Queen Visenya, Jade Sea...
The ship was cruising under the stars and the moon bright in the sky, the winds gentle and the ship's lights illuminating the quiet deck. The crew still awake were keeping watch but it was a lonely sea with no other ships for miles or anything else for that matter.
But in their cabin, Haeron was speaking with Harmony and Evelyn. The atmosphere was tense as Harmony made her announcement.
"I'm pregnant." She said, her confidence seeming to desert her as she finally blurted out what she needed too. Haeron and Evelyn were both stunned, silent as they took it all in and Haeron was suddenly confronted with the fact he was going to be a father and that they were having a child. He had already been through this before in his life as Harry but the fact it was happening again, that shook him up.
But at the same time he was not in the slightest upset, he smiled and got up from his seat and knelt in front of her. She looked surprised but let him take her hands and hold them, telling her.
"This isn't what we were expecting but I am not going to say I'm not happy." Haeron said and held out his hand to Evelyn who came over looking uncomfortable as she felt left out but he took her hand too and told her. "I will happy for all of us. I know this is awkward but we all knew this was a possibility." He said as he squeezed both their hands.
"We face it together and I expect you to put a baby in me as soon as possible." Evelyn said, seeming to manage to recover and that made Haeron splutter slightly which made her grin and Harmony laugh but Haeron quickly recovered and snogged her into silence, making sure to do exactly as she asked while treating Harmony to the same pleasure.
Zabhad, Isle of Elephants, Cinnamon Straits...A Day Later...
The Isle of Elephants came into view as the sun rose, the morning sunrise glorious as those that were fortunate enough to see it. The sky a dazzling mix of blues from dark to light in shade while the clouds formed different shapes while pink hues went to red, then to orange as the sun slowly appeared.
The buildings were very divided in both style and design, those closer to the sea were made of rough looking wood with thatched roofs but strangely they were all on stilts that held them a few feet in the air. On the hills above though there was a stepped change, arched roofs decorated with gold and painted white but with decorated with elaborate wood and lacquer patterns all along it.
The change was stark and the only the similar arches in the roofs showed them to come from the same culture, the obvious different between rich and poor aside the fact the buildings on the lower lying land was on stilts confused many of the people on the ship.
"Why would they build their houses on stilts?" Jaime asked in confusion along with Alicys and Kelis but Jonos laughed before telling them.
"Probably the area floods a lot, there isn't enough high ground for them to build everything there but that is close enough to the sea so they build on stilts so they can be safe and not have to be rebuilt every time it floods." He said, thinking them clever for making such a thing. He had seen such things elsewhere and he thought it a good solution.
"Then let us see what they have to offer." Evelyn said with a smile, eager to see the island for herself.
Slowly the ship came into dock which were like the buildings made of wood and rustic but just deep enough for the ship to moor. They managed to secure their berth and made their way ashore, the people were friendly and welcoming allowing them to find fresh supplies easily and most of merchants were quite easy to find.
Looking around the market Haeron and Evelyn saw many products that would sell well in the trade network; cinnamon, amazing local artwork, lacquerware, curry, unique dyes and the complex patterns that they managed to make on textiles. These things could really make a lot of money so it was important for them to find merchants that could and would join the network.
However they then received an unexpected invitation, a messenger arrived on the ship as they were all coming aboard while the sun set. They handed it to Haeron who raised and eyebrow before he read it and told everyone what it said.
"His great eminence the Almighty Shan invites yourself and your associates to dine with him tomorrow evening, many of his subjects are intrigued to hear of your journey and see if they might join your merchant guild." Haeron read out loud to them all. They all blinked as they took it all in news and Alicys smiled.
"The ruler of the island wants to have dinner? This should be interesting." She said with an eager look in her eyes.
"It might be a trap." Evelyn warned them and Davos nodded in agreement along with Jaime.
"But saying no would create a great enemy for us." Harmony said with worry so Haeron spoke.
"Myself, Vaena, Evelyn, Jaime and Alicys will go while the rest of you stay here and protect the ship. Keep alert." Haeron said, Harmony looking angry at being left behind but he gave her a stern look and she nodded slowly but promised retribution later.
- x -
Shan's Palace, Zabhad...The Next Evening...
One of the only people from Westeros to ever come out to the Isle of Elephants, Corlys Velaryon had once said that the Shan that ruled the island lived in a palace made of ivory, thankfully this proved false and it was just wood or stone designed to look like ivory and lavishly decorated. While the island did have so many elephants they were more practical to use then horses and they pulled enormous carts and wheelhouses, like the one that pulled them up the road from the docks to the palace they did not kill them for their ivory.
While nowhere near as big as some other palaces that they had seen on their travels so far, it was still very impressive. The guards lined up in an honour guard to allow them in and they were met by a man wearing incredibly elaborate robes who joyfully smiled at them and came up to Haeron to shake his hand.
"Welcome, welcome Prince Haeron." The Shan said with a bright hopeful look before showing them himself into the dining room where a large feast had been prepared for them.
"You honour us with your hospitality Almighty Shan." Evelyn said with a charming smile that had most men in the area almost stumbling to please her, Haeron, Vaena, Jaime and Alicys all smiling as they took their seats as she had the entire hall eating out her hand in no time.
- x -
Back on the Queen Visenya meanwhile a particularly ambitious noble was trying to steal the ship's dragons in the hopes of giving them to the Shan to advance himself daring to try and raid the ship with some of his men, but found it strangely easy to access the prince's cabin where the dragons would surely be.
But in the magically expanded room, Harmony was there smiling brightly at them, waiting for whoever was foolish enough try something. Kara sensing the baby inside her standing between Harmony and the intruders while the other dragons all snarled at them from around her.
"You picked the wrong ship to try and rob boys." Harmony said with a vicious smirk before turning to Kara and telling the dragon who was now bigger than a horse. "Dracarys."
Kara seemed to smirk too somehow but allowed the men to run which Kara allowed, giving them a moment to escape before launching in pursuit. The men ran in terror from the dragon which was much larger than they had expected, even getting to the jetty and onto land before Kara took flight and caught them as they tried desperately to escape, blasting them with a powerful but precise blast of flame from its mouth, incinerating them all in moments.
Unaware of this for a moment Haeron was smiling as thanks to the beauty of Evelyn, Vaena and Alicys plenty of merchants were eager to join their merchant guild/trade network. If they could expand as far as the Summer Isles he thought then they could make a steady route back to Volantis and allow all of their goods to flow freely along the routes that they had been working so hard on.
Great Moraq was their next destination, heading through the Cinnamon Straits and from there they went to Lower Moraq and then to Vahar before they returned to the Summer Sea. Haeron recruited several merchants along the way to their merchant guild which sold spices, fruits and other things to trade along the network.
That however brought them close to the coast of a land that was never even visited by the outside world as it was so dangerous, so much so that it was unknown to every nation on this world as none had managed to find out just how far this continent extended and what lay beneath the dark canopy of its jungle.
- x -
Sothoryos...
The few that had dared to visit the unknown continent of Sothoryos had named it a 'Green Hell', a place where death came at you in a thousand different ways.
And Haeron and Evelyn both agreed fully with that the moment that they had dared enter the area, the cooling charms were barely enough to stop them from sweating from the heat, the thick vegetation and thick tree canopy made sure light never touched the ground and which held not only the largest body of lethal diseases known to man, including green fever, sweetroot, greyscale, Red Death and yellow gum but also more snakes and spiders than could be counted along with other dangerous creatures.
Insects as big as birds swarmed around them as they flew on a carpet that Harmony had enchanted for them, they looked around and saw the incredible sights and felt a chill as it was the first time they were certain that everything around them intended to kill them. For Evelyn/Fleur it was reminding her of the jungles that she had been too when she had been working as a curse breaker, Gringotts had sent her to some horrible places that were all equally bad in their own terrible way. Some of the most dangerous though had been jungles like this one but in South America or parts of Africa that she had been too. They held so many dangers and then she was startled as enormous vampire bats appeared in a massive flock straight above them. The only thing that was keeping the creatures away from them was the repelling charms that had been layered into the carpet.
"Do you think that anyone will ever manage to settle here?" Haeron asked her, himself deeply worried for their safety in a place like this, the river they flew over was clearly a death trap for example. They saw a crocodile or Lizard Lion as they were known in this world that was easily twenty feet long sunning itself on the banks and who knows how many below the murky water not to mention piranhas that would strip someone to the bone in seconds! If you dared enter the water you had no chance to get to the other side he thought with reluctant amazement.
"Not as things stand." Evelyn said while shaking her head as it would be suicide to even try at the moment. The environment was just too hostile, too resistant to even consider it.
Haeron nodded in agreement before he spotted something, a plant that he had seen in his travels around the world. He carefully brought them in closer and looked at it intensely, he smiled before picking up carefully including the roots. Evelyn looked at him with confusion before he told her.
"Coco Beans." He said with a smile, holding up the plant. "Chocolate which we grow in Westeros and trade it far and wide. I wonder if there is anything else around?" He wondered aloud, looking around he saw some more and he managed with care to gather them up before putting them in his pouch to preserve them.
Evelyn raised an eyebrow but realised that he was right and helped him collect a few more before they moved on. The jungle seemed to go on forever but they soon found not only more coco bean plants but also potatoes, coffee beans and some more spices. With the right care they could be grown in Westeros and be traded so it was a great discovery and they collected what they could with care but that was not the only thing they found.
Enormous apes that were the size of brigs walking around on all fours along with sleek jungle cats and other animals, not to mention tall and aggressive looking tribes of humans who were rather disgustingly using cannibalism and some nasty looking practices that they stayed well clear of but despite everything wanting to kill here life was flourishing all the same.
They were about to turn back when they discovered something else.
Tall walls made of an oily looking black stone emerged from the jungle and flying over them they were greeted to what looked like a ruined and abandoned city! Both Haeron and Evelyn looked out across the remarkably well preserved stone buildings and saw absolutely no animal life at all and even the trees seemed to be staying away from the walls which immediately put them on edge.
An abandoned city like this should be crawling with creatures and the plants should be taking it back.
Looking around carefully they floated down the streets looking at whatever they could find and saw a lot of metal objects dotted around, a lot of things made of a metal that shocked them.
"Gold." Evelyn said with shock, never having seen the precious metal used so casually, even in Valyria they had not been so widespread. "They use it for plates, jugs, buckets, bowls everything." She said with disbelief.
"It must have been so common here that they didn't value it." Haeron said with amazement. "Maybe the area was far more survivable once or certainly less overgrown. Gold might have been the most common metal so they used it. It doesn't corrode so even if its soft it might still be useful enough."
"Maybe." Evelyn said with a raised eyebrow, she wondered if they might be able to use it. "Want to gather it?"
"Its a fortune." Haeron said after some thought as they could use this gold. So he raised his ring into the air and said. "Accio gold."
He perhaps put too much power into it as all through the city gold objects came in flying from all directions, Haeron kept up the spell as it flew in from every direction and a massive pile soon formed in the middle of a large courtyard, creating and enormous noise as it did so. Evelyn just shook her head before he ended the spell and she cast a charm used to decontaminate it of any bacteria and diseases before shrinking it and placing it into her own bag.
Haeron was smiling broadly, thinking this a great haul until they heard a sound like rustling cloaks filled the air. Quietly at first but it was there and getting louder which made them look at each other in alarm but seeing a mass of what looked like blankets or cloaks flying up from the sewers, dozens maybe hundreds of them. The pair looked on in fear as they realised just what they were, neither had encountered them before first hand but they had heard of them.
"Lethifolds." Evelyn said in distress as she saw the dangerous creatures massing ahead of them.
"Now we know why cities were all found deserted." Haeron said with gritted teeth, knowing many settlements had been found with no trace of anyone left alive and that fit the hunting method of the Lethifold, they covered and smothered their prey before consuming them whole and leaving no trace behind.
Haeron grabbed a firm hold of the carpet as did Evelyn before forcing it into some fast evasive tactics as the Lethifolds charged at them! It was insane the number of them them there were around them but somehow Haeron drawing on all of his Quidditch skills to fly them through the mass of lethifolds but just as they were struggling to evade that it seemed all of the noise they had made by summoning the gold had not only disturbed the lethifolds but something else too.
Screeching filled the air as dozens of creatures all different sizes and with leathery wings and sharp vicious looking beaks dived towards them. Haeron who had studied the Unnatural History by Septon Barth knew exactly what they were immediately as the situation went from bad to worse.
"Wyverns." He said through gritted teeth, one of the most lethal creatures that Sothoryos had to offer and now they were coming in force!
But the screeching also attracted the attention of the Lethifolds who saw the larger creatures as more enticing prey due to their bigger size. So they turned and charged straight at the wyverns who screeched and began clashing with them in mid air.
Haeron and Evelyn grateful of the distract made a hasty retreat, let the winner have what was left here, they had their prize already.
Queen Visenya, Same Moment...
The ship remained at anchor while Haeron and Evelyn had left on their secret mission, Jaime was staring off into the distance, the seas now calming to him in a way they had never been before going on this long journey. He had grown used to the slow rocking of the ship and the never being in the same place too long, it was an exciting life he thought with a smile.
But also there was the special someone that it had brought into his life he thought with a slight blush coming to his cheeks.
He had always thought before coming on this voyage that Cersei was the one that he loved with all of his heart, that she would be the only woman that he could ever really love...but then he had began to see the sort of person that she was and it now repulsed him to think that he had once felt that way. She had been manipulating him all of their lives and it was only thanks to the Prince that he had managed to see it now, that he was nothing more than her plaything, a useful creature to be used and discarded when she felt like it.
And then Alicys had come into his life...Jaime thought as he turned and saw her sitting on the bow of the ship, playing cards with Kelis and Davos who was teaching them the rules of the game. Her smile was enchanting, her eyes so warm they made you feel joyful, the cheeky look on her face making you want to grin along with her.
He had never felt so strongly about any girl before, never...if he could wake up next to her each morning for the rest of his life then he would be a happy man he thought with a smile of his own. He wanted to tell her but he just became a complete coward every time he did so. He would go up against an armed horde and not blink an eye but when it came to telling the girl he worshipped that he loved her? It was like he became a complete voiceless fool.
Jaime was relieved when Prince Haeron came out of the inside of the ship, he had been so distracted that he had not noticed him returning but Jaime, now desperate for advice he turned to Haeron and asked him.
"Your grace. Could I ask a question?" Jaime said nervously. Haeron blinked briefly in surprise before smiling and nodding. Jaime now growing more uneasy due to the question he was going to ask but rallied his courage and blurted it out.
"How do you tell a girl how you feel?" Jaime said suddenly.
Haeron smiled, now seeing why the boy was so nervous and understanding completely. As someone who had been in love and not known how to say the words that we knew we had to say but so desperate too. It had been hard for him as Harry at Hogwarts but for Jaime it was even worse as he had the weight of Tywin hanging over his head. In this world you weren't as free to choose your partner as you would be on Earth in his era, Jaime was the future heir to Casterly Rock and so if he and Alicys were going to spend their lives together he would need to either abdicate the role which Tywin would never allow or figure out how to get Tywin to agree.
He didn't envy them either task.
"The anticipation of something is far worse than the event itself. The worst thing that can happen is that she rejects you but from what I have seen, the feelings you have for her are mutual." Haeron told him with a grin as he put a hand on the boy's shoulder and tried to give him some advise. "Remember that how you feel for each other is the foundation of a relationship, now go." Haeron said with a brotherly look of encouragement.
Jaime looked petrified but nodded slowly, walking over slowly over Alicys. Dreading it and wanting to turn and make a getaway but a look of encouragement from Haeron he kept going until he was standing in front of Alicys.
She looked up from the game she had been playing and stared at him with puzzlement, Kelis and Davos looked too in confusion before Jaime who honestly was wishing at this very moment that he had never started this managed to splutter.
"Could...could...could we talk?" Jaime managed to say and Davos seeing the lad's fear and that he only had eyes for Alicys smiled knowingly as he could guess what the lad wanted, taking Kelis by the shoulder and leading her away so they could be alone.
Now with only Alicys in front of him Jaime honestly felt his mind became completely blank, all of the words he had worked hard to come up with just vanished like they had never been there. Alicys looked at him with concern as he seemed to be off and she didn't know what was wrong.
"Jaime...what's wrong?" She asked him and Jaime with the pressure now becoming unbearable finally blurted out.
"Alicys will you marry me!?" He said almost panicked before realising just what he had said and quickly amended. "When we both come of age I mean?!"
Alicys just stood there, stunned at what he had just said. She honestly had no idea just what to say to his declaration, it had just come so suddenly that she had no response in her head. But then as the disappointed look on his face began to appear, thinking that she was going to reject him she too blurted out her own words.
"I would love too. When we come of age." She said in agreement.
The fact they had both agreed to marry each other so suddenly before Alicys smiled and kissed him, that surprised him but he recovered and soon kissed her back. The people who saw all looked on but Haeron and Davos who knew that kind of love smiled in happiness for them. They knew the real world might hurt them both but if they were careful and held on to each other they would find a way to make it work.
When they finally stopped for lack of breath and Jaime told her with a breathless gasp.
"My father might not like it."
"We'll find a way to convince him." Alicys said with confidence before kissing Jaime again, the rest of the crew leaving them alone to enjoy their moment together.
Dragonstone, The Narrow Sea...
Rhaella stood with her children on the hill as the wind blew around them and Aurora, her dragon took flight for the first time.
The young dragon was elegance incarnate as they seemed to dance through air and was now the size of a large hound, the children watched and cheered wildly at the little dragon who flew down and joined them with a happy cry of joy as Shaena, Daeron and Viserys all made a fuss of the little dragon. Rhaella smiled before joining them and petted her dragon who snuggled up to her like her own children which she was only too happy to accept.
"I want a dragon too!" Viserys demanded and Shaena told him with a smile.
"When you get older little brother." She told him with Daeron nodding in agreement and Viserys pouted with childish anger.
"I WANT IT NOW!" He said with a major tantrum building but Rhaella stared intensely at him and told him firmly.
"That is enough Viserys. This is not how a prince behaves." She told him and her intense gaze eventually made him back down but he remained grumbling. Rhaella worried as she has seen such things in her brother when they were young, Viserys was still young and she was hoping that he was just being caught up in childish tantrums but would mature with time. However Aerys never had the thought came into her head but she shook it off, not wanting to think that her youngest son would follow the same path as Aerys.
"Now, we need to get ready for the wedding." Rhaella said changing the subject, putting those worries aside as at last she would actually get to see one of her children get married she thought with excitement.
- x -
"In the sight of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity." The Septon said calmly as he stood by the altar of the Seven pointed star, Rhaegar and Elia standing together calmly as the ceremonial ribbon was tied around their wrists but this was not a wedding that was a happy occasion.
"Now look upon each other and say the words." The Septon said as he stepped back.
"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger. I' am hers and she is mine, from this day until the end of my days." Rhaegar and Elia said together but it was very matter of factly and not affectionate at all. Rhaegar gave her a kiss that was at least a kiss on the lips but it lasted only a moment before they broke apart and a polite applause filled the room.
There were few witnesses, nothing like the ceremony that they should be having in the Sept of Baelor in Kings Landing but given the recent tensions and the likelihood that they would be held like hostages neither had dared go there. Instead they were wed here in the sept on Dragonstone, only Rhaella, her children, some ladies in waiting along with Ser Arthur, Ser Lewyn Martell, Ser Redding and Elia's companion Lady Ashara Dayne were present. Neither of Elia's brothers had been able to attend, Prince Oberyn was currently in Essos somewhere and Prince Doran was currently ill and unable to travel. Ser Lewyn had been forced into the role of the father of the bride which he gladly took but it was hard to see the look of grief that neither of her brothers were here at her wedding.
Then without a word, Rhaegar took her by the hand and they walked off to consummate the marriage, there would be no feast or any such celebration which was probably just as this was a marriage neither of them truly wanted. They had been largely forced into this by the manipulations of Aerys and his paranoia, not out of any reason that really mattered. They could tolerate each other she thought sadly and hoped that would be enough to build a marriage on.
The Red Keep, Kings Landing...
The Red Keep was growing increasingly unbearable as Cersei settled herself in, her weight being thrown around like she were queen herself. She ordered people around whatever their position and if they disobeyed her however humiliating or degrading the order was then the King would punish them severely and make them do something far worse instead...if not killing them outright.
More than one noble lady had been forced into bearing herself naked or even servicing men at the city's brothels just for whispering about her, one man had his eyes put out for staring at her too long and it was only about to get worse. Jon Connington was merely adequate as Hand of the King, not being half as effective an administrator as Tywin had been and nowhere near as good a thinker, so when Aerys made his blunders he was nowhere near as good at balancing out the excesses of Aerys or Cersei, not just destroying the stability of the city but also the treasury at the same time.
"My love, the Kingsguard and the Gold Cloaks. They haven't the stomach for the great works that we need done." Cersei said as she sat on the King's knee, her hand gently stimulating his cock as it slipped into his breeches and it immediately became erect in her hand. Aerys closed his eyes as she carefully but firmly moved her hand up and down the shaft and brought him to the brink only to stop of hold him there so he gave her his complete attention. "You need more men willing to do what you tell them and not complain."
"Then we'll find them." He said and seeing he had already given in to her whims she allowed him release. Cersei smirked as she had all of Westeros in her hand, well the king's cock she thought which was basically the same thing. She had thought to replace the old whore Rhaella as Queen but no not yet she thought to herself with eagerness to ascend to such a position but she would not allow Aerys to put a child in her, he disgusted her however well she hid it but when Jaime returned she would have named him to the Kingsguard, dismiss the pathetic trollop from Casterly Rock and make sure not only would her and Jaime's children inherit the throne but also Casterly Rock as well.
Her father's face she thought with a licking of her lips, that would be a sight worth seeing as he was on his knees before her...begging for her favour and forgiveness which she would never give.
- x -
It did not take long for Cersei and Aerys to find the men that they wanted, ruthless people who would kill, torture, maim and humiliate on command and not even in that order if needed or if they wanted too. Cersei to make sure they were intimidating had them apply fresh blood in patterns on their face each day, often bleeding whatever prisoners were languishing in the dudgeons by hanging them upside down and making cuts in places they were sure to bleed from so it could be collected in pots below. The blood marks on their faces soon gave them a name that would strike fear in all of Westeros...the Bloodmen.
They were the worst of the worse, men that even the Nights Watch might think twice about taking but were paid in gold and cared for nothing else but sadism...a thousand of the most brutal men in all of Westeros to do the bidding of the King and his mistress.
And it would soon be time to unleash them.
Cersei as she walked proudly through the Red Keep heard somebody talking and carefully came to a halt as quietly as she could, intent on hearing just what she could learn from this.
"A whore that got above herself! That is what the little bitch is! Old Tywin must be losing his wits to have made a daughter that would suit the Street of Silks better than a castle." One man scoffed with derision. Cersei felt the rage boiling up inside her as she listened and his fellow then added his own insult which would seal his fate with her.
Less than an hour later the court was cowering against the walls of the throne room as screams echoed around the room. A pair of fires had been started in the centre of the room and over them two frames has been erected; one was connected to a cooking spit with a man tied to it and the other fire was set beneath a cauldron which was full of boiling oil.
The man tied to the spit was being roasted alive, his screams of pain so loud it was deafening as two of the Bloodmen turned the spit around and around over the fire. His skin was already burning, blistering all over as he screamed in agony.
But the other man was left hanging over the cauldron with its heat hurting his feet as he was made to watch his friend being cooked alive! He cried out for mercy but from the throne Aerys and Cersei only watched with sick satisfaction as they gave the order and the other man was lowered into the cauldron.
The horror of those watching was so much that the covered their ears and shut their eyes to try and block out the sounds and sights that they were being forced to endure. Some tried to leave the room but the Bloodmen held the doors firmly shut and pushed them back, the weaker ones were so over come that they fainted to the floor to the amusement of the Bloodmen.
The expression of delight and almost arousal on the faces of Aerys and Cersei were just as awful to look at, they were actually finding pleasure in this...real pleasure. This in a way terrified people more even as a king let alone one with such a sadistic lover who enjoyed this horror as much as he did to encourage it, was one that would always be looking to get more and more enjoyment out of suffering.
A fact that was proved only days later when a man was caught stealing food from the Royal Kitchen to feed his family, his crimes amounted to little more than a few loaves of bread and some fruit, hardly a capital offence but that mattered little to Aerys and Cersei who regretfully learned of it before the guards could deal with it themselves.
The man was forcefully sewed into a deer skin and then hunted by hounds that were starved for a week, the king and his mistress watched as they tore the man to shreds before them, leaving nothing but twisted and broken bones behind when they are done.
The actions of the king and his mistress were deeply unsettling to all of the lords in Westeros, they avoided the capital and court now despite whatever prospects might be found there while those unfortunate enough to be there already where not allowed to leave, often unable to sleep in their beds as they constantly feared that they might be the next targets for Aerys and Cersei's spite.
Casterly Rock, The Westerlands...
Tywin watched from afar as things continued to spiral, this group of 'Bloodmen' were nothing more than thugs to do Cersei's dirty work and the insult to the Kingsguard and Goldcloaks were only the tip of the mountain. These men were monsters, the worst of the worst. Normally that would not bother him, after all he had such men in his service but they were men that he could control like the Mountain or Amory Lorch...men who would do terrible things but not if he commanded otherwise.
These Bloodmen would be almost uncontrollable he thought with disgust and to make matters worse Aerys the idiot that he was had given them the power to dispense the King's Justice. That meant they could do as they wanted and not be held accountable for it as long as they did Aerys and Cersei's bidding when they were told.
Giving such men that kind of power was not only dangerous it was stupid and he despised such foolishness.
He sighed, wondering just how it had come to this? He did not believe in the Gods but honestly he was wondering just what circle of the Seven Hells had spat a creature like Cersei out? What his beloved Joanna would think of their daughter now? He wished she was here now, her counsel had always made a situation feel less hopeless he thought closing his eyes as he leaned back in his chair. She and Aerys were feeding each other's sadistic nature and pushing each other to greater and harsher extremes.
The knock at the door was an unwelcome interruption but he sat up straight and called out with cold formality.
"Come."
The door opened and in walked his new wife, Maylee was already proving herself fertile and the telltale bump at her stomach was proof of the babe that was growing inside her. That child was a step towards securing the future of House Lannister which was a relief to him although he would hold his breath until the child was born. But just behind her in the arms of a maid was the possible reason for her visit he realised.
"Marei is here." Maylee said with a resigned if hopeful look in her eyes which astonished him as bringing his bastard daughter here to give him another potential piece to use in his plans would usual anger a wife. She might be a bastard but she was a beautiful child and would he hoped grow into a woman that men would marry with the right enticement to get him what he wanted. But the fact that Maylee was so accepting of the bastard already did surprise him as it was an affront to her surely to have his bastard child under their roof when she was pregnant with a legitimate one. But she did not act like it was at all.
"Is the nursery set up?" He asked, trying to get to the point and Maylee said with a small nod.
"It is, take her there while I speak with Lord Lannister." She said turning to maid who took her young charge away. "I will devise the education for her as a lady, I expect you will want some input." She said as if waiting for him to say what he wanted and again he was surprised at how accepting she was of this.
"Why are you willing to take the child in? Let alone treat her as one your own?" He asked, actually curious and she raised an eyebrow before telling him.
"I was an unwanted girl once who needed someone to look out for me but more than that I will not rage against something that I cannot change. It wastes time and your strength so I accept it and make the most of it. If this girl is going to be here then I will accept her and make the most of it rather than hate her for something that is out of her control. She will be sister to my child so there fore should I not be her mother too?" Maylee said plainly and with determination in her eyes to see this through.
Tywin was actually finding this was one of the few moments in his life where he was unsure of just what to say. He had been sure that she was just another noble girl, rather boring and too emotional for her own good but now he realised that she was far more than that. She had a strength about her, a resilience that honestly was impressive not to mention a decisiveness that would serve her well if she had the intelligence to guide her which she did he noted with appreciation.
She was practical, not prone to wasting her time on things that were beyond her control and would instead make the most of her situation. He appreciated and even admired that about her, she also he noted had the ability to draw people to her with her manner and kindness. Already most of the castle was seeing her as the noble lady worthy of admiration and loyalty which again was a good point in her favour.
Tywin nodded and told her.
"Indeed, I will see you at dinner tonight." He said but more softly than he would for most people and she nodded before making her departure, he stared after her and now that no one was in sight to see it allowed the slightest of smiles as he watched her go.
He had made a good choice with her he thought to himself.
The Eyrie, Vale of Arryn, Westeros...
Jon Arryn stood on the balcony on his castle and looked out across the mountains of his home, he was growing increasingly alarmed as the upheaval spread outward from the capital. Aerys was now growing far worse and was being fuelled by the equally cruel Cersei Lannister.
He had been hoping that he might be able to use the dismissal of Tywin from his position as a way to bring the Lannisters onto his side but hearing that it had been at Cersei's own word that it happened complicated. While he didn't feel Tywin especially with his new wife would fight for his daughter it was still a difficult situation.
He had grown more sure than ever in the face of Aerys' growing terror that removing the Targaryens was the right thing to do but his plan to replace them with Robert Baratheon who would be guided by him in his rule had hit some major stumbling blocks. His behaviour was appalling and worse Rickard Stark was now talking about backing of the marriage pact, the insult towards his daughter by Robert who had fathered a bastard daughter in Winterfell itself had really soured things between Houses Stark and Baratheon, even Ned had been annoyed with Robert for it and that had taken quite some time to sooth over and for the moment the pact was holding.
But news from foreign shores about Prince Haeron was throwing all of his plans into chaos, he was gathering more and more support from wealthy benefactors in Essos and now had not one but two wives!
Both of whom had dragons!
Jon had been hoping that he might be able to use this unusual marriage to discredit the prince but his maester and septon had researched the matter and found that since apparently somehow Queen Rhaella had managed to get Aerys to consent and it was allowed by the law for a Targaryen to wed two wives if neither was of close enough relation...which unfortunately was true of both women.
The dragons as well now meant that within a couple of more years Haeron would not only have a fortune to raise an army with but considerable foreign backing and three dragons at its head! Maybe four if what he had heard was right about there being yet another dragon tied to one of the new princess's companions. The Conqueror had managed to take nearly all of Westeros with far less not to mention there was a real chance that the North might actually side with Haeron given the gift of making glass that he had given to them, that was a boon that would serve the North well for generations to come and to be frank Jon just couldn't outdo that.
So he was basically struggling to hold his alliance together! Jon thought with dismay with his plans going nowhere.
- x -
Robert was drinking and having all of the fun he could with a pair of eager serving wenches while Ned watched with annoyance. Robert was a friend but given he was tied to marry Lyanna and if anything he was being even more lusty in his adventures...'enjoying his freedom' as he called it Ned thought with a disapproving shake of his head.
The insult towards Lyanna by having not only that bastard girl in Winterfell was bad enough but even after that and being so sternly talked too by Jon and Lord Steffon, Robert continued to act so randy and without a care in the world! Not only that but it seemed after learning that Prince Haeron who was the only person to ever really best Robert had wed two Valyrian women of great beauty that Robert who had pouted for days had seemed to try and bed more women than ever to prove himself better.
Ned honestly was at a lost of what to do as nothing seemed to make Robert check his behaviour and every time he thought of merely spending less time with him Jon who he had the greatest respect for just kept pushing them back together and telling Ned that he would help Robert behave better by showing him a better example.
However Ned was starting to think there was no chance of that at all, he would maintain the friendship but only to try and hold the alliance his father, Lord Steffon and Jon had created together.
The state of things as they were it might well be needed he thought with amazement at how unstable everything was right now.
Storm's End, The Stormlands...
Steffon sat having dinner with his family although he was trying to keep up a good mood it was hard as Aerys and Robert were both worrying him for very different reasons. Aerys was descending even faster into madness now he had Cersei Lannister pushing him on and Robert was disgracing House Baratheon every day with his antics, Word had reached him that at least two or maybe three bastards had been fathered by him now! Steffon thought with exasperation and no words seemed to penetrate that thick skull of his! Neither he nor Cassana had managed to make any headway and the fact that House Stark had not broken the arranged marriage with Lyanna Stark and his eldest son yet was a testament to Jon Arryn's persuasion skills. Something that honestly impressed him but knowing the Starks would likely pull out if they were insulted again and it would be a nightmare to find another wife willing to put up with Robert's behaviour he thought so it was getting crucial to his mind to find Stannis a wife as soon as possible.
But also having heard of Haeron Targaryen's exploits over in Essos he knew that it would be best to make sure to on the right side of him when he returned and Steffon had no doubt that he would. Men as determined and as smart of the Prince would usually find a way to do what they set out to do.
Off the Basilisk Isles, Summer Sea...
The Basilisk Islands were a haven of all the worst low-lives that could be found any in the world, pirates especially used the islands as a base and the apparently heavily laden with treasure Queen Visenya easily caught their attention not to mention the large bounty on the head of Prince Haeron and his dragon.
So a large flotilla of pirate ships had sailed to try and take their prize, various captains and their ships falling back as they began fighting among themselves for the chance to take the great ship for themselves, only the most disciplined continued on deciding to wait until the prize was taken before fighting to see just who got to keep it.
Seeing the ship appear on the horizon was a blessing in the end as hours of tense waiting came to an end, the pirates were fairly confident of their victory as they were over forty ships against one even if there was a dragon, it was said the beast was small and unable to help so they were all cheering and full of confidence as they sailed in towards their target.
Then as they closed the range they saw the sides of the ship begin to flash which confused them but the cannon balls that hit them a moment later made it abundantly clear this ship was no easy prey.
The pirates then had another unpleasant shock as a dark shadow appeared in the skies above them, they tried to look just what it was but it was coming straight out of the sun leaving those that saw it temporarily blind. But that was not going to last long as the streams of flame strafed their ships.
Kara flying high in the sky was proving to be far from the little hatchling they had been expecting, the dragon had recently undergone a grown spurt which along with the rich diet and exercise they was given inside the trunk meant she was now almost big enough to carry Haeron through the skies but for now Kara cruised through the air alone as the dragon destroyed ship after ship with the intense flames that came from its large mouth.
From the deck of the Queen Visenya Haeron watched with a smile as he saw his great dragon strike down ship after ship with ease, moving with speed and agility through the air. Kara had been growing so fast recently they kept having to expand the trunk world to accommodate it, the other dragons too were growing fast and how long they could keep them in their was a question he asked himself often.
Watching as the pirate ships burned from either the cannons or his dragons he smiled, glad to see his ship prove itself the greatest afloat while the others watched in amazement.
"Cannons, you actually brought gunpowder into his world. You are playing with fire there." Harmony said with worry as she knew how much of a game changer this substance was. Evelyn stood with Vaena and Kelis who were slightly scared at the power of the cannons, Kelis actually covering her ears with her hands as the sound rang in them. Septon Jonos was no less affected, he was praying for the souls of the people who had perished on those ships but inside was deeply worried for the sheer power of what he was seeing here, something he felt should belong to the gods alone but it was here and that must mean the gods wanted it to be so he must he decided keep an open mind and see just why they had bestowed it upon the world.
Unknown to them though one ship that had been caught up in the fighting between the different pirates on the way to ambush the Queen Visenya but had managed to catch up in time to see the battle stared at the sights and wisely turned away, heading for their native port and would tell many tales of what they had seen, not least of which was the size of the dragon but also how the ship seemed able to strike ships with deadly projectiles at a distance with nothing more than a flash and a loud bang.
Off the Coast of Naath, Three Days Later...
As the fertile and verdant island of Naath finally came into view it was a bittersweet moment for many onboard the ship as it meant they were now finally about to return a most precious piece of cargo.
Kelis was waiting on the decks with tears in her eyes but they were not of sadness but of joy...she had never thought to see her home again, to see her family again or all of her friends but at the same time it dawned on her that she would be saying goodbye to all of the friends that she had made since joining this great voyage. As they approached the island they were preparing one of the boats to take her ashore, she watched them doing it while Prince Haeron warned them about the island.
"Now we drop off Kelis and then we come straight back, no one else steps foot on the island. We will wait one day for her people to make contact if they want too but then we sail on. You do not want to get sick." Haeron warned them as no one survived long on Naath apart from its people for whatever reason. Harmony had suggested some different reasons like pollen from the plants, food that might be poisonous or more but the truth was no one understood why outsiders died so quickly on Naath.
Alicys meanwhile came up to Kelis and sadly smiled at her as she gave her a hug which Kelis returned, Septon Jonos, Harmony, Evelyn and Vaena all did the same as they dropped anchor and readied the boat.
"You take care now." Alicys said to her and Kelis smiled back.
"I will and you do too. I'll miss you all." Kelis said with tears in her eyes as she saw the boat being lowered. She gave each of them even Jaime a hug again before climbing in the boat with Haeron, Davos and a pair of other crewmen. The boat jostled a bit as it was held in the air by ropes before hitting the water with a thud. They detached the ropes and everyone except Kelis took an oar and began to row.
Kelis now looked at the island as the boat approached, her heart beating like a drum as the anticipation grew the water lapping against them as they finally approached the sand and unable to contain herself any longer she leapt out of the boat and into the water. The depth thankfully only up to her knees and she quickly ran up out of the water and onto the beach. The sand beneath her feet was warm and the smells that teased her nose were so achingly familiar that it pulled on her heart. She felt the tears in her eyes again and turned back to the boat she smiled and waved to them before running off in to the think jungle beyond.
Haeron and Davos watched her go and sadly smiled, knowing she was home but it was a shame to see her go, she would be missed on the ship they thought as they began to row back. It was a silent journey back to the ship, they re-boarded as the boat was pulled up, standing on deck again they came up to the others and settled in to wait for the Naathi to either respond or not.
- x -
The Following Morning...
The ship sat off the coast for all night and would be setting sail in a short time for the Summer Isles, Haeron was hoping to convince the islanders to trade with his network. They made a lot of good commoditises here that would sell well; spices, fine handicrafts, simmering silks and spiced wines but would they be willing to join he pondered.
They had almost given up when at last a small group emerged from the jungle, watching from the deck of the ship they saw them drag a canoe like boat to the water and a single man boarding it. They paddled out to them and with a nod from Haeron a ladder was lowered to allow him to board. The Naathi man was dressed in simmering silks came aboard, his skin like brown and his eyes large like Kelis but he was smiling and came up to Haeron and bowed slightly to him.
"Your grace, thank you for returning Kelis to us. We had feared her lost forever." The man said in accented if fluent Valyrian. "I am Kol, and I am here to signal my people's agreement to trade with your network but only if we can gain assistance from the Summer Isles for the protection of any trade."
"Greetings Kol, I quite understand your reasoning and would be glad to see if we can arrange that." Haeron said before turning to the others who could not understand themselves and translating, it was a reasonable request and if the Summer Isles agreed to help protect Naath then it would be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Reading his mind he saw that the man was telling the truth so he allowed him to join the crew temporarily.
While Kol introduced himself to everyone while Haeron told Davos.
"Raise anchor captain. Its time we head to the Summer Isles." Haeron said which caused a cheer from the crew as they had heard a lot of good things about the place, especially about the people being free with their sexual favours.
Ebonhead, Jhala, Summer Islands...A Week Later...
The Summer Islands when they finally appeared were an amazing sight to behold, easily as lush and verdant as Naath but unlike their previous destination it was not likely to kill them by staying over night.
Jhala was the largest of the islands and easily the most picturesque with enormous trees that provided not just shade to the people who lived and worked under them but also held tree-houses that served as watchtowers for the people and the beaches were amazingly with incredibly fine sand in a dazzling array of colours but for this immediate one as Haeron walked along it with Evelyn and Harmony at his side, feeling the fine and warm sand beneath their feet. Jaime and Alicys walked together themselves not to far away and enjoyed the warm and comforting breeze not to mention the crystal clear water lapping at their feet. Haeron put an arm around the shoulders of his ladies and held them against him tightly, kissing their foreheads as they leant into him. Harmony was now really starting to show her pregnancy and now Evelyn had a babe inside her as well so he just enjoyed the moment with them as this would be likely their last port of call before heading back to Westeros. He had been dreading this moment since he left as while they had been travelling it had been the most liberating experience of his life, not having to worry about all of the pressures at home or just able to put them to the back of your mind...building something that was purely yours not to mention seeing all of these amazing places...it had been the experience of a life time.
But now it was ending, soon they would need to return to Westeros as there was unfinished business there, which even if they succeeded in dealing with then they would have to deal with all of the responsibility that came with power and the Iron Throne.
Haeron honestly had never wanted power or to be the hero, he had always just wanted a peaceful life with those he cared about he thought squeezing the shoulders of Harmony and Evelyn gently. They gripped his hands and squeezed back as they like him did not like the idea of having to face all of the problems that came with Westeros but there was something else they all shared in both lives.
As Harry, Hermione and Fleur or as Haeron, Harmony and Evelyn they did not run from their responsibilities. There were a lot of people counting on them setting things right at home and given that they had been out of communication for some time who knows how difficult things were there now?
Seeing Kara flying over head with the smaller dragons on their back squealing in joy made them smile. Vaena was laying in the sun, just enjoying the day while Davos sat with some of the crew in the shade. Jaime and Alicys cuddled together themselves just enjoying their time free of responsibility before they had to go back and face the music.
"We'll sail around the islands and get some more trade deals in before we head back." Haeron told them and they both nodded in agreement, a little relieved to not be heading straight back. Besides with no central ruler of all the islands if they were to arrange not only trade but protection for Naath they would need to speak to the rulers of many of the islands.
That night they dined with the Prince of the Island and with Kol convinced him to join the trade network, he was only too happy to as it would bring trade to his islands especially in metals which the Summer Isles lacked in significant quality. He was even happy to help the Naath with protection as it linked him to further shores and the Naathi were always wanted for their Temples of Love where they practised the arts of pleasure, liking the idea of a free exchange. Kol had even laughed in amusement and said his own people would be very open to that in thanks for their help.
A lot of his crew enjoyed those places, Haeron thought with amusement. They themselves were invited too and not just Haeron but Harmony and Evelyn too given they were so beautiful and exotic with their Valyrian looks but they politely declined citing their pledge to be loyal only to each other. The Summer Islanders did not necessarily understand that given how freely they practised love but admired them for their loyalty to each other.
So for the next few of weeks they sailed from island to island, signing up the locals to their network and explored too. They saw many of the glorious beaches, the thick jungles with beautiful flowers and birds of many colours, the snow capped mountains, spotted panthers, parrots, lean red wolves, apes and other monkeys of all different kinds.
They traded in all manner of things like feathered cloaks, spiced wines, pearls, nutmeg, pepper and other spices alongside hardwoods like ebony, mahogany, bloodwood, burl, pink ivory, purpleheart, tigerwood and blue mahoe. Then there was the many gemstones like emeralds, rubies and sapphires and even live animals. The thing they wanted were metals which were rare on the islands but the network could easily provide and not radically overcharge them for.
Trade was a lifeblood for them but their network had suffered since the fall of the Freehold who had been a big trading partner with them so it was a good thing for them. They could find anything they needed through the network.
Haeron looked at the map and smiled as he had now built a network better than any in the world, it traded from Lorath to Braavos to Pentos to Myr to Tyrosh to Lys, to Volantis, to Qarth, to Yi Ti, to Leng, to the Isle of Elephants to Great Moraq, to Naath and finally to the Summer Islands. Given the position of Volantis it would be a useful destination for ships coming from the Summer Islands, allowing trade to flow easily along the routes he had established. Contact with his people in Volantis had confirmed that they were making a lot of money and now would make even more.
But as he headed out as they were coming into the harbour of Lotus Point on the island of Walano they saw a pair of pirate ships using catapults to bombard the port buildings, probably to scare the city into submission. Several ships were at anchor but burning and Haeron guessed they must have caught the locals unaware so he whistled, not wanting to use the cannons this close to land so he went with another option.
Kara responded to his call immediately and leapt forward, out of the window where an exit for the dragon had been placed. The enormous dragon scared the daylights of people when it appeared like that but Haeron smiled as his dragon now so large he could hardly believe that Kara had once been riding around his shoulders. Kara's roar scared everyone that heard it and the pirates had only moments before she roasted them alive with her fiery breath.
Kara flew through the air and cried out in victory as the ship came into one of the empty berths, coming in to land next to them. Haeron stepped off the ship and Kara was only too happy for him to scratch behind their ears when it finally landed.
Harmony and Evelyn were soon at his side with Vaena and their own dragons which now were the size of hounds, all smiling as the other dragons looked up at Kara with admiration wishing they would be as big and as strong as Kara was!
They were still there when the Prince of Walano came up to them, smiling with incredible relief and then behind his followers was a group of men and women dressed in red robes.
The moment that Haeron, Harmony and Evelyn saw them they were immediately on guard. A sicken feeling came over them and a cold aura seemed to reach out and chill their bones, they had magic they realised but it was...off. That was the best way they could put it, twisted and distorted in some way that they struggled to put into words.
"Thank you Haeron Targaryen, word had reached us of you and your mighty dragon would be coming some time ago." The Prince started saying but then the people in red robes then interrupted.
"Greetings Dragon Lord." The leader, a man said with a smile that only made them want to step away. They did not like these people at all and that was when the Prince made an offer in a quiet voice.
"These red priests have been causing trouble here. I will agree to all of your conditions if you remove them from here. Leave them here and the rest of my people will hear of your refusal" The Prince said with some real desperation in his voice. "They have tried to convert my people and even burn some people alive. Take them anywhere but please make it away from the islands." He asked almost pleasing and the man in the red robes that they now guessed was a follower of the Red God said.
"We can only return to Asshai." The Red Priest said with a cold smile.
"That's...in the other direction." Harmony said with worry as she had heard some really bad things about these fire worshippers. Haeron and Evelyn had too and they were deeply not comfortable with having them on the ship but the Prince offering a lot for this.
"Very well. Then we are going to Asshai." Evelyn said and all three of them had a feeling in their guts that they were going to regret this.
There we are! Hope you all enjoyed it and let me know what you thought be leaving a review.
The Isle of Elephants was based somewhat on Myanmar.