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Rating:
Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning:
Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Categories:
F/MF/F
Fandoms:
Game of Thrones (TV)House of the Dragon (TV)A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. MartinA Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms
Relationships:
Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laenor VelaryonRhaenyra Targaryen & Daenerys TargaryenAlicent Hightower & Rhaenyra TargaryenHelaena Targaryen & Rhaenyra TargaryenLaena Velaryon/Daemon Targaryen/Daenerys TargaryenAegon II Targaryen & Rhaenyra TargaryenAemond "One-Eye" Targaryen & Daemon TargaryenJon Snow & Daemon TargaryenDaemon Targaryen/Daenerys TargaryenJon Snow & Daenerys Targaryen
Characters:
Laenor VelaryonRhaenys Targaryen VelaryonLucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Jacaerys VelaryonDaenerys TargaryenDrogon | Daenerys Targaryen's DragonAlicent HightowerDaemon TargaryenAegon II TargaryenAemond "One-Eye" TargaryenVhagar (ASoIaF)Rhaenyra TargaryenHelaena TargaryenLaena Velaryon (Daughter of Corlys)Caraxes | Daemon Targaryen's DragonVermithor | Jaehaerys I Targaryen's DragonJon SnowGhost | Jon Snow's DirewolfMelisandre (A Song of Ice and Fire)
Additional Tags:
Time TravelTime Travel Fix-ItDragon POV - FreeformWhite Walkers (A Song of Ice and Fire)ProphecyDreamsDance of the DragonsReconciliationPoliticsAlternate Universe - Canon DivergenceSome RomanceFamilyRhaegal livesGood Sibling Rhaenyra TargaryenHelaena Targaryen Joins Team BlackAemond does not lose an eyeSome angstHurt/Comfortsiblings bondingTime ShenanigansBlood MagicThe Long Night (A Song of Ice and Fire)One-Sided Jon Snow/Daenerys TargaryenJealous Jon Snow
Language:
English
Series:
Part 1 of The Wings of Time Next Work →
Collections:
🌑 𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 🌑
Stats:
Published:2023-09-27Updated:2026-07-08Words:479,849Chapters:115/130Comments:6,122Kudos:9,244Bookmarks:1,865Hits:519,728
Dragons, Dreams, and Second Chances
BearlyMadeIt
Chapter 6
Chapter Text
"What is your name?" Rhaenyra asked at last, while they walked along the beach. Her dragon had to be here somewhere. They finally had time for the more mundane things. Like asking for names.
The girl looked at her slightly funny. "Daenerys –" and the rest got drowned out in a roar. She twitched, looked up – Rhaenyra could see the flicker of panic in her eyes – and then a smile spread across her face.
"Drogon!"
Her dragon flew towards them, landing right in front of her, and nudged her ever so carefully. She stroked his head, fingers dancing along his scales.
"You are good," she whispered. The dragon rumbled lowly at her and nudged her again.
Rhaenyra stepped away some, watching them with a small smile. Whatever or not had happened with the other dragons, the bond with his one was strong. Which made the others attacking her ever more unlikely. When the poor girl burst into tears, the black dragon curled around her, shielding her with his wing.
---
Drogon hated watching mother cry. She had started sobbing again; pressed against his side and cried. He knew, of course. He felt her grief. They were all gone. Mother would cry for a good while, he guessed. Maybe forever as soon as she thought of those who were lost.
But she shouldn't be sad! Not right now, anyway. She was fine! Still weak, Drogon could smell it on her, just as he could feel her flying heartbeat, but she was fine! Mother was alive and she would be okay. He would be okay too. And there were dragons!
After a while, when Drogon judged the crying finally had to end, he nudged her carefully, rumbling softly. Daenerys smiled weakly and patted him again, wiping her tears away with little success. He rumbled again and got up, bowing down towards her. He had to show her the dragons. She had to know!
---
Daenerys watched Drogon bow and again the odd fear rushed over her. He had spotted dead, hadn't he? As if they could outrun them forever. Patiently let her cry a bit, and then back to the real problem. He grumbled at her, sounding impatient by now.
She glanced at Rhaenyra, who surely wouldn't appreciate it if she just got up and flew away. Then again if she saw them… everything would be solved…
"I think he wants to show me something. Do you want to come along?"
Rhaenyra nodded and stepped closer, watching in slight awe how the girl simply climbed on her dragon and took hold of some horns, riding it like the old days – without a saddle. Well, of course, she wouldn't have one if they stayed hidden the entire time.
"Sure." When she didn't see any dead, maybe she would finally calm down. Realize they weren't about to die, how insane everything sounded. While climbing atop the dragon, finding a spot to hold onto behind the girl, Rhaenyra felt worry sneak into her. What did the dragon want to show her, though? If the girl fully believed it, maybe the dragon went along with her as well, followed her cues, and if the dragon wanted to show her something…
While Drogon jumped into the air, beating his wings, she feared for the slightest second to see dead after all. Corpses emerging from the waves, scaling the beaches of her island. Her stomach tensed. Seven hells. The girl was convincing. Insane, but convincing.
She didn't see dead scaling the beaches. Dragonstone was as calm and peaceful as ever. She saw her guards stationed underneath, a few ships in the harbor, flying the three-headed dragon. And then Drogon turned and descended towards the Dragonmount.
---
Daenerys watched the island beneath them in slight disbelief. Guards were stationed everywhere, ships flying the three-headed dragon anchored nearby. No sign of the dead anywhere. But why? They had to be here by now. They just had to be. They had caught up to Drogon and her so often and so quickly, and suddenly… they just did not? Why would the woman plaster everything with Targaryen colors and then not know her? Even have to ask her name.
Glancing over her shoulder, she truly looked at her for the first time. She looked perfectly calm, holding onto some horns. As if flying wasn't bothering her all too much. As if… just as if… she was used to it?
That one didn't make any sense. Nothing was making sense right now. If Drogon didn't want to show her the dead approaching then… well, what then?
When her dragon descended towards the Dragonmount, she snorted ever so lowly. Really?
And then the weirdness kept going. Drogon landed… and there were still more people here. One of the men bowed slightly.
"Princess."
What? Daenerys stared at him. Why would he –
Drogon trotted on, towards the caves.
"My lady, I –" the man started, stepping closer to Drogon, who growled at him.
"It's okay," Rhaenyra said softly and he backed off. "Get us a torch."
Soon enough, they climbed off Drogon, while he led them through the caves.
Daenerys followed uneasily. Everything felt off. Entirely and completely off. Why would the man address her as princess? And then switch to my lady right after? She glanced at Rhaenyra again, frowning. She had given the command.
He had meant… her?
But there weren't any other...
Her thoughts ripped when something growled. Something other than Drogon, who was right beside her. He stopped and Daenerys turned her head, staring at the bronze giant in utter disbelief. The fire of the torch was dancing across the walls of the caves, along its scales, creating an even more unreal feeling.
Daenerys just stood and stared.
It growled again but didn't move closer. A silvery dragon beside it raised its head, eyeing them curiously, and then turned away again.
Daenerys stood frozen for what felt like forever.
Two dragons.
And worse of all, she knew them.
"Vermithor," she whispered in utter disbelief. And Silverwing. But he was dead. They were both dead. For centuries now. He died during the dance at Tumbleton and she…
… she…
Daenerys felt as if something snapped in her head, while things fell into place. Vermithor was alive. Silverwing was alive.
She turned her head and stared at the woman. Valyrian silver-gold hair and violet eyes. Rhaenyra. Princess Rhaenyra. Not bothered by flying. Not believing the North was gone, because it obviously was not gone. There were no dead to speak of.
"Can I… can I see… Syrax as well, maybe? Please?" She somehow got together.
Rhaenyra looked at her for a long moment, nodded and turned, leading the way this time. Daenerys followed her, feeling all numb, while her head raced away. Drogon followed curiously.
Princess Rhaenyra. Dragonstone decorated in their colors. Vermithor. She was sure she would see Syrax as well. She could see Arrax and Vermax and all the others too. If she flew Drogon to Driftmark, she would find Rhaenys and Corlys. If she flew him to Kings Landing, she would find the dragon pit – full of dragons – with Viserys I sitting the Iron Throne. All of them were dead.
How? She wondered, but, of course, did not find an answer. How, how, how?
She didn't know. For once, not knowing did not bother her all too much. She knew what she was seeing. Watching the dead walk did things to her, she guessed. Made everything plausible.
Still, she was numb and freaked out when they reached the golden dragon. Syrax growled happily upon seeing Rhaenyra. The older woman walked to her, smiling all happy, and stroked her head.
"Daenerys?" She asked and turned towards her. The poor girl looked as if she had seen the Stranger. She motioned for her, and Daenerys stepped beside her. Rhaenyra took her hand and pressed it against Syrax' warm scales.
"That's Daenerys, Syrax."
Her dragon growled a greeting, eyeing the young dragon girl curiously.
---
The rest of the day flew by like in a shadow. Daenerys watched Seasmoke land while they walked back to the castle. Watched Laenor Velaryon hop off. Rhaenyra walked towards them, and they whispered among each other. An older woman joined them soon enough.
Rhaenys, Daenerys thought, and still just stared.
They were all dead.
Maybe she was as well. Maybe she had never survived the fight with Viserion. Was this heaven, then? One of the seven heavens or… she hadn't paid much attention to the faith of the seven. But this? Heaven? If she was in heaven, she'd sit the Iron Throne. Or… or be with Drogo and their –
Their son. The vision she had had so long ago jumped into her mind. Drogo and their son waiting in a tent beyond the wall. But she wasn't with them. This weren't the Shadowlands.
Han't Bran been able to see the past? A shiver ran down her spine. Maybe this was the past. Maybe, somehow, when the Night King attacked her…
She brooded about all the impossibilities that came to mind, pacing around in her tiny room. Turning things, mulling over thoughts, trying to think of anything and everything. But she never got anywhere, never finding an explanation that made enough sense. Maybe none of this made sense anyway. She was sure she was alive. That was about all.
When darkness started to fall, a guard came to escort her to the main hall. The painted table. Entering, she saw Rhaenyra and Laenor talk among each other again.
Rhaenyra glanced at her. "Give us a moment, my lady."
Daenerys merely nodded and slowly walked through the room, her fingers touching the painted table, moving along its mountains and valleys as she walked. Westeros. The Seven Kingdoms. Stopping, she stared outside. She could still make out Drogon all curled up on the beach. A red dragon – Meleys, most likely – beside him.
And again, something clicked. It felt so loud, the others might have heard it if it wasn't in her head.
'To go forward you must go back, and to touch the light you must pass beneath the shadow', Quaithe had told her, long, long ago. Another shiver ran down her spine. Daenerys hadn't expected it to be so literal. She had passed beneath the shadow, hadn't she? Nearly died for it. To think she thought the woman told her to go to Asshai. To think going back to the Dothraki was the key.
If this was the past, if this was real, and if this was her fate all along then…
She turned and looked at Rhaenyra, who looked at her by now, watching her with the slightest frown. Rhaenyra. House Targaryen had never been as powerful as they were now. They never had as many dragons as they had now.
With a sinking feeling, she slowly realized what she had to do.
Stop the Dance from happening.
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