After a forbidden night with Ser Criston Cole, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is forced by her father, King Viserys, to drink the moon tea and protect her honor. To shield her image further, she weds Ser Laenor Velaryon, and together they move to Drift...
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Present Time
Army Academy, Valyria
Today's drills involved an obstacle course built of stone walls, climbing ropes, and trenches of mud, all while carrying a round shield and a short sword. Charlie paced along the side, shouting corrections in a voice that could have rivaled any commander of the Unsullied.
"Shield up! Move your bloody feet! Potter, you drop your guard like that in a real fight and you'll be dead before you can blink!"
Dahlia gritted her teeth as she hauled herself over the next wall, the wood of her shield biting into her forearm. Her braid clung damp to the back of her neck, her lungs burned, but she pressed forward without complaint. She could feel eyes on her — young soldiers, Unsullied veterans, even some Dothraki riders — all watching to see if their Queen would falter. She refused to give them the satisfaction.
Beside her, Captain Harwin Strong hit the mud trench with a splash, rolling to his feet with a grin that made him look far younger than his years. He met her gaze briefly, and she thought she saw a glimmer of respect — maybe even enjoyment — at running this course as nothing more than another soldier.
Charlie's voice cracked over them again, sharp and relentless. "You're all too slow! If this were a battlefield, you'd be corpses already! Again!"
Groans rippled through the line, but Dahlia only tightened her grip on her sword. If she wanted her people to bleed for her one day, she had to bleed with them first.
"Dahlia! You're up next!" Charlie barked, clapping his hands loud enough to make a few recruits stumble out of sheer nerves.
Dahlia tilted her head toward Ginny, Fred, and George, lowering her voice just enough to keep it from carrying. "If I let little Aerax roast Charlie's balls like an American barbeque, do you think Molly would forgive me?"
Ginny snorted so hard she nearly dropped her shield. The twins, however, wore identical "deep in thought" expressions as they rubbed their chins in unison.
"Well..." Fred began gravely, "if it's you, I think Mum would let it slide."
George nodded with equal solemnity. "She's got a soft spot for you. She'd probably help you hide the ashes."
Ginny smirked. "On the other hand, she'd definitely kill you if you deprived her of any grandchildren from Charlie's balls." She shrugged as if the thought were obvious.
The four of them froze, the weight of that horrifying truth dawning on them all at once. A collective shiver rippled through their shoulders. No one—not even Dahlia, crowned Queen and bonded to the biggest dragon alive—wanted to test Molly Weasley's wrath when it came to future grandchildren.
"POTTER!" Charlie's roar snapped them back, his eyes narrowing as he pointed toward the obstacle course. "Less scheming, more running!"
"See?" Dahlia muttered, stepping forward with her sword and shield. "And people wonder why I'm tempted to barbecue him."
