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

𝐉𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐫𝐚

A humid gust of wind brushed Jaehaera's face. The sky was bright as the sun beat down on her brow. She could feel sweat gathering in hairline as she stood next to her mother in the dragon pit, staring with masked horror at the prisoners lined up in front of her. The ashes blended with the sand to form a ghastly brown, which littered the knees of each one as they knelt on the hot surface. It had been three days since the siege. The city was in a state of utter disrepair, unable to withstand the attacks of the wild dragons. Danaerys was embarrassed, Jae could feel it. Genyveve had cautioned against her using them, but it was no use. The remaining Dornishmen had abandoned their quest to find mounts, wary of the beasts, and retreated home. Now Danaerys's rage was fully unbridled, and ready to seek vengeance. Jaehaera took a breath to steady herself as Danaerys uttered the words, "I, Danaerys Targaryen, Queen of the six kingdoms, do sentence you to die."

Daario stepped forward, his sword dragging in the dirt behind him. It gleamed pale yellow in the sunlight, reflecting the light so brightly that it nearly hurt to look at. The sword was followed by the sound of dry scraping, metal to earth. 

Danaerys put her hand up and walked slowly across the dragon pit. The way she walked was strange to Jaehaera - there was a certain pride to her mother's gait, hinting at masked disdain. Daario sheathed his sword, knowing what came next. Danaerys put both gloved hands on the bars of the gate that lead to the crypts below and pulled hard until it swung open with a resounding screech. Heavy footsteps fell from within, and within moments, Misandys sidled out calmly, coming to a stop behind Danaerys with a snort. The queen looked at the beast fondly before remarking, "Someone once told me that he who passes the sentence should swing the sword."

Jaehaera looked away. She could feel Jon's penetrating gaze as she stared down at the rocks on the ground, daring her to look up at him. Danaerys brushed past her, a warning. "But I do not fight with swords. I fight with fire."

Jaehaera met her eyes as Danaerys glared at her and glared back stonily, unflinchingly. A cramp struck her belly, but Jaehaera refused to budge. She refused to cave. As soon as Danaerys turned away, Jae lifted a hand and rubbed the spot that was cramping worriedly. Ceralis caught her eye, looking down at her hand with concern. Jae bit her bottom lip and averted his gaze. 

Jon, Arya, Sam, Bronn, Brienne, Bran, and the decrepit man known as Harren were lined next to each other ahead. Misandys was making her way over eagerly, her long tail swinging in anticipation. Danaerys strolled in front of them, making her way down the line. "Any last words?"

"Fuck you," Arya spat. Bronn nodded in agreement but remained silent; the rakish charisma he normally carried was gone. 

"You got what you wanted, Dany," Jon uttered. "What else is there to say?"

Danaerys smiled coldly before she reached Bran, passing Sam and Brienne completely as they both looked away in contrived silence. Bran watched her, his face devoid of anger or fear. He almost looked peaceful, if one ignored the dried blood and dirt smeared across his face, or the bruise above his brow. He did not recoil from Dany, but instead smiled up at her. "All will be well."

Harren looked up at her also. "And the smallfolk shall sing your name in the histories."

Danaerys smirked. "Indeed."

She turned back to her people flippantly and retook her place amongst them, besides Jaehaera and Grey Worm, her eyes locked with Misandys's. Jojen fought against Grey Worm's grip on his shackles besides Genyveve, who watched with frightened reserve. 

"Dracarys."

It was the longest second of Jaehaera's life, from the moment the word left Danaerys's lips to the time it took Misandys to register it. Jae could almost feel the heat emanating from the beast as she crawled closer to the hostages with great enthusiasm, before a gust of fire overcame them all. Their skin sizzled and popped as it burned, and the air smelled repugnant. Sam was the only one who screamed as the unforgiving flames melted the flesh from his bones. Brienne shook violently as she was overcome by fire. One by one, they each fell forward to the ground, their remains smoking. Jaehaera looked up at the sky, praying for the tears not to fall. Genyveve gasped in horror, and began to hyperventilate, her small body trembling visibly. Jojen covered his mouth with his hands, tears welling in his eyes.