Fire and Blood, iron and rust.
The scent of war that once filled the skies of Westeros gradually faded, and peace once again descended upon the vast land.
One good news after another arrived in these tranquil years.
The six-year-long winter slowly came to an end as Aegon officially reclaimed the Iron Throne. The snow in the Vale and the Westerlands melted, revealing mountains budding with new life. The Neck returned to its usual state of mist-covered swamps, the rivers of the Trident surged once more, and in the distant Last Hearth, the hearth fires lit by Moonlight were finally extinguished.
Ships at Eastwatch-by-the-Sea set sail southward again, bringing much-needed supplies and fresh recruits to the Night's Watch, who had endured six years of hardship in the ice and snow.
Beyond the Wall, tens of thousands of wildlings gathered at winter's end in an attempt to break through the Wall. However, they were swiftly routed by a single charge of the Night's Watch cavalry—hundreds strong, a rare force in the order's history—led by Lord Commander Jason Lannister, whose supplies were vastly superior to theirs. The self-proclaimed King-Beyond-the-Wall had his head bitten off by the Lion, and his severed head was passed from Eastwatch to the Shadow Tower over the following year, serving as a grim warning to both the defenders of the Wall and the wildlings beyond.
Spring had arrived.
Times of peace always seemed to pass quickly.
In the 137th year of the Conquest, Viserys and Lady Larra welcomed the fruit of their love—a strong, silver-haired boy. It was said that his cries at birth could be heard even in the Vaelarys Black Keep.
But Rhaegor scoffed at the notion.
Aegon was ecstatic about the royal family's new addition. Personally, he named the boy "Aegon"—the name of the Conqueror, and his own—to signify his high expectations for the child. Lady Larra's status within House Targaryen became even more secure due to her contribution.
However, when the king prepared to visit the Dragonpit to select a dragon egg for young Aegon, Viserys stopped him.
"My son will one day tame a true dragon," he said, "not a hatchling raised alongside him. Brother, have you forgotten the plight of our elder brothers in that war?"
The reasoning convinced Aegon.
He tacitly allowed Viserys to forgo preparing a dragon egg for his newborn son.
The realm remained unusually peaceful that year. Even Dalton Greyjoy of the Iron Islands, typically the most unruly, observed Westerosi law. The ironborn had feasted on mead and roasted meat throughout the winter, relishing the spoils of their infamous "Ravishing of the Three Daughters". Dalton's prestige soared to its peak.
This cunning "pirate" knew exactly what allowed him to enjoy the lion's share of his plunder. Over the years, he had sent many looted treasures to King's Landing and Dragon's Nest as tributes. He even offered to aid in the reconstruction of the royal fleet.
However, both Joffrey Velaryon and King Aegon politely declined.
Joffrey had already commissioned a large number of ships from Gulltown, Brandyport, the shipyards of King's Landing, and Braavos to expand the royal fleet. Though he was the head of House Velaryon, he never forgot that the blood of House Targaryen ran even stronger in his veins.
He, too, wished to do something for his younger brothers.
By now, Joffrey had fathered a daughter and a son with Princess Aliandra Martell. Their eldest, Baelys Velaryon, was a beautiful black-haired girl. Their younger son, Lucerys Martell, was set to inherit Sunspear's princely seat under the terms of their marriage pact. Lucerys was a black-haired boy with the olive skin of the Rhoynar, inheriting both his mother's beauty and his father's strength. Even at a young age, he had already displayed the makings of an excellent heir.
At Riverrun, Lord Elmo Tully—whose health had always been frail—did not survive the long winter. As spring arrived, the Lord Paramount of the Trident, who had earned his renown during the Dance of the Dragons, passed away in his chambers at Riverrun. His young heir, Kermit Tully, assumed his title.
The "Lads" of the Riverlands, who had risen to fame during the war, gradually replaced their fathers and stepped onto the stage of Westerosi politics.
After the young dragon was slain by Dreamfyre, Viserys pondered for a long time. His rational mind told him to return to Dragon's Nest and search the archives. Though House Vaelarys had always kept their deepest dragon-related research well hidden, the great library of the Laurel Tower still held many records on dragons.
Yet, in the end, his sense of duty to his house took precedence.
Viserys decided to establish House Targaryen's own method of dragon hatching.
Through extensive research—from the days before Aegon's Conquest to the reign of King Viserys—he discovered that most Targaryen dragons had hatched within the volcanic Dragonmount of Dragonstone. Only a rare few had hatched in the Dragonpit of King's Landing. However, dragons hatched on Dragonstone often perished due to fighting amongst themselves or suffered from various birth defects.
It was a difficult problem to solve.
By now, nearly all of the dragon eggs stored in the Dragonmount had hatched. Viserys resolved to wait. He would allow the existing dragons to grow strong before hatching new eggs. Once the family reclaimed several adult dragons, he would return the Dragonpit's remaining eggs to Dragonstone for incubation. With fully grown dragons to watch over them, the survival rate of the hatchlings would likely increase significantly.
The year 137 AC passed amidst the joys of spring's arrival.
The year 138 AC arrived quietly, heralded by Diana's bouts of nausea.
Draezell's wife was pregnant once more. To ensure the child's safe birth, Draezell flew with Diana on Vermithor's back to Dragon's Nest.
Ten months later, Draezell welcomed his second son—a beautiful silver-haired boy.
As the child's first cries echoed through Dragonstone's birthing chambers, a long-dormant presence stirred. Skyfyre, who had been unusually silent, suddenly took flight from the Dragonpit. The dragon circled the Silverblood Tower—where Diana had given birth—several times before finally returning to its lair.
Draezell named his son Jacaerys, in memory of the most loyal squire he had ever known—the boy who had followed him faithfully for years, only to perish at his side.
At the end of the same year, Viserys's wife, Lady Larra, became pregnant once again.
In the year 139 AC, she gave birth to a delicate, silver-gold-haired girl.
Viserys named her Naelys.
According to tradition, the girl was meant to marry young Aegon or one of his other offspring. However, after Naelys was born, Aegon consulted his younger brother.
He wanted to betroth Naelys to Jacaerys, who had also just been born.
Of course, this plan never progressed beyond words, as Viserys dismissed it with the reasoning that "the children are still too young; we will discuss it when they are older".
Viserys preferred that the children of House Targaryen marry within the family.
He wanted to ensure that dragonriders would not once again be lost to other houses. However, perhaps because he still harbored doubts about whether his daughter would be able to tame a dragon in the future, he ultimately placed a dragon egg in her cradle.
Unfortunately, just like Aegarax, this one remained lifeless.
That year passed peacefully and steadily within the realm.
There were only a few minor events of note.
In the Vale, Lady Jeyne Arryn succumbed to a sudden fever at the monastery in Gulltown. Before her passing, she once again defended the inheritance rights of Joffrey Arryn.
The transition of power in the Vale proceeded smoothly. Joffrey Arryn, accompanied by Lord Artis Royce and Ser Corwyn Corbray, set sail for King's Landing to pay homage to King Aegon.
After leaving the throne room, Duke Joffrey expressed the same sentiment shared by all who had attended King Aegon's court.
Compared to King Aegon, it was Prince Draezell, seated beside the Iron Throne, who seemed more imposing—more like a true king.
Draezell even earned a new moniker: "the Vice King".
That same year, Prince Qoren Martell passed away peacefully in Sunspear.
As the last independent Prince of Dorne—the man who had lost a thousand years of Dornish sovereignty—Qoren had not faced harsh condemnation. People understood the despair he must have felt upon witnessing eight dragons raze House Yronwood.
Like the North had once come to understand its last King in the North, the Dornish, in these years of peace, gradually came to accept their prince.
He died in tranquility.
Aliandra returned to Sunspear with her son, assuming the title of Princess of Dorne. With her husband positioned in the North, she began laying the groundwork for a navy.
Aegon and Viserys tacitly approved Sunspear's naval ambitions.
In the 140th year since the Conquest, a new Long Summer arrived across Westeros. Even the North, where snow could fall in summer, blossomed with the season's flowers.
From Last Hearth and the Gift to Barrowton, the entire North, under the leadership of Lord Cregan, began planting crops across the land. The Northmen sought to take advantage of this rare Long Summer to stockpile as much grain as possible.
Meanwhile, in the South...
The southern nobility had fully recovered from the devastation wrought by the Dance of the Dragons.
Years of abundant harvests had not only led to population growth but also refilled the coffers of the lords.
The only blemish on this otherwise perfect picture was the decline of Oldtown, which had suffered due to the Iron Throne's inability to properly govern it.
Over time, Oldtown's deterioration became increasingly evident. Fewer and fewer ships chose to dock in its harbor. Once pristine cobbled streets now lay in disrepair, littered with filth. The once-thriving canal network had dried up entirely. Most of the city's bustling population had long since moved away.
The Hightower, already damaged during the post-war purges, had collapsed into ruins years ago, though its black stone foundation remained unscathed.
This city, once the second-largest in Westeros, home to tens of thousands, was gradually fading from history—just like its former rulers, House Hightower.
At least for now.
The future? Who could say?
Speaking of House Hightower...
Ser Gaemond Hightower, Lord of Farwatch Keep, had married the daughter of his castellan, Harvard Cober, three years prior. After fathering a son and a daughter, the young man—who had long imprisoned himself within the tower of his keep—finally succumbed to alcohol poisoning.
His body was only discovered when his wife brought him his meal, as she always did.
The unfortunate Hightower had died clutching a wine bottle in his hands.
Farwatch Keep was barren, but it had a steady supply of goods from the mainland.
It lacked many things—wine was not one of them.
Nor was milk of the poppy.
In God's Hidden Tower, young Maelar Sunfyre had grown into a handsome youth.
Since the day he could remember, his world had consisted only of the small tower he lived in, the ceaseless crashing of the waves, the tavern in the village below Farwatch Keep, and his castellan.
To this day, he still did not even know who his parents were.
In the 141st year since the Conquest, Lady Larra gave birth to Viserys' third child—a silver-haired boy with a piercing cry.
Viserys was elated, convinced that this child would one day become a great dragonrider.
Everyone shared in his joy—everyone except young Aegon.
He feared that his newborn brother would steal his parents' love.
So, when no one was watching, he quietly took his sister's dragon egg and hurled it at his brother.
Fortunately, Lady Larra reacted swiftly and caught the egg in time.
Viserys was furious, scolding young Aegon severely and locking him in a dark room.
Only when Aegon cried and admitted his mistake was he released.
King Aegon, upon hearing the news, failed to persuade his brother to be lenient toward his nephew.
However, the king did secure the right to name the child.
He chose the name "Aemon".
A name once carried with pride by House Targaryen—the first companion of Caraxes, the firstborn son of Jaehaerys I.
Draezell's five-year term as Hand of the King had come to an end that year. Without hesitation, he removed the Hand's badge and prepared to return to Dragon's Nest with his son.
Vaelarys' Black Keep.
The dragons were all restless, even Vermithor, who could sleep for days on end, showed excitement. The bronze fury, massive as a mountain, watched eagerly as Draezell donned his riding gear, ready to take off at a moment's notice.
Starsong, unable to contain its excitement, had already taken a lap through the skies.
The dragonpit of Vaelarys' Black Keep was grand, but it was nowhere near as comfortable as the volcanic caves of Dragon's Nest. Vermithor was impatient to return and continue expanding his ever-growing lair.
Only Candlelight lay lazily at the edge of the dragonpit, its large, watery eyes reflecting a trace of sorrow.
It understood well—Vermithor and Starsong could return to Dragon's Nest, but it could not.
Its bondmate was still here. It would never abandon him.
Rhaegor had grown into a fifteen-year-old youth. His short silver hair retained a fringe that covered one eye, giving him an air of quiet defiance. He had inherited his father's striking features, though his face was even more chiseled, his gaze colder. When he looked at others, they couldn't help but shudder.
"Father."
Samantha stood before them, wearing a gown of Targaryen red and black, draped with a silver-and-purple Vaelarys cloak. A delicate golden crown rested upon her head as she regarded her father and twin brother with quiet composure.
"Samantha." Draezell's expression softened as he looked at his daughter, now a graceful young woman. Though they had not been apart for long, seeing how much she had grown still filled him with bittersweet emotion. "We are returning to Dragonstone."
"Father. Brother." Samantha stepped forward and gently placed her hands upon theirs. "I hope you won't hold it against me. I am the Queen of House Targaryen now. There will be times when I must prioritize my husband's decisions."
"How could we?" Draezell smiled faintly. "My little princess, you will always have my support."
"House Vaelarys will keep its oaths." Rhaegor's voice was solemn as he met his sister's gaze. "Day and night remain unchanged. But Samantha, tell our cousin Viserys that we are well aware of his dealings with House Martell, the Stormlands, and certain individuals in our own lands. We will honor our sacred vows. We expect him to do the same."
Samantha smiled knowingly. She had no illusions that Viserys' actions could escape the intelligence network of her father and brother.
Did he really think Tigarro was idle?
But she also knew how deeply her father and brother loved her—and how terrifyingly rigid Rhaegor was when it came to keeping oaths.
"Brother, may the Seven bless you."
"And you as well, Sister." Rhaegor traced a rough seven-pointed star over his chest. Neither of them held much faith in the Seven, given that their father seemed far closer to godhood than any deity.
But it was habit.
The young man turned away, walking toward Starsong, which had grown tremendously in the past five years.
The black dragon, marked with silver-gold star patterns, had nearly doubled in size. The broad, dish-like horns crowning its head had grown larger as well, now resembling a true king's crown.
In sheer size alone, it was already approaching what Queen Rhaenys' Red Queen, Meleys, had once been. If it continued growing at this rate, by next year, it might surpass Dreamfyre and become the third-largest dragon in Westeros.
The great breeds were monstrous indeed.
"Samantha, I am leaving these fifty guards with you," Draezell said, glancing at the now quieter Black Keep. "And this palace. While we are gone, it belongs to you. Protect yourself, Samantha."
"Do not worry, Father." Samantha turned her gaze to Candlelight, her expression brimming with confidence. "I am your daughter. I will not disappoint you."
In her heart, she made a silent vow.
I will be the bridge that forever binds House Vaelarys and House Targaryen.
Draezell watched his daughter for a long time before he finally sighed and turned toward Vermithor.
The dragons' roars echoed over King's Landing. That day, the city's people once again witnessed the ascent of Vermithor and Starsong.
King's Landing, Red Keep, Maegor's Holdfast.
Watching the two dragons disappear into the sky, Viserys exhaled quietly, then immediately scolded himself for it.
At that moment, little Aegon's voice called out.
"Father, Father! Come quick—little brother is looking for you!"