The Age of Daenerys Targaryen

Part 77: Lyanna

Jon had never been in a place as alien to him as Volantis. It wasn't just the hot climate that was logically very different from that of the North; it was mostly the people. The people in the North were generally rough, taciturn and stoic, the citizens of the Imperial Capital were pretty much the opposite of that. Almost everyone Jon met on his evening walks through town had a tattoo on the face. He knew that this marked slaves, only they had all been freed when Daenerys took over. But whether a former slave or not, it seemed to Jon that people were filled with some kind of energy. The World War was over and won and Volantis was now the center of the greatest empire that had ever existed in the world. An empire that had now become even larger since New Ibbish had recently been ceded by the Ibbenese. And the people were proud to be part of this empire.

Only once did Jon see a sign of dissatisfaction, namely when he was listening to a group of soldiers in a tavern who, already noticeably drunk, were talking loudly.

"So the Empress will soon be marrying this snow guy", slurred a man whose stained tunic wore the insignia of a corporal. "She might as well have spit on us."

Another man with a slave tattoo on his face and a wooden prosthesis in place of his left leg nodded. "We won the war against the damn Westerosi for her. And now she is literally sharing bed with them." He spat.

Jon then left the tavern to get a drink elsewhere. However, most of the people in the capital seemed to be looking forward to the upcoming event.

Jon put his hand on Dany's round belly while she sat at a desk, writing the wedding invitations in gold ink.

"How many more invitations do you have to write?", he asked.

"Halfway through, that leaves a little over five hundred." Daenerys intended to send invitations to every country in the known world, to every prince, every king, every important lord of Westeros and of course to all the influential families and dignitaries of her own empire. A total of around ten thousand wedding guests was expected.

"Why don't you leave the work to your scribes?"

"Because it is proper for the host to write the invitations."

"Then I could help you", Jon offered.

Dany frowned at him. "No. Your writing is not beautiful enough."

"Then not", said her fiancé, shrugging his shoulders and laughing when his hand felt the child kick out forcefully in Dany's belly. "I think it will be a girl."

"Perhaps", said the Empress. "Where is Ghost anyway? I haven't seen him in weeks. Is he afraid of Aemon?"

Jon shook his head and looked at the silver-scaly dragon chick, who was eating a portion of fried meat in the corner of the room. "A direwolf is not that easy to intimidate. Especially since Aemon is much smaller than him. But Ghost wasn't made for city life. He roams the surrounding area. Do not worry, he will not harm anyone as long as he is not harassed and he has also learned not to attack livestock. Only antelopes and wild hares will have to fear him."

Dany nodded and she couldn't help thinking of the little girl whose charred skeleton was once laid at her feet by a crying father in the throne room of Meereeen ... and of the countless children in King's Landing, where she was already on the subject. But Drogon had learned by now not to attack people without orders or provocation, and Dany had sworn herself that something like King's Landing would never happen again.

When the labor started, Daenerys was immediately taken to the delivery room prepared for her, deep in the heart of the palace. Kinvara and two midwives hurried up, as did Jon and Dany's sons. Even her brother Rhaegar, with whom she was still angry, was allowed in. Everyone else had to stay outside, all nine members of the Imperial Guard stood guard outside the door.

The birth lasted all night. The whole time Jon sat next to his fiancée and held her hand - well, most of the time. Twice he went to an adjoining room to pee in a chamber pot.

As the sun rose, Daenerys was holding a little girl in her arms. The silvery hairs on her head were barely visible. Black eyes blinked at Jon and Dany.

"I already know what to call her", said the Empress.

"Shouldn't I be allowed to have a word in it too?"

"Oh, I don't think you will mind the name: Lyanna."

"There ... you're right", Jon said in a hoarse voice.

Dany leaned over and gave him a kiss. "I thought so."

While Rhaegar and Viserys looked at their little sister and the older Rheagar looked on, visibly moved, the news of the princess's birth was already announced with great pomp. Already the thunder of the rocket volleys could be heard, which the Imperial artillery fired into the morning sky in Lyanna's honor.