Chapter 755: Helaeros Targaryen

In the Age of Heroes, there was a legendary leader named Atis who, though born a man, lived in harmony with all living things.

Atis counted giants and mermaids among his friends. An immense hunting falcon bore him as its rider. And at last, he took one of the Children of the Forest as his wife.

"I've heard of that name!"

Upon hearing the name Viserys had chosen, Leaf's small claws shot up eagerly as she interrupted:

"I think he was called the Winged Knight. His wife was a singer, but she died in childbed."

As intermarriage between humans and Children was uncommon, Atis' wife remained well-known in their lore.

Now the Giant King Mag, having heard Viserys' selection, carefully retrieved his son from his hands.

"The future Giant King Atis then?"

Mag raised the babe high to meet the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense Kingswood foliage. Curled in his father's palm, the tiny prince still slept soundly. He even smacked his lips, licking the milk there.

"Good!"

"Then my son shall be named Atis!" the Giant King's voice rumbled joyfully, rousing the little Atis. His mother snatched her child back, shooting her husband a reproachful look.

Later, Mag made another request of Viserys - that his son might be raised alongside Viserys' own, becoming playmates and companions. From a young age, Atis would receive human education.

The giants edged ever closer towards extinction. The last of their kind had perished battling men and White Walkers. Mag knew not whether any kin remained in the world save himself and Eda. Atis was destined to learn little at his father's side, perhaps ultimately stumbling through life just as dimwittedly until his race winked out.

Thus despite Mag's meager wisdom, he grasped the necessity of radical change lest genocide await. His son's only hope was companionship with Viserys' boy, gaining prospects surpassing those his father could provide. Perhaps Atis might even seize authority, locating their scattered people to revive giant civilization.

This request was not unreasonable. A giant playmate could benefit Viserys' son as well. After brief consideration, Viserys nodded in agreement.

Four years past, Viserys had moved the royal household west to Highgarden. There he had quietly wed Rhaenys, the Imperial Crown Princess.

Their long-awaited son had thence arrived after Rhaenys carried him ten months.

The first in line to the Empire, endowed with rights of succession to Dorne as well.

All King's Landing erupted in elation the day he came into the world - for he was the sole apparent male heir spanning the Narrow Sea, heir both to the united realms of Andalos, Pentos and the Three Daughters...and potentially the second High Emperor of the restored Valyrian Empire. Though of course, nothing was guaranteed.

His name was Helaeros.

Helaeros Targaryen.

The suggestion came from Viserys, who told Rhaenys that 'Helaeros' was the name of a sun god in some civilization unknown to her.

In naming their son 'Helaeros', Viserys held the implication that the boy might become the dawning sun, pacifying House Martell as well. After all, Rhaenys also boasted Dornish blood, and the Martell sigil was a spear through a sun.

The ages of the giant prince Atis and Helaeros differed little. Helaeros had but recently celebrated his third nameday. Given their vitality, Atis would soon surpass him.

Viserys assented to the arrangement. In truth, observing the giant babe was not his sole motive in coming here today. He harbored certain doubts of his own to resolve by soliciting their thoughts.

"Leaf, what do you make of the present state of the world?"

Perplexed, the child of the forest regarded him in confusion, unwilling to seem a dullard who grasped not even the question. Stammering uncertainly, she offered her own interpretation:

"I find this world both fair and cruel."

"Both fair and cruel?"

"Aye. I believe it very just - before men came to the land you term Westeros, it was our home."

"Yet in those days, we too were few. The gods granted us long lives but modest numbers, lest we overrun the earth as deer might absent the wolves to cull them."

"That was in the dawn of days though, when our sun rose high. Now it sinks low into dusk, and our twilight encroaches."

"The giants are all but extinct. Once our plague and kin both."

Here Leaf glanced towards the Giant King, who appeared somewhat baffled.

For Viserys and Leaf conversed in the True Tongue of the Children which she had taught him.

"The great lions of the west have been slaughtered wholesale, the unicorns fade nigh unto oblivion, mammoths may linger yet a little while, the ice wolves perhaps will outlast us all - but their days too are numbered."

"For mankind has waxed too mighty."

Here Leaf's voice grew desiccated as a flower bereft of water, her head drooping.

"Too mighty. Your world leaves no place for them...or us."

Falling silent, Viserys took in Leaf's words.

For amidst the pressures of the White Walkers and other threats, he had contemplated bringing certain designs to fruition.

Such as launching industrial revolutions, harnessing the power of flame, embarking upon trails long since blazed by others to accelerate humanity's ascent.

Though no expert in these fields, ample funding could secure research breakthroughs if steered correctly.

"I understand."

Viserys reached out to rumple the girl's furry head, then rose to his feet.

"My thanks, Leaf."

"Huh?"

Before the bewildered girl could react further, the silver-haired man dispersed instantly into smoke and vanished without a trace.