Dragonstone

[Gandalfus]

“Well, I survived this far. More than I can say of some.” The man countered with a smirk, though the smirk melted like summer snow under a hot sun. “Alton.” He said, though the reply seemed too short to his ears. “Alton Waters, if we’re gonna be fancy, your Grace.” He was never sure if he was really a Waters in the first place, and whatever the case he wasn’t looked after by whoever his father had been, but having a name at all meant something. He wouldn’t bore Daemon with details not unless the pirate asked for them.

”Well, Alton, what brings you to me?”

The Rogue Prince paced about the chamber, pretending to hold interest in some exotic or other before his attention flitted somewhere else.

“I spoke to one like you but a few days ago. Told me he wanted to try to ride a dragon, if you can believe it.”

He turned back towards the bastard with a half smile.

Rhaenyra looked at the painted table.

"Yes. It lays at the heart of the realm, in a crossroads. Might be the best choice"

Her hand gestured towards the God's Eye.

"My father, Lord Velaryon, has sailed for Gulltown, he is of the opinion that Crackclaw would be a fine landing point. We should fly there as soon as we heard of their landing, shouldn't we?"

Rhaenyra looked at her husband, he knew how to make war, not her.

-----

The Queen Who Never Was was led to the Stone Drum, where Rhanyra awaited in a black gown, symbol of mourning, with a necklace of garnets around her neck. She had lost more than a stone since Rhaenys had seen her last, and it suited her, still she was a shadow of her former self, but now fat and iddleness had been replaced by something fiery.

”Cracklaw it is. Though we will have to move fast, or we’ll be trapped on the peninsula.”

Daemon leaned over, idly tapping a finger on the lands around the Trident.

“We should send men to treat with the other Riverlords. They could be put to good use in shielding us from the west.”

Tully was weak, but they could use him to open another theatre of war should the initial engagement go ill. They could make their base at Harrenhal, and strike from a position of strength.

[Pericles of Athens]

We’ll be fighting them soon enough, no reason to rush to the slaughter yet.. Alton thought, pushing a few strands of white hair back into position. But, he swollowed his words, to Daemon a fight against the man-child upon the iron throne meant glory and kingship.. to a soldier it meant fire and blood. “Aye that I am, my King.” The lowborn man agreed, rolling back onto the heel of his feet instinctively, an old habit that was hard to shake once learnt. “The Seven gives us all different talents, or so people say.” It always seemed like the Seven were rather stingy when it came to the talents of average folk though. He stammered a bit at the question, truth be told he couldn’t recall just exactly how long, all the years seemed to blend together. Three years.. no four. He thought. “Going on about five, your Grace.” He settled on a number hoping the King wouldn’t think too deeply on it. “But I’ve been fighting for one thing or another long as I can remember.” His eyes fell on the cup, he wasn’t sure if Daemon was offering him a glass or if he was already deep enough into his cups to have forgotten it was filled. He extended his own callused hand toward the glass, the leathery hands of a commoner, he took a sip. Actually not half bad. The man thought, as he took another deeper sip. Alton made a fist with his free hand and cleared his throat into it, almost as if he’d momentarily forgotten himself. “...good wine.”

[Pericles of Athens]

“Well, I survived this far. More than I can say of some.” The man countered with a smirk, though the smirk melted like summer snow under a hot sun. “Alton.” He said, though the reply seemed too short to his ears. “Alton Waters, if we’re gonna be fancy, your Grace.” He was never sure if he was really a Waters in the first place, and whatever the case he wasn’t looked after by whoever his father had been, but having a name at all meant something. He wouldn’t bore Daemon with details not unless the pirate asked for them.

[Barry Goldwater]

It was a mercifully clear and crisp autumn day when the Red Queen was sighted from Dragonstone's watchtowers once more. Rhaenys Targaryen had returned from the Reach after a lengthy but only partially productive conversation with its Lady Paramount, and now comes to relay what she has learned - and Tyrell's request - to Rhaenyra. No doubt she'd have to have her talk with her husband about their supposed (official) bastard grandsons too, but first the business of state had to take priority over her personal concerns.

[Oznerol]

"Your husband's ships were sent North, to Gulltown. They will bring the Valesman to the fray"

Said Rhaenyra.

"The men of the Narrow Sea have already gathered and Daemon brought sellswords"

She wrinkles her mouth.

"We had to, Lady Rhaenys. But you won't be absent of any more meetings, you're given privilege to sit, with voice and vote, in my Small Council"

Said Rhaenyra. Not that Rhaenys would step aside and remain silent.

"But I need something else, more than swords. A coronation of my own. And the wedding of your grandchildren must take place"

[Barry Goldwater]

"Your husband's ships were sent North, to Gulltown. They will bring the Valesman to the fray"

Said Rhaenyra.

"The men of the Narrow Sea have already gathered and Daemon brought sellswords"

She wrinkles her mouth.

"We had to, Lady Rhaenys. But you won't be absent of any more meetings, you're given privilege to sit, with voice and vote, in my Small Council"

Said Rhaenyra. Not that Rhaenys would step aside and remain silent.

"But I need something else, more than swords. A coronation of my own. And the wedding of your grandchildren must take place"

"Ah, so your noble cousin in the Vale has answered your call to arms? Good, good..." Rhaenys nodded along as Rhaenyra explained the situation. That was a relief - if the Vale wouldn't march for them, their war effort would be quite doomed before it even began in earnest. "The combined strength of the Vale, the Narrow Sea and those sellswords your husband hired ought to be enough to awe any and all Crownlander lords on the road to King's Landing into submission. If our dragons don't do the trick first, that is."

"Of course, my Queen." Rhaenys was particularly eager to see the betrothals between her grandchildren advance into full-blown marriages, if only to ensure beyond any and all doubts that her blood would end up sitting the Iron Throne in due time. Assuming Rhaenyra won, of course, but what she had been told gave her the confidence that that would indeed be the inevitable outcome. She also had to wonder who the Queen wanted to crown her - Daemon, perhaps? Or herself, considering the latter was telling her this right now? "Has a crown already been prepared? Or, better yet, have one of your other partisans been able to liberate one of the older crowns from your brother's clutches?"

[Oznerol]

"Ah, so your noble cousin in the Vale has answered your call to arms? Good, good..." Rhaenys nodded along as Rhaenyra explained the situation. That was a relief - if the Vale wouldn't march for them, their war effort would be quite doomed before it even began in earnest. "The combined strength of the Vale, the Narrow Sea and those sellswords your husband hired ought to be enough to awe any and all Crownlander lords on the road to King's Landing into submission. If our dragons don't do the trick first, that is."

"Of course, my Queen." Rhaenys was particularly eager to see the betrothals between her grandchildren advance into full-blown marriages, if only to ensure beyond any and all doubts that her blood would end up sitting the Iron Throne in due time. Assuming Rhaenyra won, of course, but what she had been told gave her the confidence that that would indeed be the inevitable outcome. She also had to wonder who the Queen wanted to crown her - Daemon, perhaps? Or herself, considering the latter was telling her this right now? "Has a crown already been prepared? Or, better yet, have one of your other partisans been able to liberate one of the older crowns from your brother's clutches?"

"She did. Her swords already coming to us"

Rhaenyra said. The Valesmen were a proud folk and brave in arms. The knights of the Vale were reknowned in the realm.

"We may have more dragons soon enough, if the call to riders is effective enough. Including... my husband's baseborn son, apparently"

The queen eyed her goodmother curiously.

"I will held the marriage soon. All of them are of age, and they know each other well. Affection is assured"

Rhaenyra frowned.

"None, I was hoping to find one, but it wasn't the case. I shall order one to be forged overnight, unless you and Corlys have a fitting solution"

[Barry Goldwater]

"She did. Her swords already coming to us"

Rhaenyra said. The Valesmen were a proud folk and brave in arms. The knights of the Vale were reknowned in the realm.

"We may have more dragons soon enough, if the call to riders is effective enough. Including... my husband's baseborn son, apparently"

The queen eyed her goodmother curiously.

"I will held the marriage soon. All of them are of age, and they know each other well. Affection is assured"

Rhaenyra frowned.

"None, I was hoping to find one, but it wasn't the case. I shall order one to be forged overnight, unless you and Corlys have a fitting solution"

"Lord Velaryon might have an exotic diadem or two on hand for the coronation, my Queen." Rhaenys responded calmly, though within her the fire of irritation and suspicion was beginning to burn again. She needed to speak with her husband soon anyway, over those bastards he brought up at the previous council. "I must confess, I too am curious about Laenor's newfound children. Until recently, I was sure about the number of granddaughters and grandsons I had. But, of course, I will prioritize matters of state over my personal concerns - you need not worry that I'll become distracted by this revelation." Taming a dragon or two would certainly prove whether or not they truly had Velaryon blood in their veins, at least. Something about Corlys' abrupt change in manner when discussing the lads had planted small seeds of doubt in Rhaenys' mind as to whether Laenor was truly their father, however.

[Oznerol]

"I sent Ser Corbray with the purpose"

Said Rhaenyra, triumphant.

"He's probably talking with Lord Mooton as we speak. But we do need some more, like Blackwood, Vance or Tully"

[Pericles of Athens]

“Insane thought that.” Alton said with a laugh. “Though.. I suspect it might be something in the water.” There was a bit of a pause as Alton’s eyes set on one of the King’s many curios. “Because I’ve come to attempt the same.” He straightened his back and buffed out his chest a bit, to make the proposition seem less insane. Casting a sideways glance toward Daemon to gauge his response. “I’m lowborn as they come, my mother was a cook in Kingslanding..” He grimaced, unwilling to say the name of the Seven forsaken place he’d come from, Flesbottom, a place best left forgotten. “But, she always told me my father had been of the dragon’s blood.” Though she’d never revealed to him who had the dubious honor of being his father. “I’m a soldier, yes, but now that Rhaenyra is Queen my sword will be but a single blade in a storm.. I’ve no lands to claim, no mind for command, no wife or children to mourn me..” Alton trailed off a moment, as if lost to his thoughts. “But.. I’ve dragon’s blood, or at least I think I do, and you’ve more dragons on this island than people willing to risk a ride.” He knew the greatest advantage the Blacks held was dragons, but at this moment many dragons remained.. unused.

[Gandalfus]

"I sent Ser Corbray with the purpose"

Said Rhaenyra, triumphant.

"He's probably talking with Lord Mooton as we speak. But we do need some more, like Blackwood, Vance or Tully"

"Corbray. We might get some use out of him after all."

Daemon wrinkled his nose. Valemen were all talk and no balls. But, with things such as they were, they needed every sword.

"I will win Harrenhal. Maybe that will cause the others to see sense, raise their banners for us. Or dragonfire will do our work."

They would learn the hard lesson taught to Black Harren, long ago. One of fire, and blood.

“Insane thought that.” Alton said with a laugh. “Though.. I suspect it might be something in the water.” There was a bit of a pause as Alton’s eyes set on one of the King’s many curios. “Because I’ve come to attempt the same.” He straightened his back and buffed out his chest a bit, to make the proposition seem less insane. Casting a sideways glance toward Daemon to gauge his response. “I’m lowborn as they come, my mother was a cook in Kingslanding..” He grimaced, unwilling to say the name of the Seven forsaken place he’d come from, Flesbottom, a place best left forgotten. “But, she always told me my father had been of the dragon’s blood.” Though she’d never revealed to him who had the dubious honor of being his father. “I’m a soldier, yes, but now that Rhaenyra is Queen my sword will be but a single blade in a storm.. I’ve no lands to claim, no mind for command, no wife or children to mourn me..” Alton trailed off a moment, as if lost to his thoughts. “But.. I’ve dragon’s blood, or at least I think I do, and you’ve more dragons on this island than people willing to risk a ride.” He knew the greatest advantage the Blacks held was dragons, but at this moment many dragons remained.. unused.

The Prince gave a nonchalant chuckle. Perhaps you are mine, then. Had there been a cook? Probably. Certainly his brother was no philanderer, and Corlys would have been a bit old to sow his seed in the filth of Flea Bottom. But it mattered not.

"So, you have no name and no brain. And this makes you think you can fly a dragon?"

A no-one, willing to risk it all upon the faint hope that his father may have been someone. Brave, but suicidal

"Which will you risk? Vermithor? Seasmoke?"

He grinned, heralding a jape.

"Perhaps that stain Sheepstealer. A pauper's dragon if I ever saw one."

It was brown, like mud, with wings that were mottled and bruised by the marks of conflict. It never dared approach Caraxes, and instead restricted itself to robbing the peasants of Driftmark of their mutton.

"I will not stop you. Hell, I give you my blessing. Scale the Dragonmont, and if the Seven look well on you, you might just live."

[Oznerol]

"Corbray. We might get some use out of him after all."

Daemon wrinkled his nose. Valemen were all talk and no balls. But, with things such as they were, they needed every sword.

"I will win Harrenhal. Maybe that will cause the others to see sense, raise their banners for us. Or dragonfire will do our work."

They would learn the hard lesson taught to Black Harren, long ago. One of fire, and blood.

"I won't sit idle here, as a meek pretender"

Said Rhaenyra.

"I will fly my eldest sons. They will see the full might of our house. Let's all the traitors call Luke, Jace or Joff bastards, they will cower and grovel when they see them mounted atop their dragons"

[Oznerol]

Riders arrived, under the banner of the seahorse, among them was a young boy of barely sixteen; they announced something to the garrison and, soon thereafter, their announcement proved accurate, a roar was heard, clear and sound. A shriek followed as a pale, silvery dragon landed on the courtyard, her claws scratching the cobblestones. The beast roared again, like saluting the castle. Seasmoke certainly knew the keep well, for she had been Laenor's pride. Riding the dragon was a young man, silver of hair, who looked excited, a hearty red covering his cheeks, he was panting heavily and his hair was a mess. The cloak was missing and his hands were bleeding from several superficial cuts. The boy who had rided with the Velaryon men walked towards the dragonrider, but he remained at a cautious distance, until the young man told him to come closer. Addam finally unmounted, a bit sore from the flight, and caressed Seasmoke's neck, who rumbled like a large oversized scaly cat. The elder brother took Alyn's hand, allowing him to touch the silvery hide of Seasmoke. They would find them like that, both brother's under the shadow of the dragon, with Seasmoke's tail circling around them, protective. The dragon smelled the air, and roared, probably saluting her kindred stabled in the keep.

The Queen, her kin and court soon arrived from every corner, looking at the newest addition to the ranks of the dragonriders. Glancing from behind manticore-shaped pillars, or appearing from the dragon-shaped doorways. The gardener left his tools of trade in Aegon's garden, only to look at the newcomer, while the kitchen's master neglected that day's stuffed swann only to peer at Seasmoke's shape. Few older members of the household smiled fondly, for they had known Seasmoke and its previous rider. The princes looked at Seasmoke with awe and wondered who the rider was, for they knew it was their father's mounts. All the while, Rhaenyra seemed quite amused by the whole situation.

[Pericles of Athens]

“I may have no brain, but I have name, it’s Alton and I intend to earn a second one.” He gave a smirk, unfazed by the commentary. “A pauper’s dragon? I rather like the sound of that, a kingly beast too.” He laughed. “But, i’ll face whichever beast I can find.” Hopefully not that monster the Cannibal.. he thought. “And I’ll return on a dragon.. or in one.” He gave himself a grim inward smile. “With your leave, your Grace?”

[Oznerol]

"I hope you have no further doubts about your grandchildren"

Said Rhaenyra dryly.

"You will not, goodmother. You know we have a goal, a destiny. The throne is mine. And when I rule, never again will be a woman be considered lesser than a man to inherit these kingdoms"

She frowns. The queen pats Rhaenys' hand.

"By the way, I've heard your new grandson is older than my own sons"

[Barry Goldwater]

"I've never paid mind to those vile rumors, good-daughter." Rhaenys lied smoothly. "And it is good to know that, once you are seated atop your rightful throne, no woman will be considered inferior to men in the line of succession. No council of mewling lords nor any cabal of ambitious graspers should stand between a woman and her inheritance ever again, simply because she was born a woman." Her voice was tinged with more bitterness than she had intended to show.

"I've yet to meet him, so I cannot say for sure." She continued delicately, on the topic of her purported grandchildren. "I did not think Laenor was the sort of man to pursue extramarital affairs..." Not with women, at least. Rhaenys was not blind to the looks Laenor exchanged with the Knight of Kisses when both were still alive, nor his indescribable grief at the man's death in a bout with Criston Cole. But what mother would judge her son for that, especially when that same son was already officially married to the heiress of the realm? "But, I suppose, it's rather too late to do anything about them, it if indeed these grandchildren of mine are capable of taming dragons. We will need all the dragons we can get to defeat Vhagar and Sunfyre."

[Oznerol]

"Good. All those daring enough to doubt my children's parentage will pay, in blood"

Said Rhaenyra, relieved. Who were the children's father, only she knew. But the truth was so well buried and hidden within her chest that Rhaenyra had fooled herself long ago, into thinking she simply didn't know.

"The firstborn among the heirs of the body, those born in wedlock, no matter the gender, shall inherit the throne and the crown. This is what Alyssanne wanted"

Rhaenyra tilted her head slightly.

"Men are fickle creatures and work in the most mysterious manners. I don't presume to know what my husband did, but it was wise to conceal his birth to me, for I was carrying a child"

The queen acknowledged.

"I would have lashed the whore, had I found out. Laenor spent most the time at High Tide, back then, so it's indeed possible"

She gestures with the right hand, expressively indicating her thoughts on the matter. Laenor shunned her bed, the company of the Realm's Delight, to bed a commoner? Unthinkable.

"But, if he brings me a dragon, I don't care"

[Barry Goldwater]

"The Old King was a wise man, but a man nonetheless, not a god. His wisdom had its limits, and favoring men over we of the fairer sex was one of those limits. It heartens me to know that this error will be rectified once you are in power." Rhaenys replied, satisfied.

"Indeed, my Queen." With that, the Queen Who Never Was felt she had run out of things to say. Certainly Rhaenyra had said nothing she could possibly object to, not even the inclusion of dragon-riding bastards, for that was just the sensible move from a martial perspective. "Well, if that is all, I must ask for your leave. I should feed and drill Meleys further, in preparation for combat on the mainland."

[Oznerol]

"He never had a soft heart for his daughters, all of them suffered a sadder fate because their father was not willing to listen their pleas"

Said Rhaenyra, on the other hand Viserys had been the kindest father, always forgiving his daughter, even when she had been deflowered by none other than Daemon himself. The Old King would have made a septa of her, Viserys married his daughter to Laenor.

"You have my leave, Lady Rhaenys"

[Lord Dread]

More than annoyed with the entire situation, Baela Targaryen sat near the Painted Table, as she watched the map of Westeros from the position, where normally her stepmother, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen would sit. Normally she wouldn't be here. Not that she wasn't interested in seeing the most detailed map of Westeros, one could even imagine, showing in rough details the outskirts of the Mander up to the icey North, where the legendary Wall was located - yet the Chamber of the Painted Table always reminded her of the dull councils, her mother held over the years with several nobles.
And Baela hardly had the patience for such nonsense.
She eventually stood up and hit on her way out a figure, which partially resembled the reason of why Dragonstone felt these days so empty. A king, painted green - the wooden figure eventually fell to the ground as it was hit by Baela's palm, laying probably there until someone else, who would enter the chamber would have the patience to pick it up once more. The Princess hardly cared, as she left the room more than angered, passing by the silent guards, whose buiseness hardly bothered her.

Making her way from the Stonedrum towards Aegon's Garden, Baela more ran than she walked within her sadness. That damn Hightowers and their children, who robbed her and her kin of their birthright, making false claims about the King's will however they please! That's what they get, yeah, that was totally their fault!
And yet the thought of war made Baela bitter... at first she was happy, when Rhaenyra and the dragonriders left the castle, a formation of dragons truely magnificent, which made her not doubt at all that they could lose the war at all - impossible that even Vhagar, Visenya's beast from times of the Conqueror, now tamed by the Wretched's brother Aemond, could best all six of them at once, if it came to a clash! Heck, they would all burn, traitors all alike! Yeah, her father and Caraxes will blast them from the sky, she's certain of that!
There's no way they could lose! They would burn the pretender, burn his kin, punish the traitors and burn them as well, if they have to!
And then they would return triumphant, back to Dragonstone, all of them.
From Jace, her crownprince, whom she would bed in time, when he would finally have the guts to tell her and the Septon would allow it and his brother Lucerys, whom her own twin sister Rhaena would marry eventually, to Rhaenys, her grandmother, to whom Baela could look up, over Adam of Hull, who apparently is now considered as a closer part of the family, although she doesn't know what to make out of him now, and her stepmother, the Queen herself, who would by then be Queen upon the Iron Throne to her own father, Prince Daemon Targaryen -
they had to return!
All of them.

All of them?
She stopped for a moment, more than hesitating, as she stood between the tall dark trees of the garden, surrounded by roses and the wilderness of the garden, which was named after the Conqueror.
There was still this gnawing doubt over the last days, she had developed within her solitude, shared by only those, who remained with her at Dragonstone, that not all of them would return.
What if Jace dies? Lucerys would inherit, for sure, but what would it mean for her? Would she be cast aside like Rhaenys once was?
What if Rhaenyra died? Would Jace inherit or would those liars force their family to choose another claimant because they call her Prince a bastard of some ridiculous Riverlander House, supposedly living where the Conqueror once burnt the squid's former King alive?
And most importantly: What if her father died?
He couldn't die, right? The Rogue Prince, the man who conquered the Stepstones, the man who achieved so much and taught her nontheless a lot, even if he wasn't always there.
She was about to just yell in anger, as her fear of what might come, when she is still stuck on that rock of an island, was greater at the moment than her confidence that everything would be alright.

Yet her thought process was interrupted, as she saw a familiar glare from atop the trees, as the green shadow of Moondancer emerged slowly from the tall tree. The creaking sounds of the wood already fortold, that they wouldn't carry the dragon's weight for long, like they did in the past. Realizing it herself, the she-dragon eventually glided elegant from the tree's stem quickly, before she damaged her environment unnecessarily - it was already the size of the horse, with some luck it wouldn't take long until she could carry Baela's weight as well.
More than curious the dragon eyed her, while Baela stroke it briefly on the head. For a peasant this was probably an animal, some sort of big fire-breathing cat, a Targaryen could simply command by his will. And to some point even such a fool would be right, yet the Princess knew that the bond between her and Moondancer was a special one. It wasn't always easy with her, not at all. But Baela always loved to ride, no matter whether it was a horse or the back of Caraxes, when father allowed her to accompany him... yet her first flight with Moondancer would hopefully be a special one.
One she would never forget.
"Soon, my dear", she promised her, more whispering than saying, as she knew that the dragon understood her mind probably better than anyone else, "Soon."