"Yes my Lord we have made quite a place. There came a point after I arrived I didn't think I would have a hand anymore I was so consumed with designing everything. I spent days in a kind of trance planning the layout of the island cities and the industries we would need. Fitting it all together while keeping space for areas of leisure also, wasn't an easy task. But once I finished and I became accustomed to the energy here things calmed down and we got to work. I have much to show you-" he held out his arm and let Aeyrelis lead the way.
"Can you please organise the load from the ship to be transported to the family vaults Jaehserys?" he looked back at him when he asked.
"Of course we will take care of that first Lord Valreon..."
"Please, call me Aeyrelis. You've done great work here and are personally responsible for extending my family's empire. You deserve to be rewarded and I want to do is do away with you calling me 'my Lord'. Think I'm going to need to organise an elevation in your social standing my friend."
"I simply did as I was asked by a strong family. I saw the opportunity that existed here and the vision of your wife. It felt like the right thing to do for our people."
"It seems you are Humble as well. Alaerya mentioned you were a good man. I'm sure she will agree one of these domes will become yours in gratitude for all youve achieved here" he says slapping him on his back. He simply couldn't believe his eyes. Some of the structures he had never seen those kinds built in his life. It wasn't just a new place to keep Valyrian people and culture alive it was a beautiful city and place to live.
The first place he was shown was Valreon House, it was the largest building of all. A rainbow tinted white marble tower precinct with stunning pillars and engraved architecture. The grounds consisted of stunning gardens with fountains of dragons and birds, marble seats beneath large trees and gardens of hanging vines and flowers filling the air with sweetness. Inside the walls were white mixed with the sigil of the house and murals of Valyria in some areas of the house used for entertaining. As the men walked through the property Aeyrelis noticed some of the furniture and pieces Alaerya sent already magically finding their place. The house was taking shape in front of his eyes. The Masters chambers were a string of large rooms, the middle being the bedroom and the side rooms chambers for dressing. The bedroom had an intricate carved ceiling with dragons flying over Valyria and it looked out over the entire bay with a view of the other three islands. There was a large covered terrace where they could sit and look over their cities, not just a city but their own. Aeyrelis was amazed at the scope and splendour of the world which was being built.
He sat with Jaehserys to have dinner, "I know I said this already, but seriously Jaehserys thank you. Without you we wouldnt have developed whole cities and hiding our possessions to be put into buildings later. Actually we might not have made it here at all, Alaerya is going to fall in love with this place."
Jaehserys smiled, "Thank you I'm proud to have been given the freedom to build something from a completely blank canvas and incorporate designs which might not be approved by the Valyrian Building Council. I like to work with the energy of a place and some of the specifications in Valyria are limiting. Directing the energy in a building helps ensure magic remains pure, strong and harmonious. These lands have powerful energy, the wrong structures here would make it...unstable...unpredictable." He said between bites of dinner.
"Is this the first time you've designed something outside of Valyria?"
He smiles and looks down at his plate, "No I designed the Targaryen castle on the island they relocated to"
Aeyrelis looked interested, "Really? Did you get to see your creation in real life?"
He shook his head, "No I designed the castle and gave the instructions how to build it. That was all. I don't even know if it has been built"
"Apparently Alaerya has seen some sort of castle built..."
Jaehserys smiled, "it was fun to do but getting to create a whole new world has been much more enjoyable. Consuming, but enjoyable"
"I'm looking forward to a tour tomorrow."
"You're going to need about a week to see everything of importance I have to show you. Do you have time to stay for a week?"
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Jaehserys showed Aeyrelis the family vaults first to ensure he saw all the bags of Valreon wealth were stored and accounted for. Aeyrelis checked all was in order and marvelled at the huge vaults. Upon leaving he placed magical wards on the doors which only himself and Alaerya can open. They proceeded to tour the first island where the Valreon Residence was. Valreon house stood tall and proud at the foot of the mountain having a commanding view of the island.
"We designed the islands as if they were standing alone to ensure each island had access to the same facilities. It would get tiresome to need to go all the way to the fourth island everyday for something basic like food. Each island has its own primary industry unique to it. Thankfully the conditions made choosing that easy. The island we stand on now has lush lands perfect for cultivating crops and livestock. The food supply is produced here on the far side of the island away from the residences. Government buildings are also here close to the ruling families homes. The high nobility will mostly
Inhabit this island. The second island is where the schools and higher learning institutions will be, they're in the process of being finalised. The third island houses the industry needed to keep the four islands going. All processing will go through this island, fabric making, sword and weapons production, steel forging. And lastly the fourth and most magnificent island will be home to dragons and dedicated to hatching and training dragons. Along with the temples for the Valyrian worship and learning the Mysteries. As I said each island will have a palace to be-"
"Inhabited by my children and their betrothed..." muttered Aeyrelis. "She really did find the perfect place for them to rule over their own lands even..."
He looks across the lands and takes in the fact that his wife had more than secured his legacy. She had built an empire for her family to rule in he was just unsure how she planned to help them grow once Valyria was gone.
Aeyrelis took in all the details and asked Jaehserys permission to show her an orb of their explorations of the new world.
"Of course it would be an honour for the Lady to give approvals to what we have done here. I am already very pleased that you feel the way you do about our progress"
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Aeyrelis left half of his most trusted servants to remain with Jaehserys and continue helping with what needed to be finalised. They were granted housing in the minor houses built around Valreon House. There were others built for higher nobility in varying grades of splendour depending on their ranking. Aeyrelis estimated there was enough housing to accomodate most of his staff and a substantial amount of others.
He farewelled Jaehserys and thanked him again. As he left the bay of his family islands he watched as it disappeared into the horizon. Feeling a mixture of pride and elation as he sailed back to Valyria. He was still astounded by the place he had just visited.
He used his determination to get back home help make the winds fair to sail back to Valyria. He needed to get back to Alaerya to show him what was waiting for them.
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Alaerya kept busy during Aeyrelis time away, which wasn't very difficult considering how high her work lead had become recently. She was educating the large group of Valyrian children and personally tutoring her wards as well. And she was required to spend more time with all ten of her children now as the numbers of children under care had swollen to a large proportion. Combined with her magical practices and riding Vaella she almost didn't have space in her schedule to sit and eat. She had out of respect scheduled regular meetings with the important Valyrian figures of government and religion to keep them informed of progress and offer the chance for suggestions of improvement. She knew she had battled to keep many big egos in check to enact her plan and now she wanted to keep them on her side by listening to their ideas. And where possible she would allow their ideas to be enacted, one priest suggested she was at risk of burn out and to begin delegating teaching to chosen ones from each temple. She agreed her time was like sand slipping away in an hour glass so she appointed four new teachers to assist. The remaining temples would supply skilled teachers as the demand required it. All the temples were very pleased and accommodating to Alaerya if she had requests in return. Which usually came in the form of requesting access to their most treasured texts and instructional books. She had also begun making copies of every book she deemed of value she could find and storing them in the enchanted bags ready for shipment to the new library.
She also felt it important to build strong friendships with the houses of her wards and betrothed. All were forthcoming, except House Ballaer who remained distant apart from Traeylon appearing every so often with profuse apologies. She invited all the families to spend time together every week for dinner and drinks. It was a time of getting to know each other and building important relations as these were now the upper eschalon of society- the elite of the elite. And they would all soon be family, it was most important that everyone got along. Alaerya was pleased with her choice of betrothals for her children, they all seemed to have a beautiful spark between them, common interests and a mutual love for one another. It warmed her heart to see she has managed to arrange a financially and socially beneficial match for each of her children which would grow into love as well. And she felt love growing inside of her for all of her wards as well, she recognised each of them for the special sparks they were and pledged to spend more time nurturing their growth when it came time to go to the island.
The only source of her anxiety now was how to get as many people to join her in evacuating Valyria as possible without arousing suspicion or attack. And how to convince the heads of the houses she was to be family with the value in moving their entire families and wealth into the unknown. Sometimes she couldn't sleep thinking this over in her mind and it made her sick sometimes to think everything might back fire in her face and everything would be destroyed. She decided she needed to again seek counsel from the wisest people she knew.
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Vaella landed in the dragon dome of her mothers home. She dismounted and found her mother working through paper work in her fathers office. She looked tired and worn but looked up and was happy to see her daughter.
"Oh Alaerya I've been waiting for you to come"
"How are you mother?"
She removed her glasses, "To be honest it's not easy being Lady of a House on your own. After your father passed everything falls to me. It's been an adjustment getting used to everything"
Alaerya's father had died shortly before the twins were born, she had a brief memory of him. She loved him, he loved her but their personalities clashed and she could never really form a close bond with him.
Alaerya sighed and her mother smiled at her.
"He knows you love him my dear. just as I know you love me too. I don't know what went wrong with the relationships you had with your father and I..."
"I'll tell you what went wrong, you were both just never there" she said quietly, with bitterness in her tone, "But I can't continue to hold these feelings because I have taken a similar path with my own children. And now I have so many more in my care I've had to reduce how much I'm doing. Otherwise I'll miss out just like you both did"
Her mother came and sat next to her and hugged her, "You seem different Alaerya what's going on?"
"I need to show you some things and until it's finished don't ask questions" she replied and cast a shield around the room.
Alaerya produced the orbs from her robes and her mother watched quietly, glancing at her daughter every now and then.
When they finished the orbs returned to her hands and she stored them back in her robes.
Her mother looked at her, "I can't say I agree with this my dear. What if it is just another prophecy that doesn't come to pass? It's happened before. I'm reluctant to leave my home and everything we have here because of these dreams..."
"Your sister has seen it in the flames, maybe you should spend some time fire gazing when you're at the temple next mother. How else could I know about the old fire magic you and the council are learning to harness? In any case I'm offering to put aside our differences and move forward. We have the islands that I saw while dream walking and I have a team of builders working to build the islands ready for our arrival. If I'm wrong you can always return. And if my siblings wish to join you I want as many of my family there as possible."
Her mother looks down at her hands, "I don't think we will come Alaerya"
Alaerya felt fury welling up in her, she stood suddenly
"This has always been the problem" she raged and pointed at her mother, "Unless it's your idea and comes from your fire gazing it's false or unlikely. You treat me like a child always, second guessing every instinct I ever came to you with! Never truly supporting me in anything except my marriage because it benefited you. When the land is torn and broken and the House of my family is gone at least I'll know I tried. And it'll be you who failed them, the one who always think she's right and knows best"
She looked at her angrily, sad in her heart that she couldn't get through to her and left the room.
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She angrily stormed out of the room and made to leave her family home. Every part of the house held memories of when she was a child, chasing her younger sisters down this hallway, finding her brother chasing his dragon in the dome. And the memory of her prophecy showing the destruction of her home welled up emotions in her so strong she stopped to let out a sob. Sadness made her feel weak and vulnerable, and she hated it.
She felt hands on her shoulders and looked to see her sisters looking at her wide eyed and concerned.
"Sister, what happened?"
She let out a small sob and they looked at each other and drew her into one of the nearest sitting rooms. The great doors had her house sigil, a great sword with the sun shining from behind, and her house words, 'bravery steps forward', were large on the wall. This was one of her fathers rooms and the room she was informed of his passing in. The memories washed over her as she sat and her sisters flanked her on either side. They looked genuinely concerned.
Her sisters were always gentle and sweet, and they looked up to her always.
"What has made you so upset?" Her sister to the left whispered
"Who do you think Araelle? I've just been sitting with our mother"
Araelle sat back and their other sister, Rhaene spoke, "She's been really looking forward to seeing you and mending things between you. What went wrong?"
Alaerya brought out the orbs and opened them, her sisters said nothing as the orbs retracted and came back to Alaerya's hands. They were quiet and Alaerya dreaded what was to come next.
"We believe you, we want to come" they said quietly at the same time.
"If that's with mother or without her we will come regardless"
"What about Jaehar? Will he side with mother or will he come?"
"Leave our brother to us," said Rhaene quietly.
"We will make our arrangements with our own families and look to you for the right timing" Araelle continued.
"How will you convince your husbands and children? You each have your own responsibilities to tend to"
They smiled at her, "Not every family in Valyria thinks the prophecies are false Alaerya." said Araelle
"And there are more people who can walk the dream roads than you think" continued Rhaene.
It hadn't occurred to Alaerya others might be having the same dreams and be either too scared to do anything or feel they had nowhere to go. And others simply forgot their dreams upon waking which is normal if a person hadn't worked to control their dream walker abilities.
"You'll tell us when we need to begin?" whispered Araelle
Alaerya nodded, "We have already begun the process. Aeyrelis is on his way back from the islands we found as we speak. I'm waiting for another sign of what's to come"
The sisters nodded thoughtfully, and sat quietly. Rhaene reaches over and squeezed Alaerya's hand, "We have missed you sister. We are with you"
Inside she was grateful, her sisters had always been confident in her to lead them. She felt relieved they wouldn't be left behind.
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Alaerya mounted Vaella and looked around the dome of her family, as Vaella took flight she saw her mother watching her leave. She didn't look back and she didn't want to. Inside her heart she felt patience for her mother leaving her body and being hardened in its place. Slowly her heart was losing all love for her mother which saddened her because she still felt responsibility to help her survive. The heavy feelings soon gave way to lightness she felt at flying with Vaella, she felt free again. Valyrias skies were always busy, dragons were in constant movement between buildings and on business. There were always eyes in the sky and she saw many people she knew on dragon back. Vaella ducked and weaved around domes, buildings and dragons. She rolled in pleasure exhilarating Alaerya as she clung tight. She was so focused on the moment she didn't see a dragon following her close behind and the rider raise an arm and throw an enchanted Valyrian spear straight towards her.
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One moment she felt free and some sort of peace with what transpired with her mother and out of nowhere she felt intuitively something was wrong. Instinctively she cast a shield to protect her not knowing what kind of attack she was under. She was just too late, as the shield was put in place it caught the spear as it hurtled towards the back of her head. The shielding energy deflected the spear downwards and on an angle lodging in the back of her upper thigh. She howled in pain as she froze the spear, and cried aloud again as she felt the poison burn her skin.
'Vaella...home... quick'
Vaella roared in anger at her rider being attacked and surged forward, Alaerya weakening on her back and struggling to hold on. The attacker had disappeared, pulling away from her after the spear was thrown.
Vaella approached the dragon dome and landed as gently as she could knowing Alaerya was injured. Alaerya slowly slid off Vaellas back, the spear still frozen in her leg and the poison frozen with it but still very slowly sweeping into her blood.
No one was in the dome as her House has become a hive of activity on the lower floors.
Vaella opened her mouth and screeched and thrashed around the dome until servants came running to Alaerya's aid
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Aeyrelis looked on happily as the ships returned to Valyrias port, he called his crew and servants to his cabin on the ship.
"I trust I don't need to remind any of you who you work for and what we will do to you for becoming a traitor."
The men were quiet and simply nodded.
"For your loyalty and discretion we will reward you on these new lands if you choose to relocate with us. Your families can come and you won't be forced to be slaves anymore. Although those that choose to continue to serve my family will be rewarded with grander homes. You will never return to the status of what you held in your homelands but your lives will be comfortable and peaceful..."
One man spoke up, "What will we do there and how will we be protected? I won't put my family through another war or persecution"
Aeyrelis nodded and looked thoughtful, "It's a bold question you ask and the answer is I don't have all the answers. All I know is we are setting up a whole new world to inhabit and we will need people to come with us. If you choose to stay we respect your decision also, and when we leave we will free you. But be warned, we don't leave for no reason. What has been seen will come to pass and I suggest if you want to save your families from a most unpleasant death to follow us. And you will be protected by powerful magic, Alaerya is working on that"
Some of the men pledged to come, several to continue serving his House and others wanted to do something different.
"I'm a fair man, I respect your choices and I will honour them. The remaining few you have time to make your decision. But any person who speaks of this outside this room will die a painful death. Do not test me"
The men all nodded, aware of the recent events of the dragon dome at House Valreon. Some even witnessing the fight between Braeyon and Alaerya.
They disembarked and Aeyrelis looked dismayed to see some of his house servants looking anxious at the docks. He approached them scanning the city looking for signs of an earthquake.
"What is it now?" He asked irritably from worry at what they had to tell him
"Forgive us Master," bowed the woman at the front, "it's Lady Alaerya, she was attacked and is close to death..."
Aeyrelis eyes snapped with anger, the fury came quickly and he felt the air around him thicken and tingle. A vortex swirled around him and he shot into the sky towards his dome, a mixture of rage and fear swirling inside him.
