Davos walked through the busy streets of King's Landing with a proud stride. He was only eight and ten, but he walked with the confidence of a much older man.
He was just leaving the house of Marya's father after paying the young woman a visit. He was set to travel on another long journey to the Summer Isles with his crew, and he always informed his beloved Marya of his departures so that she wouldn't worry needlessly.
With his newfound stability, the days of sneaking around Marya's family were over. He could confidently stand before her father and declare his intentions of wanting to marry her one day now that he had a proper wage and a house of his own.
Imagine that. Him. With a house! And not one of the vacant ones that littered Flea Bottom like an infestation. But a proper one where he might raise a family one day.
'Or the old Flea Bottom.'
King's Landing had gone through a rapid transformation over the past four years.
Davos had been born and raised in the decrepit streets of Flea Bottom. Like many others, he did not know his parents. He grew up an orphan. He had seen the worst of the city, from the most sick to the most vile. There was no hope for anyone born in those streets. The most one could expect was a short life. Depending on your luck, you might also get a full life filled with misery, with no one remembering you after you were gone.
Davos did not know if the gods had decided to take pity on him and others like him, but for once their Targaryen king had decided to turn his gaze on them and better their lives.
Much gold was poured into the city in order to transform it. The first transformation had been the city walls. Construction started from the Dragon Gate all the way down to the Gate of the Gods. The old ones were torn down and new ones were quickly erected. These new walls were bigger and much more imposing. Before his recent employment, Davos had never seen black stone that was so….perfect. It defied the usual structural integrity of normal stone. Sure, its dark color was not pretty, and the dragon motifs that King Aerys had decided on were less than pleasant to look at. But when the initial construction had been complete, the king had celebrated by hosting a presentation of the new walls for all to see. He had dozens of catapults and other siege equipment put together to hurl a large number of stones at the wall.
Not a single one made a dent. No breach. Nothing. And this was done after an hour of nonstop bombardment.
The cleanup had not been fun, but the display had shown the people of King's Landing that their new walls would keep them safe from any outside attack.
There were still other sections where the old walls remained, but it was only a matter of time before they were also replaced.
Of course, it wasn't just the walls.
The entire city was remodeled. Entire sections had been torn down at key parts in order to widen the roads for better flow of movement. The roads themselves were no longer dirt but rather were ribbons of fused stone, slightly raised over ground level to help water and other materials run off easily. These slopes guided the water and other materials to designated collection points which helped maintain them.
New housing districts had also been constructed. Not with cheap materials but rather with sturdy stone which matched the glamour of the usually well-kept sections of the city. Now even someone like Davos could feel like he was living in a miniature manse like the lords and ladies of the realm, only with a lot less decorations of course.
There was also the expansion of King's Landing onto the south bank of the Blackwater. The construction there was still ongoing, but some parts had been completed, namely new markets and housing areas. Many had relocated there for a symbolic new beginning, which lessened the burden from the rest of the city.
The other major change was the lack of smell. No longer did King's Landing smell rotten, for several new projects and policies had been constructed and implemented. Now the smallfolk were expected to play a part in the upkeep of the city as they were made to clean up the areas around their homes or businesses. If they failed to do so, then they would be fined. There was no physical punishment for breaking this law, something which hadn't happened since the days of Aegon V, or so Davos was told. For fines were punishment for the lords, not for the smallfolk. And yet, the law went into effect.
No no one wanted to have their pockets emptied over something so trivial, so most complied. A new guild had also been established that looked after the overall waste of the city. A new designated dumping area for all the waste had been set in place as well, which was outside of the city.
A new sewage system had also been built over the old one. The old one was ineffective, having rarely been maintained after its initial construction during the reign of King Jaehaerys I, and only covered certain parts of the city. Now, the new one encompassed the entirety of the city and was properly looked after at all times.
Clean water was also a constant now. New wells and fountains had been erected all over the city. However, the most impressive of these projects was the creation of the Dragon's Tail. It was a large bridge or a large arch that ran from the city all the way to the river Ros which flowed from the Gods Eye into the Blackwater. Davos did not know the proper name for the structure. He just knew that it was modeled after the Sweetwater River in Braavos. In fact, an architect from the Free City had been hired by the king in order to help with the construction of the Dragon's Tail. Now it supplied the whole of King's Landing with clean water as the water of the Blackwater could not be trusted after so many centuries of waste being dumped into it.
The Dragon's Tail had been built using the same black stone as the streets and the walls, so none were worried about its sturdiness. There was next to nothing that could tear it down.
These projects were overseen by the Alchemists' Guild. At first, there had been some tension in the city at seeing so many pyromancers out in the open. Their dark reputation did them no favors. Over time, people became accustomed to their presence, especially after seeing how effective they were at their jobs. Now, they were just another part of the bustling city. Their guild hall had become prominent as more people signed up to their order for stability and fame. They had a second hall on Dragonstone. Supposedly Highgarden had established a third guild hall for them in their lands, so the once small guild had come a long way.
All of these changes in the city only scratched the surface of the developments in the Crownlands as a whole.
When construction of the new walls had begun four years ago, a new influx of jobs had hit King's Landing. Davos had been one of the first ones to apply despite his young age at the time, eager to earn some honest coin for himself and his future. It also helped that he felt like he was going to be helping his fellows in the city with the construction of new walls.
These new jobs continued as more and more projects were announced and implemented. Suddenly many no longer had to rely on thievery or other unsavory jobs in order to get by. Similar to Davos, many in the city began to feel more proud and accomplished as they helped build new homes and new roads for the place they called home. These were all foundations that were going to help them and those that came after them, so a sense of unity was established with the smallfolk who lived in the city.
It went without saying that the smallfolk were singing praises for their king for all of these changes, dubbing him "Aerys the Great."
After all, it was not just King's Landing that the king transformed. New roads were created throughout the Crownlands using the fused black stone. It was said these roads, similar to the ones in King's Landing, were modeled after the ancient highways of Old Valyria, but Davos knew nothing about that. He was no learned man. He was just repeating what the men he worked with were saying.
These new roads were better than the old ones. Of that, Davos was certain.
Along with the construction of these new roads, new checkpoints and outposts were set up all across the Crownlands for better security in order to discourage banditry. Who manned these checkpoints?
The Dragonguard.
They were Prince Rhaegal's own personal guards that were established four years ago. At first, the Dragonguard had only been a thousand strong, formed solely of large Skagosi men. The first time Davos saw one of them in their black plate armor with red capes he nearly shit himself. And that was no exaggeration. How a man could be so tall with so much muscle was beyond him. Over time, however, Prince Rhaegal began to recruit men from all across the Crownlands to bolster the numbers as he began to use the Dragonguard not just for the checkpoints but for the royal fleet.
Now the Dragonguard boasted around five thousand men, paid and maintained by Prince Rhaegal himself. This was in addition to the force he could call upon from his bannermen. How he could afford to maintain such a force all year around was a mystery, but the men in the Dragonguard did not complain. For them it was a stable income with many benefits, as the Dragonguard was seen with awe and respect by many.
Some people in King's Landing began to whisper that the crown prince was trying to create a standing royal army, which would be unprecedented. These whispers even said that many lords were beginning to look at the crown prince with fear and apprehension, wondering what his intentions were.
Davos did not concern himself with such thoughts. After all, he was technically under the employ of the crown prince and so his allegiance was to him.
He was not part of the Dragonguard. Far from it. You see, Davos' time in construction work did not last for too long, as soon there were calls for new sailors to join the royal fleet. As trade continued to blossom with Essos and other parts of the world, the expansion of the royal fleet to maintain these trade routes was imperative. Davos had always held a certain fascination with the sea, and so he signed up with zero hesitation. As with the Dragonguard, it was said that Prince Rhaegal controlled the royal fleet through his close partnership with the Master of Ships, and so Davos was now technically one of the prince's men.
And he did not regret that, for Davos now had a steady wage which was more than enough to buy himself one of the homes that he had helped construct himself after saving enough gold. It helped that with the expansion of the city these homes were being sold cheaper than normal in order to encourage new buyers.
In short, both his professional and personal life were doing well. And he had done it despite coming from nothing.
Yes, Davos felt like there was much for him to take pride in. And like most in the city, Davos was grateful to King Aerys and his heir for these new possibilities. It felt like the king actually gave a damn about them, something that Davos grew up hearing would never happen.
Davos' thoughts were interrupted by the sound of two powerful roars coming from the sky above him. If the roars were any closer, Davos feared for his ears, as the air itself seemed to vibrate from those roars.
Looking up, Davos was greeted by a sight that had become all too common in King's Landing over the past year: two dragons flying over the city. One was black while the other was a light blue.
'They're bigger than before.'
Davos felt his palms grow sweaty at the sight of the two legendary creatures. He had never seen one of those beasts up close, and he didn't think that he wanted to. When he was a child, Davos never imagined that he would one day live in a world where dragons were once again a thing.
'The Targaryens. Just what are they?'
The more he stared at the dragons the more powerful the thought became. To be born as one of them….Davos didn't know if he wanted the hassle honestly.
Still, it did not stop him from feeling impressed. He was not alone in that as all the people in the street were staring and pointing, the excitement clear in their faces. To them, the dragons were an oddity to be admired from a distance.
However, given recent events, Davos wondered if the dragons' flames would soon be turned on the looming threat coming from the sea.
That, as with many other things, was not his decision to make he supposed.
The year was 277 AC, and it marked the fifteenth year of King Aerys II's reign.
---
Rhaegal always felt the most alive when he flew with Ancalagon. The sensation of soaring through the sky was indescribable. Nothing came close. It was no different than when he first bonded with the dragon. It was like he discovered a new piece of himself. A piece that finally made him whole.
For nothing ever seemed to matter when he was in the skies with his dragon. Like the world itself was insignificant.
That feeling seemed to be a commonality with the rest of his family.
Ancalagon had only hatched four years ago, and yet the young dragon already had a wingspan of 100 meters. His total length was around 45 meters as of his last measurement. He was the biggest of his three siblings. Aegorax had a wingspan of roughly 95 meters while Azurax had one of 90 meters, more or less.
For dragons their age, such growth was unprecedented. The records of past dragons showed that none had grown at such a rate. It was said that dragons grew the most in their earlier years, so it wasn't like this growth rate would continue as they aged. But the fact that they had reached this size already spoke volumes of their potential.
Moonlight and Paarthurnax sat around 85 meters with their wingspans. Bael was the smallest of the six, with its wingspan having last been calculated at 80 meters.
Then there were the three other dragons that Rhaegal hatched later. In total, there were nine dragons on Westeros as of today.
What a great number.
With growing size their temperament also changed. Rhaegal could sense it through his bond with Ancalagon as well as to a lesser extent with the rest. None of them had much patience for outsiders, only tolerating one another because of their familiarity. Dragons were territorial by nature, and they had learned to respect the space of the other.
Azurax seemed to be Ancalagon's one exception. The two dragons were always reported to be together, even roosting in the same tunnel on Dragonstone. A similar phenomenon had been reported with Moonlight and Paarthurnax, although to a lesser extent.
Ancalagon's scales grew in strength with his age as well, becoming thicker and denser over time. They were also beautiful, but that was just Rhaegal's personal opinion.
Ancalagon was also quite dense himself, as opposed to Azurax's more slender stature. It was like his whole body was pure muscle mass, and it was another wonder to see.
This was not the first time Rhaegal and Ancalagon flew together. The saddle that he had commissioned was seeing a lot of use, especially over the last year. The pair had grown quite accustomed to taking flight over the Blackwater Bay quite often, much to the shock and awe of the fishermen and trading vessels that often traversed those waters.
Today's flight was not just for his own excitement, though. No. Instead, it marked a memorable moment in his sister's life. For today was Shaena's first lone flight with Azurax. Rhaegal had ridden with her many times before, since patience was a foreign concept to his sweet sister, but at ten years old it was time for her to get used to riding by herself.
And she was more than just succeeding. Shaena was thriving in the air. Her bond with Azurax was powerful, and it showed. Not that it was anything surprising. Shaena made sure to visit the dragon as many times as she could, always talking to her in High Valyrian as well as singing songs that she found on her own.
Shaena did not like attending her lessons, but she was a fast learner when it came to subjects that interested her.
Rhaegal only had to take but a glance toward his sister to see that she was smiling widely. Her long hair was braided into a loose ponytail for the occasion. The two of them were not wearing their usual regal attires, but rather were in their riding gear, which consisted mostly of leather.
Rhaegal did not know how long they circled King's Landing for. Their journey took them from Dragonstone to the capital, so it was a quick one. So far, none of them had ridden their dragons to other parts of the kingdom. Not yet. However, soon that might be changing.
It was always unfortunate when he had to land, as he could soar through the sky for all his life if he could, but Rhaegal also recognized that Ancalagon was not a toy for his amusement. And so, after indulging his sister long enough, Rhaegal signaled for her to follow after him.
Azurax let out another roar, softer this time, as Shaena maneuvered the she-dragon to follow after him and Ancalagon.
Their destination was the rebuilt Dragonpit. Like the walls and the city roads, Rhaegal had the Alchemists' Guild use the modified dragonstone to rebuild the structure. It would be more appropriate if the dragons' home in the city was of the same make as their home on Dragonstone.
Thanks to the foundation already being there, it did not take as long as the walls of the city, which were still only partly done, but even then it was not finished until a year ago.
The Dragonpit was not the same as the one in the past. Rhaegal issued new instructions for the new dragonkeepers. None of the dragons were to be chained while in the Dragonpit. It was a risk, for sure, but it was one that he was willing to take. He knew for a fact that neither Ancalagon nor any of the other dragons would appreciate being put in chains, and he wasn't going to stand for it. Thankfully, the only dragons that spent much time in the city were Moonlight and Paarthurnax. And the two dragons kept to themselves, only emerging when it was time to eat.
The Dragonpit itself was distasteful for Rhaegal but also a necessary evil. He knew why Maegor had it built in the first place. A Targaryen without his dragon was no different from anyone else. Keeping them close provided them with safety.
In the long run, it also unfortunately introduced other problems.
Thankfully Rhaegal had what Maegor and Jaehaerys had lacked during their times. Fire magic.
With the help of Melisandre and the other red priests in the city, Rhaegal had columns of fire streaming through the underground caves where the dragons roosted at all times. This made the caves more than a little hot, and any of the dragonkeepers who traversed them always had water in hand. But for the dragons? It was like paradise.
As the fire was not ordinary, it produced a similar effect to the Dragonmont on Dragonstone. This would help counteract most of the negative effects of being away from that fire, or so Rhaegal hoped. At the very least, he could tell that the dragons were more comfortable with the fire being there, so that was a small win.
As Rhaegal and Shaena approached the Dragonpit, the dragonkeepers were already there waiting for them. At the head of the dragonkeepers was the leader of the order, a red priest by the name of Ezzylio. The man was in his forties and had long straight dark hair which fell down his shoulders. Like many others from Myr, Ezzylio had olive skin and dark brown eyes. He had initially arrived with Thoros, so the red priest was quite familiar with Rhaegal and vice versa. The red priest had a personal fascination with dragons and had contributed all his knowledge to Rhaegal and the Targaryens. Others had done the same. New books had been written and archived in the library of the Red Keep. Along with all the texts they managed to squeeze from the Citadel, the Red Keep now housed the most known knowledge on dragons in all of Westeros.
The red priest wore his robes over his gleaming dark armor, evoking the image of a dragon. It was the same armor that the other dragonkeepers wore, with some exceptions. Unlike the last dragonkeeper order, there were currently a hundred members serving house Targaryen.
It was a nice, even number.
Rhaegal did not have to give any verbal commands to Ancalagon as the dragon descended in front of the Dragonpit. The same was true for Shaena. Thanks to their powerful bonds, it was almost as if the dragons were able to read their minds and their intent. It seemed to be different compared to the previous generation of dragons.
Could it have something to do with how they were hatched? It was possible. Rhaegal's own private thoughts on the matter were documented carefully with Qyburn. The maester kept his journals away from the library, and so they were not accessible for anyone else other than himself and Rhaegal.
The landings of the two dragons shook the ground somewhat, but Ezzylio did not flinch as the dirt was kicked around him. The same was true for the other dragonkeepers. These were men who had been around the dragons for four years now. They had been accustomed and trained to not flinch in moments like this.
"My prince. Princess Shaena. Welcome." Ezzylio called out to them as he bowed his head.
Ancalagon shifted his body to allow Rhaegal to dismount, with Azurax doing the same for Shaena.
Rhaegal just barely touched the ground before Shaena fell upon him with laughter. The ten year old princess jumped up to wrap herself around him to give him a powerful hug. Her arms were tight as she wrapped them around his neck, while doing the same with her legs and his waist.
Ezzylio did not look surprised by this either. He had gotten used to Shaena's personality.
Shaena was still laughing as she continued to hug him, but Rhaegal could also hear her sniffling.
Of course. She had been looking forward to this for a while now.
"Did you see that, Rhaegal!?" she said, still hugging him. "Azurax and I were like one person while in the air! I bet I can fly even better than Rhaegar!"
Ancalagon and Azurax were giving them curious looks while Rhaegal gently stroked his sister's hair.
"Yes, I'm sure that's true," he replied, trying not to chuckle. "But you know, dear sister, you smell just like Azurax right now. And while I love the dragons, smelling like them is something else."
"What are you saying!?" Rather than letting go, Shaena hugged him tighter as she brought her nose down to his neck and inhaled deeply. "This is the best scent in the world!"
Rhaegal almost snorted. Some had called him a dragon in human form, but with how fascinated Shaena seemed to be with his scent he was starting to wonder if she wasn't the actual dragon in their family.
"Thanks I suppose, but you know mother will not be happy if you join her smelling like that."
"Ha! She likes it too, you know. She just has to pretend because she's the queen. Those idiots in court like to talk too much."
The older she became, the sharper Shaena's tongue got. Especially now that she was a dragon rider, Shaena's confidence had only continued to grow. Not that she ever lacked any.
This time, Rhaegal did chuckle. "Be that as it may, we're still going to have to clean ourselves."
Finally letting go, Shaena pouted as she touched the ground. "Fine. But not until I guide Azurax to the cave that she wants to stay in."
Rhaegal glanced up at Ancalagon who was staring at the Dragonpit while nearby the dragonkeepers waited patiently.
"I'm pretty sure she's just going to follow Ancalagon."
The two dragons were always roosting together on Dragonstone.
As if to prove him right, Ancalagon made his way forward, heading for the Dragonpit without a word of command from Rhaegal. The ground quaked slightly from his movements. The dragonkeepers made way for the black and green beast. A moment later, Azurax followed, no hesitation in her movements.
Shaena watched her dragon go with a huff. "You know, sometimes I wonder if she likes Ancalagon more than she likes me."
Funny. Rhaegal wondered the same thing about Ancalagon with Azurax.
"I think they might decide to become a pair," Rhaegal said, shrugging.
Dragons didn't always follow such a behavior, but there had been reported cases of it happening before.
"That makes sense." Dropping that topic, Shaena linked her arm with Rhaegal and beamed up at him. "Now lead me back to the Red Keep, brother."
Snorting, Rhaegal turned and guided them toward the carriage that had been arranged for them beforehand.
"Sometimes I wonder who's really in charge around here."
Shaena just grinned in response.
---
Lucerys Velaryon watched in silence as one of the dragonkeepers was dismissed by the king from the small council chamber.
"It appears that my daughter's first flight with her dragon went perfectly," the king said, his voice filled with pride.
It was a common sight these days, for the king was always proud when it came to matters concerning his children.
"We are glad to hear of it, your Grace!" Lord Staunton said.
Lord Chelsted eagerly nodded. "Indeed! I pray for the princess's continued health."
As if that had anything to do with it.
The Grand Maester said nothing.
Tywin cleared his throat. "That is….most fortunate news indeed. I hear a Targaryen's first flight with their dragon is a most special thing."
It took all of Lucerys' personal will to not laugh at the man's face.
'Fortunate? You were probably hoping the girl would die.'
Over the years, the Hand had become desperate to break the betrothal between brother and sister after many failed attempts. It almost led to the king dismissing the lion from his post at one point after a huge argument between the two of them. Lucerys knew that the main reason Aerys hadn't done it was because he seemed to take great pleasure in watching Tywin squirm and flounder over having his house's worth diminished in the face of dragons.
The two might still be friends to some degree, but it was a relationship that had changed greatly with the king now holding all the cards. It was a position that Tywin was struggling to adjust to, especially after his ambitions soured his friendship with the king. That, and Aerys also recognized that Tywin was efficient at his job, something which no one could deny honestly. Not even Lucerys.
All of this was in spite of the fact that Tywin now owed a huge personal debt to Prince Rhaegal.
'I suppose the fact that he hasn't tried to get the princess killed himself is his way of being kind,' Lucerys thought drily as the conversation shifted back to regular small council business.
There weren't many internal affairs for them to discuss. The realm was at peace. More than that, it was still thriving. Spring had settled for sometime now, and while summer came as well there were no signs of any harsh winters coming. Or so the Citadel reported.
The construction of the new roads would still take time to complete. Same with the new walls and expansion of King's Landing.
With the creation of the Dragonguard, the Crownlands were safer now than ever before. It was said that a man could walk through the Crownlands without ever fearing being robbed. The smallfolk knew that the Dragonguard patrols were always near and were always efficient at their jobs. The fact that red priests also accompanied them only made them all the more organized. After everything that had happened, Lucerys acknowledged their magical prowess. He would never again in his life underestimate those red priests and their faith.
The constant presence of the red priests in the Crownlands as well as in King's Landing had broken relations with the High Septon in recent years, who held these foreign priests in contempt. The fact that the king had openly promoted the construction of a temple for them in the city only incensed the Faith more. There were no talks of any direct action from the Faith, but there was little love between the crown and them at the moment.
The king's response so far was simple: the dragons did not belong to the Faith. Needless to say, it fueled tensions more.
Their Master of Whisperers had been reporting signs of disturbing activities in many small villages across the Riverlands and the Vale. Sometimes in the Reach as well. Many begging brothers were reported to be speaking out against Prince Rhaegal and his magic, as well as the return of the dragons.
Aerys did not take any of this seriously. He just considered them to be ignorant fools and did not give them further thought.
Lucerys largely agreed. As long as it was contained to the villages, then it did not matter what they said. Acting against them first would probably have the opposite effect and make them seem like martyrs, further spreading their message. At the very least the High Septon was still publicly speaking out against them after the king brought this matter before him. Lucerys suspected that the High Septon might have been aware of these begging brothers and their activities long before the king brought it to his attention, but with little proof there was nothing to do about it.
The red priests were here to stay in King's Landing for the foreseeable future, of that there was little doubt.
The topic of conversation shifted from internal affairs to a subject that had been coming up more and more as of late: the Stepstones.
It was here that Lucerys had the most to say.
"Our trade routes have always been targeted, but recently these attacks have become more organized. I fear that someone is aiding these pirates."
It was not just Essos that they were trading with these days. Two years ago, under the instruction of Prince Rhaegal, Lucerys led an expedition to the Summer Isles to open talks about a stronger trading alliance between the Iron Throne and the many princes and princesses who ruled the famous islands. His son Monford had come along as well, so it had been quite the memorable trip for Lucerys.
"Is there any proof of such a claim?" Pycelle questioned, speaking up. "After all, with how aggressively you've expanded those trading routes, it is not surprising that so many brigands would take notice."
Aggressively?
"Take care of how you say things, Grand Maester," Lucerys warned the man. "Those trade routes have brought much coin to the crown."
"Yes, and it has also enriched you quite well," Pycelle retorted. "I'm sure you have no reason to see enemies where there are none."
"Enough, Grand Maester." Aerys waved the man off. "Those islands have always been an eyesore. Even during the last war, after my father ordered them to be cleansed of pirates and sellswords, that did not last for very long."
"However, the Master of Ships does raise a good point," Hallyne said. "We've gotten reports that the trading war among the Free Cities has come to an end. It's possible that they might be trying to curtail our newfound dominance out in sea."
"Then they would be fools." Lord Chelsted was dismissive. "The world knows by now that the dragons have returned. Why would they risk it?"
"History has seen that that has not stopped the Free Cities before," Lucerys said, his voice harsher than he intended. The fact that Pycelle was trying to argue that he was acting out of self-interest here was grating to his nerves.
Pycelle scoffed. "My lord, please. Are you trying to revive the Sea Snake's legacy? His foolish attack on those islands led to nothing in the end. Perhaps you should seek your fortunes elsewhere."
"That's enough." Tywin finally interjected before Lucerys had a chance to respond. His voice was cold as he said, "As his Grace said, those islands have always been home to pirates and other lowlifes. Prince Rhaegal has already invested his own men in ensuring that our trading vessels remain secure. Mobilizing further resources without need is a waste of time. If the situation should change, then we can return to this topic. Is that clear?"
Lucerys just nodded, but he did not forget about Pycelle's growing animosity toward him and his house. It was bizarre behavior coming from someone who usually did not speak up.
"Very well. Enough of the pointless bickering." Aerys' mood shifted as he became excited again. "Now, we must discuss my son's first name day celebration."
The mood became lighter at the change of topic.
For you see, the Targaryens had once again multiplied. Over the past four years, the queen had given birth two more times. Now, the realm welcomed two more princes: Prince Jaehaerys, who was born in 274 AC, and Prince Viserys, the youngest who had been born the previous year in 276 AC.
With so many strong and healthy princes, the line of succession was more than secured, and the realm could rest easy, for the fortunes of the house of the dragon did not seem like they were going to stop any time soon.
-------------------
Author's Note: I wanted to post images of the dragons and Rhaegal and Shaena in the replies but I failed to get any that were good. The art on the cover is close enough for Rhaegal but not quite. Seriously, all images of the dragons came out with the traditional four-legged ones. Frustrating. Anyway, more information about other changes over the timeskip will come up in the following chapter(s).
Closest actress for Shaena: Anya Taylor-Joy. For Rhaegal: a younger Alexander Skarsgård.
Also, ages as of the current year 277 AC:
Rhaegal: 18
Rhaegar: 18
Ashara: 16
Arthur: 17
Monford: 16
Malora: 20
Euron: 19
Shaena: 10
Daeron: 8
Jaehaerys: 3
Viserys: 1