I'm currently writing this at the time of the Entertainment Weekly articles coming out, and I am SO EXCITED that they've officially announced they're doing the Great Council and have actually cast Jaehaerys the Conciliator and possibly even Septon Barth and Ryam Redwyne! That first episode really can't come soon enough I'm so excited for it.

I've jumped ahead a few months here and we're around Episode 7 of the show timeline.

A couple of lines of dialogue are borrowed and/or adapted from Daenerys VII in A Dance with Dragons.

Bold speech is High Valyrian

I own nothing but the OC's. All the actual characters and locations are the property of George R R Martin or HBO.

With the arrival of Jocelyn Baratheon out of the way, big events at the Red Keep seemed to keep coming. Firstly, Shireen Baratheon arrived at the Red Keep for a few weeks, a visit that resulted in Ser Davos Seaworth finally bending the knee towards Luke after two years of captivity and the Onion Knight was quickly appointed as Lady Connington's sworn sword and advisor before the pair returned to Storm's End, much to Lucerys' frustration. Secondly, the King made his first official progress to the Westerlands without his Queen, stopping at Deep Den and Hornvale before settling Tyrion Lannister in to his role as the Lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, before returning through the Riverlands, stopping at Sarsfield, the Golden Tooth, Wayfarer's Rest, Riverrun and Darry on his way back to the Red Keep.

That had all taken a couple of months, and the worry that had been the reasoning to why Margaery hadn't joined the King on his progress was soon imminent a couple of weeks after Luke's return to King's Landing as the Queen's waters broke before dawn one morning. Luke had quickly been ushered out of the room to be replaced by half a dozen Maesters and a Septon along with Margaery's handmaids and Lady Olenna. With his own bedchambers shut off to him, Luke had to make do with breaking his fast in the kitchens themselves, trying to distract himself by talking with the cooks and the servants before he could spend the rest of the morning in the Small Council Chambers in a meeting, learning of the Northern Vale Houses joining the Lord's Declarant in trying to take the Eyrie as well as the Iron Islands Invasion almost being over, with the assault on Pyke imminent.

After that meeting and subsequent lunch Luke was at a loss. He spent an hour with Visenya and Daenerys before he was called away by Ser Barristan, who took the Targaryen King out to a secluded room in the White Sword Tower. Ser Barristan moved over to a weapons rack, and Luke was confused.

"What are we doing here, Barristan?" Luke asked, his brow furrowed, when the Kingsguard knight threw a wooden sword at him.

"I've been a part of the Kingsguard for a long time, and I can remember when all of your brothers were born, Your Grace." Ser Barristan explained, grabbing his own wooden sword. "Though I had not yet received the white cloak for the birth of Prince Rhaegar, I remember being in Harvest Hall as the events surrounding his birth was heralded as both a miracle within a tragedy. After Summerhall however your grandfather, King Jaehaerys, placed the White Cloak on my shoulders. I was privy to your mother being unfortunate and suffering more tragedies of her own with multiple stillbirths and infant deaths, until Prince Viserys was born. He was seen as a blessing from the Gods themselves." He struck out at Luke with a wooden blade, who easily parried the blow. "Though your father kept a close eye on him and your mother as well as all of her attendants. His paranoia was ripe by that point even if Duskendale had not yet occurred."

"Why are you telling me this?" Luke asked, striking out and getting his attack parried.

"To let you know that I have seen my fair share of Targaryen's born within these walls, both healthily and unfortunately not so." Ser Barristan explained. "And to let you know that no matter the outcome, I am available to share my experiences in order to help in any way I can, be that through talking or distraction." Ser Barristan strung together a few moves, all of which were parried easily enough by the Targaryen. "Your birth was particularly joyous."

That peaked Luke's intrigue, and he raised an eyebrow and lowered his guard. "How so?"

"Yours was the first pregnancy after Prince Viserys had been born and as such everyone was worried that Queen Rhaella would suffer once more." Ser Barristan explained. "After the confirmation of pregnancy was granted by the Grand Maester, the Queen was kept secluded for months, hidden away from anything and anyone so as to avoid any illnesses that might affect her. When you came out kicking and screaming at the top of your lungs, the bells rang and I even saw your father smile."

The thought of that man smiling made Luke shiver. "Was my mother alright?"

Ser Barristan nodded. "You were the easiest of her births and she doted on you from the moment you slipped from between her legs. Usually, young Princes would be handed to a nursemaid but your mother refused with you. It was rare that Queen Rhaella would show her dragon blood but any attempts to move you were met with a firmness I rarely saw in Her Grace. You fed at her breast until you were old enough to eat proper food."

Luke found himself with a fond smile on his face, and all thoughts on a spar were lost as he thought on his mother. "I wish I remembered her more than I do. All the memories I have are of sadness, of pain."

"She was a troubled woman." Barristan admitted, dropping his stance. "I have been around royalty enough to know that it is both a blessing and a curse, especially within your own family. The Queen would have flourished away from the Red Keep, wed to a bannerman who would trust and love her. Instead, she was born an only Princess and so tradition meant she wed a man she could never love."

"Was there ever anybody?" Luke asked, intrigued. He walked over to a wall to sit down on the stone floor, his back to the wall.

Ser Barristan joined him. "I believe so. She was smitten with a young knight from the Stormlands who wore her favour at a tourney, many years ago. He won that tourney and named your mother the Queen of Love and Beauty. It was a brief thing, and your mother was no older than 13 when it was over. The next year your parents were wed, and the knight put away his lance in favour of the Seven-Pointed Star."

It was the sort of romantic tale that he knew Daenerys would love, but in Luke's eyes it was a tragedy. "What happened to this knight?" He asked his Lord Commander.

Ser Barristan looked away. "I had heard a rumour… though only a rumour, that one of Stannis Baratheon's ships snuck away before fighting at Dragonstone. Ser Bonifer was a man that always said that only the Maiden herself could replace Queen Rhaella in his heart, so I did wonder if the thought of attacking her son was too much for him. That's all rumour though, I know not if it is true."

Luke hoped it was, and he made a note to find out who this Ser Bonifer was to see if he could share any further stories of his mother. "Thank you, Ser Barristan." Luke said honestly. "I needed this distraction."

"I am here to serve you, Your Grace, in whatever form you feel that service is needed." The old knight smiled.

Luke rose to his feet and offered a hand to help the white knight up. "I could use a proper spar." The King grinned, and his Kingsguard protector duly obliged as wooden swords clashed once more.

The campaign in the Iron Islands had been bloody, but after four long months Robb was stood on the cliffside of Pyke watching as the smoke still billowed from two of the four castles that made up the Greyjoy fortress. They had won and the last of the Greyjoy's were his prisoners. The Greatjon had killed the priest, while Yara Greyjoy had been captured by a ferocious Robett Glover. Robb was the one that had imprisoned the King of the Isles, and the Stark was getting ready to perform the execution of his former friend's father.

Firstly though, he walked over to a lone tent that had a dozen guards stood around its perimeter. The Stark guards at its entrance both stood at attention as Robb and Grey Wind entered to see Yara sat on the ground, her hands tied behind her back to the support pole of the tent.

"The King in the North." The Greyjoy woman mocked.

"No longer." Robb stated bluntly. "My crown has gone, as has the Ironborn's. The only thing left to decide is whether you are to bend the knee to King Lucerys, or whether you will die like your entire family before you."

Yara scowled. "Some options."

"Your only ones." Robb explained. "King Lucerys sent word whilst in Casterly Rock on what would happen now. Either you bend the knee and agree to his terms, or you die and he will annex the Iron Islands into the Riverlands to be ruled by House Tully. Many Riverlanders still hold grudges from the rule of the Hoare's, I can guarantee that your people would suffer under that rule."

Yara glared at Robb. "What are the Greenlanders terms?" She spat.

Robb cleared his throat. "Your raiding days are over. Any incursion onto Westerosi soil will be met with fire and blood. All slaves must be released…"

"We don't have slaves." Yara was quick to interrupt.

Robb knew enough of Ironborn culture thanks to growing up with Theon. "My mistake. All Thralls and Salt Wives must be released, free to do as they wish. If they stay, they are to be treated as you would treat any other Ironborn."

"You really think I can control our people while their rights are ripped away like this?" Yara laughed bitterly.

Robb shrugged. "I do not care either way." He told her. "Do as you wish; the North are more than happy to return here if the King commands us." He paused for a moment as Grey Wind nudged closer to her, the wolf baring its teeth. "Think on this offer, but I will have your answer by sundown tomorrow."

He turned quickly, his fur cloak billowing out with the sudden movement as he left the prison tent. A short walk followed as he descended the cliffside down to a beach that the Greyjoy's found holy. His men had already set up for the execution, and minutes before Robb reached the shoreline, he was passing people from all over Westeros, his invading army.

Balon Greyjoy was stood in chains, his formerly long hair had been shaved to the scalp and he was dressed in rags. As Robb drew closer his thoughts turned to the deaths of his people, of Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik, of Mikken, Farlen, Septon Chayle and Gage. Of all the people outside of Winterfell that died because the bald man by the block couldn't let go of a grudge. By the time the Lord of Winterfell had reached the block, he was almost growling. Silently, he held his hand out as one of the Winterfell soldiers unsheathed Ice and handed the large greatsword to Robb, who placed the point on the sandy beach, leaning on it as his father had done many times before him.

All he could hear was the sea behind him lapping at the shoreline and crashing on the cliffs. With a deep breath, Robb spoke loudly so that as many of the Lords and Knights in the front of the gathered crowd could hear him. "In the name of Lucerys of the House Targaryen, first of his name. King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdom's and Protector of the Realm. I, Robb of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, sentence you to die."

Robb took another breath as his guards brought Balon Greyjoy down to his knees with his neck hanging over the block, before the Stark took a small step back and swung Ice firmly down, cleanly severing the elderly Greyjoy's head from his shoulders.

The waves behind him drowned out the cheers and applause in front of him, a fact which Robb was grateful for. Executions weren't happy occasions even if the end of a war was, and despite all of the pain that the Ironborn and House Greyjoy had caused him, Robb's thoughts immediately turned to the teenaged Theon telling excited stories about the now headless man beneath Robb's feet. Not feeling up to a party, the Warden of the North grabbed Ice's scabbard and walked back towards his tent, eager to get back to his home and his family and put the past behind him.

Grand Maester Gormon came to collect Lucerys late in the afternoon. The King had gone from sparring with Ser Barristan to creating a small tourney like setting where knights and squires within the Red Keep would spar, the winner of each bout staying on until a challenger had beaten him. It had been good fun and Luke had been watching Prince Oberyn and Edric Dayne go at it when the Grand Maester arrived to collect him. After being assured that the baby and mother had survived, a grinning Luke persuaded the knights and squires to continue, and followed the Tyrell Maester into the Red Keep after instructing one of the Kingsguard to call for a feast.

The walk up to his personal chambers was agonising, but finally he arrived at the now open door guarded by Ser Taron, and walked in to find Margaery on the bed with her grandmother sat at her side.

"I shall leave you two to it dear." Olenna Tyrell said quickly, rising to her feet and kissing Margaery on the forehead. Picking up her cane the old woman walked towards Luke, stopping briefly and stating. "Congratulations, Your Grace." Before the Tyrell matriarch walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Luke's royal purple eyes were glued to the bundle in Margaery's arms and as he moved, he completely ignored the two handmaids that were tidying up in his chambers. He couldn't see anything but the black swaddling blanket in his wife's arms and so he walked closer to the bed to try and get a better look. He sat down on the bed gently beside his prone wife and for the first time saw the chubby, rosy cheeks of his child.

"Your Grace." Margaery whispered tiredly. "May I introduce you to your son and heir, Prince Aegon Targaryen."

He felt a tear roll down his cheek as the fact settled in. "A son?" He choked out as the emotion got to him. Margaery shifted, and Luke quickly found himself with a baby in his arms. Staring into his new-born son's eyes Luke noticed that they were a dark purple, almost black looking had it not been for the flickering candlelight. "Hello Aegon." Luke whispered, letting his little finger stroke the boy's cheeks. Luke's eyes then flickered to the boy's head, where a handful of tufts of silver-gold hair stood proudly atop the baby's head. "His hair is more golden than mine and Visenya's." He commented.

"He's born for the crown." Margaery whispered, moving her hand over to rest on Luke's leg. "You had to fight for it."

It was as good a reason as any that Luke could think of, as he continued to drink in every tiny detail of his son's face. "Aegon Targaryen." Luke whispered again as the baby's eyes closed as it settled in to sleep. Once the baby had settled, Luke placed him back in Margaery's arms, kissing her forehead gently. "Thank you." He said to his wife.

"You helped." Margaery mumbled, but she was tiring too as she let Aegon rest at her breast. "Go, spread the word and enjoy your feast. We need to rest. Sera and Mira will look after me."

Luke nodded, pressing his lips to both his wife and his son's heads one final time before passing the two girls on his way out. Outside he noticed the crowd had grown, with Varys, Mace Tyrell and Jon Connington amongst the newcomers.

"The Queen is tired, but both her and the baby are healthy and doing well." Luke announced. "There will be a feast in the Queen's Ballroom tonight to mark the arrival of the new heir to the throne, Prince Aegon Targaryen."

A low applause filled the corridor, though Olenna Tyrell quickly shushed them all. "Go and have your raucous party away from here!" The Queen of Thorns scolded. "Stop making such a racket outside Her Grace's bedchambers!"

Luke nodded, and started escorting the group away. Before they had reached the Queen's Ballroom however, the bells of the Sept of Baelor began ringing, heralding the arrival of a new Targaryen, and the true beginning of a new era for House Targaryen.

While celebrations were being had amongst the bell ringing on Aegon's High Hill, another of the three hills of King's Landing was playing host to a Targaryen celebration. Daenerys had felt worry in her mind deep down where the connection to Viserion sat and so after handing Visenya over to Talisa she and Ser Jorah rode quickly over to the old Dragonpit. Usually, the three dragons that had been born in Essos were found soaring above the Hill of Rhaenys, but today there was only Valaxes and Viserion. Concerned, Dany spurred her horse quicker after leaving the central city, dismounting and almost running into the ruins.

Rhaegal was on the ground resting, and the dragon's body moving up and down as it breathed was the thing to calm Daenerys down into a walk as she moved closer, and as she did, she noticed the differing colours glistening in the setting sunlight. Gasping, Dany moved continued getting closer to the sleeping dragon, counting five eggs that Rhaegal was keeping close.

"Princess." Ser Jorah called from behind her. "Be careful, mother dragons aren't known to be friendly."

Dany nodded cautiously. "We must ride back to the Red Keep, Ser Jorah. My brother must know that the gods have truly smiled on the new Prince."

And ride back they did, although less than an hour later Daenerys found herself back at the Dragonpit stood alongside a dozen others, a mix of guards and Small Council members. Lucerys was in front of them all, kneeling before the now awake but dozy Rhaegal.

"You are a marvel." Luke stated to the green and bronze, unclaimed dragon in their native Valyrian. "This truly is a special day for our House."

"You should place one of the eggs in Aegon's cradle, Your Grace." Jon Connington stated. "It is tradition for Targaryen babes to sleep with an egg."

Luke nodded, before speaking to Rhaegal. "May we take one? May we allow your child to grow at the side of the future King?" Rhaegal puffed a small plume of smoke out of its nose, but her tail moved away from the eggs, opening them up to the King. "Thank you, Rhaegal." He turned around and called over to Dany. "You should help, sister."

Dany smiled and walked over to join her brother, taking his hand in her own as they looked over the eggs. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the grey egg, noticing the black rims of the scales. She looked at the rest, passing over the bronze and light blue eggs quickly before looking closer at the crimson and purple eggs. Feeling that the grey egg was to be saved, Daenerys smiled as she settled on her choice. "He should have the purple one."

Luke nodded. "I felt the same." He agreed, and Dany watched as Luke took a step closer and placed his hands around the purple egg, and Dany noticed the lime edging around this one. "Purple, to match his eyes."

He turned around and held the egg up in the air. "One day, this shall be the mount of a King." He announced. "But for now, we must place the egg with my son so that they bond together."

They all left the Dragonpit as the sun shone it's last for that day, and by the time the group arrived back at the Red Keep the stars were out in all of their glory. Luke only invited her into his chambers, and for the first time Dany laid eyes on her sleeping nephew. "He's beautiful." She whispered so as to not wake him.

"He is." Margaery's voice sounded from the bed.

"I thought you were sleeping." Luke said quietly. "Sorry, I didn't want to wake you."

Margaery sat up, and Dany noticed the wince as she did. "What are you doing?"

"Rhaegal laid eggs." Luke explained. "We were just about to place Aegon's into his cradle."

Margaery looked like she was digesting that information, but she simply nodded curtly and watched them. Luke held up the purple egg. "Gods of Valyria, Gods of my forefather's. Bless this child so that he may hatch his birth right, and allow Targaryen and dragon to bond once again." He stated in an almost chantlike tone before placing the dragon egg in the cradle. Daenerys watched fondly as the baby wriggled around, resting his head on the stone before settling into a restful slumber. "There we are." Luke whispered.

"Now all we can do is wait." Dany added, not being able to take her eyes off of the new-born heir to the throne. "Sleep well, Prince Aegon." She kissed her palm and placed it on the cradle. "I'll leave you to it Luke." She then added, kissing his cheek. "Your Grace." She curtseyed to Margaery before leaving the room, wondering what the rest of the eggs meant for their family's future.

Given that I've never experienced childbirth in person this was a challenging chapter for me to get right, but I hope I've done ok writing from the POV of somebody that is simply forced to wait. The first scene I'm not too sure about but I wanted Ser Barristan to both distract Luke and give him a bit of a history lesson. You should all know by now I love my lore so to look back at Luke's mother and siblings from Barristan's perspective was a fun idea that I hope I've done right.

I've written a conquest of the Iron Islands to death by now in all my stories, so the time jump here was helpful. You'll find out what Yara decides next chapter, but the main thing I wanted to get across here was the execution of Balon Greyjoy and how that makes Robb feel given his history with Theon. It's a historical fact that long haired males had their hair cut before executions to make it easier, so I included that too.

Back in King's Landing though, and a son is born! I'm sure some of you can see certain parallels to this story and a certain plotline that HBO are adapting… although while I'm not going far enough into the future for a war between Luke's children, there's a reason that things are similar.

Finally, a clutch of dragon eggs! A new era of Targaryen's means we need a new era of dragons. I wanted that to be from Dany's POV as she has the best connection to the dragons so far. I might change the little speech Luke gave to the egg as he placed it in Aegon's cradle if House of the Dragon shows us another ritual that takes place during this process, but for now that will do.

Thank you all for reading! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter after a small break, and I will be back next week!

Next Time: Mance Rayder is ready as the realm prepares for war.

I don't know why Margaery is so hated in Germany or other German speaking places, but the string of reviews hating on her was a bit odd. I've addressed them all individually below.

Reviews:

Zero9 (Chapter 10): Well sorry, but Valarra is very dead.

Varvara11 (Chapter 33): Sorry… but she was always going to have kids. I've an exciting plotline to do with Dany, Luke and the Tyrell's coming up in the future.

teufelchen (Chapter 36): Tyrion is in the Westerlands, Myrcella is a prisoner. Jon and Jaime will have more scenes being at the Wall but I wouldn't expect much of the other two.

Anaconda: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter then! I said last chapter that an update would take at least a fortnight due to being busy.

Necros The Saiyan knight: That revelation is a long way off…

Asharzal: Does Robert's justification mean that Luke should just forget that House Baratheon's uprising caused the death of the majority of his family and forced him into a life of exile? He knows that his hatred for the entire House is largely unjustified, but he hates them all the same. Robert hated an entire House because his 'betrothed' ran off with another man. Luke hates an entire House because one man killed his brother and was the symbol that almost killed his entire family. I'd argue that Luke's is more justified.

Zhorvak: They're becoming friendly, but I wouldn't say that they've a Tyrion and Bronn relationship. One won't become the other's murder weapon.

DougTheMug: I was never going to show the whole war, but I hope you enjoyed Balon's demise!

Lannister: I don't know why you hope she or her child dies but I don't want to spoil it.

LeeZanda: Things won't always go well for Luke, but I always hope to grow my stories plots organically and have things happen that make sense, good or bad.

Guest (Jaime): He would never have been allowed to rejoin after Luke took the throne. Luke hates Aerys, but he has to uphold the law and Jaime committed regicide as well as murdered Luke's father.