3 B.C.
(Kael POV)
Ah, this is the life, I thought. I was lying on a lounger by a pool on Naath. We had built a vacation home here where our armies could relax when they returned from their assignments in Essos. Many came with their families just to unwind. Beside me, Luna and Errine were completely relaxed; they had arrived a few days after me, once they knew Erlef and I were here with "The Unforgiven," one of our mercenary armies.
Man, the whole thing had become a self-running success. Originally, I thought, "Fine, create two armies, rotate them, let them gain experience." And now? We had four mercenary units filled with High Elves, Wood Elves, and liberated slaves who had been properly trained and had gone out to free even more slaves. After nearly 100 years, these four armies fighting under the banner of Naath and Amber Isle had become legendary in Essos. One army stayed on Naath, one on Amber Isle, and two were out in Westeros or Essos fulfilling contracts. In truth, we had more than just four armies, as we rotated personnel internally so people could lead a life and start families. But enough of that—I was here to relax.
Errine looked at me and smiled gently. "Lost in thought again? Planning something crazy?"
I looked at her with a mock-hurt tone. "Me? Crazy things? Never... though... hmmm."
Then Luna's laughter came from the other side. "Oh, sure. Who was it that created an oasis in the middle of the desert just to confuse the enemy, only to hurl a meteor at said oasis to finish the job?"
A mischievous grin flickered across my face. "In my defense, the contract said to stop the enemy. The Dothraki never got anywhere near that city."
Errine added with a mocking grin, "Exactly. They never arrived, and the oasis ceased to exist too."
"Exactly. Clean job," I grinned back.
Errine sat up and took her wine, looking over the pool where elven children played with humans. "The vacation homes were a great idea. It does more for our people than empty speeches. The slaves we brought in have started families, built lives, and can finally feel like one people."
I followed her gaze and thought to myself: how do the protagonists in all those fanfics I used to read always manage it? They free the slaves, give a quick speech about freedom, and poof—the slaves are ready to die for the main character's cause. It took me nearly 100 years, and only now, with the third generation, do we have that kind of loyalty. Either I'm stupid or just not charismatic enough. But now, these former slaves would actually die for my little realm—at least a small win.
"I'm hearing more and more rumors from Erlef and her sources," Errine continued. "After Aegon's victory over Volantis, the so-called 'Century of Blood' is coming to an end. It makes sense—the Free Cities are bled dry, the Dothraki have retreated to their prairies, and the other two families who had dragons have lost them."
Errine and I both looked at Luna. Luna looked Errine dead in the eye. "Seriously? You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Hmpf."
Errine smiled slightly and elaborated: "So, Aegon now has experience in leading armies. You said we should keep watch for when the dust settles in Essos; then the focus would shift to Westeros."
I looked up at the sky. "We'll see. Let our spies focus on the Targaryens. We'll see what happens."
2 B.C.
(Targaryen POV)
Aegon woke up once again drenched in sweat. He had been having these dreams repeatedly since the end of the wars in Essos. Dreams of death in the ice, of fire fighting against the ice, and then ice against death. Of a death that wanted to consume everything. He had first spoken to Rhaenys about it; she tried to comfort and calm him, but it didn't get better. He had to know what was happening.
As Aegon walked through Dragonstone toward Visenya's quarters, he knew that if she wasn't at the training grounds, she would be there, buried in her books about magic and Valyria. He opened the door and saw her, his second sister-wife, engrossed in her reading. He loved both his sisters, but Rhaenys was the love of his life—cheerful and always with a smile. Visenya was different; she sought battle, magic, and lost knowledge.
"Visenya... I need your help. These dreams are back, and I don't know what they mean."
Visenya didn't even look up from her books. "Now you come to me, brother? Can little Rhaenys not help you anymore?"
Aegon sighed. He knew he had neglected Visenya and favored Rhaenys, but he couldn't help it. "Visenya, sister, please. I believe these dreams are like those of Daenys. A prophecy. A warning."
Visenya looked up and pointed to the chair opposite her. Aegon sat down and began to tell her the dreams. "Ice, death, fire. Ice joining fire against death."
"That is how it looks? How it feels?"
"Hmm... the fire is likely us or the dragons. The ice... maybe the North? The noble houses there, the Starks?"
"Perhaps," Visenya replied. "There is nothing else I could compare it to."
"And death? A threat, or the Starks wanting to kill us?"
"I don't think it's the Starks," Aegon said thoughtfully. "The death is somehow ice itself and fights the ice first. The dream shows me what happens if death defeats the ice: it consumes the Kraken, it freezes a crippled lion. It freezes fish in a pond, kills the falcon in the sky, and tramples a rose garden. It breaks a spear into pieces, and then the fire goes out."
"Okay... let me think." Visenya pulled out a map of Westeros and traced the lines with her finger. "Based on what you've described, the ice is the Starks dying in the North. Then the Greyjoys—the Krakens—are next. The crippled lion is likely the Lannisters, though I can't say why the lion is crippled since they are quite strong. The fish in the pond are the Tullys or other houses in the Riverlands. The falcon is the Arryns. The rose garden would be the Gardeners or another house in the Reach. The spear is the Martells—it fits their sigil perfectly."
Visenya drew lines on the map. "It all comes from the North. Further North is the Wall. No one knows what lies beyond. It could be a possibility."
"And what am I supposed to take from this?" Aegon looked at the map. "Should I fly North and fight an unknown enemy, now that we've made a name for ourselves in the world?"
Visenya looked at her brother as if he were an idiot. "First, no. Second, according to your dream, you wouldn't achieve anything if you fought alone. Third, since your dream showed so many symbols, it must mean you have to call all the noble houses together. Or conquer them so they follow you into battle."
Aegon looked at Visenya in bewilderment. "Conquer Westeros?"
"Yes. Conquer Westeros. Then all the banners will stand behind the dragon. But first, I'll look through our library. If that isn't enough, we'll have to go to the Citadel. I've also read interesting things about Amber Isle in Daenys' journal. We should visit there as well."
"Ah... alright. I'll send ravens to the Citadel and a messenger to Amber Isle. Strangely, that island has no Maester."
Aegon stood up, gave Visenya a quick kiss on the cheek