Dragons of Destiny

The Red Keep 307 AC.

Lord Davos Seaworth.

He thought it was to be another dull day, as most of his turned out to be. While he had grown into his role, he'd never actually come to enjoy it. Over time it had become simply work to him. He'd rise, break his fast, start his day, and break off for a meal before a meeting or two. He'd discuss matters of the realm with other members of the Small Council, or speak to Varys to see if there was anything he needed to know. Then he'd eat his evening meal, and write out letters or raven scrolls for the morrow, before finally retiring to his bed.

So as he dressed, the last thing he expected was for one of his guards to enter his rooms and tell him that there were ships from Essos in the docks. Not that there had not been more than one shipment of coin and food supplies sent by the king and queen over the last few moons, but these ships were different. These ships contained passengers and while Davos found himself hoping beyond hope that the king, queen, and princess had returned, he'd be a liar if he said he was disappointed to find out who the passengers were.

"You're sure about this?" he asked Varys as they walked to the throne room.

"I am, Davos. My little birds have seen them myself and I had Ser Daven send an escort to bring them here."

"And they truly have a babe too?" he asked happily.

"A boy."

By the time he reached the throne room, some of the lords and ladies who were present in King's Landing had made their way there. They, like he, were keen to see the return of Arya Stark, Gendry, and their child and to hear what news they bore with them. Despite wishing to greet them less formally and knowing that they both would have wished it so, he served as Regent and so acted in the king and queen's stead. Still, he'd make sure this part of things went by quickly and that they were settled and comfortable as soon as they were able to be.

As he waited, he found he longed to see them both and their son just as much as he wished for first-hand news of the king, queen, and princess. Gendry like Aegon was almost a son to him and he hoped the lad was just as happy as he'd been when last he'd seen him. Arya Stark had gone from being somewhat uncaring to a true sister to not just the king, but the queen too, and he quite enjoyed seeing the other side of her nature. As for them having a son, well children were the most precious gift that the gods ever deigned to bestow on anyone, which was something he'd learned far too late.

When they entered the throne room, he saw how annoyed and uncomfortable both wore. So he dismissed the herald when he went to announce them. Instead, he simply did so himself. Davos named them as Lord Gendry and Lady Arya, much to their annoyance it seemed. Though he was soon to find out that while he'd named them so as a courtesy, the king and queen had named them so in truth.

"King's Landing and its Regent are most pleased to see you both. Now that the formality is done, let me see this little one," he said moving from the steps and seeing Lady Anya's smirk as he did so.

The babe was dark of hair and blue of eye. Robb Stark was named for the brother that had been betrayed and who had been thought a brother true by the king. When Gendry bid him take the babe in his arms, he did so gladly. His smile beaming as the babe looked up at him and gurgled happily.

"By the Seven, he's precious," he said smiling still.

"Aye, that he is," Gendry said proudly.

"How fares things in Essos, Lady Arya?" Varys asked and while she frowned somewhat, Arya answered to the delight of all those present.

"Their graces have added Mantarys to their empire, Lord Varys, and were sailing to Volantis to add that too," Arya said and the whispers began around the room.

"And their graces and the princess are well?" Varys asked as the room hushed once more.

"My brother, Goodsister, niece, and all those who sailed with them are well, Lord Varys, and Essos has learned full well that it's far better to be on the dragon's side than in their path," Arya said, and while he was still somewhat preoccupied with young Robb, Davos chuckled at the intent behind Arya's words.

"Mayhap we can speak on…"

"I bear a letter from my brother, Lord Davos. Mayhap we deal with its contents before then finding rooms for my husband, son, and I," Arya said stopping him from bringing their time in the throne room to an end.

"Indeed, Lady Arya," he said as he handed Robb back to Gendry and took the letter from Arya's hand.

He opened it and read it quickly, then moved back to the steps where the Iron Throne was. At no point had he sat on the throne itself. Regent though he was, he would not sit there even in Aegon and Daenerys's stead. So for long events in the throne room, he'd sat on a much lesser chair, while at most he simply stood as he did now. With a nod to Arya, he watched her move forward and take a knee, and then he spoke the words that Aegon had bid him.

"His grace has named his sister, Lady Arya Stark, as Warden of the North and Lady of Winterfell and her son Robb Stark as heir to both," he said to eager looks

"I pledge to serve their graces from this day to my last day and pledge my House in perpetuity to King Aegon, Queen Daenerys, their heir Princess Rhaella and the future heirs of House Targaryen. I do so willingly and without hesitation. I swear it by the gods of my father, by the Old Gods of my brother, and am most happy to do so." Arya said to loud clapping.

"Arise Lady Arya Stark, Warden of the North, Lady of Winterfell, and true friend of the crown. Arise as the hero of the Dawn that you and your husband both are and be recognized as such," he said, repeating the words that Aegon himself had written.

With that, Lady Anya dismissed the court for the day and it wasn't only he who was happy to see them all go for once. Both Gendry and Arya cared not for such things and after they'd been led to their rooms, they then soon found themselves in his own as once again he held young Robb in his arms.

"Things are truly well with Aegon and Daenerys? With Rhaella?" he asked as he tried to look at both Gendry and Arya, only to not be able to look away from the babe he held.

"They are. We faced some pushback at Mantarys, there was an attempt…" Gendry began only for Arya to scowl at him.

"Gendry?" he asked looking at the boy now.

"For fucks sake, no one was harmed," Arya said annoyed as she took Robb from him.

"After his grace met the ship that we had stayed on while the city was taken, we were ambushed as we made our way through the city. None of us was hurt." Gendry began and he caught Arya's little nod "But you can imagine how his grace reacted to an attempt on his daughter, nephew, sister, and his own lives."

"And yours and Missandei's too. It wasn't only for family that Jon did what he did." Arya said firmly before cooing as she rocked young Robb gently to sleep.

"Aye, my wife has the right of it. It was for all of us that Aegon did what he did."

"What did he do?" he asked as Varys looked on.

"He killed them all, Davos. The men who had lain in wait and those who ordered them to do so. He killed them all and Mantarys now belongs to the dragons, as soon Essos will." Gendry said with no emotion.

"How many?" he asked.

"A thousand, less or more, I know not nor care not," Gendry said and Davos had only wished to know the number, not to judge his king's actions.

"And Volantis?"

"Will welcome its new king and queen, Davos. Both Lady Malora and Lady Kinvara believe so and they've not been wrong on anything so far."

"Good." he said relaxing somewhat "How long are you staying for?"

"A day, two. Our place is in the North and I wish my son to see Winterfell as soon as possible." Arya said and he smiled at that.

The next morning he was stunned to find the Hound and Arya sparring in the grounds of the Red Keep. A large crowd had gathered and though he was heading to begin his daily duty, he instead stood and watched as they did. He soon found himself standing next to Gendry and being happily surprised when he was asked to take young Robb in his arms.

"I find I'm most nervous when my wife fights, Davos," Gendry said as a way of explaining his reluctance to hold his son.

"I'll take any reason I can to hold this little one, Gendry lad," he said smiling and cooing at the babe as he took him in his arms.

Beneath them, an exhibition of swordsmanship like none other he or any of those present had ever seen was taking place. Not even when Arya had faced off against Brienne of Tarth had the difference in styles been this apparent. Arya was all grace and movement, speed and precision, while the Hound was anything but. He fought like a man possessed. Strength was his greatest weapon and he used it as few men did.

"What brought the spar on?" he asked as he grimaced at just how truly both of them were going at each other in the yard below.

"Arya offered him a place in our household and all the chicken he could eat, Sandor said he'd accept only if she could beat him," Gendry said smiling warmly at his wife as she took the upper hand.

In a flash, it was over and the Hound lay on the ground, almost dumbfounded that he'd been beaten.

"That's the second time you've been beaten by a girl," Arya said as she held her hand out to help the large man back to his feet.

"You're not fucking girl, you're a wolf." the Hound said gruffly.

"Aye, and don't you fucking forget it," Arya said to a laugh from the now standing man.

"it looks like we have a captain for our guards now." Gendry chuckled from beside him and Davos found he was still laughing as he set about his work over the course of the day.

Two days later, he stood at the docks and waved them off himself. He'd told Gendry that he'd make a good father and that he was proud of him, the boy seeming to welcome his words. Arya, he'd simply told that anything she should ever need, he was but a raven away. Though he felt that she'd do a far better job as Warden than she believed she would. As the sails disappeared from view, he wondered if or when he'd see them again, and as he walked back to the Red Keep, his eyes looked east and he had the very same thoughts about the other lad he thought of as a son. He hoped in both cases it would be sooner rather than later.

Volantis 307 AC.

Ned Dayne.

While he'd been asked to escort the princess around the city before, something about this time felt different to him. He'd seen the king look at them both as they walked away from the Red Temple, which in of itself was unusual. Yet it was how the princess, who was normally such a confident woman, seemed to be nervous today for some reason that truly showed this was not the same as the other times they'd walked through the city. So Ned had done everything he could to make her relax and to try and get himself to do so as well.

Behind them were a number of the Unsullied, not that they'd needed any protection since the Triarchs had knelt. Aegon though would take no chances with the safety of any member of his family and so Ned was armed too, though Dawn had been left behind in his room and instead it was daggers alone that he carried. By the time they reached the Long Bridge and crossed over into the older parts of the city, his attempts to get the princess to relax seemed to have worked. A lot better than his attempts to get himself to do so if he was being honest.

When Rhaenys stopped to look at one of the buildings, Ned was so preoccupied with looking around them that he bumped into her. Something which led to her laughing at his embarrassment and which in turn finally allowed him to relax fully. From that point on their sojourn through the city was much different, and they spoke of meaningless things, Ned found the sound of her voice to be almost melodic. At one point, Rhaenys stopped to look at some children playing and he saw a sad look come over her face that he longed to remove. Despite not truly knowing what to say, he did his best and hoped his words would suffice.

"I rarely got the chance to spend much time playing when I was a child, I find I envy them their fun," he said as he offered her a warm smile.

"I would have thought growing up in a keep?" Rhaenys asked.

"Other than my aunt who was some years older than me, there were few children. Since I was the heir of their lord, fewer dared to involve me in their games either. Then before I knew it I was squiring for…"

"Ned?"

"Forgive me, Princess. I… Lord Beric was a good man and I mourn him still." he said hating that his own sadness had come upon him suddenly.

"Aegon said he fell during the battle at Winterfell," Rhaenys said and it surprised him that they'd spoken of Beric.

"He did. I was squired to him for many years and at one point he was to be my Gooduncle, but the gods have their own plans that we are mere players in."

"Now you sound like my brother." Rhaenys said with a giggle "I know all about the gods' plans, Ned and so I'll tell you what I would say to Aegon were he here with me now."

"Princess?"

"Rhaenys."

"Rhaenys," he repeated enjoying very much how her smile brightened up her face.

"The gods may decide our fate but we decide how we face it, not they. We decide who we wish to face it with us and how we'll walk in this world until our time ends. They may have chosen when that end will be, but until then, we find our own joy."

"Have you found much joy in your life, Rhaenys?" he asked and her smile disappeared.

"I seek it now," she said determinedly.

"Then I shall endeavor to bring you as much joy as I'm able."

The smile was back on her face in an instant and he was almost stunned when she reached out her arm and bid him take it. He felt a shudder when he did so and couldn't be certain if it had been him or her who'd made it. As they walked, she pointed out some of the buildings and what they were used for and he just enjoyed the sound of her voice. Eventually, they stopped to eat some lunch, the Unsullied refusing to do so while on duty much to Rhaenys' annoyance. Nothing she could say would make it so though, they were far too dutiful and practiced, and not even the queen herself could make them change their ways completely.

As they ate, the conversation flowed and Ned spoke of his travels, something that Rhaenys seemed most keen to hear about. He had visited some places that she herself longed to and when he suggested that he'd show her any of them, he felt she was keen for him to do so. Dorne and Dragonstone were the two she wished to see most of all. Sunspear, the Water Gardens, and to his surprise Starfall too. Winterfell was another place that she wished to travel to, it and the Wall to see where Aegon had spent most of his life. Ned felt that she had so longed to be a part of it that she now wished to experience some of it for herself.

When he asked her what her plans were once they'd dealt with Belicho, she hesitated for a moment. Her eyes closed and that nervousness that he'd noticed in her earlier seemed to have returned and been added to. It took her some time to speak and when she did, her words caught him completely by surprise. Not that they weren't welcome, just that while he may have hoped for such, never did he think she did too.

"Wherever my brother, aunt, and niece decide to name their home, I'd like to be there too for as long as I can. I know though at some point I must look to mine own life too. At some point, I will need to wed, to bring a babe into the world, and have another family that I can call mine own. It was not something I imagined would ever come to pass, but now something I think of often. As I do the man I would seek to name my husband."

"You have given it much thought?"

"More lately, Ned." Rhaenys said smirking "Aegon told me that I should only seek a man worthy of my hand, one who makes my heart still and whose own does so when he looks upon me."

"You should," he said firmly for he felt she deserved all of that and more.

"Are you such a man, Ned Dayne?" Rhaenys asked and had he been drinking something he'd have spluttered and choked on it.

"I…"

"Does your heart still when you look at me? Is it the same as how I feel when I look at you?"

The words took a moment to take hold, Ned was so shocked by them that it took him a little time to just understand them let alone be able to answer them.

Her heart stilled when she looked at him.

She had looked at him that way.

She had thought of him that way.

He could barely believe it and that was the only reason that he'd not answered sooner. When he saw the resigned look come over her face, he stuttered in his eagerness to answer that he did feel as she did. To tell her that it was true. That when he looked at her, his heart stilled too.

"I am, it does…" he said after far too long a silence.

"I am most pleased to hear it," Rhaenys said and he'd only seen her show such happiness when with Aegon, Daenerys, or Rhaella, or when upon her dragon's back.

Said dragon who now for some reason was calling out above them and Ned's hands moved to his daggers as the Unsullied readied their spears.

"The dragon, princess?"

"I know not….by the gods….where's the sun gone?"

Moving to her, he helped her up from the seat and the Unsullied surrounded them both before leading them from the small tavern they'd taken their lunch in. Once outside, two things soon became clear, the streets of Volantis were in a full-blown panic and the sun no longer shone. It was night, yet it was far too early to be so. In the air above them, Balerion called out for her rider and he heard Rhaenys say some words in Valyrian which seemed to have calmed the blue dragon somewhat.

"We must hurry back to the Red Temple. We stop for nothing or no one, no matter what we see." he said to nods from the Unsullied "Princess your hand."

One of his hands now held one of her own tightly, while the other had taken one of his daggers from his britches. They moved swiftly and at no point did Rhaenys falter or complain. At what point Ghost had joined them, he knew not, but the white wolf cleared the path in front of them and led them back to the Red Temple unhindered. Whether or not they'd have managed to find it without Ghost's help, well that was something he could worry about on the morrow.

The Red Temple itself was on full alert. Guards were stationed at every entrance and the red priests and priestesses were seeing to torches being lit, before then along with men of the Fiery Hand, heading out into the city itself. Aegon was waiting for them when they walked up the steps and after checking that Rhaenys was unhurt and whispering into her ear, he then moved over to him. A simple nod of his head was all the thanks he gave him and it was more than enough for Ned. Rhaenys then took his hand again as they walked through the halls and they found their way illuminated by many torches and lanterns. No words were spoken between them, but he felt her squeeze his hand more than once and when he looked at her, she smiled at him. It was only when they reached the rooms that the king and queen had taken for themselves that Rhaenys and he actually got to speak more on what they'd talked about.

"I hope you meant your words," Rhaenys whispered.

"With all I am," he said and then he felt her lips brush against his cheek, lips that he would think about even after he took to his bed some hours later.

Storm's End 307 AC.

Sansa.

This! This was what her life was meant to be. Warm baths, scented oils, silken dresses, and servants to call upon. When she was a girl, this was how things had been and she'd grown so accustomed to it that she gave it no second thought. She would wake, a bath would be drawn for her, a maid would brush her hair, and then she'd make her way to break her fast. As she ate, she'd somewhat hold court with Jeyne and Beth while her mother and father would shoot her approving looks. Then when she was finished with her meal, she'd set off to learn all that a lady needed to know.

At first, her life in King's Landing had been more of the same, though with even more deference. People knew she was to be wed to the prince and so would one day be their queen and Sansa thought nothing about ordering them to do the most mundane of tasks. Later when Joffrey proved himself the monster he truly was, was when things had begun to change. In King's Landing, then in the Eyrie, then back at Winterfell, Sansa had found that she was not the center of the world around her and that people weren't there to serve her each and every need.

It had taken until Jon had gone to treat with the Dragonqueen on Dragonstone for the life that she'd known once to again be hers once more. When she had served as Lady of Winterfell for true was when she'd found things to be how they were supposed to be. It was but fleeting though and within moons, her life had reached its worst point. Not just servants and the trappings of being a favored daughter of a major house were denied to her, but even worse, she was to fend for herself. Lesser food, less coin, no warm baths, or a proper wardrobe. All were denied to her and she had feared she'd never know the basic comforts ever again. Rising from her bath, drying herself with the soft towel, and then putting on the silken cloak, she smiled as she moved to be readied for the day.

"Do you wish your hair up or down, my lady?" the girl asked.

"Down today, I'd like it braided," she said to a nod, and then she felt the soft strokes of the brush as it brushed away the tangles in her hair.

Sansa looked at herself in the looking glass. Her color had come back to her cheeks and the bags she'd noticed under her eyes had now seemed to have gone completely away. Even her eyes themselves seemed to sparkle more, their blue having taken on a more azure coloring than their normal shade. She pursed her lips as the pink was applied, smiled as the brush moved over her cheeks, and was now as she had been since the first time the maids had done so, stunned by the image she presented when they were finished.

When she'd arrived here, she'd wished to look the maiden true but had soon realized that it served her ill. There was desire when Lord Edric looked at her truly enough, but not the type of desire that she wished him to feel when he did so. Not an overwhelming all-consuming desire. When Myra had suggested that she used some of the paints and colors, she'd at first refused. Sansa Stark was no painted whore she'd told the girl, only to later reconsider somewhat. She'd seen how Edric had looked at one of the ladies who was wed to one of his Bannermen and she had liked it not. So she'd done as the girl suggested and the results had spoken for themselves. Edric didn't just want her, he needed her like a thirsty man needed water and though she still wished not to lay with another man in her life, she'd found for some reason the thoughts of doing so this time to not be as repulsive as they had been in the Vale.

She would not deny that Edric Baratheon was a handsome man. Nor that he was a warrior of some repute. Not enough of one to beat Jon one on one mayhap, but her brother was no longer in Westeros and that had changed things somewhat. No, that was a lie, she thought as she rose to her feet and moved to the door. Jon's absence changed things dramatically as did her newfound attraction to the man who wished for her hand. A man she'd come to play and now one she wasn't sure she didn't wish to play with. Walking through the keep, her guards behind her, the silk of the dress brushing comfortingly against her skin, Sansa wore a true smile as she'd been doing more and more these last few weeks.

Entering the great hall, she noticed immediately how the eyes of the men already seated now turned to her. More than one of them wished to be who she showed affection to and she had no doubt that more than one had dreamed of her in their bed. Looking to where Edric sat, she could see that he more than any of the others had surely done so more than once. His smile as he rose to help her to her seat, the way his hand brushed over hers as she allowed him to take it in his own, and even the sound of his breathing as he took in her scent, all proved it so.

"I thank you, Edric," she said offering him a smile while fluttering her eyes just a little.

"Your presence is most welcome, Sansa. You slept well?"

"I did, you?"

"I had the most pleasant of dreams," Edric said and she giggled just a little as she moved closer to him.

"I wonder if they were the same as mine own?" she whispered and felt his exhalation of breath against her neck.

They had kissed more than once, she'd even allowed him some liberties that felt very different to her than the ones she's allowed Sweetrobin to take. With Edric, she didn't feel as disgusted as she had with her cousin, partly because he was older and more manly and partly because she welcomed his affections more. As they ate, she even found herself looking at his lips when he spoke, watching his tongue when he licked those lips and her thoughts were far more lascivious than she'd expected them to be.

After breaking their fast, he bid her join him and she welcomed the feel of his arm when he took hers. Soon enough they were standing on the parapets and while it was a somewhat chilly morning, she was from the North and so it felt almost like summer to her. Looking out on the lands below, she found she enjoyed the view more than she had enjoyed the one from Winterfell. Or mayhaps it was that over time she'd come to realize that what she thought she was looking at from the walls of Winterfell was an illusion. They were lands that she'd believed to be hers by right of blood and law but which had never truly belonged to her. Not even for the brief time that she had been Queen in the North were they actually hers or had she gotten the chance to enjoy them as being so.

These lands were Edric's and none could take them from him, none would take them from him. Should they wed, then they'd be hers too, something she found herself keener and keener for. Dismissing the thought that once she wed Edric she would then truly become an enemy of the king and queen, Sansa instead concentrated on other thoughts. Thoughts which soon had her smiling and that smile was noticed by the man beside her. She felt his hands on her own and then before she knew it, she had turned to face him and for the first time since arriving at Storm's End, she truly initiated their kissing.

"Marry me, Sansa." Edric said somewhat breathlessly when they parted "Together we can right these lands. We can join our houses as both our fathers wished for and the Seven Kingdoms can finally be ruled over by who they always should have been. A Stag and a Wolf. Baratheon and Stark joined together. Together Sansa, together we're more than a match for the dragons."

At first, her nod was almost imperceptible. Then it was very much not. Her smile grew ever larger and once again she was kissing Edric Baratheon, this time even more truly and passionately than she had been just moments earlier. When they parted, it was her that was breathless and she felt a flush on her chest and a tingling between her legs which took her by surprise. Images of laying with the man in front of her flashed in front of her eyes and were joined by images of them both in King's Landing, in the Red Keep, the Throne Room, and of herself once again wearing a crown.

"I'll marry you, I'll happily marry you," she said as they kissed once more.

Her newfound joy lasted for one whole day. One day and night where she thought as much about her wedding and her soon-to-be husband as she did about finally getting what was owed to her. She had begun the preparations in haste, yet was to take her time too. This wedding would be so different from her last one and she wished it to be the wedding of her dreams. A Sept, a white dress, a true feast, she wished for all of it and Edric was only too happy to comply with her wishes. Then through the spies that he had in King's Landing, Edric received news that stole her joy from her.

She's always known her sister had hated her. Arya had ever been jealous of her, yet she never truly saw her as a threat to anything she had wished for. Mainly because they were both so different and so they'd wished for different things. To find out that she'd been named Lady of Winterfell and Warden of the North, was devastating. Were it not for Edric telling her that once they had taken the Iron Throne for themselves they could then deal with his bastard brother and her thief of a sister, then she may not have been able to concentrate on what she needed to.

Days later as she sewed the grey wolf into her maiden cloak, it was with thoughts of paying back everyone who'd ever slighted her that she did so to. Jon, the Dragonwhore, their Dragonspawn babe, Arya, her bastard husband, the babe she'd dared to name after her traitorous brother, the dour castellan who had refused her leave to visit her family home, and the people of Wintertown who had treated her so terribly. Her uncle and his weasel of a wife, the Lords, and Ladies of the Vale, all of them would pay when she wore her crown. All of them would beg for her mercy and all would find that she had no mercy to give.

Volantis 307 AC.

Aegon.

Despite Dany bidding him not to, he had watched from the window as his sister and Ned Dayne had left the Red Temple. With a nod of his head, Ghost had soon followed to watch over them from a distance. Once they were out of sight, then and only then did he turn back to his wife and daughter. The dragons were hunting, three of them anyway. Balerion he would wager was doing what he'd set Ghost to do, while Rhaegal, Drogon, and Lyarhaex were at present flying somewhere beyond the city.

Moving to the edge of the bed where his wife and daughter sat playing with some wooden toys that he'd carved for Rhaella, he took a seat beside them and was immediately hit with a wooden dragon. Something that much amused his wife given how she was laughing. Rhaella smiled up at him showing all the teeth she had in her mouth, almost a full set by now which was quicker than most babes or so he'd been told. Meanwhile, Dany was almost curled over and his questioning look at her took some time to receive an answer as to why.

"No one….no one can lay a strike on you in the sparring yard and every single time….every single time…." Dany said through her laughter.

"Our daughter is a dragon." he said lifting Rhaella up so she was sitting on his lap "Is that not right my love."

"Dagon Papa," Rhaella said, and once again he was struck with the wooden toy.

"Aye, a dragon indeed," Dany said laughing even more.

These were the parts of the day that both of them enjoyed the most. Just Dany and him alone with their daughter and being the family that neither of them had truly ever known for themselves. His own memories of his childhood were good ones and Dany too had good memories of some of hers with her brother and Ser Willem Darry. This though was something that neither of them had ever truly known. The unconditional love of a father and a mother, and time spent with both of them just playing and being together. His cousins had that, and he'd not begrudge them it. Arya, Gendry, and Robb would know it too, and so would Rhaella, on that both he and Dany had vowed.

"Hungry little dragon?" he asked and Rhaella looked at him and smacked him in the head once more before Aegon rose to his feet "We'll leave your mother to her giggles shall we?"

Dany was still laughing when he left the room, Jaime taking his place beside him while Jorah looked fondly at Rhaella in his arms. They met up with Missandei before they reached the end of the long corridor, Aegon explaining to her that his wife would no doubt welcome her company and that he'd be staying with Rhaella for a little longer. It would mean that it would fall to Dany to be the Empress today, yesterday it had fallen to him to rule, but they'd begun to alternate so that Rhaella always had at least one of them with her as much as possible. Soon enough they'd be forced to march to war once more, for now, they'd take as much of this time with their daughter as they were able to before that day came.

When he entered the large room they took their meals in, it was to the sound of one of Tormund's tall tales. His truest friend took some time to see that he and Rhaella had entered and so they'd taken their seats before Tormund moved to join them. As always, Rhaella's face brightened up when she saw the red-headed wildling move toward them. Aegon then found his own laughter coming when she called out his name.

"Mund….Mund…."

"Ah, finally you brought the little dragon to play. Come little dragon, we can't have you spend too much time with King Crow, you'll forget how to smile…." Tormund said and despite his daughter wishing to go to Tormund, for some reason Aegon held onto her a little more tightly.

He felt it before it happened. Why that was he didn't know, but he felt it. Holding Rhaella tight to his chest, he rose to his feet and looked at Jaime and Tormund, both of them seeming somewhat stunned by the look on his face.

"Dany, we need to get back to Dany," he said.

"Jon?" Tormund asked confused.

"I.."

The sounds of panic were loud and were coming from outside. Aegon's first instinct was that they'd been caught by surprise and Belicho had attacked, yet the dragons while flying back to the Red Temple, weren't hurrying to do so. Ghost while running to join his sister and Ned Dayne more truly, wasn't panicked or even truly worried. He saw it then when they moved to leave the room, the sun shone no longer and he knew exactly what that meant. The Long Night had fallen for true and this one would last more than until the morrow.

They hurried down the corridors and passageways, passed by red priests and priestesses who were doing the very same thing. When they reached his rooms, he saw no sign of Jorah or Brienne and for a moment he felt his own panic rise. The sound of voices from inside the room soon calmed him somewhat and as Jaime opened the door, he heard his wife's voice. Then before he knew it, Dany had taken Rhaella in her arms and was looking at him worriedly.

"You'll stay here?" he asked and Dany nodded, Aegon not needing to look to Missandei, Jorah, Brienne, or Grey Worm to tell them to wait with his wife.

He kissed his wife and daughter and then along with Tormund and Jaime they left the room and made their way to find Kinvara and Malora. It was the latter they found first and after organizing some guards for her, he sent her to Dany and bid her seek whatever answers she could from the birds and other animals she had taken as her familiars. From there it was to the main hall of the Red Temple and to a scene of what at least looked to be organized chaos.

Kinvara stood with members of the Fiery Hand and was speaking to a large group of priests, priestesses, and acolytes. As he moved to her, he saw flames begin to light in the hands of those around her and the spears of the men of the Fiery Hand lit up too. It made him curse himself for leaving his sword in his rooms and while he held Blackfyre, it was not the sword he needed to wield this day. Turning to Tormund, he whispered in his ear, and a moment later his closest friend was running back towards his and Dany's room.

"My prince," Kinvara said when she finally noticed him.

"You've sent your priests?"

"I have my prince, we'll bring light where there is now only darkness and see that the city is calmed."

"Lightbringer," he said and Kinvara smiled.

"It would do the people of Volantis good to see the true light, my prince."

"I'll take to the skies. Do you have all you need here? Men?"

"Some bearing torches too would be helpful, my prince."

"I'll speak to Jon and Daario, have them organize it immediately."

"Be careful my prince, for the night is dark and full of shadows," Kinvara said worriedly and Aegon nodded to her before he and Jaime moved from the hall and went in search of their men and to meet back up with Tormund.

It took him some time to find both Daario Naharis and Jon Connington. The former was with Yara Greyjoy and had been looking for Theon, who Aegon had no doubt was doing the same in regards to his sister. After telling them what he needed them to do and reassuring Yara that Theon would be found and protected. Tormund caught up with them and handed him his sword, and then they moved to the outside to where the dragons could land. It was here that he found Jon Connington. The man had already taken it upon himself to see that torches were lit and to ready patrols for the city itself.

"Your grace, you, the queen, the princess?" Jon asked worriedly.

"Are safe and well, Jon. You've sent men to the city?" he asked.

"I have, your grace. I believed it would be what you'd seek of me."

"It was and is, I thank you for doing so with haste. I must fly, Jon, the people of this city need to see the light," he said and with that, he, Jaime, and Tormund moved to where Rhaegal, Drogon, and Lyarhaex had already landed.

Aegon moved to the red dragon and spoke softly to her, telling her that Rhaella was safe in her mother's embrace and then bidding her fly to their rooms, which she did a moment later. With Drogon he told him that his mother was safe and again bid a dragon to protect his family, the black dragon needing even less incentive to do so than the red. Finally, he looked from Rhaegal to Jaime and Tormund.

"I must do this alone, the light will be blinding and I fear for you both were you to be too close. It's not just part of the city I intended to light up, but as much if not all of it," he said looking to both men.

"Be safe, your grace," Jaime said and Aegon nodded.

"I'll help guard them, King Crow," Tormund said and Aegon patted him on the shoulder.

After seeing Rhaenys and Ned Dayne arrive back at the Red Temple, he spoke to and reassured his sister as best he could and then moved to Rhaegal. With his mind now at rest over Rhaenys' safety, it was to the people of Volantis that his thoughts turned. Looking out over the city, he could barely make out the shapes of the building so dark was the night's sky. Neither the moon nor the stars could be seen and other than some fires, some torches that had been lit in some of the homes and on some of the streets, the only light was that which came from those who'd left the Red Temple and brought it with them.

Unsheathing Longclaw, he felt the light before it began to shine and bid Rhaegal look ahead only. At first, it was like the light from a burning torch and only illuminated where he pointed it, then it began to shine more truly. Buildings came into view once more, the streets below could be seen and as they flew over the city, more and more of it was bathed in the light. Yet it was more than just light that seemed to emanate from the sword, as below him people stopped and stared, and much to his relief, they calmed.

A sense of peace seemed to come over them. Their movements became less hurried and panicked and as the men and women from the Red Temple reached them, Aegon felt that the need for him to show them the light from his sword was there if needed. So, he flew overhead for some time, before he then turned and headed back to the Red Temple and his family. The light from his sword had dimmed a little and yet looking to the city he'd left behind him, he could see the torches were now offering up their own illumination. Nowhere was this more clear than at the Red Temple itself which seemed bathed in the light of thousands of lit torches and lanterns. More than enough to allow him to put his sword away and land.

After he had thanked Rhaegal for his help, he bid the dragon go to his brother and sisters and was then joined by Jaime Lannister who had waited there for him to return. Walking through the Red Temple, the sense of panic and urgency that had been there just a little earlier was no longer apparent. Instead, it was a resoluteness that it had been replaced with. When he reached his rooms, it was to find Jorah and Brienne on guard and he entered them to see his wife holding Rhaella in her arms and Missandei, Tormund, and Malora sitting with her. Only the last of those looking anyway perturbed.

"All is well?" Dany asked and though it was very much not, for now, it was as close to being as it would be for some time and so he nodded.

"We must speak, my prince," Malora said and the look in her eyes told him that whatever he feared her words were to be, they'd be worse, much worse.

Volantis 307 AC.

Malora.

Watching as the sun seemed to simply disappear was an experience like no other. Night fell and there was darkness not just over Volantis, but over all the lands in Essos. The first of those things she'd seen with her own two eyes, the rest through a thousand and one. Her prince had set her to task and while she knew that Kinvara too would be asked to look into events in Essos, her way of seeing was not the same as the Red Priestess' was.

So she sat in her room, guards at her door and with only the light of a candle or the fire in the hearth breaking up the darkness. Eyes closed, she went searching for answers through the many familiars she'd taken for herself since they'd arrived in Essos. Birds a plenty, Mice, Pouch Tigers, Zorses, Little Valyrians, and Hrakkar. One and all she'd made them hers and now she looked through their eyes and felt what they felt as night replaced day as far as any of her eyes could see.

The animals were fearful and yet not at the same time. For it wasn't the darkness of the night that they were frightened off, for some they welcomed it as it gave them the edge when they sought their prey, it was what lay hidden in the darkness that they feared. Nowhere was this more clear than in the animals of Norvos and one by one she found to her dismay that their eyes were being closed. By who or what she knew not, though she'd be able to hazard a guess should she need to. Those on the ground were soon lost to her and so it was to those who flew in the sky that she then sought answers. Malora soon wished she had not.

"By the Old Gods," she said as she opened her eyes.

As she went to rise to her feet, she found she was unable to. Then she almost cried out so terrified was she by not being able to move. Her eyes closed of their own accord and she was sure that they would not open again, only for a calming soothing voice to tell her that her gods had not abandoned her or her prince and they had much for her to see. Relaxing, she allowed them to guide her and was soon everywhere and nowhere.

The lands beyond the Wall thrived and the night that had fallen there was a real and true one. Children slept in warmer beds and with full bellies and the Free Folk seemed content. Soon she was at the Wall and to her surprise, she found men and women had made homes for themselves in some of the keeps. Then it was to lands further south. To Bear Island and White Harbor, to Winterfell, as the sun shined and the men and women of the keep welcomed the arrival of their new lady and future lord. Arya Stark, Gendry, and Robb seemed happy to her eyes as were the men and women they spoke to.

It was to other lands that she was taken to, the West where a golden-haired young lady worked on her wedding dress while an older large woman helped. To the Hightower where her father sat in his seat beside her brothers and played with one of her nieces or nephews. To the Riverlands where the lord and lady sat with their children and readied for the day and finally to King's Landing itself where Lord Davos readied for the day. The sun broke through the morning sky and showed that Westeros alone was immune to the falling of the Long Night.

Essos very much was not. Meereen, Yunkai, Astapor, Qarth and Mantarys, Braavos, Pentos Lorath, and every other place she looked, all knew naught but the darkest of nights. Though nowhere was it as dark or as foreboding as Norvos was. Here she saw the truth of things. Dead things that now moved once more and blue eyes that all looked in her direction. At the largest of its temples, she saw the generals and the thing that they answered to and though his eyes looked her way and tried to block her from seeing, her gods were more powerful than whichever one this thing served.

She was taken from Norvos, not by the thing that wished her gone, but by her gods and was shown things from a time long since passed. Ten thousand ships sailed south and to the open sea, Princess Nymeria leading her people to new lands, and yet it was the river and not the ships themselves that it seemed that her gods wished her to see. Over them all, it seemed she flew, her direction not chosen by her just as none of what she'd seen had been thus far. It was to the great forest of Qohor that she was taken, an army marching to face another and at its head, she saw her prince and his sword of light. Fire lit up the sky, it fought back the cold and though she was shown no outcome to the battle ahead, she knew now where that battle would be fought.

"Only the Prince that was Promised can Bring the Dawn, and this is what he was promised for."

When her eyes opened once more, she felt exhausted. So much so that she was barely able to rise to her feet and when she did, she stumbled and fell onto the nearby bed. Though her body was crying out for sleep, she refused to give in and rest more than she truly needed to. Still, she lay there for a few moments, before then feeling somewhat able to rise once more. Shakily, she walked to the door and bid one of her guards to offer her a shoulder to lean on and to take her to Aegon and Daenerys.

"Should this one call for a healer?" the Unsullied asked and she shook her head.

"Take me to the king and queen, I'll rest once I've spoken."

She found the queen looking far less perturbed than she'd have imagined. Daenerys held Rhaella while Rhaenys spoke to Missandei and to one of the red priestesses. There were others present, but her mind barely allowed her to recognize them other than Tormund Gianstbane. Upon seeing her being helped into the room, Tormund rose and then moved to help her to a seat himself. No sooner had she sat down, than Aegon then returned and after greeting his wife, daughter, and sister, he looked at her and she told him that they needed to speak. The worried look he bore on his face when he looked at her was one she sought to remove immediately, for he had far more important things than her health or tiredness.

"I am well, my prince. After we speak I'll seek my bed, but first I must tell you what I was shown."

"Should we gather the others, Aegon?" Daenerys asked and Aegon shook his head.

"No, let's see what Lady Malora has to say and then let her get her rest, we can speak to who we need to once she's done." Aegon said to a nod of his wife's head "My Lady?" he said concernedly looking at her.

It took her some time to tell them first of what she'd seen through her thousand eyes and then what she'd been shown through her one. The worried looks on her prince and the others' faces were only broken up by her words spoken on Westeros. There was a great relief to know that it was only Essos that the Long Night had fallen upon, though soon enough those worried looks returned when she spoke of Norvos and Qohor and the ten thousand ships.

"Arianne, her mother. Thank the gods they and the Dornish army are here and not there." Rhaenys said.

"I think Lady Mellario may not find as much comfort with escaping the fate of those she named as friends as she should," Daenerys said looking to her Goodsister.

"And yet she should. Is there anything else you need to speak on, my lady?" Aegon asked and she shook her head "Then I would see you brought to your bed. Rest up, we'll begin our preparations as you do so and ask Lady Kinvara and others to look to the flames too. I thank you for your counsel as always."

"I am most glad to be able to offer it, my prince," she said, and then she felt almost weightless as she was helped from the room.

She had no memory of being brought back to her own room, nor of being placed in her bed. When she woke it was to find she'd been dressed in the clothing she wore to sleep in and she hoped it was a woman that had undressed her and not one of the Unsullied. Though she doubted any of them would have done so. Reaching to the table beside her bed, she poured herself a large jug of cold water and drank it down in one swallow, then she rose and dressed and went seeking her prince and the queen.

What she found when she left the room, now showed the truth of her visions. The darkness of the night's sky was still present, though the lighted torches and lanterns provided more than enough light to see things clearly as she walked. Around here it was clear that they were in the final stages of readying to depart and she wondered how long she'd rested. It was Kinvara and not Aegon or Daenerys that she first saw and the red priestess wore a smile on her face to see her awake and moving without any aid.

"You are recovered?"

"I am. How long?"

"Four days you rested. Much has happened since then as you see."

"The prince?"

"Is ready to lead the fight to end the Bloodstone Emperor once and for all," Kinvara said almost joyfully.

"You've seen this fight?" she asked and was answered with a nod of Kinvara's head. "And the prince's victory?"

"R'hllor has not gifted me such, no. But my faith lies in the prince and with the three heads of the dragon, I have no doubt they'll see the Dawn is brought back to these lands and that the evil that seeks to rule over them will find no glory or respite."

"I pray you're right."

"Prayers are all we can offer, Lady Malora, to my God and to your own."

After speaking to Kinvara and then to the prince and the queen, it was to food that she was taken to and she ate voraciously. Two days later, she stood on the bow of a river ship, one of more than a thousand and along with their own ships, one that would take them some part of the way to Qohor. The army they had amassed behind them had been swelled by the addition of some of the Tiger Cloaks who wished to fight for the King, Queen, and Princess who had freed them. In the air above them, four dragons flew and only one of them was mounted. Aegon led the way and Lightbringer illuminated the river in front of them and Malora thought it an awe-inspiring sight. Closing her eyes, she prayed to the Old Gods that they would protect her prince and all those he cared about. She offered her life for any of them and she meant the words completely. Though the words she heard back offered her only some comfort.

"You have many years left to serve us, Malora of the Hightower, many sights yet to see and your life is not one we shall give up easily, nor are the lives of our chosen."