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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 8
Summary:
Daenerys and Rhaenyra talk about the Dance.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"You said Aemond will kill Lucerys."
"Yes." Daenerys hesitated. "Aegon will be crowned king. You send your sons to the Starks and Baratheons to remind them of their oaths. Lucerys never returns."
Rhaenyra exhaled audibly.
"A civil war follows. It will be known as the Dance of the Dragons. You and Aegon and nearly all your dragons die before the end."
A long silence followed while Rhaenyra tried to wrap her head around it. Just a couple sentences, but… It sounded like the fall of their house.
"I believe I must stop it." Daenerys shook her head. "That sounds insane too."
Rhaenyra smiled without much joy. It did, indeed.
"You could declare for Aegon." She looked at the girl closely now. Daenerys could just kill her and be done with it.
Daenerys snorted. "For the drunken usurper cunt of a king? Never." She fell quiet. "Daemon said that allegedly. I always liked it."
Rhaenyra smiled somewhat. "Does sound like him."
"No, I… My brother always hated you. Said you were the worst thing to ever happen to our house. I didn't think so. They stole your crown. I always listened to his stories, hoping they would end differently." Daenerys smiled. "A Queen ascending the throne. If you could... I could too." The dreams of a little girl. But her brother had been King. Just thinking otherwise had been dangerous back then.
"Hm." Rhaenyra looked at her for a few moments. "You barely know me."
"Well…" True. "You saved me. You did not give me a reason to doubt you are a good person." Another pause. "I am your descendent. If I get you killed earlier, what happens to me?"
They both fell quiet. Strange to even think about.
Daenerys rummaged around beneath her mattress. "Here." And handed her a parchment.
Rhaenyra took hold, unfolded it, and then read it with ever-growing horror. They would declare Aegon king. Luce died, Rhaenys died, Jace died, Daemon died. They would all die.
"It sounds as if I go insane."
"They did call you Maegor with teats."
"Charming." And reasonable. She saw plots and betrayals at every corner based on this. "If this is true, maybe…" maybe she should bend the knee to Aegon. Easiest way to avoid war.
Syrax would get murdered by a fucking mob? She stared at the line in disbelief. Nearly all their dragons would get killed. Just like that. Joffrey died trying to get to them. Her head was starting to spin, only it got ever worse.
"I get eaten by his dragon?!"
In the Dragonmount, in her comfy warm cave, Syrax growled. She felt the odd urge to check up on her little one.
"Hm-hm."
Maybe she shouldn't bend the knee to Aegon. Maybe she should have him killed in his sleep. Pay someone to do the deed. Daemon would know –
No. She would not kill her family unless it absolutely had to be.
"How… how would you stop it?"
"I think a lot hinges on… the Hightower man. The Hand of your father. He always wanted you removed from the line of succession, have Aegon crowned. Hightower blood ruling the realm." The benefit of hindsight.
For a slight moment, Rhaenyra smiled. "Otto is not Hand of the King. Lyonel Strong is. He's a good man."
"He dies in a fire."
"Oh." She looked back at the first line. "You did not write that down."
"I… I thought it happened already." She hesitated but then went on. "It did not seem important in comparison."
Rhaenyra hummed lowly. True, in a way. The greens getting Vhagar…
"What do you think of Alicent?"
"She's scheming against you, yes, but at the end of the day it's her father's bidding."
Rhaenyra sighed and nodded. Damn Hightowers. If only… If only her father had never married again. Never had more children. She knew why, of course. To strengthen their house. What irony to see it all come crashing down.
"Can I take this with me?" She gestured at the parchment. "I have to think."
Daenerys nodded. "Of course."
---
Rhaenyra went on disturbing peaceful sleep. Next was Rhaenys, while her guards went to wake their maester and order the Dragonkeepers to get Meleys ready for travel.
"Rhaenys?" She shook her carefully.
"Hmm?"
Rhaenys took longer to wake up. But in the end, she too blinked, looking at her confused. "Rhaenyra?"
"You have to fly for Pentos. Right this moment."
Rhaenys looked at her confused. "Is this about… Laenor said you…"
"It does not matter anymore. I want you to fly to Laena. Just to be careful."
If any of their dragons could make it, it would be Meleys. Fastest of them all.
"Let me… let me get dressed and…"
"What else do you need? I will have my guards get everything. They are getting Meleys ready as well." Not the guards themselves, of course.
Rhaenys stared at her and finally sat up. "Why… Why are you so worried?" She asked, starting to worry herself now. Would something happen to Laena? And if something happened to Laena, would something happen to Laenor as well?
"The girl told me something only I can know."
Rhaenys stared at her. "What was it?"
"Not now," Rhaenyra said. "When you are back." Would give her more time to think as well, while simultaneously taking care of the biggest problem. "I will send Maester Gerardys along with you." He would hate a dragon flight, lest alone a rushed one, but there was nothing to be done about it. "Unless you insist on getting your Maester from Driftmark."
"What... Why... What is going on?"
Rhaenyra shook her head. "Hurry. If need be, I will command you."
For a few more seconds, Rhaenys stared at her, wanting to ask, wanting to know, no, to demand – it was about her daughter! – but… she already knew all there was to know, for right now, anyway. Laena was in danger and Rhaenyra was scared.
"Get me food and drink for the day. Whatever the maester may need. Good ropes as well. Binding him to Meleys will make things easier."
She was used to flying, to how her dragon turned and shifted. The poor maester was not.
---
Laenor slowly opened his eyes. There were people running in the corridor. No screaming, thankfully, no…
He nearly fell asleep again. Until he realized Rhaenyra was not with him. Her half of the bed was empty and cold. He sat upright. Normally, nothing to worry about, he wouldn't even bother, but together with the running…
Something had happened. Must have. Viserys. Was he dead? Had a letter come?
He got up, dressed himself in a blind hurry and stepped outside. The running had ceased. Their personal guards were still there, manning the door, which meant it couldn't be too bad. Hopefully.
"What is going on?"
The man simply shrugged. "I do not know, my lord."
"Where is the princess?"
"She went to talk to the girl, I believe."
The girl? Daenerys? He made it halfway to her chamber when frantic screaming caught his attention. He ran for the closest window, already expecting the worst, and watched Meleys take flight.
What? Why? Why at that hour? It was still pitch-black outside!
Besides… His mother would never scream. Who then… While the red dragon ascended, she passed by the outer wall. Flickering torchlight illuminated her scales for just a second. He could see his lady mother, stern as ever, and… Laenor stared. Their maester. Roped to dragon back.
"What in the seven hells..."
He found Rhaenyra down by the stairs to the yard, staring into the night sky, her light nightgown fluttering in the wind. Maybe watching Meleys who was long out of sight.
"What happened?" Laenor asked. Somehow, he always asked her what happened lately.
Rhaenyra glanced at him and stayed quiet for a while. A long while. He didn't ask again.
"What the girl said…," Rhaenyra said at last. "Maybe it were dreams."
Notes:
Rhaenyra obviously lied at the end, but saying the girl dreamt is the easiest way. Dreams they'll understand without question.
I really liked this chapter, although not much happens. The pieces are finally moving!
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