Flashback: Fourteen Years Ago
Winterfell
Visenya's Age: 7 Years Old
"Lady Stark, why do you not pray to the Old Gods?" Visenya asked as she and Catelyn were walking to the small Sept that was located within Winterfell, that was dedicated to the Seven.
"I wasn't raised in Winterfell." Catelyn explained looking to the younger girl. "I was raised in Riverrun."
"Your father is a River Lord?" Visenya asked looking up to Catelyn.
Catelyn smiled and nodded. "Yes. Just like you, I was raised under the eyes of the Seven."
"Some members of my family prayed to The Gods of Old Valyria." Visenya admitted.
"Really? Whom?"
Visenya fell quiet trying to remember who prayed to the Old Valyrian Gods. She then nodded once she remembered.
"My father did occasionally...he mentioned Vhagar and Balerion quite often...but I don't know if he meant the Gods or the dragons."
Catelyn gave the child a sad smile. "It is alright that you don't know...but it is good to still have this knowledge...to remind yourself that you are of Valyrian descent."
"You and Lord Stark are not angry that I practice High Valyrian?" Visenya asked carefully.
Catelyn stopped in her tracks, kneeling down to be at the small girl's level. In the past four years since Ned brought Visenya to Winterfell, Catelyn felt a deep understanding to the girl. She was confused, and lonely. She didn't understand why her father was killed, and she didn't understand why her family was torn apart in front of her. Every move she made, she was cautious, and both Catelyn and Ned could see that. But luckily for Visenya, in their eyes...she could do no harm.
They loved her like a child of their own.
Catelyn gently placed a hand on the girl's cheek. "Of course not. We want you to be comfortable here, Visenya. That includes things that remind yourself of home. Whether it'd be the dragon eggs that sit by your window, or your Valyrian lessons...we want you to be happy and healthy."
Visenya looked the older woman in the eyes, before giving her an unexpected hug, that nearly knocked Catelyn to the floor. Visenya loved Catelyn and Ned as if they were her own parents. They loved her like a child of their own.
Whatever the people of Westeros would say...and no matter how many times people would say she is the daughter of Aerys, The Mad King...she saw Ned and Catelyn as her true parents.
Present Day
2 Weeks Later
Visenya's Age: 21 Years Old
Once the rest of the Riverlords who were bannermen to House Tully and their allies, found out about what occurred at Riverrun, they came out of the woodwork, in support for the cause to eliminate the iron grasp House Whitehill had on House Forrester. All of this however, came with another big thing that Visenya wasn't expecting.
They swore their allegiance to Visenya.
And only Visenya.
It had been two weeks since she had successfully taken Riverrun, and as she continued her way north, she had begun to wonder what it would be like is they had a run in with the Boltons..probably not well.
In reality though, Visenya had missed the North, as she thought of it more of her second home, next to Dragonstone. But in the back of her mind, she knew that the current Winterfell would not be the same as the Winterfell she came to know.
And that thought alone terrified her.
She was currently sitting in a command tent, miles away from Winterfell, but close enough to Highpoint and Ironwrath, that it was still manageable and undetectable from Bolton forces. Surrounding her were the few people she trusted at this very moment that knew the situation better than she did including Mira (who had arrived a few days prior, as one of Edmure's commanders went to Dragonstone to maintain the castle, and keep Pycelle from going insane, even though in Visenya's mind he was already going there), her brother's Rodrik and Ryon, her younger sister Talia, Edmure, and one of his most trusted commanders.
"How formidable is Highpoint?" Visenya casually asked.
Mira sighed. "It is the opposite of Ironwrath...it is a fortress seated atop a large hill...the highest point within the Wolfswood."
"And how many soldiers?" Edmure asked. "How big is their army?"
"600 men...easily managable." Rodrik explained.
"But you are in no condition to fight." Mira began. "You barely made it out alive...I will not loose another sibling to those heathens."
"We can help." Ryon and Talia began. "Mother and Father would want us to help."
"And again." Mira sighed. "I am not loosing either of you."
"Why do they hate your family so much?" Visenya asked, crossing her right leg over her left. "I was never educated on the matter by Ned Stark...Robb probably was."
"We are unsure of the feud as well." Rodrik explained. "It's mainly founded on Ironwood. The Whitehill's argue that our House took all of the Ironwood on their land...but we were told exactly what to take by them."
"So it's glorified hear say?" She asked in disbelief.
"The matter get's worse, as the years went on." Mira explained. "Over twenty years ago, the Whitehill's controlled the valley where Ironwrath currently is, but it was taken back by our ancestor Thorren Forrester."
"Thorren the Bold, correct?" Visenya sighed.
Mira nodded. "Yes."
"With an army of about 600 Bannermen, we can easily take them." Edmure's commander began. "If we devise a plan of attack..."
"No!" Visenya protested. "We are preventing bloodshed."
"Princess..."Rodrik began. "They've murdered members of my family."
She gave him a sad smile. "I know what it's like to loose family members to other houses...but I will not let another war break out, just for more lives to be lost. I will negotiate peacefully with the Whitehills..."
"But?" Mira questioned, noticing Visenya's trailing off.
She let out a sigh. "Only then, if he does not agree to developing a treatment...I will then allow for bloodshed...but not by an army."
"By what?" Talia and Ryon asked.
"By dragon fire." Mira nodded.
Visenya then stood up from her seat and nodded. "It is settled, at dawn, we ride for Highpoint...and only after negotiations go south, I will attack."
"Do you mean to bring the dragons?" Edmure asked in curiosity. "Aegon the Conqueror and various other Targaryen kings brought their dragons to negotiations."
She shook her head. "No...if I learned anything over the years from the Starks...it is that diplomacy is everything...especially during negotiations. Intimidation will not be a winning factor in any form of war."
Sure enough, even before the dawn broke that morning, Visenya, Mira, and Edmure all rode to Highpoint. Rodrik, Talia, Ryon, and the rest of the River Lords sworn to Visenya all stayed behind, but awaited for instructions as soon as they were to get back. Visenya also left Aegonar and Sunspear behind as well...knowing the sheer size of Sunspear, and the quickness of Aegonar, could potentially both scare and intimidate Lord Whitehill.
Upon approaching the gates, they were met by Lord Ludd Whitehill himself, mounted on his own horse, including his second in command, mounted standing on his own horse, a few feet behind them. For the first time in a long time, Visenya wore her house colors, red and black, with a red overcoat, and a pair of black pants...an outfit that she usually wore when she was flying.
Lord Whitehill looked at her in amusement, watching her pristine blonde hair flow in the wind, as she sat on top of her white horse.
"Princess Visenya Targaryen..." He began. "They call you The Queen of Dragons...yet here I see no dragons?"
Visenya let out a sigh, but stood her ground. "I left them back at our encampment, My Lord. I did not want you to be intimidated during our talk. I want you to feel the most comfortable."
The older man let out a laugh, making Mira look down in disbelief, wondering if this peace talk word work.
"Comfortable?" He asked in disbelief. "You sound more like a wolf than a dragon...unsurprising, since you were raised by those wolves."
"Those wolves saved her life...and you obeyed them for a time." Edmure began.
"Says the man who watched the wolves die at his own wedding." Lord Whitehill retorted. "You Tully's are so...predictable."
Edmure frowned in anger and annoyance, and Visenya held up her right hand, signaling for him to stand down, giving him a small nod, before turning back to Lord Whitehill.
"What do you want, girl?" He asked in anger. "I do not have time for your silly mind games."
"I am not here to play games." She explained. "I am here on behalf of House Forrester...in the hopes for peace."
Just as he was about to reply, his second in command, who was silent this whole time, held out a hand.
"Go on." He answered for Lord Whitehill.
"It has come to my attention that this centuries old feud with the Forrester's dates back to a disagreement over Ironwood." Visenya began. "I can easily come up with a solution."
"And what would that be?" Lord Whitehill asked.
"Since the Forrester's have more Ironwood than needed, I propose that if you were to take half of their Ironwood, it wouldn't even make a dent, thus allowing for you to restore your supply as well." She explained. "That way, both sides would be happy, and no longer engaging in a silly feud over the amount of Ironwood within the valley and the area. And in return...you will release your torment and grip on House Forrester, allowing for them to take control of Ironwrath once again."
"This would prevent anymore bloodshed or losses from occurring, My Lord." Mira explained. "You have already lost your son and heir...it is the least we could do, to prevent another civil war from breaking out."
Lord Whitehill fell quiet, and was in deep thought for a few moments. Before he began laughing again. Mira looked down in sorrow, before looking over to Visenya who's blue eyes were dark in fury. As the laughter dyed down, his once gleeful expression tuned into a serious one.
"If that's the best option you have...your a fucking idiot child." He began. "You know nothing about the North. You weren't born here. The Stark's may have raised you...but you don't know anything of our history. I will remain the ruler of Ironwrath and Highpoint...and you will take your pretty little face, and the rest of your pathetic individuals and go back to your dragon castle." Lord Whitehill explained.
Both Mira and Edmure, expected Visenya to come back screaming, ready to murder the man.
But she just gave him a small smile.
"Understood...I thank you for your time." She began. "Perhaps I should've brought my dragons...they allowed for Aegon the Conqueror to siege Harrenhal...and for Queen Visenya to siege the Eryie. Allowing for Harren the Black and for House Arryn to realize what all tend to fear."
"And what is that?" Lord Whitehill asked.
"That fire and blood will come to those who infuriate House Targaryen." She warned before turning her horse around, leading Edmure and Mira back to their camp, now knowing what she was going to do.
Once they arrived at the camp, it was already nightfall. Visenya dismounted her horse, and began to walk toward where her dragons were, knowing what she was going to do. As she got closer, she only saw Sunspear, making her frown in confusion.
Where was Aegonar?
As she got closer, she saw one of Edmure's bannermen, who was watching both dragons, look around in confusion.
"Where is Aegonar?" Visenya asked. "Did he go off to hunt?"
The man shook his head. "I am unsure, Princess. He let out a loud roar, then flew up, and disappeared, he has been gone since you left."
Visenya's eyes widened in disbelief. "That is unlike him...he never leaves without me."
"I am certainly confused as well, Princess." The man explained before walking away.
Mira walked up to Visneya and saw Aegonar missing. "Where's Aegonar?"
Visenya shrugged. "I don't know...and I am concerned for him...but I have bigger things to worry about."
Visenya then walked toward Sunspear, and gestured for her to lower herself, allowing for Visenya to climb onto her back.
"What're you going to do?" Mira called up to her.
"Do the same thing Aegon the Conqueror did to Harren the Black...burn Highpoint to the ground." She began before commanding Sunspear to take flight.
Similar to how she attacked the Twins, she allowed for Sunspear to hide herself within the clouds, and after doing a couple laps around Highpoint, that's when she began her descent...allowing for her plan to begin.
"Dracarys." Visenya ordered.
And with all her might, Sunspear unleashed her fire upon the fortress. However, that was not the only plan of attack going on. On the way back from Highpoint, Mira, Visenya, and Edmure all decided that a smaller attack on the remaining soldiers in Ironwrath was to be done, while Visenya was burning Highpoint. That way, the Whitehill's will not know which attack to concentrate on first.
Visenya burned Highpoint for many hours, and the interesting part was...Visenya only had to say the word once, for Sunspear to understand what she wanted. Since Sunspear was the bigger dragon, her flames were quite strong, as Visenya watched the building melt from the strength of the dragon fire. She winced when she flew low enough, allowing her to hear the screams...but Visenya knew this was the only way for Mira and her family to get their home back...and become emancipated from them.
By the time the sun rose, Visenya had returned to the camp with Sunspear and Edmure had returned with his small battalion.
Aegonar was still nowhere in sight,
"And?" Rodrik asked expectantly.
Visenya let out a smile. "Congratulations Lord Forrester, you will not be bothered by Lord Whitehill anymore."
"All of the Whitehill's forces are out of Ironwrath as well." Edmure explained.
Rodrik let out a smile and hugged his siblings, making Visenya let out a sigh of relief. She was happy that all was well with House Forrester...but potentially sad to see Mira go. Thankfully, Mira quickly explained to her brother that while she loved Ironwrath...she longed for Dragonstone, as the girl had become accustomed to the island, and Visenya's company.
A smile erupted on Visenya's face as she watched the remaining Forrester siblings, aside from Mira ride towards Ironwrath, no free from any debts that had to be made. The smile on her face then disappeared upon seeing Sunspear sitting by herself...longing for her brother...wherever he flew off to.
"Where are you headed, Princess?" Edmure asked.
"Dragonstone." She explained. "Care to join us? It's quite empty, aside from Pycelle and my direwolf, along with a few exiled members of the Kingsguard and Gold Cloaks, and since Jaime has gone to Dorne..."
"Jaime Lannister?" Edmure asked in disbelief.
Visenya smiled. "My Lord, we have quite a bit to catch up on."
Meanwhile
The Wall
"You have spoken with her?" Jon asked in disbelief. "And she is alive?"
Melisandre nodded. "I have warned her of the Long Night coming, though I am unsure she doesn't understand it. She is on Dragonstone...and has two fully grown dragons."
"I shall head to Dragonstone then...and ask her for her aid." Jon explained. "She wouldn't dare turn her back on family."
Meanwhile
The Narrow Sea
"How long till we get there?" A voice asked awaking Jon Connington from his sleep.
"We still have a ways to go." Jon replied with a sigh. "We will get there as soon as we can."
"Do I have family in Westeros?" The voice asked again.
Jon sighed again. "Your father and mother are dead. Your sister is dead. Your uncle is dead. But both of your aunt's still live. Perhaps you can bond with them...I'm sure both of them would love to meet you, Aegon."
Griff shrugged. "Hopefully...but all I hope is for them to accept me...I'm sure Visenya is scared from witnessing my death."
"Perhaps she is." Jon replied. "But remember...Visenya Targaryen was raised by Ned Stark...I am certain she will be against you coming for your birthright."
Griff sighed. "Perhaps, but no matter what...I will ensure that nothing stands in my way...including The Queen of Dragons."
A/N:
As always, let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, and fill free to comment.