Ashara, three years later.
It had been four years since Ashara was last on Earth, specifically Stargate Command. She still remembered being beamed down from the Phoenix, much to her shock, and then reappearing in the conference room where she found herself once again for the second time. And since that first time, her shock hadn't been lessened. Taking a deep breath with a female officer named Lt. Tandy next to her, Ashara looked on and smiled at General Landry coming out of his office to meet her. And following the leader of the SGC was Colonel Dixon.
"Lieutenant," the General said looking over at Tandy, "thank you for accompanying Lady Ashara to Earth. You'll be taking a break before your team heads out for its next mission."
"Yes, sir," the young woman said before nodding at Ashara and then at Colonel Dixon before walking away.
Just as Tandy strode through the hallway connected to the conference room, Ashara nodded her head at the Colonel who welcomed her back to Earth. Ashara had wanted to come to Earth more often to see Rhea, especially since the little girl didn't remember her even after meeting for the first time. Ashara was upset on the inside while telling Rhea that she was a family friend before handing the little girl a picture of the Tanner family smiling at the camera – in reality it was a manipulated picture. Even after Ashara told the little girl stories about both her parents, Rhea still could not remember them. She wanted to return to Earth often, she wanted to stay close to Rhea in the hope that her presence would help the Princess of the Seven Kingdoms remember her past. Upon returning to Westeros – specifically the Water Gardens, Ashara, alongside Colonel Dixon and Daniel, informed Doran and Oberyn that Rhea was, in fact, Rhaenys and that she remembered nothing of her life in Westeros.
Ashara then suggested staying on Earth for an extended period. However, it was Doran who shook his head and explained that with the rebellion still so raw, Robert, the Spider, and the Lannisters would be putting a great dead of scrutiny onto Dorne.
"They will have their reasons," Doran had said back then, "Robert will be paranoid and will see anything unusual as a threat against the Crown. The Spider will want to solidify his influence and usefulness to the Usurper by providing any intelligence on any impropriety. And Tywin Lannister will be using his spies and cutthroats to search for any sign of Rhaenys."
"Which is why we need you to stay," Oberyn said in a reluctant tone of voice, "for now. At least till Rhaenys' seventh nameday." Doran then said that three years would be enough for Westeros to come to a sense of normalcy. He wanted to lessen the eyes and ears that were aimed towards Dorne before even thinking of moving freely.
"Oberyn will be making enough noise to be a nuisance... to scare Robert into handing us the bones of Uncle Llylwyn. In the meantime," Doran said as his eyes were fixed on Ashara's violet eyes, "I ask that you be patient."
And Ashara had been patient for a very long time. It has been three years later, about a week after Rhaenys's seventh nameday on Earth and Ashara was seated on a chair in the SGC conference room. General Landry sat at the head of the conference table and Colonel Dixen seated next to him facing her.
"Would it be safe to assume the Seven Kingdoms have generally calmed down after the rebellion?" the General asked.
Ashara nodded her head before saying, "somewhat, General." Ashara then leaned forward, the Earth clothes she was provided with on the Odyssey didn't prevent her skin from feeling the cool air coming from the air-vents above her. Despite this being her second time on Earth, Ashara was still amazed by the technological advances... advances she relayed to both Doran and Oberyn after her first time setting foot on Earth. Pushing aside her thoughts of amazement, Ashara continued, "while Robert and the Spider may have begun looking away from Dorne, the Lannisters have not."
"I see," Colonel Dixon said.
Ashara nodded her head before saying, "the guards in Starfall captured two potential Lannister spies over the past seventy days with rumours of other spies captured in the Water Gardens, Sunspear, Hellhoult, and High Hermitage."
"I take it the spies didn't find anything?" In reply, Ashara shook her head 'no'.
"The Lannister spy in the Water Gardens was a servent," Ashara said looking over at the Colonel, "he was discovered by chance in Prince Doran's solar. He was about to discover the picure of Rhaenys and your wife, Colonel." She then went on to explain that the spy was arrested and, after some extreme persuasion, admitted he was paid handsomely by a man who wore Lannister colours. "Prince Doran feels it best that while Rhaenys must know the truth, she cannot come to Dorne for her safety. Not yet at least."
"I see," the General answered.
"Rhea will want to meet her Uncles at some point," the Colonel pointed out.
"When the danger has lessened," Ashara said, "Doran and Oberyn look forward to meeting her as well and introducing her to their daughters and sons."
Ashara then placed her hand on the small chest to her left and said, "for now, we must let Rhaenys know the truth and..." her eyes shifted towards the elegantly carved chest and continued, "... and give her Oberyn's gift."
"A gift for Rhea?" the Colonel asked as his eyes shifted towards the chest and immediately noticed the various carvings of what could only be described as different types of dragons.
"Yes, Oberyn travelled to the land of Yii Tii after he received news that greatly intrigued him," Ashara said as she looked at the chest, "it is a legacy of House Targeryen." She then focused her gaze on the two men, "it is for Rhaenys."
Rhea, about an hour and a half later.
The truth was finally out into the open. Rhea sat with a look of utter surprise on the couch with Lainie on her left side and Colonel Dixon on her right side. On the armchair in front of her, leaning forward, was the woman she first met four years ago; the woman who introduced herself as Ash Dayne.
Rhea still remembered that day Ash came through the Dixons' front door; it was after breakfast the day of the frightening nightmare with the flying creature and the blue-eyed monsters, when Colonel Dixon walked in with Ash who was wearing a blue top and jeans. Rhea was in the kitchen sitting at the island next to Lainie after the two of them had just finished eating breakfast. The Dixon boys had already left for school by then and it wasn't too long after breakfast that Rhea first met Ash.
Rhea was happy to meet the woman who knew her family, but still, she was also upset there were no memories of Ash in her mind. No matter how much she tried, Rhea could not remember Ash at all. And then there was the fact that Rhea hadn't seen Ash since that very day, until now.
It was only minutes ago that the seven year old Rhea learned the truth.
"I want you to know that we love you, Rhea," Lainie had said soon after taking a seat on the couch while Ash sat on the armchair across from them with the coffee table between them. At the time, Rhea didn't realize why Lainie and Colonel Dixon would even say that they loved her. After all, she had been accepted into their family as if she had always been a part of their family. While Rhea would sometimes feel a stinging pain in her chest when she tried to recall her family, the pain muted over the years. This was due to the fact that she now had people she loved – both the Colonel Dixon and Lainie as if they were her parents, as well as Pete and the other boys as if they were her older brothers.
Rhea turned her head towards the Colonel as he spoke, "this is going to be tough to hear, Rhea." Rhea pressed her lips together while wondering what could be so important; at the same time, she continued to listen, "but that's why we waited to tell you when you were a little older. We can tell the boys, if you want, at another time. But for now, what we're about to tell you is only for you."
"Sweetie," Lainie stroked the back of Rhea's head before the latter turned towards the older woman. Lainie took a deep breath before saying, "your parents and your brother didn't die in an accident."
"They didn't die?" Rhea widened her eyes in surprise, "but Lainie, you said that they died in the car accident." She then turned her head to the Colonel and said, "Dave, my papa, mama, and brother aren't dead?"
"They did die," Ash said as she leaned forward. Rhea turned towards the dark haired woman while wondering why everyone was saying her family didn't die in an accident. Rhea watched as Ash bit her bottom lip while Lainie pulled her close and the Colonel placed his hand on her back. Ash continued, "... but not in what you call a car accident."
"Rhea," Dave gently called out before the little girl turned her head towards him, "the first thing we have to tell you is that you..." The Colonel took a deep breath before going on to say, "... aren't from Earth." Rhea was staring at the Colonel with her eyes wide open in surprise.
'What... what does he mean?' Rhea thought as her young heart raced.
"You're from the same world... the same planet as Ash," the Colonel said gently and slowly while nodding towards the woman sitting across from them. Rhea turned towards Ash who had her lips pressed together in a gentle smile.
"My true name is Ashara of House Dayne," Ash said gently as she leaned forwards, "I come from a land known as the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros."
"I.. I don't... I don't understand," Rhea whispered. She felt panicked and anxious. What were they saying? Rhea had sat with the rest of the family two years ago when the American President revealed the existence of aliens, space ships belonging to Earth that are exploring the galaxy, and teams of people travelling to other worlds of aliens and humans through an alien device known as the Stargate. Rhea mentally recounted Colonel Dixon, the man who adopted her into his family, reveal that he was a leader of one of the teams that travelled regularly through the Stargate. Even then, when she was five, Rhea instinctively knew the revelations made that day were amazing even though she didn't fully understand it. Over time, she did understand. And it was only last year that she told the Colonel, Lainie, and the boys that she wanted to fly to the stars.
And now... now she learned that she was from another world. 'What does that mean?' It was a second later that she realized something, 'Ash said her real name is Ashara... so do I have a real name?'
"Do... do I have a real name?" Rhea quietly asked as she stared down at her hands clasped together... her fingers interlocked.
"Rhaenys," Ashara said before Rhea looked up with her lips parted. Rhaenys... that name brought no memories to the forefront of her mind but she knew deep in her heart that the name meant something to her. "Rhaenys of House Targeryen."
"House Targeryen?"
"Your family name," Lainie said stroking Rhea's back as the latter looked back up at her, "House Targeryen is similar to saying the Targeryen family."
"Yes," Ashara said with a small smile, "your father was Prince Rhaegar Targeryen and your mother was the Princess Elia Martell."
"Prince? Princess?" Rhea whispered with eyes wider than they had ever been. Pete would still read her and Cameron stories of Princesses, Knights, Kings, Queens, and Dragons. Dave Jr and Rob once went out in costume as two Princesses during Halloween last year after losing a dare to Pete, Cameron and Rhea. But it was all for a laugh. Princes, Princesses and Queens only existed in some parts of the world and Rhea never imagined her parents were royalty as well.
If she was alive... if she wasn't told the truth for a reason... then were her family still alive somewhere on Earth? Needing to know, Rhea asked, "so papa and mama are... are they still passed on or... or are they like me? Are they in another place here?"
Ashara had a sad look on her face. And Rhea's lower lip trembled.
"There was a rebellion," Ashara whispered.
"Rebellion?"
What was a rebellion? Why did her family have to die? Did she have anyone else on this other world?
"The story is long and complicated," Ashara said gently, "and we have a long time to speak of the details. What you need to know is that your grandfather, Aerys, the one whom we call the Mad King, lit the spark that would cause the other high-borne families to rise up against the Targaryens. Many thousands died, Rhaenys. In the end..." Rhea saw Ashara close her eyes and take in a deep breath. Rhea listened intently as Ashara then continued, "your father, Rhaegar, led a force of thousands of men against thousands of rebels. The rebels won that battle on the Trident River and... and Rhaegar died."
"Papa..."
"When the capital was being sacked," Ashara whispered as tears formed in her eyes, "a monster of a man answering to the leader of one of the high-borne families climbed into your room."
"My room..."
Suddenly, Rhea gasped when she heard a roaring sound in the distance as Ashara continued to speak while tears ran down her cheeks. But Rhea couldn't hear a world of what she was saying. Instead, she gasped and closed her eyes when there was the sound of a scream followed by the sound of another roar in the distance followed by the terrible sounds of items crashing down onto the floor. Her eyes closed tight, Rhea didn't hear the voices of concern from Lainie, the Colonel, or from Ashara. Instead, she heard a frightened voice say, "hide, Rhaenys. Under the bed... hide with your brother and do not move. I will chase the monster away and..."
"Mama..."
"You stay hidden. Stay hidden until you see Ser Jamie... do you remember Ser Jamie?"
"Yes, Mama."
"Wait until he arrives. He will arrive after the end... I know it..." Rhea heard the frightened voice of the woman she guessed was her mother. Rhea felt a hand on her shoulder as the woman – Elia – continued, "tell him to take you to Lord Eddard Stark... to only him. He is the brother to your second mother... tell him to.."
"Second mother? Mama... you are my Mama..."
"When I am gone, the Lady Lyanna and her family will keep you safe... despite what happened to the Starks, they are an honourable family and one that would not see children harmed." There was another roar before there was a loud bang. "He is almost here... hide Rhaenys, my roaring sunlight. Hide for now. And then, I want you to live in the North... keep safe... ensure your brother grows to be a good man. And... and... and remember the words of House Martel; unbowed, unbent, and unbroken."
"Mama."
"But now, hide!"
Suddenly, Rhea felt herself being gently shaken while both Lainie and Ashara were calling out for her. A hand rested on each of her shoulders, while the scream of the woman – the one Rhea believed now was that of her mother – vanished just as quickly as it came. Rhea heard the Colonel say, "Here's some water, Laine."
"Rhea."
Opening her eyes slowly, Rhea found herself staring into the concerned faces of both Ashara and Lainie. Her eyes shifted behind them to Colonel Dixon rushing in from the dining room with a glass of water. It was he who asked, "Rhea, what's wrong? You closed your eyes and then just started groaning like you were in pain." Rhea watched him hand the glass to Lainie who then handed the glass object filled with cool water to her. Rhea took a sip as she tried to understand the voices she heard... it was so close to her ear and it felt as if the voice spoke to her only yesterday.
"Rhaenys," Ashara whispered as she held Rhea's hand, "the Colonel is correct, you closed your eyes and then it was as if you were in pain before you started speaking."
"You said Mama, and then you said yes, and then you mentioned a second mother," Lainie said as Rhea looked at her in surprise.
'Did I say all of that out loud?' Rhea thought to herself before she looked away towards the concerned expression on the Colonel's face.
Rhea nodded her head and said she didn't know what it meant, "I... I think I heard my Mama's voice and..." Rhea noticed the utter surprise on their faces before she continued, "... and she said something about House words and 'unbowed, unbent, unbroken.' I... I don't know what it means."
"Unbent, unbowed, unbroken, are the House words of the Martells," Ashara finally managed to whisper in surprise, "and... and you said something about a second mother." Rhea felt Ashara's hand – the ones holding onto her own – tremble before she continued to say, "Rhaenys, what did you mean a second mother?"
"The voice... I think it was Mama, said that I should hide..." Rhea whispered as her chest stung at the thought that she wasn't able to see Elia in her mind. Instead, Rhea was only able to hear her voice... and it pained her greatly. She was fighting back tears as she continued, "she... she said that I should wait for someone named Ser Jamie and that I should tell him to take us – I mean me and my brother – to someone named Eddard Stark."
"Ned," Ashara whispered as she gently tightened her hold on Rhea's hands, "and your second mother is...?"
"Someone named Lyanna Stark," Rhea answered as Lainie and the Colonel looked at each other and then at Rhea. They then turned to Ashara who had her eyes closed and taking in a few deep breathes. It was the Colonel who then said that they knew about the role Lyanna played in the rebellion. And this was something that surprised Rhea, 'why would I need a second Mama?' The Colonel told Ashara that he and the SGC were not told anything about Lyanna having been a second wife to the Prince.
"Elia wrote to me about Lyanna and Rhaegar," Ashara revealed to a surprised Lainie and Colonel Dixon while Rhea could only look on, "she only told me Rhaegar admired Lyanna's strength, but I did not know they had married." Ashara then turned towards Rhea and said, "the question is how you can remember anything Elia told you, Rhaenys?"
"When you spoke about the monster in my room," Rhea said, "I started to hear a roar and then I remember closing my eyes. And then I heard the woman's voice... my mama's voice."
"Do you remember anything after that, Rhea?" the Colonel asked, but Rhea simply shook her head.
"Are you certain Elia told you about Lyanna Stark?" Ashara asked. Rhea once again replied with what her mother said.
Rhea then asked, "is my second mama alive?" If her mother was gone, then perhaps her second mother was alive. Rhea could only hope that was the case. However, her hope fell when Ashara shook her head before saying that Lyanna had died.
"Lord Eddard Stark, her brother, brought her bones back to Winterfell," Ashara said before she rubbed her face with her hands, "but to hear that Elia knew Rhaegar would take Lyanna as his second wife is something I did not expect." Unknown to Rhea, Ashara was thinking back to the day that Ned arrived at Starfalll with the sword, Dawn, and the remains of Lyanna Stark. She thought back to he baby in his arms. Ashara could tell the baby was Lyanna's, and she suspected that haegar could have been the father based on the letter from Elia. But Ashara never expected Rhaegar and Lyanna to have been wed; and she had no idea what Doran and Oberyn knew.
'Did they know about this? Do they know about the baby?' Asshara thought, 'and the baby... if Rhaegar and Lyanna were wed... then the baby is the heir to the throne.' She knew this would have to remain secret, Ned trusted her to keep the fact of the baby Jon secret. Here focus returned to Rhea after the latter asked a question.
"Do... do I have any other family?" the little girl asked with trepedition in her voice.
"You have uncles, an aunt, and cousins," Ashara said as Rhea nodded her head with lips pressed together, "your Uncles Oberyn and Doran... the Princes of Dorne, miss you very much." Ashara thought to herself at the same time, 'and you have another half-brother in the North.'
"Princes. They are Princes?"
"They are," Ashara nodded her head, "and so was your mother, even before she married Rhaegar. Your mother was a Princess... as are you."
And hearing about her mother brought Rhea back to the voice from a few seconds ago, "but I don't remember anything else about her or papa or... what was my brother's name?"
"Aegon the Sixth," Ashara said, "that was your brother's name."
"You'll remember, Rhea," Lainie gently said as she held the little girls other hand, "now that you're a little grown up, Ashara will be coming here sometimes to teach you."
"And once its safe back in the Seven Kingdoms, then you can visit your Uncles," the Colonel said as Rhea opened her eyes wide at him. The Colonel then explained, "you are the heir to the throne, Rhea. Which is why the current king and his allies will do anything to..." Rhea could see that the Coloel was uneasy about what he was about to say next. If she was the Princess, then did that mean there was going to be danger for her back on her world?
Rhea got her answer when Ashara said, "they will do anything to kill you so that their grip on the throne is secured." Rhea was shocked... she wanted to cry... her lips started to trebled at the thought of people hating her so much that they would be willong to kill her.
"One day, when things have calmed down and you better understand the dangers, will you be able to see your uncles, aunts, and cousins," Lainie reassured her before turning her head towards Dave and Ashara, "right?"
"Yes," Ashara answered nodding her head, "in the meantime, I will teach you everything you need to know from the history of the Seven Kingdoms, to Targeryen history, the history of Dorne, to your ancestral language – High Valeryan. I don't know what will happen when you are older, but I will do all I can to prepare you." Everybody looked on as Ashara reached for the small chest on the coffee table and then pushed it gently towards Rhea, "your Uncle Oberyn, once he was informed of the rumour of its availability, immediately travelled to the kingdom of Yi Ti. It is your nameday gift from your two Uncles. Open it."
Rhea was having so many feelings brewing within her now. She tried to push all of them aside as she looked up at Lainie who was looking back down at her with a small smile.
"No matter what happens, you are also a part of this family," Lainie said as the Colonel sat down next to her and stroked the back of her head.
Lainie turned towards him and looked up with a small smile before he said, "you are." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head before saying, "lets see what your Uncles sent you huh?"
Rhea nodded her head before looking over at the chest standing right at the edge of the coffee table in front of her. She reached out while wondering what the gift could be, and nothing came to mind. Hell, she was still trying to deal with being a Princess. She unsnapped the gold coloured clasp and then lifted the cover off. Her eyes opened wide at the oval shaped rock in the chest resting on what looked like bright red silk.
"What is that?" Lainie asked while Ashara reached out and placed her left hand on the surface of the silver coloured stone with had golden flecks scattered on the surface. She could feel the edges of what looked like scales... scales like those on fish... and then she gasped at the warmth coming off the stone.
Rhea looked up with a stunned expression at Ashara staring back at her as the latter said, "this would be your first lesson." Asahra then motioned towards the stone and continued, "this, is a petrified dragon egg."
"Dragons?" the Colonel said, "no one said..."
"The egg has been petrified, Colonel, it poses as much danger as a piece of stone," Ashara assured the man, "no one has seen or heard from dragons in two hundred years." She then turned her head towards Rhea, "the Targeryens knew how to hatch dragon eggs, but that knowledge has been lost ever since the last dragon died out. This is just one part of the Targeryen legacy. Now, let us get started with stories of the old days when the First Men travelled from Essos to what would become Westeros."
"I think this has been too much for Rhea in one day," Lainie said as she looked at the expression on the little girl's face as she stared at the dragon egg, "let's give her some time before getting her into the deep end."
TBC