EPILOGUE:

Even though it took months to reach home, because they no longer had a dragon to ride, no one complained. The survivors could all go back to their normal lives for a while. Emperor Aegerys had left some of his army behind to clean out the castles and help rebuild the area. They received word eventually, that even though the dead were no longer in the castles and surrounding area, the land was still frozen. No one knew how long it would take for the land to defrost and flourish again. Aegerys also had to decide who would become the new Kings and Queens in Westeros. There was a lot to plan, but they had time on their side.

After Taron read the scroll left for him by Aulix, he told Aegerys he was going to find the stone dragon lair. There was a map, but without a dragon it was going to take months. He told his son Daeron to help and protect Sarra, then he left. Of their own choice, Kiren and Rian also went along, after getting the okay from their parents. They had two Dothraki horses each for riding and two pack mules. Taron explained the reason why they had to find the dragon lair. If they found the albino dragon, it's flame could melt ice, without burning anything else. Knowing this, both guys were eager to bring back dragon eggs and be heroes for Westeros. Kiren wanted to learn more about the Starks and northern Westeros.

It took half a year to reach the dragon lair. They found only 2 stone eggs, but that still excited them. One egg which was red, was bigger than the other. They were hopeful that Aulix was right and the other egg which was white, was the one that could melt the ice in Westeros. Four months of hard travel by land and sea brought them home with the good news. Taron immediately went to find Emperor Aegerys. Together they arrived at Gendry's forge, the only place where the fire would be hot enough to hatch the eggs. Taron had a vial of Aulix's blood, but Aegerys, Gendry, Arya and Taron all cut their arms to cover the eggs with blood. Then they waited. As word spread, more people came, to the point that the Emperor had to have his royal guards block access to Gendry's forge. Aegerys seemed to sense that the eggs had hatched and put his arms into the fire. Two baby dragons were wrapped around him. The big one was red with black markings and black eyes. The smaller white one was an albino. Everyone gasped when the white one chirped up at Taron, in a demanding tone. Gendry gave Taron a leather glove and the albino dragon baby immediately perched on it. Aegerys named the red one Belgarion and the white one Aulixa. He explained that the albino had bonded to Taron and he didn't know how he knew, but it was a female and the red a male. They were larger than the old Targaryen cat sized dragons, which probably meant the dragons would get as big as Drogon or his brothers. Until they were older, no one could tell if the albino was the ice melter. With the knowledge of how to take care of the hatchlings, Emperor Aegerys and Taron were surprised how quickly they grew. At first Gendry made a leather shoulder pad for each man, so the dragons could perch on their shoulders. Because they weren't kept in cages, their growth went as quickly as Drogon's had.

Eventually they could be ridden. First the red and then the albino. It was initially very short flights, then longer. The ravens still brought news that Westeros remained frozen, even after all that time. Emperor Aegerys escorted Taron, as the dragons flew across Essos and the sea, until they reached Westeros. They started in the south and at last the moment came when Taron asked Aulixa to breath her flame. The albino dragon did as requested and to everyones delight the ice did melt. Nothing burned, so after trees and land were de-iced, then so too was the castles. Aegerys on Belgarion flew to the cities to announce that the long winter would soon be over. He went to King's Landing and Dragonstone, to let the army there know what was happening and he'd lead people to sail back to Westeros, if they bend knee for him.

"Grandma why did you decide to come and live here?" Asked a child.

"Well after the land recovered, your mother Emeryt and father Kiren, were made King and Queen of the North, by Emperor Aegerys. I wanted to come home to Winterfell and your grandpa Gendry didn't mind coming back too."

"Did Byt and Tam become the rulers of King's Landing?"

"No, but they did rebuild it and make a new Alchemist Guild there. Their son Tallen married Mera and they became King and Queen of King's Landing. Sarra and Taron's son Daeron runs the assassins guild in Braavos and when you're old enough we'll go visit."

Arya's grandson pondered out loud. "You said that Emperor Aegerys only loved his mother Queen Daenerys, so how come he married Rayanna and took her as his Empress?"

"So you were paying attention. Maybe it was because she always was at his side to support him, especially risking her life during the fight with the Night King. Or perhaps he just grew up and love changes when you're an adult. Don't you like that my daughter rules with him as the Empress of Westeros and Essos?"

"Of course grandma, and Auntie is beautiful. I just don't like cleaning up dragon poop when I'm bad. Daddy never is that mean."

Gendry chuckled and winked at Arya. Then she finished telling the story of how everyone they knew started new lives under the Emperor's assignment. She also explained that Taron had become very much like Aulix, in that he travelled a lot and dropped in from time to time. The children begged for more.

Arya's granddaughter wondered, "Grandma, did Aulix not answer questions too? Taron always makes us figure out things on our own. And when he does tell us something, it's like a riddle. He's so frustrating! But I still love him."

"Yes he's picked up some of Aulix's habits. I think that his friend's death changed Taron a lot," Gendry answered her.

"Tell us what Emperor Aegerys has planned for the future!"

"He's content for now, but I'm sure he'll one day fly Belgarion to Ulthos to conquer that unknown land…. But that's a story for another day. Off to bed with all of you." Arya hugged her grandchildren. She laughed as Gendry picked them up, one in each arm, like a sack of potatoes and carried them off to bed.

THE END