Chapter 6: Blood of the Dragon

Maester Wolken walked in tow with the messenger who returned from the Wall. His eyes darted to the sack with blood stains and gulped in fear. The kinslaying bastard was going to be fuming with madness and the oathbreaker Umber even more so. Even still, in the confines of his mind, he was a little happy that the Starks were gaining strength in the North especially in light of the raven he received from Barrowton and the Rills.

In the aftermath of Karstarks abandoning Winterfell, Ramsay had ordered him to send ravens to House Dustin and House Ryswell for support against the Starks. The response was quick and he had not yet broken the seal so he didn't know what was in the scroll. From his long years of experience, it was probably not good news for the kinslayer which was a good thing in his mind. The only worry he had was that the bad mood would only affect some poor sod and he also feared that poor sod might be himself.

Frankly, he felt as if he was living with a bloodthirsty monster and he had to watch every step he took in this castle. He just hoped the Starks truly put the head of this bastard on a spike soon enough. Every moment this creature breath increases the misery in the North triple-fold. He just hoped the kinslayer will meet his end soon. Taking a deep breath and offering his prayers to Old and New Gods he entered the hall with the messenger right behind him.

"My lord, the messenger you sent to the Wall has returned with a message from Jon Snow." said Wolken with a bow refusing to meet the Kinslayer's eyes and he stood aside to let the attention fall on the messenger.

"Well, step forward messenger. What did the bastard have to say?" Ramsay asked?

Wolken noticed the messenger's hands shook as he placed the sack on the floor and opened it to reveal the heads of two Umbers.

Smalljon Umber let out a scream of rage and Wolken scoffed at the fool in his mind. Really! What did the oathbreaker expect when he joined this beast and left his castle defenceless?

Although, he had his reservations about this Jon Snow as well.

Would a sane Lord Commander of the Night's Watch allow thousands of Wildlings north of the Wall and then allow them to settle in the Gift? The only silver line in that situation was that the scouts had revealed the majority of the Wildlings were women, children and old people. Perhaps the Lord Commander had his reasons and if the Wildlings followed Jon Snow's command then the Starks would have a fighting chance.

"Jon Snow himself handed their heads over, my lord. He said to remind Lord Umber that every house that rebelled against the Starks have been purged from the North and the fate of Umbers would be no different. He says that he has Ned Umber as his prisoner and if you won't hand over his brother then he will ride to Winterfell and crush his enemies. He says Winter is Coming." The messenger bowed and Wolken noted that the lad was now shaking in his knees.

"I will put the head of that bastard on a spike." Smalljon roared and he stood up in rage pushing away his chair and marching down the hall but a signal from Ramsay made the Bolton guards block the Umber from leaving.

"You will be doing no such thing, Lord Umber. The bastard and his wildling army will march to Winterfell and we will crush them on our terms just as I did with Stannis." Ramsay ordered but that was the wrong thing to say.

"Fuck you bastard. You and your Snow pal can go fuck yourself. I am going to my home and I will smash that bastard's head into a fine red paste." Smalljon Umber shouted and Wolken counted to ten mentally for the inevitable that was about to follow. Nobody called the kinslayer a bastard and survived to tell the tale least of all Smalljon Umber who Ramsay knew to be of shifty loyalty.

"I thought we could be friends but you insulted me in my home, Lord Umber." Ramsay silkily said as he stood up slowly from his chair while subtly nodding to his side which Wolken immediately noticed and braced for the inevitable.

"I don't care you stupid bastar…"

Just before Lord Umber could finish that sentence two crossbow bolts found themselves in his neck. Lord Umber fell on his knees clawing at his neck trying in vain to stop the bleeding.

Wolken watched on nonplussed at this turn of events. After all, a savage beast was not going to abandon its nature just because it was now living in a castle.

"Maester Wolken, feed him to the hounds." Ramsay ordered. Wolken just nodded but he quickly remembered about the ravens.

"My lord, two ravens arrived from Lady Dustin and Lord Ryswell." said Wolken, handing over the sealed parchment to Ramsay. But Ramsay just waved them away and asked him to read it out instead.

It was with a healthy dose of dread that he broke the seal of Lady Dustin's message and his fears were warranted when he read the way the message was addressed. His eyes quickly skimmed over the content and then he broke Lord Ryswell's message which was eerily similar to Lady Dustin's.

"Well, Maester. What does it say? How many men does Lady Dustin and Lord Ryswell has pledged to my cause?" Ramsay asked with blind confidence that truly confused Wolken.

"None, my lord." Wolken answered truthfully

"What? How can that be? I was under the impression the Dustins and Ryswells hate the Starks." said Ramsay as the kinslayer looked at him in shock clearly waiting for some explanation and Wolken was careful not to show any judgement or glee in his answer.

"My lord, Lady Dustin is under the impression that you murdered her nephew, Domeric Bolton. Lord Ryswell is of similar belief and holds you responsible for his grandson's death. Lord Ryswell goes on to say that, 'Starks may be fools but they have never killed my kin'. They will not commit their men to your cause, my lord." said Wolken and he was treated to a cold stare from the kinslayer which made him fear for his life.

"I will deal with those traitors after I flay Jon Snow and his wildling friends. Looks like I will be going on a hunt for the wolves but first I have some Umbers to deal with." said Ramsay with a deranged laugh as he walked out of the hall.

Wolken let out a breath of relief as the monster left him alone. He just hoped he could survive the coming days and he prayed to any gods that listened to aid the Starks.

*******

Jon watched on as waves crashed into the shores of Eastwatch. He and a small company of Free Folk had raced ahead of the army marching to the ships. Davos had reported that the sea was slowly being filled with ice as Winter was slowly setting in and he had noticed the nights were becoming colder as days passed. The ice blocks were a problem as they would be harming the ships when they couldn't afford to lose even one.

By taking the ships to transport the army, Jon was forced to abandon Wun-Wun. On the other hand, many of the Free Folk were glad that the giant was staying with their children and women. The giant was an extra level of protection especially since the Free Folk didn't trust the Night's Watch with all their fighting men leaving the Gift. He knew that the Free Folk was taking a huge risk in fighting for him and he intended to reward them when the time came but for now he had to maintain the ruse to build a weaker army than the Boltons. Although, with the Karstarks marching back to Karhold and the subsequent fall of Last Hearth the Boltons will be severely weakened.

What came as a surprise though was the support of Glovers. He was not all that surprised by Manderlys supporting his cause now that there was a ray of hope but he never imagined the Glovers would throw in their support. It just goes to show that he couldn't completely rely on his knowledge of the shows because most of the plot was downright vague and with very few details.

While he appreciated their help he was also worried about the changes that would be inevitable at this point.

It was for this reason that he has been keeping an eye on other lordly houses of the North. In particular, his main focus was on Winterfell, Barrowton and the Rills. While he really would have liked to keep an eye on what was happening in the South he had to concentrate on the here and now. The first step was to gain a foothold in the North and then only could he launch his own war of conquest.

This doesn't mean he was not using the Greensight for other uses. He has been abusing the hell out of his newfound gift to learn more about dragons and how to train them by observing the Targaryens of old. His favourite so far was Visenya and Daemon Targaryen. While he had thought Aegon I would be the best to learn from these two surpassed the first Targaryen king in leaps and bounds.

Visenya Targaryen was a treasure trove of knowledge regarding Valyrian spells and arcane arts while Daemon Targaryen was a brilliant dragon rider. He didn't expect to come much out of learning from Visenya seeing as his High Valyrian was shit but he learned a lot of things about dragons and the bond that connects them to the rider.

From everything he has observed so far, he theorized that the Targaryens and every single dragon riders are in some way a warg. The Valyrian Dragonlord families had this innate ability to form a close psychic bond with dragons but this ability was completely isolated to dragons and no other creatures.

Jon's theory was that there was some relation between the First Men and the Valyrians in some way. It was most likely that the First Men developed warging abilities after they made the pact with the Children of Forest and the Valyrians must have similarly developed their ability by living in close proximity with Dragons. Both the Children and the Dragons are magical creatures and the close proximity to these two creatures might have changed the First Men as well as the Valyrians.

Either way, he has been learning some of the tactics Daemon Targaryen employed in his conquest of Stepstones as well as in the Dance of Dragons. While he will not be able to practice most of what he was learning he had no doubt it will come in handy. At the very least, he was becoming more familiar with a dragon's physiology.

Speaking of dragons, Rhaegal has been steadily gaining ground. Before the sun is out the green dragon would arrive at Andalos and from there the dragon will be crossing the narrow sea. It was imperative that he reach Ramsgate before Rhaegal lands else he may not be able to keep the dragon's arrival a secret till the moment was right.

The sound of hooves alerted him that he was about to have company and he was not wrong. Jon noted a tall bronze armoured figure jumping down from the horse and immediately identified him as Sigorn, the Magnar of Thenn.

"I see you are a little early." Jon commented as he shook hands with the leader of Free Folk who has the second-largest followers after Tormund.

"These horses helped to speed us up, Snow. I have a gift for you and I think you are going to enjoy this." Sigorn smirked cruelly and nodded to one of his men.

Jon watched on eagerly as the men threw a thin man at his feet.

"Well…well…well. How have you enjoyed the welcome party I arranged for you Baelish?" Jon asked with a smirk as he observed the vacant but fearful eyes of the man that led his family to ruin.

Without that signature smirk and that cocky swagger, the former Master of coin was hardly recognisable. The thin angular face of Petyr Baelish had the red markings in the form of fingers on his cheek and under his eyes, dark circles were prominent courtesy of lack of sleep. Baelish's eyes were bloodshot and Jon had the distinct impression that man was just a step away from falling into madness. Jon was not going to complain because this was exactly what he wanted.

"The swine don't answer to that name anymore. Tell your name to Jon Snow." Sigorn ordered as he kicked Baelish on his back making the Vale lord let out a groan of pain.

"My name is Little Petyr." Baelish whispered and Jon noted that the Vale lord's voice was very weak and he had to strain his ears to even comprehend what Baelish was saying.

"What did you do to him?" Jon asked Sigorn who smiled proudly.

"At first we beat him up but the man wouldn't answer any questions truthfully. I know when someone is lying and this cunt needs to live a thousand lives to fool me. So, I took the skin from his legs. It was effective as he started singing like a bird. Then I cut off his cock to make sure that he will always speak the truth and obeys every command." said Sigorn, as if this was all common practice.

Jon didn't bat an eye at the torture method used. In his previous life, he had seen his share of brutality in his line of work. While flaying was not his cup of tea it didn't bother him that much. Besides, Petyr Baelish deserved every shred of pain.

"Little Petyr I have many great uses for you. Are you ready to serve?" Jon asked and he was awarded with a fervent nod.

While Jon was not going to go for Sansa's plan he made some modifications. Like she said there has to be some healthy dose of lies to ensure there was no blowback when his true parentage was revealed. If House Stark gets blamed for what Lyanna did then the Northern houses will be reluctant to follow him into war. Even with a dragon, the Northern houses will be very reluctant to money his commands and he can't have that. Thankfully, he now has a convenient scapegoat to take all the blame for the rebellion as well as the War of Five Kings. But, before that part of his plan was set in motion he had another use for Baelish.

"Is Lady Melisandre with you?" Jon asked

"The Red Woman is still hours away." said Sigorn with a shrug.

"Hmm. Just make sure to warn me when she arrives. I will be at the Godswood." Jon pointed at a group of Weirwood trees not far away and Sigorn just nodded.

Jon disappeared among the thick white trees and he knelt beside one with a carved face. It was time for his lessons and after that, he would set sail for Ramsgate with Melisandre and Little Petyr.

*******

"A dwarf and a bear

sailed through the smoking sea.

Demons and slavers beware!

Ning…ning…ning(bells)

The dwarf was a drunk

and the bear nursed a broken heart,

yet they sailed the Smoking Sea.

Ning…ning..ning(bells)

Then came a dragon,

screeching to the skies.

Reborn! by the grace of the gods.

The dwarf and the bear

stared in wonder

but the stonemen jumped into their boat.

Ning…ning...ning(bells)

The bear struck the stonemen

while the dwarf cowered in fear

and together they sailed the sea.

Slavers and pirates,

fell to their wits!

cause the dwarf was a lion of the West.

Ning…ning…ning(bells)

And there they stood

at the edge of the world

Before a Queen, as bright as the moon!

Ning…ning..ning...(bells)

Oh, the Queen was no mere queen

but a Dragon Queen

who ruled the edge of the world.

And here I stand, a dwarf of West—

Singing and dancing,

for a son of the Queen.

A Dragon, the mightiest of them alllllll!"

Tyrion looked at the dragon for any reaction but the dragon just blinked its large yellow eyes at him.

"This was a terrible idea." Tyrion took off his pointy green hat and the makeshift wings that he had stitched to the sleeves of his arms.

As he walked out of the chamber where Viserion lived he came across Varys who promptly punched him in the face.

Tyrion fell to the ground with a groan.

"What was that for?" He moaned nursing his nose.

"You were the one who told me to punch your face if you have any more terrible ideas regarding the dragons." Varys pointed out with a smile.

"Fuck me!" Tyrion screamed as he nursed his bleeding nose. He graciously accepted Varys's help to climb back to his feet.

"Stop playing your silly games with the dragons, my friend. We have more immediate problems to deal with." said Varys as he looked pointedly at Tyrion.

"I was entertaining a dragon, not dragons. Besides, I was under the impression that Ser Barristan was dealing with the Yunkai'i army outside the gates." Tyrion commented with a shrug as he had no intention of engaging in a siege if he could help it. He had led one in King's Landing and he was satisfied with that being his last if he could help it.

"I am afraid we will be facing not just the Yunkai'i army. My little birds bring me songs from Volantis of disturbing nature. The Volantine navy has set sail for Mereen and soon we will be in a siege from sea and land. There is also the Second Sons to consider who are leaderless without Daario Naharis." Varys informed and Tyrion just grunted.

"The Second Sons have enjoyed a life of luxury under our Queen. They will not be so easily swayed." Tyrion argued, even as his mind started making up plots within plots to ensure the Sellswords keep fighting the Queen's enemies.

"They will be easily swayed by gold, my friend. You cannot buy loyalty with gold. I thought you have learned that lesson in King's Landing." Varys reminded and Tyrion had not forgotten how crushed he truly felt when Bronn refused to fight for him in the Trial of Combat.

"The only way we can ensure the Second Sons to fight for us is with the presence of Daario Naharis or better yet Daenerys herself. Without them, we can't exactly make the sellswords do anything." Tyrion mused and began to think of a solution to this latest dilemma before suddenly he froze.

"Yunkai has sent a sellsword army themselves right?" Tyrion suddenly asked to which Varys merely nodded.

"Who's leading them?" Tyrion asked

"The Tattered Prince and he leads a sellsword company called the Windblown. He will not be easily swayed by gold. If we had Queen Daenerys and her dragons then the Tattered Prince would have been amendable for a negotiated settlement." said Varys as he cast a troubled look outside.

"Say that we manage to negotiate with this Tattered Prince. What would he want?" There will be something that he wants but is incapable of doing it himself." Tyrion looked earnestly at Varys and the Spider didn't disappoint.

"He wants Pentos." Varys said with a sigh

"Ambitious but that is something we can't help him acquire in the present scenario." Tyrion mused while not showing his surprise at the price. He had learned to hide his surprise after his trial at King's Landing.

"That may be but I think I may have some information that would help you to trick our opponent here but I have to ask you not to judge me harshly. I will also need your solemn word that you would support me when we break this information to the Queen." Varys looked imploringly and Tyrion was really confused and a little bit scared.

He held minimal influence on Daenerys but if he had time to formulate some strategy and defence then he was sure he could persuade the Queen provided he first manage to keep his head safe seeing as he had set one of her children free upon the world.

"As someone who contributed quite heavily in saving my head, I shall endeavour to do the same for your bald head Varys. So, tell me this great secret that is supposed to get us some leverage over the Tattered Prince and simultaneously invite the Queen's wrath." said Tyrion as he wobbled to a chair and with a small struggle he managed to plant his small ass on it. He was surprised to note that Varys had also taken a seat but at the floor and sat back against the wall of the room.

"When Rhaegar Targaryen fell at the Trident I knew the Targaryen cause was lost. While King Aerys further fell into madness I tried to ensure the Targaryen dynasty saw another day by securing Aegon and Rhaenys. Unfortunately, my plans never worked out as the king posted loyal guards to watch Princess Elia Martell and her children. As you know, your father gained access to King's Landing by treachery and killed the young prince and princess. At that time, the last hope of the Targaryen dynasty rested on Viserys and Daenerys but from early on the reports that I received about Prince Viserys was very troubling. Even if I didn't want to restore the Targaryen family I had to because year after year Robert Baratheon inflicted untold damages upon the realm which culminated into what has now happened. Anyway, there was no hope for a worthy monarch to sit the Iron Throne and it was then that my friend Illyrio Mopatis came up with a plan." Varys paused and Tyrion could see that the Spider was reluctant to continue.

"What plan?" Tyrion prodded

"The plan to seat a Blackfyre on the Iron Throne." Varys answered but seeing the incredulous look on Tyrion's face Varys quickly continued his tale.

"The boy is not truly even a Blackfyre if I am being honest. While the male line of Blackfyres died with Maelys the Monstrous there was still the female line. The last female Blackfyre was Illyrio's second wife by the name of Serra Blackfyre. She died in a sickness that swept through Pentos and from that union Aegon Mopatis was born. The birth was close to the day Elia Martell delivered Prince Aegon. After the Targaryens fell, Illyrio came to me with the plan to put his son on the Iron Throne. At that time, I thought with proper training and upbringing a king could be brought up and rule justly from Iron Throne. So, I tracked down Jon Connington and convinced him that Aegon was the son of Elia and Rhaegar and I smuggled the babe out of King's Landing. It was even my hope that maybe Princess Daenerys could marry Aegon and unite House Targaryen and Blackfyre but it seems my dear friend Illyrio has other plans." Varys paused and seeing as Tyrion has yet to make a comment or any sort of expression so far he continued.

"As of right now, Aegon Targaryen and Jon Connington have landed on Stormlands with the Golden Company at their back. My little birds sing songs that Storm's End may quickly fall to the Black Dragon." said Varys

"You have really fucked up you know that right! I misplaced one of the Queen's dragons and you have empowered one of the most dangerous enemies of House Targaryen. I doubt we will have our heads on our shoulders for long." Tyrion commented after he heard the tale spun by Varys.

"I never imagined Daenerys Stormborn would hatch three dragons, acquire an army and the wealth she needed to invade Westeros. I had to take some precautions seeing as Robert and your sister was ruining the realm."

"It doesn't matter now. We can't change what has happened but we can still help her grace now. So, how can we use this information against the Tattered Prince…?" Tyrion trailed off as it finally dawned on him what Varys was trying to convey.

"I see. Let's go see the Tattered Prince shall we." Tyrion jumped down from his seat and was about to make preparations to meet the Tattered Prince but Missandei put a stop to those plans as she stopped them halfway inside the Great Pyramid.

"There are some few Westerosi here requesting an audience with her grace. They say they are her allies and I thought you would be a better judge. Ser Barristan says that they are defectors from the army camped outside the gates of the city." said Missandei and Tyrion along with Varys quickly followed her into the throne room.

When Tyrion first laid eyes on the group of people before him he immediately identified them as Dornish because of their darker skin colour. He wasn't sure how they would take to a Lannister addressing them especially after what happened to Oberyn.

"Welcome to Mereen. The Queen would be pleased to know that her subjects have sailed across the Narrow sea all the way to Mereen to greet her grace." Tyrion paused to see whether they would introduce themselves. A thin black-haired man with sharp features stepped forward.

"We are not here to be greeted by the dwarf of Casterly Rock. We would like to have an audience with the Dragon Queen." said the man with a commanding tone and from the accent Tyrion confirmed these were Dornishmen.

"Sadly the Queen is away from the city on a matter of urgent business. Please introduce yourself, my good man." Tyrion tried another route.

"Haven't you yet recognized me Imp? My uncle died for you in King's Landing."

Tyrion's eyes widened in recognition.

"I am Quentyn Martell son of Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne. I have come to bring the Queen to Westeros and lay waste to our common enemies-the Lannisters." Quentin glared up at Tyrion making the dwarf glance helplessly at Varys.

"You are most welcome to stay Prince Quentyn. As Lord Tyrion said, the Queen is away from the city on an urgent matter." said Missandei.

Tyrion was all too happy to let the friendly translator take charge of this conversation. While he was sympathetic to the plight of House Martell he had more important things to do rather than be muddled in the angst and drama that was sure to follow. He dearly hoped Queen Daenerys would return unharmed and with that dragon of hers. There was only so much he could do to keep this city from falling into anarchy.

*******

Daenerys had faced greater odds and survived greater foes but right now she felt as if she was on the verge of death.

When she was attacked on the Daznak's Pit it was the timely arrival of Drogon that saved her. But, it was in that pit she realised that her dragons were not obeying her wishes and was instead following their own instincts to kill and consume anything they desire. If she hadn't mounted Drogon in the pit she was sure her son would have taken more lives of friend and foe alike. She did enjoy her flight from the pit but the destination she couldn't predict. It was how she found herself walking by her lonesome near the Dothraki Sea.

Fire may not harm her but the chilly air of the night sky did. The crescent moon up in the sky and the bright stars guided her in the night. She had trouble remembering the last time she was able to sleep. She has been walking day and night without healthy food or even water for that matter. Her body ached and her legs felt like they were carrying a huge stone boulder. She could move no further but she forced herself.

'A dragon does not cry or give up.' she thought grimly.

Daenerys pressed on despite the exhaustion she was feeling and finally, she could hear the sound of a stream.

"Is it my imagination?" she asked out loud.

No answer came as she was alone so she moved towards the sound. The grass was getting thicker as she moved but eventually, she made it to a small clearing and saw the free-running water of a stream with her own eyes.

She didn't dare believe her eyes or ears but she believed when the cool water dribbled down her throat. No wine had tasted much better than this water for her.

Nothing would ever taste better than this water, she thought.

Daenerys greedily drank until she could no longer afford to and she fell on her back into the fine sand that was beneath her feet. It was cold but no silk beds had provided this much comfort for her. She didn't want to sleep but her tired body wouldn't have it any other way. Her eyelids slowly closed despite her will.

I am the blood of the dragon, she reminded herself.

'You were...' the winds howled in her ear, '...until you chained them in the dark.'

She couldn't argue against that. Drogon killed a little girl but Viserion and Rhaegal were put in chains because of her fear. She wondered what had happened to her children in her absence.

'Dragons cannot be harmed. They are fire made flesh. Only a dragon may harm another dragon!' the wind howled into her ears once again.

'Good.' she whispered back as a small smile graced her lips.

In her mind, she saw herself free fall into a black pit. Was she dying? She didn't know but if she was it was a strange way to die.

The pit was endless and she felt the wind blow through her hair and around her body. All of a sudden, she felt something hit her back and she opened her eyes. It was bright, very bright and as her vision cleared she saw a full burning sun in the sky glaring at her.

Her skin felt the red hot sun and if she was dreaming she was dreaming everything in vivid detail. She could see sand all around her and tall mountains stood proudly gleaming, with not a shred of green anywhere to be seen.

"Where am I?" she asked out loud.

"In Dorne, my dear."

She turned around with a flinch in the direction of the voice to see an old man in black robes standing behind her. It was then that she noticed a tall tower behind the old man.

"What is this? Who are you? Am I dreaming?" she couldn't come to terms with what was happening. She felt like this was all her imagination just like the visions in the House of Undying.

"My dear you are not dreaming nor are you conjuring up what is around us. My name is Brynden Rivers, son of Aegon IV, brother to King Daeron the Good. In my prime, I served as Hand of the King and then served as the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. I am otherwise known as the Three-eyed-raven." said the old man.

Daenerys just blinked in confusion at the stranger before her and his absurd claims.

"If you are who you say you are then there is no way we could be speaking with each other." Daenerys claimed.

"Why is that my dear? Is it because of my age or is it because I can pull your mind away across the Narrow sea?" Brynden asked amused by shocking Daenerys.

"How can you do this? This shouldn't be possible?" Daenerys looked at her supposed family incredulously.

"Many things are possible when the right circumstance align and potent bloodlines combine. I was born to a family that followed the Old Gods of the Forest. My mother had the blood of the First Men and my father had the blood of the Dragon. While this does not guarantee the powers that I was blessed with it certainly helped to amplify my gifts. That is why even at the verge of death you could reach out all the way across from Essos to me." Brynden explained making Dany frown in confusion.

"I reached out? I did no such thing…did I?" she trailed off in confusion.

"Why do you believe that is impossible Daenerys Stormborn? You have the blood of the Dragon and you have the blood of the First Men in your veins however thin it might be. You birthed dragons into the world when everyone thought them dead. You accomplished what was thought impossible by giving freedom to the people of Slavers Bay. You command the loyalty of eight thousand Unsullied. You accomplished all this without any formal lessons in ruling or war and yet here you are, Queen of Mereen." Brynden praised her and for a moment she felt proud of herself but that feeling quickly deflated as her mind confronted the truth.

"I am a Queen with no knowledge of how to rule. I am plagued by rebellions, assassins and unruly children." said Daenerys thinking about her inability to combat the Sons of the Harpy and her failure in controlling her dragons.

"What you need is help and that too from your family, Daenerys Stormborn." said Brynden with a gentle smile.

"All my family is dead. I am the last Targaryen." said Daenerys looking up at her supposed relative who merely smiled but nodded in the direction of a small hill.

She saw a group of men riding horses and steadily close in on their position. They were not Dothraki and they were dressed too well to be commoners.

"Who are they?" she asked curiously as she could see no banners with these highborn men. Viserys had always told her that the lords of Westeros always travelled with the banners of their house.

"The one that leads them is Eddard Stark followed by Howland Reed, Willam Dustin, Ethan Glover, Martyn Cassel, Theo Wull, and Ser Mark Ryswell." Brynden answered as he led her to the shade of a tree.

"The Usurper's dogs! Why are they here?" Why are you showing me this? How can you even show me this? Just what is going on?" She shook with anger as she observed the people that destroyed her family.

"One must learn the past to predict the future. You hope to rule Westeros, do you not? Then you must learn and see. Open your eyes and witness the last hope of House Targaryen and much of the known world." said Brynden, making Dany look at the old man curiously.

She wanted to ask what he meant but she saw movement from the tower. She saw three men walk into a clearing to face the Usurper's dogs. Curious to see what was happening she moved closer and within earshot of the ten men. She noticed the three heavily armoured men had the Targaryen insignia on their breastplates.

"Who are they?" Daenerys asked but although she had an inkling about their identity and Brynden's answer validated her guess.

"Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, and Lord Commander Gerold Hightower. They were the Kingsguard for your father, Aerys Targaryen." Brynden explained

"Viserys told me about them. He told me they were the greatest knights the realm had ever seen. He told me Ser Arthur Dayne was a great swordsman, one without a peer." said Daenerys excitedly, as she remembered all the stories about the Sword of Morning.

"Your brother was right. Ser Arthur was a knight without a peer. A very skilled knight that surpassed even the infamous Dragonknight." Brynden nodded

"Is this happening before the Usurper's war?" Daenerys asked.

"After, my dear. Long after the Targaryens lost the war."

"But why were they here in Dorne instead of fighting in the war?" Daenerys asked in confusion.

"They were protecting the future just as your brother ordered them to do so." Brynden said.

Daenerys was about to speak further but a scream from women from the tower was heard making her stop.

"What was that?" Daenerys asked but Brynden merely led her close to the men. "Observe."

"That's my sister, isn't it? What have you done to her? Let us pass." Eddard Stark demanded.

Daenerys realised what was going on. She had heard from Ser Barristan that Rhaegar had kidnapped Lyanna Stark and that started the Rebellion. But she had hoped that was not true but now she was seeing the truth.

"We can't do that Lord Eddard. We have a duty to our Prince." said Ser Gerold Hightower

"I searched for you at the Trident." Eddard growled.

"We were not there." said Ser Oswell

"If we were your friend would not have lived, the Usurper." said Ser Arthur as he glared at the Northerners.

"Ser Jaime Lannister ran his golden sword through the back of your king. "

"We weren't there. If we were our sworn brother would be short of his head." said Ser Gerold without showing a hint of emotion.

"Ser Darry fled the capital to Dragonstone with Prince Viserys and Queen Rhaella."

"Ser Willam is a good man but he is not of the Kingsguard." said Ser Oswell as he unsheathed his sword.

"The Kingsguard does not flee." Ser Oswell took out his sword as well. The Northerners took out their weapons as well.

Daenerys watched on as at an unseen signal her father's Kingsguard clashed with the Northerners.

Ser Whent was the first to fall by the sword of Eddard Stark but Ser Arthur and Ser Gerold quickly began to cut down the Northerners one by one. She gasped as Ser Gerold fell with a slit throat courtesy of Willam Dustin. Soon it was just Ser Arthur and Eddard Stark.

The pale glassy sword Dawn and Valyrian Steel Ice clashed in combat. Daenerys saw the ease at which Ser Arthur was battling Eddard Stark. Suddenly the Northern lord found himself disarmed but an injured Howland Reed stabbed Ser Arthur from the back. For a time, no one moved and then a woman's scream tore through the silence. Eddard Stark picked up Dawn as well as Ice and slashed through Ser Arthur's neck with Dawn.

Once more, a women's scream tore through the air making Eddard Stark and Howland Reed to quickly run to the tower.

"Follow me, my dear." Brynden gave her his hand. With one last look at the slain Kingsguard and the Northerners, she quickly followed Brynden.

Soon, Daenerys stepped inside the tower and she followed Brynden into a room where Eddard Stark was kneeling by the bedside of a girl. She noticed that the girl was no older than she was when she married Khal Drogo. The girl was covered in blood and was sweating quite heavily because of fever.

"Lyanna." Eddard Stark softly called and that seemed to give the woman some life.

"Is that you Ned?" Lyanna whispered deliriously.

"Yes, it's me." Eddard whispered back as he rubbed his sister's hands.

"I thought you dead like father and Brandon. All of them died because of me." Lyanna sobbed uncontrollably.

"It's not your fault Lya. All the fault lies with Rhaegar." Edward tried to console her but the Stark women just continued to sob.

"He didn't kidnap me. I went with him willingly. He never forced himself on me. He loved me and I loved him. We exchanged marriage vows before a Weirwood tree and the High Septon." Lyanna managed to croak out before she slowly pointed her hand to the corner of the room.

Daenerys noted that a scrawny woman was standing there with a bundle in her hands. She watched as Howland Reed picked the bundle from the woman and presented it to Eddard Stark. She moved closer and saw with her own eyes a sleeping baby with a tuff of black hair on its round head.

"You must protect him. Robert will kill him if he knew. Promise me Ned…promise me." Lyanna whispered hoarsely.

"I promise." Eddard Stark whispered back with tears running down his cheeks.

"His name…is Daeron Targaryen. Protect him—for me." Lyanna breathed her last.

Daenerys stood rooted to the spot completely lost on what to feel or how to react.

"Now you see my dear you are not alone in this world. You still have a family you could depend on. Do you wish to learn more about your nephew?" Brynden asked

"Yes. I would like to know more." Daenerys answered as she shook herself out of the stupor she found herself in after this revelation of her extended family.

"Your dragon blood allows you to withstand the strain of these visions else you would lose your mind. Within these visions, you will also learn to strengthen your bond with your dragon so be alert my dear and learn from your nephew." Brynden smiled and touched her shoulder and her vision changed. She learned and learned until her head hurt and then everything went bright.

Daenerys woke up from the sound of hooves and the neighing of horses. She could hear the ground rumble and if she was not a former wife of a Khal then she would have thought the sky was rumbling with thunder.

As she sat up, her thighs felt wet and her eyes traced blood upon her clothes along her thighs. She felt fear crawl up her spine as she realised this much blood would not have shown itself if it was just her moonblood. But she had no time to wallow in fear or the comfort to faint from exhaustion.

'No.' she had to make her stand and be a dragon like her nephew. He defeated death and breathed again but she was more pure-blooded than her half-blooded nephew.

'I am a full-blooded dragon and he is but a half-blooded one.'

Yet, he stands on his own legs. He commands Rhaegal and her own child flew across the continent to answer his call.

'You cannot make your own children listen to you. What does that make you?' A treacherous part of her whispered in her own mind.

Suddenly, she was blinded by a vision and she saw a tall broad-shouldered man with silver hair and purple eyes.

Rhaegar, she realised.

"Mine is the song of Fire. I destroy and purify everything that I touch but yours is the song of Ice and Fire." Rhaegar whispered placing his face right next to the heavily pregnant belly of Lyanna Stark.

She blinked and the vision was lost to her. She could make out several riders swiftly approaching her position and she had to be strong to face them.

"I am the blood of the dragon. My song is the song of fire. I am destruction incarnate." Daenerys whispered and the wind carried her words.

She slowly felt strength seeping into her limbs. She heard a distant roar and a flap of wings. Then there was fire everywhere. The horses screamed and the men burned. Many wailed in pain but she was filled with strength. The fire burned her weakness away and like her nephew she was reborn again, cleansed of every weakness that held her back.