I can't believe we're at the end of House of the Dragon Season 1 already! Time really has flown and I've enjoyed every single episode so far, and this weekend is only going to heighten that enjoyment! Though I will be saddened to see the events at Storm's End…

This chapter marks the end of the second third of this story. There's still quite a way to go of course, but I wanted to go big with Chapter 50 and I really think I've done that here! It will probably end up being divisive judging by the reviews I've been getting recently, but it's all a part of a wider plan!

I hope you enjoy this chapter nonetheless, I certainly enjoyed writing it!

I own nothing from the books or TV shows, anything borrowed from those are the property of HBO and/or George R R Martin.

In the weeks after the Princess' departure, the tension around King's Landing had seemingly been severed. Gone were the arguments during the Small Council Meetings and gone was the massive weight that had been living in Margaery's chest since her wedding day. The Queen could breathe easily, and even her relationship with the King had dramatically improved. They frequently spent time together now, both in the city and in the castle. The only negative for the Queen would be how upset her young step-daughter was, though Margaery knew that Visenya was young and would come around to the new reality.

"You're actually smiling." Her Grandmother noted as they sat together outside in the gardens one fine afternoon. "Be careful, dear, or people will start to think you contented."

"I am allowed to be pleased, Grandmother." Margaery rolled her eyes. "The city is repairing, and Luke promised to take me out boating on the morrow."

"And yet we must remain cautious." Olenna raised an eyebrow. "You successfully navigated both the Most Devout and the King, but the bonds of family are a strong one as you well know and Dragonstone isn't far."

Margaery sighed. "They are strong, but you forget that I am the King's family too. Daenerys is out of the way, Grandmother, and thriving in her new role. She understands the need for space, and we must understand that we can't be too forceful." She looked intently at her Grandmother. "With any luck, I shall miss my next moonblood and we can add to our family. That should put all of us at ease, even you."

Olenna huffed. "A child would be nice of course, but I shan't let it distract me. We are in a good position, Margaery, but good positions never last long…" Her eyes wandered off to behind the Queen, where beyond her Kingsguard protector she noticed a new arrival in the Capital.

Shireen Baratheon had been summoned soon after Daenerys left and was now living inside the Tower of the Hand. Margaery's heart sank for the poor girl, forced to be with a man over half her age purely because of her name. "Ser Taron, please invite the Lady Shireen to join us." She instructed her Kingsguard.

Less than a minute later the Baratheon was sat down nervously at the table. A stance that didn't go unnoticed by the Queen of Thorns. "No need to be so rigid, child. We are but women here, idly gossiping."

"It is an honour to be invited, Your Grace. Lady Olenna." Shireen said quietly.

Margaery smiled kindly, reaching over to grab the poor girl's hand. "It must be strange, being here."

"Anywhere is better than Dragonstone, My Queen." Shireen insisted, before freezing up again. "Forgive me, I didn't…"

"You were put through torment there, do not apologise for speaking your truth." Olenna waved away. "And it is a dull, dreary place. I would much rather suffer through the stench of King's Landing than the black halls of Dragonstone."

Shireen let out a small laugh, and Margaery was pleased that the girl was opening up. "And it is not all bad here, why you have spent time with your sister, have you not?"

Jocelyn Baratheon was now almost 18 months old and remained mainly in the Maidenvault with her mother and the other hostages that Luke had taken over the past years, with Luke repurposing the keep so that he wouldn't need to see the Baratheon and Lannister's still within his castle. The keep was accessible for others though, and Margaery had been made aware that Shireen Baratheon spent most of her time inside the Maidenvault.

Shireen nodded fondly. "I have, Your Grace. It has been good to get to know Jocelyn, and Lady Alys too. I hope to one day show her Storm's End." Margaery knew that that would never happen, but she kept the smile on her face nonetheless as the conversation became not much more than small talk as they discussed the upcoming new year celebrations, the new dress Shireen had been given and other meaningless topics. Finally Ser Davos cleared his throat from by the guards, and Shireen looked alarmed. "Forgive me, Your Grace, but I must continue with my day."

"Of course, My Lady." Margaery nodded, standing up at the same time as the young girl in order to give her a surprising hug. "Please, we must do this again."

"I would like that." Shireen smiled, curtseying. "Lady Olenna. My Queen." She said in farewell, before departing with the Onion Knight.

The Tyrell women waited for a few moments to allow the girl to get out of earshot before speaking again, with Olenna saying. "A hug?"

Margaery shrugged. "If she was contagious then Jon Connington would have already broken out with Greyscale. Better to show her that I am a friend that she can trust than to be standoffish because of her unfortunate condition." She explained.

Olenna was in agreement. "She could be a valuable ally." She was surmising. "The Connington's may be in control of the Stormlands for now, but only because he has a Baratheon wife. If that bond were broken…"

"Enough, Grandmother." Margaery said firmly in a harsh whisper. "Let us settle in this new reality before you begin your plots anew."

Olenna smirked. "My dear, there will always be plots spinning in this city. The key is to stay on top of all of them."

While the Queen was in the gardens, the King was working through Lord Baelish's possessions. Whilst the former Master of Coin had been dead for some time, Varys had informed the King that a certain dagger may have been in his possession, and so the King and the Eunuch were searching through trunks of silks and other expensive items that had been confiscated by the Crown after the traitor's execution.

"There's enough wealth here to fund a sellsword company for a year…" Luke stated as he searched through one of the chests, filled with fine silks and jewellery. "How did he not get caught sooner?"

"Lord Baelish was a skilful and clever man, Your Grace." Varys said from the doorway. "His resources evaded even my little birds."

"Hmm." Luke mumbled, as he moved on to a smaller trunk, and his purple eyes lit up in excitement. "Ah ha!" He spotted the handle first, the black of the dragon bone mixed with a rich gold, topped off with a ruby for the pommel. The sheathe was also black, only leather instead of bone. He picked it up carefully in both of his hands, before gripping the handle firmly with his right and unsheathing the dagger.

"Valyrian Steel…" Varys noted. "I held this very dagger in my hands once, four years ago. It was used in an attempted assassination of young Brandon Stark."

Luke had heard about the attempt in passing when he was at Winterfell. "How does a Targaryen heirloom dating back to the Doom end up in the hands of a lowly catspaw…" He questioned rhetorically. "Did you find that out?"

"Why of course I did, Your Grace." Varys said with a sly grin. "King Robert would have never wielded a blade that was once held in the hands of Prince Rhaegar, so he threw it away in the castle armoury, only to be plucked from there by a young Prince who knew not what it was."

Joffrey, Luke realised. "Joffrey Waters tried to kill a cripple? Why?"

Varys shrugged. "The thoughts of the dead are beyond even my little birds, Your Grace. No doubt it was to prove something to somebody."

Luke felt his stomach turn at the thought. "Thankfully it is back in Targaryen hands now." He stated, sheathing the dagger and tucking it into his belt. "Thank you for your assistance, Varys."

"I am but your humble servant." Varys bowed. "Which is why…" He glanced at the shut door. "I fear I must inform you of my suspicions."

Luke frowned. "What suspicions?"

Varys sighed. "You are a smart man, Your Grace. I know that you are aware that the rumours about your… relationship, with the Princess Daenerys did not sprout from thin air. Somebody told the High Sparrow."

Luke felt goosebumps on his arm. "You're talking of someone plotting all this?"

"I am, Your Grace." Varys nodded. "I always felt it suspicious on how the Sparrows appeared seemingly out of nowhere, so I did some digging. It seems the High Sparrow hails from a small village in the Reach, under the jurisdiction of Honeyholt."

"The Beesbury's?" Luke asked. His knowledge on the Reach house wasn't great, but he remembered a former Master of Coin that had been killed by the Kingmaker and a knight that had died for Ser Duncan the Tall at Ashford. "Why would they be treasonous?"

"This man didn't stay in one place, Your Grace. He travelled around, and I have accounts placing him as far away as Pennytree in the Riverlands and even Duskendale. It seems he followed Robert's Rebellion after the battles, spending time in the Stormlands, at Ashford and at the Stoney Sept."

"He was a man that followed bloodshed, learning his craft of preaching to those who had suffered in the games of the Lords." Luke understood. "So after we took King's Landing, he came here?"

"With a large sack of coins, it seems." Varys nodded. "Coins minted in Oldtown." Varys reached into his sleeves and pulled out a silver stag to hand to the King, the face of Robert Baratheon on one side, and the Baratheon stag stamped into the other, Oldtown also stamped onto the stag side.

"This couldn't be brought up in the Small Council?" Luke raised an eyebrow, hoping that the spymaster wasn't about to follow up with the reason he feared.

Varys gulped. "I feared that I couldn't do so in the presence of Lord Tyrell and Queen Margaery, Your Grace, for they are kin with the Hightower's. With Lord Leyton's self-imposed isolation it stands to reason that if there are any plots brewing from Oldtown, then they will have originated in Highgarden."

Luke sighed as he dropped his head into his hands, rubbing his temples. "I presume you have proof, and aren't just spinning me a web of your own making? I am not blind, Varys, you spend too much time with my Warden of the South."

"I do, Your Grace." Varys nodded. "Once I had my suspicions I befriended Lord Tyrell so that I could learn more." He reached into his robes then, pulling out some parchment. "I found these in Lord Tyrell's rooms. He was to send them out in the case of your agreement to marry the Princess away."

Luke grabbed the parchment, reading the first one where Lord Tyrell's writing was clear as he offered the hand of Dany out. He then took a look at the destinations of the letters, noticing a similar trend. "These are all to his own bannermen." Luke stated, seeing Goldengrove, Longtable, Bandallon and Red Lake as the first few destinations. "All to minor Lords. The nerve…"

"There's one more thing, Your Grace…" Varys said, gulping nervously. "One last raven, addressed to Lord Tyrell from…" The eunuch trailed off.

"Spit it out." Luke snarled, scrunching up the parchment in his hand.

Varys took a deep breath, and handed Luke one final raven scroll. "From Ser Willam Wells."

Luke scowled at the memory of Ser Theodan who had butchered the Sept of Baelor in the name of the Sparrows. As his mind raced from all the information he had just received from his spymaster, Luke's hand curled even tighter into a fist as the gravity of the plots hit him. "They dare…" He snarled. "Thank you, Varys. Your loyalty will be rewarded."

"I need no reward, Your Grace. The safety of the Realm is my only goal." Varys bowed. "I shall leave you in peace."

And he did just that, leaving Luke alone in the storage room seething as he tried to work out exactly what he should do next to try and counter the Tyrell's working against him.

The King's first move was to go to see his most trusted advisor. Tensions with Jon had also calmed down a lot since Dany had left for Dragonstone and the two were back on good terms, so Luke presumed that Jon would be at the very least sympathetic to the revelations. Unfortunately, Jon did all but shrug the King off.

"It worked out for the best, Your Grace." Jon sighed. "Would I have preferred it never happened? That you were not in a position to feel forced into destroying the Sept of Baelor? Of course. But look at where we sit right now." He held his hand out to the letters over his desk. "The Faith are on side, and plans are already being drawn up for a new building to replace Baelor. Your vassals are loyal, with the incident with the dragon encouraging them to pledge themselves anew of their own volition. Even Dragonstone is more prosperous since the Princess' arrival, with more ships having left the island heading North than ever before."

Luke was incredulous, and looked at Jon with disgust. "I've been betrayed!" He shouted loudly. "My own wife mocks me behind my back to her family as they plot and scheme to worm their way into power and you would have me do nothing? They forced my hand, Jon! They made me send my own blood away!"

"She was a distraction, Luke." Jon replied calmly. "Now we are all in a place to do our part in making the realm prosperous once more. You are angry, yes. These allegations into the conduct of Lord Tyrell will be looked into, I promise you, but think long term, please."

"Long term." Luke scoffed. "Fuck long term. This is treason!"

Jon rolled his eyes. "These are the words of the Spider. We do not make rash judgements based off of a single man's testimony, Luke. We will investigate and if Mace Tyrell is found to have done all this, then we shall act."

Not understanding why his friend and mentor wasn't trusting him, Luke simply felt deflated. "Right, fine." He muttered. "If that is your advice, Lord Hand."

Jon sighed. "Luke…"

"No, it is as you say. I'm being rash in thinking that my sister was used as a scapegoat by an ambitious House's plots." Luke spat. He shook his head disappointedly and made his way out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Ser Barristan and Ser Raymund were the White Cloaks stood outside, and Luke took a moment to try and catch his thoughts. When even Jon could see nothing wrong Luke saw that he was alone fighting an impossible battle. Sighing, he turned to the young Connington Kingsguard knight. "Are you content with guarding your kinsman, Ser Raymund?"

The knight nodded. "I am, Your Grace."

Luke put a false smile on his face as he patted the man's armour. "Good, good. I trust you will continue to do a fine job of it."

Ser Raymund nodded again. "To the best of my ability." He paused for a moment. "Are you alright, Your Grace?"

"Hmm?" Luke questioned, half hearing the red-head. "Oh, yes. I'm fine. Come, Ser Barristan. I wish to return to my chambers." Luke called to his Lord Commander, though he walked back to his rooms in a sombre silence.

Mance Rayder had kept his word, and already news was filtering through to Castle Black that Torches was the first of the old abandoned castles to be manned again, though this time the cloaks of the inhabitants were not black. Long Barrow was also close, and Jon hoped that more would follow quickly before the Night King and his army was upon them.

It was well into the hour of the wolf when tiredness was starting to get to him. The Lord Commander was halfway through a letter to King Lucerys with an update on Hardhome and a request for more men when he set his quill down and rubbed his eyes, sighing loudly. He was actually relieved when the door burst open, before realising how late it was and growing alarmed when Olly entered the room. "What is it?" Jon asked, rising to his feet.

"One of the Wildlings you settled into Oakenshield, Lord Commander. Says he was a Nightrunner before Mance Rayder, says he knows your Uncle Benjen, he says he's alive."

That knocked the wind out of Jon. Benjen Stark had been missing for over 4 years and Jon had long thought his Uncle dead and a part of the Night King's army. "Are you sure he's talking about Benjen?"

Olly nodded. "Says he was first Ranger, said he saw him up in the Frostfangs before you reach Thenn. Says he was heading further North."

"Further North?" Jon asked, confused. "There's nothing further North other than…" He trailed off in realisation. "Benjen knows something about the Walkers."

He rushed passed his steward and out of his chambers, running down the wooden steps until he reached the snowy stone of the main courtyard, where his own First Ranger Ser Alliser was waiting for him. "Man says he was a scout for his clan and one of the last to leave to follow Mance, and that he met with Benjen before abandoning their lands.

"Did he explain Benjen's plan?" Jon asked as they walked towards a gathered group of black cloaks.

"Said he'd only talk to you." Thorne explained before pointing through the group. "He's through there."

Jon pushed his way through, his mind running riot at the amount of questions he had about his Uncle… only to stop in his tracks as beyond the group of his sworn brothers was no Free Folk man, but a wooden sign nailed to the post with a single word carved into it.

TRAITOR

Confused initially, it took a few seconds before Jon realised exactly what was going on. His right hand went to the pommel of his knife as he cursed the rash decision to not bring Longclaw down with him, but as he turned around to speak to the mutineers he didn't even manage to get a word out, as Thorne drove a knife forcefully in between his bottom ribs. The pain was intensely hot, and it only grew as Thorne held him in place as Jon stumbled around trying to keep his feet. "For the Watch." The First Ranger snarled.

Then the blade was pulled out and Jon could quickly feel his own blood pouring from the wound. He tried to bring his hand up to put pressure on, but as quickly as Thorne had done, Othell Yarwyck's dagger had been thrust into Jon. Then it was Bowen Marsh's, and after that it was a blur as knife after knife found its way into Jon's torso with the same statement following, and the Lord Commander's body was afire with flame.

He finally dropped to his knees after what must have been the tenth blade, and his ragged breathing was the only sound in the courtyard until the group separated to make a path, and the agony in Jon's body was nothing compared to the feeling of hurt and betrayal as Jon's own personal steward Olly stepped forwards with a slight tremor in his arm, a dagger held firmly in the boy's fist. "Olly…" Jon pleaded, though his voice was no more than a whisper. This time, the knife entered Jon by his heart, and the pain was no longer on the Bastard of Winterfell's mind.

As Olly withdrew the dagger, Jon's mind went to that comfortable, distant cave North of the Wall. He could see the waterfall in his peripheral vision, the fiery red hair of his love staring up at him as she took off the last of her clothes. "I don't ever want to leave this cave, Jon Snow." Ygritte said, her blue eyes staring passionately into his own. "Not ever."

Jon smiled, pressing his lips to hers. "Ygritte…" He whispered hoarsely, before the night sky above Castle Black filled his fading vision, and Jon Snow saw no more.

It took the King most of the evening to figure out what he wanted to do next, and though he knew that it was likely a stupid decision, Luke's conversation with Jon had put a seed of doubt in his head. And so he found himself outside of his wife's private chambers waiting for Ser Taron to announce him before he walked inside.

Margaery was sat with a cup of wine and a book in her hands sat on a comfortable armchair, and she looked up at him in surprise. "Husband." She greeted. "I was not expecting you tonight."

Luke nodded, before he shut the door himself. "We arranged to meet in the morning I know, but… something has arisen that I want to talk to you about." He made his way over to a seat opposite her, settling down into the fabric. "We found out where the High Sparrow came from today."

Margaery's eyes widened. "You did? Where?"

"Honeyholt." Luke explained. "He was a Reachman." He watched as Margaery placed her book down and sat more rigidly in her chair. "It seems he spent a fair amount of time in Oldtown too."

"Are you accusing me of anything?" Margaery asked, her flowery voice gone.

Shaking his head, Luke said. "No, not unless there is anything that you wish to tell me."

"If you truly think that I would be behind the Sparrows and the accusations against you and your sister, then I fear you do not know me well at all Your Grace." Margaery said firmly. "I care about our family; I want King's Landing to be a safe place for Aegon to grow up. I would not put him in harm's way, nor would I want you to be in danger either. You are my husband and my King and I care for you."

"Then why do you plot?" Luke asked exasperatedly. "You, your Father and your Grandmother… everywhere I look I see Tyrell's on top while I feel like I get left with nothing."

"This is no time for self-pity, Lucerys." Margaery rolled her eyes. "You are the King, whatever you will, you can have."

Luke scoffed. "Would that it be so simple." He muttered before sighing heavily. "I am sorry, it is this city, I have been back for three years now and the politics of King's Landing grind on me as heavily as they did at the start."

Margaery moved out of her seat to kneel before him, taking his hands in her own. "This is why you have us, husband. You have grown up a sellsword, where the sword was the final word. Here is different, so let us work together rather than allow lies and deceit to tear us apart. We can be a partnership if you would allow it."

Luke nodded, leaning down so her hands were also resting on his forehead. "You're right." He said quietly, closing his eyes as he rested his head. "Of course you're right."

"Come." He felt Margaery dragging him up. "You need rest, we can deal with the source of these poisonous accusations tomorrow. For now, sleep."

Luke allowed her to lead him to her bed chamber then as she stripped him off and pulled him gently into the bed, although while his eyes were shut, he purposefully evaded sleep, listening out to the soft breathing of his wife from beside him before he rose up out of the bed and redressed, quietly sneaking out of the room and making his way back to his own chambers. There, he changed his clothes, preferring the comfort of a new set of leather riding armour in the colours of his house along with a black hooded cloak.

When he left his chambers again, he was stopped by a confused Ser Barristan. "Your Grace, you should rest."

Luke sighed. "Look around me, Ser Barristan. I am alone. My wife lies to my face, or at best is ignorant to the ambitions of her family. Jon is blinded to my pain…" He sighed dramatically. "I need to get away."

"You are the King, Lucerys." Ser Barristan said. "You cannot just run away."

Luke smirked. "I'm not running, Ser. I will fly."

Ser Barristan paused in alarm. "I must protest, Your Grace…"

"I admire your will, Ser Barristan, but I need to get away from all of this." Luke scowled. "Everywhere I turn I feel sick to my stomach. I need fresh air, I need peace. I need…" He trailed off, though Ser Barristan knew exactly what was to follow.

"I shall send Ser Rolly to Dragonstone." Ser Barristan stated, but Luke shook his head.

"I need you all here." Luke insisted. "I won't be gone forever, but I cannot promise that Mace Tyrell won't use this time to squeeze his grip on my throne. I need the Kingsguard here, loyal to me and to Jon."

Ser Barristan grimaced. "I should really be with you, Your Grace."

"My mind is made up, Ser Barristan." Luke said firmly. "Tonight has made it clear in my mind that the way things are I will be swallowed up by Tyrell schemes until it is time for me to fly North. I will not allow myself to be bogged down by it all. I need a break." He stood taller after saying that. "I will be taking Visenya with me. If anyone asks, I'm simply escorting my daughter to our ancestral seat."

"The Queen won't believe it."

"I care not what the Queen thinks. What matters is what I think." Luke stated bluntly. "Now, if you could stay here and guard my door for the time being, I would prefer to do this silently."

Ser Barristan looked extremely unhappy, but he nodded his head the once. "If you are not back in a fortnight then I will come and collect you myself, Your Grace."

Luke laughed aloud at that. "Very well, my friend." He grinned, before leaving the Kingsguard knight at his post and hoisting his hood up over his head.

He had a similar conversation with Ser Caspor outside of his daughter's door, but eventually both Luke and Visenya were on their way to the Dragonpit during the hour of the bat, where Luke managed to strap both himself, Visenya, and the crate carrying Bloodwing to the back of Valaxes. Without hesitation, the King commanded his dragon to fly, and the King of the Seven Kingdom's was soon soaring over Blackwater Bay, escaping towards his ancestral home.

Some people may be thinking of Luke as weak… but I'd argue that having two of the closest people in your lives constantly fighting whilst you're worried about the fate of the entire world is unbelievably stressful, and now being told that it was all a plot from your wife and her family? It's too much and I like to think of this as Luke taking a mental health break personally, though as the King he really shouldn't be doing that. Varys really has put this on him at the worst time hasn't he…

And the Tyrell plots really don't stop. Shireen is getting older at this point and while she's still very young, she's been summoned back to King's Landing for good at this point and Margaery feels like she can use that to her own advantage.

Finally, we've reached the end of Season 5 and that means the murder of Jon Snow. This time it's based off of the decision to give the Wildlings multiple castles all at once. Thorne believes that swift action needs to be taken so as to fend them off and keep the Wall in Night's Watch hands.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Next Time: Jaime Lannister descends from his night on duty to a changed Castle Black. The fallout of Luke's flight is felt in King's Landing and Dragonstone.

Reviews:

suppes1: I imagine Bloodwing to look like Syrax personally, but she's a deep red colouring, with maroon horns, wing bones and spine, but her eyes and claws are black.

C.E.W: That time being was certainly short lived… You were right about what Jon wanted to do, though we're at that point in the story where the inevitable happens unfortunately so no word will get sent! Luke definitely wouldn't choose Mace Tyrell as Hand, he'd sooner try and drag Robb Stark back down South than that. As for House of the Dragon, that moment was lovely and made even better knowing that the crown falling was unscripted. I'm typing this response an hour after your review was sent and I know I'll miss Viserys in the coming episodes.

Guest (contrived): Everything in this story that isn't taken directly from the show was made up by me… this is the point of the story that the Sparrows come into it because of the War of the 5 King's, and I needed to make it relevant to this particular story. I explained why it's such a big deal compared to Targaryen's beforehand in the story too. They've had 20 years without an incestuous monarchy (as far as they knew) and the sudden resurgence of the Targaryen's mixed with the blood magic used to birth the dragons in the first place is too much for their religious minds. The dragons also hadn't been used in combat since the Gods Eye before this moment too, so that's 170 years without dragons, it's reasonable to not worry about it too much. Luke mentions people using her claim in the last chapter, the dragons fell under that bracket for me. Luke would definitely not want to risk such an uprising now, not with the White Walker's in the near future. It's a mindset like Viserys, he doesn't want the realm divided when he's faced with a greater danger.

RHatch89: Some scenes are strategically placed for the audience is all I'll say!

Ghost King: Agreed, the only scene that tops the Viserys one for me is the Aemond claiming Vhagar scene. The Tyrell's have plans for everyone. Loras is still unmarried after all and Shireen is the key to getting the Stormlands on side. Yes there's still a mutiny. There are 18 castles on the Wall. The Night's Watch are occupying 4 (Castle Black, Shadow Tower, Rimegate and Eastwatch) and Jon has just gifted 6 to the Wildlings. That is something that Thorne can't ignore. Ygritte is alive, and will reappear in the story soon.

Guest (other stories): There will be 74/75 chapters of this story, depending on if I do an epilogue or not. As for the other stories, I'll see nearer the time. I'm 20 chapters (1/3 of the final story) into a Harry Potter story I haven't uploaded anything of as well as 3 chapters into a sequel to As High as Honour, so it will be one of those two next I'd imagine.

El: No, she's just staying there for the moment.

Guest (weak): The Tyrell's have always been loyal to the Targaryen's so that statement about it going where it suits them is odd. Dany's story isn't over, so just have some patience.

TehStorm: House of the Dragon is definitely one of my current influences, but Luke isn't a Viserys.

Master: I don't think this story will be covering the children's lives in too great a detail, but I do have a full timeline plotted out in order to get to the epilogue which is set around 20 years later.

Guest (last chapter): I'm really sorry but this review genuinely made me laugh out loud because I got the email about it at the exact same time as writing a Dany and Luke scene for chapter 51. I'm sorry you feel that way but I've not been silent about this still having elements of romance between the two while not having them marry.