Children of Destiny - A Rise of the Dark Lord's Tale

Chapter 19 - Happy Reunions

TALION, LORETH, SANSA AND THE KINGSGUARD ARRIVED AT SKY HAVEN AT MIDDAY, TWO DAYS AFTER BRIANNA AND HER COMPANY. They found the ancient fortress very much alive with hundreds of Akaviri knights. Sansa learned from an apprentice that Eddard had completely destroyed Kings Landing, leaving one survivor. That survivor was the Red Keep's chef's son and Brianna had brought the boy back with her. As they passed the armory, Sansa saw a woman issuing orders while pounding away on a piece of steel, a great sword slung across her back. She was dirty and filthy from the metal work, but her silver white hair was unmistakable. This was the last Queen of the Iron Throne – Daenerys Targaryen and she was doing manual labor which shocked Sansa. What surprised Sansa even more was that despite her age, Daenerys had not seemed to age a day and grew even more beautiful. Daenerys seemed to notice someone staring and looked in her direction. Sansa swallowed the lump building in her throat and felt unease building in the pit of her stomach as the wife of the Dragonborn first embraced her son. In the past Daenerys and Sansa did not always agree and the red headed noble feared that she would remember their arguments.

"Welcome back Talion. I see you brought along a few friends including some that I know well. Hello Sansa. Welcome to Tamriel and Skyrim. Forgive me if I do not embrace you as a sister. I am filthy from forging arrows, swords, axes and repairing armor. As you can see, we are quite busy preparing for a siege" Daenerys spoke to Sansa, not a hint of malice in her voice.

Sansa had trouble finding the words "I would have thought you would harbor ill feelings toward me after what happened."

"On the contrary. My time in Skyrim has given me clarity and I came to understand my ambition and lust for power was my undoing. It nearly cost me my life, but I found redemption with the Dragonborn my husband and Eru Illuvatar granted forgiveness and blessed me with long life" Daenerys replied. "And I was blessed with something far more precious than gold or a throne. My son Talion."

"Speaking of thrones, your son is now king of Westeros" Loreth interjected.

"Mother, this is Loreth. Daughter of Aragorn and princess of Gondor. She wishes to fight against the Enemy. And also, she is my fiancé" Talion informed his mother.

"Congratulations Talion. A match with the daughter of Aragorn will only solidify our alliance. By the Valar Loreth, you are even more beautiful than your mother" Daenerys replied. "I know my son is now the rightful king of Westeros, but unfortunately Eddard wishes to make war on his grandfather and homeland. He has gathered a force of Wildlings, two thousand of my supporters and several legions of orcs. Apparently, those who rejected his call he had Ancalagon burn. A few hundred of my surviving supporters arrived two days ago."

"Who is Ancalagon" Sansa asked wondering if this was another one of the Enemy's servants.

"Ancalagon the Black. The most powerful drake to have ever lived. During the War of Wrath when the Valar were on the verge of victory, Morgoth unleashed that terrible beast on the army from Valinor" another feminine voice answered. Sansa looked at the gorgeous red head who walked into the room. She had piercing green eyes, pale skin, toned muscled arms and a stunning set of legs. A black katana hung on the belt of her dress. This was Brianna Dovahkiir, Master of the Blades and the Last Servant of the Secret Fire, an Istari. Also, she was the wife of the former Night Watch commander turned Akaviri captain Jon Snow. "So great was the heat from his breath, that the armies of Valinor were driven back. He is over two hundred miles long and when my father confronted him at Whiterun, my father slayer of Alduin the World Eater proved he was no match for the drake of Morgoth."

"Master Brianna" Sansa could only stutter. Sansa was one of the most beautiful women in Westeros, but the daughter of the Dragonborn made her feel like the ugly wife of a pig farmer. Brianna was as beautiful as she was deadly. Figures that Jon would marry a woman who was either his equal or better Sansa thought.