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Chapter Text

⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕ ⁛⁑※⁑⁛ ⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🐲⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕

The silhouette of a man could be seen, standing on the balcony of a palace, looking into the distance. The man had a fair complexion, high cheekbones, violet eyes, platinum blonde hair, and dressed in an elegant leather suit with bear skin; he was Lord Axeyl Pendragon. "The great empire of Valyria." Axeyl began to narrate, looking out over the sea of ​​his lands. "There are more than one time that I get lost in my mind, imagining how magnificent the empire of the dragon lords must have been." The man said with longing. "My grandfather, the man who raised me, would tell me what he remembered from his short childhood in the once great Frankish fiefdom." He explained before re-entering his chambers and looking at a chest that had not been opened since the "curse" of Valyria. "Do you want to hear a story?" The man asked with a mysterious smile...

Valyrian Freehold in all its glory

Valyria was a small civilization of shepherds who lived in peace until the Ghiscari Empire attacked the lands and threatened to enslave the Valyrians. They did not know what to do, they were at a disadvantage compared to the warriors of Ghis; fear was very present in their minds, but one night of the blood moon, everything changed. The Valyrians dreamed of a divine being who presented himself as Balerion, one of the 14 gods of flames. He told them that he and the other gods were aware of their lives and would help them prosper, but they had to return that favor. The Valyrians did not waste the opportunity and thanks to their new gods, they "conquered dragons." Over time, they believed themselves close to the gods and far above anyone who did not have pure Valyrian blood... Only a few sensible people knew that without dragons, they were nothing more than simple mortals.

⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕ ⁛⁑※⁑⁛ ⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🐲⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕

October, Year 7888 (10 years before the Doom of Valyria)

Pendragon Palace...

The Pendragon family was not only made up of dragon blood and part of the high nobility of Valyria, but they were also the cream of society. The Pendragon Palace was a work of art; marble walls with corbels in the shape of dragons, columns with gilded capitals, large windows, and floors so shiny you could see your reflection in them. The entire structure was built where water and lava met in harmony and where fire roses grew in abundance.

The Noble House Pendragon may have only had one dragon rider, but they had great wealth and among the lower class they were called "the emperors of Valyria" because they were respected among the other dragon lords for being scholarly and strong-willed.

Palace of the Noble House Pendragon

There were only a few hours left until nightfall and the view of the sunset was worthy of the party celebrated for Kaelarys Pendragon's name day. The ballroom; with its large columns, flower vines, human silhouettes crossed out on the walls and hedonistic paintings on the ceiling, had been decorated with black and white silk fabrics, gold vases, small tables with fresh fruits, cheeses and the famous Pendragon wine. The light of the sunset entered through the large windows, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere in the great ballroom.

Many were already drunk, others were dancing to the music of the musicians and others were enjoying the men and women of pleasure. It was a real hubbub of joy and that was even before the banquet... Luxury and excess, the daily life of the Valyrian nobles.

Celebration of the 26th name day of Lord Kaelarys Pendragon

Although the only one who did not seem to share the joy of the party was the person being honored.

⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕ ⁛⁑※⁑⁛ ⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🐲⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕

Chapter Text

⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕ ⁛⁑※⁑⁛ ⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🐲⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕

October, Year 7888 (10 years before the Doom of Valyria)

Pendragon Palace...

Kaelarys Pendragon was a simple man with the appearance of any Valyrian; he did not excel in intelligence or martial prowess, but that did not mean you could consider him weak, after all he was the only Pendragon in many years of taming a dragon. Technically he was a Wyvern, but a very fierce type of dragon and that was respected.

Kaelarys could be honest with himself and admit that he was not what would be expected of a dragon lord, but he did what he could to live up to expectations. The Pendragons were the best of the best; the first to be ready for battle, the wisest, the longest-lived, the purest dragon blood, the founders of Braavos, the most elegant, the avant-garde, the trendsetters. It was a whole lineage and lineage that dated back to the beginning of the fief. The current patriarch of House Pendragon did not know if he would become as illustrious as his ancestors or his relatives.

Kaelarys Pendragon and his only son Vaemion Pendragon

Although it was difficult, and more so now. The child in the man's arms was a strong reminder of his loss; he was now a widower, with a beautiful 11-month-old child. The party celebrated was, in addition to his name day, the best way for him to choose another woman as a wife. 5 years of happy marriage until the gods claimed her soul shortly after giving birth. He did not want another wife, Aelira had been his everything and he did not want to have another woman as a wife, much less as a lover.

"Aelira, I miss you so much." The man whispered as he cradled his son in his arms. He couldn't help but shed a few tears as he looked at the portrait of his wife; her fair complexion, her violet eyes, her full lips, her platinum blonde hair, and of course, her wedding dress with a mermaid tail, lace on the sleeves and diamonds on the bodice, complemented by her tiara, Valyrian steel necklace and pearls. She was so radiant, they didn't call her the "amethyst empress reborn" for nothing. He longed for her sweet kisses, to feel her hands caress his hair, to be able to hear her voice in her advice, to dance with her again until the end of time.

Aelira Pendragon, née Roxell

“My lord?”. A man’s voice called from the other side of the door. “Come in, Urdrian”. Kaelarys replied, quickly wiping away the trail of tears. Seconds later, a man of about forty entered, with olive skin, short black hair that was graying slightly, black eyes and dressed in a somewhat worn long-sleeved brown tunic, a silver necklace with a turtle pendant and earrings with green opals. Urdrian was of Rhoynar descent; until a few years ago he was a young wanderer on the streets until Kaelaris offered him an opportunity, and now he was the proud head steward of House Pendragon and confidant.

"Sir, the guests are eagerly awaiting you." Urdrian told his boss, taking a silk handkerchief from the dresser to wipe away the remains of tears without comment. Urdrian knew Kaelarys well enough to know that he had once again become lost in his memories. "They are not waiting for me, they are waiting for me to choose a new wife." The Valyrian said dismissively before walking to his son's crib and carefully placing him on the soft blanket Aelira had made.

"They call themselves dragon lords, but they are nothing more than vultures." Kaelarys commented as he adjusted his robes. Urdrian took a Valyrian steel circlet from the marble pedestal near the armoire and placed it on the other carefully. "The decision to take another wife is yours alone." The butler reminded him. "No one will be able to claim you for still being in mourning." Urdrian placed his hand on Kaelaris' shoulder in encouragement. "But they will talk." The Valyrian said with a frown. If there was one thing the proud and vain Valyrians loved more than their dragons, it was gossip. "They even still mock the Targaryens, even though they left two years ago." Kaelarys still doesn't understand how Aenar Targaryen practically ran out of the empire because of a dream of his daughter Daenys. "The Targaryens aren't even half as noble as the Pendragons, even the Velaryons are nobler than them." Urdrian mocked.

The Targaryen family was dragonblood, but that didn't immediately make them high nobility in the Freehold. Even to many servants and slaves, the Targaryens were nothing more than upstarts who didn't live up to their lineage. Kaelaris also suspected that his confidant's mockery was also due to the Targaryens being the ones who initiated attacks against the Rhoynar while the council of lords met to discuss how to proceed with peaceful negotiations with said people.

The Valyrian man sighed, it was almost dusk and it would be rude if the host of the party did not make an appearance at least at the banquet. "How do I look?" Kaelarys asked, turning around. "Like an emperor." Urdrian replied with a kind smile. "Well, you know, if Vaemion wakes up..." The young man began to say before the older man interrupted him. "I will call the nurse to feed him." The Rhoynar smiled, rarely could you see a man so attached to the care of his son.

"This isn't the first time I've taken care of your son boy." The Rhoynar reminded him with a wink. Kaelarys smiled slightly at the man he saved and somehow considered a father figure. He turned and walked out into the hallway towards the dining room with the best hypocritical smile he could muster. "It's going to be a long night." He thought, looking out the window to notice the last rays of the sun.

Little did Kaelarys know that the gods would change the course of the Pendragon family to fulfill a prophecy...

⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕ ⁛⁑※⁑⁛ ⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🐲⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕

Chapter Text

⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕ ⁛⁑※⁑⁛ ⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🐲⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕

October, Year 7888 (10 years before the Doom of Valyria)

Pendragon Palace...

Rux Turhyon sighed as the cool of the night touched his skin as he stepped out onto the palace terrace, leaving the banquet for a moment. "The view is amazing." He thought, taking a sip from his wine glass. It was a beautiful night; the moon had not yet reached its zenith, but the stars shone like diamonds. Dragons could be seen flying in the skies, the nearby volcanoes gave off an orange light like torches as their rivers of lava circled the city. The Pendragons had the best view of the Valyrian fief than any other family. "Now I understand why my great-grandfather always complained about losing these lands." The man thought, looking at the dragons in the distance. "There you are." Rux looked back, and saw Aurion Celtigar and Vaelzor Azantys approaching him.

The three were cousins-in-law, scions of not-so-powerful families, removed from the line of succession of their families, and with only dragon blood to their name. "Miss Morganex asks for you." Aurion told Rux with a suggestive gesture of his eyebrows. "She even asks for slaves to take to her bed." Rux reminded him, knowing the gossip that circulated about Morganex Meraeyon. Aurion laughed a little before they fell silent listening to the roars of the distant dragons until Vaelzor called the attention of the other two. "Do you think Lord Pendragon will choose a new wife?" He told them in sign language. The Valyrians were so proud that they had created two ways of communicating, High Valyrian and sign language; they spoke a common language, but it was not widely used.

From left to right: Aurion Celtigar, Rux Turhyon and Vaelzor Azantys

"He should, but I doubt he will." Rux said, resting his hands on the marble railing. "And Lord Roxell would not allow it, especially when his grandson is the future patriarch of the Pendragons." Aurion commented disdainfully. In the opinion of every Celtigar, House Roxell were very low on the social scale, almost at the level of "dragonseeds". "In the end, it will be Kaelarys's decision." Vaelzor said with a sign and a frown, thankful that there were only the three of them on the terrace. "If I were Kaelarys, I would no longer be with Lord Roxell. They say he has become paranoid since his daughter died." Aurion said in a whisper. Rux had also heard of that; House Roxell was always small, austere and almost hermit-like, so at the time the marriage of Kaelarys Pendragon to Aelira Roxell was a surprise.

Lord Roxell remained a hermit when his daughter married, but since she died, every time someone saw him he seemed more and more consumed by madness. For Rux, perhaps something else was happening, because the way Lord Roxell acted was similar to how Daenys Targaryen acted. "Perhaps he also dreamed of the cataclysm." Rux told his cousins, leaving Vaelzor with a contemplative look.

Aurion shook his head, "Madness, that's what it is." He said before crossing his arms. "This is the greatest empire ever seen and it will last until the end of time." Vaelzor was unsure whether to tell Aurion that Westeros had a kingdom nearly 8000 years old. "I don't know." Rux wasn't so sure. "Why?" Aurion raised an eyebrow, incredulous that his cousin believed Valyria could be destroyed. "There are... reports from the diamond mines... they say lava is appearing in caves where there was none before." Rux explained worriedly. "That doesn't say anything." The Celtigar replied, but Vaelzor caught his attention. "Also... there have been more tremors than a year ago."

Aurion fell back not knowing what to say, Vaelzor was the one who could change his mind in any argument. The three of them remained silent, listening to the roar of dragons in the distance and the lively party. "Valyria is strong." Aurion said forcefully. "Although..." Rux and Vaelzor looked at the Celtigar, it was rare for him to be speechless. "It wouldn't hurt to have a backup plan." The three of them looked at each other and nodded. "Guys!" A Valyrian woman, very uncovered, called them from the terrace door, it was Morganex Meraeyon. "Come quickly, Lord Vhalaenor and Lord Belaerys are fighting; hurry up." She informed them excitedly before going back inside. The cousins ​​looked at each other before heading to the hall...

Aurion Celtigar, Rux Turhyon and Vaelzor Azantys did not know it, but thanks to them their bloodlines would survive...

⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕ ⁛⁑※⁑⁛ ⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🐲⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕

Mid-December, Year 7888 (10 years before the Doom of Valyria)

Roxell Manor...

The Roxell mansion was something unique. Built on a constant source of lava that cascaded down into a pool of water in which one could swim, walls made of polished granite, quartz pillars with chiseled moldings, and a roof made of dragonglass. In the early days of the free fiefdom it was the favorite place for meetings or parties, but with the passage of time and the construction of larger castles, the mansion was almost forgotten.

But for the Roxells it was better this way, they had never been very extroverted and loved the tranquility of their lands; their few dragons also enjoyed the warmth that the lava fountains gave them so they were happy with their lives. They did not give importance to the gossip of others, because they were important. They were few members in the family, but they were respected for their knowledge and secrets in magic.

Mansion of the Noble House Roxell

On the other hand, they weren't perfect... and that became very easy to see when they became obsessed with something.

The mansion was currently occupied only by Lord Roxell and his bastard son, Ermuy, and a priest. And that was mainly because Lord Roxell had ordered the servants and slaves to retreat. According to Lord Roxell, the night was perfect for invoking the future through the blood moon, but the rest of the family couldn't see why the hell they would want to see the future, much less follow the orders of a man who seemed consumed by madness. Ermuy was worried and very scared as he watched his father draw a circle with his blood around a pot of fire. "Father has gone mad." He remembered his legitimate brother's words before leaving with the other members for a dragon ride through Elyria, far away from the current patriarch of the family. The priest recited a chant in High Valyrian while the shadows cast by the fire seemed to move mischievously.

Syrax, āeksio jentys, Ossēn daor, ēngos va zirȳr!
Vezof īlvose, jemēla sir!
Lugon gēlion, nyke sōvēs!
Kostā vīlībagon, iā morghūlis?
Sagon dāezōr, Syrax, kesan vestragon!

Fire erupted in a colorful pillar that touched the stone ceiling; the heat burned the few pieces of furniture in the basement and the fabric that adorned the walls. Ermuy could not help but look with fascination and fear at the future of Valyria... Death and destruction.

⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕ ⁛⁑※⁑⁛ ⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🐲⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕

Chapter Text

⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕ ⁛⁑※⁑⁛ ⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🐲⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕🔥⁕⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁑※⁑⁛⁕⁛⁕

End of January, Year 7889 (9 years before the Doom of Valyria)

Temple of the Fourteen Flames, Balerion Volcano...

Valyria was the place with more sacred sites, temples or cathedrals than any other civilization in the known world. The heart of the Valyrian Freehold alone had a temple at each of its 14 volcanoes, each named in honor of the gods. All temples were used for monthly mass, celebrations and weddings, both by commoners and nobility. There were also small chapels for exslaves, but it was only a small space to pray. Of course, among the richest and most powerful Valyrians, there was a clear tendency towards the Temple of the god Balerion.

Temple of the Fourteen Flames, Home of Balerion

Right now, like every end of the month, the High Priest Zeluis led the song to the gods. Among those present was Kaelarys Pendragon, who covered her mouth so that no one would notice her yawn. He is a man of faith, but the monthly sermons of His Holiness Zeluis were very boring. Kaelarys looked to her right and noticed that her sister Loretta had fallen asleep on her husband's shoulder. His brother-in-law noticed his gaze and looked at him with an apologetic expression. "If I can't fall asleep, neither can you." Lord Pendragon thought before nudging his sister, who woke up alarmed and then looked angrily at her brother. Kaelarys gave him a shit-eating grin and returned his gaze to the priest. Loretta was about to speak to him before her husband caught her attention and calmed her down.

Kaelarys was still shocked that her brother-in-law, a prince of Yi-Ti, who considered himself an "alpha", became an almost submissive man, who literally kissed the ground Loretta walked on and always calmed her down with a pout. Her sister was fearsome, but that wouldn't save her from sleeping through mass; Kaelarys was the only one of the Pendragons who could anger Loretta and lived to tell the tale. The priest finished the verses and called those present to get up and start singing to ask for blessings for the next month.

Zaldrīzoti Vezof, āeksia hen Valyria,
Rytsas īlvyz, yn amāzīr hēn lenton!
Vezhof syt gaomilaksir, ēbrion tolī rūsīr!
Jemēla perzys, vala tolī sir!
Dohaeriros jemas, ēngos īlvyz, tembīlza.
Bantis ēbrion, iā morghūlis? Kessir ziry valzys!
Valyrī āeksio, iādrīs perzī, jemēle iemnō!

High Valyrian voices in different keys together with ivory flutes and lute strings created a beautiful symphony. The flames in the golden bowls glowed and danced with each verse. The atmosphere felt light and cleansing; Those most sensitive to magic could see scrolls of gold and silver that ran throughout the temple. Kaelarys was pretty sure he could feel Aelira's hands caress his face along with her voice. The feeling at the monthly masses was something indescribable and was one of the reasons why the Valyrians felt close to the court of the gods.

High Priest Zeluis

At the altar, Zeluis smiled serenely and nodded when the singing ended. He could see the magic sent by Balerion to purify the purest souls. Although he also noticed that the aura of one of those present, one of the purest, was clouded by worry. “I'll talk to him before he leaves,” the priest thought before saying goodbye…

"Ēngos hēdrās iksis, vēzos īlvyz māzīs. Dārys Vezhof, āeksia Valyria, ivestragon īlvyz". Those present bowed before his words. "Jemot issa iksā, se perzys va drējā gīmī. Rūklon lyks lertot, se riña, kirimvose iā ojehikis!". Those present began to get up from their seats and shake hands. "Kostōbi jevi, se ofringa syt āeksia tolī drīvīr issi". Everyone laughed at the priest's joke; There was always someone who gave more offerings to the temple, and not because the gods demanded wealth, it was done out of simple competition between who had more wealth. "Bantis ēza, se ābra valītsos ēza, iā febrārion sȳndor iksis. Valar dohaeris, jemēle sīr!".

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"Kenji, I already told my sister that I will not increase her grant to make the roof of her summer mansion with diamonds." Kaelarys said to his brother-in-law before drinking from his wine glass. Many had already left the temple to continue their routines or entertainment, while others were enjoying the dinner prepared in the great hall of the temple. Kenji gave him a pleading look. "Please Kaelarys, if you don't increase her allowance then...", "Then she will leave you sleeping outside of her bed, and complete sexual abstinence." Kaelarys finished for the other, making the Yitian blush.

Kaelarys looked across the room, where her sister Loretta was talking animatedly with Rux Turhyon and Sarella Belaerys. And then he looked with amusement at his brother-in-law, who once drunk had declared that he would "dominate" Loretta "the indomitable" Pendragon. The Valyrian sighed. "Fine, but only for you." Kenji smiled gratefully before going to his wife, who motioned to him. "It looks like a trained pet." Kaelarys thought in disbelief as he watched her sister stroke Kenji's hair.

"Lord Pendragon." Kaelarys sighed at the flirtatious voice behind him; He looked back to see Morganex Meraeyon eating a piece of meatloaf. "Miss Morganex." He greeted with a nod. She pouted. "Don't call me like that, I haven't been a miss for a long time." "I know, it's not your secret that you fuck everything that moves." Morganex smiled. "Everything except you." They both laughed a little; There was a time when they were engaged, but she did not want to get married and he fell in love with another woman, so their engagement ended on good terms. Kaelarys and Morganex were silent for a while before she looked at him seriously. "How has Ermuy been?" She asked him worried, and it was no wonder. The explosion at the ancestral Roxell mansion had been the news in recent weeks, with only Lord Roxell the only victim of the event. The rest of the Roxell family had remained silent and much more distant from social events, while there was speculation that the new matriarch of House Roxell was still contemplating whether to rebuild the mansion or move the family to a mansion on a small island in the south of the capital.

Morganex Meraeyon

“Ermuy is… he's fine, traumatized, but he's fine.” Kaelarys told him, the moment when Ermuy's unconscious body was carried out of the Roxell mansion fresh in his mind. "It's lucky I had dragon blood." Morganex commented with relief; It may not have been common elsewhere, but Valyria did not look down on illegitimate sons or daughters, as they were the last option if the main line of the family was left without heirs. Kaelarys smiled, not many knew the more sensitive and sincere side of Morganex. "You should visit him, maybe a visit from a friend will calm him down." She snorted at the thought. "People could talk." "As if you care what they think of you." Kaelarys said mockingly, knowing that of all the people her friend has slept with, Ermuy was the only one she would willingly commit herself to.

Morganex was going to ask him if the rumors of the Priest of the Fourteen Flames who survived the fire along with Ermuy were true, but a man approached them. It was a high priest's parishioner, dressed in black robes with a hood that covered his face and leather sandals. "Lord Pendragon, His Holiness requests to meet with you." The man said with a bow. Morganex looked worriedly at Kaelarys, who smiled at her to reassure her. "Will I see you later?" Kaelarys asked her, telling her with his look that he would tell her everything later, and she nodded. Morganex watched the parishioner and Kaelarys walk away down a private hallway of the temple before she noticed Loretta and her husband Kenji approaching her, looking in the same direction as her. "Morgan, what happened?" Loretta asked him confused; Morganex could only shrug.

No one noticed a white crow looking at everything from a window...

A crow that strangely, had three eyes...

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Chapter Text

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End of January, Year 7889 (9 years before the Doom of Valyria)

Temple of the Fourteen Flames, Balerion Volcano...

Kaelarys was led by the parishioner through some corridors that had cave paintings until they reached a beautiful carved mahogany door. The room on the other side of the door was cave-like and small; He would be described as humble and quite befitting for a man dedicated to his faith and a life without excess. The light from the few candles in the iron candelabra gave the necessary light to see the place and at the same time not completely. There was also a large window that gave a view of much of the capital of the Fief, a simple desk surrounded by armchairs; On the desk were some dragon figurines made of marble and rolled scrolls, a large bookcase that took up the entire wall behind the desk. Kaelarys couldn't see the titles, but he was sure some were logs of previous priests. And spanning the other wall and ominously illuminated by a set of lava waterfalls that came from the ceiling and descended to who knows where, was a large tapestry.

Destruction… misery… death… the end of the entire known world… A cataclysm was all Lord Pendragon could see on the tapestry. A winged demon screaming in fury with fire reaching the sky, and naked people, of all genders and ages, falling into a deep sea. “Fascinating, don't you think?” Kaelarys was startled by the voice behind him; He turned around and saw the priest Zeluis approaching him with a serene countenance. "High priest". Kaelarys greeted with a slight bow. “The title is not necessary, boy.” Zeluis told him, the man had never cared about social etiquette, leaving the drama for the days of mass and preferring the rest of the days for people to be direct with him. “Now, I don't think you've answered my question.” Kaelarys looked at the tapestry again at what the priest said, he knew him well enough not to make him wait. "Is… ". He started by saying the Valyrian because he didn't really know how to describe the tapestry. “…chaotic?” Kaelarys responded, hesitantly, because surely there were better synonyms for the art sewn into the fabric. Zeluis, who was also looking at the tapestry, nodded before telling her to sit on one of the sofas. "Tea?". The priest asked, also taking his seat; Kaelarys nodded and Zeluis rang a small bell on the desk.

Within seconds, a young parishioner entered with a tray containing a dragonglass tea set and a plate of crackers; the boy poured the sesame tea and nodded goodbye as he closed the door. Kaelarys took his cup of tea and relaxed as he smelled the delicious aroma of the drink. Both men remained in a comfortable silence enjoying the tea. “And…” Kaelarys cleared his throat. “Why did you wish to see me?” Lord Pendragon asked curiously. Zeluis looked at him for a moment as he ate a cracker. “Two reasons.” The older man replied. “The first; I noticed there are things that concern you.” Kaelarys grimaced. “I…” The Valyrian did not know whether to speak or not.
The priest looked at the young man he himself had baptized. “It is about your son.” Zeluis asked knowing he had made the right choice when the other man tensed. “I…” Kaelarys sighed, “…I don’t know if I can yet.” The platinum-blond haired man took a deep breath. “My son is the best of Aelira and I rolled into one.” Kaelarys couldn’t help but let a few tears fall. “But, even if it’s been a year, I can’t help but think that I’m going to make a mistake or that I won’t be enough to take care of him.” Zeluis smiled at her; the priest knew the Pendragons better than any family and they were always known for being somewhat dramatic. “My boy.” Kaelarys looked at the priest. “Do you think anyone is ready for what the great task of being a father entails?” Zeluis asked with a raised eyebrow. “It’s difficult, and there will be many more things to come, but you’ll make it.” Kaelarys looked at the tea in her hands. “And you’re already a good father; the mere fact that you care about not being enough is already a good start.” Zelius smiled at the young lord. “He will be a good father, I assure you.” Kaelarys laughed a little as he rubbed his eyes. “Thank you, priest.” The Valyrian said, his heart a little lighter.

Zeluis then remembered the other matter and lost his smile. “As for the other matter.” Kaelarys looked at him, confused, because not many times did you see High Priest Zelius so serious. “Is the red priest still in your home?” The Valyrian was surprised by the question, and also seemed confused. The mysterious explosion at the Roxell mansion was the talk of the empire for weeks; everyone knew that the only survivors were Ermuy Flameborn and a red priest that not even the Roxell family had any idea where he had come from. Kaelarys discovered from the Roxell servants that his father-in-law was the one who had secretly brought the red priest to Valyria and hid him from everyone. Both Ermuy and the red priest were taken to the Pendragon palace when they were nearby and had so far recovered. “Yes, the man is in the palace. "It's very strange, I don't talk to him much." Kaelarys was honest with Zelius; The red priest gave him very bad vibes. The older man nodded. “Okay, as soon as you can tell him to leave.” Zelius said to the other. “A man of his faith has no place in our nation.” Kaelarys nodded with a serious face.

The two men chatted for a moment longer before Kaelarys noticed that it was getting late and his sister was probably getting stressed waiting for him. Zeluis asked him if he remembered the way and the lord told him yes. The Valyrian opened the door, but he was curious about something. "Priest". "Yes, boy?" Zeluis looked at the Pendragon who was looking at the tapestry. "Where did he get that tapestry from?" Kaelarys asked intrigued. The older man looked at the tapestry. "If I remember correctly, it was donated by Lord Targaryen before he left the empire." Kaelarys was surprised; Aenar Targaryen, a man who never liked to give tithes, gave a piece that seemed of great value to the Temple. "Yeah, I was surprised too when he left it here weeks before he left." Zeluis told him when he saw the astonishment on the Valyrian's face. "If I remember correctly, he said it was recovered from the ruins of the Ghiscari Empire." With those words Kaelarys understood that it was the winged being in the tapestry. "A harpy." The Lord thought...

Ancient Tapestry recovered after the destruction of the Ghiscari Empire, donated to the Temple by House Targaryen

Kaelarys left the temple with a sigh, and immediately saw his sister, brother-in-law, and Morganex at the bottom of the stairs near the entrance to the volcano cave. His sister noticed him as she walked down the stairs. "Brother, there you are, I thought I would have to look for our little army to attack the temple." Loretta said, somewhat agitated by anxiety. "Is everything all right?". Morganex asked with a frown in confusion. Kenji looked nervous too. "Everything is fine; the Priest just wanted to ask me something, nothing bad." Kaelarys told them calmly, they sighed in relief. "So, are you coming to visit Ermuy?" Kaelarys asked Morganex when the tension was gone. The woman bit her lips. "Come on Morgan, he'll be happy to see you." Loretta said to the other woman excitedly. Morganex sighed with a slight smile. "Alright".

The four headed towards the Pendragon palace. Loretta didn't have a dragon, so she would go on Morganex's dragon while Kenji would go with Kaelarys on his Wyvern. "I'll never get tired of seeing your dragon Morgan." Loretta commented to her friend, looking at the great red dragon in another cave near the temple. Kaelarys pouted because his Wyvern was just as impressive.

Egros (80 years old), Dragon bonded to Morganex Meraeyon

"You can stop admiring the dragon and just hurry up." Kaelarys said jealously. Kenji laughed a little along with his wife at Lord Pendragon's attitude, who ignored their mockery. "Vezhvenari, Bhyrion?" Kaelarys asked his Wyvern as he stroked its neck. Bhyrion snorted at him and Kaelarys smiled. "I hope it's at least a quiet night." The Pendragon said to himself in his thoughts before helping his brother-in-law get on the back of his wyvern.

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End of January, Year 7889 (9 years before the Doom of Valyria)

Pendragon Palace...

Urdrian, Head Steward of House Pendragon

“He’s a very strange man,” a servant murmured as she polished a vase; her friend, dusting a bookshelf, nodded. “The strange thing is that he survived the explosion; he’s not Valyrian or a follower of the Fourteen… it’s strange that he survived at all.” Urdrian, who had been pacing near the hall door, stopped and looked at the women in disappointment. “Ehem!” the man coughed, startling the servants. “If you're going to talk about a guest, do it in your free time.” They nodded ruefully before returning to their duties.

The Rhoynar sighed. “Though if I’m honest.” They looked at him. “I agree that priest gives off bad vibes,” Urdrian explained before leaving. Urdrian understood why his master had allowed the red priest to be in the palace with Ermuy Flameborn. Ermury was still unconscious, and the priest was the only one who knew what had happened that night. The Roxell family suspected the strange priest; from what Kaelarys had been told, the deceased patriarch had returned from a hike in the mountains with the priest, and that was when he became more paranoid and reclusive. Maegaron Roxell, as the new lord of his family, wanted to know if the strange priest had anything to do with his father's death and causing his half-brother to fall into a coma. Kaelarys offered his brother-in-law to look after Ermury and keep an eye on the priest while he arranged a new family residence.

The priest had kept himself separate from the palace workers; he had only been seen in his room, the fire rose garden, and for some reason visiting Ermury at night. Kaelarys had tried to keep him away from Ermury by posting guards, but the priest always managed to slip through the net. The Pendragon didn't want to think about what strange things the man might do to Ermury, so he assigned a group to watch the man while he was in the room. That night the assigned guard had a date with his boyfriend, so Urdrian had no problem covering for him.

As Urdrian was reaching the guest wing, he heard a piercing scream that was surely heard throughout the palace. The Rhoynar ran and reached Ermury's room; the door had been broken down by the guard holding the priest. Urdrian carefully approached the Valyrian. "Young man, please calm down," Urdrian asked the young man, who was suffering a panic attack. The servant looked at the red priest and angrily asked, "What did you do to him?" The priest did nothing but give him a blank stare. Urdrian looked around; there were candles and incense that hadn't been there before, and there was a cup with a viscous green liquid. Urdrian looked back at Ermury and noticed stains of the liquid on his lips. "No… no… not again." Ermury muttered, trying to get up. "Young man, don’t get up," Urdrian urged the other before trying to lay him down, but when his hands touched his shoulders, Ermury cried out again. "No! I don’t want to be here. I have to go far away," the Valyrian said through tears.

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Minutes before...

“Why is it that every time you fly together you end up racing?” Kenji asked his brother-in-law, holding onto the leash and avoiding looking down to avoid nausea. “It’s the warmth of all Valyrians,” the rider explained, enjoying the wind on his face and the beautiful night sky. A second later, Egros glided beside him. “I thought your dragon was faster, Morganex!” Kaelarys shouted, mocking her friend as she guided Bhyrion to turn right. Loretta gasped, hugging Morganex. “He’s making fun of Egros,” Kaelarys’s sister commented mischievously to the rider; Morganex giggled like a madwoman. “I’d rather die than let your brother win,” she informed Loretta before gripping her dragon’s reins tightly. “Egros, kisses!” The dragon roared at the command and folded its wings to gain speed. “Bhyrion, daor ivestragī nykeā jemagon!” Kaelarys ordered, not wanting to lose.

The Pendragon Palace could already be seen in the distance; the finish line was a small rocky hill near the imposing structure. Kaelarys and Morganex looked at each other from their dragons; only one was going to lose...

...

...

...

“How many times have I won so far, friend?” Morganex asked Loretta as she took off her gloves with satisfaction. Loretta smiled at her happily as she dismounted Egros. “With this race… you’re winning 109 to 74,” Loretta said; the women smiled triumphantly before high-fiving each other. Kaelarys denied that she was pouting at losing another race. “Your dragon is fat, that’s why you have an advantage in speed,” the Valyrian refuted, pointing at Egros, who looked at him very offended before following the guards to a large cave. “If it makes you feel better.” Morganex commented with a laugh. Loretta approached her husband, who was lying on the ground. “Love, get up now, it wasn’t so bad,” she said, hunkering down beside Kenji.

“Next time I’ll ask for the palanquin,” Kenji said, holding back the urge to vomit. Morganex looked at the prince of Yi-ti before looking at her friend. “Loretta, explain to me again why you married someone with a weak stomach.” She asked, causing Kaelarys and Loretta to laugh while Kenji groaned.

The group walked along the paved path toward the palace while chatting about trivial things, such as Kenji and Loretta’s offspring. “My mother wants the union to happen, but it's only been a year since we got married; I think it's still too soon for a baby,” Kenji explained, looking at his wife, who nodded. “I’m in no rush to get pregnant,” she said, causing her brother to smile.

“The Grand Council of Lords is also in no rush to solidify the Valyrian-Yitian alliance,” Kaelarys informed, confusing Morganex. “Really?” she asked, confused. “And why?” Morganex had never been very interested in politics, mainly because she was tenth in line to the Meraeyon family. “A portion of the council, including myself, doesn’t want to get involved in an empire that changes ruling families every so often,” Kaelarys explained, causing the prince of Yi-Ti to grimace. Kenji’s mother, Empress Hiromi, had been fortunate enough to manage to obtain the throne of the Golden Empire without much of a fight, but her position was still unstable. That was why Kenji’s marriage to Loretta, the sister of not only one of the 40 lords of Valyria but also an dragon rider, was a huge benefit to Yi-Ti. The rest of the Valyrian families knew they should maintain good relations with other empires and kingdoms, especially after the stupidity the Targaryens caused by claiming Roynar lands without the council's permission a few years ago. "And the others?" Loretta asked as they climbed the palace stairs before greeting the servants waiting at the entrance. "And those who remain keep shouting that Yi-Ti's blood is filthy," Kaelarys said as she handed her coat to a servant; Kenji made a sound somewhere between mockery and offense. "Then those stiffs can go f--"

"Ahhh! NO!!!!!". A scream echoed through the marble walls of the palace, interrupting Kenji. Everyone froze, feeling a chill run through them because it was like hearing the wail of a lost soul. "Ermury," Morganex murmured worriedly; she would recognize the voice of the man she loved anywhere.

Lord Pendragon wasted no time and ran towards the guest chambers, with the others just a few steps behind him.

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