52 The Fall of the Pretender

King's Landing; Crownlands, Third Moon of 279 AC

King's Landing smallfolk POV:

The citizens of King's Landing were getting ready for the Night; the regular man, on a typical day, would go to a tavern to grab a drink or talk about his day with his friends; his wife would stay at home getting supper ready, tending the hearth and taking care of their children if they had any. The day a giant white dragon was seen flying over Blackwater bay was not a typical day. Many men feared that the King had gotten a Dragon, and many were hopeful that the Silver Prince was the one that tamed the White Dragon. The City Watch could tell them nothing, for they knew nothing, the merchants also knew nothing, nobody knew nothing until the Northerners from the giant ship docked on the river gate came down their floating fortress; it turns out the White Dragon was an Ice Dragon, and it belonged to House Dovahkiin. That information got some people worried and some relieved. Relieved because the Dragon didn't belong to the King, worried because other than being the best warrior in Westeros and local hero in the North, not much was known about Lord Dovahkiin.

For Lod, a local fisherman, it didn't matter. All he wanted was a better life, not die of starvation, and go to work knowing that nothing would happen to his family, something that King's Landing could not offer, but Winterhold, the city of the North, could.

" The Northerners said their city smells like berries and that there's work for everyone; they say this Lord Dovahkiin fellow is a good man that most often than not would help them with their problem. They are not lying; northerners don't lie! They are too dumb to do so!" Lod said to his wife, who kept preparing their supper

" Why are you saying this, Lod? Do you want to take the Kids and move north? The winter there kills more men than wars ever could." She said

"Yes, it does. But there is work and food up there, for us for the children when the time comes! Did you those northerners who came to the city? They were just the sailors, not their soldiers, looking as healthy as a knight. I ask them, they are fishermen like me, and they make three times more than I do! If we move up north, then things will be better for us! All their kids know their letters; I saw the pride in their eyes, Jenny. I want that." Lod said, and his wife bit her lower lip before she nodded.

" Then, let's do it, Lod. We can sell our house and get a boat to the north; hundreds of them come and go back to White Harbor every moon." Jenny said.

" This a good idea. Let's do it…." Lod said as he gave his wife a tight hug

Lod and his wife were among the many who chose to go north to look for a better life, many would stay in White Harbour, and many would go to Skagos.

Ragnar POV

Ragnar and Dacey went back to the OldGods' Revenge after talking a bit to Rhaegar and Rhaella Targaryen. Ragnar was sure they had made an enemy out of Cersei Lannister, something he wasn't perturbed about; she was just a dumb girl with grandeur delusions. Rhaegar Targaryen would never marry that nasty little thing which meant she would never be a Queen.

In their bathtub, Ragnar and Dacey talked about the upcoming feast and Ragnar's talk to the King. Ragnar was sitting in the tub with Dacey on his lap as the hot water relaxed his tense body; with his left hand on Dacey's butt and his right on her belly, Ragnar listed as his wife told him about her talks with the Queen and how Cersei Lannister had antagonized her from the get going.

" That girl is like a disease, every time she opens her mouth, something awful comes out of it. I feel sorry for her future husband." Dacey said as she let the back of her head rest on Ragnar's shoulders.

" I just hope she doesn't try anything stupid when the King announces Elia Martell as Prince Rhaegar's bride. I feel blessed that we will be able to see her face when it happens. Sometimes the gods are good." Ragnar said as he gave his wife a small kiss on the cheek.

" De we really have to go? I feel soo good now, with you here on this tub. You are a blessing in my life, Ragnar; when I am with you, I feel safe, and you are such a good husband; you cure all my pains with your magic. Sometimes I think you are too good for me." Dacey said, and Ragnar smiled.

" I am too good for you, just like you are too good for me. You made me love you, Dacey. I didn't think I would be able to love anymore, but you proved me wrong, and now there's nothing in the world I wouldn't do for you. They will try to hurt you; they will fail miserably, for not even the gods can take you from me." Ragnar said; Dacey, who had her head resting on Ragnar's shoulder, nodded.

" Ragnar, you know that if we have a daughter, she will have to marry a Stark. For the good of the North. The North stands more united than ever without the Boltons and their ilk. With our future daughter as the Lady of Winterfell, no one would be able to challenge our house or the Starks." Dacey said

" Aye. That was my plan. Uniting House Dovahkiin and House Stark would only make the North stronger." Ragnar said, "The North is my priority, as I am sworn to House Stark, not to House Targaryen." Ragnar continued.

" So if the time comes… you would fight against the iron throne?" Dacey asked

" If my liege lord asks or my home is threatened? Without hesitation! I would break the south and wouldn't even sweat as I do it." Ragnar said.

" So brave." Dacey joked, " And I would be by your side, fighting and having your back." She continued

" Now now, my she-bear. It seems I already have your back," Ragnar said as he squeezed Dacey's butt.

" Awn… don't do that; I'm with child; we cannot do it; it's dangerous!" Dacey said with a red face

" All Right, all right… I will wait, but I warn you, e you will not be able to walk once I get done with you, she-bear." Ragnar said as he laughed." All right, love, let's get changed. We still have a few hours to get to the Red Keep, but it would be better for us to arrive early." Ragnar said as he got up, carrying Dacey in bridal style.

It didn't take long for Ragnar and Dacey to get ready, the servants had all their clothes separated, and they helped Dacey to get dressed.

Ragnar wore a simple yet fine set of black clothes with blue trimmings; his black hair was shaved on the sides and had one braid going from the top of his head to his back; his nightingale sword was on his back, and his beard was trimmed, Ragnar looked as regal as a northern lord could.

Dacey wore a red dress with golden trimmings; her raven hair was loose and full, and her baby bump made her look brighter than usual.

Dacey and Ragnar met young Benjen on the River Gate; with a small guard squadron, they walked to the Red Keep.

The Gold-cloaks didn't try to stop Ragnar and his party; he was, after all, an easily recognizable Lord.

The great hall was fully decorated with Targaryen banners; there were many tables spread throughout the great hall, only a few of them with people on them; Ragnar looked for his House banner and found out he would be sitting close to the royal table.

" Here, we will be sitting here. Close to the royal family, the Martells, and fortunately the Lannisters, do you think Tywin told his daughter about the King's decision?" Ragnar asked with a mischievous smile on his face

" I know not, husband, but I shall pray that he didn't. It would be hilarious." Dacey said as she sat

The feast was an uneventful one; the King and the Royal family arrived, Rhaegar Targaryen wasn't as gloomy as usual, the King looked less unrigged than normal, and the Queen looked happy.

The feast went on until the King decided to announce the betrothal between Rhaegar and Elia Martell.

" In the light of recent events and the need to keep the Dragon Blood as thick as possible without losing a strong ally, I have decided to betroth my son Rhaegar of House Targaryen to…." The king gave a slight dramatic pause, which in Ragnar's opinion, was one of a kind; the whole keep was silent; Ragnar looked around and saw Cersei Lannister looking smug, Elia Martell looking calm, Mina Tyrell looking excited, and Alerie Hightower looking calculating.

" Elia of House Nymeros Martell. The wedding will take place in two moons at the Great Sept of Baelor," The King concluded, and everyone clapped for Rhaegar and Elia.

" Ragnar, look…" Dacey said as he pointed her head to Cersei Lannister, who looked just like she had eaten the worst kind of lemon. " Impressive; I didn't know a person could do a face like that."

A few minutes after the king's announcement, Ragnar walked to where the bards were and began playing a song; everyone in the hall paid close attention as none of them had ever listened to the song he was playing

" This song is called " The fall of the Pretender." This song is about one of the King's ancestors, the true rightful Queen of her time!

Dragons in the sky, the fighting has begun

Wrong versus right, and who will stand when it is done?

False King and fright, his destiny he calls

Rhaenyra, your dragons will reprimand before he falls!

Now are the days of wine and gilded arms

Now are the days when westeros is reborn

Kill all the Greens, the evil is no more

Once and for all, we broke Hightower's plot

Peril in their eyes, the battle has begun

Death becomes the ashes of the evils yet to come

Cregan Stark's delight, a destiny it shines

Pretender. All of your loyalists were broken in the light

Now are the days of wine and gilded arms

Now are the days when Westeros is reborn

Kill all the Greens, evil is no more

Once and for all, victory is ours

Darkness never ever rise again

Darkness never ever rise again

The King looked outright gleeful with the song, as did all of the Crownlands houses; Lucerys Velaryon looked satisfied. Not all looked happy; those of House Hightower looked Murderous, as did Maester Pycelle. However, there was only one thing that everyone in the hall seemed to agree on; Ragnar Dovahkiin was the greatest singer to ever live; his voice was like magic, shaking the castle in certain parts of the song.

The feast continued without many issues; the bards went back to play after Ragnar returned to his table. Alerie Hightower didn't let Ragnar out of her sight until the feast was over.

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A/N: Hey hey! What a wonderful Sunday! One more chapter for you guys; Ragnar will return to Skagos in a few chapters, maybe the next one. Rhaella will go with him and they will not be lovers, only friends…

Thank you for your support 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏