Asshai, Shadowlands, Jade Sea/Ash River...
The dark lands of the Asshai Peninsula came into view, Haeron stared out at it and he felt a shiver run through him. Something about this place unnerved him even more than Valyria had. He could not say why but the darkness that seemed to cover the entire area was unnatural, he had no idea just what was causing it but it had not always been there of that he was sure. He did not intend to be here any longer than he had too.
The Red Priests he had been taking home were eagerly waiting on deck, having them on board had been like living with a nest of snakes he thought with disgust. They had been trying to feed their poisonous words in any ear that would hear them but he had been doing his best to keep them contained. He intended to drop them off and then leave as quickly as he could, Davos at his side shared a look with him as they silently agreed to leave as quickly as possible and keep the ship's crew together on the ship.
"The food is deadly here." Haeron whispered to Davos who blinked in shock. "Something here poisons it so do not let the crew eat anything they are offered. We drop the priests off and then we leave."
"Understood." Davos nodded with an unsteady nod as they gazed at the dark and admittedly impressive city before them. It was enormous, larger than any either man had seen before. Haeron could recall from the limited knowledge they had of Asshai that it was as large as Kings Landing, Oldtown, Volantis and Qarth combined. Looking at the city he could well believe it but that still did not change his mind about leaving as soon as they could.
But as they came into the harbour they saw something that made that impossible.
"The tides will be against us your grace and the wind is against us too." Davos said with gritted teeth especially as he saw the sand banks at the harbours edge grow larger forming a difficult barrier to navigate especially with the wind against them.
"How long before we can leave?" Haeron asked with annoyance in his voice.
"Half a day at least your grace." Davos said bitterly and with sigh Haeron deferred to his greater knowledge of sailing. He stayed on the deck as they came into port and docked, the gangplank was lowered and they tied up. The red priests all departed without another word which honestly was a relief. Haeron took the time to go back to the quarters he shared with Harmony and Evelyn, they were sitting with the dragons and Vaena who were all as unsettled as he was by this place. The dragons even Kara cuddled up to their human and the humans to each other, drawing comfort from their presence as it would a very tense few hours wait before they could leave.
- x -
Vaena sat with the dragons, drawing some new designs for jewellery to try and distract herself from the unease of this situation. She looked through her designs and smiled as she saw the various styles that she had envisioned from all of the places that they had been too and she had gotten ideas from.
Some of them were culturally based, inspired by scenes from nature or other things but there was always something that fired up her imagination, including her own dragon she thought with a smile as she petted Arrax who was growing so fast it was incredible, within another year she would be able to ride him and the thought of that sent both excitement and fear running through her, the image of her and her dragon flying among the clouds was the stuff of dreams she thought with amazement.
But as she looked out across this dark and foreboding land she couldn't relax, something about the place just unsettled her so much that she couldn't even distract herself with her designs she thought as she looked at the mess that she had drawn while sitting here. It was the worst thing that she had ever done and that was ever compared to some of her earlier work when she had no idea of just what she was doing.
Arrax sensed her distress and cuddled up to her and she held the dragon closely, trying to comfort each other and could not wait to get out of here.
Kara nearby seemed to know her worries and tickled both Arrax and Vaena gently with the tip of its tail, that made Arrax laugh and Vaena along side her dragon which made Kara seem to smile. The large dragon was now big enough it could probably carry a rider aloft and it was astonishing given the little dragon was only just over a year old! The only other dragon in the records of House Targaryen that had grown to this size so quickly had been Vhagar and Vaena wondered if it the rich diet that the dragon had been given, the magical energy that that it was constantly exposed too or a combination of both.
The dragons then started to play together, all of them getting in on the fun even Kara although the large dragon had to be careful to not squash the others and it was a welcome distraction from what was outside.
- x -
Septon Jonos had always been an open-minded man, a man that respected other cultures while holding to the standards of his own. He was a firm believer in the Seven that are One but he always tried to be respectful to those that followed other beliefs.
But in this place he thought with disgust as he looked out from the deck and saw a bunch of men burning a woman alive, her screams echoing around the docks haunted him but there was nothing he could do. He and his fellow shipmates were pilgrims in an unholy land here, they burned people here alive, he knew that it was a horrible way to die and it can take a long time. It was so bad he had never condoned it under any circumstances and yet here it was done for any reason they could think of.
They wanted to trade this person's soul as he understood it with disgust for a bountiful catch of fish, the idea of killing someone just to try and bribe a god to do your a favour? That was just too much he thought and wanted to go out there and show these people a better way but when he was about to step off the ship he stopped and realised something, these people likely had never even heard of any other religions, they would not want to listen to a word he said.
That realisation was crushing but there was nothing to do but wait and hope they left this accursed land soon.
- x -
The Great Temple of R'hllor, Asshai...
The enormous temple devoted to the great and powerful god R'hllor was the centre of all worship of him throughout all of Essos, his power was complete and total here. No opposition or question was permitted and if any one dared tried to offer another opinion on what was right or if this was wrong in any way they would find themselves being given to the flames.
The High Priest was staring into the flames in hopes of gaining some wisdom from R'hllor when the leader of the small group that had been sent to the Summer Islands approached him, smiling.
"High Priest. I beg your attention so that I may report." The leader said and the High Priest turned to look at the much younger man and with glowing orange eyes spoke calmly but in a low and harsh voice.
"Speak."
"The visions have proven true, we encountered the ship and the crew as you said we would and lured them here." The leader reported with excitement. The High Priest's face twisted with a cold and sinister smirk. It was going exactly as he had predicted and would allow them to offer a great bounty to their lord of light he thought with satisfaction.
The Red Keep, Kings Landing...
The situation in the castle was only getting worse as Cersei gained confidence and threw her weight around even more daringly and Aerys was only getting worse with her encouraging his madness and cruelty.
A group of men had been caught complaining about high tax rates and members of the Bloodmen stealing from them, unfortunately this had gotten back to Aerys and Cersei who told him.
"If we let people speak so brazenly they will only be encouraged to act even more so in the future, we need to let them see what happens to those that dare speak about your loyal men like that." She said as she knelt at his feet, her hands on his legs moving over them with deliberate slowness and teasingly close to his cock. The promise was enough to make Aerys nod in agreement and tell her as his took her hands and placed them where he wanted them.
"They will suffer." He said with a glint of madness in his eyes.
So that same day the Bloodmen took the men that had been complaining and impaled them alive! Leaving them on stakes in front of the gates to the Red Keep as a reminder of just how dangerous it was to question the king and to how harsh his punishments were.
Then came his response and indeed Cersei's response to beggars, there were so many on the streets and one day after Cersei took a ride around the city saw them clogging the streets. She was disgusted at the sight of so many people begging for charity but not in the sense that it was these people needed help but that they were daring to try and take 'her' gold and not getting their own.
They were claiming they would die without help, that the Faith did not have the funds to help them any more and so she decided if they were going to die she might as well make sure they did not ruin the streets any more.
So she had the Bloodmen gather up all of the beggars and homeless in her way and march them out of the city. Many were cripples who had suffered physical wounds that made it impossible for them to work, or were slow in the head as many called them and did not know how function as other people did but all of them man, woman and child were taken out of the city and made to dig holes in the ground. Then when they had all dug a hole deep enough they were all clubbed on the head and thrown into the holes that they themselves had dug as the Bloodmen put the soil back in.
The news soon spread of just what they had done, burying the homeless alive to clear the streets. The panic it sent through the city was intense and the people were so disturbed that those who were able got out of the city, walking or hitching rides where they could to head to places where they might find work or at least a safer place to live. Many going to the Riverlands or the Reach to try and work on farms if they could find someone willing to hire them, some took to becoming bandits if they were fit enough and those unwilling or unable to leave Kings Landing retreated to the only place where the Bloodmen would rarely go, the slum of Flea's Bottom. The population of the already densely populated area doubled in a matter of days and life in a place where it was already to dangerous to go anywhere on your own in the day let alone at night became even more hostile.
Varys watched this and became more and more concerned about what the pair might do next or make of the news he was going to be giving them today. It was enough to shake even the most firm of foundations he thought with worry but to maintain his own position here so that maybe in the future he might be able to affect some better change and to make sure that the queen and her other children were safe he would need to tell him so a distraction would be presented, keeping the attention of Aerys and the Lannister girl away from other places for the time being.
"Your grace there are whispers from the Basilisk Isles about the Banished Prince." Varys reported and the Mad King snarled at the mention of his eldest son while the Lannister smirked quietly to herself, thinking she might be able to use this to her advantage.
"And what do they say?" Aerys said with spit flying from his mouth in anger. Varys remained eerily calm with effort and told him the rather worrying news.
"The bounty you offered for the Prince's head and for his dragon enticed many pirates to try and attack his vessel but despite they were destroyed to the last man." Varys said and remained silent as the Mad King descended into an incomprehensible tirade which went on for quite some time before at last running out of energy and allowing Varys to continue speaking. "His dragon is now large enough that it can fight and the ship itself seems to have a weapon unlike any the world has seen, it is a device that throws balls of lead with great force and smashes everything in its path. The ship has many such weapons and can destroy an entire fleet on its own."
The news made even the rage filled Aerys fall silent, everyone was totally shocked at the strange new weapon that was unlike anything seen before in this world. Cersei too was surprised and thought that Varys must be lying to them or telling exaggerated stories but this was something she could use to her advantage she thought with satisfaction.
"Then we can use my brother your majesty." She said with a firm but gentle hand making sure that Aerys looked her in the eyes. "He is at the traitor's side and will not resist a command, have him dispose of the traitor and then name him to your Kingsguard as a reward. He has always desired to be a knight and to serve in such an illustrious order." Cersei offered with a sly smile as she would relish having Jaime here at her beck and call, his cock to satisfy her needs.
Aerys grinned immediately with a sick thrill and immediately kissed her while putting his hand up her skirt right in front of the Small Council. They did their best to not pay attention to this and Jon Connington who was sat right to the side of them could only think that Rhaegar would never be so vulgar and neither would he stir things up with some kind of mystery weapon and share the dragons with his family.
It would be only right for the most noble son of House Targaryen to take the throne he thought to himself.
- x -
Casterly Rock, The Westerlands...
Tywin was reading more of his accursed daughter's exploits in Kings Landing and held the message so tightly his hands were more pale than the paper he was holding.
How this would make House Lannister look to their enemies only made him feel more enraged, he wanted so much to wrap his hands around her throat and crush the breath right out of her. He wanted to have her killed but as Maylee entered the room with her belly now swollen with their child she saw his expression and while most would have retreated she did not and walked in, he looked at her in confusion before she firmly took the message from his hands, frowned as she read it before putting it aside and taking his hands in her much softer ones.
"I know you want to have her killed, I wouldn't blame you. I understand." She said with honesty, Cersei was a monster. Her outer skin might be of some beautiful creature but that was a mask to hide the horror inside. "But if you do it be ready in case it fails, you know what happens if the king comes for our family." She said, gently rubbing his hands with her own.
The motion of her hands was distracting and Tywin found himself concentrating more on that then his previous thoughts and his anger disappearing slowly. His second wife had such a sensible head on her shoulders, she was just making sure he was prepared for the worst if things went wrong and that he was calm and collected rather than consumed with his anger.
Joanna had always had a way of making him happy, to calm him and make him find some pleasure in life. He had long ago resigned himself to never feeling that again but Maylee was doing this for him now, she was like Joanna in many ways he began to realise. She had been strong too and determined, never crying or wasting her time wishing for what could never be and making the most of things. She treated everyone with such grace and kindness that you couldn't help but admire and even love her, he wasn't in love with Maylee he thought stubbornly to himself but he was not less susceptible to the effect that she had on people. She saw things plainly for what they were and made the most of every moment. He gripped her hand with more tenderness than he normally would have and placed a hand gently on her swollen belly, feeling their child inside her. She put her hand on his and smiled, he relaxed and sat her in his lap, holding her in his arms as he enjoyed her warmth and glow.
He would make preparations he decided to try and kill Cersei before she could do any more damage but that would take time he thought with annoyance and also for himself and his family to flee if they need should arise but for the moment he could just enjoy the feeling of his young wife in his arms and their babe inside her.
- x -
Dragonstone, The Narrow Sea...
The majority of the Royal Family were still on Dragonstone, Rhaegar despite the expectation that he be in the Red Keep he had stayed at the island which had been the home of their family longer than any other place. He had kept his wife here and continued his researches on the island, books from the Citadel and the Red Keep he had brought with him on his visits and he made the decision to stay well away from the capital given what was happening there.
He had never concerned himself with the politics of governance, but he knew to be careful though and so he stayed here. He had fulfilled his duties as a husband and put a babe inside his new wife and now had returned to his researches.
This left Princess Elia alone except for her companion and best friend Lady Ashara Dayne, fortunately for the two women Queen Rhaella and her children were also in residence so she would spend her time with them.
Elia watched as Princess Shaena played with her younger brothers Princes Daeron and Viserys under the watchful eye of Ashara as while the young Prince Elaena slept in the bassinet nearby, the laughing of the children as they played was a balm on the worried Elia and she subconsciously put her hand on her belly which was where her child was growing inside her. She knew that this child inside her would one day be involved in these games of power and she sighed, she had hoped that after Prince Haeron had given her his assurances they would not end up in this position but it seemed she was destined to be involved in these monarchy games and Rhaella seeing her expression smiled slightly and took her hand gently.
"It will be alright." Rhaella said with a hope of reassuring her gooddaughter. "Your child will be a part of two families that will love them. One day they will have a dragon." Rhaella said with the thought of her first grandchild filling her with joy, she had only had another child not to long ago and now her second son was giving her a babe of his own. However much she loved her son Rhaegar was not the easiest to maintain a relationship with but Elia was she felt a delightful and caring young woman. Her child would be surrounded by nothing but love Rhaella thought and swore to herself, squeezing Elia's hand. She had not even stretched the truth over the fact that her future grandchild would have a dragon as Haeron in one of the letters that he had sent had hinted to her that he had found a lot more dragon eggs in Essos, more than enough for the entire family to not have to worry for generations to come. That excited her as it meant all of her children could get an dragon along with her grandchildren and House Targaryen would under Haeron be restored to its full might and power. People would think twice before challenging them again she thought with hope if they really could bring fire and blood a smirk appearing on her face.
Elia herself was feeling a lot better at the Queen's reassuring love, Rhaegar was nothing like his elder brother and was so distant it seemed like his mind was always somewhere else. She found this very off putting but could do nothing and accepted it with sad reluctance that her husband would be distant. She hoped that maybe when the child was born that perhaps he might be more involved but she doubted it, she thought sadly but gladly accepted Rhaella who she knew had long suffered under a husband far worse than she had.
She admired her for her strength and yet rather than be bitter or angry she had managed to find some good in life and the love that she had for her children was all encompassing. Elia now could see where the good in Haeron and the other children of House Targaryen had come from, vowing to do the same for her own children and the rest of the younger members of her new house when she could.
She squeezed Rhaella's hand back and smiled as they continued to watch the children playing, enjoying their pure joy and untainted pleasure of just living and forgetting their problems if only for a moment.
- x -
Rhaegar meanwhile had uncharacteristically taken a break from his studies to go and see the dragon his mother had managed to hatch. Although he had seen Haeron's dragon before he was still curious about the creature.
Still as he went to the tower where the dragon had made its nest he could not help but think of his wife, he had never intended to wed anyone but his 'Ice' when he found her but Elia had been forced on him and he wondered if maybe she might provide him with some of the 'dragon heads' that he needed and was she his Ice or would it be someone else?
It was possible he thought with a calm logic, his brother had married twice so maybe he could too.
But those thoughts ended when he saw Aurora, the dragon that was now the size of a large hound eating in front of him. The simmering green scales were enchanting as he looked and he wanted to reach out and touch the dragon but as Aurora looked at him the slitted eyes narrowed and the dragon emitted an harsh and sharp growl in his direction as smoke started rising from her snout.
That surprised Rhaegar as the dragon had never shown any signs of aggression before but it seemed to not like his presence and even as he offered it some meat it ignored the food and stared angrily at him. He had been hoping to establish some kind of bond with the dragon and maybe ride it someday but the dragon did not seem to like that and when he did not move and leave its domain Aurora turned its head and breathed a stream of intense fire out of its mouth through the balcony.
Rhaegar finally got the message and left, wondering why the dragon disliked him so? He had never harmed it and he was a Targaryen, he was the Blood of the Dragon...the fire in the Song of Ice and Fire...the one who would bring the Prince who was Promised into the world?
Why would the dragon not like him? He thought to himself.
Asshai, Essos...
The Queen Visenya remained at anchor doing everything they could to leave the dark city as soon as possible. They had only gone as far as the dockside and only about twenty feet from the ship as they all felt unsettled by the sight of the city in front of them. Even the most randy of the crew did not want to leave the ship to visit the whores of the city they felt so fearful.
Harmony and Evelyn stood with Jaime on the quayside as they needed to stretch their legs but also a surprisingly one of the city's merchants had approached them to meet. Haeron was watching from next to them with his dragon on standby and his magic simmering. Jaime was there to keep an eye out for trouble and Alicys was standing with Vaena on deck to keep a watch on the local area.
The moment the party of the merchant's party arrived it was a relief as the waiting was at last over, they approached and the man dressed in rich robes with an entourage but then as they were approaching and about to speak...Jaime and Alicys both saw something that made them realise something was wrong.
Alicys saw another few men riding towards them on horses, but they were not brandishing weapons and instead seemed to be trying to get their attention, waving their arms furiously which confused her and then seeing one of them was dressed in a set of robes decorated with amber her heart stopped. The merchant that they had been meeting was a trader in amber, it was one of the few things that exported well from Asshai.
Jaime meanwhile saw that the man they had been meeting and then noticed one of them shift their robes slightly and a familiar looking necklace with a large red stone in it appeared briefly and that sent his eyebrows rising, looking he saw some of the links were just visible around the necks of the others in the group.
He didn't hesitate another second and nor did Alicys, she cried out to Haeron.
"THEY'RE FAKE!"
Jaime drew Brightroar and swung the sword into the nearest of the imposters, taking their head off and as the body fell to the ground while the head rolled away the ruby necklace of the Red Priests was revealed for all to see.
Haeron seeing this drew his own swords and cut down two more revealing them to be Red Priests as well and the party retreated back to their ship, the Red Priests looked on in confused shock but as they did so the other approaching party rode past them and the other man, dressed in robes decorated with amber and with the appearance of one from Yi Ti leapt from his horse and told Haeron with obvious relief.
"Prince Haeron, thank goodness we got to you in time. I am Marvi, a trader in both food and amber. I frequently move between here and Yi Ti so I was unaware of this ambush until just a moment ago." Marvi said with a sad look on his face.
"Just what is going on?" Harmony demanded with anger on her face and Marvi told them with a grim look on his face.
"The Faith of R'hllor has been hoping to make a grand sacrifice for some time. They want to spread their influence over not only the rest of Essos but even into Westeros, to have the power to bend people to their will so they want to send something incredible to the flames, something so special it would make their god given them what they desire. The dragons and everyone on this ship." Marvi said with disgust at the idea.
The knowledge that they had been planning to kill everyone on this ship including those he held most dear Haeron's eyes going to Harmony and Evelyn made his fury ignite in a way it never had before. He saw a wall of fire erupt from nowhere and wrap around the harbour which with the large sand banks blocked almost all ways out of the harbour except one small passage into the Saffron Straits and gritted his teeth as that route was guarded by towers and gave his orders.
"Cast off! Ready Cannons. Davos, take us up the Saffron Strait, use the cannons to take down those towers. We'll wait there till its safe to sail back to Yi Ti." Haeron said as he marched across the deck with fury radiating off of him and looking so fearsome that everyone just moved out of his way. He briefly turned to Marvi and told him with a stern warning. "Disembark and take cover. If you still want to sign up with our merchant guild then go to Yi Ti when its safe and meet our people there. They will see to it."
"Where are you going?" Harmony asked, her face twisted with worry as she saw the look on his face. The absolute fury and felt a shiver run through her as she knew whatever he did next was going to be bad.
"To make them understand my house's words loud and clear. They want fire and blood, I'll give them fire and blood." Haeron said with a cold fury and before either woman could stop him he called out with a loud yell. "KARA!"
The dragon appeared seemingly from nowhere instantly and as it flew past Haeron leapt on its back and the dragon carried them into the sky.
For a moment Haeron was overwhelmed by the sensation of finally flying again, the wind rushing through his hair and world expanding as you gained a far greater view of the world not to mention the sensations in your body as you moved through the air. But it was different on a dragon he thought with amazement as he felt his dragon and him connecting in a way that they never had before. Instinctively he was able to let his dragon know where they had to go and what they had to do without words, he urged Kara into the sky and then once they were high enough he could see all of the Red God Temples, easily visible from the large braziers on their roofs and his fury returned.
"Dracarys." He said with a cold fury and Kara sharing his fury from what these fire worshippers had tried to do to the others including the smaller dragons in Kara's case and opened their large mouth before blasting out a powerful torrent of fire, it hit the temple below and destroyed the entire roof, circling to destroy the other buildings too! Haeron then directed Kara to the next temple and did it again! Then to the next and the next and the next!
The guard towers meanwhile in the harbour tried to stop the Queen Visenya from leaving, arming their catapults and scorpions but Davos despite being terrified at the sight of his Prince's dragon destroying temple after temple in the city did his best to stay calm and act as the captain of the ship.
"Port Cannons target the towers, fire." Davos commanded and the gunners to their credit did not waste time and fired, the loud sound filling the air as they did. The cannon balls hit the base of the towers and punched clean through it on side, they fired again and some shots hit the central supports weakening them enough to send them tumbling to the ground while some stayed standing but the cannons scared the men manning them so much they fled their posts as the Queen Visenya made her way out of the harbour and into the Saffron Straits.
Above the city Kara took down another temple and then finally only the Great Temple remained, Haeron urged his dragon on and the large dragon needed no more encouragement before it opened its mouth again and blasted fire down on the temple. Straight through the windows and down the chimneys, through the walls until the entire temple was burning like a funeral pyre. The massive stone columns painted thousands of years ago began to burn too as the paint ignited and warped the stone with the intense heat.
As they strafed one of the sides though Kara seemed to see something and few in closer much to Haeron's surprise and then saw on a plinth three old looking dragon eggs. One black, one green and one white, Haeron quickly reached out with his ring hand and said.
"Accio Dragon Eggs."
The three eggs leapt from the plinth and flew into his waiting arms where he quickly stuffed them into his bottomless pouch so they could resume the attack, but then the ground started shake as they flew away to circle around. The stone columns seemed to come alive in response to the flames and break free, causing the rest of the structure to collapse without their reinforcement.
The stones transformed into some kind of creature, a being that had been enslaved by the Red Priests along time ago to use it for power. The paint had been what was holding it there and why it had been so important but now it was gone the creature was free. The enormous being towering above the city.
Haeron blinked in surprise as he saw it, never having seen anything like it before but it screeched so loudly he could feel his eardrums bleed and his dragon screaming in pain too! Many people were as the creature's rage was let loose, so many centuries of being confined it was only thinking of revenge and swung down, wiping an entire half a mile of buildings and people with a rage filled roar!
Haeron despite his rage could not allow an entire city full of people to die regardless of who they worshipped, gritting his teeth he urged his dragon on and Kara breathed out the most powerful blast of fire that the dragon could manage but it would not be enough on its own, The creature screamed in pain but no more so Haeron held on with one hand and raised his ring with the other.
"FIENDFYRE!" He called out and the ring began emitting an incredibly hot and powerful magical fire, hitting the demon squarely in the chest hoping since it was the one weakness that was universal in magical creates apart from brain so it might be a good place to attack. This definitely had an impact as combined with Kara's flames the demon's chest was scorched by the intense flames and the creature seized up in pain, it tried to move but it was still weakened from its long confinement and did not have much left to spare. The flames began to take their toll as they burned open the large and broad chest of the demon and through its large ribs to hit the large heart burning it to dust.
The demon screamed again before it burst into flames that consumed its entire being before it exploded into ash which rained down on the city.
Haeron sighed in exhausting as he ended his spell and seeing that his ship had managed to escape into the Saffron Straits as the route back to the Jade Sea was still blocked by flames and sand banks he directed his dragon to follow. Kara was tired he felt, the poor dragon was not used to carrying a rider and had been forced to use a lot of flame tonight but Kara was still happy to be flying. He smiled and petted his dragon as best he could as they followed the ship, saying to Kara as they did so.
"You were amazing tonight, I am so proud of you and I will make sure you get to eat all that you want."
The dragon definitely perked up a little as they flew on, eager to rest and hoping for a good meal when they found somewhere to land.
- x -
Hours Later...
The city was in a state of shock over what had happened, most people cowered in their homes and businesses not willing to come out for fear of that demonic creature returning or the dragon to burn the entire city down.
In one of the cellars of a building near the Great Temple though a single figure emerged, covered in soot and debris from the shaking ground not so long ago but they had survived the destruction.
Looking out across the city and the destruction the figure removed a dark cloak revealing a dark red mane of hair and pale skin. A red dress stretched over her attractive body and looked young even if she was in reality impossibly old. Seeing the still burning temples that only a day ago had been the heart and soul of the faith and the centre of her god's influence in this world but now they were in ruins she thought with dismay and so many of her brothers and sisters in faith dead and buried in those ruins.
She had foreseen that trying to sacrifice the Dragon and his party to the Lord of Light would lead to disaster and that her warnings would not be received favourably, possibly even get her killed for fear she would try and warn the Targaryen so she had hidden here knowing she would be safe and that the demon would be slain.
That creature had been a key source of their power for many centuries but now she thought with worry it was gone, their abilities would suffer unless they managed to step up their efforts to strengthen their worship of the Lord of Light directly she thought with determination to rebuild everything that was lost.
But then something happened that made everything here change in an instant.
From behind the mountains in the distance something started to raise, casting back the shadows that had covered the land for so long. The people were forced to avert their eyes and hide as it was so bright but as their eyes began to adjust they felt a warmth in their bones that they had only ever felt when close to the flames. Colours became brighter and more vivid as the light gave them more definition, the people all slowly began to leave their homes as they all felt the warmth of the sun upon them. All of their lives only flames had given real light and warmth and the sun had been cold and distant but now with the demon gone it was basking them all in its warmth and glow.
The Red Priestess watched with confusion as the people all seemed to be so enamoured with the sun and her vision was changed by a vision that came to her.
She saw the people in the city all slowly turning away from the Faith of R'hllor, some even blaming the sun's dimming on them which she knew was partly true. The sun began to take its place, pledging sacrifices to it instead and magic changing too as shadows were driven further and further away as light took its place.
She felt a shiver run through her unlike the others in the city as she knew what this meant, it would take decades to fully flower but the questioning and eventual rejection of the R'hllor had already begun in some of their hearts. She and others could try and check it but an idea was almost impossible to kill she knew bitterly, it would take root in more and more minds until it became a forest that buried the teachings of R'hllor beneath it.
She could not stay she thought with agonised disappointment at the loss of their home. It would be a losing battle to try and keep it she could see it in her visions and her only thought was to head west to Volantis and try and reinforce their position there at least until the Dawn came she thought with determination restoring her belief and self-assurance as she could feel the time was coming closer and closer.
She turned and went to the harbour, intending to get on the first ship that she could to Volantis hoping that the teachings that she had sworn her life too might be saved. She reached a ship and handed some coin to the captain for her passage and he asked casually.
"What's your name?"
The Red Priestess turned back to him to answer before heading down below for the voyage west.
"Melisandre." She said simply, putting her cloak's hood back over herself as it would be better to stay hidden until she managed to reach Volantis.
Ulos, The Saffron Straits...A Few Days Later...
The Queen Visenya was moored in the ruined harbour of a long abandoned city. It was a ruined city but it seemed safe enough and provided them a temporary place to rest before they headed back.
The crew would explore the city and had found some very interesting relics, artwork in metal and stone which had survived and seemed very elaborate, some other things of value had also turned up as they explored the island.
Jaime and Alicys were leading a party to forage for fresh water and food, having come across some interesting fauna in their travels, Haeron went to see what they had found but his mind was not on the mission.
Instead he was thinking about what he had done in Asshai.
He was deeply troubled at how angry he'd been during what had happened in Asshai, he had never known such rage in all of his life, both lives he thought with a fear growing of himself and what he might do if that anger took him again. Who he might hurt, he thought with disgust aimed solely at himself that he might hurt or even kill someone innocent or worse someone he loved in a fit of rage.
Haeron had not been sleeping well, away from both Harmony and Evelyn as he could not face them after what they had seen him do. He might have saved people in Asshai from that creature he had unexpectedly unleashed but it did nothing to ease his feelings of self-loathing as he had been the one to unleash it in the first place whatever it had been.
He was worried about the others too as they had seen for themselves what he had done, Jaime and Alicys did not seem that worried about it which surprised him and they eagerly showed him what they had found.
"These plants, the smells they make I am sure we could make something out of." Alicys said with a bright smile as she gestured towards them, flowers and other plants of many different colours and two of which he recognised as Saffron and Dittany. Saffron was extremely valuable and would be growable in Dorne not to mention Dittany would be extremely useful as a medicine so he did nod in approval before saying.
"They will be extremely useful, the resin from those trees as well." Haeron said as he noticed nearby trees that looked like trees that on Earth had produced Frankincense. Not only that but he had seen the thorny trees that created the resin that produced Myrrth which like Frankincense had several applications. The island had immense value and he would need to take samples that they could grow later but Jaime and Alicys weren't done as they had something else to show him.
"We found these fruits, they grow wild but are very sweet." Jaime said with a smile as he showed Haeron the one fruit that seemed to grow on this island. Haeron knelt down and looked and saw what looked like a strawberry bush with some bright red growing out of it.
"Excellent work." Haeron said as he again made note of this as he knew they could be grown in Westeros and would be something else to bring there. He sighed however before asking the two of them the question that he really needed to know the answer too. "Do I scare you?"
The question seemed to catch them both off guard and Alicys blinked before laughing gently and asking him.
"You're joking right?"
"No, after I did in Asshai..." Haeron said and Jaime just told him with a reassuring smile.
"You did what you had to do to get us out of there alive, as you always have. We know the sort of man that you are and it is not a monster." Jaime said with a wisdom that honestly seemed to come from nowhere but Haeron had seen it growing in him. He managed to smile back and told him.
"Then you are ready. Please kneel." Haeron said with his own pride in Jaime helping him feel better before drawing his sword. Jaime blinked in surprise before realising just what was happening and shocked he did kneel before Haeron carefully tapped Crimson Heart on his shoulder.
"In the name of the Warrior I charge you to be brave. In the name of the Father I charge you to be just. In the name of the Mother I charge you to defend the innocent. Arise Ser Jaime Lannister." Haeron said with pride as he sheathed his sword, Jaime getting to his feet and Alicys with a tear in her eyes as she knew how much this meant to him. "You are a man Jaime, ready to make your own choices to guide your own destiny." Haeron added calmly. "You saved Harmony and Evelyn in Asshai with your quick thinking and seeing things I didn't. You deserve this." Haeron said with pride.
Alicys launched herself at Jaime hugged him tightly, laughing joyfully and he managed to rally from his shock in time to hug her back and laugh with her, catching Haeron's eye and smiled at him which Haeron returned with a nod.
Jaime was ready to stand on his own two feet, he needed to do what he thought was right and learn from the choices that he made. Haeron was proud of him for that as he had come so far but still his doubts haunted him, despite the reassurance of Jaime and Alicys.
He made sure to take the samples of the things they wanted and were preserved safely on the ship before going to check on how Davos and Septon Jonos were doing.
- x -
Now they were returning to the base-camp in the ruined city he saw Davos and Septon Jonos looking through some finds their men had made in the hills east of the city. They caught his attention and showed him what had been found.
"Your grace, the men found these in the hills." Davos told him calmly and poured a small pile of gemstones in his hands, Haeron looked at them and saw that some of them looked like emeralds but the colour was different and the rest were a gentle shade of pink, he looked at closely and felt them carefully before saying what they were.
"Pink and Green Diamonds. Very rare." Haeron said with awe knowing they were more valuable than any other gemstones found on this world except the Fire Opal, Blue Diamonds and especially Red Diamonds. If a source of them existed on this island then it would be a source of untold wealth.
"Share these amount the men." Haeron said as he handed them back to Davos and then some to Jonos. "These can be used to fund whatever efforts you feel benefit the people."
Both men smiled before Jonos said with a smile.
"The Great Dragon."
The term shocked Haeron as he looked at them with shock as he had expected them to be at the least reluctant to be near him if not outright judging him for what he had done.
"That is a title I hardly deserve. So few in my family have the right be called Great." Haeron said with dismay but Davos shook his head.
"But you will, you have power not seen since the Dance of the Dragons and yet I have only seen you use it in defence of others. You destroyed those that would have killed us and saved a city of people rather than let some creature destroy it. That power can only be handled by someone who knows how to use it properly." Davos told him with complete faith in the Prince.
That was another surprise for Haeron, he had never felt the faith that they had in him and hardly felt worthy of their trust.
But they were right about one thing he thought with cold reality sinking in, he had power. Not just his magic and dragon, but gold, influence, connections, allies and more. He was finally in possession of everything he had been working for so long but now that he had it he was questioning whether he was the right man to be trusted with such power?
The faith his people had in him was humbling, they felt he could handle it properly while he wasn't so sure. The anger that had driven him to do what he did scared him especially as he now had the ability through Kara to lay waste to entire cities and the thought of his dragon being used like that left a foul taste in his mouth.
He had once heard that those that see the burdens that come with leadership and power are sometimes the best suited to wielding it, rather than those that saw it as a right or as a means to achieve what they wanted good or bad. He had been working towards building a power-base so he could remove his father in this world from the Iron Throne, all to protect his family here and the people of Westeros from his madness. That was still his goal he realised, never to do this for himself and now it was more important than ever he thought looking at Davos and Jonos.
He had never wanted power, as Harry or Haeron but he knew it had be wielded properly and without malice or madness. That knowledge reassured him somewhat.
- x -
Wandering some time later Haeron wandered into the ruined buildings where he found Vaena sitting with Harmony and Evelyn as they examined both murals that had been preserved on the walls or artwork and other relics that they had found.
"According the mural there was a thriving civilisation here once." Harmony said slowly as the carefully examined the mural biting her lip gently as she did so. Evelyn nodded in agreement before reading her side of it.
"There was a drought, one that lasted a long time and made it so harsh they could not survive. So those that could left to find a new home and never returned." Evelyn said, absent-mindedly pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Whoever they were they were an exceptionally artistic, I mean they make Tyrosh look like unskilled children in comparison." Vaena said as she examined a breast plate she had uncovered which had such artistry and delicate craftsmanship but it was still functional as armour.
"There is much to learn from this place." Haeron said with a small smile as he entered and they looked up at him and Vaena nodded before excusing herself. The fear in her eyes as she looked at him worried him. Harmony with a frown didn't waste any time and got to the point.
"You scare her, scared us with what you did in Asshai. I mean, I have never seen such rage in you before Harry." She said referring to him by his original name so he knew how serious she was. Haeron sighed sadly and Evelyn with the same worry in her eyes added her own opinion.
"That sort of rage takes a life time to build." Evelyn said with fear for him in her words.
"I know, I have just been forced into roles my entire existence." He said with frustration as he had been forced into the role of hero and the one that everyone depended on, the one that had to step up and act when all he wanted was a quiet life with a family. "As Harry and as Haeron, it never changes." He said finally admitting that. "Not to mention all of the things that Aerys did, to me and to others. I dread to think what has been happening since I left." Haeron said with fear for those they had left behind in Westeros as he had been out of communication with his sources there for some time and had no real idea of how things were turning out but he suspected not well.
Harmony now more Hermione than ever walked over to him with her pregnant belly now more pronounced and smiled, taking his hand. Evelyn with her own pregnancy now developing too did the same and held it.
"But it only came out in our defence. That is telling enough." Evelyn said with a warm smile. "You direct your fury at those that would do us harm."
"Let us help you find a way to let it go." Harmony said as she put his hand on her cheek. Haeron smiled gently as he told them both.
"I don't know what I did to have such good people in my life, let alone two women of such class and grace as you both." Haeron said with genuine gratitude to have them as he felt lighter and more determined to see this through so they could be safe and happy.
It was time to return to Westeros and deal with Aerys he thought as he held them both while Vaena smiled having heard them and was glad they had each other as they would bring out the best in each other.
Two Days Later...
Having spent their time resupplying where possible on the island the crew of the Queen Visenya set sail with the tide but as they re-entered the Saffron Straits the weather changed without warning. A storm appeared from nowhere and swept up the Straits, hitting them as they tried to go down the other way.
The winds and waves raged and howled around them, forcing the ship to turn around and try to seek sanctuary back in the ruined harbour but the waves and the winds pushed them further east out into Straits furthest reaches, Haeron and Davos had to work the helm frantically to avoid running aground as they were forced further and further along the straits, the coasts of Essos and Ulthos on both sides and either could be the end of them if they got too close. The winds were so strong they could not even let Kara try to fly up and guide them as the winds might overwhelmed the poor dragon.
The storms raged for days, pushing them further and further, the ship's compass allowing them to see they were now going north east before at last the storm broke and everything finally settled down.
All of the people on board came up on deck and looked out with more than a few still struggling to stand upright, Kara after being cooped up for days was keen to stretch their wings and took off into the sky from the chest, flying over head with relish. As the crew though looked out over the side the sight that greeted them now that they could finally see properly was deeply unsettling.
The storm had blown them all of the way through the Saffron Straits and out the other side into the open ocean, so far into the open ocean they could not see a single sign of land.
All of them looked out over the water and their fear kept them all quiet, not a single one of them making a single sound. The only noise they could here was the sounds of the wind now gently rippling the canvas of the sails and the water lapping softly against the hull.
Septon Jonos seeing their dire situation immediately prayed to the Seven for their guidance and salvation for them all, Jaime held Alicys who tried to be strong but was as scared as all of them. Haeron held Harmony and Evelyn in his arms and Harmony in turn held Vaena while Davos took a steadying breath as he tried to control his own fear.
Haeron, Harmony and Evelyn all wondered briefly about using portkeys and spells to get back to land hoping that they were in range for a portkey to work. Then Kara who had flown out over the horizon and back again returned and the dragon they all noticed looked really excited, they all watched as the large dragon flew over the ship and dropped something thin from its large claws.
Haeron without thinking reached out his hand and caught it, closing his hand around it to prevent himself from dropping it. He and everyone stared at it in silence, not sure just what the dragon had brought them at first but then Haeron, Harmony and Evelyn all smiled as they realised just what it was.
It was a slightly twisted piece of wood with some leaves still hanging onto it.
"A tree branch." Harmony said with sudden excitement as she realised given how little time Kara had been away that land must be just over the horizon.
"Land." Evelyn added with a bright smile and saw the direction Kara had come from and pointed. "Over that way."
The crew cheered as they were saved from being lost in the oceans forever but Haeron remained silent and strangely solemn, his eyes heavy with concern as he considered just what they were facing now.
Before they had always had at least a vague idea of the places that they had been travelling too but no Westerosi had ever come out this far or if they had they had never lived to tell anyone about it.
They were truly sailing into the unknown now, he thought with worry as they steered the ship in the direction of the mysterious land and wondering just what awaited them.