News Spreads

~~~(POV: Varys)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 46 Years)~~~

~~~(Location: Kings Landing, The Red Keep, Small Council Meeting)~~~

~~~(Date: 298 AC)~~~

Lord Tywin has summoned us here to discuss the recent developments. The military threats are what he wishes to discuss. However, my mind has been on what I've heard from my little birds in Essos. I plan to bring it up at this meeting.

If I don't, Petyr Baelish is sure to do it himself. He's proven to have an information circuit almost rivaling my own. While his reach isn't as far, he has an impressive web of his own built.

"Stannis Baratheon moves toward Kings Landing. His occupation of Dragonstone is coming to an end. He's pressing his claim to The Iron Throne. I want the Gold Cloaks to start preparing for a siege. Petyr, send word to the Tyrells. I wish to speak with them."

The individuals present at this meeting are familiar faces. Cersei, Tywin, Tyrion, Petyr, Grand Maester Pycelle. Not to mention me. Joffrey has been declared King, torturing poor Sansa as the days pass.

Ever since Joffrey was declared King, many Realms have risen in defiance and declared independence. The North was the first. Followed by The Riverlands. Stannis has won in his conflicts with Renly. How he did, I don't know.

The whispers of a Red Priestess point toward magic being involved. No way to be sure.

"Stannis is only one of our problems, Lord Tywin. Unrest is growing in The Riverlands. The Tullys have been helping the Starks. The wars in the North might come to a swift end. Robb Stark could end up turning his attention back to us, soon enough."

I make sure to remind everyone that Stannis isn't the only problem we face.

"That is not our greatest concern. What we need is to wed Joffrey to Margaery Tyrell. A Tyrell alliance with The Iron Throne will bring stability to the Realm. We'll bolster our forces and give a showing we aren't weak."

Grand Maester Pycelle talks slowly and winded. The man is old, and I wouldn't be surprised if he fell dead tomorrow. Tyrion will soon be moving on with his plan to root out the traitors. I have covered my tracks like I always have.

He'd have confronted me if he found anything.

"What about The Vale?"

Tywin wants as many alliances as he can get. We'll soon be surrounded on all sides by our enemies. The Vale would make an excellent bolster to our efforts. As would the Tyrells. But in the end, that still leaves us with an enemy growing in power yearly to the East.

"The Lady of the Eyrie is a childhood friend. I could make my way over and speak with her. She's always been fond of me."

Baelish doesn't waste time taking this opportunity of power. I don't blame him. He comes from humble beginnings. A Lordship is impossible to pass up.

For him.

Lysa Arryn is a whirlwind of problems. But she's holding a great force and a valuable strategic area.

"Good, bring the Eyrie under our control. The sooner, the better."

The meeting continues for another hour or so. Topics of military numbers and debts to The Iron Bank. Cersei repeatedly brings up Joffrey. Tywin has grown to dislike the boy. It's hard to tell these days with a man like Tywin.

The meeting is almost over, and now is the time to speak up about what I've heard, according to the date of when the report was written and when I got it. It's been about 4 weeks since Raenon and Daenerys had their first child.

"There is another important topic I'd like to bring up before we end this Small Council Meeting."

Everyone turns their attention to me. That's not the only news I have to bring, either. The number of dragons has risen from 1 to 4. The biggest of the fire-breathing beasts is already the size of a Braavos warship.

"I've received whispers from my birds in Essos."

Cersei cracks an arrogant smile. Not truly knowing what I'm about to tell them.

"The Targaryen exiles aren't our concerns. We need to focus on our lands. Not the ones beyond The Narrow Sea."

My mask is perfect, never betraying what I'm feeling or thinking. How I wish Ned Stark weren't such an idiot. All of this could've been avoided if he wasn't the man he was.

"Raenon and Daenerys Targaryen have had a child."

That takes the smile off Cersei's face. Tywin's features hardly ever change. But I see a spark of worry, only for a brief second. My guess is he fears it's a son.

"A Princess. Alysanne II Targaryen. Firstborn of Raenon and Daenerys Targaryen."

Many faces brightened at the news that it was a daughter.

"However, that's not the end of the news."

Frustration about my way of speaking is showing itself. I should finish talking.

"The number of dragons under the command of the Targaryens has risen from 1 to 4. Daenerys and Raenon hatched the three eggs they took from her failed wedding to Khal Drogo."

Tyrion is the only one to show some genuine concern.

"One of the dragons is already the size of a Braavos warship. If not a little bigger. At this point in time, if Raenon wanted to. He could fly across The Narrow Sea and burn Kings Landing in Dragon Fire. Not to mention the three other dragons."

From the report, they're not that big yet. But they're already lethal to full-grown men.

"Are you sure of this, Varys..."

Tyrion is the one to break the silence of the meeting. Cersei looks to be staring lost into a wall, and Tywin is glaring at me. Petyr remains as he always has. Controlled. Grand Maester Pycelle can't find the words to speak. It's quite amusing.

"I'm certain of it, My Lords. Raenon Targaryen has a legitimate claim to The Iron Throne. If he wanted a swift end, he could have it. Armies aren't needed with a dragon that big."

It's been a subject of study. The Targaryen family. All of us know about it. Most dragons from the Targaryen family didn't get that big. But it's already that large, and it'll continue to grow. Same as the other three. They're free to roam the skies and eat as much as they want.

That's how dragons grow. Everyone in this room knows it.

"Varys, I want you to find Raenon Targaryen and his sister. Kill them and the child. Make sure it's done. The Iron Throne is already at war with Stannis Baratheon, and the North will turn its attention back to us if it wins its battles. We need to kill this threat before it reaches us."

A plan that has no guarantee. I nod in confirmation of the order. Tywin is the first to stand up, and everyone soon follows except for Tyrion. He stays seated at the table with me.

I have no intention of sending assassins. Raenon Targaryen could be the best fit for ruling the Realm. But I'll pretend to do my duty.

"Why didn't you bring this up when the meeting started?"

Tyrion sounds on edge. I get it. The Lannisters and the Baratheons nearly wiped out House Targaryen. Now the Targaryen family has its dragons back. Fire and Blood are on a direct path with the Lannisters and Baratheons.

"As Cersei said, the threats in our lands are more important. Essos and the Targaryens in it are far away. But they won't be for long. You'll be the first to know if anything changes, Tyrion."

That's a lie.

He doesn't respond or react when I stand up. This was an eventful meeting.

~~~(POV: Illyrio Mopatis)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 50 Years)~~~

~~~(Location: Home, Free City of Pentos, Essos)~~~

~~~(Date: 298 AC)~~~

Viserys stands across from me on the other side of the table as he reads the letter. Varys sent me a letter, and it's been a few days since I got it. It's news about Raenon and Daenerys.

"They've had a child and hatched the eggs... Three more dragons... They have three more fucking dragons!! This isn't possible!! It's not!!"

He slams the paper on the table with his remaining left hand. His hair is disheveled, and the bags under his eyes paint the picture. Viserys has been descending into certain madness since this all started.

The only thing he's seemed to have inherited from the Targaryen blood is the loss of his mind.

"It's not the best news, Viserys. But I have an idea of where they might be."

The surprised look on his face is a little insulting. I brush it off and have a map of Essos brought out. I make my way to the area on the map that shows Qohor.

"This is where your siblings went for the birth of your niece. It's only logical they head to the nearest Free City to have the birth done."

Understanding fills his eyes as he leans over the map. My finger points to the vast Forest of Qohor. It goes on for thousands of miles. In all directions along the rivers that cut through Essos.

"They're hiding somewhere in The Forest of Qohor. It's the only land on Essos that will suit the demands of them and their dragons. Hiding them, feeding them, and protecting them."

I won't be the only one to put this together. I don't doubt Varys already has similar ideas. More in Essos and Westeros will find this out. I wouldn't be surprised if they moved. But they won't go far from The Free Cities.

Which means they could try and take one.

~~~(POV: Raenon Targaryen)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 14 Years)~~~

~~~(Location: Wilderness, East of Norvos, Essos)~~~

~~~(Date: 298 AC)~~~

I've known that we've been living in The Forest of Qohor. It's served its purpose. It won't be long until Dany and Alysanne are awake. The morning sun is starting to rise.

Alysanne is turning two months old today, and she's been the center of our lives since she came into the world. I make my way over to her small crib and look inside to see her eyes starting to open. Her attention is on me, and she starts to move her arms.

It's hard not to smile at such a sight.

I reach in and grab my little girl. Lifting her and placing her against me. Making sure she's comfortable, I walk over to the bed Dany and I share. Sitting down next to her.

The movement stirs her, and she opens one eye to see me leaning against the bedframe with Alysanne in my arms and lying against my chest.

"Talk about the perfect way to wake up..."

Yeah, the days have been peaceful. But it's time we talked about what we're doing next. It won't be long until someone comes searching The Forest of Qohor. Intelligent people will connect the dots.