Hey everyone, I'm so sorry I haven't updated in awhile. You know when your work just sucks the life from you and you don't want to do anything but sleep or you try to write and it feels like your brain is made of mush or filled with cotton? Yeah, that's been me. I love this story so much and I regret that I haven't been able to write or even update as much as I want too. Please enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think in the comments below. This chapter is short but the next will be longer. Thanks everyone

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Chapter Twelve: 299 AC – Dragonstone

Today was the day.

Visenya stood outside of the keep on Dragonstone, eyes on the sky as all sixteen dragons danced and weaved around each other. The colors mixing together like a mirage. It had been three days since Jacaerys wed his bride and it would be the first time she had seen him since then. The bride and groom had been cooped up in their chambers for the three days allowed to newly wed couples. It was usually so the bride and groom could get to know each other but Jacaerys and Roslin had known each other for over a year and a half now, so the three days were pretty much for them so spend fucking.

For their campaign's sake, she hoped that Jacaerys seed would take quickly. It would look better to the Lord and ladies of Westeros that their monarchy was secure with a King and Queen but also a future heir. It was known that Joffrey was not yet wed, so Jacaerys and Roslin would look like the better bet. Not to mention that Roslin was the daughter of Walder Frey, who had proven to be extremely fertile. It would guarantee more children for the line. The Targaryen line had been extremely small for years now, since the Drance of Dragons, hopefully Jacaerys would be able to repopulate the line. There were two keeps for heirs, Dragonstone and Summerhall and many empty keeps around Westeros, whose families had died off. There would be many places for the Targaryen's to live if Jacaerys and Roslin had many children.

Visenya herself had all intentions of returning to Dorne after this war was over. She planned to retire to the Water Gardens with Oberyn if he would still have her. She had not spoke to the sun of her life in a long time. It wasn't originally by design but as time passed, she had to stop otherwise her heart would have shattered. She knew he had other children after their four daughters, even that he had a paramour. She couldn't really be mad at him given she had been sleeping with Khal Bharbo. She wasn't even really mad about the children; she had always known he was a lustful creature. She was a little upset that all the children had the same mother though. It told her that Oberyn had liked the woman enough to offer her a permanent part in his life. It made her wonder if he had given up on her, despite her promise so many years before. She would never take it out on the children but she equal part dreaded and delighted in the knowledge they would be reunited soon.

A sound from her right grabbed her attention and she turned to see everyone coming towards her. Jacaerys, Roslin, Daenerys, Sarella, Monterys, Shireen, Arthur, Oswell, Lewyn, Jorah, Loras, Lillian, Greyworm, Rakharo, Missandei and Maester Cressen were all coming towards her. She was stood on the cliff side of the island facing the south, towards Westeros, the ocean calm below had as the sun beamed down from above them. She was dressed in her riding leather, Jacaerys and Daenerys in identical outfits. They were all without weapons and there was an air of excitement about the group. Shireen was practically bounding on her toes as they came to a stop beside Visenya, all eyes lingering on the dragons above them.

"Are you sure about this?" Ser Oswell asked as he eyed his Queen.

Visenya looked at him with her eyes twinkling, "It is time," she said excitedly.

For the last three days, Visenya had felt an urge in her chest, a feeling of anticipation and excitement. She knew it hadn't been her own and the night before, she had realized what it was as she watched Valyrian soar above the castle. It had been his feelings she was feeling. There were works written in the vault here at Dragonstone, detailing the bond between Targaryen and dragon. If the bond was deep and true enough, they would be able to sense each others' emotions. Her dragon had grown so large, so quickly that Visenya was still amazed. He was just over two years old but was the size of a seven-year-old dragon. Moonfyre, Drogon and Sunfyre had grown just as quickly, though were still smaller than her Valyrian.

Today was the first time the three Targaryen's would mount and ride their dragons.

As though sensing their mother, one by one, the dragons began to land. Most of the dragons were the size of an adult horse right now, not big enough to hold a rider but four were. Balerion, Vhagar and Meraxes landed first, followed by Quicksilver and Silverwing. Moondancer, Stormcloud and Rhaelle followed, the last one moving to snuggle against Balerion who allowed it with a roll of his red eyes. Rhaegal and Viserion came down next, playfully wrestling as they landed. Uraxx came down after them, a large fish in his jaws as he moved to sit as far from the group of humans as he could get, while keeping Visenya in his line of sight. The last ones down were their dragons.

Dreamfyre and Sunfyre landed it at the same time, both dragons heading right for the group of humans. Normally Sunfyre stuck close to Visenya and Valyrian but today, the female dragon headed right for her daughter. Sarella greeted her enthusiastically and the dragon practically purred as the Sand Snake lavished attention onto her. Dreamfyre moved over to Roslin, laying down at her feet as she stared up at her rider with bright gold eyes. The two of them were still not big enough to ride, so, they stayed with the group as the three largest dragons joined everyone on the ground.

Drogon landed first, Daenerys instantly stepping forward to greet her dragon, whose head was now larger than she was. He glinted obsidian in the sun with dark Targaryen red accents, that sparkling lightly when the sun hit the scales. The dragon made the ground rumble as he landed and Daenerys felt his excitement in her chest, making her laugh as she embraced her dragon. She remained next to him as Moonfyre landed, again making the ground tremble.

The grey-white dragon looked like a pile of ashes with blood red accents streaking her scales. She was larger than Drogon by at least six hands, elegant in a way the male dragon wasn't. Jacaerys stepped away from his wife and towards his dragon, hands reaching to her muzzle at the same time she extended her nose towards him. The female dragon was practically bursting with excitement, and knocked him over in her enthusiasm, much to the laughter of those watching. Just by looking at the female dragon, Visenya could tell Moonfyre was the same size as Balerion the Black Dread had been when he died.

A roar above shook everyone's laughter away and they were covered in shadows for a multitude of seconds, before a gust of wind swept through the cliffside, and the ground trembled as a dragon dived down from the sky. Valyrian had grown so large, he dwarfed the dragons around him. His head was large, if he opened his mouth, they could march a Norvos war elephant down his throat without the dragon swallowing. The male dragon had now surpassed any of the records about how large a dragon would grow. It was twice the size of Balerion the Black Dread, who was known as the largest dragon ever recorded, even in the records they had taken from Valyria.

The dragons white scales gleamed like freshly fallen snow in the sunlight, so bright it was hard to look at him, with dark purple accents. His eyes were gold, with a wisdom, Visenya couldn't begin to understand. Valyrian's reminded her of the Lady Galadriel, knowing and ancient. She wasn't sure how old his egg had been but one thing she had been positive of, was that Valyrian's egg had been stone when she found it. When placing them on Drogo's pyre, she hadn't expected all sixteen of the eggs to hatch, nevertheless, the largest one. She hadn't felt any life from the egg, but something had urged her to keep it. Now it was bound to her, and she wondered, especially as he grew if there was something bigger at stake here for the dragons to grow so quickly.

Valyrian extended his neck towards his rider and Visenya stroked over his warm scales softly as she smiled at him, "Are you ready?" she whispered to him, leaning to rest her head against his muzzle. A harshly exhale answered her question and she looked over to Ser Arthur, who was standing beside a cart that was filled with a dark leather pile, "Here we go," she said loudly, making everyone jump into action.

Jacaerys and Daenerys headed for the cart, and with the help of the soldiers that were around, they pulled two dark leather saddles from the cart. Each one was made of different colored leather, one black and the other tan. The saddles had been made during the Dance of Dragons before the war had ended. However, their intended rider, had either died or been executed by the time they were finished. They had never been used before, which is why Visenya had allowed Jacaerys and Daenerys to claim them. She had already known that Valyrian was too large for a saddle. She would be riding bareback, but she also trusted her dragon not to drop her. If at any point she became dislodged from him, she knew Valyrian would try and catch her.

It took four people to each dragon, to harness them into the saddles, not to mention Drogon really didn't like the leather against his scales at first. It took Daenerys a few minutes to calm him, muttering to him in ancient valyrian, as she calmed him enough for the last to buckles to be placed safely. Moonfyre was easier, the dragon stepped into the harness like she had a hundred times before, sitting calmly as the soldiers buckled everything into place. Within an hour, the dragons were ready to go and Visenya shot everyone watching a smile before she faced her dragon, her sister and nephew following in her lead as they too faced their dragons.

Her heart pounded with excitement as her purple eyes met those of Valyrian. The dragon was completely calm as their connection bloomed between them, emotions racing back and forth, as she stepped towards him slowly. This moment was a once in a lifetime moment. Years ago, before the fall of the dragons, this would have been a grand affair before all of Westeros. To witness the connection between dragon and rider. There used to be a ceremony in the throne room, where the rider and dragon would bind their lives together and then a tourney, where the rider would take flight for the first time in front of all the nobility of Westeros. It was a tradition started by Aegon I for his son Aenys, in order to show the might of the Targaryen family. After the Dance of Dragons, when the dragons started dying young and sickly, the tradition was ended and was now nothing more than myth.

Because it was the first time, Visenya had decided against everyone watching. She wanted this moment to be between the rider and the dragon. Everyone who was gathered here, were her immediate council or close friend. The Maester was here just in case something happened, and there was injuries.

The emotions flowing between Visenya, and her dragon were strong. She could feel his excitement and pride as she approached him. Her heart pounded in tune with their shared enthusiasm and when she got to him, Valyrian turned to the right and lowered his shoulder and wing, until she could reach one of the spikes along his neck, to pull herself up. His scales were warm, like being beside a large fire and their bond pulsed brighter the moment she touched her, she could feel his happiness, his excitement, the pounding of his heart with impatience. Her dragon had been craving this for weeks and he was almost bounding with want as Visenya slowly pulled herself up his large neck towards his back.

A glance to her right, showed that Jacaerys and Daenerys were in the same boat, except for Moonfyre. The dragon was so impatience she was shifting in place and kept making Jace loose his touch for a few seconds before she stopped, only to start again a few seconds later. Jacaerys took in good spirits, playfully scolding her and teasing as he climbed the dragon in order to get into the saddle. As it was the first time any of them had ridden a dragon, everyone was expecting it to be awkward, not to mention take some time as the three Targaryen's tried to situate themselves.

When she finally reached the back of Valyrian's neck, the dragon's whole body shivered and Visenya felt goosebumps spread across her skin as the bond settled in a way she had never felt before. She could feel a presence in the back of her head, an anticipation that mixed with her own. The heat of Valyrian's scales seared through her and in moments, she could not feel the cold at all. She settled into the spot between Valyrian's shoulder blades, hands locking onto two spikes that were perfectly placed in front of her hands. Once she was settled, Visenya took a deep breath and exhaled, relaxing her body, allowing the bond between her and her dragon to fill her up, to feel the weight of it pressing down on her.

When she was sure she was as settled as she was going to get, she looked over to see Jacaerys and Daenerys settled on their dragons, the saddles strapped into place properly and the dragons all but shaking with excitement. The three Targaryen's shared a look, one that spoke volumes to those gathered on the ground before Visenya opened her mouth, "Sōvegon Valyrīha," she spoke softly, shifting her weight as Valyrian rose up on his hind legs without pause, wings spreading as he took a few running steps forward, before large wings opened and with a gist of air, which sent everyone garments flapping in the wind, Valyrian rose into the air with Visenya Targaryen on his back, the Queen Regent glowing with delight as the air whipped around her and the bond with her dragon solidified.

In that moment as Jacaerys took his place at her right and Daenerys on her left, atop their dragons, she knew this is how Aegon Targaryen had once felt. Visenya also knew that this is where she belonged. As she looked down at Dragonstone from the sky, Visenya couldn't help but picture Kings Landing, and determination filled her chest. She was going home, come hot or cold, fire or ice, life or death, Visenya Targaryen was going home, and she was going to claim the Iron Throne in her families name and watch as Jacaerys led their kingdom into a new era.

He was her son in all the ways that mattered after all.

The time of the Dragon had come again.