There had been a moment, a brief moment, where when she had married Rhaegar the mess of politics would be put to the side. Her entire life, she had been brought up being taught that women were really only good for political advantage and for birthing heirs- her own father had even spoke such words to her. In that brief moment, it had been bliss. Feeling like she was floating through a cloud but of course, reality then struck and it struck her hard. Not only did she have to relearn everything she had ever been taught because Valyrian's treated a lot of things differently to Westerosi, she had to learn an entire new language too.

Granted, she had known enough to stumble through the odd sentence which was all that was needed whilst she had lived in the North. They traded often with the Freehold and therefore there needed to be some way for them to communicate with one another. Lyanna remembered well what had caused such a thing to happen. For years, she had cursed her father out for his stupidity and his wants for the North (or for himself she thought bitterly), but always she had been cast aside because she was a woman and women had no place in these talks.

But her mother caught wind of the plans, and she had come to her to tell her what they were. To say she was horrified that her father wanted to ship her off to the Westerland's and to become prey to the Lion's was an understatement. She'd raged and she'd cried, and Lyarra Stark decided right then she was not going to follow through with what Rickard wished. Only a couple of hours later, they were riding hard alongside Benjen for White Harbour to ensure there was plenty of distance between them and the men her father would surely send their way. The entire journey her heart had thudded, and it didn't stop until they were on a ship headed straight for Dragonstone.

She shook the thoughts from her head, looking around her at everyone and patiently waiting for Rhaegar to come over to tell herself and Elia of what had happened. Her son was fussing over his betrothed who still appeared shocked over what had occurred. Baemala had taken Jelaerya elsewhere immediately after she had left the room, it not missing her gaze Jacaerys had stormed out long before and taken off on Maerenox somewhere. Where that was, she could not say nor would she even attempt to guess. Elia stepping over now to speak.

"Mirros?" (Anything?)

"Daorun." (Nothing.)

At least she was just as annoyed as she was about being left in the dark, but they had to remain to help calm everyone down.

"Skorkydoso Nesaemēre issa?" (How is Nesaemera?)

"Vēdros? Hakotā? Tolvie?" (Angry? Annoyed? All?)

Lyanna expected as such, she'd seen her leave right after and disappear somewhere in the crowd. Everyone seemingly agreeing that it would be best to leave her alone currently. How embarrassing, being tied to someone who had tried to kill the sister of the Lord Freeholder of the top Valyrian House.

"Where is Daenerys now?"

"With Aemon, what did you expect?"

Lyanna gave Elia an unimpressed look at the remark but this was soon replaced with a small smile. Of course, her boy would be with his betrothed. They'd always been close as children. Hell, they hadn't even been told of the agreement to have them wed when they were of age until two years before her own children left for the North. Wanting it to happen as organically as possible and it had worked. Remembering the time she had walked in on the two of them when they thought no one was looking in the middle of tearing their clothes off of one another. Her son had not so much as dared to look her in the eye for nearing a week afterwards, but Daenerys kept her head high.

"Your brother is asking for you- "

"Which brother?"

They began walking then, spotting Prince Doran in the corner watching everyone with a curious smirk. Dropping the moment he spotted her looking his way into a scowl before returning to curious. Lyanna was under no illusion to how he felt in relation to her. Not that it bothered her, if anything it amused her greatly. Prideful people were nothing new to her as they were everywhere in the North, but nothing was more satisfying than seeing a prideful man's pride be spat on and watching them swell in anger.

"Brandon."

Why did she even ask? Ned was probably seeing his children to bed after the events and Benjen wasn't here which left only one other brother. But he was not the only brother there, seeing Oberyn seated beside him awaiting for knowledge on what had occurred.

"We don't know yet, only that Jacaerys stormed off on Maerenox and Jelaerya got pulled aside by Baemala before we could speak to her."

"Your husband?"

"Still in there, likely finalising whatever was discussed. When we know what occurred, we will tell you both."

It did little to satiate their anger, but it did soften somewhat.

"Where is Barbrey?"

"With the children, she left with Ned to put them all to bed. Robb, Aegon, and Jonathor are with Aemon, Sansa, Rhaenys, and Arianne are with Daenerys."

At least they weren't alone. Gods be good if someone got in the way of her boy getting to Daenerys after that ploy.

"So where is the little bitch? Laemon, Raemon- "

"Daeron, Brandon."

"Valyrian's with their damned names, I swear."

Oberyn and Elia snorted a little at that remark, but it was one she felt the same with. It had taken her weeks to be able to learn everyone's names and who was related to who considering it was all a massive wreath. In the North, incest was barred unless it was a last resort thing. Her own parents had been first cousins after all. Yet in the Freehold, every family partook in such a thing. Aegon and Rhaenys had just gotten married this very night, and her son would be marrying her goodsister- or sister, considering they believed once married one was not goodfamily but family- in a mere few moons. A few dates had been agreed but nothing had been set in stone as of yet. They had planned to bring it up to them on the morrow when breaking their fast in private but whether or not that would still be going ahead with everything, she could not say.

"You get used to it eventually. How many Brandon's have we had in the family? A few dozen? More?"

Her brother rolled his eyes as a loud screech was heard from above. Snapping her head up to see what it was and eyes widening in shock. Dragons coloured ruby, amethyst, and turquoise flying west from the island as horror rippled through her.

"What is it, goodsister?"

"Malaelar, Jacaerys, and Taherys have left Dragonstone."

It was clear Prince Oberyn did not see what this meant but Elia sure did.

"I'll see if Gael and Jelaerya are still here, find the other Dallaeron's."

Lyanna nodded before disappearing into the crowd for any sign. She had not seen the magenta or gold dragon of Daerya and Saerysa, so that likely meant they were still here. It didn't take her long to find the golden haired woman alongside her aunt who shared similar colouring to her. Despite the age difference, Daerya did not look as old as she was. If she herself did not know, she would've suggested she would be in her mid thirties at the latest. From the way they were staring into the sky, they had noticed what they had too but they did not speak many words. Hopefully Gael and Jelaerya were still here so they could find more out, but she doubted Gael had left as she had her own dragon.

"Lyanna!"

She turned her head and spotted Rhaegar finally who had appeared. Walking over to him and back inside the castle until they were in a quiet area.

"What happened in there? Jacaerys, Malaelar, and Taherys just left."

He did not speak for a bit but she knew why this was as they finally met up with Elia who with a simple nod confirmed both women she had been looking for were still here and had not gone off with their husbands.

"Where did they head?"

"West."

He turned to a guard and began barking orders in Valyrian to secure everyone so no one else could leave. Dragonkeeper's moving too so that no one else could make an escape on their mounts. It was only when no one was surrounding them that her husband took out a shard of frozen fire and sliced into the palm of his hand, realising where she was now as his palm was pressed on the wall. The blood opening the locks that had been created by pyromancers and spellbinders from when the castle was built. Such knowledge was one of many things that were lost in the Doom, but she was glad for it now as the locks prevented anyone from walking inside where they were currently.

"Jacaerys is a cunt, that is what."

Elia snorted in amusement.

"We already know that, Rhaegar. He's always been."

Their amusement was not shared and dread overcame her at what this could possibly mean.

"Daeron is in one of the cells below the castle currently, we will need to trial him but to do so will have the Dallaeron's hate us even more so."

"Not all of them hate us husband- "

"Aye, but a large portion of them do."

Elia closed her mouth at this, fighting for more words but realising she could not think of any. Out of them all, only Saerysa spoke to them and not solely out of duty. The rest though? Lyanna sighed in annoyance. She'd long accepted that she would never be seen as one of them despite marrying into a Valyrian family and birthing Valyrian children herself. Something she never would've expected to happen but now she could not imagine life without Aemon or Rhaella. Even if her daughter reminded her a little too much of herself at that age.

"Jacaerys is under the impression Daeron did nothing wrong."

"What? He pushed our sister into a fire! What part of that isn't wrong?"

Rhaegar rolled his eyes in annoyance to Elia's astounded question. Lyanna opting to remain silent until everything was out there on what had occurred.

"On that I can't say anything on, this is in relation to the servant. Or slave in their eyes. The exact words were 'slave did not listen, slave deserves punishment'."

She had to force herself not to groan in annoyance. Not this again. Ever since she had wed Rhaegar those whose blood was pure began saying to keep their position they had to reintroduce slavery so as not to lose touch with their roots. It was a barbaric practise, one that had been outlawed in the North for hundreds of years and for good reason. If anyone was caught even so much as aiding in the slave trade in her home Kingdom, it was instant death. Not even a trial was held.

"What else did he say?"

Elia prodded, waiting on more information because surely this was not what had pissed Jacaerys off so royally he fled Dragonstone with his father and brother.

"A Freehold without slaves, is not a Freehold."

That would've done it. Not only had Daeron attempted to push a servant into a fire, he had pushed Daenerys into one, insulted how they ruled their city, and his father backed up the claim which was all the confirmation needed on who he had learned such from.

"You struck him from succession."

There was no question in her own tone, because that was the only thing that could have come from this.

"Aye, I did. Viserys and Helaena are now Heir Freeholder's of Elyria instead of Daeron and Nesaemera."

"The cunt won't like that, it's a miracle in itself he and Jaemon haven't stabbed one another a hundred times."

Rhaegar chuckled at her words, liking how she was always blunt and never minced what she said. That was how things were done in the North, there was never dancing around one another's words. What was thought was said and if the person being spoken to took insult that was solely on them and not on the speaker.

"I'd have loved to have seen his face at that, but I do feel for Jelaerya."

None of them could argue with her words there. It was common knowledge what the pairs marriage was like and it was something Lyanna would never wish on anyone.

"So he likely told Malaelar and Taherys and that is why they have left."

"It's the only thing that makes sense. But that is a bad omen."

It was. One of the first things she had learned when she had first come to Dragonstone was what was seen as good and bad. No blood could be shed during spoken vows- that was why blood vows were held in such secrecy with only blood family witnessing said portion of a binding. No deaths during a wedding for it meant Caraxes (the god of death) was wroth with them. The latter could easily have occurred- should've occurred even- yet it had been avoided by some strange phenomena that perplexed everyone who witnessed her sister sitting in the flames completely unhurt. However, bindings brought unity, and if anyone left before the following day it meant Vhagar and Meleys both were wroth with them. Wrath of the gods was something that terrified Valyrian's as they believed Balerion had been angry with them for some reason and that was why the Doom had occurred in the first place.

"Malaelar will not be pleased one bit. It wouldn't surprise me if he has Jacaerys backed up against a wall yelling at him about how much of an imbecile he is. As for Taherys I don't know- "

"Taherys is likely trying to wriggle his way to Jacaerys' position, Elia. You were with me when you heard that argument."

It was one that occurred six years before. They hadn't even meant to overhear, they had been wandering around the city tending to the people and recognised their voices. Taherys put on a kind persona but they were under no illusion from Gael and Daera who were cousins. Sweet on the outside yet sour on the inside.

"Is there a need to trial Daeron given a decision has already been made?"

Lyanna asked, awaiting an answer from her husband.

"Yes. He has to swear his titles away in the eyes of the gods publicly."

That was only going to anger them even more, fingers resting on her temples as she fought her body's urge to scream aloud.

"We need to rein them in to show them they are not above House Targaryen- "

"What about Meereen?"

Elia's question cut her off as she turned to her wife in confusion as did Rhaegar. The Rhoynar woman standing up and reaching for a map that was always kept nearby as she spread it on the table. It was not of all of Essos, only until the Bone Mountains as rarely did they trade with Eastern Essos. Every now and then they did with Yi-Ti but that was about it. Pointing to the mouth of Slaver's Bay silently saying to take in the cities whereabouts, yet they didn't know what she was getting at.

"Explain."

Rhaegar asked the question for her, confusion whirring in her mind as her own fingers trailed along it and pressing hard as one hovered over Elyria.

"Meereen are basically declaring war on the Freehold by putting up that statue. It means there is a resurgence of Ghiscari people and ways- likely New Ghis as that was where many fled. House Dallaeron asked for aid, but what if we were to give them aid but without their knowledge?"

Now, her eyebrows creased as she leaned over the map to figure things out. By actively taking out the root, there would be no need for House Dallaeron to step in, meaning they would not lose a single man or dragon potentially, which would at least buy them loyalty for a time.

"But who would we send, dearest wife?"

And then Lyanna knew. Dark brown eyes meeting dark grey eyes as realisation dropped.

"Aemon and Daenerys."