Dragonlord Chapter 170: New songs

The great hall of Avalon was lit by the starlight of the enchanted ceiling and the blue bell flames burning away in the braziers lining the pillars holding the hall. The sweet scent of apple trees filled the hall, a testament to his climate control wards, which repelled the Northern winter’s onslaught inside Avalon and in its surrounding areas.

Though the wards kept the cold at bay, he still allowed the snow to fall in small quantities once a week, preferably on the public holiday. It was not enough to clog up the street, but mainly for the benefit of the children who loved to play in the snow.

Establishing the public holiday was one of the first administrative decisions he pushed forward upon his return. The idea was born out of Arianne’s suggestion to build a water garden like the one in Dorne, where children from all walks of life were allowed to enjoy their childhood.

Harry was sceptical at first about the idea, considering he had built the Sea Dragon’s Academy as a centre of learning and a place where children could enjoy their childhood. But upon further reflection, he came to realise water gardens and other such publicly accessible spots could bring some joy to a child’s life. His focus on utility and martial inclinations blinded him to the finer things in life, a point his wife had successfully highlighted.

To that effect, Harry decided not just to build the water gardens but also ice-themed parks.

With his magic, making those two ideas a reality was as easy as making a pie. He declared a snow day for the week and granted a weekend holiday for all non-essential services in the city.

It was a test to gauge how the people would respond to the new policy. There were some complaints from merchants when he announced the policy, so he made it a half-day holiday in sectors that rely heavily on daily operations. At the same time, he offered the option for people not to take the holiday and show up for work, but at an extra pay rate.

That seems to have balanced some of the employer-employee disgruntlement quite easily.

Anyway, it was still in an experimental phase. If it showed success, he’d order the construction of water gardens and ice parks for families to enjoy during the weekend holiday.

Other than that, the court held in the great hall brought forth some grievances of the merchants, farmers, some seeking lesser taxes, while others sought to settle individual disputes over grazing lands. After dealing with many of the day’s common petitions, he dismissed the court.

Maester Marwyn came to him with a small roll of parchment.

“What is it?” Harry asked, taking a parchment hosting a familiar script.

“A raven from Westwatch-by-the-bridge, my lord. The First Ranger himself led the sortie against the wildlings of the Ice-river clan. They attempted to navigate the Gorge using several rowboats. The rangers broke them—burned their craft, slew those who came ashore.”

The Gorge was a weak place in the Wall’s long strength, a place where the river could facilitate the Wildlings to sail around the Wall. That the wildlings had dared to force it was troubling enough. It meant the wildlings were becoming more daring and organised enough to work together to build boats.

Harry leaned forward on his throne.

“And my brother?”

“Prince Jon crossed the Wall upon Sundancer and burned the wildling boats on the Gorge.” said Marwyn.

Harry read as much from the brief note scribbled on the parchment. He disliked the fact that Jon went beyond the Wall with Sundancer. The dragon was a tempting target for the Walkers to focus on that specific area.

“Contact Jon through the two-way mirror. Impress upon him the need to always use the armour plating for Sundancer when he’s in battle.” Harry said sharply.

“I shall do so promptly, my prince.”

Harry nodded in dismissal, but Marwyn lingered, earning his attention.

“Is there something else, maester?” Harry asked with a raised brow.

“Alaenera has returned to Avalon as per your wishes.” Marwyn said gently.

“Really!” Harry sat up with excitement at the news, “When did she arrive?”

“Early in the morning, my prince. I thought the girl deserved some rest after the long journey, and you had prior engagements planned for today.” Marwyn said, looking slightly uncomfortable.

Harry eyed the man out of the corner of his eyes but sighed dismissively.

“Where is she?” Harry asked.

“In her chambers.”

“Manage anything else that requires my presence for the day. I’ll be with Alaenera.” Harry commanded.

“As you will.” Marwyn nodded.

He walked into the familiar chambers he had assigned for Alaenera after she was brought to Avalon from Tyrosh. He had spent many a night in these chambers, so every curtain, every nook and cranny of the chamber was extremely familiar to him.

Upon entering the chamber, setting his sights on Alaenera, Harry frowned. He immediately sensed something was off upon seeing the way she was dressed. Her collection of sheer silk dresses was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she wore more Northern-style cotton, a radical change for a woman who preferred the delicate silks of the Essos.

“Lord Harrio… I mean, Prince Harrion.” Alaenera corrected herself as she curtsied.

“Alaenera? What is all this?” Harry asked slowly, freaked out by this radical change of behaviour. “Why are you talking like that?”

Harry moved closer and snaked his left hand around Alaenera’s waist and pulled her against him.

“I… I’m pregnant.”

Of all the things Harry expected Alaenera to say, he never thought this could be it.

Harry stared at her with a gaping mouth and wide eyes for a few seconds.

“You’re pregnant?” Harry asked slowly.

Alaenera nodded, her eyes dropping low.

Harry stared at her for a moment before laughing freely, the sound of his laughter booming inside the chamber. With a flick of his wrist, the doors to the chamber slowly swung closed.

Just when he heard the doors click shut, he swept Alaenera off her feet in his arms and twirled her around. He set her down and kissed her firmly on the lips.

When he pulled back, a wide smile was on his face, while Alaenera’s eyes lit up, and there was a brief smile on her face as well.

“Is this why you ran away? Did you think I’d be upset?” Harry asked, cupping her cheeks while looking into her amethyst eyes. “Did you think I’d wish for you to be far away? I had told you this is your home and offered you my protection.”

“I thought I’d be a burden.” Alaenera’s lips trembled. “I thought I’d not be welcome in Avalon. I feared what Princess Arianne might do.”

She laid a hand upon her belly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“You silly woman.” Harry sighed. “Arianne knows about us, and she has no issue with you. She’ll have no issue with our children as well.”

Harry took a deep breath and calmed himself. He had many choice words to say to Alaenera for her stupidity, but he kept them at bay in favour of consoling her. He had to remember that she was a woman who did not trust easily, due to her life experiences.

“You will remain in Avalon. You and the child. None shall harm you, none shall scorn you. The child will have my name and my protection.” Harry said firmly.

In unequivocal terms, Harry made this clear so that there was no doubt remaining in Alaenera’s mind.

He spent the next hour by Alaenera’s side. During that time, he realised pregnancy had somehow affected his paramour’s behaviour and state of mind. It had made her far too fragile, which prompted Harry to assign more healers and caretakers for Alaenera during her pregnancy.  

He also decided to alleviate the biggest fear Alaenera harboured by calling in Arianne and Nymeria into her chambers. Though he felt an initial displeasure from Arianne, it disappeared almost immediately once he explained what Alaenera went through. His wife, when compassionate, loved fiercely and without preconditions. So, he was happy to note that Arianne quickly took Alaenera under her wing, and they were fast becoming friends.

With that dealt with, Harry retired to his solar where more serious matters required his attention. On his desk lay one of the prospective designs of the temple for the Maiden of the Light. The design appealed to his aesthetic sense, as it featured seven towers and seven consecutive doors leading into the temple. He hoped to turn the towers into healing centres for the people, while the temple itself would offer free afternoon meals upon completion. But no spetons or septas would be allowed to take possession of the temple.

The chances of the Faith simply usurping the temple from his control were too high. The only place in the North where the Andal faith remained was in White Harbour. He had no intention to change that particular dynamic.

However, the design was not yet finalised. There was still time for builders to present their designs. So far, Harry liked this particular design from the many that came before his eyes.

‘I suppose I’ll make a final decision once I return from my trip to Lannisport.’ Harry mused.

Elsera was responsible for making arrangements to stock the Nimbus with all necessary supplies and assemble the crew. When Harry was ready to depart Avalon and arrived at the harbour to board the ship, the Nimbus stood ready to wage a lone wolf war on the Westerlands if need be. It was packed with enough wildfire caches to set the whole kingdom on fire. It was not something on his agenda as the Nimbus was a ship he designed to fight in the Long Night.

But he could still use it to scare the Westerlanders into doing his bidding. And that was crucial as his war aim revolved around forcing the Westerlands into a union with the Riverlands. He was still working out precisely what that union would look like, but without the input from his grandfather and Lord Leo Lefford, he was drawing blanks.

“Why the long face?” Nymeria asked as she waltzed into his view, dressed in a long silk dress with a slit on the front exposing her long legs.

Harry stared at Nymeria with a raised eyebrow, surprised by her sudden appearance.

“What are you doing here?” Harry asked in surprise.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m coming with you.” Nymeria said smoothly with a lopsided smile.

“To the Westerlands?” Harry asked incredulously.

“Why are you so surprised? Do you think any daughter of Prince Oberyn would pass on a chance to see the Lannisters being destroyed?” Nymeria asked with a roll of her dark eyes.

“I don’t plan on destroying the Lannisters.” Harry said slowly.

“Really?” Nymeria arched one of her curvy dark brows. “I understand you plan to capture Lannisport. How do you intend to take it? By asking nicely?”

“As a matter of fact, I’m planning to ask nicely. Also, at the moment, Lannisport’s lord is Axel Florent, not any Lannister.” Harry reminded his lover.

“All the more entertainment for me, I guess.” Nymeria said with a shrug of her shoulders, which did interesting things to the rest of her body thanks to the sensual way she moved.

Harry took a deep breath to calm his racing heart and his raging hormones that made him look too long at Nymeria’s long legs. Going by the sultry smile on her soft ruby lips, she noticed and was enjoying the attention.

Harry cleared his throat and regained some sense of control.

“Still, what makes you think I’ll allow you to travel with me to a warzone?” Harry asked in a flat tone.

“Because I can keep your bed warm at night,” Nymeria whispered throatily as she moved closer to him with her dark eyes pinning his grey ones. “And my cousin insists that you do not make any other woman pregnant before she is carrying your heir in her womb.”

“What?” Harry was ashamed to admit that his voice now resembled a penguin.

Once again, he cursed his young body, which pumped blood into certain parts of his body, leaving the more important bits in the lurch. He cleared his throat and tried to regain his bearings, but it became progressively difficult when one long leg of Nymeria snaked around his as she pressed her body against his intimately.

“Arianne has accepted your paramour, Alaenera. She and I have accepted the Tyroshi, but we never imagined you’d put a child in her belly so early. Then you had to go ahead and promise to legitimise the child, making it the eldest in the line of succession.”

“But Alaenera will have no bearing in the succession of Dorne.” Harry said with a glare.

“No, but her child could claim Avalon. Not that Arianne has any problem with it. Any child of yours will be treated as hers own. She’s not a typical southern lady.” Nymeria said with a pointed stare when he opened his mouth to object.

“Then why this sudden caution?” Harry asked, setting aside the question of Avalon’s succession, as there were clear agreements regarding that between his father and Lord Doran.

Harry had no plans to change those agreements without consent from Arianne.

“Because she doesn’t want any more surprises from you. She is a Princess of Dorne, and she intends to rule the deserts of Dorne after Uncle Doran’s time. She doesn’t want anyone casting doubts on her relationship with you back in Dorne. She can dismiss the rumours that will inevitably surface about you and Alaenera. But more women might invite the Dornish lords to challenge her authority and succession more openly.”

“So, her idea to dissuade me from taking other women to bed is to throw you at me?” Harry asked, amusedly.

“Am I not enough for the Black Wolf of the North?” Nymeria asked throatily, rubbing her palms against his chest while her hot breath fell on his neck, making the hair on the back of his neck stand straight.

“Mmhmm.” Harry murmured, not trusting his voice as he sweated a bit under Nymeria’s sinful eyes.

“That’s what I thought.” Nymeria smirked before pressing a chaste kiss against his cheek, before skipping away, swaying her hips enticingly.

Harry’s eyes were pinned on her dancing hips, which were swaying hypnotically before his eyes as she climbed onto the deck of the Nimbus through the stairwell.

“Damn! I might have a heart attack long before the Long Night thanks to her.” Harry muttered before chuckling to himself at the absurdity of it all.

“My Prince, the Nimbus is ready.” Elsera said from behind, nearly making Harry jump.

When he turned around, he saw the grinning visage of his trusted lieutenant of sorts. The twins Elsera and Josera were cold and skittish when they arrived at Avalon on their father’s urging. But now, Josera served as one of the field commanders of his army holding the Iron Islands in Jon’s absence, while Elsera remained one of his most gifted students in magic.

But they were now also his most trusted friends and fellow magic users. It was one of the reasons why he gave them command of his army. In time, he hoped to formally petition Winterfell for Elsera and Josera to form their own houses at Sea Dragon Point. He had already found two pieces of land close to Avalon for that effect. But he needed to develop them somewhat before granting them the land.

“What’re you grinning at?” Harry glared at Elsera.

“Nothing.” Elsera pursed her lips while her eyes remained alight with mirth.

Harry shook his head before climbing the stairwell into the Nimbus while thinking of ways to pay back Nymeria for using her charm to humiliate him in front of his friends and anyone lucky enough to see what transpired before the Nimbus.

*******

Dawn’s first light crept through the high arched windows of the Small Council chamber in King’s Landing, spreading across the table. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the slow, measured footsteps of Stannis Baratheon as he approached his seat at the head of the table.

He did not sit.

He stood behind the chair, hands clenched behind his back, jaw tight as iron. The others did not speak. No one dared.

Lord Alester Florent, his Hand, looked pale and tired, though his eyes followed the king with desperate calculation. Grand Maester Gormon sat stiffly with his hands folded, his soft face unreadable—though the nervous tapping of his thumb betrayed his unease. Varys, as always, was the picture of calm, his hands folded into his sleeves, his serene expression betraying nothing. The seats of Master of Laws, Master of Coin and Master of Ships and the Lord Commander remained vacant.

However, the lack of numbers was not the reason for calling a session this early in the morning.

The mood in the chamber was tense. It skyrocketed when Stannis finally spoke.

“Say it again.” Stannis said with cold fury in his eyes.

Varys did not flinch when he met the murderous rage in his king’s eyes.

“My little birds confirmed it at dawn, Your Grace.” his voice was soft, almost apologetic. “Renly Baratheon… has been taken prisoner by Aegon Targaryen and Prince Oberyn Martell.”

The words hung in the air like a noose.

Stannis’s face did not change. But his eyes—those cold, storm-blue eyes—hardened to steel.

“And the Crownland host?” he asked, voice slightly above a whisper, but the Small Council members sat on edge.

Gormon swallowed. Alester lowered his gaze. No one answered.

Stannis jerked his head slightly.

“Lord Varys.”

The eunuch bowed his head.

“Destroyed, Your Grace. Bronzegate has fallen. The castle was set ablaze. The enemy used Reachmen to encircle the rear and Dornish spearmen to punch through the centre. Our lines collapsed by nightfall.”

The king’s fingers tightened behind his back.

“And Ser Barristan?” Stannis asked, his voice still level. “He commanded my army. What does he have to say?”

Another silence.

It was Alester who answered this time.

“There are… conflicting reports. Some say Ser Barristan fell by Aegon’s sword. Others say he escaped the siege.” Alester hesitated. “But it is likely he is dead or captured.”

Stannis’s eyes closed for the briefest moment. When they opened, they were darker than before.

“Barristan Selmy,” he said softly. “The finest knight alive and the Lord Commander of my Kingsguard.”

Varys bowed his head.

“He fought bravely.”

“Bravery without victory is worthless,” Stannis said.

The words landed like hammer blows.

He moved to the table and stared down at the map stretched out across it. His brother’s seat at Storm’s End was marked by a small stag. Beyond it, the sigil of House Buckler lay over Bronzegate. Stannis placed a carved wooden dragon piece on Bronzegate.

“Aegon Targaryen,” Stannis murmured, almost to himself. “A boy raised across the sea. And my lord brother—who had an army twice his size—kneels in chains.”

The room was silent save for the lonely caw of a crow outside the window.

Stannis’s voice turned razor-sharp while he looked down with his eyes closed.

“This is not merely defeat. This is incompetence. This is an insult.”

He looked up, eyes burning with anger while his teeth mashed together under strain.

“My brother is a fool. But even a fool does not fall so easily unless others have aided in his undoing.”

His gaze slid to Varys.

“The Tyrells.”

Varya inclined his head ever so slightly.  

“Just so, Your Grace. It was Garlan Tyrell who set the trap at Bronzegate. It was the Reachmen who burned the villages and flanked Lord Renly’s army.”

“And to think you claimed the Tyrells have raised their banners for me, Grand Maester.” Stannis said coldly, staring at the old man who shivered under the weight of his stare.

“Your grace, I only know what I was told. My nephew…”

“Yes, your nephew. That oaf Mace Tyrell has shown himself to be a snake. I should’ve taken that traitor’s head long ago and culled that bloodline when I had the chance.” Stannis said through gritted teeth.

“Your grace, I serve the Citadel…” Gormon whimpered weakly.

“I believe it’s obvious who you serve.” Alester growled.

“Guards!” Stannis thundered.

The guards standing outside the Small Council chambers came in ready to obey their king.

“Take this vile traitor out of my sight and throw him in the black cells. Let him rot there for the foreseeable future.” Stannis thundered.

Gormon was dragged out of the council chamber, begging for mercy, but it fell on deaf ears.

“Your grace, we should gather an army and march on…” Alester paused, seeing his king raise his hand signalling him to stop.  

“I’ll decide on further action on the morrow.” Stannis said with a finality that brought all activity in the council to a halt.

After saying that, Stannis stormed out of the council chamber, leaving an awkward silence.

“The Small Council grows ever smaller.” Varys quipped in the silence.

“Not small enough.” Alester muttered before following Stannis, leaving a tittering Varys alone in the chamber.