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The next morning Rae awoke before Robb. She stared down at his naked chest. She grabbed her robe. She quickly dressed in a simple blood-red gown with a golden belt with dragons on it. She spied the catspaw dagger on the floor. She quickly decided to take it with her. She placed it in her belt. She looked back at Robb for a moment allowing him to sleep. She headed toward the Gods' wood. Her unsullied soldiers followed her as she walked. Once in front of the heart tree, she dropped to her knees. And fell into silent prayers.
Rae had no clue how long she spent in silent prayer. She heard footfalls approaching her. She turned still on her knees looking at who was behind her. Jon looked shocked to see her praying to old gods.
"Jon," Rae greeted.
"Your Grace," Jon greeted.
Jon knelt next to her. After a moment, he could feel her eyes on him. He looked over to their so many questions in her eyes. They had not really spent much time alone. But looking at her now, he could see the weight of the world on her shoulders. He saw beyond the many masks she wore. This was a side of Rae that only Robb and her children saw.
"Your Grace," Jon asked.
"You fought them correct," Rae started. Jon nodded his head. He was wondering where this was going. Rae looked back to the heart tree. She had so many questions lingering in her mind. "what can kill them?" Rae asked.
"Valyrian steel and Dragon Glass" Jon replied.
Rae nodded her head. Her mind traveled back to her time on Dragonstone before they took the capital. She remembered the many caves. And stories of servants of dragon glass in the caves. If the stories of the dragon glass were true, she now had a purpose for her unsullied soldiers. From what Daenerys told her they would do anything she order now that she held the whip. Part of her wanted to free them and she was sure in time she would. She looked back to Jon.
"I believe there is a wealth of Dragon Glass on Dragonstone. I propose after the council meeting you and I fly to Dragonstone. And you can verify that is the thing we need," Rae stated.
"And if it is?" Jon asked.
"I've recently acquired ten thousand unsullied soldiers. I am told now that I hold the whip, they will do anything I say. They can mine Dragon Glass. We will need it if we are to stand a chance," Rae said when she said to stand a chance there was an edge to her voice.
"There is more," Jon said.
"I have seen them, Jon. Not in person but in dreams. I've seen his army. I've seen the doom that is to come. I know why Aegon I conquer the seven kingdoms and it has nothing to do with gold and fertile lands. He knew about the destruction the Night King will cause and he knew that we had to stand as one with one of his blood on the throne. But after recent events, the power of the Iron Throne has been diminished. I know it's not enough for me to call on all of them to fight for me but it's what I need," Rae explained.
"We will find a way Raenera I promise you," Jon vowed.
Raenera nodded her head giving Jon a small true smile. He could now see her for what she truly was. She was a true dragon. There was more than just fire and blood to being a dragon. She genuinely cared. He could see why Lady Val loved her so as well as why Robb loved her so. She got up to leave him to his prayers.
"Jon," Rae paused as she headed out of the courtyard. He turned and looked at her. He regarded her. Her amethyst eyes met his eyes. There was a hint of indigo hue to them the only thing that possible give away his Targaryen heritage. "I give you leave to make up your own surname now that you are Lord Dreadfort. Much like the Karstarks have done so. If you truly wish to remain Jon Stark, I am pleased with that too," Rae told him.
"Thank you, My Queen," Jon replied.
Jon always wanted to be a Stark. But now that he was Lord in his own right. He never dreamed that he could make up his own surname. He has so many surnames at this point. He had been a Snow, Stark, and by all right, he should be Targaryen. His mind traveled to the many surnames that Queen Raenera had in her time, Stone, Arryn, Umber, Targaryen, and Stark. He could see why she thought he would want to make his own name.
Raenera made her way to the Black Cells where Qyburn was being held. The gold cloaks were shocked to see the Queen. They bowed as she paused outside of Qyburn's cell. They wonder if she finally decided his fate. She looked over to them and then back to the cell.
"Open it" Rae ordered. They looked at her unsure for a moment. She gave them a look. There was a fire in her eyes. They were not comfortable with her being alone with him. "Bring him to Balerion's Skull. I need to speak to him. I want to see his face," Rae ordered walking toward Balerion's skull.
"Yes, my Queen" They replied.
Rae stood looking at Balerion's Skull with flames of torches and candles illuminating the skull. She knew many would question what she was about to do. But she needed to be prepared for anything. She heard boots and metal approach. The sound of something hitting the ground and the rattle of chains. Rae looked over her shoulder as the gold cloaks took up guard positions. They were acting as Queen Guards with the lack of them with them coming by dragon back.
"Your Grace, I am truly shocked that you wish to speak to me. I was sure I was to die in due time by dragon fire. For I stood against you," Qyburn stated.
Rae turned completely taking in the man. He was more intelligent than Pycelle ever was. It was clear in his eyes. She looked back to the dragon skull. He did have a point. Many would call for his death. And maybe once he served his purpose, he would die in dragon fire.
"I need your mind" Rae stated. He looked shocked. Rae turned and walked closer to him. He quickly tried to figure out what motivation was for her needing his mind. She walked over to one of the guards and put her hand out for keys to his shackles. He gave it to her hesitantly. She walked back over to Qyburn grabbing the chains on his hands and unlocking them. As the chains fell to the ground, he rubbed his wrist. He was even more shocked by that action. He wondered if anyone knew what she planned. "You were working on a weapon to bring down a dragon were you not," Rae questioned looking at Balerion's skull.
"Yes, but I don't see" Qyburn replied,
"I want you to complete it. I will have it funded completely by the crown. Ad I want to have bolts for it made from both steel and dragon glass," Rae told him looking over her shoulder at him.
"Dragon glass" Qyburn questioned.
"Yes, dragon glass," Rae said as glared at him.
"May I ask why" Qyburn inquired knowing he was close to getting her motivation.
"I have heard that my enemy The Night King and his army of White Walkers, Wights, and the dead can be killed by Dragon Glass or Valyrian Steel. And since the knowledge on how to make Valyrian steel was lost with the Doom of Valyria our best way is dragon glass," Rae explained.
"You believe those children's stories" Qyburn laughed in shock.
Rae moved forward grabbing him by the chains around his neck. There was a fire in her eyes. Qyburn could see it now the dragon that lurked just beyond the surface. The gold cloaks drew their steel ready to answer their queen's orders. She did not the strength to hold him off the ground, but the desire was there. She threw him back down to the ground as she pulled the catspaw dagger from her belt on her gown. She held it to his neck. The flames that burned in her eyes echoed the Targaryen house words Fire and Blood.
"I have seen him. I am like my ancestors. I am a dreamer," Rae growled at him leaving him with a cut bleeding down his neck.
Rae moved closer to Balerion's skull. Her eyes watched the world around her. She smiled at how quickly the gold cloaks were ready to defend her.
"Is that how you won?" Qyburn asked.
"No" Rae answered. She turned again stocking closer to him. He shuffled back away from her. She stopped by his head. She looked down at him. The cold mask was back on her face, but flames were in her eyes. Her amethyst eyes met his brown eyes. "I won by playing the game of thrones. I made moves that I didn't want to make for the ones I love. As for why I want you to complete the weapon. I hear my enemy has ice dragons bigger than Balerion the black dread. I have no clue if they are alive or of the dead. I want to be prepared," Rae growled.
"There is more" Qyburn stated catching something in Rae.
"There is," Rae said questioningly as she walked away.
"You're preparing for something else something you don't want to voice…" Qyburn told her. Rae put the blade back on her belt. Her hand was still on it as she regarded him. The Gold cloaks still had their steel out waiting for her orders. There were questions in her amethyst eyes and challenge in them. As insane as it made that he was not afraid of her at that moment. He had figured out a motivation. "A Civil War" Qyburn voiced.
A chill filled the room. The fire that burned in her eyes raged. But the coldness that was present on her face. Qyburn knew in that instant hit the nail on the head. He was not truly prepared for it to be true.
"Daenerys and I are not enemies," Rae roared like a dragon. They could all could hear the echoes of the dragons echoing her roar in the bottom of the kept. "So, what if I want a weapon that could bring a dragon down if I need to? It doesn't mean I'm preparing for war against my sister," Rae growled.
Raenera stormed away her temper still high. He watched as she walked away, he was grateful to be free but to what end? In many ways, he was living on borrowed time. He looked at gold cloaks that were still watching him.
"But you are, Your Grace. You very much are," Qyburn murmured to himself
Qyburn looked back to Balerion's skull. This could very well be a second dance of the dragons. He was determined to be on the winning side. Rae was prepared to win by any means necessary.
Hours later, Rae sat at the head of the table in the small council chamber. She questioned if she had made the right choices today. But she stood by those choices. She stared at a map of Westeros with a book on the history of the Targaryen family opened to the dance of dragons. She was trying to figure out her next move. The door opened Tyrion came in. Her eyes met his then returned to the map and book.
"Nessa tells me we have your blessing to marry," Tyrion said.
"Yes," Rae answered not really looking at him her eyes were focused on the map.
"Thank you," Tyrion said.
"It's nothing," Rae replied looking to the book by her side.
"My Queen what's wrong," Tyrion asked coming to stand by her side.
Rae finally looked at him. Her amethyst eyes filled with worry met his emerald eyes. She then looked around the room making sure they were alone. Once she was certain they were she looked back at him.
"What I'm about to ask you cannot leave this room" Rae started. Tyrion nodded his head. Rae bit her bottom lip and then let out a long loud sigh. How did her life come to this? "Do you think I could win a civil war against my sister?" Rae asked finally.
"Daenerys would never turn on you" Tyrion reassured.
"She already has. Little glances at me filled with envy and greed. Ser Barristan and Ser Jorah have told me of her action in Essos. If I would to set her off do you think I could win?" Rae stated.
"You have the North by marriage back you. You have the Reach with Sansa marrying Lord Willas Tyrell. You have the Westerland with Jaime there is not a thing my brother would not do for you. You have the Stormlands with care for Lady Shireen. You have Vale with Lord Gendry and Lady Arya not to mention that the lords of vale see you as one of their own. You even have the Riverlands counted as family. The iron island fears you they would not turn against you. They would answer your call if you needed. Dorne will likely be smart enough to see where the chips fall before they act. Not to mention you have seven dragons maybe more if Rhaegal is bonded to Jon," Tyrion stated.
"He is" Rae replied.
"Fine, then eight dragons against two with most of Westeros backing you not even speaking of the 10,000 unsullied soldiers and 40,000 sell swords and Golden Company what has brought this on," Tyrion asked.
Rae rubbed her eyes. She could not meet his eyes for she knew he would not be happy with her actions. Dragons don't fear lions. Rae told herself. Before, she looked from the map back to him.
"After I free Qyburn from his cell to finish the scorpion. He roused my temper, so I went for a flight on Selaera to calm it. I head toward Dragonstone with plans to loop back. But what I saw." Rae paused. The fire of her temper came back. It was a cold fire that burned inside of her. She was preparing in many ways to destroy her family and not have a problem with that fact. Tyrion nodded he looked less than pleased with her releasing Qyburn, but she was the queen who was him to question her decision. "Her second sons were on Dragonstone arriving by ship. All of them. She is amassing an army. It's only a matter of time," Rae revealed.
"I'll send out ravens to high lords to call their bannerman. It will be better to nip this in the bud," Tyrion stated franticly.
"Not yet," Rae ordered.
"Raenera your Grace," Tyrion tried.
"Right now she has committed no crime. She can claim her second sons are here to help with the fight with the Night's King and his army. I don't want to destroy my family but I have a feeling I may have no choice," Rae stated bowing her head tears in her eyes.
"Daenerys is not your only family," Tyrion stated taking Rae's hand. She looked at him and gave a sad smile. He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "As hard as it may be you have to think of your children. What will happen to them if Daenerys comes into power" Tyrion asked.
"I know very well what will happen to them. Which is why I have made plans if I need to I will destroy her army as your father did with House Reyne," Rae raged standing pace away from the table.
"How," Tyrion asked looking at her.
"Let's just say I know how to play the game and my sister does not. And with my cousins on my side. She stands no choice," Rae stated.
"Cousins," Tyrion asked shocked.
He truly had no clue who Rae was referring to. She turned and looked at him. She moved to stand across from him. Nodding her head as he said cousin again. He was trying to place who her cousin would be.
"Lady Daenessa, Daemon, and Jaerys. I admit I worried that Golden Company may have turned on me," Rae admitted.
"For a dragon is a dragon," Tyrion stated understandingly.
"But with Daemon as one of its commanders and with Lady Daenessa's words that he stated that my will will be done. And Jaerys is in her second sons I plan to meet him today. Once I do, I will have little doubt. I may be holding my card close to my chest. I just need for her to make the first move," Rae revealed.
"Meeting him," Tyrion asked.
"Jon and I will be going to Dragonstone today to look for Dragon Glass. And when I am there I'll make a point to meet her second sons," Rae told him.
There was silence between them. There was understanding that seem to take some of the weight from Rae's shoulders. There was a question that linger in Tyrion's mind.
"Why do you need a scorpion built?" Tyrion asked.
"It serves many purposes. One, the Night King has ice dragons. Two, say in time we lose control of the dragons. Would it not be smart to have a way to take them out with a single bolt? Three, if I needs be I will order it to be used on Daenerys dragon," Rae stated shutting the book on the dance of dragons.
Tyrion looked at her as the song the Rains of Castamere echoed in his mind. Only now it was not lions. It was now two dragons. He had little doubt if Daenerys ever truly turned against Raenera. Rae would do just that to destroy her but unlike Tywin she would not take pleasure in it. The silence echoed through the chamber. Rae moved back to the head of the table. Tyrion walked over to the side table and got to goblets pouring wine into the goblets before heading back to the table. He handed her one of the goblets. In his mind, the last dance ended in a blaze of dragon fire he had a sinking feeling this one would end in blood. She took it taking a long drink before placing it on the table. Her hand cradled her forehead. One burden off her plate knowing that her hand knew what to do with Daeny. Yes, they may come to support her against a clear foe will they come to fight a thing that most of them did not believe in. Tyrion could tell there was something else going on. He was about to ask when the rest of the council and Daenerys filled in. Robb took his spot by Rae's side with a concerned look. He took her hand kissing the top of it. She looked over smiling at him. Jon sat by Robb's side. Ser Davos and Lord Varys sat next to Tyrion. Daeny sat at the other end of the table.
"Thank you for all of you coming," Rae started. She stood up looking at Robb he nodded to tell them what she told him last night. All eyes were on her. She looked over to Tyrion and then to Daenerys. "I saw our ancestor Aegon the conqueror. I now know the reason he conqueror Westeros and it had nothing to do with gold or it being a rich land. He knew what was to come he was a dreamer. He saw the end of humanity. He knew the realm of men had to stand together to stand a chance. I know after recent events the true power of the Iron Throne and the threat of dragon fire has lost a lot of its worth. Most people think the White Walkers and his army of dead are just stories to scare little children. So, I now seek your counsel on how to I bring them back together" Rae revealed.
"What if we prove them wrong?" Tyrion stated. He looked around the group. Rae looked at Tyrion as she sat back down. There was an unsure look on many faces but on Rae's face as she thought about it that could work. "So, bring the dead here," Tyrion finished.
"Isn't that what we are trying to avoid," Daenerys asked.
"We don't have to bring the whole army just a single soldier," Tyrion explained.
"Is that even possible," Ser Davos asked.
"The first wight I ever saw was brought into Castle Black from beyond the Wall," Jon said.
"Bring one of these things down to King's Landing and call all the High Lords to a council and show them that the army of the dead is real like the dragons are real," Tyrion stated.
"Will they answer that call," Rae questioned.
Tyrion gave her a look. He had thought they the point they would come for her. They came when she tried to make her claim for the Iron Throne why in the seven hells wouldn't they come now. Robb gave her a look squeezing her hand. She looked at him. He gave her a look that told her that he knew that they would come if she called.
"It will all be for nothing if we don't have one of these dead men," Daenerys pointed out.
"Fair point. How do you purpose to find one?" Lord Varys asked.
"The free folk will help us. They know the real North better than anyone," Jon stated.
"They will not follow just anyone," Ser Davos stated.
"They won't have to" Jon stated.
Rae looked at Jon in shock. He at that moment reminded her of Aegon. She had a smile on her face. Robb did not have the same happy look on his face. Tyrion, Lord Varys, and Daenerys were in shock.
"You can't lead a raid beyond the wall. You're not in the Night Watch anymore," Robb argued.
"I'm the only one here who's fought them. The only one here who knows them," Jon argued back.
"If you do this, I am going with you," Robb stated.
"You are the King," Tyrion stated in shock.
"Yes, he is and he says he going he is going," Rae agreed with Robb. Robb gave her a look that was shocked that she would let him do this. Rae eyes went to Ser Davos. Most of the council had a look of unease. "Ser Davos, I need ships rumor has it there is Dragon Glass on Dragonstone. It's one of the things that can kill them. I will my unsullied soldiers mine it. As we will be sailing for White Harbor. As that is nearest placed to where the Army of dead was last spotted. It will be fast to travel by ship than by horse. Lord Varys, send ravens to Lord Manderly stating we see him soon and to Winterfell tell them our plan. Jon are you ready," Rae stated leaving no room for argument.
"Yes, my queen," Jon said getting up
"Where are you going?" Robb asked.
"To Dragonstone," Rae answered giving Daenerys a look as she paled knowing what Raenera would find there.
Daario Naharis was walking on the beaches of Dragonstone with his men sparing. When He looked skyward. His eyes went wide at first, he spied Rhaegal. His heart started to beat quicker thinking Daenerys had come to greet them. Jaerys was sparing nearby when he heard the roar of dragons. All the men looked skyward and spied not three dragons but eight dragons flying overhead. Drogon was not with them. Dread filled Daario's heart. When they landed near them. As the midnight blue dragon landed a woman slid off the dragon's back with grace. Her long dark nearly black hair and amethyst eyes lock on them. She was quickly followed by a man on the back of Rhaegal. His hand went to the handle of longclaw at the sight of men on Dragonstone. Jaerys eyes went wide it was clear who this woman was the dragon queen herself. This was Raenera Targaryen. He could see why his sister was willing to give up the thought of an iron throne for her.
" Welcome to Westeros," Rae greeted them. Jon came to stand protective by her side. Her eyes eyed the group of men. The rest of the dragons then landed. Many of the men following instinct dropped to their knees as dragons roared. "Tell me what brings you to Dragonstone," Rae asked.
"What bring you?" Darrio foolishly questioned.
"This is my family home my son is Prince of Dragonstone. I am Queen Raenera Targaryen I will ask you again why are you here" Rae roared.
"We are here at your sister's urging," Darrio answered quickly.
"Now that is known. Jon the caves are this way. Perhaps some of your men could help us. We are looking for Dragon Glass," Rae said sweetly.
"I will help you," Jaerys said coming forward with a group of men.
The dread that filled Darrio's heart grew as he watched Jaerys and a group of thirty men follows the Queen. Jaerys and Raenera seem to quickly become fast friends. Jaerys was more interested in knowing his distant cousin or rather cousins he learned as they moved towards the cave. Jon as Raenera addressed him had the air of Aegon the first while Raenera had the beauty and calculating nature of his two queens. Jaerys could not wait to write his brother of that fact the stories of her beauty and calculating nature were not just the lovesick writings of their sister but they were true.
Author note: I hope you like this chapter. What do you think Jon chosen surname will be?