Chapter 21

Dragons Rising

Year of the Realm 874/312 AC

It all happened a few days after the tourney. Cid went out into the city to do his own exploration as well as to investigate the rumors about the king having more bastards running about other than the three children in line for the throne. While he did that, Clive escorted Jill to and from any meetings she may have had with various nobles and unfortunately for his own temper one such noble just happened to be Prince Joffrey. The boy prince was little more than a man-child that never grew up from his childish years. The only consolation to this was seeing Jill expertly dance around the prince's advances with grace, the secret smile she would send his way didn't hurt either. It kept the flames within from bursting out…not Clive's fault the prince was playing with fire unknowingly.

While Clive and Cid had their troubles and investigations to conduct there was one who found himself in a most odd predicament. Joshua found himself seated practically in session with the king and his small council, for in King Robert's words Joshua should see how his future allies handled matters of state. Lord Baelish and Lord Varys flanked the king while Lord Renly and Pycelle sat opposite them leaving his seat to be on the end of the table. Standing, face morphing between emotions of incredulity, was Ned Stark. Joshua couldn't blame him for that, none of this was going exactly how he had first thought it would.

"I warned you," Robert began, a cold fury building inside him "I warned you this would happen Ned! That…that whore is pregnant. A Dothraki whelp growing in her belly, a horde at her back."

"Daenerys Targaryen is pregnant. And that is cause for concern?"

Robert fixes a firm glare on his old friend "From what my spies can tell me several thousand Dothraki follow her husband and now she is pregnant with his child, a potential heir to the throne could give the dragon loyalists all they need to try and overthrow my rule!"

"You're speaking of rebellion's that could not stand on their own feet," Ned protests "A girl across an entire ocean having a baby and you see it as a threat to your rule? That girl may have a horde at her back Robert, but she can no more part the sea than you can. Those Dothraki would never cross the seas without their horses and by the gods they would be fortunate to even make it with a portion of them alive."

Joshua found himself flinching as Robert slams his hands down on the table. Lord Baelish appeared to be the only one smiling during this exchange. "Then let me spell it out for you then. The girl dies; her, the babe in her belly, and her husband. Leave nothing to chance. Understand?"

Ned pauses, taking the moment to collect himself "Lord Varys…is this all true?"

"It is my lord, my little birds confirmed it. Daenerys is pregnant with Khal Drogo's child," Varys seems to grimace "and her brother Viserys has also acquired roughly eight-thousand Unsullied in Astapor."

"Unsullied? They would use a slave army to retake the throne?" Ned's eyes are wide, not in fear but in disgust "Have they no idea how that would look to everyone in Westeros?"

"Unfortunately, it is no slave army. Viserys seems to have freed them all in her name, ordered them to put every slave master and supporter to the sword, and free any slave they find. We'll find few in Astapor who would be on our side it seems."

"The girl dies, Ned," Robert kept his gaze on Ned "She dies, the babe dies, they all die if I bloody order it."

"Is that all that matters to you? A woman is pregnant, and you just think the best course of action is to butcher her and her baby?" Ned's tone was incredulous "What lord in this land would follow you without question, with unwavering loyalty after this? Bad enough you butchered innocent children in the rebellion but now you talk of killing a babe before it can even take its first breath."

"Would you rather I killed the dragonspawn after its born? Would that make you feel better Lord Stark?" The cold look exchanged between the pair had even Joshua wanting to bring out the Phoenix's flames just a little for warmth "She dies Ned, whether its on her birthing bed or to an assassin, that whore will die! I'll have no more talk of this, it is not up for debate, my word is law…best that you remember that."

Ned shakes his head, glancing at the stone floor in thought "Very well then," the Warden of the North reaches up to his lapel, grasping the pin showing his station as Hand of the King and pulls it free "You can have this back then, your grace."

The council is stunned as they watch Ned Stark slam the pin down on the table before turning to make his exit. Baelish's smile grows as he watches Ned make his retreat, all the while Joshua keeps an eye on him.

Robert stands abruptly, face growing red "Don't you walk away from me Ned!" Ned freezes midstep "You walk out those doors I swear by the old gods and the new…"

Joshua watches as Eddard Stark walks out. The council meeting dissolved shortly after, and with it any hope of a peaceful stay in the capital. That was how Clive saw him again; a look of worry on his face, wringing his hands to keep them busy as he tried to come up with some explanation of what occurred that wouldn't be another misstep in the day's events.

"Joshua? Is everything alright?"

The young archduke winces "Clive…there's something you should know…about the council meeting today…"

So, Joshua went about the task of explaining the council's events to his brother, Jill, Cody and Colt. To say his words were shocking, appalling even, was a gross understatement as Jill looked the most disturbed by what she was hearing.

"Surely Lord Stark wouldn't allow this to happen?"

Joshua hung his head "He resigned as Hand…and made his exit despite the Kings demands. As of this moment I cannot say for certain if we will ever achieve our goals as we are. The king wants Daenerys and her brother killed along with a child yet to be born…I cannot see this as the man we should ally ourselves with either. But if we don't then…"

"Rosaria…falls." Cody looked conflicted, he felt sick to his stomach at the notion of allying with a king who would kill innocent children "My lords…we cannot do this. Joining with Westeros…we'd be no better than the Empire if we did this."

"But what choice do we have?" Colt felt guilt flash across his face as he grimaces, images of just what this alliance might mean coming to his mind unasked "Not allying with them means Rosaria will inevitably fall, but joining with them means we may end up worse than the very bastards that would break a treaty with us in an infiltration. We cannot hope to survive another Phoenix Gate…we need the support."

"Jote…you've been awfully quiet for all of this," Jill gave the younger girl a worried look "What's troubling you?"

"The Undying…" her fists clench "They would not care what happens so long as the Phoenix lives on…if they weren't so secretive…we may well have been on opposing sides even in this my lady."

Clive could feel Joshua and Cody's eyes on him. It wasn't the ideal position to be in, certainly not something he would agree to but if he didn't…could he live with the consequences? "We have to do something for Rosaria and for Westeros…compromises must be made, decisions that we do not like."

"Brother…"

"But this is not one of them. I will not speak for everyone, present or not, but I will have no part in the murder of children." Clive's firm stance and tone brought a smile to Jill's face as he stood "We need to act, now, before someone does something they'll regret."

"Just give the word, Colt and I will see it done."

"Thank you, Cody…Colt, track down Cid and see if you can't get the old man to remember if he told our ship captain just where we'd be going before we left White Harbor."

"And what about you?" Jill's stern gaze keeps Clive in place as he looks to Cody for support "What are you planning to do on your own Clive?"

"Nothing."

"He's lying," Joshua chimes in, eyes locked on Clive's fingers "You really should try to not fidget with them."

"Traitor."

Jill kept her gaze on him. If Clive were allowed to have his way, then he would no doubt do something reckless…then she would be livid. "No heroics Clive, this isn't a story you would see performed like a play."

"I…I won't." he tries to sound reassuring "Jill…if something happens, I cannot sit idly by…you know that. I'll do what I must, but if the unexpected happens…"

"He'll have us to pull him out." Clive had never been more grateful for Cody's presence. That man knew just when to come to his aid, assuming he and Rex hadn't pissed him off recently. "You have my word, my lady, no harm will come to him while I am by his side."

"I don't like it…but promise me you will at least think before doing the first thing that comes to mind?" Clive's mouth clamps shut. Joshua seemed to be doing his best to hold back his own amusement while Jill's gaze softens somewhat "I suppose that is too much to ask, even of you. What am I to do with you Clive?"

"Hopefully the wedding will happen well before he does something really stupid," Joshua's timely answer caught Jill by surprise.

While Clive was just happy to have attention off himself for a moment it was a different story for Jill. Seeing her embarrassed was still a rare sight to behold. What shocked him however was what followed.

"Joshua…Jote!"

The loyal attendant of his own brother did as Jill commanded. Joshua let out a cry of surprise, turning an incredulous and betrayed look to the young woman by his side, a hand reaching for the back of his head.

"Lady Jill and I have an…understanding of sorts." Was her simple response "Though I shall endeavor to be a bit gentler with you, your grace."

Jill frowns, arms crossing as her own ally when it came to handling the Rosfield's quickly attempted to switch sides. "Traitor."

"Welcome to my world," Clive chuckles.

Essos: Year of the Realm 874/312 AC

Daenerys Targaryen…Daenarys Stormborn…Khaleesi. All were just titles; pretty words strewn together to mean she was something far greater than she felt in the moment. Her eyes, violet, beautiful and vacant, stare into the horizon as she watches the Dothraki build the funeral pyre for her husband Drogo.

She clutches the three petrified dragon eggs in her arms close to her, hugging them like they were her only lifeline left. In a way…they were. Her husband was dead and gone, taken in the night by an assassin and to make it worse…so too was her child. Rhaego was to be his name…he would have been her little prince, a perfect child in her eyes as strong as his father. But that was lost to her now, a future she could never have back. The sole saving grace to this tragedy was she hadn't lost the ability to have children, or so the few healers she had seen over the course of the day had claimed.

"They say it will be the finest funeral pyre ever made," the calming voice of her bodyguard Jorah Mormont brought her only a fraction of the calm that it used to, while he did his duty and saved her from most of the assassins sent to kill her even he was not capable of stopping the last of their number "You mustn't lose hope, you still have your entire life ahead of you."

"But not with Drogo." Slowly Daenerys feet carried her forward as the pyre was lit. The flames burned bright, almost inviting her to be welcome in their embrace. The eggs, petrified as they were, seemed to grow warm as she approached the flames. Something was beckoning her to the fire, gently nudging her along like a slave to its desires as her skin grew hot in the nuzzling affection of the flames.

Jorah only looked away for a moment, just a single moment to deal with a minor report that could have waited until after the funeral pyre's flames had died out. As he turned back to give his queen the good news…he felt the world fall out from under him. The last thing Jorah saw of Daenerys Targaryen was her back as the flames enveloped her. There was a scream from somewhere, he was sure of it, a sharp piercing shriek tore through the nights sky as the Dothraki seemed spooked just as he was. Jorah didn't care about the screams, no…he only cared about the young woman that walked into the flames due to her own grief.

The Northerner only made it three steps forward before he was held back by a firm hand grabbing his wrist. "I have to go to her!" he shouts, struggling "Release me…release me!"

"Not yet Jorah!" a weary voice hisses in his ear, jerking Jorah back as a silver haired man steps forward "Let them handle it boy."

"Jon she…"

"I know," Jon Connington, with his greying hair and fiery beard, gave him a look full of regret and sympathy "Being in service to Dragons is not for the faint of heart, even the good ones do crazy things from time to time. Best to let them handle it."

Jorah's gaze turned back to the pyre. The damn flames still flickered, burning bright in defiance of what he wanted. For them to die and her to be returned unharmed. He saw the back of this silver-haired youth as he watched the flames. Those shrieks growing louder, frenzied even as another man stopped beside him.

"She will be fine Ser Jorah; you have my thanks for protecting her above the rest." Jorah felt his eyes widen as the words reached his ears "Dany always was more emotion driven than either of us…a pity that she had to grow up like this instead of in her proper place."

"Lord Viserys I…" Jorah struggled to find the words.

Viserys Targaryen would normally have sneered at any who spoke so little, stumbling over their words in his presence, but that was then. This was now. "You did more than any could have expected you to have done. Tell me…the assassin that got away, what do you know of them?"

"I didn't see their face…but they fought with knives and daggers. Threw enough of them to get the point across but my prince…I could not save the babe. I failed your family."

"You did no such thing, in fact it's quite the opposite," Viserys smiles, motioning for Jorah to stand "Dany still lives, and our bloodline is stronger for it."

"I…don't understand."

Jon sighs "What he is saying, Jorah, is that because she survives so too does faith in their line. Because the Dothraki have sworn themselves to her, we still have their support, and none can hope to catch us off-guard again. We will not let them."

"As you say…Lord Hand."

There was a commotion. The shrieks had died, the flames slowly ebbing away as the other man rushed forward, catching an exhausted and soot covered Daenerys in his arms. Jorah heard a faint chirping as he made his approach and as he got close enough to see his Khaleesi, he noticed two distinct shapes moving around her shoulders and gazing at him. That gasp he made, the way everyone that could see just froze on the spot…they all knew what these were.

"Dany…you foolish, foolish girl," Viserys says with a hint of fondness to his voice "You did it…you did it!"

Daenerys eyes struggled to stay open even as her newly hatched children chirped in her ear and nuzzled against her body. She could just barely make out the violet eyes looking at her with such worry for her own safety. "I did it Egg…I did it."

"Aye, you did…rest well Dany, we'll have plenty of time for talk later."

His voice soothed her to sleep, her children protectively guarding her as they chirped at any who got too close to their mother. Aegon Targaryen smiles as he admires the three dragon chicks before him. In time, they would grow large like their ancestral kin, and in time they would bond with the last of Targaryen blood.

Cid groans, running a hand down his face "Well that's bloody brilliant then, isn't it?"

"That's one way of looking at it."

Cid sighs, giving Rex a flat look for his comment. Originally, he had intended to survey the city, get a feel for just how many of the king's children lived outside of the Red Keep…it went well enough, he got to see just how lucky his daughters were to look like their mothers and not their drunken father. Unfortunately, the ease with which he could move about was severely hampered by the presence of not only his travelling companion for the day, Sir Rex, but by the small entourage of one Ned Stark. To top it all off, it seems that it was not a unique Clive trait to make Cid's days more trouble than they should be.

"So, what possessed you to do all of that and revoke your own immunity?"

"Immunity?" Ned scoffs "He would have me sign whatever papers and decrees were needed if it meant an innocent girl would die by the end of the day."

"It's been a week…seven days and you honestly expect that he just calls it off?" Cid laughs "You hear that, Rex? And Clive says that I am mad." Jory moves forward, hand reaching for his blade. "I'd move that hand away if I were you lad, unless you fancy losing more than that today."

"Jory!"

Cid watches him lower his hand slowly "Good move, now…you do understand that what you are asking is a tall order correct? Lot of things must be moved and guarded on said move too…won't be easy."

"But you have a plan in mind," Ned smirks "Clive…he told me about you, how you work and having seen it firsthand I know he is right. You have it all figured out."

"Not all of it," Cid grimaces, casting a cautious look around the street "Truth is…I don't know everything, and it's the few things I know are out there but know nothing about that scare even me."

"Help me with this Cid, and you'll have one kingdom on your side."

Rex coughs, drawing attention to himself as he jerks his head to the left…right in the direction of an incoming group of Lannister guards. "Funny…seems I'll not only have your aid but a debt as well. Nice eyes Rex."

"I count ten of them…could be more moving in all around us as well," the Rosarian grabs his axes "Only eight of us here…not exactly a big space for a fight."

"They want us boxed in…Rex, we need to be at the front, easy access to them." Cid takes point, stepping to the forefront flanked by Rex and Jory "That's close enough lads, now…what seems to be the problem?"

The Lannister men drew their swords. Cid looked back at Ned over his shoulder and shrugs "Guess talking things out wasn't the best idea…pity that."

"We would have your hand, Rosarian dog!" one of the guard's snarls.

"Oh? On whose authority?" Cid chuckles "Clearly it cannot be Lord Tywin…King Robert no doubt told him I'm not Rosarian…so that would mean this comes from Cersei herself. Now how did I piss her off I wonder?"

"Quiet mongrel!"

"I don't suppose Clive would allow me a moment's weakness, would he?" Rex didn't respond, his eyes firmly on the guards as they approached "Guess not…well, to hell with it then. You want a fight with us? By all means…it'll be quick."

Ned found that combat on a battlefield was chaotic, loud, and over far quicker than it felt sometimes. Combat with Cid and Rex side by side however was far shorter. His guards, loyal fools that they were, tried to push forward. Three of them were cut down, only to be avenged by Rex seconds later as he dispatched four guardsmen on his own. Jory and the last of his guards took care of their own foes. The remaining five were all Cid's to deal with. The man took down three with a quick flourish of his blade. The last two didn't look too thrilled to fight him next.

"That it?" Cid asks, looking around at the body's "All that talk and show…and for what? Three dead men and not a scratch on Lord Stark or myself. Tell you what, why don't you go running back to the lioness, and you tell her that Cid the Vicious wants her to know that he wants a real challenge next time. Say…twenty men. No no…a few thousand. Maybe then you'll be able to nick me."

One of the guards was backing away in fear, but the other…he played right into Cid's hands. The man gripped his weapon tighter and charged. "Bastard!" he roars, swinging his weapon in a rage.

Cid brings his blade up, turning away from the attack he blocks the oncoming steel and elbows his foe in the side of his helmeted head. He stumbles and as he regains his balance, he catches sight of Cid thrusting his own weapon through his open mouth. The guard's body drops, Cid's sword still poking out the back of his head. "So…planning to deliver that message for me now or should I do it myself?"

The lone survivor bolts without a second thought. Even leaving his sword behind in his scramble wouldn't have saved him much were Cid to be anywhere but in enemy territory. Rex had to give the Dominant credit; he had style all his own in a fight. "Was that truly needed?"

Cid sighs, slowly turning around to be met with the scowling face of one Ned Stark "Lord Stark…I can't speak for the North but outside of your kingdom this is how things are handled. You meet threats with threats of your own and when they call your bluff you show them that you are not in fact bluffing. As for your men…I am sorry for your loss, but had they just stayed back we could have handled it."

"He's right you know," Rex interjects before Eddard can speak and further dig himself into a hole "They wanted us dead or maimed on the orders of the queen…this isn't something random, it is no longer safe in the city for any of us."

"Quite right…Lord Stark, Rex here can show you to our ship. It should be in port matter of fact," Cid smirks, fishing out a cigar from his pocket "Could have sworn I had more of you…oh well. You just get your people to start packing, we'll take care of the rest."

Ned did not seem to like the idea but with himself now down a few men…what choice did he have? "Very well…Ser Rex, if you'd please? We shouldn't stay here longer than needed."

Cid watches the group begin their walk to port. Cupping one hand around his cigar he brings his right thumb up and lights the end of it "What Clive doesn't know, won't hurt me…funny…speaking of hurting," he rolls up his left sleeve, eyes scanning his arm. Nothing but clear skin, no blemish or scar to be shown "I wonder…just what is it about this place that even that horror has spared me?"

Roseroad, The Reach: Year of the Realm 874/312 AC

A dying man has nothing but regret. Regret over never seeing his mother one last time. Regret for not trying his hand in a joust or two. Regret for not settling down with the fair maiden he had sworn himself to many years ago. Regret for the few bastards he had sired that he never bothered to be a father to. But this dying man, laying in a puddle tinged red with his blood…his one regret was ever joining these bandits and striking the Roseroad. No good ever came of targeting the Tyrells. But not even the roses and their knights were this vicious. This…efficient.

A single lance pierced his stomach, pinning him to the dirt. His eyes grew distant, vacant as he took his last breath. Such was the fate of a former knight turned bandit. Across the field there were twenty bodies. Not all of them were bandits, some of them were knights. But not even one of them could ever claim they had seen this outcome in their minds before battle started.

The sky above boomed with the sound of thunder as the storm raged on around the land. Water droplets cascading down, trickling across black steel as the sole survivor pulls his weapon free of its final victim. The flash of lightning illuminated the field, revealing his full silhouette as he began to trudge down the muddy road. Bitterbridge would have what he seeks. And with it, he would have what he desired most of all. A proper fight.

AN: So…let me first address something before you all try to flame prematurely…no doubt someone might just have done that already whether it be now or in the far future. Aegon is alive…or is he? George hasn't clarified if the Aegon in the books is actually him or not, so for right now none of us know. I honestly haven't decided which way I am going just yet so that will evolve as the story does. As for Viserys surviving I've changed up some interactions in the past and dialed back his crazy in due part thanks to that so he's still a bit of a bastard but he's not 'mad king reborn' level. Also, Jorah…thanks to Jon going missing Eddard was a bit harsher on crime and traitors, so naturally when Jorah flees punishment and Robert sees the angry state that Ned is in, he thinks with his head and does not offer that deal to Jorah that sees him being a spy, nor does Varys do that either for other reasons…this was always my intention for him, be the loyal protector that he always was even when he was a spy. As a little side note…we seem to be moving along faster than anticipated so we might be shortening the number of chapters up to the first 'big' part. Exciting, isn't it? We even have a new player on the board…because I think they and you have had it too good for too long without something unexpected and dangerous popping up. Good luck guessing who that is btw, because…heh…it's not the 'who' that you should be concerned by as it is an OC…but more so the 'which' hehe.

P.S. Expect 22 to be on the bigger side in terms of plot points, it kind of absorbed chapter 23 because this chapter got some of its original plans thrown in…woops…also, poll will probably be up right when that goes live so just be aware.

On to the reviews then…

Hakuryukou79: Getting better at remembering how to spell your name without cheating…anyway; It's nice to just stretch the old muscles instead of a flick of the wrist bolt of lightning move. Granted, Cid isn't too happy with that since it would take up less time. As for our dynamic duo of Hugo and Benedikta, patience my friend…we'll get to them in due time. All goes well, we'll get to see them and have some fun shake-ups all in one chapter.

furvustocs: FF has been having some issues, mostly with views not showing from what I've seen and heard but otherwise this is the first I've heard of a chapter being deleted then being back up. Which is also why I upload this to ao3 as soon as its up here, just so if one is down the other doesn't suffer. Always helps to have a backup plan. (as of 9/25/23 I just noticed you left the review on 18 and not 20…so idk what FF is having trouble with but hopefully it gets fixed, I am never deleting a chapter or this fic unless something huge happens like a major rewrite/edit is needed or something)

Tsougrhs.59: Let's take it from the top, shall we? Jamie Lannister is not an 'evil' character, at least not here. What he does in the books and the tv show I would agree makes him evil. But here? The only bad things he has done is kill the king he swore to protect and have three children with his twin sister. In this piece of fanfiction we have not had Jaime order any killings of innocents, no tortures, no rapes, no beatings, none of that or anything similar. We also haven't had him push Bran out a window. My having Clive talk with Jaime during the melee is done for a simple reason that he even explains. He wants to know who Jaime Lannister is, not the Kingslayer, and he wants to know that the only way men like them can…in a fight. And let it be known, nothing that you've said these last two reviews has changed a single thing that I have had planned for months now. Though I do hope that you'll stop reading this story with tinted lenses, it's a lot more entertaining as the rest would agree without them.

Jebest4781: Well…we made it to Essos…just didn't bring the real Mountain out to play with the Hill. Don't worry, it's coming…we just need to stoke the flames a little bit more before that. Or a lot more.

Guest: Neat

Drakon45: So that's a yes and a no. He's been told about Ifrit, that he should be the Dominant of Ifrit but it's a little more complicated than that. Clvie just isn't ready yet to become Ifrit, he isn't strong enough to handle priming. But that doesn't mean he won't be enjoying some benefits of the blessings amongst other things very soon…

Goonies117: I won't say anything that spoils the future, but I will say that if you reread what Cid says to Clive, and then read through when Clive meets with R'hllor as well as a few instances prior wherein Clive has his headaches…there's a pretty big reason why those happen. Though for some it might just be setting up something that may or may not happen how I originally planned. But we shall see in due time.