Here we are then… the end of another road. 4 years ago I had an idea about what I would do with a Male Targaryen OC, and it just spiralled from there. I've had a lot of fun with this story as it started off a lot differently than normal, and the addition of House of the Dragon really helped me shape the final sections too with regards to the prophecy, and Luke's obsession with it spanned from there.
Thank you everybody that has read this story. I'll talk a bit more about what comes next after this chapter, and so until then, please enjoy the final part of The Golden Dragon!
I own nothing but the OC's. All actual characters are the property of George R R Martin and/or HBO.
The smoke of the castle could still be seen from miles away, and the castle itself once it came into view looked vastly different. Gone was the Broken Tower and the First Keep, and gone was the Maester's Tower. Even the Great Keep was smoking and the top floors had crumbled within. What had surprised Jon as he rode closer to the castle however was the fact that the red leaves of the Weirwood Tree were still visible and hadn't been burned.
He stopped the convoy in the Wintertown. "Until the castle is safe, we sleep here." He ordered. Together with Ygritte they found a modest house that was largely untouched by the dead, other than a couple of broken windows. Dumping his stuff, Jon made the walk over to Winterfell almost alone, with only Nymeria at his side.
Once he arrived at the gates he could see where the White Walker's had escaped from, as the rubble had been shifted away to fill the inner moat. Thankfully that allowed Jon easy access to the castle instantly, and he was thankful that he was alone when he saw the state of the castle. Loose stone was everywhere, still smouldering from the sheer heat of the dragon's fire. Not even the winter had stopped them, and Jon pressed his hand to what had been a part of the Maester's Tower before quickly pulling away in pain. He pressed his bare palm into the snow before seeing the gap in the Godswood entrance, and made that his next destination.
Most of the trees were blackened and bare, but the one in the centre of the Godswood stood proudly, the white bark slightly darkened by the smoke, but otherwise untouched. The red leaves gave the ground an orange tint, and despite the obvious devastation, the area looked as beautiful as it always had been. Jon moved towards the Weirwood tree, dropping to his knees as he gripped the roots beneath him. "This is too much." He whispered. "Winterfell is gone."
Winterfell is never gone. Jon heard through the rustling of the leaves. Not so long as there is a Stark within. Looking around to see if the voice had a body, Jon saw nothing. He hauled himself back to his feet and ran his hand along the Weirwood face at the exact moment Rhaegal screeched from overhead. Jon looked up to see the dragon circling the castle, and more noise was coming from the main courtyard.
Once he got there he saw that people had clearly followed him. There were former residents of the castle in tears, but Jon mainly looked to those he trusted most, to Ygritte, Grenn and Edd. It was the latter that spoke to him first. "Just my luck, escape servitude at the Wall, and my new home is a ruin."
Jon chuckled at the man's usual dourness. "For now, aye." He nodded, thinking for a moment on the voice that he had heard in the Godswood. "But Winterfell can be rebuilt."
He moved over towards the Great Keep and picked up a large stone, straining under its weight. Jon then walked out towards the gate, parting the gathered crowd as he went before dumping it on the ground and returning inside. His action had started something as others were following suit, and as Jon stood in the middle of the courtyard, scratching Nymeria's head as he watched as his new subjects began to help clear the rubble, he couldn't help but smile. The North would remember, he knew. It would remember the sacrifice that House Stark made to defeat the dead, and they would help House Stark rebuild. His own Father may have been Rhaegar Targaryen, but that would never be who he was on the inside. He was Jon Stark, the Lord of Winterfell.
The Vhaegon sailed back into the waters of King's Landing on a cold, dreary day, with the weather matching the King on the Iron Throne's emotions almost perfectly. In his arms sat an attentive Daeron Waters, with the bastard openly staring at the Red Keep for the first time ever. Luke had stopped off at Dragonstone for a fortnight in order to send instructions over to the Red Keep and to allow some time for his son to feel more relaxed around him, deciding that Daeron needed to be with family rather than ostracised and on his own. Also with him was Visenya, though his 7-year-old daughter was far more interested in the pair of dragons flying overhead.
The thought caused Luke to look upwards too, seeing the overly large Valaxes in comparison to Bloodwing was slightly jarring, but to Luke it was a sign that House Targaryen was truly back. He watched as Valaxes escorted Bloodwing over towards the Dragonpit, still a ruin for the time being, and Visenya started to grow restless.
"Can't Bloodwing come with us?" She asked.
Luke shook his head. "We must go and see Margaery and your siblings first my love." He explained. "We'll go to the Dragonpit tomorrow."
That seemed to appease the young girl, and after a moment of Luke brushing away a loose bit of her silver hair, they were ready to descend to the smaller boats, and before long Luke's feet were on the pebble beach of the Royal Docks. Breathing a sigh of relief he watched as Visenya broke decorum and ran towards Margaery, hugging her stepmother tightly. Luke smiled and walked slowly over towards her, kissing Margaery on the cheek delicately so he didn't harm Daeron. "My Queen." He greeted.
"My King." Margaery curtseyed. She looked down at Daeron then, pausing for a moment before a wide smile was plastered on her face and she stroked his cheek. "And my nephew… it is lovely to meet you Daeron."
Daeron simply babbled into his fist, but Luke was glad at his wife's reaction. He handed Daeron across to the babe's nursemaid before he reached down to pick up both his son Aegon and his youngest daughter Saella. "Come, let us head inside, it has been a long few months." Luke stated, shifting the two children as he ascended the stairs. Aegon began speaking at pace about everything that had happened in Luke's absence, including a food fight, a new litter of puppies, and a party he was allowed to stay up late for. Grinning, Luke allowed his son and heir to babble on, glad that the boy seemed talkative.
It wasn't until later that night once all the children had been put to bed that Luke managed to sit down. Margaery, thankfully, placed a glass of wine immediately in his hands and Luke sipped and sighed out in contentment at the familiar Dornish Red taste. "That is needed." He muttered, closing his eyes as he relaxed in the armchair. "I forgot how uncomfortable ships can be."
"Well, you are back now." Margaery noted. "For good, I presume."
Luke nodded, still without opening his eyes. "The realm needs peace. I have no plans on shirking my duties to go on campaign any longer. Those that test me, well, perhaps it is time I remind them of my House Words." He opened his eyes to see Margaery's face was saddened. "What is it?"
She took a deep breath. "I want you to know… I am truly sorry. I know we had our differences, the Princess and I, but she meant a lot to you and Visenya and I never wanted her dead."
Not expecting to get straight into the loss, Luke sat upright. "Thank you." He said honestly. "She died a hero, and she will be remembered a hero."
"She will." Margaery nodded. "And Daeron shall know all about her." She paused for a moment then. "It was a shock hearing that you would be bringing him to court."
Luke narrowed his eyes. "He is staying." He said firmly.
"He is!" Margaery exclaimed in agreement. "I wasn't…" She paused to pinch the bridge of her nose. "I will treat him like one of my own, I swear." That surprised the King, and clearly Margaery could see that. "I thought of Visenya. She was too young to know her own Mother and while she had Daenerys, it wasn't the same. Then I thought of our two… of Aegon and Saella. What would I want for them if I was no longer here…" She trailed off to take a sip of wine. "It isn't Daeron's fault, what happened."
"No." Luke agreed. "It's mine, and Daenerys'." He didn't blame her actions that pushed him there, that wouldn't have been fair. "I am glad to hear you say this, Margaery."
"Your letter… the new era." Margaery began. "I want that too."
Luke smiled, and leaned forwards to grab her hand in his. "It will take time. We have both offended the other greatly in one way or another. But those days are done, and I am determined to be the best King, Father and Husband that I can be." He then rose to his feet. "Starting tomorrow. I presume the petitions are still due?"
Margaery nodded in surprise. "Lord Tarly can handle them… you've only just returned."
"I have much to make up for and have been away for a long time." Luke shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "The people must see me as their King once more."
The next morning Luke was the last down into the Throne Room, closely flanked by the now recovered Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Rolly Duckworth. As the doors opened, Luke smiled at the sight of the Iron Throne lit up by the coloured light streaming in from the stained window behind it. The room seemed familiar, as he spotted Vhagar and Meraxes' skulls either side of the Iron Throne, but between them was a new addition in Viserion's skull. Taking a deep breath as he stared at it looming high over the Throne, Luke took a step onto the golden carpet, taking in the Targaryen sigil hanging on the pillars, both the family red, and Luke's own gold. His footsteps echoed as he made his way through the room, noticing that the gallery was full with Margaery and his Small Council all in attendance. As he reached the end of the room he rose up the steps to the famous Throne until he was on the same level, and he reached out and ran his hand over a pommel sticking out on the arm. The Throne was cold, but it felt homely at the same time as Luke gripped the pommel tighter and spun around to sit himself down.
"How many do we have, Jaremy?" Luke asked his Royal Steward, who was scribbling notes down in the corner of the room.
The steward turned a few pages and ran his quill down the side. "47, Your Grace."
The King looked up at Margaery in the gallery, her deep brown eyes staring intently over at him before she nodded ever so slightly. Luke nodded back and turned to face the now closed doors. His mind was quickly flooded with all he had lost in his fight for the Iron Throne, and then the fight to keep it. Their faces were plenty, but Luke kept returning to Jon Connington and Daenerys. Sighing, he whispered to himself. "The past is the past, time to create a better future." Putting his kingly face on, Lucerys Targaryen, the First of His Name called out, signalling the start of court alongside the rebirth of his reign. "Let us begin!"
Excerpt from 'Fire and Blood: The Life and Loves of King Lucerys I Targaryen - by Archmaester Aran'
The death of Princess Daenerys during the Long Night marked a new era within the rule of King Lucerys. The years preluding the mythical return of the White Walkers had led to a tumultuous Red Keep as detailed by Grand Maester Gormon, with factions forming between the Princess' supporters and the Queen's as the King retreated further into planning his eventual grand victory at Moat Cailin. Afterwards however, the House of the Dragon united behind the man that would soon be known to the realm as 'Wintersbane,' and those that would oppose them would quickly understand their follies. Much has been said of the King's preferential treatment to House Tyrell despite rising against him and immediately after the King's return from the North many outside of his trusted circle would question him publicly. The Lucerys from after the war, however, was vastly different. Gone was the appeasement and gone was the forgiveness, and in 309 AC it was rare to see the stocks in the central square of King's Landing empty as petty criminals were paraded in full view regularly.
Even when it came to dissenting Lords the King had taken to new methods. Many Lords would test the King after the war, and all would quickly repent once Valaxes was spotted hovering overhead with a member of the King's Council appearing at the gates, as it seemed that the King, now free of the foresight and burden of the Others, had learned his lesson on the power that Dragons had given House Targaryen. Often this was enough for the dissenters to relent and return to the King's Peace, yet twice did the King deem it necessary to descend from Valaxes as he felt a need to negotiate himself, but to speak of the Parlay's of Claw Isle and Greenstone, we must take a step back and remind ourselves of the King's Children.
Princess Visenya was the King's firstborn. Born before the Conquest to the captured daughter of a Magister of Lys whilst King Lucerys was but the Captain-General of the Golden Company, Princess Visenya was also a dragon rider in her own right, having bonded with the crimson beast Bloodwing. The daughter of Westeros and Lys was rarely planted on the ground after she reached the age of ten and two, and not even a betrothal to the future Lord of Claw Isle would tame her lust for adventure despite the King's best hopes. In 316 AC on Princess Visenya's 16th nameday, two moons before her arranged wedding to Ser Cristian Celtigar, she took flight on Bloodwing and soared towards Essos. Though Princess Visenya's plan can only be guessed at, what we do know is that dragon sightings became common on the southern coastline of Essos throughout that year.
What we do know from the notes of Grand Maester Theobald is that the Princess did not return to King's Landing for over a year, during which time the King had been forced to smooth things over. Lord Celtigar himself wrote out demands of the King that caused uproar inside the Small Council. Lucerys however remained silent and left his seat, not stopping until he had mounted Valaxes and flown away. The Grand Maester states in his journals that many guessed he had gone to chase down his unruly daughter, but less than two days later the King was back. He had ridden to Claw Isle and spoken with Lord Edwell for hours, negotiating placations and substitutions for a royal marriage. Lord Edwell emerged from his solar with a future position on the Small Council with Ser Harry Strickland ailing, and a wedding for his heir to Lady Sarra Sunglass, whilst Lucerys had emerged with peace.
Greenstone three years later however, did not end so amicably. In 319 AC once again a broken betrothal was the reason for the strife, only this time it wasn't a betrothal to one of the King's children. Lady Jocelyn Baratheon had long been betrothed to Ser Robert Estermont as the future Lord of Greenstone, and the King was known to be simply waiting for a chance to rid himself of his Baratheon ward. What Lucerys had not accounted for however was that his hatred of House Baratheon would not be matched in the heart of his son and heir. Prince Aegon and Lady Jocelyn had been close as children, and that closeness remained as they grew throughout the pairs adolescence. The King had often tried to tempt his son and heir with numerous matches, but despite his polite meetings with numerous potential brides, none compared in Prince Aegon's eyes to the Lady Jocelyn. Sources differ on the nature of their premarital relations and I shall not enter into the salacious discussions worthy of Mushroom's wildest fantasies here, but all can agree that whatever happened between Prince Aegon and Lady Jocelyn, they were married off quickly afterwards and mere months after the wedding, Princess Alyssa Targaryen was born with a head of jet-black hair and sharp blue eyes. A happy occasion for the newlyweds that quickly turned sour once the news had reached Greenstone, as Lord Alyn Estermont, son of Lord Aemon who had died during the Long Night fighting for the King, threatened to march against Storm's End wishing for retribution from Lady Shireen. Despite his many differences with the Lady of Storm's End, King Lucerys was the one that once again flew out to meet with his dissenting Lord. This time however, he emerged wroth and Valaxes was commanded to torch the nearby forests as a warning before returning to King's Landing.
Lord Alyn was a proud man, however, and sailed into the Rainwood with 3,000 men, gathering allies in Houses Rogers, Trant and Amberly before Storm's End could react. As Lucerys sent out ravens to The Arbor and Horn Hill, Lady Shireen had also gathered a force under the command of her husband Lord Lyonel Selmy, and the two Stormlander armies clashed near Griffins Roost. The hastiness of the Baratheon host proved costly here, as the rebels won a resounding victory under Lord Alyn, and Lord Lyonel was slain.
The King responded by burning the southern Rainwood to cinders as Lord Redwyne destroyed the Estermont fleet in the Battle of Cape Wrath, but it wasn't until Prince Aegon, now ten and six and a man grown, led the army of Red Cloaks, an army that also included the young squire Daeron Waters, to Mistwood and together with a contingent of Dornish under the command of Ser Edric Dayne, the loyalists clashed with the rebel forces. It was a rout, though Lord Alyn fled early, leaving the body of his son and heir and the reason for all the fighting Ser Robert Estermont, slain by Prince Aegon himself. The Prince was soon knighted by his Father, and discussions began on how to bring an end to the war when Lord Redwyne appeared on shore, a bound and gagged Lord Alyn in his grasp. Many expected the King to execute the traitor then and there, but King Lucerys wisely reminded them all that the castle remained defiant and that Lord Alyn could be of use.
Inside Greenstone was Alaric Estermont, a boy of ten and five and the new heir to House Estermont. Despite seeing his father in chains Alaric refused to surrender the castle and King Lucerys took the boy at his word, as in one swift motion he unsheathed Blackfyre and beheaded the rebellious Lord Alyn. The bloodshed didn't end there, as the King, without offering a second chance at surrender, mounted his dragon and set Greenstone Castle aflame. In one last try of defiance Alaric mounted a counter attack, only to be mortally wounded at the hands of Prince Aegon himself, though the Crown Prince, ever a generous and noble young man, felt the young Estermont had fought with honour and dubbed the Stormlander a knight before Ser Alaric Estermont took his last breaths. With the Estermont Rebellion quelled, Greenstone was left in ruins and the land was salted, with the King wishing to leave the island barren as a reminder to those who would defy him. Upon returning to the Red Keep Prince Aegon was hailed as a hero of the rebellion and pronounced the Prince of Dragonstone. Two more daughters followed for the Crown Prince once he and Lady Jocelyn departed for the ancestral Targaryen castle, with Princess Rhaella and Princess Elaena also sporting the Baratheon features of their Mother and older sister Alyssa.
Our attention should turn to the bastard son of Princess Daenerys now. Daeron Waters had been a squire for Ser Jorah Mormont of the Kingsguard during the Battle of Mistwood and the Burning of Greenstone and had performed adequately. At ten and three the young bastard returned to the Red Keep and began to shine in Prince Aegon's absence. Though well-liked by all of his cousins however, none took a shine to him more than Princess Saella.
Princess Saella had been born mere months before the King had marched off to war in the North and she was doted on by both the King once he had returned and the Queen. As winter waned and spring came again it seemed to the realm like the King might betroth the Princess to her elder brother Aegon, but Lucerys refused the ancient tradition of House Targaryen vehemently. Instead, the Princess grew up without an early betrothal and a sense of entitlement as the King's daughter that rivalled the most infamous of Targaryen Princesses. A great beauty, the Princess had no end of suitors, though as with her elder brother, it seemed only one would be acceptable to her. Unfortunately for all, that came in the shape of her bastard brother Daeron.
Once more, the details have been purged from the notes of Grand Maester Theobald and we can only make guesses. What we can say for certain is that for years until 321 AC the pair were inseparable, and that after the Princess turned ten and five a quick succession of events occurred to split them up. Daeron Waters was knighted at the age of ten and five after a standard routing of bandits, and not three days later the Grand Maester writes that he was sent out of the King's Solar by both Lucerys and Queen Margaery, the royal pair matching one another in fits of rage, and the Grand Maester passed both Princess Saella and Ser Daeron as he went. Theobald also writes that whatever occurred in that secret meeting inside the Conciliator's solar, the Princess left sprinting away in floods of tears whilst Ser Daeron was solemn, and before the turn of the moon Princess Saella and the widower Lord Edric Dayne were wed in the Grand Sept and departed for Starfall. By all accounts from Maester Farlan in Starfall it was a happy marriage eventually, but one can only assume the wroth of the King had an effect on his relationship with his daughter, as she only ever returned to King's Landing thrice in her life after her wedding. Not even the appointment of Lord Dayne as Hand of the King three years after the wedding would bring Princess Saella back to court, with the birth of her son Asher Dayne the reason used for remaining in Starfall.
Ser Daeron meanwhile, unusually brought up within the Red Keep with the hope of fostering good relations between himself and Prince Aegon, remained in King's Landing. The Bastard of Dragonstone was at first given command of a squadron of Gold Cloaks after the departure of Princess Saella, and did his duty excellently enough that by the time Ser Caspor Hill of the Kingsguard passed through a short bout of illness, there was only one candidate acceptable to take the former sellswords White Cloak. Ser Daeron Waters was invested in the Brotherhood of the Kingsguard in the 9th moon of 321 AC, being gifted with the Valyrian Steel sword Dark Sister by his Uncle, King Lucerys, as a reward.
King Lucerys and Queen Margaery's own relationship improved after his return from the North, and although Grand Maester Gormon states that it took time for the two to share a bed, two more children were born to the pair. Firstly came Princess Daenys in 311 AC. Named controversially by Queen Margaery despite the well-known animosity between the late Princess Daenerys and herself, the Queen was ever grateful that her youngest daughter was a perfect and respectful lady. None of the troubles of her elder sisters followed Daenys, with the girl as dutiful as they come with a singing voice so beautiful that it often reduced her Father to tears. Even a betrothal would not foster a rebellion in Princess Daenys, and after the well documented and lengthy mourning period of 326 AC, Princess Daenys married the heir to Riverrun Ser Oscar Tully.
The youngest child of King Lucerys took after his father the most in the years after the White Walkers. Born in 313 AC, Prince Jaehaerys grew up to be a stern, unforgiving young man with a penchant for swordplay. Physically, Jaehaerys can only be compared to another second son of a conqueror, though to the delight of Westeros the cruelty of Maegor would not be seen within the eyes of the young Prince. Jaehaerys was a great admirer of his older brother, following the Crown Prince around constantly once the Crown Prince had taken over the role of Master of Laws from the retiring Prince Oberyn Martell. Grand Maester Theobald notes that of all of Jaehaerys' lessons, dragon taming was among his favourites. Whether this is down to the well documented lack of a hatchling for the Prince it remains to be seen, though despite his lack of a dragon, Jaehaerys would go on to command as much loyalty as his Father. His own marriage to Lady Laena Velaryon in 332 AC was an understandably grand affair given the circumstances, though many attendees would note the solemn look on Prince Jaehaerys' face, despite the match being a happy one. Of course, the well-known events of 326 AC and the aftermath of that reaching as far as Prince Jaehaerys' wedding six years later is an understandable explanation, for the Knight of Shells caused a wound in House Targaryen that would never truly heal…
And there we are… The Golden Dragon is finished, though the story of Lucerys Targaryen shall continue in 'The Golden Dragon: Sins of the Father.' Set 25 years after King Lucerys first sat the Iron Throne, it will be a short story of around 10 chapters (including an initial family tree to get everybody up to speed).
As for this story however… it's time to say goodbye. As I've said I really enjoyed writing this one with all the ups and downs it has brought me. I want to once again say thank you to everybody who has read The Golden Dragon, and I hope that you have all enjoyed the conclusion.
I won't be adding a final chapter of review responses so any questions that come from this will have to either be answered in the first proper chapter of the sequel, or via PM. I'm not sure when that sequel will be started however so I would fully recommend creating an account and PM'ing me if you are a guest with a questions.
Until then though, this is DannyBlack70 signing out from The Golden Dragon for the final time!