Hey everyone, this chapter is coming out because of my first Patrons. They wanted this to be updated before anything as a first patrons vote. Special shoutout to Mark, Travis, and Drew. If you wish to read the next 2 chapters they are up on Pat reon. Link is my bio and is www patr eoncom user?u=9453611 . Thank you again.
Illyrio's POV
It has been two years since that fateful night when he had smuggled his long time friend's only son out of Pentos. It had been difficult to get him away from the city and maintain his loyalties. Pentos for all its talk of freedom and being for everyone is just as bad as the Seven Kingdoms in the west. 'I wonder how Hadrian is doing?' Was the thought on my mind as I awaited the meeting with Khal Drago's khalasar. I looked over at the last two Targaryen siblings with hope. 'I hope your- plan works, Varys. If not we may see the sacking of Pentos and the death of the remaining Targaryens.'
"Lord Illyrio, when is my army going to be here?" Viserys asked, looking out towards the Dothraki Sea.
"Soon, your grace. We have heard that the Khal will be riding out with his band soon. They were apparently last seen heading towards the new city of Godric." Illyrio stated.'Hopefully the fool did not attack that place.' I thought of the untold thousands that have died on its walls.
"Can you tell me again about the city of Avalon, Lord Illyrio?" Daenerys asked with hopefulness in her eyes.
"According to the reports I have heard, the city is on the coast south of here. Apparently, it is settled in the known disputed lands, though after the sacking of Slaver's Bay the city sprang up at the entrance across from old Valeria. The city is a free city though slaves do still exist. It is disputed whether or not the new lord or Shadow Lord that people are calling him is actually real or not. Regardless, the place is made of white stone that seems to not wither away from the sand and sea. People are free to live, as long as they contribute to the city. The people are said to be taken care of by the city itself. Slavery is allowed in the city however mistreatment is not. The people who are treating people inhumanely are apparently taken away by the King." I began as he had read the reports his spies had brought back. "It is still not known why the city is as it is but apparently it is so clean that in the sun the city sparkles as if gemstones were in all the walls. Some reports even state that there is an ancient guardians from old Valeria that protects the city from the air whenever someone attacks."
I looked at Daenerys as she had the sparkling wonder in her eyes. She just seemed to eat up the stories from the city. Apparently it was everything she had hoped to be in and potentially thrive in. Unfortunately that was not the case for her however, as her brother spoke up, "Oh, those reports are just ridiculous. Honestly this Shadow King is nothing but a myth. I remember the Red Keep being the greatest place. If you think that I, the last Dragon and king, would ever live out in this filth ridden area is unbelievable. This lord is probably just an upstart who took advantage and is living in the remains of cities."
'Oh, dear god this child is arrogant.' Is what I wanted to say however, "Yes, your grace. The party should be here in a couple of hours. Hopefully they will be peaceful this time."
Viserys just blew me off as he looked towards his sister. "Daenerys, go take a bath. We must have you perfect for your new husband." He started gripping the poor girl's chin so her eyes were on his. "You must be perfect. We need his men so we can take back our rightful home. You can be perfect for me, right? You would not want to wake the dragon?"
I watched as a fearful girl just passed her sixteenth name day shaking her head up and down. "Good," Viserys continued on. "Now, go take a bath and make sure you are properly dressed in an hour. I will not have this deal messed up because of your stupidity."
I continued to watch as the girl was pushed out the door into the waiting arms of the servants that were to take care of her. 'Varys, if this plan succeeds I fear we will have another mad king on the throne.'
King's Landing No one POV
Jaime Lanister, the Kingslayer, walked into the mourning Red Keep. "Sir Jaime," Barristan stated as he was standing near the Throne waiting for the small council to start.
"Where is his grace?" Jaime asked as he knew he wouldn't be in his room with his whores.
"His Grace is currently helping getting Jon Arryn back to the Eyrie." Barristan replied as the rest of the small council was slowing making their way to their council meeting.
"My lords, we still have grave news. The my little birds have told me that there have been reports of dragons in Essos." Varys the spymaster reported. "This is now the 10th report in the last 2 years. Apparently their nest is in Avalon and the Shadow King domain."
This was terrifying news. "Is there any update on Avalon itself?" Petyr Baelish asked as his own spy network had not worked as all his spies had disappeared.
"Unfortunately no." Varus responded. "I have other bad news as well. His Grace will not be happy to hear."
"Please, my husband is in grief currently. We will hold off on anymore ill fated news." The queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Cersei Baratheon formerly Lannister stated.
"Of course your grace." Varys said as he let others take turns.
"My brother wishes to elect a new hand of the King." Renly Baratheon said as both him and Stannis his other brother were annoyed. "We will be traveling the King's Path to the North."
"His Grace demands that the council stay here." Grand Maester Pycelle stated as he was the one who sent ravens out towards Winterfell.
Benjen Stark POV
I looked at the wolf pups my brother's group had brought in. "Ned, is it really wise to bring them in?"
"Probably not. However, tell that to the boys." Ned said to his brother. "Any word from the wall?"
"No, we have some strange wilding activities but other than that nothing." I replied looking out towards where my duty had led me. "Has….. there been any word?"
"None, at least not since his mother passed." Ned replied looking at me. "No news is technically good new right?"
"Maybe… I just feel like I let them down." I reasoned as taking the oath of the Black was his way to protect them.
"Ben, you did what you thought was best." Ned replied. "As much as Samira yelled, she knew you did was difficult but kept our family safe."
I looked out to the window towards the narrow sea, not that I could actually see it. "I had more time…."
Flashback No one POV
Benjen looked towards the city of Pentos with distain. He had a son and a wife here, but he had just lost half of his own family. Walking down the gangplank towards the docks, he spotted Samira. Her eyes smoldering violet as she knew what had happened in Westeros. "So, the Mad King is dead." She stated as she looked at the man she loved while holding her bundle of joy.
"Yes…" Benjen said knowing she didn't really ask a question. "Robert is now King."
"So, now I am to be hunted? What about our Son?" Samira questioned causing Benjen to wince. "What else didn't you tell me?"
"Samira….." He started before she slapped him.
"Don't. Come Hadrian is hungry and I do not wish to show my body to the crowd." Samira stated as Hadrian woke up in a fuss after hearing her getting angry.
They walked for several minutes in silence. Benjen had to watch as the woman he loved and married simmered just under the surface. The fact she hadn't killed the guy who dared to drunkenly feel her up was a miracle. 'Now that I think about it, if Hadrian wasn't here she might have.' He thought as he saw her kick the man so hard that he was sure the man would never walk again.
Not that he could blame the poor bastard. His wife was one of the hottest women in Pentos as child birth seemed to bring her beauty to the forefront. Her satin red dress seemed to fit her form perfectly. The walk seemed to end as he was admiring her back side as she turned towards a door using a key to unlock it. Without looking back if he was following her, she casually walked into the room before sitting on a long lounge chair. "So, what is this all about then?" She questioned.
"Robert is on a killing spree of all Targaryen blood. He thinks my sister was rightfully his." Benjen explained. "I read the reports from my brother…. Not even the children are spared….."
"So, you think because of my ancestry he will come for us." Samira stated. "What of your brother?'
"He has his hands full with our nephew. Thank the gods his features take after Lyanna or we both fear he would be starting a war with us." Benjen explained as he turned away from both of them. "I have tried every angle I could. The worst is now that the Northern houses are being restless due to Catelyn trying to change them… They wish for me to marry."
"Which of course you can not due to our marriage." Samira summarized.
"Yes, nor would I wish to." Benjen cried out looking at his wife and child. "You were the only one for me….."
"And you for me….." Samira stated as she placed Hadrian in his crib. Walking over to Benjen. "Ben, you could just stay…."
"Robert would find out… I can't put everyone at risk." Benjen said as he was pulled into a hug.
"We could fight the world. But the sacrifice would cost us more than we are willing….." Samira stated looking a sleeping Hadrian. "What is your plan?"
"I plan on taking the black….."Benjen stated as it would shatter his world but it would also keep them all safe.
"Logically, it makes sense that would prevent an eternal conflict with your nephews, stop you from having a false marriage, and keep Hadrian out of the spotlight…." Samira said as she buried her face into his shoulder. "But what if it doesn't work?"
"Then I will abandon it and come back to you." Benjen said as he held his wife.
"Don't make that promise, Ben." Samira said as she the man close to her, the man who had given her first defeat, the scar near her eye, and the precious little boy she had brought into the world.
Flashback end Benjen POV
That was the last time I saw them. I took the black a month after to avoid the conflicts. "Do you have any details at all about happened to them."
"Sources say that night the house burned so brightly and hot that no one was able to get inside." Ned told me. "If anyone was inside….. they couldn't have survived."
I knew that he was speaking the truth. No matter how painful it was I knew. I should have been there… instead I did what I thought was right…
"Ben, he might still be alive….." Ned tried to console me.
"He probably is….. but he would probably hate me for everything…." I steeled myself as I knew answer.
"He will understand. His mother did." Ned stated as he turned to see Maester Luwin walk into the room.
"My lord, a raven arrived from King's Landing." Maester Luwin announced holding a scroll. "I am regret to inform you my lord, that it is not good news."
"Aye, Jon Arryn has passed….." Ned said out loud reading the scroll. "The King is making his way north as a tour of the 7 kingdoms."
"Ned…." I started as I watched him silently grieved for the man that was a second father to him.
"If the King is making his way north, we must prepare. Maester please leave us and send ravens out to the other lords of the north." Ned commanded as he looked towards the skies.
"You know what he is coming north for brother." I exclaimed as I was here on a temporary time due to Ned finding a deserter.
"Aye, we must prepare Jon to either join the watch or to head east." Ned stated as he started making plans.
"He does tend to want to join us….. however I fear that is the worst option. I say we send him East. He could become a sellsword. He is good enough." I stated as it was that way that when the kingdom was once again thrown into war he would be safe. "It is what Lyanna would have wanted…"
"Aye, I will talk to the lad. Maybe get him a ship to the infamous Avalon." Ned said as even this far north, Avalon had been a huge uproar. The North had benefitted the most as the city seemed to always supply the North with much need goods at much cheaper prices.
"Winter is coming brother…." I stated as looked out with him feeling the cool breeze slowing drifting towards the window.
"Aye, it is indeed." Ned stated as he started to prepare.
No one POV
Avalon, the city of dreams as many had called it. While the people who had once been slaves had claimed it as the city of freedom. To the outside world it laid a mystery. Why, because those that were sent to harm the city had not seen it's glory. The glowing white walls, the paved streets that allowed transportation to move quickly. To the fields of what seemed like never ending harvests. The city had it all. The mysterious part was that the city had popped up completely on it's own. Many of the former slaves would tell you that they had landed on the coastal city spot as their lord had pinpointed and then the city was there. It had taken them 3 months to get everything up and running from the fields getting tilled and properly nurtured to the docks that had taken their lord an entire day to create. So many of them were gracious to him that they had been not only freed but also given a chance to prosper that most did not question the things that happened. First of the glorious gifts was the farm animals. Cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, you name it some how their lord had secured them for his people.
Next was what he called plumbing. No longer did they require to use buckets or ditches. No they had a place in every one of their houses to use the relieve themselves. Public bath houses were used to clean themselves. No one questioned where the water or filth was going as it was better than anything they had dealt with. Finally came the trading ships and clothes. Silks made of the finest threads seemed to be the normal for the people to walk around in.
What people did not know though was the land was not the only thing that was in constant health as people seemed to be able to work longer and harder not that they ever noticed. Yes, their lord or the Shadow Lord as he was called was a blessing many would fight for. In the southern part of the city, near the coast, sat a castle made of pure white stone. The castle was built and made for their lord as he needed it positioned there. (So, I am imagining a city similar to Ba Sing Se where there are 3 walls. The castle sitting near the coast where it can easily defend against a naval invasion but also have walls against assault on multiple parts of the city with walls and gates protecting parts of the city. I will eventually be making a map of it.)
Looking out the castle balcony, as the sun started to rise, stood a man dressed in a black silk robe looking as the woman in his bed stirred. "Hmmm, why did you leave?" Missandei complained as she missed his warmth.
"I was looking out over the city." The man replied as he stared out toward the outer wall near the Dothraki Sea.
"Hadrian, let Samira and Sirius handle the savages….." Missandei said as she stepped out of bed completely naked . "They have scared off plenty of those men in the past. They can do it now."
"Hmm…." He hummed as she walked up behind him rubbing his chest.
"Is it about the vision you had?" She asked as she started to slowly kiss his neck as he stood a foot taller than her it was a difficult task that she knew he loved.
"It came again, this time I fear with the changing of the seasons, we are going to be busy." Hadrian said as he leaned back into the warm embrace of the woman.
"Then the time has come to show the world," She replied kissing his cheek. "As much as I would like to have you for myself, I know you are too influential." She kissed his neck. "Too strong." She kissed his shoulder. "Too important." She turned him around before pushing him gently into the chair he had placed out there. "And as much as I would like to deny, too insatiable to keep to myself." She said as she slowly lowered herself onto his lap pushing his dick into her fully.
"You my dear, are the one that is insatiable." Hadrian said as he knew she was right as the night before she had passed out from their rough and passionate time.
"That is because you keep preventing me from bearing your child love." Missandei panted out as she slowly slid herself up and down on him.
"You know why," He started before she kissed him quite.
She knew of course that he was using magic to prevent her from being pregnant until the dream he shared with her was fulfilled. "That doesn't mean I have to like it…." She cried out as she slammed herself onto his waist. "So full….."
Of course she would go to that as he felt her clinch down on him. He knew how big he was. "Missandei…" he cried out as she started to move up and down on him crying out.
"Love, please…." She cried out as pushed herself back down unable to stop herself from climaxing.
Hadrian grunted as he released inside of her as his magic worked overdrive to remove the chance of having children. As they held each other in rising sun, bells called out signifying what he knew was to come. "Love, I must go…" He said as he picked up the exhausted woman into his arms before placing her back in his bed.
"I know….. please… becareful…." She whispered out as she pulled him into a passionate kiss.
"I always am." He muttered out as he rested his forehead on hers.
An hour later, Hadrian was flying out on top of Samira with Sirius nearby. "Must they always try to raid my city…." Hadrian muttered as he looked out towards the sea of men and horses. This was not the first time in 2 years the Dothraki had attacked. No it seemed that every time a khalasar was nearby they would attack. It normally ended up with either Hadrian killing group if they decided it was not worth the amount they wished to try to reason with. Unfortunately this was a klahasar that was massive. Of course they would hardly ever get into the actual city proper even with their forces, but they still posed a threat to his people. "Who is the leader of this Klahasar? Who is your Klah?" Hadrian called out towards the horde as he landed in front of them Samira and Sirius around him.
He chuckled watching the men in front of him tremble at the 2 dragons in front of them. He heard them whispered about his black armor. Valyrian steel black as midnight surrounded him. The Shadow Lord he heard them call out as if that will stop him. Thinking back on it though it wasn't entirely their fault. Afterall, he was the first man since the collapse to step foot in the ruined cities of Valyria. There he had found his armor and riches. All the while using the very thing that caused the collapse of the great nation.
Flashback
Hadrian flew with Samira towards the old volcanoes as he needed resources. He had run out of money and his city was just starting. So, he made the decision to use his magic once more. Missandei would have been pissed at him if she knew as he had just recovered after his creating his wardstone as his memories called it. He had used so much of his own blood it had taken him a full month to recover after he placed the stone deep underneath his soon to be castle. The magical essence was so strong that it made his visions of a magical castle seem tame. Though that might have been because of the closeness to Valyria he had made his city and the raw power that the volcanoes had shifted where the powers of the world laid. Regardless, he had told no one where he was going. So, Hadrian flew on Samira as she was barely big enough for him to ride. His blood rushed as she powered through the smoke and ash of the fourteen fires.
Hadrian weaved magic as they slowly descended to the capital city. Hadrian saw destruction from up high that shook him. Here the city was shattered to pieces. 'Focus. We need their valuables.' He thought as he had Samira lower to the Volcano in the center of the city. He knew he had one shot at this as his blood magic was already going wild. He descended down towards a roof top. Tapping Samira, Hadrian jumped off her back and pulled out his mother's blade. The heat from the volcano was intense. He slowly cut his way through the hardened rock that covered the entrance from the once roof, Hadrian started to descend. He was thankful to whatever gods that the house was completely encased in the hardened stone as he made his way down easier. He walked through the small corridor towards the proper house. All of the doors were gone from age and heat. 'This place must have became an oven.' He thought feeling just a sample of the heat of what the people inside must have felt.
Hadrian walked through the halls of this forgotten house. 'More like a palace.' He thought as he peered through his first door to what looked like a child's room if the bones he found were any indication. More rooms he searched finding small pieces of gold and jewelry. Getting desperate because of his limited time, Hadrian decided to risk it and started running through the halls and rooms. He would grabbed anything of value before he rushed to the next, his magic pulsing slowly to any metal he would find. Slowly Hadrian descended to the next floor as he finished clearing the top only finding a key that had been stuck to a skeleton's body.
Hadrian continued to clear floor after floor as he slowly made his way further into the palace until he came to the bottom. The basement held a dragon's bones and skull and a safe the size of it's skull. 'If Samira and Sirius get this big, they are going to cost a fortune to feed.' He thought as he pulled bones and scales he could find from the remains.
As much as he wished to take the skull, he knew that it was pushing his limits of what he could carry and he still had the vault to grab. Hadrian put the key into the lock causing the door to fully unlock. 'Magic of this place is amazing.' He thought as even through all of the disaster the magic of Old Valyria had still maintained the power to the vault. Inside was mountain of gold coins, scrolls of magics lost to the world and a black armor that seemed completely devoid of light.
Flashback end
Hadrian chuckled to himself of the memory. It was the day he put the armor on and it formed to fit him and at the first battle he dubbed the Shadow Lord. Now standing in front a Dothraki horde, Hadrian saw the power of his name. Some of the low soldiers attempted to make a name for themselves were cut down by dragon fire. "If your coward of a Klah does not wish to stand before me then fine. I will kill all here." Hadrian called out in Dothraki knowing his insult with speed this up.
"You dare to call our Klah, leader of the strongest klahasar a coward?" A bloodrider called out.
"I call the man more than that if he does not kneel before me." Hadrian called out. "Now do we start the slaughter or do we follow the Dothraki code and fight for command?!"
"You are no Dothraki!" Pono a ko of the Khal called out. "Kill the feeble man!"
The Dothraki rushed Hadrian as he sighed. Thousands of screams filled the the air. "Sirius..." Hadrian called as the Blue dragon roared burning through out land. Thousands of men burned before him. "Sanguis exhaurire viverra!" Hadrian called out as the blood of them men seemed to puddle and pool into his blade.
The Dothraki horde stopped in horror as their men died and the blood began to pool into the Shadow Lord's sword. "Bring out your Khal!" Hadrian called out as his voice carriered across the entire army.
"You dare!" The Khal called out as he was a hulking of a man as he walked towards Hadrian from the middle of his horde.
"Finally deciding to show yourself worm." Hadrian called out as the man got the front.
"I am the Greatest Khal among the Dothraki! I am..." The Khal called out before a blade was launched into his chest.
"You are dead." Hadrian called out as he watched the man fall to the ground. "Now, who is next?"
Hadrian watched as the klahasar kneeled. "What?"