Old Valyria: House Baelaeron

Alexander awoke in utter darkness, his mind shrouded in a haze of confusion and fear. He tried to move, but his limbs felt heavy, unresponsive. Panic took hold of him as he realized he had no memory of where he was or how he had ended up in this void.

"These are my parting gifts," a voice whispered, soft and distant.

Alexander's heart pounded in his chest. The voice was unfamiliar, disembodied, and he could not discover where it came from. The words echoed in his mind, a cryptic message that only deepened his terror. He tried to remember anything from before this moment but found nothing. His past was a blank slate.

Time passed—how much, he could not tell. The darkness was all-encompassing, disorienting him further. His consciousness ebbed and flowed like the tide, sometimes allowing him brief moments of clarity before pulling him back into oblivion. Each time he resurfaced, he lingered a little longer, his awareness growing stronger.

Eventually, he felt a strange sensation, as if being drawn towards a distant light. The warmth around him became more clear to him, and he struggled to hold onto his consciousness. With a final, powerful tug, he was pulled from the darkness.

The world beyond the previous darkness was a blur of light and sound. Alexander's vision was hazy, the shapes around him indistinct. Voices reached his ears, muffled and foreign. He couldn't make sense of them, couldn't place their language to anything he knew. His mind reeled from the sudden onslaught of sensory input, and darkness took hold of him once again.

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In a richly decorated birthing chamber, opulent enough to shame the kings of old, a beautiful woman labored. Her silver hair clung to her forehead, slick with sweat, and her piercing blue eyes were filled with determination despite the pain she was currently in. The room was adorned with intricate tapestries and golden accents that none of the current people present could appreciate.

"My Lady, keep breathing. You are almost there," one of the midwives urged, her voice steady and calm.

Lysara grit her teeth and nodded, her hands gripping the sides of the bed. "I can feel them," she panted. "They're coming."

Another midwife, an older woman with a kind face, dabbed Lysara's forehead with a cool cloth. "Just a little more, my lady. You're doing wonderfully."

The first midwife glanced at her colleague, concern and fear clearly visible on her face. "We must be quick. The first one is nearly here."

Lysara cried out, the pain reaching its peak as she bore down. The midwives worked diligently, their experienced hands guiding the first of the twins into the world. The wail of a newborn boy filled the room, strong and clear.

"He's here!" the older midwife announced, carefully wrapping the baby in a soft cloth. "A strong, healthy boy."

Lysara's eyes filled with tears of relief and joy as she reached for her son. "Let me see him."

But before the midwife could suggest otherwise, Lysara cried out again for her labor was not yet over.

The midwives quickly prepared for the arrival of the second child.

"Another push, my lady," the first midwife encouraged. "The girl is coming."

With a final, exhausting push, Lysara brought her daughter into the world. The room was filled with the sound of the second newborn's cries, softer and more delicate than her brother's. The midwife wrapped the baby girl and handed her, and her brother to Lysara, who cradled both children against her chest.

"You did it," the older midwife said softly, a smile on her face. "Two beautiful, healthy children."

Lysara looked at her beautiful children, tears of joy in her eyes. Her firstborn son, who shared her silver hair and piercing blue eyes, gazed up at her. "Kaelarys," she whispered, naming him. His otherworldly blue eyes were almost inhuman in their beauty, which is a given, as he is a future Dragonlord.

She turned her attention to her daughter, who also had silver hair but with the more common purple eyes of the Dragonlords. Yet, Seraphine's eyes shone more brightly than any purple eyes Lysara had ever seen. "Seraphine," she murmured, the name meaning "the fiery one." Both children were extraordinary, their features making them look more than your normal baby.

As Lysara cuddled her children to her chest, exhaustion began to settle over her. The midwives bustled around, cleaning and tending to her with practiced ease.

The door to the chamber opened, and a tall man entered. He had silver hair and striking purple eyes that matched Seraphine's. His charming smile and kind demeanor brought an air of warmth to the room. As he looked at his wife and children, his expression softened with love and pride.

"Lysara," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "Our children are beautiful."

Lysara smiled up at him, her heart full. "They are, Aelor. Meet Kaelarys and Seraphine."

She looked guilty for a second before facing him with a wry smile on her face."I know we've discussed names before, but I must be truthful, the moment I held them in my arms, these names just sounded like they were meant to be."

Aelor approached the bed, gently touching his son's cheek and then his daughter's. "Kaelarys and Seraphine," he repeated, savoring the names. "They are perfect, Lysara. You have given us a wonderful gift. And you know my opinion, so long as you don't try to name them after my father-"

Lysara reached out, taking Aelor's hand. "Don't darken your thoughts now husband," she corrected softly before adding cheekily. "Our family is complete. Also, he is far too beautiful to have his name"

Aelor chuckled, a warm sound that filled the room. "You are right about that, my love. I like the names."

Lysara smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "And what do you think Seraphine's first words will be? 'Mother' or 'Father'?"

Aelor grinned. "Oh, 'Father' for certain. She'll be as enamored with me as you are with me."

Lysara laughed softly. "We shall see. I suppose I can allow you to believe that for now."

He settled beside her, his arm draped protectively around her shoulders. "They are so small," he murmured, gazing at their twins. "It feels like only yesterday we spoke of having children, and now here they are."

Lysara leaned into him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. "Time has a way of surprising us. But I wouldn't change a moment of it. They are everything I dreamed of and more."

Aelor kissed the top of her head. "And you, Lysara, are everything I could have hoped for. Our children are fortunate to have you as their mother."

Lysara blushed, the compliment warming her heart. "And they are equally fortunate to have you as their father. We will raise them with all the love and care they deserve."

They sat in companionable silence for a moment, simply basking in the presence of their newborns. The soft sounds of the midwives attending to their duties provided a comforting backdrop to their quiet contentment.

"Do you think Kaelarys will have your talent for swordsmanship?" Lysara asked softly.

"Perhaps," Aelor replied, a hint of pride in his voice. "But I hope he also inherits your wisdom and kindness. And Seraphine... I can already tell she will be a force to be reckoned with."

Lysara smiled, her eyes growing heavy. "Yes, our little fiery one. She will blaze her own path in this world."

As exhaustion began to take its toll, Aelor gently adjusted the blankets around Lysara and the twins. "Rest now, my love. You have done more than enough for today."

Lysara nodded, her eyelids drooping. "Thank you, Aelor. I love you."

"And I love you," he whispered, watching as she and their children drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Aye, ruthless Lord Freeholder and Dragonlord or not, fatherhood was a wonderful thing.

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Well, so this is it, the first chapter. Where am I going with this? No fucking clue, but we will just see. I am writing this off of nothing and have done no prior research before writing this, so many things will probably be a complete major clusterfuck of "What are you doing?" But then again, this is fanfiction, so who cares....

Have fun reading.... :D