Chapter 199 [Vault]

Title - HOTD: The Last Dragonlord | Chapter 4 | Female MC

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[3rd POV] [2 Years Prior, 113 AC | 15 Years since the Birth of Rhaenyra Targaryen]

It had been a…complicated last few years for Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. With her best friend Alicent Hightower marrying her father who was more than double her age. With the birth of her younger half-brother Prince Aegon Targaryen. 

Rhaenyra remembered the past, when she could enjoy her life with Alicent, when they would read under the comfort of the tree’s within the Godswood, giggling about random things and reading stories about Nymeria and other women of the past. 

She remembered the friendship they had held with one another, and of the strain it was now under. Her own friend married her father, bearing him a son, the son he had always wanted, the son that her mother had died trying to give him, the son that would likely take her throne. 

Rhaenyra hadn’t talked to Alicent in quite some time now, besides meeting Aegon for the first time, she hadn’t interacted with either of them at all. She still worked as the cupbearer, but even then she could hear the whispers and talks about her brother, the brother many were already calling the heir. 

She wanted nothing more than to work on the small council, to prove that she had what it takes to rule. But her father was…well, her father was a fool, plain and simple. 

At the moment Rhaenyra stood in the small council, serving drinks to the members that wanted them, while listening in to what they speak of. 

“The war in the stepstones is progressing slowly, your grace. Prince Daemon and Lord Corlys are struggling against the Triarchy, with their soldiers hiding out within caves and crevices in order to avoid the fires of Caraxes. Perhaps it is best that we send more men in order to aid them?” Tyland Lannister offered, as Viserys scoffed. 

“No, this is a war they have started, let them deal with it on their own. I will not sacrifice more lives for some useless conflict” Viserys replied, waving off the man's worry, as the conflict in the stepstones was beginning to grow more and more, and it was beginning to cause some serious issues. 

”But your grace-“ Tyland began, only to stop as the doors to the small council room had slammed open, a wide eyed servant walking in, panting and red faced. 

“What is the meaning of this?!” Viserys yelled as he got to his feet. 

“I- Pant I’m sorry your grace, but news has just arrived from Essos!” The man said, panting as he began to control his breathing the best that he could. 

“What about Essos? Is it the Stepstones? Has something happened?” Viserys asked, alarmed at the mention of Essos. 

“No your grace…it’s-“ “Out with it man!” Otto yelled, the man breathing in as he spoke. Spoke the words that got shock and wide eyed reactions from everyone in the room, including the Princess. 

“Slaver's Bay has fallen!”

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What had followed was whispers and reactions of shock throughout the realms of Westeros. Confusion had been the biggest reaction, as who could have conquered Slaver's Bay? And how could they have done it with no one even realizing?

For the next several months, more and more news flooded in from Essos. Of the fall of Qarth, of the conquering of several minor cities around Essos, of the new ships that patrolled the seas and controlled the Jade Gates. 

All of this was alarming, but it was once they received the next piece of news 3 moons after the last, that they truly knew that something big was happening in Essos. 

”What do you mean Volantis has been conquered?!” Viserys roared, slamming his fist against the small council table, the other members silent as they processed the news. 

“Your grace, our spies have sent word that Volantis now flies a new banner, as do all cities under this unknown individual. We believe that the news has been…delayed, that the conquering of the cities has been hidden for some time now. Perhaps to prepare themselves for the…side effects of such a change” The man informed Viserys, as the small council frowned. 

“And how is such a thing possible? Volantis is known to be impenetrable, not even dragons can break through the walls of the inner city, not without immense difficulty” Lord Lyonel Strong, Master of Laws asked. 

“We do not know, my lord. All we know is that Volantis has been conquered by an unknown force, and more and more cities are flying the same banner” The man said. 

“What banner?” Otto asked, causing the man to breathe in, before reaching into his pocket. 

“This one, my lord” The man said, handing Otto the letter, his eyes widening upon seeing the banner at the bottom that the spy had drawn. A rather clumsy drawing of a black dragon on a red field. 

“A dragon? They fly the banner of a dragon?” Viserys asked with a frown, not liking that piece of news. To hear that another dares to fly a banner related to dragons, and to do something like this. 

“This may cause some scrutiny by opposing forces from Essos, especially those that wish to take those cities back” Lyonel said with a frown, not liking the way this may go. 

“Th-there is more, your grace” The man said, cringing at the way everyone looked at him. 

“What? What could there possibly be that is more important than that?” Otto was the one to ask this question, as the man breathed in. 

“There have been…sightings, your grace. Sightings of new, unknown dragons flying over Volantis” The man informed them, as they all went silent, with Rhaenyra being the one to ask the question on their mind. 

“How many?”

”five, at least. All of them being estimated to be the size of Meleys at the very least. We suspect there is more, as there have been whispers of a great golden dragon that commands lightning and rained hell upon pirates that attempted to attack Qarth, believing it weak after the conquering” The man said, looking down as Viserys collapsed into his chair with a shudder filled breath. 

“And-and the validity of these…claims?”

”Every spy within the area all are saying the same thing, your grace” The man informed him. 

“What does this mean? Shouldn’t we get into contact with them, father? To find out who they are and how it is that they have dragons?” Rhaenyra asked, as such an individual must be found, for the fate of the House of Targaryen. 

“…No, no. We will wait and see what other cities this…individual has conquered in secret. And we cannot cause further strife with Essos, not with the war in the Stepstones” Viserys ordered, as they all nodded, agreeing that waiting was for the best. 

“But father, wouldn’t it be better for one of us to personally meet them? Uncle is already in the area, perhaps he can. Or you can even send me, I have Syrax, so I am sure I will be safe” Rhaenyra said, as the man shook his head rapidly. 

“No, we will not risk a war with whoever this man is. Not with the dragons he owns, 5 fully grown dragons the size of Meleys the Red Queen is not something we can take lightly, and I will not start a war with someone else who has dragons” Viserys said sternly, before turning back to the man that had been reporting on the Essos.

”Keep your eyes out for more news on this…dragon rider. Should the revelations on their territories finish for more than 6 moons, inform me. And should you find out any more on the individual themselves, make sure to inform me personally” Viserys ordered, as the man bowed in response before leaving the room. 

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”…Norvos, Qohor, Lorath, and Volantis. This man controls 4 of the nine free cities. Their trade has increased well beyond their previous levels, and now they no longer deal with slaves, and yet, they make even more coin than before” Viserys said to his council. It had been quite a year since the information continued to flood in. 

Of the conquest of Norvos, Qohor, and Lorath. Of the slaughter of Dothraki and the assimilation of them into the armies of the unknown man, the 6th dragon that was sighted, of the fact the banner of the unknown individual was now seen on ships around the world, quite a few of which was in the ports throughout Westeros for trade and selling product. 

“Your grace, perhaps it is time we get into contact with this unknown man. It has been more than 6 moons since the last cities were revealed to have been conquered” Lyonel said, as several more members of the small council nodded in agreement. 

“I agree, your grace. It would be ill advised to ignore the existence of another who commands dragons, 6 at that. I believe an invitation to this unknown man would be for the best, especially with the increase of trade we are receiving thanks to him” The Master of Coin, Lyman Beesbury said. 

“…Bring me a paper, I shall write the letter immediately. Let us hope that this…King of the Dragon Lands of Essos, is willing to meet with us” Viserys ordered, as they all nodded. 

“And what if he does, father?” Rhaenyra asked. 

“Then I believe we may have found you a husband, daughter. One that I hope you won’t be able to deny” Viserys said, giving her a pointed look, as she still hadn’t been wed, and she was still going on a progress throughout the Kingdoms within the next few days, one that would last quite some time. 

Rhaenyra didn’t respond, as she simply went silent, wondering who this unknown man could be, and whether or not he truly could become her husband. 

…Oh how little they knew, for around a year later, after Rhaenyra’s progress, the entirety of Westeros, if not the world, would get the shock of a lifetime, as the ruler of the new Kingdom was revealed. 

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That’s the end of the chapter!

As said before, the love interest is Rhaenyra and Laena. Laena has been aged up ever so slightly, so she is 2 years older, being 17 by the time Balegelle meets her instead of 15, and making her a year younger than Rhaenyra. 

Anyways, have a good day!