Frozen: The Black Dread
(I do not own the rights to Game of Thrones/House of the Dragons and Frozen. Those rights respectively belong to Disney and HBO/George R. R. Martin.)
Hello and welcome to this interesting story that I've been working on featuring one of the most interesting Disney characters else with the father of all Targaryen dragons: Balerion the black dread. This will take place after the passing of the conquers dragon (I don't know exact dates but let's just say 30 years before the events of HOTD) while for Elsa it will be after Olaf's Frozen Adventures but before Frozen two (like a month or two). I'll be honest this will be a very challenging story but something I'll definitely enjoy. With the introduction out of the way let's begin.
Chapter 1
Dragons: mythological creatures that in any story or setting bring a sense of mixing fantasy with science. From settings like LOTR with Smaug with intelligence of man, Shenron granting wishes to those who collected the dragon balls, to Beowulf slaying a mass golden dragon. Any setting you can think of that has dragons will have some interesting qualities that put them ahead of any other mythical creatures.
In one setting they were once described as being closer to the gods then the very riders who taming these semi magical beasts; but like all animals no one can truly control them, only guide them and form a bond good enough that these will understand to a degree . The Valyrian freehold were a powerful empire that many of these dragon lords held large dominion over those they conquered yet also fought against each other for either more power, a feud, a ancient debt to be paid, revenge, or just out of boredom.
These dragon that the lords possessed were ginormous; some even rumored to swallow towns with their wings and fire powerful enough to be compared to a volcano erupting. One particular dragon born in the time was Balerion: hatched to the minor dragon lord group called the Targaryens.
For several years the young dragon grew to a accelerated size thanks to the deep magic that surrounds the freehold before one faithful night where he would be claimed by many would called a psychic, a dreamer, one who sees the future. Daenys Targaryen claimed the mighty dragon as her mount; forming a powerful bond between rider and dragon. The night after is often debated on how she managed to predict the future so accurately and save the dragons and elevated the Targaryens to a great house many generations later. Some say Daenys dreams were enhanced by Balerion who also foresaw the doom and gave her the same warning. Others say Daenys was able to communicate with the gods and gave her the vision. While a small number believed she made a dark spell so powerful her own dreams were made possible to witness.
Her own father; Aenar Targaryen, was skeptical of his own daughter's dreams but knows whatever she dreamed of something they either come to pass or truly came true. After losing a political battle with one of his rivals or believing her daughter dreams he sold all but one of his strongholds to his rivals and fleas to their personal fortress and home: DragonStone. Taking their few dragons and personal they left the freehold and Valyria to unknown lands. Daenys rode on Balerion during the flight as the impressively powerful dragon looked at his old home for the final time; knowing what was to come and even showing a look of sadness by the creature.
Twelve years later the greatest empire in its time was destroyed in what many considered the doom of Valyria. It's unknown how the massive volcano erupted (many say a massive spell backfired and caused the volcano to erupt, others say a sacrifice gone wrong etc) regardless of what started it over 99% of the dragon lords were destroyed and their dragons killed. All but one group that now possesses the last remaining dragons in the world including Balerion.
For over a century the Targaryen's slowly grew and engaged in trade and alliances with the seven kings in Westeros, while Balerion grew as well to even more impressive size despite being over a hundred years old and small tears in his wings he was entering his prime and had two other dragons that were thankful females: Meraxes that was a quarter smaller then Balerion but still equally dangerous while the smallest dragon: Vhagar is less then half the size of Balerion yet still very dangerous and ironically the first one claimed by the oldest of three siblings Visenya. Balerion would be claimed years later by the sole male of the trio and his most famous rider: Aegon the Conqueror. Rhaneys claimed Meraxes several years later and when Aegon came to age became lord of dragonstone.
One night Aegon had a dream or a vision of a apocalypse: the threat far north of the wall that would destroy Westeros and in it a person wielding a flaming sword battling the cold enemy of ice and death. He didn't know when, who and why it was happening but all Aegon knows is that if this threat must be defeated with a unified ruler of Westeros and to do that me must either make the seven kings bend the knees or die in fire and smoke and blood. He gather his sisters/wife's and the swords under his banner plus the three remaining dragons on the world to begin the unification of Westeros; or as many in the continent would call the three years of war and blood Aegon's conquest.
For those three years Aegon with his sisters and dragons made numerous kings and kingdoms either surrender without a drop of blood spilt (Visenya conquered the Vale with Vhagar in exchange for the boy king taking a ride on her dragon, Aegon forcing the starks to bend the knee) while some were forced to kneel or outright destroyed with two of them being done or assisted by Balerion. The first was the destruction of harrenhall and death of the king and family on the night the final stone was put into place to complete the largest castle in Westeros. In that span of the night the conquers dragon melted stone and flesh and bone into ash and smoke and created an infamous curse that would haunt the occupants of the ruins.
The second famous encounter of the dragon came in a battle known as the field of fire where all three dragons caused the destruction and extinction of one kingdom and the submission of the great kingdoms of Lannisters. Despite being outnumbered 6-1 the entire enemy army was turned to ash while the Targaryen's lost only a hundred men and the minor injury to Queen Visenya with an arrow wound on her shoulder.
Soon Aegon became the first Targaryen king in Westeros and started a dynasty with him. Balerion even forged the iron thrown from over the defeated enemies over the course of the conquest to symbolize a new era of Westeros. For many years the king and its dragon rode into many engagements and ceremonies and like his rider Balerion mated with both females to slowly repopulate his kind. It's unknown what dragons came from which of the conquers females dragons but all can trace their lineage to the black dread in some fashion. Yet every now and then regardless of who bonds with a dragon or beast a dance of dragons will happen either by accident or design.
The first known recorded case of dragon vs dragon in Westeros came in the form of one the more infamous rulers and some would question the legitimacy of said king: Maegor the cruel. The first born child to Visenya and Aegon Targaryen yet younger half brother to first born king Aerys Targaryen the first to the late Queen Rhaenys and Aegon. From the start Maegor desired only the best for not only the family but himself and to secure his line. He knew that his half brother was a weak willed man pretending to be a dragon while he was raised to be a dragon, since his mother remained with him and even trained with him at points. Yet something that felt odd was his cruel personality.
Aegon during his late years of life noticed that Maegor wouldn't accept any other dragons like Vermithor, Silverwing, Dreamfyre or any other young dragons; only Balerion and his own sword Blackfyre. While disappointed that Aerys never bonded to a dragon he did inherit his father's sword and crown while Maegor inherited dark sister from his mother and becoming hand to the king to his half brother. Once their father died he readily claimed Balerion the night of his passing. Bonding with his father's dragon and claiming the most powerful creature in Westeros.
Years later King Maegor took Balerion and his sword blackfyre to began a campaign of death and destruction to those he deemed his enemies from destroying the faith militant and their places of worship after the death and in a way coup against his half brother but also his own blood. Exiled prince Aegon Targaryen (son to King Aerys Targeryan) attempted to claim the iron thrown with rebels and his dragon quicksilver from his uncle but was met battle by the loyalist and the very large Balerion. The battle ended with blood for blood spilt and death of family as Maegor and Balerion committed the act of Kinslaying with Aegon the unlucky/ unfortunate and Quicksilver dead.
Once Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen claimed the iron throne after his uncle's mysterious death Balerion went unclaimed for many years; kept occupied with Vhagar to every now and then mate and produced more dragon eggs for the continuing growing Targeryan family. Though his age began to show once he hit two hundred years old he still remained dangerous and powerful as ever was. That was until for over a year Balerion and his new "rider": princess Aerea Targeryan disappeared from Westeros after she claimed the black dread. Rumors circulated around the royal court that Balerion in his old age and powerful will somewhat dominated the young princesses mind and flew to places unknown (from essos to the north etc) then one day both rider and dragon returned; but to the horror and absolute shock to those that witness it not only was the princess at death's door but Balerion: the mightiest dragon in their line was wounded and with a gash nine feet long around his neck.
Many Maesters concluded that Balerion must've traveled to old Valyria where he was born and encountered whatever his forefathers and ancestors fought. A creature so large and powerful that it made even Balerion bleed yet escaped alive and from what the dragon keepers also reported Balerion fought back against the mysterious creature and did enough to make his attacker flee or die in the fight. For the remainder of the great dragons life he lived in essentially retirement as some of his kin like Dreamfyre, Vermithor, Silverwing and numerous other very large yet young dragons began to take over for what Balerion had for many years. Soon he began to feel age catching up to him as he flew less and less and mostly slept more days. He knew his days were numbered but still had one last flight left in him yet none would ever try claim him in order to prevent injury to the great dragons.
Except one Prince Viserys Targeryan: son to Prince Baelon Targeryan and older brother to Daemon Targeryan who already claimed his own dragon. Viserys is the opposite of his fiery younger sibling but still held a dragons fire to at the very least have one of his own. From what the dragon keepers and maesters told Viserys he was on his last days and may not have much long to live. Viserys decided to give Balerion one last feel of the air around his body and to see the great city and kin one more time.
Viserys walked up to the great dragon as he slept and placed a hand on the dragon large snout. Awakening slowly after feeling the hand on his face Balerion stirs up expectation for the old dragon as he sees not a conquer or a cruel man or even a young lady being too bold, but a peaceful man and something more important for the young prince. He formed a peaceful bond with Prince Viserys and allowed him to climb out to the saddle where he gave one simple word in high Valyrian
"Sōvēs Balerion, Sōvēs." Said the Peaceful price and slowly and steadily the old dragon began to move out from the dragon pit as the other dragons began to see their either father or grand father in a sense began to move for his last flight. Even Vhagar his mate began to feel some old age saw Balerion and began to bellow a soft noise to the black dread as he responded back with the same noise. Balerion in a brief moment filled with adrenaline and in a humans word excitement felt a if he was young for the first time in a while as he ran out from the pit and took flight in Kings Landing. For an hour he flew around the city three times and for that hour his great shadow that formed from his wings covered the entire city as the population watched as the old dragon touched the sky and felt the sun and wind touch his scaly body and watch a peaceful sunset.
Soon his body began to hurt and tired as Balerion landed near the opening of the dragon pit with Vhagar and other dragons coming out to see the old dragon one more time. As Viserys climbed down from the old dragon Balerion looked at the prince as he gave him a brief vision of what his destiny would inspire for his family. Viserys looked at the old dragon and began to converse with him.
"You may rest now old one, you helped unify seven kingdoms into one, repopulate you kind with Vhagar and Meraxes, and forge one of the greatest dynasty's Westeros has seen. You even saw Valyria at his highest before the doom. I will ensure that I recreate it from your memory. Enjoy peace Balerion. Sleep well old one." Said Viserys as the old dragon finally closed his eyes for the final time and breathed the last air before finally passing away from old age as the night sky appeared as the others dragons began to in human sense crying. Vhagar even began to move Balerion's head to see if he's still alive to no avail as she lay right next to Balerion form to prevent anyone or anything happened to the dead dragon.
For three days and three nights King Jaehaerys and kings landing had morning to honor Balerion legacy and memory. On the third night they had to remove Balerion from the dragon pit as the younger and immature dragons began to have the look of cannibalism on their progenitor with help with Vhagar and Vermithor as they help carefully carry the body somewhere else so they can immortalize a piece of Balerion deep underneath the red keep for all generations to come.
Yet Balerion wasn't done with his story, while his time in that world has come to an end another world and place has ideas for the former dragon. One that would put him in an unknown and unique position that would change the new world that he would soon become an essential element to the world.
And that's the introduction to this story, I'll be working on the follow up to this in the coming days and improve on the story. Other projects will be worked on as well soon so stayed tuned to those future works. Until next time it's chaoskeeten and I'll see you in the future