Dragons of Destiny

Qohor 307 AC.

Dany.

The sound of laughter rang around the manse. Aegon carried Rhaella on his shoulders and her daughter was pretending that her father was her dragon. Dany could hear her willing Aegon go faster and fly higher and even the sound of her voice was joyful. It had been this way for the past two days. From the moment that Rhaegal had landed and Aegon had told her that not only was it done, but what he'd done with that accursed black stone too. Not that she truly understood the nature of it at the time. Though both Kinvara and Malora had explained it more to her since then.

"Faster Papa, Faster," Rhaella called out and Dany was soon laughing herself as, despite the fact that this had been going on for an hour or more, Aegon showed no sign of tiring.

In the end, it was she that brought their play to an end, reluctant though she was to do so. It was time for them to break their fast and so taking Rhaella from her husband's shoulders, and after promising their daughter that they'd fly on a real dragon at some point later today. Something which earned her a pout from Aegon, as well as a, mumbled "I'm a real dragon" from his lips, Dany fixed Rhaella's clothing and the three of them left the room and made their way to the larger one where they'd take their meals.

Even as they walked, Aegon was engaged in some game or other with their daughter. Dany offered him a mock chiding look and Aegon stuck his tongue out at her in response. In her arms, Rhaella hid her head while Aegon would hide behind her and come at their daughter from the other side, and each time he did so, Rhaella laughed even more. By the time they'd reached the room they'd headed to, Aegon had taken Rhaella from her arms and it was Dany herself who was hiding and then reappearing where their daughter wouldn't expect.

"See I told you little dragon, though she may deny it, your mother likes to play games too," Aegon said, earning him a sticking out of her own tongue.

Missandei and Lady Malora were already present as was Grey Worm. Ser Jorah who'd been on duty at their door was now bid to take a seat and soon enough they were all sitting. Aegon continued to make up new games for Rhaella to play and Dany was not alone at the table watching them both as they did so. That her husband made their daughter eat too was a welcome thing as Rhaella was not one who enjoyed her morning meal usually.

They took their time with their meal. Rhaenys and Ned joined them near the end of it along with Lady Kinvara and Jon Connington. Yet when it ended it seemed as if time had raced by and both she and Aegon were reluctant to leave the table and do the work they needed to. Today they would take the vows of fealty from the great and the good of the city. Something that had been offered to them long before they even had a chance to demand it. Though given they'd defeated an enemy that wished to enslave one and all and had turned night back into day, it wasn't too much of a surprise that it had been.

" We should march on the city, your grace." Jon Connington said.

" There will need not be any march, Lord Connington." Lady Malora answered.

" There will not?" Aegon asked.

" No, my prince. The Qohoriks are no fools and will seek to kneel before being asked to do so."

The lady had, as was most often with the things that Malora said, been proved right. A parley had been arranged not more than a day after they'd beaten Belicho and his army of dead things. One where the city was offered to them and a request was made to join the Empire they were forging. Today that request would be granted and Dany found herself excited about that. Yet wishing that both she and Aegon could just spend the rest of the day with their daughter too.

Part of that was because of the fear both had before the battle. Aegon's had almost crippled him and in a way, his fear had fought her own away. The idea that they'd not see their daughter again or that one or both of them would fall and Rhaella would grow up as they had done, without a parent, had been one she'd done her best to fight away. Dany believed she'd been successful in doing so, as had Aegon, yet that fear would probably stay with them for the rest of their lives if she was being honest with herself. So it was partly that which made their time with Rhaella so precious to them both. Mainly though it was simply that they both enjoyed it so very much.

"Go with auntie, Missy, Rhaella. Mama and I have much to do." Aegon said eventually.

"No papa stay, mama stay," Rhaella said, crossing her arms and pouting.

Before either she or Aegon could chide her for being somewhat of a brat, half-hearted as that chiding would no doubt be, Missandei moved to Rhaella and whispered in her ear. Both she and Aegon looked on as the pout disappeared almost in an instant and was replaced by a smile, followed by an eager nod. Missandei then lifted Rhaella from Aegon's lap. Dany looked on as first Aegon and then she was kissed on the cheek before Missandei nodded to her and walked from the room with four unsullied as her escort and Rhaella's guards.

"Lyarhaex?" she asked to a chuckle from Aegon.

"What else. You and I are poor substitutes for her dragon, my love. Best we get used to it."

She made conversation with Rhaenys and Kinvara, a little with Malora, and some with Aegon too but the meal was over and done with and it was almost time for them to ready for the oath swearing. Rising to her feet, Aegon doing likewise, they made their way to where they knew Missandei had taken Rhaella and Dany smiled as Aegon's words were proved right. Their daughter, Ghost, and Lyarhaex were all now at play together in the garden of the manse. More than a hundred Unsullied and Ser Brienne guarded them. Not that they were in any true danger. With a last look at them all, she turned and walked back to their rooms. Once she reached them she then began to change for the meeting.

"Aegon." she chided as she slapped his hand away from her breast.

"The gods should not have made you so beautiful, my love," Aegon said as he let her go back to changing her clothing.

"My husband is incorrigible." she laughed.

He helped her fit her armor, while she then did the same with his own. The sight of her half-naked body had brought a wicked look to her husband's face and she'd wager she'd worn the same one when he'd changed his britches. For their meal and their play with Rhaella, they'd worn simple casual attire, for the meeting with the Qohoriks it would be anything but. Their best and most regal outfits, polished armor, and even their crowns. They would look exactly as they were, the Emperor and Empress of Essos and King and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

Meereen, Mantarys, Qarth, Braavos, Volantis. Most of the major cities were already theirs. Few if any stood against them and those that did, did so only because they'd not yet moved to take them. Some she had no doubt would come as Qohor had, simply by word and not deed, while some would mayhap need to be given a different reason to kneel. Though kneel they would. A conquest that she'd expected would take far longer than it had already done, was reaching what was soon to be its end. Soon enough they'd be leaving the warm clime of Essos behind and Dany wondered if Aegon was as eager as she to return to Westeros.

"This will have to do." she heard Aegon say and she turned to see him moving from the looking glass.

It was just after midday that they arrived in the center of the city. She, Rhaenys, and Aegon were on their dragons' backs while the Dothraki, Unsullied, Tiger Cloaks, and men of Dorne arrived on foot or by horse. It was in truth a tiny part of their army. One so that each of them was represented and could bear witness to the oath swearing. As with Meereen and other cities now under their control, certain rules would apply here from now on and as with them, some coin and goods would soon be making their way back to Westeros too.

Climbing down off Drogon's back, Dany was joined by her Goodsister and her husband. Ser Jorah, Ser Jaime, Grey Worm, and Jon Connington, along with Tormund and the ladies Malora and Kinvara all made up the party that walked to where seats had been laid out for them. The actual swearing of the oaths took little time and Dany believed the words when they were spoken. Lady Kinvara had looked into the fires and though Lady Malora had found her own answers from a different god, those answers were the same ones in the end. Qohor had knelt willingly and truly. There was no mummery going on here and they had naught to worry about when it came to the oaths that were sworn.

With that done, it was back to the manse and back to Aegon playing with their daughter. This time with "Uncle Mund" as Tormund had become known to Rhaella. Once again Dany looked on as her husband played the fool for their daughter and once again she heard the sound of loud and true laughter as he did so.

Qohor 307 AC.

Rhaenys.

A part of her had wanted nothing more than to stay in bed with her husband. Their time together had been one filled with one interruption after another and now with the battle won and traveling soon to come, she'd wished for nothing more than some time where it was just them both. This morning however would not be that time and so after they'd woken and broken their fasts, Rhaenys had joined her brother and Goodsister to fly to the parley.

Qohor and its people had managed to avoid the fate that Belicho wished for them only because of what she, Dany, and Aegon had done. Yet Rhaenys still hadn't expected it to be as easy as it seemed to be to bring them to their side. There was no need for a battle to be fought or even for threats to be made. Aegon and Dany hadn't even reached out to those who ran the city. Instead, it had been the other way around and while she knew she shouldn't, she worried it was too easy, that there was some mummery taking place. Not even the words of Lady Malora and Lady Kinvara had been enough to convince her otherwise. So she'd shared her concerns with her brother.

" Can it be so simple, Aegon?"

" You distrust the Qohoriks?"

" They by their nature are untrustworthy. Their rituals and beliefs are much different than those in most cities, even by Essosi standards, and other than Asshai, they are the ones who give me the most pause," she said, happy to see Aegon listen even if he seemed not to agree.

" I think seeing night fall, knowing how close the two armies who fought the battle were to their gates, and even if they knew not the true nature of one, seeing the other be victorious would be enough to bring them to our side. Yet in truth, I don't think it's even just simply that which has done so."

" You don't?" she asked confused.

" Oh, it played its part, but I believe Qohor was ready to kneel long before the Long Night fell or the battle was fought. You know who they'd use to protect the city from those who sought to attack it?" Aegon asked and Rhaenys shook her head "Unsullied."

" You think because the Unsullied are with us…"

" I think had Dany come here alone then she'd have brought Qohor to its knees just by who she was and who followed her. As much as the battle, Belicho's defeat, or the fact the sun is back where it belongs, it's that they are kneeling for."

Rhaenys wasn't sure whether she agreed with her brother or not. She wondered if he was giving his wife too much credit. Then she remembered what had happened in Braavos and how the Sealord had knelt so very easily. While he'd had his own reasons for doing so and the ending of slavery was something that drove him, it was to Dany more than to anyone else that he'd wished to kneel to too. Mayhap the Qohoriks were the same or mayhap it was more that they'd come so very close to suffering the same fate as the Norvosi. In the end, it mattered not.

Later as they flew over the city and headed to where the parley was to take place, Rhaenys felt relieved to see that even though Aegon expected no mummery, he was taking no chances that there may be one at play. As with the Triarchs in Volantis, the parley was to be held out in the open and their escort was to be a large one. Dothraki, Unsullied, and men from Dorne and Braavos. Thousands of them lined the route and were spread out around the large central square where they'd be holding the discussions. Circling above the square not once but twice, Rhaenys saw the white cloaks of Jaime Lannister and Jorah Mormont. She could make out Grey Worm and Qhono, Jon Connington, and finally much to her delight, her husband too.

At a nod from Aegon, all three dragons landed and the Dragonguard was soon surrounding them. Ned took up a position behind her and she could see Dawn's hilt over his shoulder. After offering him her warmest smile, they made their way to the chairs and large table and were greeted by the Qohoriks. Four men faced them. Not one of them younger than fifty namedays old she'd wager. These were the elders of the city. Men who were not quite Magisters or Triarchs and at least one of them was a high priest of some sort.

"Empress Daenerys, Emperor Aegon, Princess Rhaenys, we are most pleased that you've come to treat with us, most pleased." the oldest of the man said before he then introduced himself and the other three.

Again as it had been in Volantis, Aegon left it to Daenerys to set the terms for their entry into the Empire. An end to slavery. Though they'd not interfere with their religious beliefs which was something the men seemed most pleased about. A percentage of their coin and supplies was to be sent to Westeros and taxes were to be paid each and every year from now on. Again this was something they accepted without question. The only issue that actually came up was when the agreement was asked to be witnessed by a blood bond.

"Why is there a need for such?" Aegon asked.

"It is how things are done in Qohor, my Emperor. A simple bleeding into the bowl is all that we require."

"And the blood, what happens to the blood after?" she asked and then shook her head when she was told that it would be stored in one of the temples.

Rhaenys moved and whispered in Aegon's ear, her brother's eyes on the four Qohoriks in front of them and their eyes on both her and Aegon. When she was finished she saw Aegon nod to her and then he bid her to inform them of their decision.

"We will agree to the bloodletting, but not the storage of said blood. Dragonblood is precious and not something we share, not our own nor that of the dragons themselves. Lady Kinvara if you'd be so good as to take charge."

Though it was clear they liked it not, the Qohoriks raised no objection and after the four men had cut their palms and let their blood pool in the bowl, it was their turn. Rhaenys took the small knife she carried and cut her palm, allowing the blood to drip into the bowl before Ned moved forward and handed her a handkerchief to bind the wound. Aegon and Dany then did the same and once their blood had pooled into the bowl, she bid Kinvara to offer it to the flames.

All eyes turned to the red priestess as she walked to where Drogon awaited before laying down the bowl in front of the black dragon. Once she did so, Kinvara moved from it quickly, and then Dany turned her head to look at Drogon.

"Dracarys," she said as now all eyes looked to the black dragon and the bowl of blood that lay on the ground in front of him.

It was barely a flame at all that Drogon let out, Rhaenys unsure how he was able to manage to produce one that was so small. Not that it lacked in intensity, as even from some distance away she could see the bowl melt and then the flame caught the blood itself. Other than wildfire or Lightbringer, she'd rarely seen something so bright as she then did. Around them, their guards, the Qohoriks, and even Kinvara had to cover her eyes. Yet she, Aegon, and Dany did not.

She'd later name it one of the most wondrous sights she'd ever seen. For the merest moment, she was sure she saw a woman that could very well be her mother and a man who she'd name as her father. Her aunt Shiera was certainly seen by her. Briefly, she saw a young man who she believed was her fallen brother, Aegon. As the light dimmed, she looked at her still-living brother and saw that he too seemed to have seen something similar in the light. As did Dany too.

"EGG I…"

"Aye, me too. We'll speak of it later, not here." her brother said and she nodded.

Eventually, the light went out completely and there was no sign of the blood or the bowl. Was it not for the awed look on the Qohoriks' faces. That and the way that they seemed even more referential in their words afterward, then she may have worried they'd managed to do some trickery and steal the blood somehow. Yet she knew in her heart that the bowl and the blood were gone. Whatever it was she, Aegon, and Dany had seen, had been for them and them alone.

The parley ended not long afterward. Dany had given the rule of the city to three of the four men opposite and in truth little would actually change in Qohor from a practical standpoint. If anything their joining the Empire would make them safer from attack. Not to mention that the cost they'd pay in terms of coin and food was or would be lesser than the tribute that they paid to Dothraki Khals in the past. Slavery was banned and they answered to them above all. Other than that, the city would run as independently as ever.

Later that night as she readied herself for the celebrations to come, she found her thoughts turning to what she had seen in the light. She, Aegon, and Dany had spoken and like her, her brother had seen their father, brother and though he'd seen his own mother instead of hers and their granduncle Aemon instead of Shiera, she welcomed sharing as much of the vision with him as he did her. Dany had seen her mother, both her brothers and their granduncle too and all three of them had thanked the gods for gifting them so.

"Are you ready, my love?" Ned said as he moved behind her, Rhaenys smiling at his reflection in the looking glass to let him know she was.

"Come, tonight is a night for celebration," she said and though in the end she and Ned left earlier than most, it was a night she enjoyed immensely all the same.

Storm's End 307 AC.

Sansa Baratheon.

A woman wedded and bedded. For the first time, she actually found she liked those words. Sansa felt she deserved the chance to feel some joy at them given all she'd gone through. Her wedding night had been so very different from her last. She'd been nervous, and worried, and had trembled as she'd undressed. After she'd done so and he'd held her and spoken softly in her ear, Edric had then brought her far more pleasure than she had expected. He'd been angered when he saw her scars. Not at her but at the monster who'd given her them and the cruelty of the world which had allowed it to be done.

Even now, days later, Sansa remembered how he'd sworn if Ramsay was alive that he'd have ignored everything else he wished for just to see the man suffer. He'd then, much to her surprise, kissed each and every one of them and it had made her cry as she lay in his arms. It had since then, been Sansa and not he who had initiated their coupling. Eager as Edric clearly had been for it, he'd let her somewhat take the lead. Or he did until he took control.

Looking at her husband now as he slept in their bed, Sansa smiled as she remembered their first night together and the nights they'd shared since. She'd felt wicked and wanton as she'd whispered in her husband's ear that mayhap they should take an early night, the night after they'd been wed. They'd then hurried back to their rooms, and once again found great pleasure with each other. This was even more true when after seeing him spar, she'd given him a look and made her way back to their rooms and he'd joined her. Their lovemaking was just as loud and enjoyable during the day as it had been at night.

" My wife has worn me out."

" Is that not my duty, husband."

" Indeed, yet I'd not have it be duty only, Sansa."

" It's very much not, husband mine."

She smiled even now as she thought back to how they'd speak after they'd exhausted themselves with one another. Moving from the bed, Sansa dressed quietly and once she had, she then moved back to place a soft kiss on Edric's lips. Her husband was a heavy sleeper of a morn while she found herself waking early. With a last longing look at him as she walked from the room, Sansa sought out the Little Bird and readied for the mummery she was about to perform.

While she welcomed finding such delight in her husband's touches and caresses, she knew it created a problem for her. She'd come here ostensibly to perform a mummery so that she could gain her bastard cousin and his whore of a wife's favor. Sansa had been more than willing to sell Edric out so that she could get back that which was stolen from her. Now, she was very much not. Yet she had no doubt that Varys had learned not just of the wedding but of how enthusiastic she'd been about the wedding night itself. Not even the words she'd sent him in letters declaring it all an act would be enough. He'd know too about their plans or some of them at least. So it was time to throw him off the scent.

It took her some time to find the little girl and when she did, Sansa bid her to join her in her husband's solar. Taking a seat once inside, she took a quill and some parchment and wrote out the note. There was no point in trying to sell the gathering of men as anything it was not. Nor to deny that she'd called out her husband's name in pleasure more than once. So she did not. Instead, she sold the latter as a needed thing and the former as what it was, just not what it truly was.

Lord Varys,

My efforts to gain Lord Edric's favor have proved more than successful. So much so that he asked and I consented to be his wife. Even though I had and have no wish to ever be tied to a man not of my choosing ever again. In my desire to prove myself trustworthy, I have played a dutiful wife even though the things we do together are things that have long lost any desire or interest on my part. Yet we do what we must and I'll not lie and say that I've not found some pleasure in my husband's touches. Much to my dismay though that may be.

I write to you to confirm my resolve and to share with you what my endeavors have achieved. My husband seeks more than what he has, Lord Varys. He is not as Leal to the new king and queen as he may suggest he is and has gathered an army to begin to take these lands from them and for himself. Much to my shame and horror, it is mine own words that have given him his first target and though I long to warn my sister of the coming storm, I fear my words would not arrive nor even be allowed to be sent. It is to the North we sail Lord Varys. To the North and to Winterfell as my husband seeks to write a wrong I no longer consider one. I hope you can do what I cannot and inform my sister of the threat and their graces of my good intent. I await eagerly any instructions you can send my way.

My penance is far from complete, Lord Varys, but I walk a path that I hope leads to some forgiveness.

Sansa Stark.

She blew on the ink and waited until it was dry before sealing the letter and handing it, some coins, and some candied fruit to the little girl who smiled at her as she hungrily ate it. Waiting until she had left the room, Sansa was soon walking back into her bedroom and the sound of her footsteps was enough to wake Edric from his slumber.

"You've sent the letter?" he asked and she nodded as she undid the straps of her dress.

"I'm ever so repentant," she said with a girlish giggle.

"Has my wife been a naughty girl?"

"Very naughty, husband," she said as the dress fell to the floor and she stood in front of her husband naked.

"Then we shall have to reprimand her most severely."

"Most severely indeed."

There was no reprimand, though she did receive quite a thorough tongue lashing and it was one that soon had her screaming her husband's name loudly. As did the coupling that came after it. Be it that he'd once again managed to inflame her desires so completely or that she was so very close to getting all she deserved, she knew not. All she knew was that they would soon be sailing for King's Landing while all eyes looked North. That and by the time Varys and the rest of them realized her true intent, they'd be in no position to do anything about it.

A week later.

The response from Varys had been even better than she or Edric had hoped for. He'd completely bought into her lie and had sent word to Arya to prepare for an attack. Even better than that, he'd sent men North to offer them aid to prevent that attack making King's Landing even less protected. So excited did the news make her that after she'd shared it with Edric in his solar, he'd taken her on top of the table rather than in their bed. She'd willed him to, begged him to and he'd done as she wished. The two of them fell over the edge together and it was not the last time that they did so that night.

Now they were to march and when she'd asked for leave to march with him, Sansa had feared he'd not allow it. She'd bitten her lip nervously as Edric contemplated her request before kissing him deeply when he'd agreed to it. A part of her had feared she'd be asked to stay in Storm's End or be told that a battlefield was no place for a woman to be. In her head, she'd readied her arguments that would name that thinking as folly.

Sansa had known what it was like to be on a battlefield. She'd ridden to one as they had marched to take Winterfell back. Had she not done so then they'd have never seen the inside of her family keep ever again. It had been her actions that won the Battle of the Bastards and while she believed that Edric was far more capable than her bastard cousin had been, she wished to be by his side and to offer any counsel she could. More than that, she simply wished to be by his side. Not just so she could revel in their victory together or get right to work in bringing the realm to their side once they had taken Kings Landing. Sansa wished to be by her husband's side and in his bed. To feel his arms around her and to enjoy the comfort and pleasure that the things they did together brought her.

"After we take the city when the realm has come to our side, we'll deal with Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, Sansa. We'll deal with them most severely indeed."

"We will, Edric." she smiled, as they left Storm's End behind and rode to where the ships awaited to ferry half their army to King's Landing. The other half rode there to take part in their two-pronged attack.

Winterfell 307 AC.

Arya Stark.

As she sat at her desk in what had once been her father's solar and was now hers, Arya looked over the books and contemplated her first few moons as Lady of Winterfell. She'd asked Edd to stay on while she got settled and had sent men to the Dreadfort in his stead. The duties of a Lady and Warden were many and numerous and a part of her wished the dour former Night's Watch Lord Commander could stay on permanently. Yet she'd not deny him what Jon had given him nor did she feel he'd not earned it. Still, she welcomed having the man around to help her during those first few weeks and was sad to see him leave when the time finally came to do so.

" The Dreadfort and the lands around it should provide a decent income according to what my brother says."

" The coin he's given me is too much, my lady."

" No, it's not, Edd. You have men to outfit, stocks and supplies you'll need to purchase, and mayhap even changes you and your good lady wife will seek to make. Best you already have a treasury to do so with."

" Aye, you're probably in the right of it."

" I've no doubt we'll both be visited by my brother soon enough and any supplies he sends, you'll see your fair share of. On his behalf and mine own, I thank you for what you've done here, Edd. I'd have been lost these past few weeks had you not stayed and helped."

Her words had embarrassed the man a little and made his wife even prouder of him. He'd left with half the men he'd put into positions around Winterfell. Only two of the former brothers of the Night's Watch chose to stay in her service rather than join him at his new keep. They only did so because they were in the midst of courting some girls from Wintertown and had not yet wed. While the others already had or were still single.

Gendry looked after the forge himself. Though to his annoyance she'd not allow him to work in it other than on the odd occasion. So it was more as a way of relieving the tension of being a lord than as a permanent job that his time there was confined to. Still, it allowed them to quickly replace the former Smith who'd left with Edd. Edd himself helped fill some of the other positions that his and his men's leaving caused. While Arya soon filled the rest relatively easily.

The Hound was Captain of her Guards and she'd left it to him to see that Winterfell was safe and secure. They now had a small cavalry force of one hundred men and a standing guard of close to a thousand. Her aim was to double or even treble that, but it would take a year or more to see that done. Not only did they have to find the right men, but Arya wished to see a full year's expenses and income before pushing too far too soon. Unlike her sister, Arya understood the true value of coin, and while they were far from short of it, and Jon had sent much of it their way, she'd not be a spendthrift. For winter was always coming.

"My wife looks lost in thought." she heard Gendry call out and the soft gurgling of Robb in his arms brought a smile to her face.

"Give him here," she said rising to her feet and taking her son from her husband.

Her son had grown much these past few moons. It was another moon or so until his first Nameday and yet he was as large as a boy twice as old. His dark hair was now growing full on his head and she'd even considered having it cut. Not that she could have ever truly followed through with it. Robb's blue eyes were ever alert and they brightened up when they looked into her own grey ones. As for the smile on his face, that was his father's through and through. While most people said he looked like her, to Arya he was and always would be Gendry's son in looks alone.

"My sweet boy," she said as Robb gurgled, laughed, and reached out to grab her hair.

"I told you that you should cut it," Gendry said when Arya grimaced as Robb managed to tug hard on a long strand of her hair.

"I never listen to anything you tell me, I thought you knew that by now," she said, sticking her tongue out at her husband and making him and Robb both laugh the self-same laugh.

For the next hour or more, they simply enjoyed being a family together. Had it not been for Robb's hunger, then she'd have been content with that being most of her day. Yet as she took a seat and bared her breast so her son could eat, she knew he'd soon be sleeping and she still had more work to do. In this, she was proved as right as always As once her son had eaten and been winded, he began to doze off.

Gendry was the one who placed him in his crib and it left Arya to go back to her work. Bored looking at numbers, she instead decided to do the rest of her thinking walking. Her footsteps took her to their granary and their stores and the sight she was greeted in each was a welcome one. Arya remembered coming here as a young girl and wondering why there was a need for so much food. It always seemed as if they had a never-ending supply of it to her young mind. Now she knew better and they could always do with having more. For it was not just the people of Winterfell or Wintertown that it fell to them to feed, but those of the North too.

From the stores, it was to the stables, armory, and eventually, the sparring yard that Arya walked to. Each place was as busy as the one she'd just left. Horses were being fed and a brief question to the stable master was all it took to find out just how well stocked they were in hay and feed. They had enough arms to outfit twice the number of men and more was being produced daily. By the time she was done, they'd have enough to outfit the entire army that Winterfell would have to call upon and more. In the sparring yards, Sandor put men through their paces and there was no stricter taskmaster than he. Arya stood a little out of sight and listened as he guided, berated, and even painfully taught a lesson to the men he trained.

"I'll stick that fucking pike up your arse if you use it like that again."

"No, hold the fucking shield up lest you want your fucking bell rung."

"What did I say."

"Ah, hurts, doesn't it? That's why you hold the fucking shield to block the strike."

She chuckled as she walked away. Eager as she was herself to have a true spar or join in, she knew she could not. Unless she was putting on a show of sorts, she kept her own training to early mornings and late in the evening and did so far from prying eyes. Walking back into the keep, she welcomed the warmth it offered. Winter had been mild this year and even looked to be coming to an end much sooner than the Maester had believed. It was still winter though and her time in Essos had made her much appreciate the warmth of the sun.

Arya made her way back to her solar, passing her rooms and entering to check up on Robb as she did so. Her son slept as peacefully as he could and she smiled to see his wolf curled up on the floor beside his crib. Placing a soft kiss on his forehead and nodding to his nurse and his guards as she left the room, she was soon smiling truly as she saw her own wolf waiting for her outside her door.

"You're back." she said happily as she rubbed her hand in Nymeria's fur "I missed you so much, girl."

Arya's laugh rang out as she felt Nymeria's tongue lick her hand. Together they walked into the room and to her solar. Taking her seat at her desk, she brushed her hand through Nymeria's fur once more. Her wolf would from time to time disappear and go and do whatever it was that wolves do. She'd always return though and no matter Arya's spirits when she did, that return would always raise them higher.

"Well, let's finish this and then we can eat, ah girl," she said as she opened the books one more time and went about her day.

Qohor 307 AC.

Aegon.

Taking the oaths of fealty and welcoming the Qohoriks into their new empire was a welcome thing and yet it bored him greatly. Not that he wished for another fight or sought one out, far from it, but more that he knew there were other more fun things he could be doing than this. So he was glad it was over and they could concentrate on the true celebration they were all owed. Ever since he'd ended Belicho, Aegon had felt a lightness that he wished to share with as many people as possible. It was why he played even more regularly and longer with Rhaella than he had. Though he had to admit, that was something he wished to do regardless.

As the celebration truly took place, Aegon laughed, drank, made a fool of himself, and even put Tormund to shame with some of his antics. His wife rolled her eyes each time he looked her way and yet he soon had her dancing with him and laughing just as loudly and idiotically as he himself was. His sister too joined in fully as Aegon's mood proved to be contagious. They had come here to take back the Bay of Dragons and free a people from slavery. Over time they'd realized that to do so they needed to forge an empire that one day Rhaella would rule over. It had then become something different, something even more important than that. Another fight for the ages and another fight where they had come out victorious. He was right and they were right to be fools this night.

"Aegon?" Dany asked and he just kissed her and laughed once again.

"No questions tonight, my love. Let's get drunk and make merry for once. What say you?"

"For once." she smiled.

Over the course of the night, Aegon spent time with Tormund, Ned, Princess Arianne, her mother, and Ser Daemon Sand. He and Jaime sat, spoke, and drank together. The knight reluctantly agreed to take a night off when he'd bid him to. He'd laughed and japed with his sister and his wife and had even snuck away to spend some time with his daughter. All in all, it was one of the very best nights he'd ever known and he should have realized that it wasn't just good cheer or to celebrate a victory that he had been allowed to know it.

Waking up the next morning, his head thumped and his wife took great pleasure in giving him an 'I told you so' look. It took him a few hours to restore any semblance of normality to his thinking and that only came after he, Rhaella, Rhaegal, and Lyarhaex took a flight over he city. Something which at first even during it was hard for him to truly enjoy. Rhaella's laughter, Rhaegal's trills, and Lyarhaex's calling out to her future rider all sounded far louder in his pained head than Aegon would have liked. Until finally, they sounded as welcoming as they ever did and he could relax once more.

"Rhaex, papa," Rhaella said as they landed and he looked to the red dragon to see that she wished for he rider to sit on her back once more.

"No fly, Rhaella."

"No fly, papa." his daughter said with a nod and Aegon felt the relief that her words brought him.

Some time ago, he'd made the mistake of placing her on the red dragon's back before he or her mother had taken her for a flight on their own dragon. It was a mistake he'd never make again as the red dragon had almost taken off before he could stop her. How long it would be until Rhaella took her first true flight on her dragon's back, he knew not. It would, however, not be today. Of that he was certain.

The sound of the red dragon's trill and how Rhaella instinctively knew where to hold onto was heart-warming to see and listen to. From the balcony above them, Dany looked on and wore one of her truest smiles and Aegon felt as content as he ever was. After a short while, he lifted Rhaella from Lyarahaex's back and bid her said goodbye to the red dragon for now.

"Bye Bye, Rhaex," Rhaella said almost sadly, and it took all his resolve to bid Lyarhaex to fly to her brothers.

With the red dragon now in the sky, Aegon carried his daughter into the manse and to her mother who awaited her with open arms. As always, he stood there listening eagerly as Rhaella told her mother about her morning flight in her own imitable way. Some mornings it would be he now holding her and listening to the tale and on others, they'd have both flown with her. Those he'd wager were his favorite of all. He, Dany, and their daughter, the three dragons. Other than Ghost, their own family within a family.

They broke their fast and Missandei took Rhaella to her first lesson of the day. It wasn't a true one and what it entailed, Aegon knew not. Yet both his wife and her closest friend believed it benefited Rhaella and who was he to argue with either of them? With their meal done with, they now had to turn their thoughts to where they would go from here and while he wished they could enjoy just sitting around and doing little, it was not yet the life they knew. So they left the room where they broke their fast and were soon in the one they'd taken for their solar.

"Rhaenys is coming?" he asked Dany who nodded.

They were joined by Rhaenys and Ned, by Lady Kinvara and Ser Jorah. Then after some time, Grey Worm, Jaime, Tormund, and the leader of the Tiger Cloaks a now-freed slave named Innorno made their way to join them too. Looking at the maps, he could see where they had dragon figures placed. Meereen, Yunkai and Astapor, the entire Bay of Dragons, Qarth, Mantarys, Volantis, and Braavos. They controlled almost all the major cities barring a few and their Empire stretched from the Great Grass Sea to the Narrow and Shivering ones.

"The Three Daughters," Rhaenys said pointing to Myr and yet Aegon found himself looking to Lorath for some reason.

"Do we seek it all, your grace?" Jaime asked and Aegon looked to Dany who nodded.

"In time, Ser Jaime. Other than the Three Daughters, it's Ibben, Pentos, and Lorath. I'd look to Lorath next." he said pointing to the city."

"That would take us past Norvos, would it not?" Dany asked and Aegon nodded.

"What do we expect to find there, Egg?" Rhaenys asked and Aegon sighed, glad though he was that Princess Arianne and her mother were no longer truly in their war council, as both would be heading back to Dorne soon enough and neither needed to hear what had happened to a city that both had named home once.

"Nothing good if what Lady Kinvara says is true," he said, all eyes then turning to the red priestess.

"Those we fought were mainly made up from there. Other than some travelers who've taken shelter in the now abandoned city, there is no living thing there."

"Are there more of the dead?" Tormund asked worriedly.

"No, the dead will trouble us no more," he answered before Kinvara could.

"Lorath it is then," Dany said just as Lady Malora walked into the room and Aegon felt his heart drop at the look on the woman's face.

"What's happened?"

"Your sister, my prince. It seems she seeks one final battle."

Later that night he lay awake in his and Dany's bed. Beside him, his wife slept and they'd talked out all they needed to. A part of him had known it would come to this. That by not taking her head she'd never accepted that he'd done her a service and given her a chance. Sansa would never agree to a life lesser than the one she believed she deserved. Deep down he knew and had always known that. As much as he may have believed that by sentencing her to live that lesser life he was punishing her, in truth he was simply avoiding the only choice he could make in regard to Sansa. No more would he do so.

No more would he be able to avoid that truth and he cursed her for what she was now forcing him to do. Lady Malora said that he was not needed, though she'd said it to him alone. Aegon though couldn't allow them to fight without him. They couldn't be seen to fight without him. Even should they win as easily as Lady Malora believed they would. No, it had to be seen to be the dragons who won this particular battle and put down this stupid rebellion. It had to be seen to be him that put Sansa down for good and he hated her for not just that, but for taking him from his family in order to see it done.

"Damn you, Sansa, Damn you to the Seven Hells," he said as he rose from his bed and made ready for the flight he'd be taken when morning came.

King's Landing 307 AC.

Davos Seaworth.

He was doing it again, old habits proving as hard to break as ever. It may not quite be the night before the battle, yet he found himself walking the parapets of the Red Keep regardless. The ships had set sail from the Stormlands, the army had marched. Edric Baratheon doing his utmost to replicate Stannis' attack plan, fool that he was.

Had he not realized that Stannis lost?

Did he not understand that they'd be more prepared?

Was he fool enough to believe they'd be caught unawares?

The answer to two of those questions was that he did not. As for the third, his actions had already proved him to be a fool. Davos wondered if it was a Baratheon trait. If they simply saw what they wanted and believed it to be the truth. Robert had believed himself the hero in some tale and had then proved himself to be the villain. He'd convinced himself of a love that was never his and while that alone wasn't what led to the Rebellion, it had been the truth that Robert had convinced himself of.

Renly believed that because he was charming and people laughed at his japes, that alone was enough to make him the best man to wear a crown. He'd convinced himself that he was right to usurp his brother's claim and to fight against rather than join him. Then he'd thought that feasting, hosting silly events that were little more than mock tourneys, and not marching on those who stood in his way of said crown, was how a war was fought.

'As for Stannis' Davos sighed.

"Your belief was the most foolish of all," he said to the night sky. His words lost in the breeze that blew in from Blackwater Bay.

Stannis had allowed himself to believe that he was some prophesized prince. Even above his right or duty to be king, he was destined for it, or so he'd convinced himself. No, that wasn't quite true, Davos thought, she'd convinced him. It had led him on a path that Davos was shamed to say he'd followed him on. Images of blue eyes and her smiling face came to his mind and he cursed himself for his part in the events that had led to her death. As he always did.

Turning to walk back inside the keep, Davos' thoughts turned to the latest fool Baratheon and wondered if Edric was to be the last of his line. There was no other outcome for him than death. No other sentence could be imposed on him but the truest one of all. Pushing the thought from his mind, he soon found himself walking in no particular direction. Eventually, he stood in front of the door and knocked. Varys opening it and bidding him enter.

"You can't sleep either?" Varys said as he poured them both some wine.

"I find it hard to do on the eve of battle."

"Not quite the eve, but I take your point," Varys said as Davos took a seat.

The two men sat in silence for a few moments, both sipping rather than drinking the wine. When he did speak, Davos was surprised and yet not by what he asked.

"House Baratheon, Varys. Other than Gendry is there…."

"Mya Stone and Bella Rivers," Varys said surprising him.

"The Vale and Riverlands?" he asked.

"Oh, he had many more than that. Among the many crimes of Joffrey Waters, Kinslaying was but one of them." Varys said and Davos gulped.

"How many?"

"I knew of eight, yet in total, I believe it was six and ten."

"And only four live still?" Davos asked, trying not to concentrate on the two and ten that Joffrey Waters had ordered to be murdered.

"Indeed. Though for our purposes only one is of consequence."

"Varys?"

"Mya Stone, Davos. Not only is she the oldest and so the heir after Edric is dealt with, but she's spent some time around Lords, Ladies and courts. While she has little education and spent her life working as a guide in the Vale, she's a bright enough girl and with the right guidance and husband, one that would do well serving our king and queen."

"You've given this much thought," he said surprised.

"I wanted to have the arrangements made and to be certain they were needed before I brought it to you or their graces."

"And have you?" he asked curiously.

"The lady is aware that we seek her to become the lady of a great house and is more than pleased with the idea. Her station in life has taken much from her and shown her the truth of the world we live in. The truth of her birth costing her a love that could never be." Varys said, the last words spoken somewhat sadly.

"Where is she now?"

"Safe and well and to be escorted to us once this dirty business is taken care of."

Davos chuckled, he'd heard war and battle called many things, never a dirty business. Yet it was and always had been and there were few more apt ways of putting it.

"I should at least try and get some rest," he said to a nod from Varys.

Finishing his wine in one swallow, he rose to his feet and was almost at the door when the Eunuch spoke.

"This is not a battle we will lose, Davos. Not one we should be forced to wage, but not one we'll lose."

"I know. I had but hoped I'd fought my last one."

Sleep did come to him, a little of it anyway. He woke the next morning to find that it would be one more day before the army that Edric Baratheon and Sansa Stark had gathered would arrive. As he was breaking his fast, he was joined by Varys who handed him the letter that had been passed to one of his little birds by Sansa Stark. Reading it, he felt his anger grow at the mummery she would have them believe she was engaging in. Somehow he held his tongue and it wasn't until he and Varys made their way to look over the defenses that he spoke what was on his mind.

"Does she take us for fools?" he said angrily.

"She does. Mores' the pity."

"What?"

"If she did not then she could have earned herself some favor back. Not enough to be given even half of what she wished for, but mayhap enough to be given far more than she has. She's signed her own death warrant, Davos. There can be no mercy given to her now."

"No there cannot," he said, running his hand through his greying hair as he wondered how his king would greet the news of her death.

"He knew this was to be her end, Davos. You know he knew."

"Aye, he did," he said, though he liked it not.

They walked around the Red Keep together. Everywhere they looked there were soldiers. Some of them were more on duty than others. The City Watch had been joined by more than two thousand men at arms from the West. Men who'd look to any as just more guardsmen and yet were very much not. Varys had found all the spies that Edric had left in the city and the messages they now passed on were written not by them but by the Master of Whisperers. Those messages promised an easy victory and that was the last thing that Edric would find when he arrived here.

With the Red Keep's defenses settled in his mind. Davos bid farewell for now to Varys and along with his guards, he made his way through the city. They had men stationed on top of some of the buildings that led to the Red Keep and to other important parts of the city. Archers and Crossbowmen one and all and just looking up at them, Davos shuddered. Any who were unlucky enough to make it this far would find themselves in a world of hurt. For there was little cover to be found on the ground and the men stationed on the roofs would have a clear view of all below them.

Arriving at the Docks, he looked to the former Tyrell Warehouse. The remaining men of the Golden Company were there under the command of Lysono Marr and Black Balaq. More than three thousand of them had come from the keeps they'd gifted them. All of them were eager to prove their worth to the king and queen they'd sworn to. Davos would match them against twice the number of any army other than the king and queen's own. Only the Unsullied and Dothraki were as experienced in war as these men and the men of the Storm would be no match for them.

"We ride to the Kingswood," he said once he was happy enough with what he'd seen.

He contemplated on Sansa Stark as he rode. Her letter named her as good and true and warned them of an attack not where it was to take place, but far from their shores. A misdirection and feint that only a fool would believe they'd fall for. It annoyed him, angered him, and disturbed him in equal measure. Davos cared not for the girl. For she'd proved her true character not just from the moment they'd first arrived back in the North with the Queen. But in the days, weeks, moons, and years that followed. There was no love in his heart for Edric Storm either. As he too was just as big a fool as Sansa Stark had proved to be.

No, his sympathy lay with the brother who'd have to be informed of her death and with the men of the Storm, some of whom he'd named as friends once. They should know better. Should be better. Yet once again they were reaching for something they didn't deserve and had no right to. This time, he felt that they would reap the whirlwind both on the battlefield and off of it.

Entering the Kingswood, they'd ridden for no more than a few moments before they were surrounded. Some of Ser Daven's men of the West then escorted them to where the man himself had set up his camp. Fifteen thousand men were under Ser Daven's command. Seven thousand of them Knights of the Vale who'd come when Lady Anya had called for them and were being led by her son. They had ten thousand mounted men. Five hundred archers and over four thousand infantrymen. Added to the forces they had in the city itself, their army was close to thirty thousand strong. Twice or even more the size of Edric's and unlike his, they had the element of surprise too.

"Lord Davos." Ser Daven said as Davos climbed down off his horse.

"Ser Daven, what news?"

Later that night, Davos found himself alone and walking the parapets once more. This truly was the eve of battle. Close to five thousand men marched and were less than a day away from the Kingswood. The Ships he'd wager had already passed Dragonstone. On the morrow or at the latest, by nightfall, they'd be in a battle once again. Looking to the sky, he saw the moon cast in shadow and for the briefest moment he swore he saw the outline of a dragon, but it was simply a trick of the light. As dawn began to break, Davos, made his way back to his rooms and readied for the day and the battle ahead. Cursing the foolish man and woman who couldn't accept their lot in life as he did so.