I want to thank u/Zlynchpin on Reddit for getting this story back into my mind so I could finish this chapter. I've been very invested in my Stark one, but I know most of you have been waiting patiently for this to be updated so I hope you like this chapter!

Bols speech is Valyrian.

I own nothing but Luke.

It had taken a long time with the number of barges sailing down the Rhoyne, but finally Luke was happy to spot the rising towers of Volon Therys in the distance. The marble towers rising high into the sky brought a genuine smile to his face.

"Daenerys, Viserys." He called out and waited for his siblings to get to the deck of the barge. "Welcome to Volon Therys."

Even Viserys looked impressed at the size of the town, but Daenerys absolutely beamed. They sailed closer, past all of the lumber yards outside of the walls, and soon they could see the carvings on the Spice Tower as they came into the actual city, docking last of all of the barges. Luke immediately led his siblings to the Golden Tower that he called his own. He was surprised however when his wife Valarra hadn't come to greet him. They stood in the entrance chamber and one of the servants walked briskly towards them, bowing.

"Captain-General. I am pleased to welcome you back to Volon Therys." Gaera said in High Valyrian.

Luke smiled at the plump woman. "Gaera, where is my wife?" He asked.

The woman looked nervous. "The Princess left you a note in your chambers." She told him.

Confused, Luke nodded his understanding. "Can you show my siblings to our best guest chambers?" He asked her. The woman nodded, and so Luke turned to the pair. "Gaera here will get you settled in to the tower. If you need anything at all then just let her know. I'll come and find you soon." He promised them. He then quickly ran up towards his chambers, throwing the door open and hunting for the note. Finding it, he ripped open the seal and scrolled through the words.

It was written in the Lyseni corruption of High Valyrian. Apparently, Varys had sent them a warning that Robert now knew who Luke was and had threatened an invasion of Volon Therys. Clenching his free fist, he continued reading to find out that Valarra had reached out to the Magisters of Volantis and had been offered asylum inside the Black Walls until the Golden Company returned. Feeling relief, Luke relaxed a bit and set the note down.

He took some food and drink to replenish himself before he went to find his siblings. He initially went to Viserys to ask him about coming to Volantis, but the elder brother refused, claiming that the insults he had suffered the last time he was in Volantis were still sore. Daenerys however was more than happy to join him in the largest city in the known world, and a day later, the two docked in one of the Eastern Docks. Luke and Dany made their way towards the gates leading into Old Volantis but were stopped by one of the guards there.

"Who are you to pass through the Black Walls?" The guard asked pointedly.

"Lucerys and Daenerys, of House Targaryen, blood of Old Valyria and one of the last descendants of Aenar Targaryen, the last of us to step foot in Valyria." Luke answered. "I'm here to see my wife, who is in the care of Magister Malaquo."

The man processed that and turned to his comrade, who ran into the city. "Wait here." He pointed to a spot where a few other people had gathered. Luke nodded and moved quickly, dragging Dany behind him.

"What's going on?" Dany asked. "Why aren't we allowed in?"

"Did you not have to wait before?" Luke asked. Dany shook her head. "Only those invited can enter Old Volantis. We've proven our heritage, but we still need an invitation, so we are waiting for one."

They weren't waiting very long, and the magister himself came out to meet them, greeting Luke with a hug. "My old friend, how are you?" He asked excitedly in a heavily accented common tongue. "I hear you are causing all kinds of trouble on the western coast, no?"

"Completely unintentionally, Malaquo." Luke smiled forcedly at the old man's toothless grin. "How are you, how is re-election going?"

Malaquo grinned once more. "My friend, I will be on that council until the day I die." He said arrogantly. "But you cause a stir. There are whispers that some wanting to get onto the triarchy wish for war with Pentos after your visit there."

"War with Pentos would be idiocy." Luke commented. "Go for Qohor, they're much more interesting."

Malaquo laughed loudly. "Ah it has been too long my friend! I fear you must be overcome with joy however, have the hangovers been as good as I imagine?"

Luke shook his head. "I've barely had a drink since we left Pentos."

Malaquo was shocked. "No? But Lucerys! It is a time for Targaryen celebration surely?"

"I've reunited with my family yes…" Luke wasn't understanding.

Malaquo grinned. "You have been away a long time. There is news from Westeros. Robert Baratheon is dead."

Luke stopped in his tracks. "What?"

Malaquo nodded eagerly. "Yes! He is dead from a hunt. Some say he was speared by Ser Barristan of his guard for making vile comments about you. Some say he was gutted by a pig."

Luke felt lightheaded at the news. "He's really dead?"

"All the captains confirm it. Robert is dead, and Eddard Stark has been arrested for treason." Malaquo explained.

Dany was beaming at the news, and Luke turned to her and embraced her fiercely in a hug. "I can't believe it… so a child is on the throne?" Luke asked.

"Backed by House Lannister." Malaquo warned him. "And no, we won't go to war with them either. Unfortunately, we can't rid ourselves of the Elephants." He said, grimly thinking of the other two magisters. "But alas, let us get you to my manse. I have another surprise for you…"

They found Valarra in a lavish apartment attached to the Magister's manse. The Lyseni girl was sat down in a comfortable armchair as Lucerys was allowed to enter the room, a small bundle in her arms. Luke was grateful that Dany gave him a moment to enter alone, as he walked over to his wife and knelt before her.

"You are a fool." Was the first thing she said to Luke. "Picking a fight with Khal Drogo of all people."

Luke smirked. "He was a threat to my family." He shrugged. "I see that it has grown since I have been away."

Valarra beamed at her husband. "Visenya, of House Targaryen." She introduced, opening the silk blanket to allow Luke to see his daughter's face properly. She had wisps of silver hair and mauve eyes, truly the blood of Old Valyria.

"Beautiful." Luke whispered in his native Valyrian tongue. He held his arms out as Valarra placed the babe in them, and Luke held his daughter for the first time. She was staring up at him inquisitively, settling into his arms.

Valarra meanwhile had spotted Daenerys in the doorway. "And you must be the Princess Daenerys." She stood up and moved over to take Dany by both hands. "Lucerys spoke often of wanting to meet with you, sister."

Dany smiled shyly. "I always wanted a sister."

Valarra raised Dany's hands and kissed them both. Switching to the common tongue, she said. "Well now you have one. As well as a little niece. Come husband, let Visenya meet her aunt."

Luke was rocking the baby now as she gurgled, falling asleep. He showed Visenya to his sister, who held out a finger to stroke Visenya's cheek. "She's so soft." Dany whispered. Visenya enjoyed the contact and raised her stubby arm up and gripped Dany's finger tightly, causing the Targaryen girl to laugh aloud. "And strong."

"She will grow stronger." Lucerys told them both. "She will be a great beauty, and she will grow up in the Red Keep not knowing anything but peace when we take back our throne." He leaned over to kiss Valarra on the lips, a smile on his face as he did so. "With the Usurper dead, now is the time to plan and strike."

Later that night Malaquo Maegyr held a grand feast in his halls celebrating the birth of Visenya and the death of Robert Baratheon. Valarra was still slightly weakened from childbirth and had excused herself and baby Visenya early, and after both his wife and his sister had left Luke found himself deep in his cups.

It was long past midnight when he tried to stumble up to his own rooms, but somewhere he took a wrong turn and found himself upon a balcony, where a young woman was staring out towards the bay looking miserable. "Oh…" Luke slurred. "Apologies, My Lady. I was… I was looking for my bed."

The girl smiled sadly. "You're in the wrong wing, Prince." She said in the common tongue.

"You speak Westerosi?" He asked, surprised. "Most in Volantis shun the language…"

"My Grandfather is fluent." She noted. "And as a Triarch, he made me learn it so I may be an attractive prospect if some Lordling wished for my hand." She sounded bitter.

"You'd do well with a Westerosi Lord." Luke nodded, before furrowing his brow. "Well, the less traitorous ones."

"I don't like lavish weddings." The girl said firmly. "I don't like the divide between us and the poor. I don't like the divide between us and the slaves…"

Luke was surprised at how passionate and bitter she truly sounded. "You disagree with slavery?"

"A slave saved my brother's life." The girl said, looking back out to the city. "It was at another wedding, one that lasted for days. We were swimming in the Rhoyne and he began to drown. A slave came and saved him, knowing that to touch my brother meant to lose his hands."

Luke suddenly felt sobered. "You're Malaquo's granddaughter…"

"Talisa." She introduced herself. "Talisa Maegyr, although I'd sooner have no surname."

Luke smirked. "You really dislike nobility." He laughed.

"I dislike how they treat their subjects and slaves." She told him firmly. Luke raised his arms in a mock surrender. "I dislike how I'm forced to learn how to dance and to sing, rather than anything remotely useful."

"What do you wish to learn?" Luke asked, joining her and leaning on the balcony.

Talisa sighed. "Healing. Medicines. But of course, a girl can't learn these things."

Luke read between the lines. "Except you have." He surmised. She looked up in surprise. "Someone as headstrong as you seem to be would be able to get somebody to teach you."

Talisa actually smiled, as she was caught out. "When I'm 18 I plan on leaving here. I don't care if I'm disowned, I want to go and help people, like the slave did."

"You know." Luke thought, his drunken mind coming up with the plan. "Westeros has no slaves, and they are always in need of healers."

Talisa nodded. "But how am I to get to Westeros if I have no money to buy passage? Grandfather will not let me go when he can plot a marriage between the son of a Norvoshi priest."

"I don't think they can have sons." Luke shrugged, missing the sarcasm. "But sellsword companies always need healers, and as it happens…" He jabbed both thumbs into his chest. "I'm going to invade Westeros. Come with me, join the Company as a healer."

Talisa laughed. "I can't just leave, I'll be stopped."

Luke shook his head. "I can talk to the Triarch. If you really want to go and see the world, then join me."

Talisa was suspicious. "Why help me?"

Luke shrugged. "It seems a shame to see such spirit be broken down and crushed when you clearly want to help people, poor or rich." He then smirked. "And if it doesn't work out then you'll have the pick of the Westerosi Lords to bed."

Talisa snorted out a laugh. "You're serious?" She asked.

"What have you got to lose?" Luke asked her back. "If you're running away anyway, at least this way your family will know that you are with a friend of Triarch Malaquo and where you are."

Talisa thought about it for a moment, the 16-year-old running through all the scenarios in her head. After a while, she broke out into a grin. "Alright then, I'll do it."

Luke grinned, and shook her hand. "Great! Be ready to leave soon though, I need to get back to Volon Therys within the week so we can't linger."

Talisa grinned, and after nodding she rushed back into the manse, leaving Luke thoroughly satisfied with himself until he remembered that he was still lost.

They lingered in Volantis for three more days to ensure that Valarra and Visenya would be fine to make the short journey across the Rhoyne, and once they were back in Volon Therys Luke immediately called a meeting of the generals. Viserys was of course invited too, and he was the last one to turn up.

"I don't appreciate being summoned, little brother." He said condescendingly as he entered the Golden Tower's command room.

Luke bristled, but didn't react angrily. "Apologies, but I thought you might want to hear this." He looked around at those in the room and spoke loudly and clearly. "Robert Baratheon is dead."

The silence was deafening. "Are you sure?" Connington asked. Luke nodded.

"Malaquo confirmed it." Luke replied.

Lysono Maar spoke up next. "I had been hearing queer rumours from across the Narrow Sea. I was waiting to confirm them, but I suppose you just did Captain."

Luke nodded. "And Ned Stark has been arrested for treason."

"Ha!" Viserys barked out a laugh. "Only about 20 years too late." He looked around the room. "This is it. This is the moment we've been waiting for. We should attack King's Landing while it's weak."

"No." Jon said firmly, and even Luke was surprised.

"No?" Viserys repeated, incredulous at the statement. "What do you mean, no?"

"I mean no." Jon repeated. "We aren't ready. We barely have the men to invade…"

"The Usurper is dead! A boy sits the throne!" Viserys cried out. "Lucerys…"

Luke was unsure. "We do need more men…" He began cautiously.

"You swore." Viserys warned him. "You said that when the Usurper died, we could strike."

"But the alliances that he made still hold." Luke countered. "Baratheon, Stark, Lannister, Tully, Arryn. They are too much for us."

Jon shifted uncomfortably. "Perhaps not for long." He pulled out some parchment. "This came just after you left for Volantis, I was waiting for you to return before I mentioned it."

Jon gave the letter to Luke, who read it in shock. Looking back up at Jon, he asked. "Is this true?"

"Varys claims it is." Jon answered.

Viserys was impatient now. "What? Is what true?"

Luke placed the letter on the table. "The Usurper's queen cuckolded him. None of her children are Baratheon's, they'll put a bastard on the throne."

"And Ned Stark knows this so he has been arrested, as does Stannis Baratheon." Jon explained. "Stannis will war with Joffrey. Civil War. The North won't lie down while Stark is in the black cells either."

"That is the time to strike." Luke nodded along. "When uncle and supposed nephew clash, we shall be there to take them in the rear." He turned to Maar. "We need more men. Talk to your contacts, try and encourage as many people as possible to join us. Send word to Lys as well, remind Rogare that his daughter remains in my bed and has given him a Targaryen grandchild. We could do with Lyseni aid when we come to take the throne." He then turned to Black Balaq. "We need the recruits expertly trained as well."

"Of course, Captain." Balaq bowed.

Luke then turned to Viserys. "Give me time, brother. Let me replenish my army and I shall sit you on the Iron Throne."

Barely a week after the meeting and already recruits had come streaming into Volon Therys from the nearby areas. Training was hard, and Luke ensured that Viserys joined in with training, sparring with him alone though. It was after one such session where Viserys had learnt a new move when they were taking a break as the healers went around checking the Company recruits below their balcony. Viserys was staring at one girl in particular, and Luke noticed that it was Talisa Maegyr.

"She's a highborn that one." Luke made note. "Granddaughter of our dear friend in Volantis."

"She's better looking than anybody I ever saw in that stinking city." Viserys noted with a grin. "Do you think you could introduce me?"

Luke grinned. "She would be a good match and would likely bring Volantis to our side."

Viserys laughed darkly. "Who said anything about a wedding?" He asked. "No, I just want to see what is under those robes, have my way with her and if she pleases me keep her as a bed warmer. No brother I will marry Dany after I've taken my crown."

Luke stood as still as a statue. "Daenerys is betrothed to a Martell…"

"Daenerys is blood of the dragon." Viserys said firmly. "She will do as she is told this time, and you won't stop it."

Luke wanted to argue, to protest for his sister but Viserys walked away, humming some song that Luke didn't recognise. With a grim expression on his face, he stared out into the city knowing that for his sister's sake, that could never come to fruition.

A baby Targaryen and the death of the Usurper, but the positivity is completely shattered by Viserys as per usual… he wanted to marry Dany in canon, and now he has his perfect opportunity to do so.

There are a few weeks' time jump for next chapter, but oh boy it's a hell of a chapter… I'm looking forward to bringing it to you all!

Reviews:

Hail King Cerion: Ned isn't an idiot, he knows that the Golden Company are much more of a threat to Robert and Westeros, so precautions need to be made there.

fdiggin: I can't either, as I type I just hear Sean's accent! I doubt it will affect the war too much, they'll be on the wrong side of the continent after all. You'll have to wait and see what happens to Viserys in the next chapter…

alec-potter: He's not keen on the idea of getting into a war and invading an Essosi town protected by Volantis is not a smart move whatsoever.

Silver crow: Dany wearing the dress was definitely intentional! Luke's Rhoynish blood is extremely diluted so wouldn't really make a difference. It won't take them too long to replenish numbers, no. Their reputation precedes them.

Lord Asmodeus: I'm glad you like Luke and how he's portrayed!