The Brightest Sun

Chapter 53

Just a quick timeline update, and the timeline for this chapter will run concurrently with the next one.

Bloodstone happens almost a week after they meet the Reachlords. Elia at the time of the last chapter is six months pregnant.

The beginning of this chapter takes place two weeks after that.

By the time we get to the end of the chapter, it's been six weeks since they landed on Bloodstone. Elia is around 7 and a half months pregnant, and it's two months into 296.

Thank you all for the reviews! I'm glad you continue to enjoy the story. I'll answer the comments at the start of the chapter this time.

osterreicher97: kind of on the money. Lol, I think this chapter might raise a few more questions but you're right about the rough history of the isles being important.

mordicus18: I like exploring magical oaths, so I took it more along the lines of something they would judge by intent. The magic is more intentional here. We'll see Harry's efforts to counter the oath here. As to how he's viewed by the others; only the allied lords have met him. They see him as a mix of those things but in a friendlier light because he's fought alongside them. The true test will come once the restoration moves forward and when they get to King's Landing.

Black Magic99: in terms of amenities, we've seen minor grumbles from the kids on that end. Society wise; they've been in Dorne, which is more akin to the magical world in certain terms. The culture clash will be more obvious once they meet the rest of Westerosi society. Send me a pm if there's something I missed. I'm happy to chat.

red demon161: hopefully this chapter answers your questions about Bloodstone.

Harry was nearly at his wits end, glowering at the runes etched into the floor.

It had taken a single trip for Harry to gather the portraits – except for his most monotonous ancestor – and the books, the trunks enlarged and all of the books placed together for ease of travel.

Bloodstone was a dilapidated castle, half again as large as Potter Hall with twisting corridors and a number of small courtyards within. The castle was smaller than Harry had first thought; nestled into the side of a small mountain, Bloodstone loomed over them with it's façade of towers, the additions to what they would discover was the original keep giving off the impression of a castle larger than it truly was. The rooms themselves were relatively well maintained – at least the few that had been in use – but the lower halls of the original keep were grimy, dirt and dust marked the highest levels, and bits of stone were missing from the keeps exterior.

One overpowered scourgify had been enough to convince them it was best to have Elia remain in Sunspear with the three oath-bound Targaryens until they had a better handle on the magic of the island.

Cleaning was difficult enough without the risks of the oath and a pregnant woman involved. They had left with most of the men, leaving behind only a skeleton crew that had volunteered to stay and guard them as they worked on the castle. Doran had wanted a number of servants to assist in preparing the castle, but Oberyn had agreed to follow his lead when it came to magic, unwilling to risk unsettling something that had so obviously affected Harry.

He had kept Rhaenys and Teddy with him, helping them get a handle on their magic, gleefully setting them to the task of removing the dirt and grime from the hall and rooms to the insistence of the portraits while Harry worked on finding a way to anchor the wards; the elder portraits recoiled at the thought of being placed on grimy walls, insisting they be cleaned.

Teddy had made the mistake of reminding them they were paintings on a canvas and had endured a tongue-lashing from some of the more pretentious Potters and Peverells on respecting his ancestors.