I own nothing.
Daenys sat in the water gardens of the palace of one of the triarchs. She was left there by her mother and Illyrio. She was dressed in a thin silk pale blue dress. She did not want what she knew her mother was forcing her into. Viserys III came up to her. Their eyes met for a moment. At that moment, Daenys started to have flashes of the future in her mind. She saw six living children of various sizes of dragons. No two looked the same. There was an orange one from her previous dream. Then there was a large purple dragon with golden horns and eyes. A Dark blue and silver dragon of a smaller size. Along with a sand-colored dragon of a smaller size. Finally, a grey and Aqua dragon. Viserys III's hand captured her chin. He noticed the far-off look in her eyes and face. In that instant, he knew she was a dreamer. He wanted her all the more now. As Daenys came out of her dreams. She noticed that he was sitting next to her cradling her chin in his larger hands.
"What did you see?" Viserys asked.
"What do you mean your grace," Daenys asked.
"You know exactly what I mean Lady Daenys. You have dragon dreams. A gift given only to the Targaryen family," Viserys told her.
Daenys looked at him her eyes met his own. She tilted her head slightly. A smile started to grace her face. She looked down for a moment. Before she took his hand from her chin holding his hand tightly.
"My mother is two times great-granddaughter of Daemon I Blackfyre. She finds our Valyrian looks, as a gift from the Lord of Light. But all it is heritage. My father told me when he realized I was a gift some say cursed with these Dragon dreams. He told me it was fitting that my name was Daenys because Daenys saw the Doom and saved our blood. And I would do the same," Daenys told him. Viserys raised his eyebrow as she spoke. That made her even more desirable to him. Not only did she look like Valyrian, but she would be Targaryen queen by his side. She could see his desire in his eyes for her. It was something part of her hate but did feel good to be desired. "He told me my grandmother was a Targaryen. She was so in turn he was a descendant of Saera Targaryen," Daenys told him.
"You haven't answered my question" Viserys laughed.
"I have seen many things, Your Grace," Daenys told him.
"You can call me Viserys. Last night what did you see?" Viserys asked.
Daenys took a deep breath. She prayed that she was doing the right thing in trusting him. But now it became clear to her that he wanted her. Her mother would keep pushing until she was his bride. She hoped that her feeling of trusting him was not misplaced. He seems to care genuinely.
"Your bride will die within a year. She will die in childbirth taking the child with her. She doesn't have enough dragon blood to survive the birth. Perzys daor ossēnagon nykeā zaldrīzes," Daenys revealed.
"Fire cannot kill a dragon," Viserys translates. He nodded his head. That made sense. He knew she was not a dragon. But before him was a dragon. He will do anything to have her by his side. "Did you see anything else," Viserys asked.
"your dragon egg will hatch," Daenys told him.
"You will be my true wife. She got me my army you will bear me my heirs to Iron Throne," Viserys told her.
Daenys let out a gasp. Viserys stood up letting go of her hands. Not realizing that her gasp was not because of what he told her. But rather because of the new dream she had. Images of the Iron Throne with two people on top of it. Then it transformed into him burning in dragon fire. It was a huge cream and gold dragon with fire-like eyes. No amount of temper no matter how fire-like it was. Did not make him a dragon.
Joanna sat by the fire at their campsite in the Riverlands where they had stopped for lunch. She had dragon eggs near the fire. In her hands were cream and gold-colored dragon egg. Meraxes, Starr, and Ghost were hunting for their prey. They moved and hunted like pack or pride depending on which animal they were talking about. Aegon came over to her sitting down next to her. He handed her an apple. She looked over at him as she placed the egg back into the bag. She took the apple. She had a smile on her face. A call went up. Aegon tensed up reaching for his sword. Joanna looked over as Ghost, Starr, and Meraxes came running back into the campsite with another direwolf.
"Is that Nymeria?" Lyarra asked Jon.
Nymeria hearing her name came looping between Jon and Lyarra. Lyarra hand sank into Nymeria fur. Jon's eyes went wide he knew that Arya would not part from her wolf with just cause. He also sank his hand into her fur in search of any sign of injury. His eyes traveled to Joanna's. There were so many questions in his eyes. Joanna knew instantly that something had transpired in Riverlands on the royal party back to Kings Landing.
"Is she alright," Joanna asked.
"She is your grace," Jon answered.
"What do you want to do with her," A Lannister soldier asked.
Tyrion eyes and all of the party's eyes went to Joanna. Joanna looked at Aegon for a moment. But his eyes told her that it was her decision. She moved over to Jon and Lyarra her hand going to Nymeria's fur. She knelt and looked into direwolf eyes. Nymeria sniffed her before licking the side of Joanna's face. An infectious laugh sounded around the camp.
"We take her with us. Jon, Lyarra I'm sure your sister will trust you with her care until we can reunite them," Joanna told her.
Cersei and Joffrey were having lunch in her chambers. Servants were shuffling around the room. Neither of them paid any mind to them. Cersei was sipping on her wine as she looked at her precious boy.
"Mother must I marry the stark girl," Joffrey asked as he complained about Sansa.
"Your father has arranged it," Cersei said like was given. She did not like it any more than he did. She took a large drink of her wine. She reached across the table taking his hand and squeezing it. He took his hand away looking away from her angry at her answer. "She is a naïve child. Once you are wed you can do as you, please. Bedding her is a must. Sire an heir upon her. But after that you may seek as many lovers as you like," Cersei told him.
Joffrey turned back to look at her. He had a calculated look on his face. He had questions in his eyes. Cersei looked at him over her wine goblet.
"Father has other children. Besides me, Tommen, Myrcella, and Joanna?" Joffrey asked.
"What are you asking me?" Cersei asked.
"I'm asking if he fuck other women when he grew tired of you. How many bastards does he have running around?" Joffrey asked.
Cersei reached across the table slapping his face. And he returned the favor with his full strength. He had left a red bruising on her face by her eye. At that moment she saw the madness that Joanna told her about. She now sees the story she was told about Joffrey trying to kill Joanna to be true. It did not matter that it was Jaime who carried Joanna away to Maester's office or he told her what had happened. She did not want to believe it. No matter how many people told her that story. They stared at each other. Neither one of them wanted to be the first to break the silence that filled the room.
"Someone should take care of them," Joffrey commented.
"Those bastards are no threat to you my lion," Cersei told him all the while knowing the truth.
A knight came into the room with a Kingsguard. The Kingsguard announced him, Cersei turned to look at the stark men. It was at that time a maid no older than eleven years old exited the room with an empty wine pitcher.
"The Hand requires you to present yourself, Your Grace, in the water gardens" The stark knight ordered.
"Mother," Joffrey said with fear in his voice.
"My Lion it is nothing I'm sure," Cersei reassured him.
Ned sat in a stone water garden in Kings Landing. He had called Cersei to meet with him. He was battling with the truth that he learned. Part of him wondered if Joanna knew the truth or learned it while she was in North. It would explain her coldness with her mother and Uncle Jaime at their departure. He was so lost in his thoughts that he did not see Cersei approach him.
"Perhaps it is time to go home. The South doesn't seem to agree with you" Cersei commented.
"I know the truth Jon Arryn died for," Ned told her his eyes met her own.
"Do you, Lord Stark? Is that why you called me here, to pose me riddles?" Cersei asked, not truly believing that he did know.
"Has he done this before," Ned asked noticing the faded bruise on her face.
"Jaime would have killed him. My brother is worth a thousand of your friend," Cersei commented.
"Your Brother…or your lover," Ned asked.
Cersei took a deep breath. It was clear that he really did know the truth. But she could not let him see he sweat.
"Targaryens wed brothers to sisters for 300 years to keep the bloodline pure. Jaime and I are more than brother and sister. We shared a womb. We came into this world together. We belong together," Cersei stated calmly.
"My son saw you with him," Ned commented.
"Do you love your children?" Cersei asked trying to find a way out of this trap.
"With all my heart," Ned answered.
"No more than I love mine," Cersei commented.
"And all but Joanna are Jaime's" Ned commented.
"Thank the gods," Cersei laughed. She paused for a moment. She looked at Ned. He was not at all moved by her pleas. She thought of posing a match between Robb and Joanna to get him on her side. But it was clear that would not work now. "On the rare event that Robert leaves his whores for long enough to stumble drunk into my bed. I finish him off in other ways. In the morning he doesn't remember," Cersei told him.
"You always hated him," Ned commented.
"Hated him? I worshiped him. Every girl in the Seven Kingdoms dreamed of him but he was mine by oath. And when I finally saw him on our wedding day in Sept of Baelor, lean and fierce and Black bearded. It was the happiest moment of my life." Cersei paused for a moment remembering that day. Ned did not show any emotion at all. "Then that night he crawled on top of me stinking of wine and he did…what little he could do and whispered in my ear "Lyanna". Your sister was a corpse, and I was a living girl and he loved her more than me," Cersei raged.
There was a silence that hung in the air. Ned regarded Cersei. And Cersei regarded him. There was tenseness between them.
"When the King returns from his hunt. I'll tell him the truth. You must be gone by then. You and your children. I will not have their blood on my hands. Go as far away as you can with as many men as you can. Because wherever you go, Robert's wrath will follow you," Ned told him.
"And what of my wrath Lord Stark?" Cersei asked. She paused for a moment. It was eerily like the threat that her daughter had given her in Winterfell. She did not want Jaime to succeed in killing her but at the same time, if Ned told Robert the truth, she was her only saving grace. She looked at Ned for a long time. He truly was an honorable man. "You should have taken the realm for yourself. Jaime told me about the day King's Landing fell. He was sitting in the Iron Throne. And you made him give it up. All you needed to do was climb the steps yourself. Such a sad mistake," Cersei commented.
"I've made many mistakes in my life, but that wasn't one of them," Ned said thinking of him not telling Jon his true parentage.
"Oh, but it was when you play the Game of Thrones you win, or you die. There is no middle ground," Cersei stated.
The Sun was setting as Joanna and the rest of her party set up the camp for the night. It was in a clearing in Kings Wood. They were near Dragonstone. Jeyne and Piper were talking with Lyarra. Jon was caring for the direwolves and the lioness that was now part of their party. Marleina came over to Joanna and Aegon. Men were hunting for game for night meals while others set up tents for the party. A snap of a twig made everyone turn. There on the edge of the clearing was the White Hart. Joanna had tears welling up in her eyes. She headed toward the large white stag. He did not get spooked at all. He slightly bowed to her. His eyes locked on Joanna. Her hand was nearly touching the snow-white fur of his snout. Suddenly a loud groan sounded as Ser Barristan took Joanna to the ground.
"Joanna" Aegon cried seeing the arrow rushing to her.
An arrow brushed her arm, cutting her arm. Before the death cry of the stag was heard as the arrow pierced his heart. Aegon was examining her wound as Ser Barristan stood heading in the direction of the arrow that came from. Joanna looked over to where the stag was at. Tears poured down her face. It was clear the animal was dead. Marleina made her way over to her friend. She was now crying to Aegon's chest.
"Let me go" Jaime's voice cried out.
Joanna's head rosed off of Aegon's chest at the sound of that voice. Her blood turned ice cold. She knew that voice. Jaime was being held by Ser Tygett Lannister and other Lannister soldiers. As she looked beyond Tygett it looked like half of Lannister's army was there. She noticed that Joy Hill was talking to Tyrion who also was shocked to see his brother. Tyrion had a sad look on his face. He knew what Jaime just did was good as sign his death warrant. Aegon helped Joanna to her feet as Tygett threw Jaime to her feet. He had the sword point of Ser Barristan on his neck waiting for the order to end his brother in arms. Jaime's eyes looked up at Joanna and Aegon. She looked down at him. Her eyes were not soft loving look, but now ice-cold fury filled them. But there was fire and a blaze them no matter the coldness she held. It was at that moment he realized how badly he had messed up. Jaime bowed his head accepting that she would have him killed. As he did so that was when he noticed how close Ser Aeron and Joanna were. And his eyes caught sight of the sword that hung at Aegon's hip. He noticed the dragons on it. It was Blackfyre. Why in the seven hells would he have Blackfyre? Until it dawned on him Ser Aeron Dayne was not a Dayne at all, but he had always been a Targaryen. He was the son of Prince Rhaegar and Elia Martell, Prince Aegon VI. It was not shocking to him if he could switch out Steffon with one of Robert's bastards that just as sick. Why couldn't the Martells do the same with Aegon? How could he be so blind? Everyone looked to her for what to do with him.
"Put him in irons. My father, our king, will decide his fate when we reach King's Landing. But now, he is stripped of his Ser title and place of Kingsguard for attacking a member of the Royal family, the family he is sworn to protect," Joanna ordered.
Jaime cringed with each of her words. He knew that he was as good as dead men. She truly would be a good queen. He was pulled up and away from her by two Lannister soldiers. That broke him even more. Their loyalty had shifted from him to her with undying loyalty. His eyes found Tyrion's eyes. He had a sad but accepting look on his face.
"It will be done, your grace," Ser Tygett answered.
"Uncle, what are you doing here?" Joanna asked.
"Lord Tywin thought you needed more protection." Ser Tygett replied walking with her over to the healer in the army to have her arm looked at.
Tygett looked at Aegon for a moment. He knew in an instant he was not Dayne but a Targaryen. It seems his niece was smarter than even Lord Tywin gave her credit for. A Baratheon Queen with Targaryen King would be a power couple if ever there was one.
"I'm assuming he is also the explanation my new maids," Joanna asked.
"Lady Joy Hill is here to serve you for better to serve you than your family," Tygett answered.
"I'm glad to have Joy. Can your men strip the hide off the white hart? I want it made into a cloak. And his antlers to be made into a crown. I want to present both to my father when we reach Kings Landing. The meat will feed us tonight in honor of his sacrifice for sparing my life as the Gods see fit," Joanna told him.
"It will be done, my queen," Tygett said the last part quietly as he left to see her orders were carried out.
Joanna heard my queen her eyes went wide. She looked at Aegon. There was fear in her eyes again. He took her trembling hands as the soldier stitched her cut closed. It was clear now that something had happened while she was away from King's Landing.
Lord Varys was walking through Flea Bottom he was looking for someone. He was a member of City Watch but unlike most of them. He was exactly a man of honor. He found that man bringing an orphan girl back to the orphanage. He was tall and broad-shouldered. He was an older man. In his late forties or early fifties. His hair was dark brown, nearly black. His hair had some curls to it, but it was cut very close to his head. His eyes were green in color. Lord Varys' eyes met his own. He helped a little girl off his shoulders coming over to Lord Varys.
"Ser Steffon Rogers," Lord Varys greeted.
"Lord Varys," Ser Steffon greeted in his gruff voice.
"I have a task for you," Lord Varys started.
"I have my orders Lord Varys told him," Ser Steffon commented turning to continue his patrol.
"You are a man of honor. There are very few men here that are," Lord Varys commented.
"What do want," Ser Steffon asked.
"You know the blacksmith with apprentice by the name of Gendry. He is one of King Robert's many bastard children," Lord Varys started.
"That is clear of day" Ser Steffon stated.
"I want nothing more than to offer you a chance. If you ever receive an order that would betray your honor. I would suggest you present yourself to Lord Stannis or Princess Joanna maybe even Gendry with you," Lord Varys told him.
"What have you heard," Ser Steffon asked.
"Many things Ser Steffon. I hope it is nothing. But I always must be prepared," Lord Varys told him.
It was in the early hours of dawn when they reached Dragonstone. Aegon and Joanna standing on the beach looking up at one time Targaryen castle. Joanna and Aegon's eyes looked over to what was known as Dragonmount. It was like they were drawn to it. Tyrion stood by her side with Ser Barristan. Lyarra, Marleina, Joy, Jeyne, and Piper were standing together. Jon stood nearby with Starr, Ghost Nymeria, and Meraxes. Ser Tygett and half of Lannister's army were at the back. Jaime looked up at Dragonstone Castle in horror. Lord Stannis, Lady Selyse and Melisandre. Melisandre eyes locked on Aegon for a long moment. Stannis approached Joanna. He pulled her into a tight hug.
"Welcome to Dragonstone. I had Visenya chambers prepared for you. This must be Ser Aeron Dayne," Lord Stannis addressed her.
"Thank you, Uncle," Joanna said.
All of the party started up the way up the stairs to the castle. Lord Stannis and Lady Selyse bring up the rear. They watched as Joanna with Ser Aeron made their way up the stairs with Ser Barristan following behind them. Melisandre came over to the pair. Stannis knew she was coming what he was not prepared for was half of Lannister's army, and in fact, they now had Jaime Lannister as a prisoner. He knew that Joanna was the only biological child of Robert and Cersei. He and Jon Arryn had worked that out moons ago.
"There is more to your niece's guard," Melisandre told him.
"It is her betrothed," Stannis told Melisandre.
"Dayne for consort," Selyse commented.
"It was Robert's decision. If was up to be it would be Robb Stark or Willas Tyrell," Stannis said.
"Perhaps he is not a Dayne at all there is a fire in his blood," Melisandre tried to tell Stannis.
Stannis did not hear Melisandre words as he was walking with his wife away from her. Her eyes locked on the pair at the head of the party. Flashes of fire rained down as she looked at both Ser Aeron and Joanna. What she saw could not be possible. She saw the images of Valyria of old returned.