A Song of Ash and Smoke | a continuation of A Song of Ice and Fire

𝐉𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐫𝐚

Jon had seen it first. The fire. Falling from the sky like rain, hotter than the desert sun. His eyes had this sort of glazed look to them... it was as if they were remembering. Then, Brienne, shaking Jon from his reverie and fumbling at the handles of Bran's chair, shouted, "Your Grace, we must get you to the crypts... now." 

Jaehaera had cried out and dashed to the window, barely missed by Jon's fingertips grazing her as he reached for her. "Jae, no!"

Breathless, Jaehaera stumbled to the edge of the window in the small council chambers and stared at the sky. The sky had been grey, all sun clouded by ash fluttering down to the dirt and stones below. She turned back to face Jon, her face resolute, jaw fixed in determination. "You go," she'd ordered. "I'll handle this."

Now she was sprinting to Drogon, willing her feet to run faster as she prayed to the gods that her mother's fury did not fall on her. As soon as she reached the enourmous beast, she scrambled up his shoulder to the saddle and strapped into her harness, commanding Drogon to the sky. 

Though the air stank of burning flesh and wood, it was strangely still. Smoke drifted from the burning wall below, but Jaehaera could see it only remained there. There was no fire to be seen around the Red Keep, only the wall of King's Landing down by the water burned. And Misandys! Soaring circles around the wall as Stark soldiers stampeded down the stairs, screaming. Misandys almost looked bigger, as if the fire was enabling her to expand. Then Jaehaera realized what Misandys was circling around, before watching the smaller dragon drop down to the beach. She could see her mother's pale hair reflecting off the dull light filtering through the smoke as she wove her way to the mass lying still in the sand. Jaehaera could feel her eyes go wide, pricking with tears, and the skin of her face starting to warm. Rage rushed through her as she soared down to the beach. She'd jumped off of Drogon's back before he'd even touched the sand, sliding down his wing to the ground and bolting towards Danaerys.

She was crying when Jaehaera reached her, rocking Summer's lifeless body and stroking her face. Blood smeared as she did, running in a steady stream from a gash on the girl's head. Jaehaera trembled, and looked up to see the dragon Nightwing dead in the sand not far away, a spear thrust horrifically through her eye. Jae stood over Danaerys, frozen in anger. Her lip curled, she looked down at her mother. Danaerys looked up, tear streaks visible in the ash smudged across her face. "Jae, I didn't mean to - I didn't know..."

"They did this?" Jae's voice was steely. 

"Part of my deal with Eran was to bring her home, Jaehaera, this wasn't meant to happen!"

"This wouldn't have happened if you didn't take her to begin with!" Jae was yelling, screaming almost. She fell to the ground and snatched Summer away from Dany, clutching her to her chest. "What in the seven hells are we supposed to do?"

Danaerys shrunk away from her daughter, wiping her face with the back of her glove. Then, with one last sniff, she shook her head and the expression on her face was replaced by a haunting hollowness. "Show the usurper what he has done. He alone had the power to stop this."

"We should have given her back when Tyrion and Jojen came," Jaehaera whispered, pressing her face into Summer's hair. She could feel her tears dampening the copper strands, watched them drip onto the cold skin of Summer's limp neck. 

"It's too late for that," Danaerys muttered emptily, before pushing herself to her feet and extending her hand to Jaehaera. Jae took it, but her hand gripped Dany's arm hard, her fingers digging into her wrist. 

"Swear to me you had nothing to do with this," Jae spat. "Swear to me before I bring this girl before her father and lie her dead at his feet."

"I swear daughter," Dany panted, as Jae made it to her feet. "On my own life."