Chapter 7: Revelations at Dragonstone
The fresh, salty air of Dragonstone enveloped Daenerys and the crown prince's family as they approached the majestic fortress on the coast. Despite the relief of being safe, a feeling of uncertainty persisted in the group as they neared the walls.
The guards guarding the main entrance watched with surprise and disbelief as the entourage approached. They wondered how the crown prince's family had arrived at Dragonstone without having seen a boat, and were especially intrigued by the mysterious woman walking alongside them, whose appearance resembled that of Queen Rhaella. Their minds were filled with questions and suspicions: Were the crown prince's heirs kidnapped? Were they coming as friends or as enemies?
However, the certainty that they were the crown prince's children, and the duty to protect the royal family, led them to let the group pass and quickly inform Queen Rhaella of their arrival.
Inside the fortress, in the throne room, Queen Rhaella waited nervously and eagerly. When the door opened and she saw her son's wife, Princess Elia, enter with the children, Rhaenys and Aegon, her eyes filled with tears of joy and relief.
"My dears!" exclaimed the queen, running towards them with open arms, taking care with her pregnant belly. "You're safe! Thank the Seven, you're safe."
Tears of emotion ran down Rhaella's cheeks as she embraced her grandchildren tightly. However, her joy was momentarily clouded when her gaze fell upon the mysterious woman accompanying them.
"Elia, who is this woman?" the queen asked with surprise and disbelief, her gaze fixed on Daenerys.
Elia, with a mixture of gratitude and respect, approached her mother and explained the situation. "Mother, this woman saved us. She is..."
Before Elia could finish her explanation, Daenerys intervened gently. "Allow me, Princess Elia," she said softly, placing a hand on Elia's shoulder to stop her. "I am someone important to Rhaegar, but it is necessary that you listen to me... that you hear my story."
Queen Rhaella frowned, confused by Daenerys' words. "Your story?" she repeated, her tone full of disbelief.
Daenerys took a deep breath before continuing, aware of the importance of her words. "Yes, my dear mother," she said seriously. "I am your daughter Daenerys Targaryen," Daenerys glanced at Queen Rhaella's belly and continued, "but I am also something more. I come from the future, blessed by the Valyrian pantheon with powers that transcend time and space to help our family."
Daenerys' words resonated in the throne room, leaving everyone stunned by her revelation. Queen Rhaella looked at her with amazement, her eyes full of questions and fears. What did this mean for the future of her family and the Seven Kingdoms?
Princess Elia, Rhaenys, and the guards watched Daenerys with astonishment and curiosity as she spoke those words; while Aegon slept. Their minds filled with questions and their hearts stirred with disbelief at what they were hearing. How could it be possible for this woman to claim to be the Queen's unborn daughter and also come from the future?
Queen Rhaella, on the other hand, remained silent, her gaze alternating between confusion and concern. Daenerys' words filled her with fears and doubts about what it meant for the destiny of her family and the Seven Kingdoms.
"Daenerys..." murmured the queen, her voice barely a whisper filled with uncertainty, and touching her belly.
With an expression of amazement and confusion, Queen Rhaella looked at Daenerys with teary eyes, trying to assimilate the enormity of her words. Her lips trembled slightly as she struggled to find the right words to respond. Finally, after a moment of tense silence, she spoke with a trembling voice.
"Daenerys... my daughter?" she murmured, her eyes searching Daenerys' for any sign of confirmation or denial. "How can this be true? How can you be...?"
Daenerys nodded with understanding, feeling the weight of the revelation on her shoulders. "I know, mother. It is hard to believe. But it is the truth. I have come here to help you, to protect you and ensure that we have a better future."
Queen Rhaella grasped the arms of the throne, trying to steady herself as her mind tried to process the shocking revelation. "But... how can it be true? How can I believe that you are my daughter, that you have come from the future...?"
Daenerys approached gently and took her mother's trembling hands in hers. "Mother, I know it is difficult to accept. But you must trust me. I have no reason to lie to you. I am here to help you, to protect you. Please, trust me. My words may seem hard to believe, but I beg you to listen to me. I have come here with a mission, a mission that can change the course of history and save our family from a dark and disastrous fate."
Queen Rhaella fell silent for a moment, her mind struggling with the overwhelming amount of information she had just received. Finally, with a weary sigh, she nodded slowly. "Very well, Dae... Daenerys," she said with a trembling voice. "I will give you the chance to prove your sincerity and loyalty. But you must understand that this is a lot to take in. I will need time to process it all."
Daenerys nodded gratefully, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders at her mother's acceptance. "Thank you, mother. I will do everything in my power to earn your trust and love."
With a farewell gesture, Daenerys slowly withdrew, allowing Queen Rhaella time to assimilate everything she had just revealed. As she left the throne room, her mind was filled with determination and hope. Despite the challenges they would face in the future, she was determined to protect her family and ensure they had a better future.
Daenerys looked once more at her mother, Elia, and the children with a mix of affection and concern. She knew they needed time, so she decided to leave them to rest and reflect in private.
"Mother, Elia, Rhaenys, Aegon," Daenerys said with a soft but firm voice. "I will leave you to have time to rest and reflect. Please, take this time to process everything that has happened. I will be back soon to help you with anything you need."
With one last look of concern, Daenerys exited the throne room, leaving her family behind to face the challenges that lay ahead. As she walked through the halls of Dragonstone, her mind was filled with thoughts and plans for the future; but also a sense of pain as she passed through these familiar yet so different halls... her memories affecting her greatly.
Back at the Red Keep, Daenerys faced an even more urgent task: finding a way to stop the threat of wildfire before it was too late. She knew she could not allow King's Landing to be destroyed in her father's madness, King Aerys.
With determination in her heart, Daenerys delved into her studies of Valyrian magic. She entered the fortress library, observing the alchemists from the
shadows. Leveraging her teleportation, levitation, and invisibility abilities, she had a unique advantage. However, she was desperately searching for any clue that could help her neutralize the destructive power of wildfire. She spent hours poring over ancient texts, but every answer she found seemed only to lead to more unanswered questions.
At that moment, Daenerys realized she was not hungry. She couldn't remember the last time she ate, and her body showed no signs of fatigue. Furthermore, she noticed she didn't feel the need to use the restroom. This revelation deeply perplexed her and made her realize that her humanity had been extinguished. However, she knew she couldn't afford to give up. She was aware that she couldn't fail in her mission and decided to press on with determination.
With each new discovery, she renewed her determination and commitment to protect her family and King's Landing from destruction. She also faced another challenge: finding a way to hide the disappearance of her brother's family. She knew that any suspicion about their disappearance could endanger not only her family but also King's Landing. She didn't want to see the city burn again and was determined to prevent it at all costs.
But she had to go to Dragonstone to help her mother, consult with her maester, and check on the progress of her pregnancy. Additionally, she had to go see Lyanna. There were so many moments to act, and yet so little time; the passage of time is sometimes so relative.
With cunning and determination, Daenerys outlined a meticulous plan to preserve the safety of wildfire, establishing a protective shield that would prevent anyone with the intention of igniting it from getting close. It was vital to ensure the city's protection, even if it meant taking drastic measures. Although she wished for the Great Sept of Baelor to be destroyed, she knew that within it lay the remains of the Targaryen ancestors. However, the idea of moving those remains to Dragonstone lingered in her mind, as a way to safeguard their legacy and prevent the history of her house from disappearing, either by wildfire or by armed conflict.
Additionally, Daenerys decided to take possession of a common family from King's Landing, a decision that weighed heavily on her heart but that she considered necessary to ensure the stability of the realm. Drawing inspiration from Melisandre's shape-shifting abilities, Daenerys modified the appearance of this family, manipulating their memories to believe they were the royal family: Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon. The father of this family was designated as a guardian, whose memories were altered to believe he was a faithful servant of the crown and to the prince's family. Although painful, it was a necessary sacrifice to maintain peace and security in King's Landing.
Daenerys silently prayed that these people, whom she theoretically had "kidnapped," would not suffer any harm and could find some peace by acting as the royal family; she committed to restoring their lives and protecting them for their service to the crown for the rest of their days. Every step she took was carefully calculated, every move was intended to protect her family and maintain harmony in the Seven Kingdoms. She was aware of the moral burden she carried on her shoulders, but she was willing to bear the weight of her decisions for the greater good.
Meanwhile, at Dragonstone, Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon slowly adapted to their new life under Queen Rhaella's protection. Although they were safe for the moment, they knew that danger still lurked in the shadows, and that their destiny was far from assured.
Daenerys decides it is time to speak with her mother.
Note: This story is based on the universe created by George R.R. Martin in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series of novels, as well as the HBO television adaptation "Game of Thrones." The characters and world in which this story takes place do not belong to me and are the property of the original author and the television network.