Dragons of Destiny

King's Landing 305 AC.

Dany.

After Aegon had put Daario firmly in his place he had made it even more clear to any who doubted it that she was his and he was hers. Rhaegal had flown to be with Drogon, and Lyarhaex had, once Aegon had stroked her back and whispered words of praise to her, flown to the balcony and landed beside her. The red dragon was growing quickly and her own time with her and seeing Aegon with her brought back memories of Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion when they were that size and they felt a need to show off for her approval.

Lyarhaex was proud of every little thing she did and she wished her parents to be proud of her too, which they both were. Once she'd been praised and Daario had been shown what a true dragon looked liked, Aegon then had one more lesson he wished to teach him, one that Dany had enjoyed very much. He had moved quickly up the stairs and made his way to her with a look in his eyes that she knew all too well. The kiss they shared was long and passionate and Dany had found herself both wishing they were alone and yet glad they were not. Her husband was letting everyone and especially Daario know just what they felt for each other, and Dany was only too happy to play her part.

Later after they had made love in their bed and had done so even more loudly than they usually did, Dany had found herself laying on her side and looking down on Aegon as he lay beside her. Her fingers traced over his scars and she could see that though his eyes were closed he was fully awake. The small smile he wore on his face one that she really liked seeing. She had no doubt that she wore one that was similar, one of contentment, of true contentment, something she had been sure was a feeling she would ever know.

"What are you thinking, my love?" she asked as she moved her hand from his chest to his face, her fingers brushing over his full lips.

"Happy thoughts." he said and she giggled as she kissed his cheek.

"As am I." she said.

"Did I go too far today?" he asked, still with his eyes closed.

"I had worried you may." she said and he opened them to look at her "Killing a fool would bring you no glory, my love." she said and he chuckled.

"Aye, and the warm fuzzy feeling would have lasted only moments." he said before rolling his eyes and making her laugh.

"I had thought it was your intent, Aegon, why was it not?" she asked curiously.

"As you say the man is a fool, a man who wants what he cannot have." Aegon said and she nodded her agreement before speaking it aloud.

"He cannot." she said determinedly.

"No, he cannot, nor can anyone else, the world and everyone in it will just have to make do with knowing that they cannot. None but the dragon inside of you will ever know my wife's heart as I do." Aegon said and she kissed him deeply.

She snuggled up against him and felt his fingers brush over her stomach, the swelling of it even more pronounced now. A part of her feared that he'd have asked her to stay here while he dealt with Dorne, that they would argue and fall out when he tried to protect her from the battles to come. Yet while he was protective, he had not once even suggested that she did not march with them, that she not fly on Drogon's back or ride her horse in the desert sands. If anything it was her own worries for him that they had discussed far more than his for her, though she knew he felt them keenly. Aegon had promised her that he'd not take the same sort of risks as he had already and Dany had, in turn, promised herself that she'd take none.

It was only a few days later when they were set to depart to Dorne that Aegon had brought up his own worries for her in words. Dany had been getting measured for armor when he had walked in and whether it was seeing her swollen belly and the armor that covered it or something else she couldn't be sure, but when she had seen the worried look on his face she had known what was coming. She quickly sent everyone from their rooms and moved to her husband, Aegon was sitting quietly and she could see he was trying to choose his words carefully.

"I…" Aegon began.

"I know, I feel it too Aegon, with you each time that you do something you should not, my heart stills and my worries threaten to overwhelm me."

"Dany, you, the babe… I…"

"You wish me to stay here and to be safe, to not risk myself." she said and he nodded "As do I with you, Aegon."

"But we cannot." he said as he looked at her "I'll not risk myself any more than is needed in the fight, I'll not be reckless, I'll not charge into the battle as I normally do, I swear it to you both." he said so earnestly that it took her breath away.

"And I'll stay safe, Aegon, I and our babe will be safe, with you." she said and he took her into his arms, his hand on her stomach as his other hand touched her face.

Why Lyarhaex felt that moment needed her presence she didn't know, but the red dragon flew and landed beside them. The sounds it made ones that she felt were her way of telling them both that she would protect each of them and when she heard Aegon laugh, she joined him.

"I think that's her way of saying she's coming as well." Aegon said and Dany heard the loud chirp that Lyarhaex made that proved him right.

Later when they climbed up onto the dragons, Dany looked on and shook her head as Lyarhaex flew to Aegon's side and landed on Rhaegal's back. She could fly for longer now and was growing larger but she could not fly this first part of their journey on her own. Seeing her in front of Aegon as they readied to take to the air, Dany couldn't wipe the smile from her face. It looked right, it felt right and so with a last look to Davos and Arya, she gave the command and Drogon was soon flying out to sea.

King's Landing/Dorne 305 AC.

Arianne.

She looked on as the ships were loaded and was amazed both at just how many there were and how quickly it was managed. Her entire army, half the Unsullied, half the Dothraki, and then finally her and Daemon themselves were all ready to sail to Dorne and it brought a large smile to her face. After she had knelt and had spoken to the king and queen they had told her they'd not delay and they had lived up to their word. As she looked to the sky she watched the dragons fly over her head, the king and queen on their backs, and then almost as one the ships began to leave.

Arianne stood on the deck of the ship with Daemon, Sarella, and Ned Dayne as they left the bay. The young lord had quickly become someone that she had learned to trust completely, he was not overly ambitious and he loved Dorne as much as she did. Were it not for Daemon then she felt that he would have been an ideal match. As it was that was out of the question for either of them but as she saw him speak to Sarella another thought came to mind, one she was most eager to get Daemon's opinion on.

"Walk with me." she said turning to Daemon and he nodded before following her down to her cabin.

"I would love to see Quentyn's face." Daemon said making her smile, the first one she had in relation to her brother since she'd found out what he had done.

"I wonder if at heart my brother is still the coward he always was?" she asked as they entered her cabin.

"People don't change Ari, not truly." Daemon said and she nodded.

After closing her door, Daemon immediately went and grabbed the bottle of wine and poured them both a glass, Arianne taking a seat and then sipping the wine while Daemon sat down across from her.

"Ned Dayne, Daemon?" she asked and he looked at her curiously.

"A good man, Ari, one who is on your side completely." Daemon said.

"I know that. Him and Sarella, what think you?" she asked and he chuckled.

"Arianne the matchmaker." Daemon said raising his hands and she couldn't help but laugh at the way he did so.

"Do you think them a good match?" she asked as she took another sip of the wine.

"I do, though I think he may be easier to convince than Sarella." Daemon said before adding "Or perhaps not." he chuckled again.

"Daemon?"

"Sarella is not one who sees marriage in her future, Ari, but perhaps that's because she feels it would inhibit her, confine her, Ned Dayne would not, once she knew this, then perhaps."

She smiled at that, Arianne knew full well what her cousins were like, and then almost as soon as she did so, she felt the sadness come over her. Would that they'd not been so stupid, so crazed, and so in need of vengeance, would that they were still here with her today when she needed them most. Placing the wine glass on the table she reached into her dress for her handkerchief when she felt the tears in her eyes and as always Daemon was there to wipe them before she had the chance to. He didn't say anything to her either, just took her in his arms and let her sob for the kin she missed so terribly.

It was a couple of hours later that she woke, Daemon had lain her down on the bed and covered her with a sheet and he rested beside her, waking up almost the same moment she did and looking at her concernedly. Again he didn't say much, he just let her rub her hand over his face and show that she was feeling better somewhat. He kissed her lips softly and then rose and walked to the door, looking back at her and nodding before leaving the cabin. A few moments later there was a knock on the door and her handmaidens entered. Arianne quickly washed her face in the water they brought and allowed them to fix her hair before she headed to the large open cabin to eat her meal.

After eating and laughing with Ned Dayne and Sarella and then leaving the two of them alone together, she once again made her way to the deck and stood looking out on the water in front of them. They were somewhere in the Narrow Sea and though the other ships were only shadows that were broken by the occasion light, it was still an impressive sight even in the darkness of the night's sky. Around her, more than a hundred small little lights could be seen, and she wondered if the king and queen were now on a ship or were they still in the sky somewhere.

"We will take it back, Ari, it will once again kneel to its princess." Daemon said as he put his arms around her.

"Quentyn?" she asked.

"You know what must be done, be it by my blade or by the king's, Ari. Quentyn signed his death warrant the moment he took Sunspear."

"He is my brother." she said softly.

"Which only makes his betrayal all the more biting." Daemon said and she nodded, happy that he knew her so well.

"His army, do you think the king and queen are right and they await us in the Boneway?" she asked.

"They do, it's where I would wait and as they said, Ari, they think we'll march not sail."

"You are ready?" she asked worriedly, knowing his own part was perhaps the most dangerous and turning to face him.

"I am." he said and she kissed him, before then making him promise to come back to her and telling him that she loved him, laughing when he said that her love made him invincible.

A few days later they were in the Sea of Dorne and then they were passing the Stepstones. Arianne was sure that she'd seen the dragons take off from one of the islands though Daemon said she was mistaken. When they passed by Ghost Hill she felt her heart begin to race, as it did when they passed the coves, and bays that led to Sunspear itself. Eventually, they reached the point from which they'd sail no more, and just as quickly as the ships had filled they were emptied. The King and queen's men and horses first and Arianne almost shuddered at the thought of the Dothraki riding through her lands, then came the Dornish Army, and finally the Unsullied.

Arianne was not adept in military tactics, and when she had spoken to Daemon and Ned about it and asked why the ships wouldn't just sail into Sunspear she'd been surprised by their answers. To her, it would be all the more impressive and imposing, the ships arriving en masse and taking the docks and working out from there. Daemon and Ned though both told her they'd lose far too many men in taking the docks, they'd then have to fight through the streets of the Shadow City itself and it would nullify the dragon's effectiveness. The plans they had made were far better they both insisted and Arianne was glad to defer to them on matters such as this.

As the small boat took her to the shore she looked to see the king walking with Ser Jaime Lannister and the wilding behind him, the three men organizing their men and readying for the ride to Sunspear. She looked around to see where the queen was and soon found her a little way off. Daenerys was on a hill overlooking everything and was sitting on a beautiful white mare and so after Daemon had procured her own horse, Arianne rode towards her. When she got close enough to see her, she could see her two Dragonguard were behind her and to her surprise, the red dragon was resting on the ground beside her. It had grown larger and was perhaps now as big as a dog and as she neared the queen it let out a small warning roar.

"Be calm my love, Princess Arianne is a friend." the queen said and the dragon looked from Arianne to the queen and then flew into the air so the queen could touch it more easily.

Almost as soon as it felt the queen's hand on its scales it made a sound that Arianne had never heard before, a sound she assumed to be one of joy given the look on the queen's face. Then the dragon landed back on the ground and almost seemed to curl up into a ball and Arianne wondered if it was sleeping now.

"Your grace." she said as she moved her horse closer to join the queen.

"Princess, your lands are very beautiful and I believe that my husband has fallen in love with them somewhat." the queen said and Arianne followed her eyes to where the king was now moving down in the valley below them.

"He was born here, your grace." Arianne said a little proudly.

"And perhaps hewould have known a different life had he been brought up here." the queen said almost wistfully.

"Bastards are treated differently in Dorne, your grace, mine own cousins and my love are proof of that. While the shame of their birth is something the rest of the realm believes, in Dorne, we believe that the contents of their heart matter far more." Arianne said and despite the fact that Aegon was no longer considered a bastard, she knew it had been a hard life for him to be raised as one.

"Then my husband did miss out." the queen said softly.

Arianne felt the queen no longer wished to discuss her husband's life experiences or what may have been and so she decided not to speak on how the life we lead makes us who we are meant to be. Aegon and Daenerys had both suffered in their lives, they had both lost people they cared about and family they loved, it had made them who they were and the realm needed them as who they were and not as who they could have been.

"How long until we reach Sunspear?" the queen asked.

"Three days your grace." she said and the queen nodded.

"I look forward to seeing it."

"As do I, your grace, as do I." she said smiling.

King's Landing 305 AC.

Davos.

He woke up with a headache, though he knew it was nothing like the headache he was about to face for the rest of the day. The king and queen were off fighting in another battle and he was left here to run the realm, the mere thoughts of which were the cause of the headache he was now suffering through. Readying himself for the day, he left the Tower of the Hand and made his way to the Royal Apartments to break his fast. This was at least the part of the day he didn't mind so much and as he walked with his guards through the corridors, he laughed when the white wolf came running his way.

"Aye, I miss them too, Ghost." he said as he looked down on the forlorn-looking wolf who licked his hand.

He knew upon seeing the wolf that Missandei wasn't too far behind and true enough just as they turned the next corner he saw her. Davos unable to resist returning the warm smile that she gave him and then joining her as they walked into a small dining room. Both Arya and Gendry were already there and had begun to eat and he bid them both good morning as he took his seat. Davos finding that the appetite he'd worried about not having, now quickly returned to him as he sat with people he enjoyed spending time with. There would not be many of those today he feared.

As he ate he listened as Arya complained to Gendry that her brother should have taken her with him and as Gendry did his best to listen to those complaints and not offer any comment either way. The girl wasn't looking for a reason why Aegon had left her here and Davos knew that he'd told her his reasons in the long talk they had before he'd said his goodbyes. More it was that she wished to vent her frustrations and Gendry was more than willing to allow her to do so. Looking to Missandei he could see that she was worried too, the King, the Queen, and Grey Worm were all gone on the ships and she'd been left here once again, just like him.

"You understand why they asked us to stay." he said softly to the girl, Missandei giving him a small smile and nodding.

"We will go to the Small Council meeting after this?" she asked and he nodded.

"Aye, we'll find out what our other councilors are like and who they hold their true allegiance to." Davos said and he saw how Missandei and then Arya looked at him, the latter being the one who spoke.

"You think they'll not be true to Dany and my brother?" the girl asked angrily.

"I know not, Arya, they may seek to take advantage of the king and queen not being here or they may understand the chance they've been given and seek to bring about the changes the realm needs, we'll find out soon enough." Davos said.

"And if they're not true?" Gendry asked and Davos chuckled when he saw Missandei reach down to rub the white wolf's head.

"Then they'll find out what happens when you play with dragons." Missandei said with no emotion in her voice.

Once they were finished eating, he then said his goodbyes to Arya and Gendry who were heading into the city itself. He told them to make sure to take their guards with them and while Arya frowned at him, she listened when Missandei said it was more as a symbol than as protection, Davos marveling just how easily she could get her to believe that lie.

"Shall we Davos." Missandei said when she was ready and then he joined her and Ghost as they walked to the Small Council Chambers.

He took his seat when they arrived with Missandei sitting on his left and then a few moments later, Lord Varys entered with Lady Waynwood taking a little longer to turn up and surprisingly walking into the chambers with Lord Connington by her side. After they had all taken their seats, Davos felt like reaching to the mug in front of him and draining the water that was inside it. He felt his throat go dry and he knew if he wasn't sitting with his hands clasped together on his lap that they'd be shaking. Turning to glance at Missandei, it was the reassuring smile he saw on her face that steadied his nerves.

"As you are all aware, their graces have traveled to see that Dorne is liberated and Princess Arianne is once again installed as its princess, Lord Varys, could you tell the other councilors what their graces may face." he said and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the slight nod that Missandei gave him and he thanked the gods that Aegon and Dany had left her with him.

"As Lady Kinvara explained to their graces, a force of Essosi origin and led by Prince Quentyn has taken Sunspear and is in control of Dorne, however, my little birds have sung me whispers that not all of Dorne is happy with this turn of events. Food, men, and loyalty have all been denied thus far and unless Prince Quentyn can see his sister's and our king and queen's forces defeated then his time as Prince of Dorne will be a short one." Varys said.

"How large is the force that Prince Quentyn can call upon?" Lady Anya asked.

"Significant my lady and was it just Princess Arianne against her brother then perhaps it would be enough to keep Dorne, with their graces own forces and with the dragons, well…." Varys said leaving the rest unsaid.

"The Essosi forces do we know who is behind them?" Lord Connington asked.

"The same people behind the attack on Meereen and the attack on Volantis, the Triarchs, Lord Connington." Varys said and Davos saw Jon Connington nod.

"Greedy fuckers, they tried to hire the company some time ago but we were already under contract and so were unable to even consider their offer, they never came back to us though." Lord Connington said and Davos looked to Varys but it was Lady Anya who spoke.

"I take it their graces won't let the fall of Meereen stand?" Lady Anya said and Davos looked to Missandei as he was not sure how much he should tell the woman.

"Queen Daenerys freed the people of Meereen and will do so again, King Aegon will wish to see this also." Missandei said and Lady Anya nodded.

"May I speak freely?" Lady Anya asked.

"You may, my lady." Davos said looking curiously at the woman.

"Their graces attention is rightly focussed on Dorne and I assume on Meereen which then leaves us to see to the realm itself. I never expected to be in such a lofty position, something I'm sure you yourself Lord Hand can relate to." Lady Anya said and he nodded with a smirk "Now that I am, I find I am most keen to keep it, the realm is in a bad way, my lords, it is up to us as their graces representatives to see that it recovers from all it's been through."

Davos looked at the surprised look on Varys's face and was sure it was a good surprise rather than a bad one that the eunuch was showing. Jon Connington too seemed to be exhibiting the same look on his face and while Missandei's own expression was far more schooled, she also seemed pleased by what Lady Anya had said.

"Then it is up to us here in this room to see that their will is done and that the people's lives are improved is it not?" Davos said.

"That it is." Lord Connington said and this time Missandei did smile at him.

For the next hour, they spoke of coin, of their food stocks, and of what each part of the realm was most in need of, and some things became very clear to him. Lord Jon Connington was as loyal to the dragons as he, Varys, or Missandei was and Lady Anya was a formidable woman who his king and queen had done well in naming to their council. By the end of the meeting, he was feeling far better than he had when he woke up that morning, and surprisingly his headache was gone.

He waited until Lady Anya and Lord Jon had left and then turned to look at Missandei who sat with a small smile on her face and at Varys who though wearing his usual unreadable expression looked content. At a nod from him, all three of them got up to leave the room. There was much work to be done but at least they had the right people in place to see to it, now all any of them wished was for their king and queen to return safely.

King's Landing 305 AC.

Arya.

She and Jon had argued when he told her that he needed her to stay in the city, that there were people there who he needed an eye kept on, and while Davos, Varys, and Missandei could all do so, she could do so better than any of them. The main person to be watched it seemed was someone that she'd not actually need to sneak much in the shadows to see as his own eyes had found hers ever since Gendry had asked Jon's permission to marry her. Gendry's brother did not think of him in the same way as she did Jon though and Arya couldn't but help remember something that Sansa would say when Jon's name was brought up when they were children.

" He's our half-brother, Arya."

As a child it would annoy her, make her angry, and in her childish mind wouldn't make any sense, Arya had not been sure how anyone could be a half of something. At times when she caught Edric Storm look her way, she'd have to stop herself from smiling, not at him but at what had always been her favorite answer when Sansa had said such things.

" Really Sansa, he looks a full brother to me."

She knew that Gendry didn't feel that way and it was very clear that Edric Storm did, given how his nose scrunched up as if he was smelling something bad every time he saw Gendry. It had made her want to take Needle and cut that nose from his face, to stick him with the pointy end and take his eyes from him for daring to look at Gendry that way. Yet she had not, that was not her, not anymore and for his sake, Edric Storm had better hope that she remained someone.

"You're doing it again." Gendry said and she stopped walking and turned to glare at him.

"Doing what?"

"Making your Arya face." Gendry said annoyingly.

"My what?" she said snippily.

"Your Arya face, you do it when someone has annoyed you or when your thinking of someone who's annoying you." Gendry said with a half-smile on his face.

"You mean like some annoying bull." she said with a roll of her eyes.

"Aye, that's how I recognize it." he said and despite her annoyance, she chuckled.

"This city still smells like shit." she said changing the subject, as they began to walk again.

"It smells like home." he said fondly and she looked at him before shaking her head.

This wasn't home, nor was Winterfell, home wasn't a place for her, it was a person, no now it was more than one person. Home was Jon, Dany, Gendry, and even Missandei, it was Davos and Lyarhaex, Rhaegal and Drogon, home was Ghost and the feel of white fur under her fingertips, home was family. It was the family she had and the family she would have one day, Arya not even noticing when her hand touched her belly and felt what she hoped was the life growing inside of her.

They turned into the Street of Steel, Gendry wished to speak to Tobho Mott and thank him for the training, roof, and comfort he'd given him over the years. Though his life had not been altogether pleasant working for the Qhorik smith, he had looked after him as much as any man other than Davos, and Gendry felt he owed him his thanks. When they reached the smiths she waited outside as Gendry walked in to talk to the man and that's when she saw him again.

Her first thought was that he had followed them and instinctively her fingers brushed over Needle's hilt as she reassured herself it was there on her hip. When she saw his face more clearly though, she realized that he'd not been following or looking for either of them and so she relaxed somewhat. It surprised her when Edric Storm walked over to her and she was glad that Gendry chose that precise time to walk from the smiths.

"Princess Arya." Edric said with a small bow and given how he had looked at Gendry she felt no desire to correct him.

"Lord Baratheon." she said as she then looked to the men who were with him, there were four, three guards, and a knight and she felt she could take them all if need be, not that there would be a need but it was something that her mind did in most situations, dangerous or not.

"And you must be Gendry, or is it Lord Gendry?" Edric asked and though there was mocking in the tone it was less than she expected.

"Just Gendry, Lord Baratheon." Gendry said and Arya was pleased by how firm his voice was, he'd come a long way since speaking to Jon and was now far more confident in who he was, much to her delight.

"I was wondering if you'd both care to join me for lunch, there are things I'd like to discuss with you Gendry, things regarding our father."

Though she didn't wish to, her eyes glanced at Gendry to judge his reaction. He may not think of Edric how she did Jon but she knew he thought of him as kin and so he may wish to get to know him better. It turned out she was right and after she'd given him a slight nod to let him know she was willing to do whatever it was he wished, he turned and accepted the offer and they all began to walk down the street together.

The conversation was stilted, uncomfortable and she was glad when they reached and entered the tavern, Arya quickly taking a seat with the wall at her back so that she could see the entire room. That it forced Edric to sit opposite her and Gendry was just an added bonus, the brief flare of annoyance on the man's face one that she welcomed. It showed how he truly felt and that he was deferring to her and not to Gendry. Her love was beneath him while she was not, that was very clear in how he looked at each of them, if not in the words he spoke.

"Do you know much of our father, other than what you've heard?" Edric asked.

"No, I've heard the stories and when I first met his grace we spoke of who I assumed his own father was, and how he and ours had fought together." Gendry said.

"An uncomfortable conversation in light of what we've all since found, no doubt." Edric said with a half-laugh.

"His grace understood things differently at the time, so no it wasn't uncomfortable." Gendry said firmly and Arya had to keep herself from chuckling, her bull had a backbone.

"Did You know we have a sister in the Vale, Mya Stone?" Edric asked changing the subject and she saw Gendry move forward in his seat.

"No, I had thought, after he died the queen sent men to kill me, I had no idea it was her or why at the time, but later Lord Davos told me what she'd done the same to our brothers and sisters." Gendry said sadly.

"I heard, I was safe in Storm's End, or so I thought…" Edric said his voice trailing off as he thought of something.

"Your sister in the Vale, she is safe?" Arya asked a few moments, as both brothers had seemed lost in their own thoughts for some time.

"She is as far as I can tell, she runs mules to and from the Eyrie, delivers the food stocks, and supplies up the treacherous mountain pass." Edric said contemptuously and though she noticed, Gendry did not, her bull instead was sitting there with a warm smile on her face.

"Is she the only one other than yourselves?" she asked and both Gendry and Edric looked at her very differently.

Gendry had a hopeful look on his face, one which almost seemed to wish that there were more and that some had survived what the queen had done. Edric however almost looked frightened and she caught how he looked at the knight that was with him and then back at Gendry. That he didn't see how she looked at him and how intently she was watching him was something she put down to arrogance. Lords had a way of ignoring those they thought beneath them, be it socially, physically, or because they thought themselves smarter, and with women, this was especially true.

"No as far as I'm aware it's only us three." Edric said and Gendry looked at him with a sad expression on his face.

"A Waters, Stone, and a Baratheon, it seems it's up to you to keep the name alive." Gendry said and she caught the look of surprise on Edric's face.

"I had thought you'd seek to be legitimized, given how friendly you and his grace are." Edric said, a statement though really a question.

"I'm happy with who I am." Gendry said and she smiled when she heard him say so.

Things changed a little after that, Edric seemed to relax more and she listened as he told of life at Storm's End and as Gendry spoke of his own life in King's Landing. For the briefest of moments she actually thought that some corner had been turned and the two brothers may actually seek to be closer. She knew if it was up to Gendry then he would certainly seek that and that he may even seek out his sister in the Vale, with Edric she had briefly hoped, right up to when the meal ended and they had said their goodbyes.

"I'm glad we've done this." Edric said as they stood outside the tavern.

"Aye, me too, it was good to speak to you."

"I hope to see you again but I've to leave for Storm's End in a day or two, perhaps in time you could come and visit me there?" Edric said.

"I'd like that." Gendry replied, a true smile on his face.

"Princess."

"Lord Baratheon."

She watched as they walked away, Edric speaking frantically to the knight and she knew then that it had all been an act, a mummery. He meant her bull harm and despite Gendry's thoughts which no doubt were of a found brother, he'd only truly found an enemy this day. Arya felt her heart harden, her resolve strengthen and she knew she had to become no one once more. Edric Storm needed to play the Game of Faces and she needed to know his intent for certain before she put Gendry's brother in the ground.

Meereen 305 AC.

Belicho Staegeone.

He stood on the balcony of the great pyramid and smiled at the city below him, his city, and the first step in the new Essos that he would forge. The greatest empire the world had ever seen, he would build it and rule the lands from the Narrow Sea to the Great Sand one. Most of his work was already done for him and she didn't even realize it, the Unsullied and the Dothraki were no longer here and Essos was now his for the taking.

Malaquo would fail, Quentyn would fail and yet he cared not, they would distract, delay, and should they be lucky enough to take a dragon or two then all the better. By the time the Dragonqueen came back his way, he'd have three or four times the number of men she had. He'd control all the major cities and major ports and even with her landing on his shores she'd see losses and then he'd bleed them all the way until their end.

Taking a last look at the city he turned and made his way back inside to deal with the foolish men who sought his favor. The Great, the Good, and the Wise Masters would all learn their true place today and would be given a simple choice, either they kneel or die. Looking to his giant guard, he nodded and then walked into the room, making his way up the steps to sit on what had once been Daenerys Targaryen's throne. With a nod and a wave of his hands, the masters were brought in and Belicho took his seat.

"Welcome my friends to the new Meereen, the new Essos." he said as they looked at him confusedly "Together we have taken back this city from the Dragonqueen, yet that is not our only victory this day." Belicho said.

"The Dragonwhore is dead?" one of the masters of Yunkai asked hopefully.

"She has fallen?" one of the masters of Astapor asked.

"Why do you sit there?" the Green Grace asked.

"Because it is my divine right to sit here Galazza, and no my friends the dragon lives still. Today the great cities of Astapor and Yunkai have fallen too." Belicho said to confused looks.

"We were betrayed, by who?" the Yunkai masters said as one.

"We must sail immediately." he heard one of the Astapor masters say and he found himself looking at neither them nor the Great Masters of Meereen but the Green Grace who now wore a smile as she dropped to her knees.

The Great, the Good, and the Wise Masters all looked at the old woman as she knelt and then Belicho laughed when the Great Masters did likewise. It took far more time than he would have liked for the Good and Wise Masters to realize that it was him that had taken their cities and the angry voices seemed like noise to him. Yet the threats were real and needed to be answered and so Belicho raised his hand and held up four fingers and sat back in his throne to watch.

His men were quick and though the pained screams didn't last long, though he enjoyed them all the same, smiling as two each of the Good and Wise Masters were repeatedly stabbed in front of him. Once it was done he looked at the remaining masters and it didn't take a word from him to bring them to their knees. Slaver's Bay was his and yet it was only to be the start of things and so once the masters had sworn to him, he moved to what had once been the queen's quarters, though it had most recently been home to a sellsword, and he bid the Green Grace to join him.

Galazza Galare was almost a hundred years old and yet she moved as if she was a far younger woman, be it her faith or other things, something kept her spry and he wished to know what that was and if she was like him. When she entered the room and he looked into her eyes he could see that she was not and so he relaxed somewhat, the woman was a potential ally now rather than a threat. He bid her sit and sent for wine and refreshments, not partaking in either and smiling when she took some of both.

"You know who I am?" he asked and she nodded "And why I'm here?"

"We have but a piece." she said and he smiled.

"You will take me to it." he said and she nodded, looking at him eagerly she rose when he did and they walked from the room.

The palanquin was ready for him as soon as they left the Pyramid, his men knew that he didn't forgive tardiness and were far too happy with their lives to incur his displeasure. It took some time to reach the Temple of the Harpy, Belicho noticing how Galazza kept looking his way along the ride. Whatever it was she was seeking to find in him was beyond him. He knew not what face he showed anymore, his eyes barely recognizing the face that he saw in the looking glass these days.

"We are here." Galazza said and he nodded as he climbed down from the Palanquin and she led him into the temple.

It took them even longer to reach the depths of the temple itself, Belicho feeling excited for once as he felt the power of the magic that was contained here. When Galazza cut her hand to open the door he smiled and as they were hit by the green light that bathed the room they entered it. He saw the chest on the raised pillar and moved to it without being asked, his footsteps echoing in the silence of the room as he drew closer. When he was almost halfway there he heard the crunch of the bones beneath him and looking down to the floor he saw the remains of those who had tried before him, those who had failed where he would not.

Reaching the pillar, he opened the chest and looked down on the black stone inside. It was broken, only a piece of the whole but he could feel the power that was contained within, not enough for what needed to be done, but more than he had gathered so far. It would take the full stone to truly bring the night but he had fewer pieces left to find now and he knew where they all were. He reached inside and felt the stone in his hands and the power coursed through him as he lifted it. The Black Stone of the Bloodstone Emperor would soon be whole again and he, Belicho Staegone, The High Priest of the Church of Starry Wisdom would fulfill his destiny.

Seagard 305 AC.

Theon.

Sansa wasn't happy with being made to leave Riverrun and he felt for her, truly he did, though he was beginning to think that in some ways she was causing herself some of the problems she faced. Her words about Jon and Daenerys didn't match up with what he knew about them both. The queen had welcomed Yara and he when they had sailed to Meereen, she had listened to his sister's words and her request and had then given her the Iron Islands when she had asked for them. Jon had forgiven him for what he had done to Robb and at Winterfell, true he'd sent him away when he had returned there but Theon had understood the reasons for that and in a way had welcomed it.

He had no true desire to stay there once he'd seen Beth Cassell and he doubted he'd be alive today if he had. Jon though had forgiven him when they spoke at Dragonstone, so even though he'd sent him away, it was that he thought about now as they boarded the ship. To him, Jon and Daenerys were good people while to Sansa they had conspired against her and forced her from her home, it didn't add up, and yet why would she lie?.

It had been her that he'd truly come back for, to repay her for allowing him to be himself once more and to protect her and the Starks even if it meant losing his own life. Yet he'd arrived to a Sansa he didn't really recognize and the more time they spent together the more that was starting to become true. Seeing her in the Vale, in Riverrun, listening as she spoke of Jon and Daenerys and named her brother as a bastard, even though he was not, was somewhat disconcerting to him. As was how she had behaved with Lord Arryn while they stayed in the Vale and with how she spoke of her uncle and goodaunt on the road to Seagard. All he could do was hope that once they reached the Iron Islands and she was settled that then the Sansa he knew would return.

"How long until we reach the Iron Islands?" Sansa asked and Theon turned, surprised to see her standing there with him on deck.

"Less than a week if the winds are good."

"Will your sister welcome me?" Sansa asked slightly worriedly.

"Yara is my sister and she'll accept what I ask of her." Theon said more confidently than he usually was though he knew Yara would wish him happy.

"She's close to the Dragonwhore." Sansa said and as always hearing her use those words shocked him.

"She is, but I'm her brother." he said and Sansa nodded before touching his shoulder and then turning to walk below deck.

He knew Yara would accept them both, she'd give them good rooms and see they were looked after. It may not be the life that Sansa had expected but it would be a good life if she wished it to be. Who knows, perhaps in time she, Jon, and Daenerys could put aside their differences and if she wished it, then she could return to Winterfell, though he hoped she'd instead stay with him on Pyke. There were few people who knew him truly these days, Yara and Sansa he knew did and he needed to be around people he knew, lest he loses himself and becomes Reek once more.

After he waited until they had left the bay, Theon turned and walked to his cabin, stopping by Sansa's to make sure she had everything she needed. Once he was certain she did, he made his way to his own cabin and after entering it he lay down on his bed. Try as he might he knew he'd not keep his eyes open and once they closed the dreams would come once more, something that terrified him more than anything. When he slept he was never free, never alone and the ghosts would haunt him until the morning. Ramsay would come first and then Ser Roderick, Luwin, the Miller's boys, and all the faces that he knew from Winterfell and who had died when he had taken the keep. All of those he could bear to see, but it was the one that came last that always caused him his true distress, the one that waited for him as always and was there when his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep.

" I trusted you."

" You were my brother by choice."

" You betrayed me"

He woke up with a start, Robb's voice still echoing in his head and he did what he always did each morning he woke, he began to sob. The tear fell freely and as he wept he wondered what it was he truly wept for. Was it the lives he took? The effects of his actions? Or was it for the brother that he lost? The brother that he had betrayed. Theon was never quite sure and he hoped more than anything it was for Robb that he cried, it would at least prove that they had been true brothers once and that it was not just something he had wished for.

After some time he composed himself and threw some water on his face and made his way to Sansa's room to wake her so they could break their fast. He knocked softly on the door and when she opened it, it was clear she'd been crying too. Both of them united in grief and traveling the same path, though it was not the one that either of them would have wished. Many years earlier when he was a brother by choice there were times when he'd imagined what it would be like to be a brother true. A foolish dream and one that like most of his dreams was now lost in time and yet one that at times he'd remember fondly. He shook his head when Sansa looked at him oddly and he knew he'd been doing it again, so he quickly spoke the first words that came to mind.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"Better than I expected." she said giving him a warm smile and he felt his heart beat that little bit faster as it always did when she smiled at him that way.

They walked to the large cabin and Sansa took a seat amongst the men, Theon grabbed them both a plate of eggs and bacon, though only he truly ate from it. He was about to ask her to walk to the deck with her when the shouting began and as he looked to her and saw her looking nervously at him, he wished he had the words to reassure her and found that he did not.

"Attack, we're under attack."

"To arms."

Those words were much louder than his own and so instead he took her hand and brought her below deck, seeking a place to hide her and finding to his horror that it was too late, the attack was successful and the ship had been taken. Looking at her, he took out his knife and made her the offer which she refused, his words of what may happen to her not having any effect and he supposed that she felt if she could survive Ramsay then she could survive anything. For him, he wasn't as certain, and yet he knew that she would be taken and that because of that he needed to be taken too. So he removed his weapons and waited for the men to arrive and when they did he was almost glad to see they were Essosi.

The blow was hard and he was soon in darkness and as his eyes closed he began to wonder if he was to wake up this time or if it was finally time to pay for his crimes. Eventually, he did wake only to find he was on a much different boat and he was soon being dragged in front of an older man who looked at him curiously. What was more surprising though was seeing Sansa sitting at the men's table and drinking a glass of wine, a small smile on her face as she looked at him. Theon looked from her to the man and then back again, he was confused and worried, and yet Sansa seemed to be almost unconcerned.

"My men have been far too rough with you, Lord Theon, please take a seat and accept my apologies." the man said and Theon again looked from him to Sansa and saw her nod.

He rose to his feet shakily and took the offered seat, even drank the wine that the man poured for him once he saw Sansa do the same. Once he felt his throat loosen up and that its dryness was gone, he readied to speak only for Sansa to do so first, her words making the situation all the more confusing to him.

"Theon this is Triarch Malaquo Maegyr, he's Talisa's father, Robb's goodfather and he's going to help me take back my home." Sansa said before smiling beamingly.

Theon smiled too, he felt he had to given how Malaquo was looking at him. As for the Triarch, while he too wore a smile, Theon felt it a false one and he knew that whatever was going on here it was not what Sansa believed it to be. He needed to speak to her, to talk some sense into her, even were this man not playing her false, which he was certain he was, it was madness to go up against Dany and Jon and he feared that when next they saw them, neither would be so forgiving this time.

Dorne 305 AC.

Aegon.

One of the big advantages of having dragons was the ability to fly away from those who annoyed you and so despite bringing Daario Naharis with them to Dorne, Aegon would not be spending much time in the man's company on the way there. Instead, it would be Grey Worm and Qhono that were forced to put up with the cocky sellsword while he and Dany flew and stayed in the air and on land rather than on the ships. He knew that Jaime, Jorah, and Brienne would worry, and yet they had no need to, they would sleep with their dragons and would be safer than even were they on a ship that was full of their men.

The first night they stayed under the stars close to Storm's End, he, Dany, and all three of the dragon all happy to be together. Lyarhaex more than any of them enjoying being out in the open with both her big brothers and with him and Dany just as much. She could fly longer distances and at times he allowed her to stretch her wings when Rhaegal and Drogon were flying slowly, but mainly she rode in front of him perched on Rhaegal's back.

They spent a night on the Stepstones and he knew that they would need to return here one day and take it for their own. Something that Dany seemed almost eager to do when he told her his reasons why. Essos would need to be conquered thoroughly and that meant that the Stepstones would need to be under their control and so before they left the islands, they flew around them and looked them over. Without dragons they'd be hard to take, with them they would fall easily and the next night when they rested in Dorne, he spoke of it with Dany while they ate.

"Do we really need to take them?" she asked as she ate her second meal.

"Aye, we do. It has to be all or nothing, Dany, they may seem inconsequential compared to Meereen, Bravos, or Volantis but they need to be under our control all the same." he said as Lyarhaex flew to lean against Rhaegal's side.

"We are really going to take it all?" Dany asked.

"It's what is needed to keep us safe and your people free, Dany." he said and she smiled at him.

"I didn't wish for this, Aegon, I had hoped that all our battles were done." she said and he moved closer, allowing her to lean back against him.

"We fight, so she doesn't have to." he said and rubbed her stomach softly.

"Are we not just setting the seeds for countless battles in the future?" she asked worriedly.

"No, we're ending the need for war. The world we'll build won't need it, won't want it and the men who do, won't be around to seek it out." he said and she looked at him.

"I never thought you so ruthless, Aegon?" she asked curiously.

"I have much to lose, much to protect and I am a dragon just like you, like them." he said and they both turned to watch as Lyarhaex flew to Drogon, her bigger brother moving his wing so that she could land closer to him.

When he woke the next morning it was after a strange dream and he knew then that his original plans wouldn't hold. So he told Dany and after they broke their fast they then flew for longer than they had done so far. Over the deserts of Dorne and past Ghost Hill, The Tor, and Yronwood, they rested that night near Skyreach and the next morning flew some more until he saw it in the distance. They were in the Prince's Pass and though the tower no longer stood, it was clear that this was where it had once been.

There were what looked to be seven, no eight cairns on the ground beneath them and he directed Rhaegal to land close to where the Tower of Joy had once stood. Once the dragon had done so, Aegon wasted little time climbing down off its back and moved quickly to where Drogon had landed so he could help Dany do likewise. Lyarhaex flew and landed on the hill that overlooked the red mountains behind it and he knew he'd be joining her there soon.

"I had thought." he said as he saw where the red dragon had landed and where the tower had once stood.

"It's gone?" Dany asked.

"Aye, my uncle never spoke much of this place and Howland Reed only told me what happened here, but I believe those are the stones from the tower." he said pointing to the cairns.

"Are they graves, Aegon?"

"They are, five Northmen, Ser Mark Ryswell, Ethan Glover, William Dustin, Theon Wull and Martyn Cassell and three Kingsguard, Ser Gerold Hightower, Ser Oswell Whent, and Ser Arthur Dayne." he said softly his voice fading as he said the names.

"Aegon…" Dany said concernedly when she saw the angry look on his face.

"My uncle was a damn fool, Dany, not content with keeping the truth from me, he then robs me of the chance to see it for myself, to see where she….where she…." he said, his angry tone quickly turning into something far different.

"Aegon, please my love." Dany said and he felt her arms go around him and he really needed them as he began to sob while she held him tight.

His mother, his Kingsguard, and men who had come here to rescue what they had believed to be a kidnapped woman, all lost, and the tower where he'd been born just wiped away to be forgotten. No wonder his uncle never spoke of this place and what had happened here, the shame of what he had done was too great. Was there no attempt to parley? No questions asked? Was his uncle a fool who cared not, other than for the fat stag he had named as a brother?

What would his life have been like if his uncle had sought answers rather than vengeance? Or If he'd been a wolf rather than a damn stag. One day he hoped to be sent to the seven hells just so he could see Ned Stark again, so he could tell him what he thought of him and his damnable honor. He wanted to look him in the eye and tell him exactly what he felt for him, what he thought of him, not to ask him why, but so he knew that he was ashamed to name him as his kin.

"I need to…" he said softly, clearing his mind of such thoughts as Dany let him go.

"I'll stay with the dragons." Dany said kissing his lips softly before leaving him alone.

He knelt down and offered a prayer to the gods for his mother and then he moved to each of the cairns. They were unmarked and he cursed his uncle once more, this time for leaving these men here and for not even bothering to mark their graves. As he knelt down though he felt it, heard each of their names in his head as he prayed, Mark, Theo, Ethan, William, and Martyn and then Oswell, Gerold, and finally Arthur. At the last one he stayed a little longer than the others, this was his father's closest friend, The Sword of the Morning, the man his uncle had claimed to have killed after beating him in single combat only for Howland Reed to later tell him the truth of things.

"I wish I'd known you, all of you." he said sadly as he rose to his feet.

They didn't stay there that night, instead flying a little way off and resting up at a small stream. The next morning they flew to the Boneway, Aegon telling Dany to fly high and that they were just there to look and not attack. Yet there was nothing for them to attack, no army in sight and when he landed it was clear that no army had been here in some time.

"Have they marched somewhere else?" Dany asked confusedly.

"They never marched here, they're either in Sunspear or they've sailed somewhere else." he said.

"We should fly to Sunspear, we'd see them if they were there wouldn't we?" she asked and he nodded.

When they flew over Sunspear it was clear that they weren't there either, Quentyn had but a small force and one that would easily fall but still it gave Aegon pause. So they landed a little nearer to the city than he had wished so he could speak to his wife.

"Where are they, Aegon?" Dany asked and he looked at her unsure for once.

"I don't know, they didn't sail towards King's Landing or we'd have seen them."

"Would they have sailed back to Essos?"

"It makes no sense, we need to speak to Malora when we go back." he said and Dany nodded.

They arrived as the first of their ships was unloading at the bay, Aegon glad to see their own ship was amongst the first to dock, and no sooner had the dragons landed than the Dragonguard and Tormund made their way to them. Later that day they spoke to Malora and she told them where the army was and despite his first instinct being to fly to the North and set the ships alight, he knew he could not, not yet. Their work here had to be done and so the North would need to wait, he only hoped that it didn't need to wait too long.

It was as he slept that night he saw it, saw the plan in his head and he wondered if he really should follow it through. Dany had spoken to Arianne and he knew that the Princess despite her own feelings had realized that Quentyn had to die. Aegon just wasn't certain if that was to be before or after he spoke to him. Whatever course of action he ended up deciding, he knew one thing, he'd promised Dany he'd not risk himself and this way would be no risk, at least not to his health. To his reputation, that may not be as true and so the question he now asked himself was simple. Did his reputation really matter at the end of the day?