The last few months were nothing short of strange for Qirzzah. That night he had found Aenar passed out in the tub and hurriedly brought him out and into his bed. The boy was safe, but something had certainly changed in him. The next morning Aenar had flown into Valyria as he had intended to do, but what he did there Qirzzah did not know. Every evening Aenar would return with scratches and dents on his armour. Every time Qirzzah asked what bothered the boy, he'd always murmur about ice and darkness before he'd either change the subject to his business or invite the Unsullied to train with him. That was a change in him that the man was shocked to see. He'd never seen the boy train in the years they'd worked together, the only sign that the boy knew how to fight was seen the day he'd fought to not be sold. But he was a better sword, much better than the Unsullied who used their spears and shields to train with him. Qirzzah was almost mesmerized seeing the boy fight. He was like water, attacking like the waves of the sea a storm surged, unrelenting and unforgiving.
And then one day he declared he'd be returning to Westeros.
There was no arguing the decision he made, that much was clear in his tone and his gaze. Something had happened in those three months that Aenar refused to share. Maybe he'd seen something far worse than the hybrid abominations. The very thought sent shivers down Qirzzah's spine.
Over the following month, the last of the Valyrian Steel artefacts were either sold as is or were reforged and then sold. But all of them were sold in the end. The smiths from Qohor were given their last pay and some bonuses that they were all happy about. The Iron Bank saw to it that their investment was paid back in full and made sure the surplus was secured in Aenar's vault with them.
Trianna tried to make Aenar see reason all through it, to try and keep him in Essos. Qirzzah couldn't blame her. The friendship with Aenar had bore fruits to Volantis and by extension to Trianna, and having a dragon rider close discouraged people from attacking them. The absence of Aenar and his dragon would be a big blow for sure.
But even the promise of manses, status and wealth did not stop Aenar.
The day Aenar left, he personally said goodbye to everyone who worked for him, from the smiths in the smithies to the Unsullied that guarded him. The Unsullied were given the task of escorting the smiths back to Qohor, and after that, they were given the orders to do as they pleased as free men, something that shocked Qirzzah and the Unsullied themselves. But the Unsullied were nothing if not loyal, and they heeded Aenar's words. Aenar then said his farewells to an unhappy Trianna, with promises that they would meet again one day. The same promise was made to Qirzzah, who would not admit to being emotional.
And then Aenar took flight from the camp of Oros one last time, never to be sighted there again.
The dragons were all ill at ease and nobody could blame them. It hadn't been long since Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone had declared himself King of all Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Accounts differ as to how each kingdom reacted, but it was no doubt that none of them were too happy.
The dragon tamers at Dragonstone took extra care in preparing each dragon for battle. Balerion was the King's mount and Vhagar and Meraxes belonged to the two Queens. That was all the dragons that were going off to war.
That was until a fourth dragon dropped in the Dragonmont. Chaos ensued amongst the dragon tamers, but the dragons all watched in silence as if they had been expecting the fourth one. Perhaps they had.
The King's brother descended from the new dragon, his black armour gleaming in the sunlight. The dragon tamers stopped their panicking.
"Feed Cannibal as well and prepare him for war, please. But do not try to saddle him, he will burn you without hesitation" Aenar passed the gaping dragon tamers and made his way to the castle of Dragonstone.
He stopped when he ran into a few men in arms.
"Where may I find my brother and sisters?"
The men were silent, staring at the boy of ten and three (almost four) with wide eyes. Aenar cleared his throat and asked again.
"The Stone Drum," one of the men said after snapping out of it. "They should be in the Chamber of the Painted Table."
Aenar smiled at the man and walked away.
People stopped and stared as Aenar walked through the familiar halls of Dragonstone, people who knew him and probably never expected to see him again. He couldn't blame them for thinking that. Cannibal had just taken him from Dragonstone and flew off who knows where in their minds. A wild dragon doing that usually meant death.
Aenar had stopped a maid and asked where he could find his siblings and the maid had helped tell him where to go. Even though she looked like she was talking to a ghost.
The Stone Drum was a massive tower which served as the central keep of Dragonstone. It was named so for the booming and rumbling sounds that could be heard during storms. Aenar had crossed the gallery and passed through the middle and inner walls to get as far as he had. He then had to climb to the top of the tower, where two men stood guarding an open doorway. Both men saw him, gaped and lowered their heads as Aenar passed through.
The painted table was a new addition since his departure, a large carved table depicting the entirety of Westeros. The chamber it was in was a round one with four tall windows overlooking the north, south, east and west. The table was made of wood and painted, and much larger than any map Aenar had seen in his life.
"Argillac Durrandon has sent his reply to our proposal" Aegon spoke from the head of the table. There were many men that Aenar recognized, like Lord Velaryon and Celtigar, and men Aenar did not recognise by face but from the sigil sewn in their garbs. There was the Lord of Sharp Point, Lord Bar Emmon and the Lord of Stonedance, Lord Massey. Orys Baratheon, half-brother to the Targaryen siblings was also present.
"And it is not something pleasant, I'm assuming" Orys stated calmly.
Aegon threw him an apologetic look.
"He has refused our offer… and sent our envoy's hands with a letter stating these would be the only hands he'd give."
The chambers were plunged into silence for just a moment.
"So one more enemy to deal with" Lord Bar Emmon muttered and the rest murmured their agreement.
"It was a foolish offer to begin with, brother. Argillac Durrandon is an arrogant and proud man. He would never consent to Ory's hands for his daughter" Aenar spoke. He had been taught about the Kings of Westeros by his Maester when he was younger.
They all jumped at the unexpected voice and Aenar stepped forward to get a better look at the table. It was more magnificent up close.
"Do we have any letters where men and women have laid down their swords and accepted you as their King?" Aenar looked up, only to find wide shocked eyes staring at him.
"Aenar?" Rhaenys muttered.
"Yes, hello. Back to war?" Aenar asked, only to be rushed by Rhaenys (who came around the table) and tackled over for a hug.
"You're alive!" the woman sobbed, clinging to her younger brother.
Aenar, a little awkward, patted his sister on the back.
"Rhaenys give him some space to breathe" Visenya's exasperated tone made Aenar smile, it was a familiarity he'd missed.
Rhaenys sniffled and got off of Aenar, helping him to his feet before she was cupping his face.
"You're okay" she whispered. Her eyes begged for him to confirm it.
"I'm okay" Aenar smiled. Half a lie. He still had scars from that black sludge and all the times those Valyrian Abominations tried to kill him. He may have healed, but the scars would not vanish. Aenar didn't mind it one bit.
"You have armour on… With Valyrian glyphs. And a sword too. I don't remember you owning them" Visenya questioned.
"I got them from Valyria" Aenar answered, much to the shock of everyone.
Then Daemon Velaryon broke into laughter.
"So the rumours were true!" he exclaimed.
"Rumours?" Aegon asked. "What rumours? And why was I never told?!"
"Because they were rumours and I did not wish to impart false hope on you or your wives" the man assured his King and old friend. Then he turned to Aenar with a look that was very similar to pride. "So it was you who brought Valyrian Steel out of Valyria and sold it to Essos? And the one who annihilated the Dothraki?"
Stunned eyes fell back on Aenar, who was rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Aye," he agreed. "Cannibal dropped me deep into the peninsula and I found… things there."
Nobody dared to ask what he'd found there, not with the look in Aenar's eyes. Though Aenar was certain Aegon would ask later.
"Why did you kill the Dothraki?" Lord Bar Emmon questioned.
"They were bad for business" Aenar shrugged. "And two of them tried to sell me to slavery."
Someone snorted, and Aenar was certain it was Visenya.
"Enough of that now. Do we not have a war to prepare for?"
"Maybe it would have been a better idea to bring some of the Valyrian Steel to help our cause, brother."
"I must have missed your raven where you tell me we were going to war."
The four siblings sat for dinner, Aegon at the head of the table and his two wives on either side of him. Rhaenys insisted that Aenar sits on her other side.
Aegon's lips pursed before he sighed.
"Though I do come bearing some gifts" Aenar tapped his head when all three siblings looked at him. "I know how to make new Valyrian Steel."
It was the Shadow that had given him that knowledge when it merged with Aenar, giving him access to every Valyrian Spell ever created in history. Amongst other things.
Visenya almost stood in shock.
"Give me your best smiths and I can craft spells to imbue into the steel they work on and give you Valyrian Steel. Though it would take time and perhaps for a greater part of this war of yours we might not have the opportunity to do so."
Aegon sighed, sipping his wine and muttering under his breath.
"And I would request that you leave the North to me. I can bring them to our cause easily."
"The North is not so easy to conquer" Aegon warned.
"I do not intend to conquer the North. I merely wish to sit and have words with King Torrhen Stark. I believe our end goals are the same."
"And how would you know that?" Rhaenys asked. "You haven't been here for years. The man doesn't know you and you certainly don't know him."
"You're correct, we do not know each other" Aenar conceded. "But House Stark have been the undisputed protectors of the North for so long for a reason. The North Remembers, they say. They remember the thing you saw in your dream, sister."
Rhaenys stiffened, Aegon and Visenya turning sharp eyes to Aenar.
"How did you know?" Rhaenys asked.
"Because I have seen the same thing" Aenar answered.