2,868Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and Game of Thrones.
Hello again, I hope you are all well and are having a good 2024 so far!
This story has been a tricky one for me and it will be ending soon, the next chapter. It has been hard to end it but I think its time. The next story is in the works but I probably won't be posting it till Ordo has been finished. That will take a bit longer but it hopefully will allow me to work more on it.
Review Responses from the Last Chapter…
amk41196 – I know how you feel, I hate to see good stories abandoned.
Silky Button – Glad to hear you have enjoyed the story. It is the first time I have tried a female Harry story and it has been a challenge. I have sympathies towards the North in Game of Thrones and so it made sense to try a story that focused on them. The dragons were something I was unsure of at first but I hope it works. Pairings are always tricky for me but I try my best thanks. Glad to hear you didn't mind the Nordic influences, I wanted to use a different villain this time and they don't get bigger than Surtr. The next story will be a Targaryen based one, still working out all the details but making progress.
PhaedraZev – Meera is too busy for that but she knows she can't put it off forever. Ellaria, hmm. Did she have a red wisp in her? Can't say so I will leave it up to all of you to decide for yourselves. Cersei didn't need a red wisp; the woman is rotten to the core and destroys everything she touches. Her only redeeming feature is that she loves her children but even that is tainted because she pretty much ignored Myrcella and Tommen until Joffrey died and look what she turned him into. And now she is 'joined' with Surtr…big problem.
emilsky2001 – Thank you! Appreciate you saying that.
grovepjp, Sanders7201, frisbeeg70,Blaze1992, Asterion Nyx Black nee Potter, EP,kageryuruler1989 - Thanks!
chm01 – No, not till it's too late.
cameron1812 – I really am happy to hear you like it! As for Cersei, who else could it have been?
dwewan – Minisa unfortunately doesn't have magic, maybe her descendants might but who knows?
Joe02 – Thank you! I appreciate the support you and others have given! The battle against Surtr will be harsh, not everyone will be coming home.
rage2091 – Intend too.
AnimeFan13579 – Well spotted!
frankieu – Well deserved given how evil her character is.
fortinpatric – Hope you liked it!
aesir21 – You see in this chapter how dangerous Surtr is, so much so that it demands a quick response. Ellaria? She might do, she might not. Oberyn for all his faults is a good father, he could ignore the girls that he fathers but he doesn't and makes sure that they are cared for. Indeed, something that rarely happens in Game of Thrones.
Jebest4781 – Thank you! Hope not to disappoint you.
- x -
Warning – Gruesome scenes
Chapter 37 – World's End
Mereen, Slaver's Bay, Essos…
Surtr walked through the streets of Mereen, acting like a musical conductor as they waved their hands around with reckless abandon as screams echoed through the air.
They were like music to their ears; the city was burning fiercely as they took in all the death and destruction around them and it was glorious! It had been like torture all these centuries trying to make anywhere near the sort of destruction that he needed and only getting petty scraps for his efforts! Now they were truly feasting they thought with delight, so many hundreds of thousands dying…so much life being snuffed out.
After moving up the coast of Sothoryos they had killed many plants and animals, scorching all their way up the coast before going to the Basilisk Isles. There had been precious little there beyond pirates, stinging flies, sand fleas and blood worms and it had been only the smallest of meals but a useful fuel to his appetite as from there they had moved on to the nearby island of New Ghis and consumed all the people on that island and from there the feast had really started…with all of Slaver's Bay to feed on.
Hundreds of thousands perished at his hand, slave and master alike while buildings burned and crumbled all around them. The enormous pyramids before them turning to dust causing the great harpies to fall to the ground and shatter.
They were having a lovely time with the cleansing of Mereen, Astapor and Yunkai had been fun too, the Unsullied had been foolish enough to attack her or rather the masters had ordered them too and that had been very entertaining Surtr thought with amusement. As skilled as the slave warriors were, they were no match for them.
Seeing a group in harpy masks approach broke them from their pleasant thoughts, it made them actually laugh as they charged, intent on killing them. They stabbed their daggers at them but all of the blades shattered on impact, making the Harpies look down in shocked surprise while Surtr grinned at their despair.
Surtr then grabbed one of them by the throat and lifted him off his feet into the air. The Harpy struggled and his fellows tried to beat Surtr with their fists or anything they had to hand but it was pointless as they slowly crushed his neck, making sure to keep him alive as they slowly crushed the bone to dust beneath their fingers, smirking as they did so.
Soon the bone was gone leaving only the tissue holding the head to the rest of the body as he gasped for breath before Surtr with a single slow swipe of their nail severed the rest while they kept him alive to feel it!
Seeing this terrified the harpies but as they ran in fear Surtr just used their power for create a wall of fire that surrounded them all and cut off any chance of escape. One tried to jump through the flames only to scream as his body was burnt to nothing the moment that he touched the flames.
That left the others without anywhere to go and they huddled into the centre of the circle while Surtr walked calmly through the flames without the smallest burn or even singeing a single hair or strand of clothing.
The Harpies looked on in disbelief, never having imaged such a creature in all their worst nightmares. One of them got down to plea for their life but Surtr would never allow anything else to live besides themselves. They pressed his head down onto the ground with their foot and pushed down with enough weight to slowly crush his skull, he screamed out in pain before finally after an agonisingly long time she finally pressed down with enough force to split the skull open but still…he didn't die.
He just kept screaming as she pushed his head apart with his foot until finally Surtr allowed him to die. With his head now a pile of mush on the ground Surtr then turned to the remaining Harpies who all looked at them in complete terror.
"Now." Surtr said with a sinister smirk on their face as they looked at their prey. "I am in the mood to be creative with how you die. Who's first?" Surtr asked them before advancing on the scared men who were soon screaming in terror.
Dothraki Camp, Essos…Two Days Later…
Daenerys was struggling to sit still pacing around the tent with great tension inside her; she didn't know why but for the last few days she had been extremely anxious despite there being no reason for it. She had been having some awful dreams too but with no idea just why.
But it was getting worse, she thought with confused worry. For some reason she just knew something terrible was happening somewhere and it would not go away. She was getting more and more unsettled the longer this went on and she was desperate to know why but had no idea just what to do. She thought about asking Sheira over in Qarth for answers but that was a long way away and she didn't want to bother her aunt with her own likely silly worries.
So, with her mind now feeling very full of all these random and quite negative thoughts she went over to Drogon and took off for a flight on his back, hoping it would clear her mind and ease her fears. She was almost desperate at this stage so that she might finally get a good night's sleep, Daenerys thought and urged her dragon into the air. He obeyed her straight away and they took to the skies, eager to stretch its wings on a long flight.
- x -
Volantis, Essos…Later That Day…
Daenerys was enjoying the wind rushing through her hair as she looked out across the horizon, the freedom and detachment from all the concerns that waited for you on the ground made this her favourite activity Daenerys thought with joy, all her previous worries now forgotten.
But as she came within sight of the enormous city of Volantis something caught her eye, she blinked in surprise not sure of what she was looking at for a moment. It seemed impossible but as she felt a sharp cold chill run up her spine as she realised that it was very real.
- x -
It was like Mereen all over again!
If anyone had seen the destruction Surtr had brought down on the slaver city and lived to talk about then that was what they would have thought.
Surtr came in through one of the side gates to the enormous city, streams of fire coming out of their hands as they moved through the city's streets. People many of whom were slaves with tattoos on their faces to denote their function, but Surtr burned them all the same. Elephants belonging to the Tiger Cloaks charged at them but they laughed as burned them with flames that roared like a dragon from their mouth.
The elephants screaming and the screams of the people that they fell onto was like music to their ears! The cries of people as their flames spread further and further into the city, killing dozens if not hundreds every moment which meant thousands as the flames spread further.
So much blessed death Surtr thought with delight, so much misery and pain it was truly glorious.
Making their way around the burning city they approached the eastern part of the city, which itself was surrounded by enormous walls. Surtr smirked as they crossed long bridge that separated them from the western part and actually saw more guards launching arrows at them from the top of the enormous wall. It actually made them laugh as they bounced harmlessly off their skin, but that laughter stopped when they found themselves face to face with the sealed black gates. Surtr pulled at the gate but felt it resist them, tugging at the walls with their power had the same result which brought a snarl to their face.
The stone of the dragon riders! He thought with disgust at those vermin! The ones that had denied him a physical form the last time and their cursed creations that resisted magic. Those walls stood tall and triumphant and that infuriated them! If they had been their true size then they could have just surmounted them but their power wasn't great enough yet! Surtr thought with determined fury.
It would not stop them! Surtr thought with rage and conjured up fire in their hands, burning nearly pure white in its intensity before channelling it against the large stone gates. The walls resisted the fire well, they warmed but only slightly and Surtr with anger pressed harder, knowing that the gate would not warp but instead focused their attention on the thick wooden bars that held it closed. Forcing the flames through the slight gap in the gate to attack that which kept it closed. The wood slowly warmed, discolouring before the very eyes of the guards until finally splitting violently apart. The force of the flames which almost cracked the stone of the bridge beneath Surtr's feet then pushed the gates wide open.
Smirking with triumph Surtr walked forward, spreading the flames to inside the richest quarter of the city. Worshippers from the Temple of the Lord of Light, enormous in its size when compared to other buildings rushed out to welcome their 'lord' as flames this powerful and majesty could only be created by R'hllor himself. Surtr soon proved them wrong by showing the loyal congregation no mercy and they died screaming as did the rest of the city.
- x -
Daenerys on the back of Drogon walked in horror at what she was seeing, she had never even imagined such destruction or that one creature could be behind it all. She saw although she would never be really sure just how that one person or rather a creature had committed such an atrocity.
What was that…thing?! She thought with disgust and more than a little terror at the ease with which it could destroy a city. All the city guard and all their swords and other weapons had been swept aside like they were nothing! The entire city in flames!
It was a like a scene from one of her nightmares!
Oh no, she thought with horror as she realised just what her dreams really meant. They had been no creations of her own deepest fears she thought but instead images of things that were really happening. Only one creature that she knew of would be capable of such devastation, the one her several times great aunt had warned her about…Surtr.
So, he had acquired a body she thought with a cold feeling creeping down her spine as she urged her dragon back towards the camp, eager to get her family as far away as she could from that creature.
It took a lot longer than she had thought to get back to camp and she was sure that most of her people were asleep, she landed Drogon and skilfully dismounted with the utmost speed almost running to her tent when a figure appeared before her…one so unexpected that she gasped in surprise.
"Sheira!?" Daenerys cried out in surprise and the beautiful Valyrian woman frowned before telling her.
"Yes, but there isn't much time. Surtr is gaining strength, with every place they destroy and soon they will be strong enough to end all life on this world regardless of what it is." Sheira told her with a scared look on her face which surprised Daenerys as she didn't think she had ever seen Sheira scared before.
"But before that, he will need to go to Westeros." She told Daenerys who was surprised at that.
"Why?" Daenerys asked given there was plenty of reasons to stay here in Essos. Many cities and other places that were full of life for him to destroy she thought with fear for all of them not least her own family in Surtr came for them.
"Because the only thing that can kill Surtr is in Westeros. In hands of Meera Stark." Sheira told her with some exasperation. "You have to go there and warn them, more than that tell them that dragonglass can be an effective weapon against his physical body if needs be."
"Me?!" Daenerys said with shock. "They'll me kill on sight!"
"No, they won't." Sheira said looking annoyed at having to argue with her which confused Daenerys a little but she thought that was probably due to the stress of the moment. "You are thinking of Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister again. But Meera Stark isn't them and those men are dead now. She will listen given the threat and since you have a dragon, you can get there a lot faster than I can." Sheira said with a stern voice that wouldn't allow argument.
Daenerys frowned, not sure if she wanted to take that risk it but her great aunt had a point and if she was only delivering a message then hopefully, she shouldn't be gone that long. She was very uncertain though about leaving her family for days as even with a dragon it would take that long to get there and back. Drogon also wasn't used to flying those kinds of distances she thought worried about her dragon who was now tucking into some cattle that had been prepared for him.
But given the threat to the entire world and that Meera Stark might be the only one that could kill Surtr…did she really have a choice? She asked herself with deep fear.
Daenerys went to tell Drogo who nodded and agreed surprisingly fast to her going as long as she returned quickly. Promising to him that she would Daenerys got back on Drogon's back and took flight once again, heading towards Westeros and Meera Stark in the hope that she could reach her in time to give the warning.
- x -
Sheira watched her leave before a cold smirk appeared on her face and a simmering green energy ran across her body, shifting into an exact copy of Daenerys who inherited the same cold smirk.
Loki had dreaded this moment though, he thought, the smirk disappearing momentarily off his assumed face. Surtr had returned much sooner than he had believed possible and he had intended to use Meera Stark to draw out more of his essence so it could be destroyed and whittle him away piece by piece but the old demon had somehow outwitted him and regained physical form.
He had not lied to Daenerys he thought with some wistful sighs. Surtr would go after Meera Stark first although he would destroy everything that stood in the way of that on the way. The Stark woman would have sensed Surtr return he was certain of that so he would send her a little help in the form of the world's only other dragon rider he thought, smirking as he had used an illusion of the woman's own husband to convince her to go.
But to hide as long as possible, he would pretend to be her till it was no longer necessary he thought with his old sense of self-preservation coming back, wondering if he could somehow survive if they failed. Bitterly he knew that he couldn't if they didn't destroy Surtr but for now he could hide as Daenerys and try to think of another plan. Loki braced himself and went back to the tent the married couple shared with a steadying breath to calm his nerves.
The Red Keep, Kings Landing…A Few Days Later…
Meera sat in her solar, choosing new lords for the lands that had belonged to the houses that had attacked her in the Riverlands. The castles were now vacant…she had been true to her reputation and removed the houses that had occupied them near completely. She needed to put the lands into the possession of those that she could count on, choosing some Northerners and Valemen to take over those holdings in reward for their loyalty. Nestor Royce for example was now the new lord of Rosby while a son of House Stout would rule over Claw Isle which had formerly belonged to House Celtigar.
She was however more disturbed by the dreams she'd been having. She knew they were of Surtr and his reign of terror, killing and destroying all his way up the coast of Essos, she looked down at the map and put a red marking over yet another city. She put her head in her hands as despair gripped her, ever since she had learned of his existence, she had dreaded that Surtr might return properly, while having no red wisps to threaten her or anyone else anymore was a blessing to be thankful for it was completely ruined and rendered worthless by the creature that would destroy every single thing that lived solely to fulfil its own hunger and desire to be the only living thing in creation.
Meera could tell where he was going, she knew from the moment he had landed in Essos. Rather than travel East where the lands of Yi Ti and others would provide much sustenance he had instead headed west and slowly up the coast.
All those cities…all those people she thought with horror at the scale of destruction.
The speed at which he moved as well made it hard for her to guess just where he would be or she would have flown there on her own dragon to try and confront the demon herself but every time mounted up her dragon to go, he would always be done with that city and onto the next.
But all of that was only a stay, his intent was clear.
He was coming to Westeros. The spear was the only thing that he feared so it made sense that he would come here.
That was another reason to go, she thought to herself. To face the creature alone so as to not endanger her loved ones and her people.
A knock at the door made her look up and she called out. "Enter."
The Queensguard outside the room opened the door and allowed Varys into the room, his face was solemn and already Meera could guess what he was going to tell her.
"Your grace." Varys said with a grave look on his face. "My fastest birds have sung a very unsettling story. They rode as the Dothraki do, all day and night, swapping horses when needed to get the news to the narrowest point on the coast where specially trained birds could fly the distance between Westeros and Essos."
"Volantis is gone." Meera said quietly which shocked Varys as he has only just learned of it this moment, he looked at her confused wondering if she had a spy network of her own that he didn't know about and if it was better than his for her to know already but would investigate this at a more stable time, so he continued his report.
"Along with Slaver's Bay and all its cities, and whatever the creature responsible is they must be close to Lys, Tyrosh and Myr by now given the rapid speed with which it moves." Varys told her with worry in his voice that was shared by her. Many people lived in those cities and there was no way of telling if he had reached them or not yet. The Weirwood was now as good as useless as Surtr blocked all vision from it she thought with anger having tried it earlier but controlled herself before explaining Varys how she knew about this.
"Do you remember the red wisp that appeared when the High Sparrow was killed." Meera asked him, knowing he was present that day. Varys nodded so she continued. "The Red Wisp is a part of him, his soul if you like reaching out to create chaos and death for him to feed on. Death and destruction are his sustenance like bread and water are to us. He was gaining his strength till he could take a body for himself to finally destroy this world and kill every living thing within it. The only thing he fears in this entire world…is this." Meera said tapping her hand against Gungnir which lay on the table in front of her.
"Your spear?" Varys asked confused and she nodded before explaining further.
"The spear was created in ancient times; it was what destroyed his original body and can destroy the soul pieces. It remained the only thing in the world that can truly kill him. So, that is why he is coming in this direction, to destroy the spear and me as I alone can wield it." Meera told him with resignation.
Varys who feared the mystical world was unnerved deeply by this but knew enough to believe it, having seen her destroy a red wisp first hand and given all available information it was the most likely explanation.
"It can cross water as easily as it crosses land so it will take no time at all but it will probably look for the narrowest point between Westeros and Essos or at least close to its current position." Meera said knowing that from her visions of all the things Surtr had been doing, so she looked at a map and saw where the coasts of the two continents were the closest together.
"Near Tyrosh if you use the Stepstones looks to be the route that the demon would take." Varys said, hoping from island to island with his finger and Meera nodded as that seemed to be the best guess they could come up with and fit Surtr's pattern so far.
"Send a letter to Prince Doran, warn of him of the threat and it may be necessary for him to evacuate his city and settlements in the creature's path." Meera said, hoping they had enough time to do that at least even if she had no chance to saving the cities of Lys, Tyrosh and Myr. Even if she got to one of them in time which she doubted she could do given the distance she would have to travel, she still didn't have a plan to stop Surtr.
A sudden roar of a dragon made them look up in confusion as it sounded different to Aurora and Vhagar, Arya's own dragon. The tone was somewhat off and Arya then came rushing to the room.
"Meera! There's another dragon over the city!" Arya said with a slight panic before all three of them rushed over to the window and saw a large dragon with dark scales flying overhead. Aurora and Vhagar both were circling nearby, their eyes glaring at the intruder and their humans could feel the suspicion they had of the other dragon. Despite that they saw also that there was a figure on its back.
It was not one of the Stark dragons so there was only one person it could belong too, Arya and Meera realised and Rhaenys who now joined them realised it too.
It was time for an unexpected family reunion.
- x -
Daenerys had heard rumours of other dragons in Westeros from her trade network but had dismissed those as mere fantasy, only a Targaryen or at least someone of Valyrian blood could master a dragon.
Clearly that notion was another of her late brother's delusions she realised with discomfort as two large dragons flew around her and Drogo.
The sight of the great city of Kings Landing and the Red Keep, icons of her family's achievements stirred something inside Daenerys and briefly made her wonder if giving up on the Iron Throne had been the right decision but that was only a moment of madness as she knew in her own heart that she had made the right decision and wouldn't trade the life she had made with Drogo for anything.
Seeing the large open courtyard where people had gathered, she told Drogon to land despite her considerable misgivings. Clearly it had been made by her family so several dragons could land together at once. The stunning platinum with gold flecks on its scale's dragon followed, its partner the which was both purple and gold came too and they eyed Drogon suspiciously. Any other time she might have tried to go up and pet the two of them but their flared snouts and glaring eyes made her stop.
They might be dragons, she realised with some discomfort but they weren't her dragons, they would not see her as their mother but perhaps an enemy.
She was reluctant to dismount as she landed as there was a large number of guards who trembled at the sight of the dragons made even her slightly nervous but she steadied her courage and leapt down gracefully.
She looked out over the crowd and saw an old man in armour looking at her with astonishment, given his age and his armour perhaps he was Ser Barristan Selmy she thought with interest in the famous old knight.
Then the crowd parted as a group of Seven knights entered the area, all dressed in the traditional white cloaks so they must be…the Queensguard she thought nearly calling them the Kingsguard for a moment before catching herself.
There were four figures in the centre, a bald middle-aged man with robes and a calm demeanour even in the face of dragons, a short young woman with her dark brown hair cut to her shoulders and dressed in fine leather but the final two caught her eye the most.
One was a warrior woman in armour made to be strong but flexible so she could have the maximum amount of movement position, but it was fitted enough to show her incredible figure. A mix of curves and strong muscle. Dark hair and slightly tanned skin like those from Dorne or Myr but what really caught her attention was her eyes…they were the same luminous purple she had.
That confused Daenerys and wondering just who the older woman was but then she was distracted by the final person to arrive. Clearly the new queen from how she had been described to her; thick dark brown hair, warm and yet guarded grey eyes filled with an intense fire and a figure that rivalled her own not to mention the great spear which she already had to hand in case she needed it.
There was only one person she could be…the new queen Meera Stark, but Daenerys froze as she realised that they had met before.
"You!?" Daenerys said surprised while Meera did the same.
"You?!" Meera repeated, both remembering their brief meeting on the docks of Braavos, what seemed like a lifetime ago now.
"Do you know each other?" One of the men asked while the younger woman with dark hair that was clearly a sister to the older girl stared at her with suspicion.
"Not well at all, but we have met." Meera said with a small smile on her face, knowing this could be the start of trouble but somehow, she doubted it. Daenerys started smiling back, feeling the same way. "I think we should talk in private, how about that hill?" Meera said gesturing towards the hill to the east just outside the city. Everyone looked at them in confusion before Daenerys and Meera both mounted their dragons and took off despite cries from everyone else there.
They flew the short distance on Aurora and Drogon who glared at each other but contented themselves with just watching the other for signs of trouble. After landing they stood aside of their humans could dismount and face each other.
"You've been quite busy or so I have heard. Building your own empire over in Essos." Meera said now they were alone, Daenerys nodded with pride before returning the compliment.
"As have you, Queen of Westeros. The first sole ruling queen in the history of Westeros." Daenerys said with a smirk.
Both of them had achieved a great deal in their own ways; both dragon riders, both conquerors, builders and rulers in their own right.
They were equals in many ways.
Not something that either woman had very often, so it was a rare opportunity for them both.
So, they both sat down and talked, just talked to each other about their lives so far.
Meera about her family and all the fighting while Daenerys described the campaigns to take over all the Dothraki and expand her empire, not to mention the birth of her children.
They laughed and cried a little at their stories but it was rare for them each to have this, the chance to just let loose and talk with evenly with each other. Lifting both their spirits despite the dire circumstances that had brought them together again but sadly they couldn't ignore it forever.
"I saw that creature destroy Volantis; it was unstoppable!" Daenerys said as she urgently recounted what she had seen but Meera surprised her by nodding in surprisingly quick acceptance.
"I already know." She told Daenerys who was shocked that she already knew about it. "You aren't the only one to have visions, you have some innate magic although I don't know if you can channel it properly. Anyone with magic in them could probably sense him."
"My great aunt, Sheira." Daenerys said which made Meera raise an eyebrow at the mention of her famous relative who should realistically be long dead. "Said you have the only weapon that can kill him, and that dragonglass can damage his body or that of any minions."
Meera nodded, in this world dragonglass seemed to have unique properties that she had never had the time needed to investigate. From the brief examinations of it that she had managed to make of the mineral it did seem to have in its natural state the ability to inhibit magic if a user was impaled with it. That was why it was so effective against the white walkers as it broke the magic that kept them together. So, against Surtr it might be useful in damaging his body she thought even if the spear only could kill him.
She still had some dragonglass weapons around, perhaps due to paranoia after having to fight the white walkers she had maintained some weapons made of dragonglass. Not many, but some.
It was not much of a plan, but it was a start she thought with worry. But another thing that was clear was that she couldn't simply wait for Surtr to come here. Not only was she unwilling to allow any more people to be slaughtered by this creature but she knew she had to confront him before he grew any stronger.
So that was a decision made, Meera thought with conviction pressing down her fear at what she was facing.
"Then we had best get started…hadn't we." Meera told Daenerys who blinked for a moment before smiling, knowing she was going to take this threat seriously and that given both their families' safety was dependant on victory, Daenerys knew she too would be there.
The Red Keep, Kings Landing…Later that Day…
Meera was sending a raven personally to other Dornish keeps to try and get them to evacuate before Surtr arrived while Arya was trying to use a glass candle to monitor just where the demon was so they could intercept him as soon as possible.
Daenerys found herself feeling quite useless, not something she was used too and with Lord Varys as her guide was being given a tour of the Red Keep.
"This is the Maidenvault." Varys said as they came to a particularly infamous part of the Red Keep. "Baelor the Blessed confined his sisters including his own wife here for a decade so he would not be beset by lustful thoughts."
"You mean Baelor the Befuddled." Daenerys said with dismissal of one of her most stupid ancestors.
"You call him the befuddled? Why?" Varys asked, curious to know just why she thought that. Daenerys did not disappoint him.
"The man was so concerned with his religion he forgot that his first duty as king was to his people. To rule them and to ensure the stability of his country. He should have abdicated in favour of his uncle and joined the faith properly if he wanted to devote his life to it not stayed as king. Rather than marry his sisters off and remarry to a bride that was not related to him he locked them up for years and pushed them all to the breaking point due to his own lack of confidence in his own self-control. The Blackfyre Rebellion was a product of his reign because if he had merely slept with Daena and had children with her, then Daemon Blackfyre would likely never have been born and Aegon the Unworthy would never have come to the throne. Not to mention being so stupid that he fasts himself into an early grave and appoints a young boy to be high septon because he thought he could do miracles? That no one could actually prove where real? The man was a fool and the realm would have been served better if he had died a lot sooner." Daenerys said with disgust at his foolishness, maybe a form of the Targaryen madness taking the place of religious zealotry she considered briefly.
Varys was surprised at her quite brutal dismissal of her ancestor and impressed at her own frankness with her family's faults. While he knew Queen Meera would do well, he wondered briefly how well Daenerys would have done as queen had she decided to reach for the Iron Throne.
The sight of Rhaenys Targaryen approaching from the other side accompanied by Ser Barristan made him stop before Daenerys looked at her with confusion, seeing the signs of Targaryen ancestry before Rhaenys asked him politely.
"If I might Master Varys, I would like a moment alone with aunt." Rhaenys said, more of a statement than a question though and while Varys looked at them with concern before leaving as Daenerys looked at her 'niece' with confusion. Ser Barristan looked at Daenerys and smiled gently to her before leaving too as the two women were alone.
Rhaenys smiled and began to explain the events that led to her being alive when even now most of the world thought that she was dead. To say Daenerys was shocked would be an understatement but at the same time her joy at finding out that she wasn't the only the only survivor of the Rebellion made her smile broadly.
"I have spent a lot of time in Dorne with my mother's family." Rhaenys told her with a warm grin that showed how much that time had meant to her, looking truly content. "Learning about her and where she came from meant a lot to me, gave me a sense of where I came from and why some things mean so much. You haven't had that." Rhaenys said feeling sorry for her aunt who as a pretty much pure-bred Targaryen had no real place to go to learn the things she had.
"More than you think." Daenerys said with a smile remembering her own brief time with Sheira who had taught her a lot about being a Targaryen. She wasn't ready to share their mutual ancestor with Rhaenys yet but was wanted to know more about her surviving family. "Maybe when this is all over, we can meet in Dorne and truly spend some time together?" Daenerys asked with a hopeful look in her eyes which Rhaenys returned.
"I hope so." Rhaenys said before telling her. "I wondered if you have seen the gardens of the Red Keep yet? From what I understand…Rhaella Targaryen used to spend a lot of time there." Rhaenys said referring to her grandmother, Daenerys' mother.
Daenerys was instantly intent on going, she had always wanted to know more about her mother…the one member of House Targaryen who she had never been able to find out much on. The chance to be where she had once stood and enjoy the same sights and smells that she had…it would mean so much to her that she could barely stay still.
Rhaenys saw the longing in her eyes when she had mentioned Rhaella, perhaps the only Targaryen of that generation or even their family before the fall of House Targaryen that had been truly worth saving and sadly had died with a broken heart and no hope left. Both of them shared that deep sense of fascination with her Rhaenys realised whenever someone mentioned Rhaella.
"Ser Barristan knew her." Rhaenys added as they both walked to the gardens. "He might be willing to share some stories of her, if you want too."
Daenerys immediately meant to find Ser Barristan and ask him what he knew of her mother, she was now so glad that she had come despite the circumstances. Here she could learn so much about the history that had been denied to her, the people that had been denied to her. She cared nothing for her father, he had been a monster that had destroyed all that their ancestors had built and the same applied to her brother Rhaegar. But Rhaella who was the biggest mystery of all to her might finally be within her reach and let her know her mother…really know her for the first time.
It was too big of an urge for her to ignore.
- x -
In the Small Council Chamber, Meera looked at the map of Westeros and was planning her strategy.
Looking at what Surtr had done to the cities he had destroyed so far; she had realised that gathering an army against him was not a good idea. He would just decimate them and feed on that death to make himself stronger not to mention it would take longer than they had. They also didn't have enough dragonglass weapons for that many people.
So, Meera thought as she sat in her chair with her hands arched and her chin resting on them as she thought, she would need a small group. Light and mobile all armed with dragonglass weapons so that even if they couldn't kill Surtr they might be able to slow him down. It was cold blooded she thought and was more than ready to engage Surtr by herself but given how dangerous he was she would need all the help she could get.
Luckily, she had just the people for the job, the same people she was waiting for.
The Queensguard and Arya, Rhaenys and Daenerys followed them in and sat at the table, enough chairs had been added for them all to have one.
"Surtr is coming to Westeros, that is fact." Meera said with complete certainty that unsettled those that understood just what Surtr was. "We are talking about a literal demon, one that feeds on death and destruction to become stronger. He has already killed and destroyed entire cities in Essos on his way here to feed himself. Daenerys Targaryen brought such information to us and Master Varys confirmed it only this morning." Meera told them with some fear in her own voice.
The Queensguard and Arya all looked deeply unsettled by this information as did Rhaenys while Meera and Daenerys merely grimaced.
"We need to face him before he gets any stronger." Daenerys said with some urgency, given all that was at risk if they failed to stop Surtr.
"Who are you to tell us what to do?" Arya said looking at the other woman with suspicion which was somewhat based in her loyalty to her sister, which Meera appreciated but knew Arya would not like what she knew in her heart she had to do.
"She like us recognises the threat." Meera told her sister and then explained what she had in mind.
"An army against this creature would only be playing into its hands, it would devastate them and feed on their deaths." Meera told them. "Assuming we even had the time to properly rally one before it gets here which will be very soon by all accounts. By looking at its pattern so far it will cross at the narrowest point between Westeros and Essos." Meera said as she pointed to the map, in particular the area in question.
"Using the Stepstones Surtr will hop from island to island before making it into Dorne, Prince Doran has been warned to evacuate his settlements that are along its path but it is here that we will need to act." Meera said, moving her hand over the map as they all gave her their complete attention.
"I will lead a smaller group, faster and highly skilled against the demon. Those that fight will be given dragonglass weapons as they are known to hurt such creatures. Now, what I am asking of you carries enormous risk." Meera told them all with complete seriousness. "What we will be facing is the closest thing to experiencing the Seven Hells. A demon that is near invulnerable and with no regard for life beyond what it can consume. There is a very real chance of dying here but if we don't stop him…then nothing will survive. It doesn't want political power, or wealth…only death."
"What we do here is not for your houses or individual glory or even for Westeros. This is for the entire world which will perish if we fail." Meera told them wanting them to understand just what they were getting into if they agreed to this. "If you want to leave, to go home or run to the ends of the world I would not blame you and I will release you from your white cloak if you want. Do not make your decision out of sentiment or loyalty to anyone…do it for yourselves. Because you want to." Meera said leaving it up to them if they wanted to join her, a battle of this importance could not be fought without the utmost dedication to see it through.
The stakes were just too high for anything less.
The Queensguard and the others all looked at her, then each other and went off into their own thoughts as they considered just what to do. Arya however had no hesitation and said as much.
"I'm with you."
"No, you won't." Meera told her which caught them all by surprise as Meera sadly pulled out a document and placed it on the table. "This is my will, drawn up earlier today and witnessed by the entire Small Council except Lord Tyrion who is at Casterly Rock at the moment and some other nobles we can trust. It names Arya my heir and should the worst happen…she will be the new queen." Meera told the shocked people in the room.
The silence following it was short lived however as Arya got to her feet screaming in anger.
"YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME BEHIND! I'M NOT DOING IT!" She screamed right in her sister's face but this time rather than answering back calmly as she usually would, Meera shocked all of them by doing the exact same thing back to her.
"I NEED YOU TO! DO YOU THINK I WANT THIS? TO BE GOING THERE TO FACE THIS CREATURE!? OF COURSE NOT! BUT I HAVE TO AS I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN WIELD GUNGNIR, THE ONLY ONE THAT KILL HIM! YOU WEREN'T THERE WHEN WE FACED THE WHITE WALKERS AND I NEARLY DIED THEN! WHAT WE ARE FACING NOW IS FAR MORE DANGEROUS THAN THEY EVER WERE! I NEED TO NOT ONLY NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOU BUT ALSO KNOW THAT I AM LEAVING SOMEONE I CAN TRUST TO RULE HERE!" Meera shouted at Arya who stepped back, slightly afraid as Meera had never raised her voice to her before. Meera took a deep breath before saying more calmly.
"I love you Arya and there is no one else I would rather have with me; I trust you but as a sister I need to know that you are safe. Our family has lost so much! I have to do this for us to all survive but I don't want our brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces to lose you too! I intend to come back, but need to leave the throne in the hands of someone I trust in case I don't. I know this isn't what you want Arya, but it has to be this way." Meera said with tears running down her face.
This was something those in the room hadn't seen before, their queen who was normally so strong but now openly crying. The tears seemed to break Arya who sat back down, not able to speak in the face of all this.
The Queensguard, Daenerys and Rhaenys made up their minds in that moment. All of them understanding what was at stake and what had to be done.
"I will stand with you." Thoros of Myr said proudly, knowing he had found the true Azor Ahai and would serve at their side with pride and devotion.
"Always." Brienne of Tarth said with Loras Tyrell nodding in agreement.
"Can hardly let you have all the fun now, can I?" Osha said with a vicious smirk.
"I owe you, my life. I will stand at your side." Gendry said with complete certainty.
"My brother and I will stand with now and always." Strong Shield said with Sharp Arrow at his side.
"I came all this way. I should see it through." Daenerys said with a nod. She had a family of her own and more to protect after all and this was her chance to make sure they would be safe.
"Where you go, I go." Rhaenys said with conviction. Although neither had admitted to their relationship it was regardless something that people were talking about all the same.
"We have arranged that at specific points along the route, fresh horses will be waiting for us. Meaning we can ride at full speed without having to stop to rest the horses. Like the Dothraki do." Meera said looking over to Daenerys who smirked at that given that particular innovation had been her own work. "So that way we will be able to cover the distance to Dorne much faster than by ship or regular travel."
They looked at what she was doing and it would allow them to reach Dorne much faster, what normally might take weeks could take mere days which hopefully would allow them to get to Dorne in time to stop Surtr before he got too far into the country. Flying there would not be possible for all of them as Aurora and Drogon were not big enough to carry all of them, maybe two or three each at push and not flying at full speed.
Aurora and Drogon though would be coming, they would be needed in case heavy fire power was required but Meera was leaving Romulus and Rema behind, she could sense why they were staying in the Godswood a lot at the moment as it was more comfortable for them, especially as Rema was going to give birth to their first pups soon.
After the meeting while the others prepared Meera went to the Godswood and played with her direwolves like she was a child again, crying almost like one too as she was honestly worried so much about this battle and that this might be the last time that she would ever see them and her family. Arya had stormed off and refused to talk to her which Meera knew she deserved given what she had done. She had betrayed Arya by making her stay here regardless of the reason and knew her sister whether she lived or died would likely never forgive her for it.
But she had to leave someone here that she could trust and more importantly she refused point blank to make her family go through the pain of losing both of them.
She would return, Meera thought with fresh determination but she would not go unprepared.
So, she returned to her solar and sat down at her desk. She dipped her quill into the ink and began to write letters. One to each of her siblings, to her niece and nephews. Even to her mother although writing that one was one of the more difficult letters to write. Each expressing the feelings that she would never be able to in life and made them know just how much she loved them all. Copies of her will were also prepared to be sent to the lords she was sure would honour them.
That night sleep was elusive to all, especially those who were going. They found it hard as restlessness would dog them with all the different thoughts went around their heads. Brienne had written to her father and Loras to his sister even if her cared nothing for her anymore, none of the others had anyone to write too which in some ways made it easier.
But if they did manage to fall into sleep it was uneasy, bad dreams about what they would be facing kept them from drawing any real rest from it.
So, when the following morning came, they were all fairly tired, alert enough to travel though. They would need to stop half way to rest but no more or they wouldn't get to Dorne in time.
Meera took her leave, seeing Arya was regretfully not there which upset her but she had known to expect it. Brienne commented in an attempt to reassure her.
"I am sure she will understand with time your grace." Brienne told her as they rode their horses to the edge of the city. "She will forgive you once the anger has subsided."
Meera however knew her sister better and regretfully shook her head.
"No, she won't. By leaving her behind I betrayed my sister in her mind. Arya doesn't forgive those that she feels betrayed her." Meera said with sadness that her relationship with her sister even if she survived this was going to be damaged possibly beyond repair.
It didn't take too long to reach the gates of the city and then with Aurora and Drogon, Meera and the rest of them took off a full gallop, leaving the city far behind while above from the tower of the Red Keep Arya stared after them, furious at being left behind but also terrified that she was going to lose her big sister.
Myr, Essos…
Surtr looked out at the city of Myr, so content it was sickening and presenting another enticing feast for him before he had to once against cross the water. They could see the small islands of the Stepstones in the distance which would make things so much easier.
But first, they thought with an excited sneer walking up towards Myr, ready to do to it what they had already done to Lys, Tyrosh and many others.
Then, they thought with excitement…it was on to Westeros.
There we are, Surtr is coming to Westeros. Please review and let me know what you thought. It helps me to know.
- x -
Next Chapter – Surtr finally arrives and the fight for the world begins.