DISCLAIMER: Chapter one.
Chapter rating: T
Ladyespeon164: Me either and it will be either this coming chapter or next possibly, we'll see! Please enjoy the rest! Happy you're liking it!
Black Dragon 42: Neither can I, I only hope to have it done properly and goes how I plan~ I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
NicoleR85: Happy you are enjoying it. Please enjoy the next one!
Chapter Fifty-One - LI: The Dragon has Three Heads
(Daenerys)
Sitting with the cheesemonger's rings in her hands she gave them over to her Dothraki servants who eagerly took the prizes Daenerys took from the merchant. Gasping over the colors and the quality as Daenerys smiled at them, happy to please them.
"What do you wish to do to him, Your Grace?" Grey Worm asked, eyeing the prison, Illyrio was now stuck in.
"Torture him," Daario suggested, eager to prove his worth to his queen.
"There is no need to torture him," Jon said. "He lied, hid a secret, aye. But he is no longer able to help anyone after you let your former Dothraki men take whatever they wished from his manse," Jon said with a smile as Daenerys giggled. She had sent Rhakaro to tell Cohollo where a good place to raid after she took the owner but it had many valuables and, as much as she detested it, servants who still remained at the manse. Attempting to rob what they can. Her husband's former Ko, eagerly attacked the manse and looted what they could. As he considered it a shared conquest, he gave her more valuable pieces to sell for coin and ways to pay for her voyage home. Cohollo took the servants and any able body as his share along with anything that was not nailed down.
"Khaleesi," Rhakaro spoke as he approached, carrying in his hands a banner he knew Viserys used to carry, but this one was different, and by his queen's face, it was important.
"The Blackfyre banner," Raynor spoke as he took it, expanding it across the table. "He is a traitor to you, Your Grace," he announced as Daenerys nodded.
"Very well. Then we will do this the Westerosi way, no other," she said, standing. Now dressed in black and red silks to promote her House as Jon, now also dressed in House Stark and Targaryen mixtures too. As suggested by Raynor. Standing she turned with a smirk.
"Prepare our ships and let us set off. The sellswords will remain behind with the promised gold they were offered," she said as Raynor nodded. Daario felt slighted at her words. "As agreement with the Westerosi customs we will arrive with the Unsullied and northern forces sent to receive us," Daenerys continued while Jon watched Daario. Missandei felt curious but was told by Ser Jorah, sellswords were not welcomed and treated with suspicion unless proven otherwise like Bronn who had earned his place among the Westerosi by being loyal and taking care to be cautious when dealing with the noble members.
"Your Grace, you cannot simply send off all these men. You promised them-"
"I promised them gold, and I gave it. They can find employment elsewhere-"
"Such as this Aegon-"
"Who is not a Targaryen. He is a Blackfyre," Jon interrupted the fighter who growled.
"I am sorry, Daario. But this is how it is," Daenerys said. "I am married to Jon and am to rule the Southern half of Westeros while my sister rules the northern parts," she finished. "And the Lords of Westeros do not take to sellswords, you all have a better chance of staying here and gaining better contracts," Daenerys finished before leaving as Jon followed with the others finishing their details before leaving to do their own loose ends.
Daenerys needed to have the banner sent off to her sister but Jon suggested presenting it to the lords herself to show what Daenerys uncovered. The young queen thought it over before agreeing as she felt a flutter in her stomach with a small smile. Rubbing her belly while watching Rhelli sleep beside Irri, happy her daughter will have a sibling so close in her childhood. Soon, Daenerys will be with her sister in their homeland, and if Jon's calculations are correct, before winter hits.
LI
(Rhaenyra)
"They say now is the best time to fight against the Wildlings," Smalljon started as he sat amongst the circle of lords and the ruling family. "They are bedded down for winter to come and are not in fighting stances," he said, moving a stamp to the spot on the Wall where all the sigils for the Wildlings laid in large camps. Rhaenyra was once more bouncing Daemon in her arms. It was not uncommon to see the young queen with a child in her arms, of course if Daenera was present, Eddard would also be present. One would think this was unprecedent as many would be distracted by children or the babies could easily stop a meeting by crying. But Rhaenyra seemed to be able to keep the children calm when she held them, especially Daemon.
"The dragons can easily prevent any salvaging or simply attack the wildlings should they attempt to scale the walls," a lord spoke.
"The dragons are still young, too strong of wings and snowfall can cause problems when they fly," Rhaenyra said as she gave her son to Catelyn who happily took him. "Also, I will not have the dragons do any damage to the Wall. The point is to protect it, not damage it as it already sustains natural damage and human damage when we fight the Wildlings. Last thing we need is dragonfire bringing it down."
The Queen's words struck a strong chord in many who paused in the realization. Greatjon, who was still recovering, scoffed.
"You morons never thought about that, did you?" he asked as Robb grinned, this man never feared to speak what he thought. "Fire melts ice. So, of course the queen can only fight either the wildlings past the Wall or attack the ones who risk standing atop the Wall," Greatjon explained while some looked curious while Rhaenyra spotted a messenger approaching as she took the missive. Reading it as the men continued on with their talk. Rhaenyra frowned before passing it to Robb as he read it quickly.
"The Wildling will prepare for an attack after the first thaw, from what the Lord Commander says," Robb said.
"It could be a lie, many Free Folk are notorious for allowing the crows to overhear conversations, especially about this oncoming battle," Osha said as she told them the likelihood of overhearing the correct timing of an attack. "They have ways of knowing when one of your boys approaches," she said as Robb frowned.
"Well, then we will prepare for that. If they attack early. We know the dragons can get there quickly," Rhaenyra said with her husband agreeing. Rhaenyra was prepared to fly to the Wall to be prepared if they attacked early.
"Alright, now let us get to preparing and reinforcing our walls," Robb said as many agreed.
Many hours later, Robb was walking back to his chambers and came across his wife nursing their son while watching their twins play with Grey Wind's ears. Pinching and prodding his direwolf, who to everyone's continued shock, remained calm and patient with the twins, even allowing them to play with his tongue before he'd retract and lay down. Daenaera squealed when she spotted her father, crawling to him as he cooed to his daughter.
"My sweet girl. You will be raised to be a good sister and a loyal one," he swore as Rhaenyra chuckled while bracing the baby on her lap while her son was latched onto her. Staring up into her eyes with his bright blue eyes. Playing with her finger, Daemon slowly slid into slumber before his mother detached him. Robb had come closer when his daughter fussed, wanting to be fed as well. Many had encouraged Rhaenyra to use a wetnurse but she refused, only if she truly needed it would she use a wetnurse. But as she and Robb planned to not have any more children, if they could help it, until these three were a bit older. Though they both knew that there was a possibility that Rhaenyra could easily fall pregnant again.
"I am going to be practicing with Jaime and Baela tomorrow on how the dragons can fly at higher colder altitudes, the easier they can adapt the better to fight over the Wall, so to keep them from coming too close or us accidentally hitting the Wall," she told him as he sat beside her while running a hand over Daemon's back as the baby slept peacefully. Robb loved how Daemon looked like his mother and resembled her more than him aside from his bright blue eyes that came from the Tully side.
"Alright," he agreed. Robb knew Rhaenyra would need to think properly before the Wildlings would attack and if the dragons cannot handle the cold weather too long, it will cause a problem. "Jon wrote to me and told me that he and Daenerys will be sailing soon and should be here before winter," he told her as she nodded.
"I hope they make a safe sailing," Rhaenyra said as she also had received missives from Raynor and Stiorra. Stiorra has been keeping her informed of everything dealing with Daenerys' campaign.
"We will also have to talk about Baela and Wolland marrying soon. The deal was to wait until we returned home," he recalled as she nodded.
"I know, so does she. It is why she wants to try and learn how to fly with Alysanne as early as possible so that she and Wolland can spend time together." Rhaenyra remembered her cousin's wish about her riding skills before marrying. Knowing that if she becomes pregnant it will cause her to be removed from battle once the quickening and growing of the seed. "Alysanne even seems to like him," Rhaenyra remembered seeing the blue she-dragon accept a hunted elk from Wolland, who had dragged it to her.
"Very well," he spoke before giving her a small kiss once more before slowly dozing off with his infant son beside her. Rhaenyra enjoyed being in this small close-knit moment with her husband and children. Hoping this continued after. She worried about what was to come next.
LI
Rhaenyra cooed to her dragoness who hissed and snapped at her sisters. Snapping her whip once, Rhaella instantly turned to her rider before lowering herself. Purring to her rider who hissed a few words before the she-dragon lowered enough for her to climb up and into the saddle with her two riders following suite.
The three immediately took off flying as they flew along the freshly fallen snow tree-line, knocking it off as they'd smack a wing with it too. Rhaella would sometimes knock her sisters, if they were riderless, into the snowbanks in play before they'd go off and hunt together. Rhaenyra knew dragons naturally preferred warmer locations but was amused when her dragons growled in discomfort when near heat or going South of Moat Cailin. She has spent the last few months as winter was slowly closing in on them with Daenerys and Jon having set sail, many wondered if she would sail to here or Dragonstone where Renly was to give his crown to her. Daemon is now able to lift his head with no help from them while his siblings are now toddling around and babbling non stop, normally babbling and motioning with toys.
Rhaenyra has spent the last few months gaining the ways of being queen and learning her dragons had created a nesting dome almost within some mountains. Wolland had set men to ensure the dragon's bedding grounds were protected. Though it was when Robb had traveled to the nesting grounds himself and saw wolves. It was only those who lived with them or direwolves that could spot the telltales of the deadly beasts.
It made him curious as to why they let these creatures near where they might lay eggs. Though Robb knew once he made his way inside, the heat might be too much for the creatures as Robb stopped half way when Rhaella came into view, shrieking in interest to him. The dragons burned whoever came near those who were not people they knew. Brida and Uthred, Stiorra's mother and father, understood this and said it would keep others away, especially if the wolves create a territory around it.
"A secondary defense if the dragons do not burn the people right away," Brida said once as Robb chuckled in agreement. If the wolves could find a way to live with the danger of dragons and being burned if they venture too close to the nesting sites.
But now Rhaenyra could see her dragons thriving in the northern lands once more as they gorged on bears, moose and other northern creatures that were too big for humans to naturally hunt unless desperate. Rhaenys shrieked suddenly as Rhaenyra turned her head as the she-dragon flew off suddenly.
"Rhaenys!" Rhaenyra shouted. Rhaella and Alysanne shrieked, flying after their sister. Rhaella growled suddenly, hissing as she flew higher to avoid the wind current. Rhaenyra did not understand until they were flying alongside the coastline. Why were the dragons taking her in this direction?
LI
"Where's the Queen?" Robb asked as Jaime frowned.
"No idea," he shrugged. Looking around Jaime whistled, Rhaenys had been sleeping nearby before the King approached him. Even when far away she seemed to hear him or sense him calling her and would appear, purring or trilling in happiness. Valaena said it was because the bond between rider and dragon was becoming stronger, the more time Jaime spent with Rhaenys.
But she never arrived. No noise, no sight of the golden she-dragon who matched her rider which made him frown.
"She's not here," Robb realized as the Lannister also realized something as well, Alysanne was nowhere to be seen either.
"I think when the Queen went on a small flight and the dragons went with her," Roslin spoke as she approached. Her intended, Edmure Tully, walked alongside her. Her father had been displeased with the knowledge they were hosting the wedding of Edmure at Winterfell, but others saw it as an honor for the King to host it at his home. Edmure was given this news when he originally came to give Robb the numbers of the grain storages they created from the harvest left from the burnings and looting of farms. He took it with stride and even asked if he may spend the day with his betrothed to get to know her under his sister's supervision to ensure no ruse was created by the Freys.
The Brotherhood Without Banners had been sent by the Queen to go through the farms and towns within the Riverlands to ensure it was all cleared out and that everything was under control. The Blackfish sent his own report, still not trusting his niece to somehow lock him from the Eyrie should he leave. Robb did not know what to do with these at first before Maester Luwin and his mother comforted him about not knowing what to do and Catelyn told him to treat it like a lordship would its tenants within the North, just to triple it, she joked.
"If they went with her, there is nothing we can do about that," Jaime said with a smirk. He knew the dragons were loyal to their riders but would also follow their 'mother' everywhere. Many would notice how the she-dragons would always nudge her or trill eagerly once they spot her. "They'll come back, this is their home," he reassured others who looked worried. But the King agreed with a smirk before hearing his children call out for him from his mother and sisters' arms.
LI
(Rhaenyra)
Rhaenyra groaned as Rhaella dropped from the clouds to see, blinking a few times to get the moisture back into her eyes she looked stunned to see an armada of ships as people shouted and pointed at her. Others cheered as a flaming arrow was sent way ahead of her, signaling for Rhaella to approach. But it was the strange noise from above that made Rhaenys shriek in warning as Rhaella went sideways instantly and quickly flew higher with her sisters. There, having almost pushed Rhaella to the water surface, flew three male dragons. Daenerys was sitting atop Drogon's back and smiled when she spotted her twin. Rhaenyra shared the same smile as Rhaella flew at a distance from Drogon. The large black male dragon immediately looked aggressive at Rhaella only to be shrieked and growled by her larger sisters.
Daenerys noticed the aggression in both groups, it worried her as Rhaella refused to go any closer to the males. Jon said there is a chance the dragons would treat one another with caution and aggression at invading one another's space.
"Each grew up with three in a group, they'll be a little off set by running into other dragons. And the boys might not like dragons bigger than them," he reasoned as she paused, praying they could get along somehow.
Rhaenys seemed to be more adventurous as she slowly flew closer, sometimes showing her underbelly in friendship, a soft spot for other dragons. Viserion whistled to her as he flew up and they flew in an odd chase. Lightly buffing him with her wings she flew away and to her sisters as Alysanne joined, and soon all but the aggressive leading dragons were chasing one another in a playful manner. Drogon continued to eye the larger female who became exhausted just hovering and flew downwards to Dragonstone with Drogon right on her heels, roaring as he attempted to threaten her. Irritated, the female flipped for a second and bit Drogon hard to make him leave her alone as when they landed their riders dismounted quickly and nervously.
"Rhaella!" Rhaenyra called as Daenerys shouted for Drogon. Rhaella looked to her rider for a split second before slamming into Drogon, successfully sending the male to the ground, it had stunned him before Rhaella descended upon the male. Pinning him as she stood on his wings and had his head also trapped. Rhaegar and Viserion realized their brother's peril and raced to help only to be stopped by the she-dragons who glared and showed their sharp black teeth, Rhaenys reared her giant body back as she used her larger golden wings as a threat. Roaring as Rhaegar and Viserion growled displeased.
Drogon stopped his thrashing as Rhaella just stood off him. Eyeing him while somewhat standing in between him and her rider. Growling, displeased when he approached. But Drogon slowly lowered his head in submission to her as Daenerys looked surprised. Her most aggressive and temperamental creature who was the lead in almost all things between him and his brothers. But he bowed to her, the largest dragon who seemed pleased with his submission.
"Normally, I am horrified by this but," Daenerys started giggling a bit as her twin laughed while apologizing. "It is fine. They did not kill one another," Daenerys laughed as Rhaenyra giggled. Embracing, Rhaenyra smiled as she held her twin tightly.
"Welcome home, Dany," Rhaenyra welcomed her sister as some villagers came closer, enamored at seeing the twin Targaryen girls. Rhaella slowly made her way and wrapped herself around her rider and hissed a warning to people. But simply walking past the growling she-dragon, Daenerys slowly approached the people of Dragonstone who eagerly looked at Daenerys. Looking back to her twin, Daenerys saw her encouraging smile and approached her people who eagerly took her hands and/or talked to her with her Unsullied coming closer.
Rhaenyra beamed as Raynor approached his queen, kneeling he greeted her as Rhaenyra saw her old friend. He had grown out his beard and now resembled Smalljon at times, became a bit plumper if what she saw when she embraced the man who was a second father to her at times. And he was much tanner like Jon and Daenerys.
"How are you my dear friend?" Rhaenyra asked as Raynor smiled with a nod stating he was well.
"Gods, look how big they grew," he analyzed as Rhaella chirped at him, recognizing his scent instantly as a man who helped look after her. "You are also not happy with another dragon being near your mother? Are you?" he cooed softly to the giant female who crooned to him as she nuzzled the guard.
"She will learn to deal with it," Rhaenyra ordered, glaring at her dragon with her whip. "You six will live in harmony or at least co-exist when near one another," she said as the female huffed as her rider's family chuckled.
"Easy, Drogon," Daenerys soothed her dragon who seemed a bit unhappy with the larger females. Viserion seemed at ease with them as he tried with Rhaenys who hissed a warning, just retracting a moment before he tried once more, nudging her lowered wing as she bared her teeth in warning. Chuffing and licking her wing, Alysanne did the same to him, a bit calmer than her short-tempered sisters. Rhaenyra knew they had a chance with her smaller dragon and Daenerys' 'sweeter-tempered dragon' might get along easier. And true to her words the two dragons carefully sniffed one another and would freeze when another would shift too loudly. Rhaella, though, remained a bit at a distance, watching her sister.
"Drogon will be a challenge," Missandei comments lightly, a small smile as her queen agreed.
"Yes, he will be," she said while her twin chuckled.
"I will need to return soon. No doubt I was flying for hours. They just shrieked in alarm and raced me here, I worried they'd hurt themselves," Rhaenyra spoke while examining her dragons as they lifted their wings for her to walk all around them, running her hand along their bodies and their wings the most. It was until she felt a sharp nudge against her back as she slowly turned to see the giant bronze male gleaming down at her in interest and before he could lower his head. Rhaenys, who she was examining, growled, a very sharp warning as Rhaenyra ducked under her dragon's body, Rhaenys ducked her head correctly to block her mother's escape under the back of her body while warning Drogon and his brothers, do not touch their mother.
The females were bigger and far more aggressive when territorial, they would not claim Dragonstone nor south of the Riverlands, but the marshlands to the mountains to the winter wasteland were her territory, they were her home and would remain so while Drogon and his brothers would claim the rest.
"Very well, I was happy to see you Rhae," Daenerys spoke, embracing her twin once more as Rhaenyra's eyes popped open as she pulled back from her startled twin. Rhaenyra tilted her head and laid a hand against her twin's swelling stomach as Daenerys grinned, holding a hand to her lips. Having claimed seasickness, Jon had not touched her aside from comforting her when she felt off. And Daenerys had decided to wait until after the quickening and they were settled on Dragonstone.
"Avy jorrāelan," Daenerys wished, embracing her twin who mirrored it.
"Avy jorrāelan," Rhaenyra said the same. Saying 'I love you' easily, to a girl they have never met nor seen until now. Being separated at birth and only known one another by letters and words of another. Raynor and his group all said they would follow by ship as Rhaenyra nodded.
Mounting Rhaella, the she-dragon spread her wings before launching off the little rock crevice they had landed on, the three females flew down before flying up as Daenerys watched them. Smiling while her sister left with her people once they settled.
LI
Rhaenyra flew back and the dragons seemed to race one another, shrieking in delight against one another as Rhaenys perked and roared louder. Rhaenyra wondered if their loud noises were because of them wanting to claim their lands, their territory. It made her laugh at her dragons mimicking the wolves' territory mindset. She knew they were different as night and day, the wolf packs in the North have their own hunting grounds.
Unless they wish to mate, the male dragons should remain away from the dragoness' territory. Both have good hunting grounds to sustain the appetites of three dragons each, Gods save the future hunting grounds when they start dwindling, because Rhaenyra knew they would once eggs start growing and hatching.
LI
(Jon Connington)
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" he asked as the messenger shook.
"I arrived at Illyiro's manse two days past and there were Dothraki all over it. Burned bodies and decapitated, women and girls raped and sold into the Dothraki slave markets," the messenger said as Aegon looked at him alarmed.
"Dothraki? I thought his friendship with Daenerys kept him safe," the prince said as the messenger looked uncomfortable. "What?" the prince demanded.
"I overheard rumors that the dragon queen was responsible for the fall of the Cheesemonger," the messenger said. A scoff from the leader of the Golden Company as he shook his head.
"Well look at that, it would appear your dragon queen was not so favorable with the Cheesemonger," Harry said as his men grumbled. They had planned to try and run into the Dragon Queen to attempt to marry her to Aegon. But they learned she and her husband had set sail. Along with her dragons and the northerners who came to help her. "So we will not have his support when you go west," Harry Strickland announced.
"We can still win this. She left many mercenaries behind and many that possibly knew her plans," a man announced.
"Why would they know it if she did not take them? We will not use sellswords. Daenerys knows the same I do, loyal western men are what we need. And I can use my connections to the Stormland men, we will set sail as she did. We will take Storm's End, and then march onto King's Landing. Once we reclaim the Iron Throne the people will cheer for our Prince!" Jon shouted with the men cheering as Aegon smiled at him. He believed once they won the people's favor. They can win against the Dragon Queens in the people's sympathy and against the dragons as it did once during the Dance of the Dragons, killing the dragons. If they could not have them. Then they will attempt to have the people turn on them once more, fire breathing beasts are damaging and make people fear them.
LI
End of the chapter! I hope you liked it. Sorry I was having some issues and my new job has me working earlier than I'm used to, lol. Please read and review. I will try and make the next chapter longer!
~Rusty14~