(281 AC - King's Landing)
From what Anakin has been told about his father, he was a man of many mysteries.
It was widely believed that Prince Rhaegar Targaryen had all the necessary qualities to become a magnificent king, taking over from his father. However, this perception shifted when King Aerys II descended into madness, causing Rhaegar to become withdrawn and gloomy. He closed himself off from others, including his wife and Anakin's mother, Elia Martell.
The final determining factor was Rhaegar's supposed abduction of Lyanna Stark and their subsequent disappearance.
The resulting event became known as 'Robert's Rebellion' or the War of the Usurper by Targaryen supporters. The rebellion was a major civil war in the history of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, it marked the end of the Targaryen monarchy's 280-year reign.
Lyanna's eldest brother Brandon Stark and father Rickard Stark impulsively rode to King's Landing and demanded justice for her, instead King Aerys II has them both arrested and brutally executed. They were both burned alive in the middle of the throne room, as 'The Mad King' Aerys II laughed at their demise.
Due to the king's murder of the Starks, the new Lord of Winterfell, Eddard (Ned) Stark, raises the banners of the North.
Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and betrothed to Lyanna, joins the rebellion, raising the banners of the Stormlands.
Lord Jon Arryn of the Vale, a mentor to both Robert and Ned, does the same.
The Stark, Tully, and Arryn armies begin gathering north of the Trident, but Robert's forces are cut off far to the south.
Leaving his brother Stannis to hold Storm's End, Robert marches his army northwest through enemy territory.
Robert is defeated at the Battle of Ashford by Tyrell forces loyal to the king, but later joins up with the Northern and Vale armies at the Battle of the Bells.
The combined rebel army crosses to the north side of the Trident and both sides consolidate for a major showdown.
Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun, who had planned to marry his daughter (Catelyn Tully) to Brandon Stark, instead agrees to marry her to Ned in exchange for his support in war. In addition, Hoster marries his second daughter Lysa Tully to Jon Arryn to shore up the alliance. All four are wed in a double marriage ceremony at Riverrun before the rebel armies depart once again.
Anakin's father, Prince Rhaegar, leads a royalist army to directly engage the rebels, but is defeated at the climactic Battle of the Trident, in which he is killed in personal combat by Robert Baratheon himself.
As the rebel forces close in on victory, King Aerys II makes the decision to send his last surviving son Viserys and his pregnant wife Queen Rhaella to seek refuge on the ancestral Targaryen stronghold, Dragonstone.
In an effort to preserve his bloodline, King Aerys II also commands them to take Elia Martell's one-year-old son, Anakin Targaryen, who is the firstborn son of Crown-Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. This leaves behind his mother and three-year-old sister, Rhaenys Targaryen, as pawns to secure the loyalty of House Martell.
With Rhaegar dead, lords who had been undecided about which side to join now abandon 'The Mad King'.
Lord Tywin Lannister of Casterly Rock army arrives at King's Landing allegedly to defend the city, but once the gates are opened the Lannisters brutally sack the city.
Amidst the battle King Aerys II is killed by Jaime Lannister, Tywin's son and one of his own Kingsguard, for which Jaime is dubbed 'The Kingslayer'.
In the aftermath Robert Baratheon, due to a blood relationship with House Targaryen, is proclaimed the new King of the Seven Kingdoms.
With Lyanna Stark dead, Robert instead marries Cersei Lannister to shore up the alliance that brought down the Targaryens.
On Dragonstone, Queen Rhaella dies giving birth to her daughter, Daenerys Targaryen. During her birth a great storm wrecks what is left of the Targaryen fleet anchored at Dragonstone, for which she is named 'Daenerys Stormborn'.
Realizing the rebels will arrive soon, Targaryen loyalists smuggle the Targaryen heirs: Viserys, Daenerys and Anakin, to safety in the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea on the continent of Essos, where they will remain in exile.
(287 AC - Free City of Braavos)
After Queen Rhaella passed away it was Ser Willem Darry, a knight of House Darry who remained loyal to House Targaryen during Robert's Rebellion, who smuggled them to Essos.
Ser Willem and the Targaryen children then settled in Braavos, living in a house that Anakin could only recall had a red door.
Braavos is one of the Free Cities located to the east of Westeros. It is the northernmost, the richest, and arguably the most powerful of the Free Cities.
Described as a city of seafarers and master swordsmen, Braavos consists of hundreds of tiny islands connected by stone bridges. Its main landmarks include the Titan of Braavos, the House of Black and White and the city's famed Iron Bank.
While in Braavos, Ser Willem is visited by Prince Oberyn Martell, and together, with the Sealord of Braavos as witness, they signed a pact promising that Anakin Targaryen would one day wed Princess Arianne Martell in return for the support of Dorne in winning Anakin the Iron Throne.
However, not long after, Ser Willem became ill from a wasting sickness when Anakin was 7-years-old. He slowly wasted away, after which the servants of the house stole their money, belongings and threw them out into the streets to fend for themselves.
Despite his young age and lack of understanding, Anakin received all of Ser Willem's knowledge before his passing and saw him as a father figure.
Ser Willem had very little physical training to offer Anakin, considering his weak condition. However, he was the one to first teach him about the art of swordsmanship. Willem observed that, despite his young age, Anakin was a natural with the sword. Not even his own uncle Viserys who is 6 years his senior (13) was as good as him.
Upon his passing, Anakin grieved, there was little left that could be kept from him as the household servants had taken everything, even his armor and sword. Ultimately, the servants of the house decided to throw out the three Targaryen heirs onto the unforgiving streets once they realized there was no longer any benefit to be gained from them.
In his hubris, envy, or perhaps sheer foolishness, Viserys made the choice to trade Anakin for financial gain.
In sharp contrast with Westeros, slavery is widespread throughout the continent of Essos, across the Narrow Sea. Large-scale chattel slavery has been practiced in Essos for thousands of years, since the dawn of recorded civilization. It would be simpler to list the few places in Essos where slavery is not practiced. The slave trade is so pervasive in most of Essos that in many ways, slaves are used as a form of currency. Indeed, the slave-trade is one of the pillars of the economy in Essos.
This decision to sell Anakin into this deeply troubled a 6-year-old Daenerys, who couldn't bear to be separated from her nephew and dearest companion.
Viserys ignores her however, claiming to be the one true dragon and believes that Anakin would hinder their success. In order to survive, they needed money, and this was the only thing that came to his mind.
With their young minds still developing and their protector, Ser Willem, deceased, the two children had no power in objecting to Viserys' actions and sadly, Anakin was handed over to a life of enslavement.
(295 AC - Yunkai)
Anakin was sold to the slavers of Yunkai, known also as the Yellow City, it is one of the three great city-states of Slaver's Bay, located southwest of Meereen and north of Astapor.
Their traditional emblem is a harpy: a woman's torso, wings of a bat instead of arms, legs of an eagle and a scorpion's tail. Its talons grasp a whip and an iron collar.
Yunkai is made of yellow bricks, with crumbling walls and tall, stepped pyramids, defended by crossbowmen and slingers, similar to Astapor.
They can field an army of 20,000 soldiers and 150 warships, though these are mostly slave-warriors of uncertain reliability.
Yunkai is ruled by an oligarchy of slave-merchants calling themselves the Wise Masters. Its people are known both as Yunkish and Yunkai'i.
The city of Yunkai is split into four distinct districts, separated from each other by the great roads that pass through the city.
The Sand District: Found in the northwestern aspect of the city, the Sand District is home to both the harbor of the city and the primary slave-markets, positioned conveniently so that new arrivals upon the city may be auctioned quickly and efficiently, before being transported elsewhere as appropriate. Also found within the Sand District is the Yunkai'i equivalent of Astapor's Plaza of Punishment, although it is not as extensive as its sister city, by the inherent nature of the slaves traded. Whereas the Astapori specialize in training slave warriors, most famously 'The Unsullied', the Yunkai'i prefer the meeker kind, in the form of bed-slaves, and as such rebellion is less common.
The Citrine District: Famed for the five fighting pits found within it, the Citrine District is the most populous of all the districts, made busier still by a myriad of markets, residential areas and brothels. At any one time, a minimum of two of the pits will be in use, whether it be gladiatorial battles with men or beast, chariot races, or executions. The largest of these are the Harpy's Pit, which is large enough to contain Sroknehl's Pit, Lallha's Pit and the Sandstone Pit inside it. The other pit, and the second largest is Ozlir's Pit, named for a legendary Ghiscari general in the days of Old Ghis.
The Amber District: The Amber District is known for two things, the Harpy's Bazaar and the Halls of Silk. The Harpy's Bazaar - beneath a sprawling field of brightly coloured fabrics, shielding its visitors from the intense light of the midday sun, the Harpy's Bazaar sells goods from throughout the world. Nearly everything in the 'Known World' can be found to those with the patience to seek their quarry and the coin to satisfy those who sell it. The Halls of Silk - Home of the numerous brothels and pillow-houses for which the bed-slaves of Yunkai are famed, the Halls of Silk are where those decided attractive enough to serve within them are taught to pleasure.
The Golden District: Home of the Royal Pyramid, the name given the largest pyramid in the city, the Golden District is off-limits to most of the occupants of the city. Nestled in the northern aspect of the center of Yunkai, the streets of the District are guarded by patrolling Unsullied Warriors, and only those with business with residents of the Royal Pyramid are permitted to pass through the sandstone walls that surround the District.
For the past eight years Anakin has lived in this city. He has harbored nothing but resentment towards Viserys for selling him into this life. Prior to being traded as a slave, Anakin had been fascinated with stories from Ser Willem about his father, mother, and the history of House Targaryen in King's Landing. It goes without saying that this was far from where he had envisioned for himself.
These feelings of resentment quickly died down however, as he was faced with the harsh reality of slavery.
The tall pyramids of Yunkai, which were constructed by their own enslaved armies, are where the elite ruling houses of the city reside; they sit in the center and on the highest points of the city.
Among them is the House of Eraz, proud owners of Sroknehl's Pit and the Sandstone Pit, both fighting pits located near their pyramid and territories in the Citrine District. They are the house Anakin is sold into. He is sold to Razdal mo Eraz.
Initially, Anakin was not used as a combatant slave, at least not in the beginning.
At first the lady of the household, Zara mo Eraz, took a liking to him. Zara referred to Anakin as 'the pretty one', rarely bothering to use his name. She was drawn to his angelic appearance. With his unique combination of white hair (medium in length with a waviness texture and a slight parting on the right), and his violet eyes, it made for a particularly exotic look in Yunkai.
As a result Anakin started off working in fields with adults, tended animals, cleaned and served in the master's homes.
Anakin had a talent for crafting and building, and he put it to good use by fulfilling all of Zara and Razdal's requests. He created an array of items, from delicate jewelry to intricate stone portraits. However, his creativity was often restricted by the materials given to him by the masters.
As Anakin grew older, Razdal mo Eraz became jealous and anxious about having Anakin around his wife. As a result, he sent Anakin away to undertake impossible missions such as hunting, physical punishment, psychological torture, and endless labor, all with the intention of getting rid of him.
In spite of the difficulties, Anakin never shied away from accomplishing any task. His resilience was unshakeable, and he effortlessly overcame every hurdle. His speed and strength outshone that of the average person, causing Razdal to feel increasingly unsettled in his presence.
On his 15th name-day, Razdal made the choice, without his wife's consent, to have him join their ranks and fight for their honor in the infamous Sroknehl's Pit, one of the renowned fighting arenas in The Citrine District.
As he journeyed, he experienced a blend of nervousness and anticipation. He longed to escape from the pyramid that served as House Eraz's residence; he had failed to form any bonds with his fellow slaves due to their envy towards his favored status among the masters.
He didn't hold it against them for he witnessed the mistreatment and even torture they endured. He empathized with their suffering and detested the abhorrent practice of slavery.
Upon his arrival to the pits, he came to the realization that his nerves were justified. Without hesitation, he was separated from his master and bound in chains, then forced to march with other combat-slaves to a holding chamber.
Anakin is wearing simple slave clothes, a rough coat/tunic tied with a belt, trousers, sand shoes and of course his slave collar, which he despised.
He doesn't fail to notice that he is the only one without armor, causing him to suspect that the other captives have either experienced this before or were prepared beforehand.
Although he was not one of the first to be called to fight, as soon as he hears the clashing of steel, the cries of men, and the cheers of the crowd, he rises from his seat to get a closer look at the action taking place in the pits.
He watches on as men ruthlessly kill other men for mere entertainment of the ruling class.
He becomes lightheaded and his knees feel weak at the sight of blood splattering out of men and into the sandy grounds. 'Great that's just what I need' Anakin sarcastically thought to himself, he hates sand, an irony considering where he has been living most his life.
Anakin, who lacks experience in killing and has only a basic knowledge of swordsmanship thanks to Ser Willem, approaches the display of weapons reserved for slaves before they enter the pits.
With closed eyes, he extends his hand towards the array of weapons and focuses on controlling his breath. After a few moments of inhaling and exhaling, he senses a pull, as if his intuition is guiding him towards a specific weapon. He grasps something and opens his eyes to discover a traditional castle-forged steel sword in his hand. The sword features a matte black grip, a round pommel, and a simple crossguard.
As he holds the sword, which is relatively lightweight and long, he feels a heightened sense of awareness and of his surroundings. He begins mentally preparing for what's to come.
The moment of truth arrives and Anakin is summoned alongside seven other combatants and paraded out before a crowd of jubilant spectators sitting in the stands above, the scent of blood permeating the atmosphere.
They are compelled to kneel and offer their 'respects' to the nobles in the center of the stands before a giant horn blows, signaling for the battle to commence.
As Anakin surveys his surroundings, he observes that all eight participants have engaged in their own individual duels.
This realization prompts him to shift his gaze to his left and spot a middle-age man, sporting a scruffy beard and light armor, coming at him with an ax.
Despite his desire to run, he finds himself rooted to the spot, captivated by the man who seems to be advancing towards him in slow-motion.
Anakin's gut instinct prompts him to deflect the incoming strike with his blade, causing the man to stumble. With his sword still raised, Anakin watches as the man regains his footing and turns his attention back to him, clearly taken aback by his ability to defend himself. The man repeatedly swings his weapon, but Anakin anticipates the attack from a distance and engages in a blade-lock with the ax-wielding man.
As if it were muscle memory, he effortlessly twirls his blade using his wrist, severing the man's hand and sending him tumbling onto his rear.
"Please! Wait! Wait!" the man begs as Anakin looms over him. Anakin pauses to hear him out, but soon realizes that the man is simply stalling in order to retrieve a small blade from his pocket using his remaining hand.
Almost instinctively, he immediately reacts and swings his sword across the man's face, cutting it cleanly in two pieces from side to side.
As Anakin is faced with another opponent, this time a man wielding a shield and spear with light armor charging at him in a threatening manner, he finds himself unable to take a moment and reflect on his first experience with taking someone's life.
The spear-wielding man jabs his spear towards Anakin and just as he had done earlier, Anakin swiftly deflects it to the side. However, his opponent does not stumble - instead, he quickly shifts his attention back to Anakin and maintains a safe distance with his spear. Despite his attempts to do so, Anakin is unable to approach his opponent any closer due to the spear being held in front of him keeping him at bay. However, when Anakin sees an opportunity he seizes it, grasping onto his opponent's spear and engaging in a tugging match with him. Anakin's strength easily overpowers the man, causing him to lose his grip and watch as his spear is flung away.
With determination, Anakin slowly advances towards the man who is now charging towards him with his shield raised, attempting to use it as a weapon.
Holding his breath, Anakin thrusts his sword into the man's exposed chest. As the man falls to the ground, pulling Anakin down with him, Anakin is forced to look into his opponent's eyes as the life leaves them.
Anakin's mind is in turmoil as he reflects on his actions so far. However, before he can fully process it all, he notices the last remaining opponent is gathering support from the crowd. Amongst them his own master, Razdal, can be seen cheering.
It becomes clear to Anakin that his master has no concern for his well-being and is merely using him as a test to determine his worth. This realization fills Anakin with rage and regret. He knows that many of the men he has been forced to fight did not have a choice in the matter. Yet, he himself also had no choice but to kill them in order to save himself.
The darkness within him takes over and he prepares to face his final opponent, who is lightly armored and equipped with two swords.
The two engage in a fierce battle, with Anakin primarily defending and deflecting the opponent's strikes. He manages to disarm his opponent and then swiftly cuts him diagonally from shoulder to rib, splitting him in two pieces.
The crowd falls silent, shocked by the sight of the last man standing. They had not expected such a young boy to emerge as the victor. Nevertheless, they cheer for Anakin as he is taken away by the guards.
He glances one last time at his master, who grins slyly while whispering to a noble beside him. It is clear that he is already planning to sell him off. That would be the last time Anakin ever saw Razdal mo Eraz, until he killed him.
Subsequently, he was sold off to an affluent battle-slave merchant from Meereen, Faiz zo Loraq and his son Hizdahr.
It goes without saying that serving as a battle-slave for Faiz zo Loraq was an absolute nightmare in comparison to being a house-slave. Anakin's days were consumed by mindless slaughter, as he mercilessly ended the lives of slaves both as practice and for the entertainment of the upper class in the arenas.
He began to long for his previous life with Daenerys and Viserys, although he mostly yearned for Daenerys as he did not hold a high regard for Viserys, who had betrayed him and threw him into this world. Despite this, he deeply missed Daenerys, the only true friend he had ever known. The memories he shared with her before their separation were starting to blur away.
A shroud of darkness began to cloud around the young boy as his hatred for the slave masters grew by the day.
As Anakin lay in his cell one night, he was suddenly consumed by a vision, or perhaps more accurately, a nightmare. In this terrifying dream, he was consumed by flames and tormented by excruciating pain.
Upon waking, he found himself in a dark abandoned corridor. Though he was taken aback by his freedom from the cell, he did not dwell on it as he made his way through the poorly lit halls.
As he turned a corner, he was greeted by a bright blue glow coming from the path ahead.
He steps into a room that resembles a bathhouse, but what greets his eyes fills him with absolute terror. A glowing, see-through specter, the color of fresh ocean water.
Instinctively, he considers fleeing in terror. Yet, there is a mysterious pull that keeps him rooted in his spot, transfixed.
The apparition appears to be that of an elderly man with a facial mane.
"Anakin, it's been a while. You look different, white hair, violet eyes, yes…very…different" the spirit spoke in a rather professional manner.
"Who are you? How do you know my name?" Anakin asks the ghost.
"My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi, though I suppose you can just call me Ben, much simpler that way, no?" he responds.
As Anakin nears, he raises his arm in an attempt to touch the specter, only to have his hand pass straight through it.
"You done?" says Obi-Wan with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"What are you?" questions Anakin.
"The Force may work in mysterious ways, my old friend, but you sure don't. Still as inquisitive as ever I see" answers Obi-wan with a slight chuckle.
"You know who I am?" inquired Anakin, his fear of the ghost now subsiding.
Obi-Wan proceeds to explain the nature of his being. A force ghost, the soul and essence of a deceased force-sensitive is able to interact with the living.
"What's the force?" curiosity sparked within Anakin as he pondered why this particular word caught his attention among the rest.
"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together, connecting all living beings and objects. It is within us and around us, giving us life and connecting us all to each other. Through the force, we can sense the world around us and understand the connections between all living things" Obi-Wan explains to an awestruck Anakin who is taking this all in as best he can.
"However, with this understanding comes great power and control. Those who are strong in the force can tap into this energy and use it to enhance their physical and mental abilities. But the force is not just about control and power. It also teaches us about balance and harmony. The force is made up of two sides, the light and the dark. The light represents peace, knowledge, and selflessness, while the dark represents fear, anger, and aggression. When you kill the men you have, what do you feel?" Obi-Wan asked Anakin, curious to know which side of the force he is closer to.
"I felt surprised, surprised it was so easy, surprised it happened so fast. But, I didn't feel anything" Anakin responds with honesty, unsure of his own emotions, questioning if it is morally acceptable to feel numb after taking another's life.
"Yes, and that is exactly how it should feel. No joy, no sorrow, just action and reaction. It is important to find balance within ourselves and within the force. We must learn to control our emotions and not let them control us. This is the key to becoming a powerful force user. As you continue to grow, you will improve in the ways of the force, you will learn to channel and harness its power. But always remember, the force is a tool, and it is up to you to use it for good or for ill. In the end, it is not the power of the force that matters, but rather how we choose to use it. May the force be with you, young Anakin. Use it wisely, for your fate may depend on it"
As he was about to seek further explanation, the ghost slowly vanished. It's last words to Anakin being, "We shall meet again".
Anakin's mind is plagued with many more questions, as this long-winded explanation fails to provide satisfactory answers.
"I must be going mad" says Anakin as he finds himself speaking to an empty room with no one to hear him.
Before Anakin can contemplate his exact whereabouts, he becomes aware of a distinct, heavy mechanical breathing emanating from the entrance he came in through. The environment is shrouded in darkness, and his instincts urge him to steer clear, but he feels inexplicably drawn towards the noise, as though it is beckoning him.
As he nears the source, the heavy breathing abruptly ceases, and he notices a pair of flashing green and red lights. Suddenly, before Anakin can reach out to touch the lights, the sound resumes faster than before, and a figure emerges from the shadows. The man is clad entirely in black, with a sinister black cloak, a terrifying black mask and the blinking green and red lights emitting from his chest.
What causes Anakin to stumble back, however, is when the man activates his glowing, crimson red sword, which appears to Anakin as a fiery blade.
He is rendered speechless, and before he can utter a single word, the man strikes him down with the blazing weapon.
All at once, Anakin is abruptly awakened and discovers that he is still confined in his cell with no one else around.
Coming to the understanding that it was all just a figment of his imagination, he composes himself and tries to rationalize why the dream felt so real and vivid.
(296 AC - Meereen)
Meereen is the northernmost and greatest of the three great city-states of Slaver's Bay, north of Yunkai and Astapor. It is located at the mouth of the Skahazadhan River, which flows from its origins in Lhazar through the mountains separating Meereen and the rest of Slaver's Bay from the Red Waste. The Dothraki Sea lies to the north, beyond the river.
The wealthiest residents, such as his new master (Faiz zo Loraq), live in grand pyramids palaces'.
Anakin has been living as a battle-slave for a year now, which has undoubtedly proven to be the most significant year of his life. This is not simply due to the fact that he now has firsthand experience of the brutalities of slavery, but also because he has gained a wealth of knowledge about the force since his initial encounter with the shimmering blue apparition of Obi-Wan.
From the moment he had that dream, his visions have grown more potent, almost verging on premonitions. He could foresee the battles he would partake in and the people he would eventually meet. Above all, he has become more attuned to the living force that surrounds him.
Over the years he has become more familiar with the region he resides in, particularly Slaver's Bay. The name can refer to the bay itself or the entire region. As the name implies, the cities of Slaver's Bay have been hub of the international slave trade for millennia. Meereen is by far the largest city in Slaver's Bay.
Since discovering his connection to the force, Anakin has been devising a plan to incite a rebellion that would liberate the enslaved people of Meereen. However, he faces obstacles when contemplating the other slave cities of Astapor and Yunkai.
While Yunkai is not known for producing capable combat slaves, they do still possess 20,000 soldiers and 150 ships, equal to that of Meereen.
Other than Yunkai, the true danger lies in Astapor. Although their forces may not match those of Meereen or Yunkai, the slavers excel in producing soldier-slaves, called The Unsullied (renowned warrior-eunuchs specifically bred and trained in Astapor for war).
Anakin is aware that if a slave revolt were to happen in the region, the two closest cities would be the first to try and take advantage of the situation.
In order to achieve his goal, Anakin must rally a following and he only knows one way how. Throughout the past year, he has established a strong reputation in the fighting pits, solidifying himself as the top contender in Meereen. His success has caught the attention of not just many prominent slavers but from the enslaved all across the city.
On this day, everything was about to change. As Anakin stands before the nobles to pay his 'respects' along with seven other slaves, he plans to make a decision that could result in his death or reverence. Either outcome was better than the miserable life he was living in his eyes.
As the loud horn sounds, indicating the start of the battle, Anakin springs into action. The conflict commences in the usual manner, with each person engaging in their own separate fights, but Anakin plans to break them all up.
As his adversary gears up to strike, he remains still, shutting his eyes and placing his hands close to his heart while he withholds his breath and readies himself for the next move. When he finally unveils his eyes, a tremendous force erupts from within him, propelling his foes far from his reach.
The spectators in the stands, including his masters (Faiz zo Loraq and his son Hizdahr), can feel the impact of his powerful assault, evidenced by the billowing clouds of sand swirling around the arena.
As Anakin leaps into action, decapitating the first man he sees, the crowd is in awe. His deadly skills don't end there, as he swiftly cuts through the next opponent's stomach, causing his guts to spew out.
Without hesitation, he moves on to the third, engaging in a short sword duel before driving his sword through the man's chest.
In a matter of seconds, Anakin has taken down three of the eight contestants, leaving the crowd stunned into silence, waiting for his next move.
Both the slaves and spectators in the arena can see that Anakin intends to single-handedly defeat all of his opponents. Realizing this, the remaining four combatants join forces and surround him.
Gazing towards the stands, Anakin observes that the majority of the spectators are standing, including the servant-slaves who appear bewildered by his previous demonstration of strength.
Anakin is surrounded by a circle of four individuals, all equipped with swords and shields with light armor. Without hesitation, they move in on him, but before they can strike, he gracefully jumps over them. He lands behind one of his adversaries and swiftly impales them with his sword, the blade piercing through their back and emerging from their chest, resulting in the death of a fourth opponent.
In the end, Anakin confronts the remaining trio, hurling one towards the other and swiftly engaging the third. He deftly blocks the assaults and brings his sword down vertically on their head.
With the last two remaining, Anakin pulls one in with the force and cuts his head clean off.
The spectators are aghast at the apparent sorcery being performed by this slave.
Meanwhile, Anakin's nerves are on edge, and the entire audience is rendered speechless by his abilities.
The lone fighter left on the battlefield is gripped with terror and falls to his knees, begging for mercy in a dialect of Low Valyrian. Anakin understands his words, his proficiency in numerous languages spoken across the world was one of the many skills that allowed him to remain a house-slave for so many years.
Gazing up at the nobles situated in the heart of the stands, he observes that their response is not dissimilar to that of the rest of the crowd.
Though he wishes to spare the man before him, he takes action by plunging his sword into the kneeling man, ending his life.
The darkside was growing stronger within Anakin by the second, he wanted to reach out and strangle all the nobles in front of him with the force, but he calmed himself and bows before them showing his loyalty.
After a moment of silence, the claps of a servant-slave standing in the crowd ignites a wave of cheers from the audience, prompting the nobles to summon guards and escort him back to the holding chambers.
The other battle-slaves in the chambers make way for Anakin as he calmly walks through them and takes a seat, seemingly unfazed by the commotion.
From the holding chambers, the crowd's cheers are still audible. A guard comes in and summons the next group of eight to enter the arena.
From Anakin's point of view, everything is going according to plan. He wants word of his feats here to spread, particularly among the other slaves.
Without any issues, the following days pass by smoothly for Anakin, albeit he remains confined in a cell after his last fight in the pits.
The fact that he was still alive, 'that has to count for something,' Anakin thinks to himself.
However, he starts to grow suspicious as he realizes that he hasn't been given any food for the past two days. This wouldn't be unusual if the other slaves in nearby cells were also not being fed, but they are. This can only mean that a noble has specifically ordered for Anakin not to be fed. If this is the case, it suggests that enough time has passed for news of his battle in the pits to spread and the nobles are now taking action against him.
On that evening, Anakin is situated on a straw bed within a dim, damp cell, when he is visited by Hizdahr zo Loraq (the son of his master, Faiz zo Loraq). Hizdahr warns him that his supposed sorcery has caused a tumultuous uproar throughout the city, resulting in his father being forced to surrender him for execution before the entire populace.
"Thank you" Anakin simply tells him before he leaves the dungeons.
Hizdahr has always been kinder compared to the majority of slavers he has encountered. He never resorted to unnecessary acts of cruelty and genuinely advocated for a brighter future for slaves in Meereen.
This is precisely why what's to come cannot be considered glorious; merely necessary.
When Hizdahr is gone Anakin catches the sound of a fellow prisoner in the adjacent cell beckoning for his attention. The language being spoken is High Valyrian. The young man, clad in tattered garments and sporting a rough beard, seems to have recently suffered an eye loss based on the scar going across it.
"Issi ao se mēre? (Are you the one?)" the man asks Anakin.
"Se mēre skoros? (The one what?)" Anakin asked back.
"Se chosen mēre. Thats skoros pōnta're calling ao, se tolie slaves. (The chosen one. That's what they're calling you, the other slaves)" the man clarifies.
"Nyke'm nykeā issaros se issa brōzi iksos Anakin. (I'm a person and my name is Anakin)" he responds.
"Sȳrī nyke nykeā buzdari se issa brōzi iksos Ashraf. (Well I'm a slave and my name is Ashraf)" the man chuckles slightly in amusement at Anakin's words.
"Ao've jiōraton half hen Meereen singing aōha praises. Pōnta pendagon ao're blessed ondoso se gods. (You've got half of Meereen singing your praises. They think you're blessed by the gods)" Ahsraf explains. "Sīr issi ao? (So are you?)" he asks Anakin.
"lo nyke istan, skoros would ao emagon issa gaomagon? (If I was, what would you have me do?)" Anakin retorts, prompting Ashraf to pause and ponder his question.
"Lo ao istan, nyke would epagon skoros ao would emagon 'issa' gaomagon. (If you were, I would ask what you would have 'me' do)" Ashraf answers before turning over in pain, clearly he has been injured from a previous battle.
Anakin has longed to hear these precise words. He has patiently awaited the admiration of the citizens, not out of any selfish ambition, but as a source of motivation for oppressed slaves to rise up and fight for their liberation.
'Now's the time' Anakin thinks to himself as he rises from his bed and propped himself against the cell bars. "Hey! You! Ugly motherfuckers over there!" he beckoned for the guards at the far end of the corridor to approach.
Upon the guards' arrival at the cell, Anakin takes a step back. Before they have the chance to inquire, he utilizes the force to forcefully pull them into the bars, rendering them unconscious.
With amazement, Ashraf and the fellow slaves in the dungeon watch as Anakin effortlessly uses the force to shatter the bars before him and forcefully push them apart, liberating himself.
After that, he exits his cell and utilizes the force to yank out the cell bars of all the remaining slaves held captive.
The slaves emerge and gather in front of him while he positions himself at the exit.
The first one to kneel before him is Ashraf, who pledges his allegiance and loyalty to Anakin. The remaining slaves also bend the knee and make the same pledge.
"Arise! Strike for your lives! Now is the day and now is the hour! Let every slave throughout the land do this, and the days of slavery are numbered. You cannot be more oppressed than you have been, you cannot suffer greater cruelties than you have already. Rather die freemen than live to be slaves. Remember that you are more!".
Anakin's speech earns the cheers of all the slaves and they begin to chant: "Kraz! Kraz! Kraz!" which translates to 'strong & powerful' in an Old Ghiscari language.
Together they raid the dungeons, freeing all those still imprisoned and plundering the armory.
That night, filled with inspiration, Anakin confidently leads a small force of freed slaves on a triumphant march through Meereen, rallying other slaves from all corners of the city to join their plight.
In all honesty, his sole objective was to topple the current regime by assassinating the city's ruling elite. However, the situation quickly escalated into a bloody slaughter of not just the ruling class, but numerous innocent lives were lost in the chaos .
Their march towards the palace pyramids is met with resistance from the armed forces of the city and formidable guards scattered throughout.
With a population of almost 400,000, Meereen stands as the most populous city state, surpassing even Astapor and Yunkai. However, the armed forces of the city only amount to 20,000. As Anakin and his troops set out to sack Meereen, the ratio of three slaves to every free man becomes increasingly evident.
Their numbers quickly amass and undeterred, they forge ahead. All of the liberated slaves that can are following Anakin's lead, as the city's soldiers and guards fail to stop him. Although many of the slaves lack combat training, witnessing Anakin effortlessly slice through hordes of enemies and utilize the force to execute astonishing feats is enough to motivate them to fiercely engage in battle.
Breaking through the barriers, they ravage the opulent pyramid palaces', looting them of their precious treasures.
A twisted sense of satisfaction consumes Anakin as he allows the slaves to exact revenge on their former masters, including his former master Faiz zo Loraq, reveling in their demise.
The dark-side is fueled by selfishness and possessiveness, interlocked with the fear of loss that gives rise to anger and hate.
With his powers on full display before a crowd of rebelling slaves, he brings down the colossal harpy sculptures perched atop the grand pyramids, offering a hopeful prophecy for brighter times ahead. The entire city gazes upon him with reverence, convinced he is blessed and willing to pledge allegiance until the very end.
Never in all his life has Anakin felt the darkside as potently as he does at this very moment.
(296 AC - Meereen)
As it turned out, submerging a city in a state of siege is a significantly less demanding undertaking compared to the subsequent responsibilities of ruling and governing that come after, a role that Anakin did not expect to have.
After purging the city of most of its nobles and ruling elites, there remained a power vacuum that only Anakin was capable of occupying. The uprising was sparked by him and his followers were convinced that he had a grander purpose in mind, beyond liberating all the enslaved. However, he lacked a proper army and most of his army consisted of former war-slaves and inexperienced young men. Not to mention he lacked any experience in actual ruling.
As a result, the city was overrun with chaos, with rampant crime, and even cases of sexual assault. In response, Anakin made the decision to assume a title that could only be described as King, becoming the ruler of Meereen.
He was dressed in a dark gray outer vest surcoat with deep v-chest opening, flared leg opening, and rear slit. Burgundy knee-length undertunic, matching burgundy pants and mis-matched left hand right gloves. He used a brown belt that holsters his newly acquired castle-forged steel sword (it features a gold grip, diamond-shaped pommel, and downwards-pointed crossguard) and style gray chest armor with matching shoulder plates. His left shoulder plate had a custom emblem he painted, though he wanted to know what to call it yet. It depicts a bright light in the shape of a six-pointed star, enclosed between two stylized wings, spread up and inscribed into a whole circular ring.
Afterward, he remained in Meereen for almost a year, presiding over trials for criminals, overseeing the city's finances, distributing food, and overall improving the standard of living for the citizens.
Anakin started by granting amnesty to the ex-soldiers who surrendered after he overthrew the city. Despite numerous demands for their heads, Anakin rejected them and instead chose to pardon them, allowing them to serve under his rule.
In his mind he had a picture-perfect image of a city of the future. It was a city with towering buildings that seemed to touch the clouds and a complex network of roads that made every corner accessible. These dreams would remain unrealized for now however as he received grave news from commander of the city watch, Mossador.
Mossador was crucial in convincing his fellow slaves to join Anakin Targaryen and defeat the Great Masters during his sacking of the city, though he met resistance from skeptical older slaves who had lived through failed slave rebellions. After they witnessed Anakin's abilities in the force it motivated them even further. Mossador provided them with weapons and they joined in his revolt against the Masters.
"Are you sure?" Anakin asks Mossador, Ashraf and Hizdahr zo Loraq.
They have become an integral part of his small counsel that help him govern the city. The counsel room is in the Great Pyramid, it has a great view of the city and served well as a castle for Anakin.
"Yes your grace, 8,000 fully trained unsullied with 50 warships and an unknown number of not-fully-trained boys in Astapor. And around 20,000 men in Yunkai with 150 Warships, though they lack battle experience and often employ the services of sellswords like 'The Second Sons'" reports Ashraf.
"Alone they are weak, one lacks skill and the other lacks numbers, but together they could prove a greater threat" states Anakin.
"What are you suggesting?" asks Mossador, probably one of the few men to openly speak their mind to Anakin.
"What do we know about the master of these Unsullied?" asks Anakin as a servant-girl enters the room with goblets and wine.
"Not much, your grace, just that they are referred to as 'The Good Masters'" says Ashraf, halting the servant girl in the middle of pouring a drink as if she had a sudden realization of the topic at hand.
Anakin picks up on her reaction and decides to ask her, "What's your name?".
"Dalila…your grace" the woman humbly answers as she finishes pouring wine and sets the tray down.
"And what do you know of 'The Good Masters' in Astapor, Dalila?" asked Anakin.
"I…how?" the woman begins to stutter wondering how he could've known she was from Astapor.
"Just be honest. Nothings going to happen to you" Anakin reassures the woman, causing her to straighten up and look him in the eyes.
"Kraznys mo Nakloz is a slave-trader in the city, he is one of the Good Masters. He trains and sells the Unsullied warriors" Dalila replies.
"And do you believe that this Kraznys would be open to selling his Unsullied?" inquires Anakin as he prepares a plan in his mind.
That idea is quickly shot down however by Hizdahr who responds, "But we've outlawed slavery, he would never believe we actually wish to purchase Unsullied".
"They don't know that and we have more gold than both their cities put together, if we make an offer so grand he can't refuse, will he sell?" Anakin asks again, ignoring Hizdahr's concern. While he may be fond of the son of the man who once enslaved him, he recognizes his desire to contribute to betterment of Meereen and his understanding of the social and political landscape has earned him a place on his inner-council.
"If the price is right, yes…he is greedy" answers Dalila, granting Anakin an idea of this man's character.
The small council pauses, taking their time to grasp the situation, before Anakin speaks up. "We need to get on top of this before they have time to confirm our outlawing of slavery. We'll go there and buy their 'buy' their Unsullied" claims Anakin.
"Buy, your grace, a purchase of that size would cripple us financially" Hizdahr protested.
"I know what I'm doing! Prepare an envoy, 2,000 men. We march there on the morrow" orders Anakin.
"Yes your grace" Ashraf complies as Anakin dismisses the room and prepares the gold they will need.
This will be by far the most difficult task he has embarked as 'King', he never did get used to this title. It felt like most people walked around eggshells when they were near him and everyone kept calling him 'your grace', another title he could do without. Nevertheless the people needed a leader and he had to make the difficult decisions.
(296 AC - King's Landing)
The small council of King' Landing is gathered for a rare council meeting. Rare because unlike for the past near 20 years, King Robert Baratheon has decided to attend.
In the small council are: The Hand of the King: Lord Jon Arryn, Defender of the Vale and Warden of the East. Appointed to the position when Robert ascended to the throne, and retained it for Robert's subsequent reign. Grand Maester: Pycelle. Master of Coin: Lord Petyr Baelish, known as 'Littlefinger'. Master of Whisperers: Varys, known as 'the Spider'. Master of Laws: Lord Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands and Master of Ships: Lord Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Dragonstone.
"Dammit all! I told you Jon! We should've killed those bastards while they were still steetng from the teet of some wet-nurse!" shouts the King to his Hand in a massive fit or rage. His hatred for anything Targaryen has only festered since he overthrew 'The Mad King'.
"Are we certain of these rumors?" Jon Arryn asks for clarification from the Master of Whispers.
"I'm afraid so, my lord-hand. This Anakin Targaryen is no doubt the last remaining son of the late Prince Rhaegar, he fits the description of a typical Targaryen, he fits the age range and now he rules over the largest city in Slaver's Bay" confirms Varys.
"But he's so young, how could a boy conquer such a place so soon?" questions Renly, refusing the believe that a boy could overthrow a centuries-old established oligarchy.
"He was underestimated, no doubt left to grow in power right under the noses of his enemies and now he commands 20,000 men with 150 ships," Stannis is quick to shut down his little brother Renly, him being the more militaristic of the two.
"Lord Varys, what do we know of the goals of this boy, wha-" before Jon Arryn can inquire more Robert screams out, interrupting him, stating; "The hell does it matter what his goals are! He's a Targaryen, the last remaining heir to that dynasty's claim to the throne and you want to know what his goals are! I want him dead!" Robert demands.
"Unfortunately our spy, Ser Jorah Mormont, has been recently dispatched to locate the other two Targaryen heirs near Pentos, Viserys and Daenerys, so he will remain unavailable. It will be some time before we can get any assassins to the one in Meereen" informs Lord Varys.
"We may not have to send assassins," adds Littlefinger. "I have it from a reliable source that the economy of Slaver's Bay is under great threat. Rumors are, the Targaryen has outlawed slavery in Meereen, a catastrophic act for the region's economy. Though this is still just rumors, he did slaughter most the nobles in the city, to take power".
"What's your point Littlefinger!" Robert lashes out, eager to get to the chase.
"My point is that the region will not be pleased with his rule. No doubt his armies will soon be under siege" claims Littlefinger.
"Regardless, I want him dealt with! Lord Varys, get on it!" Robert demands before picking up his goblet of wine, chugging it and marching out the room.
'Events are unfolding, sooner than expected' Lord Varys silently mused to himself.