Chapter Text
Daenerys never bore any children. She had lost that capacity and she did not love any man. She only loved Sansa and Margaery. The Targaryens seemed to be truly doomed to disappear with her. Her adviser insisted on her marriage to another, at least on paper but Daenerys was never persuaded. Sansa herself convinced at least to try to conceive a child, Margaery approved and although she tried for their sake, she was unable. It was only after much deliberation that Daenerys accepted that any child born out of Jon’s wedlock would be considered her descendant. Jon was not happy about this arrangement, he had married a simple girl, not a noble woman, a warrior from a tribe up north named Ygritte and neither wanted such a grandiose future for their children. Ygritte in particular wanted them to be free.
“I am a free woman and so shall my children be” insisted Ygritte the moment the news reached her.
Despite this, her firstborn, Lyanna, manifested her interest from a very young age. When she heard about this decree at the tender age of 8 she told her parents that she would gladly continue the Targaryen rule and this desire wasn’t extinguished but instead only grew with age. When she was 18 she was one of the best warriors of the north but she had also consumed all the books she could, her aunts Sansa and Margaery had involved her in many matters of the crown and she was by no means unaware of what ruling would entail. Jon and Ygritte fought with her a lot about these things but Lyanna was untamable, as much as Jon’s mother herself had been. Her grandmother simply laughed at his son’s attempts to quench that little girl's flame. She was a Stark in regards to her hair and general appearance but her eyes were purple and her spirit was fire as a Targaryen’s.
Her first encounter with Daenerys’ mysterious counselor was at 17 years of age. She was visiting King’s Landing with her parents and her 5 siblings when it happened. Her sisters Adelaida, Lucia and Sophia were in the garden, admiring the beautiful flowery structure that was apparently built for Margaery, when Lyanna decided she was more interested in visiting the armory with her brothers. She did admire the work put on that structure but she had already seen it many times. She silently escaped the supervision of the servants that were caring for them, an ability she had to thank her aunt Arya for, and went to the armory. Although uncle Gendry was the best forger she knew, the forgers in King’s Landing had from time to time new and interesting ideas she wanted to see for herself. She was on the way to the armory when a dark figure simply materialized out of thin air. Lyanna immediately reached for her hidden dagger, the one her aunt Arya had given her many years ago but before she could even touch it the figure was gone. Lyanna shook her head and blinked, then looked to the sides, then back, even up and down. It was nowhere. She started to convince herself she had probably imagined it when a voice in her ear spoke to her.
“Greetings, dear child”
She turned but no one was there but the cold breath was unmistakably real. She had felt it moving her hair as if it were a gentle breeze. Her pulse quickened and she grabbed her dagger and looked around. She was alone, not even the guards were here. For a second she regretted abandoning her sisters and coming here alone but she was stubborn and decided she had to face this, whatever this was.
“Who are you? Show yourself” said Lyanna trying to control the shakiness of her voice and looking around. There was no one on her left, or right or back but she kept looking and turning. She was turning left when the figure materialized again, right in front of her.
With a scream she gave a step back and almost let the dagger fall but then she held it tighter, in front of her.
The figure tilted its head and chuckled. Lyanna observed it and swallowed, she did not seem to be a very tall or strong woman but the air had grew colder, far colder than it was seconds before this creature appeared and Lyanna started to wonder if the stories of the cold ones were indeed true and not just some exaggerations from the adults in her life.
“Are you… one of… are you…?” she couldn’t quite ask that. It felt absurd to even think about it
“I’m a counselor, one of your Queen’s most trusted servants”
Lyanna flinched at the way she uttered the word your , making a clear distinction between Lyanna and her as if they were two different things.
“What do you want, counselor?” asked Lyanna, still not lowering her guard
“To meet the child, to see who our future Queen will be. You have the eyes of a Targaryen”
“And the hair of a Stark, and the nose of a Tully, I have been told this, I am the result of many who came before me but I am distinctly me, what is your point?”
The creature laughed at this.
“Fiery, you will accomplish many great things. I will see to that”
Lyanna did not blink but still the creature disappeared before her very own eyes. Lyanna gasped and looked around. In time the cold vanished too but Lyanna was shaken. How could the Queen trust that creature?
Months later, she received a visit. She was coming back from training with aunt Arya, going back to her room and when she got there, no one was there but the moment she closed the door and turned around there was a strange little man sitting on a chair near her bed. Lyanna gasped but the man put a finger on his mouth and for some reason Lyanna felt she should obey.
The man gestured for her to sit and she did, observing him as she did this, her hand on her dagger.
“Forgive me, my lady-”
“I am no lady” interrupted Lyanna
The man looked at her with an amused stare and then shook his head.
“Forgive me, Lyanna, prospective future regent, for coming here unannounced, I have a matter of the most urgency that needs to be discussed with you”
Lyanna narrowed her eyes at him before speaking
“Fine, who are you?”
The man seemed taken aback but quickly recovered
“Are you perhaps in any way related to the people of Tarth?”
“Not that I know,” admitted Lyanna. Although she did find Galladon and the twins Duncan and Alyssa very interesting in more aspects than one, she had not had the chance to fight them or talk to them as often as she would have wanted. “We rarely meet, I would assume that closer relatives would find ways to stay in touch more often, so I have to understand that Lord Selwyn and his three children from his second wife are not related to us”
“I assumed the same” admitted the man “Forgive me, my name is Tyrion Lannister, but I would prefer if you could keep this meeting of ours a secret”
“Why would I?” asked Lyanna
“Because this concerns your future and the recent encounter you had to suffer with a very cold creature”
Lyanna stood up and put the dagger in front of her
“There was no one, how can you know?”
“Many of us know” admitted Tyrion “many of us fear her just as much as you do”
“Us?” asked Lyanna “what does us , means truly?”
“Direct, you re so much like your grandmother”
“I have been told, however my own mother likes to spare words, so tell me, what is us ?”
“Very well” said Tyrion “it is not who you are, I am referring to my kind”
“Your kind?” asked Lyanna
Tyrion smiled, a small sad smile and tilted his head. Then before she could say anything else he was gone. Again, she was shaken, she looked everywhere and he wasn’t there. As she was about to open the door she heard someone clearing his throat. She turned and he was again in that same chair.
“My kind, Lyanna, is not what you may think, we look like you, we were once you but we lost our warmth, in more way than one”
Lyanna’s heart was racing, this creature was just like that other one but she felt no cold in the room.
“About the warmth… I don’t feel the same here than when I saw her, why?”
“Oh, that… we have our ways, it was a conscious choice to make you experience that, she wanted to see how you would react when scared. We can fool you, we can make it look as if we are like you, it’s what we do”
Lyanna was trying to process all of this, stills tanding with the dagger pointing at the man, who seemed completely unfazed by the fact she was doing this. She tried to focus and then she realized she had a question.
“You speak as if you regret this… this power you say you have”
Tyrion gave her another sad smile
“At times I do, many of us do, and when regret is too great we embrace the sun. Even the previous Lord Stark did”
“So it’s true, he was turned into… you”
“He was, as well as Lady Stark but you see, she’s still here”
She had heard these stories from her uncles Bran and Rickon but she never truly believed them. She remembered being lost once in the forest and having the distinct sensation of being observed and even protected but she never saw Catelyn Stark, she was a ghost, a legend, she was not supposed to be alive. Perhaps she wasn’t.
“And we do regret this wretched live, living but not truly, seeing our loved ones wither and die, our form of life requiring to take other’s vitality… we do have power but we are not longer humans, we are indeed monsters, all of us”
Lyanna felt her patience wearing thin. If this creature wanted her pity she was not in any state of mind to give it to him. He was horrifying but she had no time for this.
“Tell me what you want and leave me alone”
“Oh my dear Lyanna, I can’t leave you alone. No one ever will, as you have so charmingly accepted to be the next Queen and as your test of fire is incoming”
“Test of fire?” asked Lyanna
“There’s talk that to be able to succeed a true Targaryen should be able to tame a dragon”
“Oh, that, I know of that, we didn’t call it that but what does that have to do with your kind?”
“Let me explain” said Tyrion
“Are we certain?” asked Jaime
“This is the way marked in this map” said Brienne going forwards
How many times had they entered caves, abandoned ruins, castles, grottos, in search of that divine truth that would release them from Daena? Jaime was no longer sure but neither he nor Brienne would stop now.
“We are not even sure about what we are looking” admitted Jaime
“Jaime, we have talked about this, it make no matter, we will keep looking. Although to be fair, I am not sure what difference does it make” said Brienne
“What do you mean, my lady?”
“Stop mocking me”
“You know I don’t do that anymore”
“Are you serious? You do it daily”
“Only on special occasions” Jaime gave her a dazzling smile. It was dark, darker than outside but both could see each other well regardless
“Every night before dawn is a special occasion?” asked Brienne
“If it’s with you, then of course”
Brienne snorted but she was smiling. She couldn’t fool him. Their banter continued for a while until Brienne mentioned she thought there was something alive in there, deeper in the caves.
“The strange thing is, I think that is barely live, more like, dormant in a way” said Brienne
“I think I can feel it too, but its scent is somehow not that strong” admitted Jaime
They observed each other expectantly, from all the times and all the years searching for clues and coming empty handed, this was the first they felt they might find something at least. They continued pushing forwards in that silent, empty cave, following that scent as it grew stronger. As they were doing this they realized there was a deep cavity, separating where they were from where the scent came from. Brienne didn’t enjoy this but Jaime didn’t even complain as he grew wings and flew to the other side. The noise of his bone structure growing, breaking skin and transforming was still quite nauseating but it did not affect her as much as before anymore. She used a different approach, she ran and jumped, then used the strength of her windbreaking swings of her sword to reach the other side. Jaime almost laughed at her preference but in all honesty he admired her strength too much to do that. Eventually they found a pile of bones, many bones were of different animals but then there were others whose size was so colossal it made them both pause. Those were dragon bones. In the midst of all those bones was where the scent was stronger and they approached it carefully.
“Is this.. Are those?” asked Jaime but not even daring to say it out loud
“No one followed us”
“Not this time”
“I know” they were both aware that Daena never truly let them to their own devices, despite what the truce said “and yes, I think they are” Brienne opened her bag and put them inside carefully “we should leave”
They left the cave without speaking even once. Someone could be listening and they had to make sure this news wouldn’t reach Daena.
Two nights later, Ellaria visited Brienne. They were staying in another abandoned cave when Brienne felt her scent. She would never forget it. Jaime had hidden their discovery away from there and he was out hunting but Brienne knew that if Ellaria suspected even the slightest about what they had found all her efforts would have been in vain.
Ellaria entered the cave and slightly nodded at Brienne in salutation. She looked exhausted. Despite the concern that her presence brought with, Brienne would even say she felt pity for her. Ellaria sat on the floor and looked around.
“So this is what your life has been reduced to?”
“It wasn’t much different before”
“Are you not a highborn lady?”
“I was highborn but never a lady”
Ellaria gave her a sad smile “I would have enjoyed being your friend, had you not taken the path you did”
“Why wonder into impossible realms when the reality is so opposite to it? It would only lead to despair” said Brienne shaking her head
“Perhaps you are right. Even then… I regret what this has become for all of us… this constant fear, this constant war...”
Brienne was surprised. Not once had this woman come so close to be disloyal to the Queen of Despair
“Then why not revolt?”
“And then what? When does it end? Do you believe I can survive this without Oberyn? I see no point in remaining here without him and he will never betray her”
“I understand your concern for it is mine too… I do not wish for unending wars after the vacuum of power left by the absence of someone as powerful as Daena is gone. However… there can be a way… even for you” mentioned Brienne, carefully, seeing Ellaria’s reaction
“What could it be… someone as young as you… how could you know any better?” Ellaria almost laughed but her interest was piqued
“Young doesn’t mean naive, although I have been called that before… perhaps instead of calling me naive I should be called unusual, maybe a fresh perspective on this is what is needed in reality”
“And what is then, your alternative?”
Brienne smiled briefly at her. It was good that Ellaria was so desperate, she may actually accept her proposal.
Months later
“Is this truly the only way?” begged Daenerys as she cried
“Yes, my love” said Margaery, holding herself with deceiving and feigned calm. No one would know that inside she was burning as if she had already embraced the sun, but she wouldn’t not until this was over.
“I will never forget you” said Sansa and hugged her one last time and kissed her with all she had. Margaery trembled and held her tears.
“If there is ever a way… I want to see you again” said Daenerys as she went to Margaery and kissed her once more, as passionately as she could and held her one last time.
“If there is ever a safe way… maybe we will find it” said Margaery as she walked past the gates, as far as she needed and then nodded. Both Sansa knew her well enough to understand that Margaery was probably saying good-bye forever
Sansa nodded and Arya came and put the plaque on the entrance, the only remaining entrance that led to the only house that lacked that plaque. Sansa held Daenerys as they both cried. As Margaery waved goodbye and walked backwards, looking at the women she had loved with all her heart she finally left tears rolling down her face. Except Sansa and Daenerys’ tears were clear while hers were dark, bloody tears that made both of her loved ones gasp in fear. Both tried to hide the emotion the second they felt it but Margaery was aware, she smiled sadly at them and let the night engulf her.
“Margaery” whimpered Daenerys and Sansa hugged her. Both felt their hearts breaking but this was their only way. Now Daena could never enter the palace either.
Arya gave them a sad look and went further away. She was not going to leave them alone that night, there were other dangers apart from the undead. They remained there for some minutes and then Daenerys pulled back.
“We have to go, my love” said Sansa
“I know, we are still not finished” said Daenerys “I just...” she looked back at where Margaery had been some moments ago.
“I will go and see if she is ready, you can stay here for longer” said Sansa
“Thank you” said Daenerys sighing. She had never imagined this was going to be the life she would have. She imagined being a queen required some sacrifices but never this sacrifice. The price seemed too great but there was nothing she could do now. They had discussed and discussed and found no other solution and regardless of what she wanted now it was done. She hoped the plan would work, she hoped this was worth it. She walked back to her destination, thinking about her loss, followed silently by Arya. She didn’t even hear her, she just knew the woman was there. Somehow that woman was as hard to perceive as an undead, she must have learned something from her mother.
Daenerys closed the door behind her. Arya was to wait outside. Sansa was already waiting for her near the wooden structure Lyanna was building. The room they had chosen in the catacombs was sealed with the blessing of Old Town, the same one Sansa had discovered.This discomforted her, she had a bad feeling about doing this ceremony or anything that was of importance without her. More than ever she felt that Margaery was slipping away from their lives and she felt that sooner rather than later, she would disappear from their lives completely. She could only hope that was not going to be the case. She shook her head and tried to be present. This was a significant moment in their lives. In particular for Lyanna. Months ago, a Dornish woman had given Lyanna a particularly strange present. They knew this was a cold woman because she came at night and did not try to hide the iciness of her skin to Lyanna yet she wasn’t menacing, or so had Lyanna said. She had also asked for secrecy and Lyanna had complied. Later she had told Sansa and Daenerys that she knew why this must be so and had asked them to keep this quiet. In later years Daenerys had begun to mistrust her advisers for various reasons, mainly because she had the distinctive feeling she was being manipulated. Sansa had helped her notice this and since then she had been unable to deny this truth.
Lyanna was about to grab the torch of fire but Daenerys stopped her. Lyanna looked at her with a furrowed brow but then Daenerys hugged her. It made no sense to try and dissuade her, Lyanna was stubborn, as stubborn as she herself had been when she was that age, perhaps more.
“If you feel any discomfort, any at all” said Daenerys
“I know” interrupted Lyanna
“Please do not try to be brave” insisted Sansa, with a tremor in her voice
Lyanna sighed and let herself be hugged by Sansa. Then she turned and grabbed the torch as she went in the wooden structure. Sansa immediately went to the buckets of water and waited there, she was shaking in fear and when the structure caught fire she gasped and cried. Daenerys was paying close attention to any noise coming from the structure, she was ready to run inside and rescue her niece, she didn't care if her clothes would burn, she wanted her nieces to be safe. But there was no noise, only the structure burning, no yell of pain or anguish, nothing. Then she heard a faint noise that moved her to action, and she ran inside.
Sitting in the middle of the fire, with her clothes completely burned yet her own self unaffected and proud, was Lyanna Targaryen with three small dragons on her chest. Daenerys smiled, remembering her own experience and right there she knew there was hope for them after all.