DRAGONS REBORN: The Era After SI (GOT story

[Zeld]

Chapter 31

The battle between King Rhaegar and Daemon Blackfyre would mark the end of the Blackfyre rebellion. The battle of Grey Gallows would be the last major battle of the rebellion and would mark the end of the year-long campaign that had begun with the death of King Aerys Targaryen.

Many historians believe that the Blackfyre rebellion was a result of King Aerys's actions when he sent assassins after Daemon and Saera Blackfyre, the last two Blackfyres that had taken refuge across the Narrow Sea. And while many historians accept such a position, the truth is that even today, we have no evidence that King Aerys even sent those assassins.

On the other hand, we do know about the greedy and ambitious nature of the Cheesemongrer, Magister Illyrio Mopatis.

A minority of historians believed that it was he who sent assassins after the two Blackfyre progeny, hoping to gain influence over them and later use them to fuel his ambitions. Who really sent those assains is a mystery that shall remain unanswered for years to come, and people shall continue to debate over it.

The end of the war, however, was rather tragic. King Rhaegar, injured from his Dragon's fall, faced Daemon Targaryen in single combat and bested the man, ending the war. The Royal Army would triumph over the rebellion forces who would lose their morale after seeing their commander fall and would collapse instantly.

And so, with the battle concluded, the King would make a round of the enemy encampments and, in the largest tent, find the dead body of a woman, cradling a small child in her arms.

0000

RHAEGAR TARGARYEN

Dust covered half the battlefield obscuring his view, as he fell to the ground. Rhaegal's feral roar sent a shiver through him as his vision blackened momentarily, and his tail whipped right above him as he continued to roar in agony. The sound of a horn continued to rippled through the air, making Rhaegal feral before suddenly the sound stopped.

"Roarrr!" Rhaegal roared as the sound lessened, and opened its maw and let out a firestorm, before it opened its wings and began flapping them, making the dust rise up as it took to the skies.

"Rhaegal! Umbagon!" yet his dragon paid his words no heed, as Rhaegar struggled to his feet, as sound of men screaming filled the air.

"Naejot nyke!" yet no effect as Rhaegar saw its feet lift off the ground as it began to fly away, leaving him, there.

"Rhaegar Targaryen!" he heard his name getting called out, and turned towards the source and found a man staring at him. Clad in Black armor with the sigil of his House forged into it, his helmet was off and showed Rhaegar his face, the face of the man who was behind this whole rebellion.

"Blackfyre! You and I both know that you have lost. Surrender, and I shall give you an easy death!" Rhaegar said through gritted teeth as pain seared through his leg, and the man nodded.

"No, I would rather die than bow to someone like you," said the man as he took out his sword, a blade of Valyrian Steel, and Rhaegar did the same as he began to slowly approach him. His pace increasing with each step.

Rhaegar took out his own sword and ground his feet into the sand as he got ready to face the instigator of this rebellion.

"AGHHH!" Blackfyre charged at him, his sword coming down for his head. Rhaegar grit his teeth and parried the strike. Metal struck against metal, and the dance of death began. Our movements were a blur, with each of us aiming to end this whole war with one strike of our blades.

Rhaegar gritted through the pain as he used all his experience to parry his strikes and watched as Daemon became more and more desperate. The world around him became a blur, as he continued to defend against Daemon's onslaught.

In the end, he struck. Feigning weakness around his injured leg, Rhae set the bait, which Blackfyre took. He swung his sword at an awkward angle, giving him enough time to duck and plunge his blade into the man's thing.

"AGHHH!" Daemon screamed and lashed out with a wide swing of his sword, which Rhaegar barely dodged, the sword cutting a slice of his helmet, yet he didn't stop and pushed himself forward, tackling the man to the floor.

"GUMPH!" they both fell to the ground, their swords sent clattering as Rhaegar settled on top of him and clasped his hands around Daemon's neck.

"AGHHHHH!" He screamed as Daemon struggled under his weight. He struck him in the ribs, in the chest, in the side. Yet Rhaegar bore the pain and watched as his face became flushed as he struggled to breathe.

"No…you….fr…." he tried to mouth, yet Rhaeagar was not listening and simply watched as the life was drained from those amethyst eyes, right infront of him. He struggled a lot, in the end, yet in the end, his body became lifeless, as Rhaegar finally took a deep breath and fell to the side, heaving as he took off his helmet and gulped down a mouthful of air.

Blood dripped from his head and reached his eyes, dying his vision red, as he heard men surround him.

"Your grace1 King Rhaegar!" he heard them call, and saw as men of the army surrounded him, brandishing their swords, as someone clad in golden armor reached for him and helped him sit up.

"Are you fine, your grace!" Jamie questioned, and Rhaegar nodded as Jamie helped him to his feet.

"Yes, I am fine," he said as he looked towards the lifeless form of Daemon Blackfyre right by his side, and walked towards it, picking up the sword. He cleaved his head right off it with a single strike, before he picked it up and raised it as high as he could as he shouted.

"DAEMON BLACKFYRE IS DEAD!" he shouted and saw the men of the golden company halt at his words as they saw him raise the head of their leader.

"YOUR CAUSE IS LOST! SURRENDER, AND I SHALL SHOW YOU MERCY! OTHERWISE, THIS ISLAND SHALL BECOME THE GRAVE FOR ALL OF YOU!" he shouted and saw the men shift nervously as they began to look at each other before suddenly swords began to hit the floor, as men of the company began to run, leaving their weapons as they left the battlefield.

The Battle was won. The Rebellion was over!

0000

JAMIE LANNISTER

Jamie Lannister watched as the Royal army rounded up what was left of the rebellion forces. After the death of Daemon Blackfyre, the rebellion forces had collapsed very quickly. The Royal army now rounded up what was left of the rebellion forces, as the healer tended to King Rhaegar behind him.

Besides Rhaegar stood Ser Arthur Dayne, as the King's dragon flew around the island.

"It's finally over. We have received a missive from Lord Tarly that all those who escaped on the ships, have been apprehended by Lord Tarly and his forces. All the commanders of the Golden company have been captured," the captain of the Kingsguard informed them, and he saw Rhaegar sigh in relief at this news.

"Good. That is good," said the King, as he saw two men from the army walk towards the King.

"Your grace, you need to see this," and he saw Rhaegar frown as he stood up as he and Arthur made to follow him. The men led them through the Blackfyre encampments before they came to a halt near the main camp.

The two men stood to the side and made way for King Rhaegar and them. They stepped into the tent and stilled as they saw the scene inside the tent.

"No, it cannot be," Arthur mouthed as Jamie looked away and they saw the floor was wet with blood as. There on the chair sat the unconscious form of a woman clad in fine silks. Her hair was smooth silver blonde, just like the King's, and in her arms was a child.

King Rhaegar was the first to step forward as he slowly moved towards the woman. And suddenly, as if sensing their presence, the child began to wail.

"AWWWWWW!" the tent was filled with the cries of the child, and they were all startled by the cries of the child.

"It's alive. It's alive!" he gasped and saw the King nod as he shouted at the two army men.

"Go and get a septa!" the men rushed away as the King walked towards the table and picked up a piece of parchment placed there.

"She is Saera Blackfyre, Daemon Blackfyre's sister, the wife of the magister," the King spoke, and he frowned as he looked towards Ser Arthur Dayne. Magister?

"Illyrio Mopatis, he was a magister in Pentosh. We believe that he had a major role in the organizing of this rebellion," the commander of the Kingsgaurd informed him, and Jamie nodded.

Two septas then suddenly entered the tent, huffing as they bowed towards the King.

"You called for us your grace," and the King nodded and pointed towards the child.

"Take the child and nurse for him. Do not let it out of your sight. The two men outside will be with you at all times," the King ordered, and the Septas were quick to bow. And Jamie didn't miss how their faces paled as they saw the state of the dead woman.

They hesitantly reached for the crying child and moved out of the tent as the King continued to read through the piece of parchment with a frown.

"What is it?" Arthur Dayne questioned King Rhaegar.

"You became a Kingsguard quite early in my father's reign, didn't you, Arthur?" the King questioned, and Ser Arthur nodded.

"Yes," he answered and saw the King frown.

"Did my father send any assassins after the Blackfyres," the King suddenly questioned as the whole room stilled at those words? He saw Sir Arthur frown and slowly shook his head.

"No, not from what I could recall. And if he had done anything like this, wouldn't he have told you as well, your grace," he saw the King nod as he folded the piece of parchment and placed it in his pocket.

"According to her, she believes my father sent assassins after her and her brother, robbing them of their childhood, forcing them into slavery, yet he never mentioned it to me ever," the King said with a frown.

"There is only one person who can answer this," and at this, the King looked towards him, making him frown.

"My father?" he guessed, and the King nodded.

"Yes, Lord Tywin was part of the council after the First uprising. If anyone is to know anything about this, then it would be him." The King said, and Jamie nodded.

"I will have him come to the capital," he said, and the King nodded.

"What about the child?" the leader of the white cloaks questioned from the side, and he saw the King frown as he chewed his lips.

"I don't know. I will have to talk about it with the rest of the family, but I don't feel comfortable condemning a child to the sins of his parents," said the King, and Arthur nodded.

"But you do know what that child represents, your grace," and he saw the King chew his lips as he nodded.

"I do,"

"Then end it. I know that this is not the most honorable thing, but that one child could one day grow up and become the corner point of another rebellion. We cannot take a chance on this," Jamie pleaded and saw the King shake his head.

"Not right now, Ser Jamie. We have spilled enough blood today. We will talk about this later," have the men rounded up, and have them chained.

"The war is over! It is time that the realm sees peace again!"

0000

On the other side of the world, across the Wall in the castle of Hardhome, a man sat on one of the towers his eyes white as milk as he sat there shaking as a crow ventured the skies of the true North, and as it flew across the skies the bird quivered as it saw the storm of blue assembling in the lands beyond the Wall.

The man sitting on the tower shook as his irises regained their color before he shot to his feet and rushed inside the castle, running towards the main solar. And then, without a knock, he would enter the room and shout.

"They are on the move!"

0000

The Last Blackfyre rebellion would end with the death of Daemon Blackfyre and Saera Blackfyre on the island of Grey Gallows. And many consider this to be the end of the lineage of the Black Dragon, yet that is not the truth.

While it is often thought that Haegon Blackfyre, the son of Saera Blackfyre, was found dead by the victorious forces of the Targaryen empire, we would later learn through the diaries of Lady Daenys Targaryen that the babe was, in truth, alive after the war, and was claimed dead to discourage the enemies of the Royal family from searching for him.

Many believe that this boy was the silver-haired apprentice of Tyrion Lannister, Saerys, who would go on to become a rather prominent figure in the religious wars that would happen in the later part of the year 450 AC. History books fail to provide information about the man's wife and children. However, House Greyhelm, ennobled by King Rhaegar III in 512 AC, claims to be descendants of Saerys the Godless.

Many would believe that the Blackfyre rebellion would be the greatest battle of King Rhaegar's reign, yet years later, the realm would gear up for war once more, this time their enemy, an ancient evil whose victory would mean the end of mankind itself. An enemy whose eventual rise is said to have been the main reason behind Aegon's conquest through a prophecy aptly named the Song of Ice and Fire.

"From my blood come the prince that was promised, and his will be the song of ice and fire."

0000

Cue GOT opening!

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[Zeld]

Chapter 32

The end of the rebellion would mark the true beginning of the reign of King Rhaegar Targaryen. The firstborn son of King Aerys had won the wars, yet how he would fare in times of peace was a question many had in their minds, for King Aerys's greatest victories had been won in times of peace with his various reforms instead of wars of which there had been few in his time.

After the end of the War and the rout of the Golden Company on the isle of Grey Gallows, the magisters of the Triarchy would call for a parley, one which the Iron Back would offer to organize. And though the battle of Grey Gallows would mark the end of the clash of swords, the war would only truly end after the infamous parley of Braavos, a parley which would change the very map of the world.

Many in the Kingdoms would balk at this and petition the King to continue his occupation of the Lands beyond the Narrow Sea, yet King Rhaegar would decide against it and would accept the offer of parley.

With the Crown's army in full control of Stepstones and the cities of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh, the armies were stretched too thin and the lands held by them too foreign, though that didn't mean the King was going to let the magisters who had backed Daemon Blackfyre and his rebellion, get away easily.

The return of the Dragons was another factor that troubled the people beyond the Narrow Sea, and secret councils would be held as the free cities feared a replay of Aegon's conquest, yet this time on their side of the Narrow Sea.

At home, celebrations were in order. The Crown had won the war, and though there had been losses, the Crown had come out of the war stronger and more resilient. The Iron Islands were now under the control of the Royal family, who would keep the isles under its rule, erasing their autonomous status, and appoint Lord Rodrik Harlaw as a governor to the isles.

And many historians remark that the Seven Kingdoms became Six for some time after this measure, though the number would soon become seven once more.

The traditional practices of enslaving thralls and taking the Iron Prince would be abolished, and a strict charter of rules would be enforced in the isles through a unit of the Royal Navy, which would take the isle of Pyke as their permanent base.

Lords High and Low would balk at this and fear the growing power of the Crown, yet the rising stacks of Gold in their treasuries would lower the pain as the Crown turned the once lawless lands into one of the Kingdom's premier trading ports.

The Royal Army would regularly patrol the lands of Riverrun, much to the frustration of Lord Edmure Tully, yet the Lord was powerless to do anything, with no allies to turn to outside and even in his own home where the relation between him and his wife Lady Rosalin Frey was said to become rather cold after the end of the rebellion.

0000

TYCHO NESTRIS- A key holder of the

The very air of Braavos was tense as the people in the city whispered in secret about the secret parley set to take place in the City. The Purple harbor had been opened to foreign ships for the first time in a hundred years as ships from the land across the Narrow Sea, ships bigger and faster than the ones produced in the famed hulls of Braavos, docked in the harbor. Their sails are decorated with the sigil of a three-headed dragon coiled around itself.

House Targaryen, a legacy of Valyria, had ruled over the Seven Kingdoms for nearly three centuries now. Many thought that the House of the Dragon had been on the decline since the days of the conciliator, with the tragedy of the Dance taking away their symbol of power. And it was true, for nearly a hundred and fifty years after the death of the conciliator, the House had lost more and more of its power and prestige.

Until one man had changed it all. Aerys Targaryen, son of the namesake of the conciliator, the man had been the conciliator come again and had transformed the once back trodden lands of the seven kingdoms to one that now leads the world in several fields.

The powerful in the city had rejoiced at the man's death, hoping that his death would help curb the progress of the lands of Westeros yet they had been wrong.

And as he stood on the shores of the purple harbor as the men of the Targaryen Royal army step out of their ships, men with hardened eyes, clad in full castle-forged armor, their march symmetrical and of one mind speaking of hours and hours of practice.

Yet as the proposed hundred men stepped out of the ship, there was still no sign of the main envoy of the Seven Kingdoms. He saw some men step off. A fat man dressed in blue instead of the regular black, and a golden pin strapped to his chest so that he was one of the King's councilors.

Tycho Nestris walked towards the fat, balding man, who had an unusual smile on his face as the soldiers formed into lines behind him.

"You must be the representative from the Iron Bank," said the man in a joyful tone, and Tycho Nestris nodded.

"Indeed, I am Tycho Nestris, a key holder. Though I am afraid I am afraid you have me at a loss, my lord," he said, and the man laughed boisterously, and Tycho's eyes narrowed onto the fat fingers of the man and the various gold rings worn over them.

And he recognized the pattern on one of the rings, a merman holding a trident. The symbol of House Manderly of the North.

"I am Wyman Manderly, Lord of White Harbor, Warden of the White Knife, and have been chosen by the King to serve as his Master of Ships," the man replied, and Tycho nodded as he once more scanned his surroundings and saw no sign of the King or anyone else from the Royal family descending from the massive vessel.

The fat man seemed to realize what was going through his mind and replied from the side.

"They will be here," came the reply and he frowned, and as he was about to question how. He stilled as a massive roar, shook the entire harbour, and he saw the plump man smile as the soldiers began to move and clear away the men in the harbor.

A shadow passed over him, and he glanced up and stilled as he saw three massive beasts, dancing over the skies of his city. By now, rumors about the return of the Dragons had spread far and wide. The last he had heard at the end of the war had been that the dragons were the size of a dozen horses, yet the beasts circling the massive domes of the Sealord's palace were much, much bigger than that.

They had expected this, expected that the Hose of the Dragon would try and make a show of their power. Yet this was beyond their expectations as he watched the three massive beasts descend towards the harbor. The movement of their wings made the dust rise up and he covered his eyes before some of the soldiers stepped forward and covered him as the very ground shook and the three massive beasts landed on the ground one after another.

Their colorings were different, and the three roared together, making him still as a cold chill passed through him.

"Gīda ilagon!" he heard someone mutter, and the dragons calmed down, their slit-like eyes scanning the surroundings as Tycho Nestris stepped forward, ready his servants behind him with bread and salt.

Three people jumped off the massive beasts, clad in light armor, with steel helmets fashioned into a dragon's head, on their heads as they came together, and Tycho thought of Aegon and his sister wives.

Though the things were different, and only one amongst the three was a woman, and he was mesmerized as the three took off their helms, their silvery blonde hair flowing out, and their godly appearances there for all to see.

Their faces were different yet held some similarities, given their shared blood. He felt a pair of familiar amethyst eyes lock into him as one amongst the three stepped forward.

Rhaegar Targaryen was a grown man, slender in comparison to his father, yet had proven himself to be just as dangerous, of not more, given he held his two siblings to guard this back, with rumors of that the relationship between the three siblings was exceptionally cordial.

"Welcome to Braavos, your grace," Tycho said as the man believed by many to be the most powerful person in the world stepped forward and took a bite of the ceremonial bread.

"Tell me, have the preparations been made," questioned the King, his voice sharp and cold, as he stared at him impassively with those amethyst orbs.

And Tycho nodded as he forced himself to ignore the three pairs of slit-like eyes focused on him.

"Yes, King Rhaegar. Everything is ready, but I was hoping that you could rest a bit. The journey would have probably taken a to…." But the man raised his hand and stopped him mid-sentence.

"No, I have not come here to rest. Take us to the parley side, let us see what peace is worth to those magisters!"

0000

RHAELLA TARGARYEN

The city of Kingslanding was filled with men and women as the preparations for the Royal wedding were underway. The whole realm was in a joyous mood as the Crown prepared for the wedding of its favored Princess. The work of organizing everything had fallen to her, and she could feel her age catching up with her, so she found herself sitting down with her two grandchildren as she took some respite from all the work.

Elia and Lyanna would often join her, but Elia was busy having taken over Rhaegar's duties of answering the petitions, while Lyanna was resting, as the maesters thought that she might be carrying a child in her belly.

Aemon had married Lyanna Stark earlier in the year, with Rhaegar granting him the seat of Duskendale as his keep. The marriage had been celebrated across the realm, though the ceremony had been somewhat simpler in comparison to the one that was being organized for Daenys.

Aemon and his wife had little appreciation for fanfare, with eh newly wedded couple making the Red Keep remember tales of Baelon and Alyssa Targyen. Lyanna Stark was a Northern beauty and lacked much of the subtleties of the Southern ladies, she had a wild side to her and rode horses, and spoke plainly. Her and Elia had taken much joy as they had watched the ladies at Court splutter around her, shocked by her behavior.

Though she liked the girl, she was honest and, most of all, made Aemon happy, though the same could not be said the faith. The High Septon had been surprised when the girl had refused to take the Seven as her Gods, and in the end, the Crown had to remind the man of the discretions of the Seven in recent times and how the Crown was running out of patience with him and his ilk.

"Buy, why did all three of them have to go? They could have left Aunt Daenys," complained Aegon, as he sat there pouting with his sister Rhaenys who nodded from the side.

"Yes," said the eldest of Elia's children as she turned to face him.

"Why did all three of them have to go? I want to ride with Aunt Daenys," complained Rhaenys, and had Elia been here to hear those words, the girl would have gotten chastised.

"Me too," Aegon was quick to add, and she smiled as she saw her two grandchildren bicker about whom Daenys loved more. And to end their bickering and spare her ears, she decided to speak up.

"And why do you think Aegon did your father take both Aemon and Daenys with him she questioned?" as she began to test the boy, he had already begun his lessons with the Maester and Rhaegar, much like Rhaenys, whom she prompted to answer her question as well.

"Because they are going to negotiate with the magisters?" she answered simply, and though she was not wrong this was not the answer to her question.

"But why did all three of them go. The negotiation could have been done by your father alone, or even one of his councilors for that matter. Why did all three of them go?" she questioned again, and saw Rhaenys frown as she tried to think about the reason, in the end she tried to help them.

"What first comes to mind when you hear of three dragons?" she questioned.

"Aegon's conquest," Aegon answered quickly, and she saw Rhaenys's eyes widen as she somewhat realized the true reason Rhaegar had taken both Aemon and Daenys with him.

"Indeed Aegon's conquest, and what do you think the Magisters and the Braavosi will think when they see three dragons flying over their cities, with ships and men bearing the sigil of the three-headed dragon, docked in their harbors," she questioned with a raised brow, and Rhaenys was quick to answer.

"It's a threat, they are threatening them that they will repeat what Aegon did on this side of the Narrow Sea," and she nodded with a smile.

"Yes," and Aegon was quick to answer.

"But didn't we already win, why do we need to threaten them now," questioned Aegon with a frown.

Because there is another war coming. Because we cannot hold their cities for long. Because we must prepare for the Cold Night.

"The cities we hold are too far from Kingslanding, with the Narrow Sea separating he lands, the Crown cannot hold all the land we have captured," she answered, as she simplified the answer.

And Aegon nodded, as both him and Rhaenys listened with rapt attention. Aerys would have liked their enthusiasm. He would have explained it better as well.

But he was no longer here, and that was another reason why Rhaegar had left with Aemon and Daenys, to leave a message to Braavos, the bastard daughter of Valyria had longed enjoyed impunity in regards to the actions of the wretched House of Black and White.

It was time they learned that House of the Dragon had had enough.

"The lands we hold have different customs and varied histories, our armies cannot hold them for too long, and so we will give them back to their previous rulers. But the question will be what will they give us back in return," she answered.

"Are we going to give back all the land?" questioned Rhaenys and Rhaella shook her head.

"No, not all. Your father and uncle had decided on what we will hold and what we will give up," she answered.

"And what will we get in return?" questioned Aegon, and she smiled as she remembered the hours and hours Rhaegar had spent devising his treacherous plot.

"Their Gold! All of their Gold, for now and for all the times to come." She answered, and both Rhaenys and Aegon frowned as they failed to realize the meaning behind her words.

Yet they would. They would for if Rhaegar's plans were to come to fruition, it would be in Aegon's reign or perhaps in the reign of his own sire.

Before she could say another word a servant entered the Godswood and bowed before speaking up.

"Lord Tywin and his retinue have reached the castle, your grace," the servant replied and she nodded.

"Take him to my solar, I shall meet with him there."

0000

As always, you can read ahead and support me on Patreon. Your support makes it possible for me to write these stories. So, if possible, have a look and consider dropping a dime if you can. It would help me out a lot.

www.Patreon.com/Drkest

BOOOM! Around a little less than a year has passed since the war. Rhaegar's making plots of his own and living up to his position as Aerys's son.

What will Rhaella discuss with Tywin? And what will the Crown ask of the Magisters.

Have fun reading!

 

[Zeld]

Chapter 33

"Men can be controlled by Gold. Cities can be controlled by Men. Continents by Dragons. And the world…by a Bank."
~King Aerys Targaryen III

The above quote is often said to have been stolen by King Aerys III by his own great grandsire bearing the same name. The truth behind this, though, cannot be denied.

The parley of Braavos would see many changes brought to the world, as the Targaryen's would keep the city of Lys, the city famously called the Tear of Valyria, a place that had been once famous for nothing but pleasures of the flesh.

These days, the city is still owned by the Royal Family and is said to be the actual capital of the world.

The parley would also see to the establishment of the Royal Targaryen Bank. This institution has faced extreme criticism in modern days for its iron grip over most of the world's finances. The Bank is said to be the oldest financial institution of this day, and in these times when the Royal family has given up their right to keep an armed force under its name, is the weapon of choice in case of conflict.

The Royal family denies any involvement with the running of the bank and says that the institution's only purpose is to facilitate global trade and commerce. Yet many believe that it holds an inappropriate amount of control over the finances of the world.

As compensation for their actions, the Royal Family would negotiate with the magisters that as an assurance of their compliance with the terms of the agreement, they would deposit their wealth in the newly established Bank.

The Iron Bank would move to act as an intermediary in this case, proposing that they would provide this service. Yet the Royal family would decline this offer, believing the Back to be an accomplice in the assassination of King Aerys II. The Bank would protest against this, saying that they held no control over the actions of the faceless men.

And that is where King Rhaegar would level the threat that would one day be brought true by his own successors in the distant future.

"Then I believe it is high time Braavos and your Bank gained some control over the actions of this House of Black and White. For if I or my sons, or their sons, shall ever find any trace of their meddling in the affairs of my Kingdoms House, Targaryen shall declare war on the House of White and Black. Half a million men shall land on your shores, and our dragons shall take to your skies, and we shall bring death to you and your lands until the House of Black and White has been reduced to nothing but dust."

He would have the men write down these words, worlds that would be brought to reality by King Aerys III when the faceless men would assassinate Princess Daenerys Targaryen, his bride-to-be. Yet that is a tale for another time.

On the other side of the Narrow Sea, the dowager Queen, Rhaella Targaryen, would sit with Tywin Lannister. The Golden Lion was amongst the last of King Aerys's companions alive at the time.

And as the City prepared for the wedding of their favored princess, the Golden Lion sat with the Blessed Queen as they discussed terms of their own for the match between Daenys Targaryen and Jamie Lannister.

0000

DAENYS TARGARYEN

Daenys Targaryen smirked internally as she saw the representative of the Iron Bank lead them to the location of the parley. Rhaegar had chosen to have the parley at a clearing instead of a castle, and when asked for his reasoning for choosing to hold the meeting under the open sky, he had written.

'So, our dragons could burn any would-be assassins that may happen to stumble across the place of the parley.'

In the end, the Sealord could do nothing but agree, for House Targaryen held all the cards. Rhaegar had a suspicion that Braavos had supported the Blackfyre cause to weaken their hold over the Stepstones, given that the islands that their House controlled were at such a strategic place that through them, their House controlled nearly half of the trade across the Narrow Sea.

And even if they hadn't supported them monetarily, they still housed the accursed House of Black and White, the very institution responsible for the assassination of their father.

A hundred men of the army stood behind them along with their dragons as the three of them walked towards the elaborate table that had been set in front of the Sealord's palace for the parley.

She looked to his right and saw the impassive faces of their brother as they walked towards the table. They took the seats on one side, with Rhaegar sitting in the middle. She sat on his left as Aemon too the seat to his right, all of them clad in dull Black armor, as Rhaegar wore on his head the Crown of the Conqueror himself.

Opposite to them sat three fat men, men whose faces tightened as soon as they saw them. Their dresses were ostentatious and were supposed to be a showcase of their wealth and influence. Both of which lessened with each passing second as their armies literally wrang their treasuries dry, transporting anything of value from their cities to Kingsladning.

A man who sat at the head of the table stood up, dressed in an elaborate purple doublet. His face had a smile on his face, and he seemed somewhat innocent. Yet she knew that behind that simple face was a mind as cunning as a fox.

After all, one didn't become the Sealord of Braavos without a certain level of cunning, and Ferrego Antaryon had to be no different.

"Today, we gather here so we can reach an accord that would see us prosper together in peace once again," spoke the Sealord, and with the way the Magisters infront of them were scowling, she really doubted that was what they really wanted.

Their armies had literally wrung their cities dry of their wealth, freeing their so-called sales, which, even as they sat there, were being transported to Kingslanding as free men, hence decreasing their wealth, wealth that their House planned to get under their own control.

It was one of the magisters who spoke up first.

"What is there to discuss? You are foreigners in our land. Your war is over. It is time your armies left our cities," snarled the man as he spoke through gritted teeth.

Rhaegar simply raised a brow.

"You supported the rebellion against us, tried to wage war you were ill-prepared to fight and now you have lost, I don't believe you are all naïve enough to think it is all so simple," he cut in his voice impassive and seemingly disinterested.

The man from before tried to speak up but was interrupted by a plump man to his side. This one was dressed in a much lighter shade and had hair much like their own.

A Rogare, she recalled, this meant he was from Lys.

"And you are right, King Rhaegar, we have lost indeed. Yet the lands you hold are ours. Lands which our families have held for centuries, foreign lands can be so dangerous. The Triarchy understands their mistake and has offered reparations to the Seven Kingdoms," the man cut in, and Rhaegar raised a brow as Aemon cut in from the side.

"And I believe we were clear in our demands. Long have the Free Cities interfered in the matters of our Kingdom. Your kingdom has brought war to our shores three times, you have supported rebels and traitors sent assassins. This simply cannot go on," Aemon said and she saw the Magisters squirm at his words before one of them finally spoke up.

"Then what do you want?" the man nearly snarled.

At this, Rhaegar nodded to the servant behind him, and the man passed on the terms they had prepared for this moment to all the participants, terms that were rather simple.

She saw the Magisters read the scroll, and as she had expected, they were enraged.

"This is preposterous! An End to Slavery! And giving all our gold to your bank! We would be fools to agree to this!" the fat man from earlier cut in, and she finally recalled his name. He was Antharyon Orahos, the Magister of Myr.

"Those are the terms," Rhaegar added simply.

"You can agree to them or not. The choice is yours!"

"You are a fool if you think we would agree to these! You are a foreigner in those lands! We shall see how long you last as the people bleed you dr…." and the man made to stand up before suddenly the Magister from Lys spoke up. He seemed to be the most intelligent of the three.

"King Rhaegar, even you must realize the unfairness of these demands," pleaded the man sweetly, and she was getting tired of this.

0000

FERREGO ANTARYON

The Sealord of Braavos read through the demands of the Seven Kingdoms as his mind raced to process their implications, and they were not good. The demands prioritized the creation of a Bank, one controlled by the Royal family, and with the strength of the Targaryen regime he knew that this institution could grow up to rival the Iron Bank, a fact that would threaten Braavos itself.

"Then tell us what do you have in mind?" for the first time, the Princess spoke up from her chair, looking at Horos Rogare with a raised brow, the man smiled sweetly as he spoke up.

"A compromise princess," the man began and the three dragon riders exchanged glances before the Princess added as she leaned forward.

"Then so be it," she said prompting the man to speak up.

And then discussion were had, time was sought, reparations were lessened. Entire cities were sold, and bought.

He himself encouraged the abolishment of the taint of slavery, and though in the end the Free cities were given seven years to half the practice and then another seven to bring an end to it in its entirety.

The Targaryen regime had expressed interest in buying up Lys, an interesting proposition that would have to be discussed separately for the representative of Lys had seemed rather interested in the offer.

Yet in the end, the point the Bank became the point of contention, as the Triarchy refused to deposit their wealth in this newfound institution and protested heavily against being forced to use the institution for conducting their business.

"You shall deposit half your wealth in the Bank for a period of twenty-one years. And half your business shall be done through the bank," Prince Aemon of Duskendale added, and this was the last offer, and thankfully for him, the Magsiters seemed unconvinced.

"Perhaps I can offer a solution," he spoke up and saw everyone look at him.

"Perhaps the Iron Bank could be used fo…."

But even before he had finished his sentence, the King's voice cut through the clearing.

"NO!" and he was taken aback by the sheer vehemence in that tone.

"We have not forgotten the role of the Iron Bank in this war," the King added coldly, and he frowned as he questioned.

"And what role was that, your grace? Braavos stood neutral in the war," he said, despite knowing it to be false.

The King scoffed.

"Yet it was an assassin from your precious House of Black and White that assassinated our father," the Princess cut in scathingly, and his eyes narrowed as he answered.

"Braavos has no control over the the House of Black and White, princess. They are an ancient order that has no connection to either Braavos or the Iron Bank," he added in a sagely voice, yet it was the King who cut in a cold tone.

"Then I hope Braavos and the Iron Bank would not mind if House Targaryen were to declare war on this House of Black and White," and the King's words shocked all who were present.

And with those words the King of the Seven Kingdoms stood up from his seat, as he looked him in the eye.

"You say that they are independent, yet the whole world knows how the Iron Bank threatens its debtors through this so-called order of Assasins," the King spoke, and he quickly cut in.

"Braavos has no control over the order's actions, your grace," he spoke up.

"Then I believe it is high time Braavos and your Bank gained some control over the actions of this House of Black and White. For if I or my sons, or their sons, shall ever find any trace of their meddling in the affairs of my Kingdoms House, Targaryen shall declare war on the House of White and Black. Half a million men shall land on your shores, and our dragons shall take to your skies, and we shall bring death to you and your lands until the House of Black and White has been reduced to nothing but dust." The King thundered, his purple orbs glinting with rage as his two siblings stood up as well, and he realized that the order of the world was about to change.

It was as they had feared: House Targaryen had gained too much power too quickly. Less than half a century ago, they had been reduced to merely a husk by the tragedy of Summer Hall. Yet in forty years, the House of the Dragon had risen up, going from strength to strength, and in the blink of an eye, they had become strong enough to flaunt their influence so openly.

They didn't wait for him to respond and turned to face the Three representatives from the Triarchy as the King cut in.

"The terms we have settled on are fair and final. No more concession shall be given. You shall accept them as they are or deny them if you wish to. But understand this," said the man as he put his hands on the table and leaned forward, looking the three Ministers in the eye.

"I have held your lands for a year now, and I have men enough in my Kingdom to hold them for a hundred more. If you refuse these terms, you will never set foot in your cities again, that I promise you on my father's grave.

0000

As the negotiations between the Triarchy and the Seven Kingdoms concluded, on the other side of the world, the King beyond the Wall would leave with five hundred strong, riding towards the Fist of First Men, where the first conflict between the Watch and the Others was said to have taken place.

They carried cages of wood with them, specially prepared for this day, as they sought to capture the evidence of the revival of enemies that man had forgotten about. For they knew to fight this enemy, they would need the support of the living on the other side of the wall.

For losing this war meant the end of humanity itself.

0000

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