Chapter Text
Daenerys opened her eyes with a groan. She was not in Magister Illyrio’s house. Where was she?
Where was she?
She sat up. She could not remember laying down. With a start, she realized that she was not the only person in the room.
She saw men and women with Valyrian features. And others - Westerosi coloring by the looks of them. And a boy with blue hair and purple eyes.
The youngest in the room was just a babe on his mother’s hip. The oldest was an elderly man, dressed in all black. And blind, judging by his milky white eyes.
Dany looked around again. There was a box in the middle of the room with a note attached to it. She hadn’t been the only one to see it.
A long-faced man with brown hair started toward the box and picked it up. He started to read aloud when another of the men in the room saw a man with Valyrian features standing next to two women, one with two babies on her hips.
”You!” The black haired man growled and reached for his weapon only to find himself without one.
The Valyrian-looking man moved the two women behind him, as if to shield them with his body. The Valyrian man was unarmed.
”Stop,” the man with the box yelled. “Robert, look!” He gestures to the box and the note.
Viserys pulled her closer to him, “Stay close to me, Dany.” She nodded and did not dare leave his side.
Robert grumbled, “What do I care?” But, he did not move toward the Valyrian man.
The man with the box cleared his throat and began reading the note.
I have brought you all here because there is a terrible threat brewing. The Long Night approaches. Introduce yourselves, and the year you are from, and how old you are. Then, read the book labeled 1. You must heed these books.
The Long Night approaches. And The Prince has been promised.
A friend
The black haired man, Robert, looked like he would protest, but another man with Valyrian features and a crown on his head offered to begin the introductions.
” I am Aegon of House Targaryen, the first of his name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm. I am eight-and-twenty.”
The woman with the two babes on her hips and another olive-skinned woman looked briefly like they would protest Aegon the Dragonlord calling himself Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Dany thought they must have been Dornish, then.
The introductions proceeded in a circle from then on.
”I am Visenya of House Targaryen, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Wife to Aegon. I am nine-and-twenty.”
”Rhaenys of House Targaryen, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Wife to Aegon. I am six-and-twenty.”
”Orys Baratheon. I am Lord of Storm’s End, and seven-and-twenty.”
”Rhaena of House Targaryen. I was the wife of Aegon of House Targaryen, the Uncrowned king of the Seven Kingdoms. I am five-and-twenty. It is the 48th year after the Conquest.”
”I am King Jaehaerys of House Targaryen and King of the Seven Kingdoms. I am four-and-ten. My sister and I,” he gestured to Rhaena, “are from the same year.”
”My name is Alysanne of House Targaryen, Princess of the Seven Kingdoms. I am twelve.”
A man with pale lilac eyes and hair that shone like white gold stepped forward, "Aemon, Prince of Dragonstone. I am eighteen. The year is 73 AC."
A tall woman with black hair stepped beside of Aemon, "Lady Jocelyn Baratheon, I am the wife of Aemon. I'm nineteen." As Jocelyn stepped back, she put her hand on her belly. An older woman with black hair asked, "You're pregnant?" When Jocelyn nodded, a tear rolled down the woman's face.
Another man with lilac eyes and white gold hair took Jocelyn's place. "Prince Baelon, I am sixteen."
A woman with dirty blond hair, a crooked nose, and two mismatched eyes - one violet and the other green - took Baelon's place. "Princess Alyssa of House Targaryen. I'm thirteen." As Alyssa stepped back, she whispered something in Baelon's ear before kissing his cheek. A man with silver hair and violet eyes lightly touched the hand of a girl with silver-gold hair and violet eyes.
”King Viserys of House Targaryen. King of the Seven Kingdoms and the first of my name. I am five-and-thirty and the year is 112 AC.”
The man with silver hair and violet eyes introduced himself, ”Prince Daemon Targaryen. I’m thirty-one.”
The older woman with black hair went next, ”Rhaenys of House Targaryen, and now of House Velaryon. I am eight-and-thirty.”
Finally, the girl with silver-gold hair and violet eyes went, ”Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, and Princess of Dragonstone. I am five-and-ten.”
”Lady Laena Velaryon. I am nineteen.”
”Laenor Velaryon, I’m eighteen.”
Then, another Valyrian-looking woman introduced herself and Dany almost fell to the floor. “Queen Rhaella, I am wife to King Aerys II of House Targaryen. I am 37 and the year is 282 AC.”
She thought it could not get any worse than that. It did.
A Valyrian man bowed slightly, “Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone. I am 23.”
Dany could not help to think that her brother… Rhaegar…
He would die in a year’s time, on the banks of the Trident, in one of the last battles of the Usurper’s War.
”Princess Elia Martell, wife of Rhaegar. I am 21. These are our children. Princess Rhaenys, she is 2. And, Prince Aegon, he is 1.”
The next woman who stepped up… Even if Dany had not been told about her, she would’ve realized that her introduction shocked most of the people in the room. “Princess Lyanna, from House Stark. I am 16, and a wife of Rhaegar Targaryen.”’
Robert looked like he was going to fly into a rage and kill her brother all over again, but a few words from Lyanna seemed to break the man.
”I went willingly with him, Robert. We were married in the godswood before we left the North, and then again, in a Valyrian ceremony on Dragonstone with Elia witnessing it. We had other witnesses. Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, and Lord Commander Hightower.”
Daemon Targaryen could be heard whispering to Rhaenyra, “Even the king can’t break up a Valyrian marriage once it has been consummated. Only the gods can.”
”I suppose it has?” Robert asked.
Lyanna nodded, “I’m pregnant.”
All of the fight went out of Robert. “Robert Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms. I’m thirty-five.”
”Prince Tommen Baratheon, I’m 7!”
”Princess Myrcella Baratheon. I’m 8.”
”Ser Jaime Lannister, of the Kingsguard. I’m 32. The year is 298 AC.”
”Tyrion Lannister, I’m 24.”
”Brienne of Tarth. I am 18.”
”Catelyn Stark, Lady of Winterfell. I’m 34.”
A smile graced Lyanna’s face. Dany imagined that she couldn’t wait to hear her brother talk. Viserys had talked of what he could remember of her brother’s brides.
Dany heard a sob almost bubble out of Lyanna’s throat as the Lord of Winterfell introduced himself.
”Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell. You can call me Ned. I’m 35.”
What had happened to Brandon? Viserys said he was Lyanna’s eldest brother.
Viserys went next. “Viserys III, rightful king of the Seven Kingdoms, of House Targaryen. I’m 22.”
It was Danny’s turn. She hoped her voice didn’t shake. “Princess Daenerys, of House Targaryen. The only daughter and youngest child of King Aerys II and Queen Rhaella. I’m 13.”
She heard Viserys say, “Stormborn.”
A dark brown-haired boy stepped up. “Jon Snow, I’m 14.” Dany saw Lady Stark’s lips twist in distaste.
”Robb Stark, I’m 14. I’m Lord and Lady Stark’s son. Jon is my brother.”
Lyanna turned confusedly to Lord Stark and Dany saw her mouth the words, “You have a bastard?”
”Sansa Stark, I’m almost 12.”
”Arya Stark. I’m 9.”
”My name is Bran, I’m 7.”
The boy next to Bran pointed at Lady Stark, who laughed. “This is Rickon, my youngest. He’s three.” Rickon assisted her by holding up 4 fingers, drawing a laugh out of Queen Rhaenys and Princess Rhaenyra.
”Ser Jorah Mormont. I’m 44.”
The boy with blue hair shot a look at Robert Baratheon before clearing his throat and introducing himself. “You can refer to me as Young Griff, or just Griff. I’m 16.”
Rickon pointed at him, “Why is your hair blue?”
Griff knelt to his level, “It’s dye. Do you want to feel it?”
Rickon nodded vigorously and ran over to Griff. Rickon touched his hair and yelled out, “It feels soft!”
”The dye didn’t change how my hair actually feels, my little lord.”
Rickon turned back to his mother, “Can I sit with Griff, mother?”
”If he says you can.”
”Of course you can, Rickon.”
Rickon sat down beside where Griff was standing.
”Lady Olenna Tyrell, I’m 70.”
”Maester Aemon of the Night’s Watch. I’m…” Aemon chuckled, “I’m 100.”
Dany could see her brother narrow his eyes in thought. Aemon was a Valyrian name.
”Margaery Tyrell, I’m 14.”
“Ser Loras Tyrell, I’m 16.”
A tall and muscular boy with black hair went next, “My name is Gendry. I’m a blacksmith’s apprentice. In King’s Landing. I’m 14.”
”Aurane Waters. I’m a bastard brother of Monford Velaryon, the Master of Driftmark and Lord of the Tides. I’m 21.”
The last person to introduce herself was already staring at Aurane with a smile on her face before he finished introducing himself. “Princess Arianne Martell, heir to Sunspear and Dorne.”
Elia’s niece, then, Dany thought.
Dany turned around and saw seats that were not there before. Everyone got themselves seated as Ned Stark grabbed the book labeled with a 1.
Dany ended up on a couch with Sansa Stark on the left end and Jon Snow on the right. With Rickon sitting on his lap, Griff sat beside Sansa with Dany to Jon’s left. The couch was wide enough to fit all of them comfortably.
Ned Stark opened the book and read out, “Fire and Blood. Shall I read first?”
Fire and Blood… Those were the Targaryen words.