- The Dragon's Daughter || GOT

- ' By the Shadow. '

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' The Far East! '
Asshai, Essos

One Year Later

Alyna II

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Asshai by the Shadow. One of the most peculiar places in the Known World. The entire city was blanketed in a never ending shadow; even in the warmest Summer there wasn't even a glimpse of sunlight. Some say this is due to the black magics practiced in the city, others claim that the shadow stems from the Long Night, when the White Walkers roamed through the woods, hunting every warm body and swiftly destroying them. Alyna wasn't sure if she believed in the tales of spells, sacrifice and conjurers. However, she couldn't doubt the legendary Shadow; it was right there in front of her as Illyrio's ship pulled into the harbour. Asshai was a known port city, traders would travel from as far as the Iron Islands just to get a glimpse of the rare exports which are sourced from Asshai and the Shadow Lands beyond. "Everybody off!" yelled the Captain of the trading vessel. Alyna gasped, standing up in a shocked state, the girl had barely realised how close they were.

"Hold on," replied the Targaryen Girl, sweeping her things together and blowing out the candle which stood lit on her desk. "On my way!" she finished, finally arriving on the deck. "Many thanks, Jayson. I must say, I enjoyed your company this past year," she said with a soft smile. "I hope to see you again. Perhaps if I'm done here before you leave I could catch a ride?" she asked with a glance backwards as she stepped off the ship. "Goodbye, Captain!" she said as she turned around to wave before turning to walk away through the port and towards the mysterious city lit only by candles, lamps and open flames on top of buildings. Alyna was shocked as she walked through the streets of the port city, a chill ran up her spine and then down again. Every step she took felt empty, every breath she took felt hollow. Everywhere she looked she felt eyes staring at her like daggers stabbing right into her very essence. However, whenever she looked back all she saw were dark faces or ruby red masks. Alyna wondered if she had made the right decision to sail to Asshai, perhaps Braavos would have better served purpose.

Alyna wanted to turn back now to the safety of Captain Jayson's ship, the warm cabin where she had spent the majority of the past year cooped up inside. She wanted to run, run back to the ship, run back to Illyrio, run back to Dragonstone. Anywhere but the Shadow. But one word, one thing, kept running through her mind. Dragons. Dragons. Dragons. She wanted dragons. She needed dragons. She was a dragon. A dragon doesn't run, a dragon stands their ground. A dragon is more than a match for witches and wizards. Alyna turned the corner, her eyes scanning her surroundings when a sudden hand on her shoulder almost made her jump from her skin in fright. "Alyna of House Targaryen," hissed the voice which had an accent that the girl had never heard before. "That is I," said Alyna, her mind forcing her to take a step back when she saw the ruby mask the woman wore. "Born on Dragonstone as the wind sung songs of the sea; Stonesong they christened you," said the woman, her voice retaining its shocking hiss. "I would warn you. Leave this place, leave and never look back," whispered the Asshai'i woman as a chill crawled up the Targaryen's spine.

"Only great danger will you find here; danger and fire. Danger and blood. Fire and Blood," said the woman as she let out a short gasp and suddenly vanished as quickly as she appeared. Alyna was in shock for what the witchy woman had just whispered was a lot to digest. She would apparently face great dangers in Asshai, but she would also face 'Fire and Blood'. Those were the infamous words of House Targaryen, they spoke of the House's natural connection to dragons. Alyna began to think that maybe she would find dragons in Asshai, for she heard tales of dragons stirring beneath the short sunrise over the edge of the Shadow Lands, the Shadow Lands which Alyna set her sights on. However, she couldn't help but wonder about what 'dangers' she could possibly face in Asshai. Yes, perhaps the Asshai'i were rather bizarre, but none of them had been dangerous. Not yet at least.

Just as Alyna was about to continue on her way, she passed a magnificent tower of oily black stone and golden candle light. It had a mesmerising property to it, she almost felt as though the very bricks and mortar were speaking to her. She tried to walk away, but her body refused to cooperate and instead she found herself wandering towards the tower of black stone and gold. The sensation was frightening as she entered the building, a warm shock crossed her body with period flashes of cold. Alyna heard what sounded like snakes, old snakes, hissing a thousand times a minute. It was only made worse when she heard a voice call to her from above her, seemingly from the ceiling itself. "Welcome home, Alyna Stonesong. I must say, we've never had someone of the Blood of Old Valyria cross our paths, oh no," called out a male voice from above, then below then from all around. "We usually have nothing but Dothraki, weary merchants with the occasional Prince. But you, you have King's Blood. King's Blood and the Blood of the Dragon," continued the echoing voice.

"Yes...You will do nicely."