The Passion of a Thousand Suns | Aemond Targaryen

Epilogue

LENG

134 AC

The sands of Leng were cool beneath Hira's bare feet, the grains slipping between her toes as she sat at the edge of the shore. The sun was setting, painting the horizon with colours of gold and pink, casting its warm glow across the sea that stretched endlessly before her.

In her arms, she cradled her newborn child, a bundle wrapped tightly in soft linens. The babe's dark hair glistening in the fading light. She gazed down, a tender smile playing on her lips, though her eyes were clouded with thoughts of the past—of the Dance of Dragons, and the terrible cost that had been paid by so many.

"One day, little one, you'll know the full story. But for now, I will tell you of the ending, of how your mother and father's world was torn apart and put back together again."

She looked out at the ocean, where the sun was slowly sinking beneath the horizon, the waters shimmering with the last light of day.

"It was after Lord Corlys was imprisoned," she began, her voice a soft lull. "The Velaryon fleet turned their backs on Queen Rhaenyra. She had imprisoned their Lord, and the Sea Snake's loyalty was broken. With the fleet gone, her power began to slip through her fingers."

She adjusted the swaddling around her child, feeling the warmth of the babe's small body against her chest. "The people of King's Landing, too, no longer trusted their queen. Whispers filled the streets—whispers of the Shepherd, a prophet, who claimed that the dragons were the source of all the suffering. That the Targaryens had brought only ruin to the realm.

"Mysaria, the White Worm, heard the whispers. She sent word to Jace, who acted swiftly, and defended the Dragonpit from those who sought to destroy it. He released the dragons to freedom, to the the skies, and Baela, your aunt, killed the Shepherd herself, cutting down the man who had rallied the mob."

She paused, her fingers brushing lightly over the child's soft skin, grounding herself in the present. She had never known such softness. "The people applauded Jace and Baela's actions. At the battle of God's Eye, Daemon, her husband and your grandfather, died. I was the one who caused his death, rained dragon fire on him and his beast. News spread, and Rhaenyra's paranoia and rage grew. It was too late to save her. She smothered Aegon with a pillow in a fit of rage, her grief and fury too much to bear. She was declared a kinslayer and the realm turned their backs to her, and even her family did not recognise her anymore.

"She went to Alicent after killing her brother," Hira's voice was quieter now. "They fought. The two women who had once been like sisters, childhood friends, who had loved and hated in equal measure... died by each other's hands. The last chapter of their story written in blood."

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the steady rhythm of the sea. Hira felt the weight of the past pressing down on her.

"Jace took the throne," she said after a long pause, her voice stronger now. "With Baela as his queen. The houses of Velaryon and Targaryen were truly united at last. He was a just king, wise beyond his years, but even his reign was shadowed by the blood that had been spilled to put him on the throne. Daeron... Daeron was put to the sword to prevent any future claims. Cregan Stark, the Wolf of Winterfell, marched to King's Landing, and with his help, Jace put down the remaining allies of the Greens."

Hira's fingers traced gentle circles on her child's little arm as she spoke, her thoughts far away. "The war left scars on us all," she murmured. "But somehow, your father and I survived. We found our way back to each other, despite everything."

The waves continued their endless dance along the shore.

"So much bloodshed, so much loss. All for a throne that had brought nothing but sorrow to those who sought it."

Her precious little boy cooed softly in her arms, his tiny hands reaching for his mother.

"Perhaps, my jewel," Hira said, smiling faintly, as his hands clasped her finger, "you will never know such a burden. Perhaps you will grow in a world where the lust for power no longer destroys lives."

She pressed a soft kiss to his brow. "I swear to you, you will not carry the burdens of the past."

As she cradled her son, a familiar presence approached.

Aemond emerged, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the sand. His face, still bearing the scars of the battles, both physically and emotionally, softened as he looked at her, his single violet eye filled with quiet affection. Hira's smile grew larger, as he drew near. His arms arms wrapped around her shoulders as he sat behind her, the warmth of his body a welcome comfort.

"Aemond," she breathed, leaning into him as he gazed down at their firstborn, their little prince.

"Have you been telling him stories of our past?" Aemond asked, his voice a low rumble, though there was a note of amusement in it.

"He'll need to know someday. What it cost to give him this peaceful life."

Aemond's gaze drifted to the horizon, where the sun was beginning to dip below the waves.

"Peace," he murmured. "A fragile thing, isn't it?"

"Fragile, yes," Hira agreed, her eyes meeting his. "But perhaps worth fighting for, just the same."

For a long time, they sat there in silence, watching the waves roll in and out, the years of blood and fire behind them. In that moment, surrounded by the gentle rhythm of the sea, there was no crown, no throne, no war—only the quiet sanctuary of family.

And for the first time in years, Hira felt the weight of the past lift, if only for a little while.

She sighed, resting her head against Aemond's chest as the sun set over the distant waters of Leng. "We've both lost so much," she whispered, "but here we are, still standing."

Aemond kissed her brow, his voice a whisper in the wind. "And we'll stand together, always."

As the stars began to dot the sky, Hira closed her eyes, the sound of the waves mingling with the steady heartbeat of her husband and the father of her child.

The Dance of Dragons had ended, but their story had only just begun.