Chapter 5 - Visions of the dragon

<Year 282 AC, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen POV>

People think that my father is mad, but for the past two years, I had some rather strange visions. At first those visions showed me things that were not much of importance, but as the months passed by, my visions started to get more and more horrifying. From twenty different ways of dying to how my own father locked me and had the wildfire devour me whole so that he could hatch an egg to me dying at the hands of jealous man that I had never seen, I had seen all of my deaths and yet the one that I strangely find more at peace with was a duel to death with a man wearing a stag helmet.

Nevertheless, my life changed drastically over the years, but last night vision made me rethink what I had done. A war never seen before against a foe long forgotten… but sadly for me, no one will even believe me, especially those that play the game of thrones.

I guess that's the reward for being the son of the mad king. However, if I were to trust those dreams… maybe I could at least avoid a disaster from happening. The son of fire and ice, that should be my son, or at least I so hope. The only problem was how to get Lyanna Stark so that she could give birth to him without plunging the whole realm into war?

As I stayed in my room thinking about this, another vision appeared and this one… this one was nothing like the one from last night. My son… was still there, but this time, another boy, a pale one with blood red eyes was standing beside him leading an army twice or even thrice the size of what the crown can muster easily against… the wall?

Black and white were the armors of the men that followed the pale boy and yet, there were thousands upon thousands of them marching towards the wall. And the boy… he put a silver-colored mask on his face before marching ahead of his men.

Watching a boy, no older than twenty leading his men against such a foe… was something that I will never forget. Those blood red eyes of him seem to pierce right into your soul, making you fear him.

Shaking my head, I decided to ask one of my friends and member of the kingsguard, Ser Tyrek Lannister, a boy that I have to say didn't thought I would befriend over the years. He was only fifteen when he joined the kingsguard and yet, the boy was beyond gifted with the sword, something that pleased my father greatly earning Lord Tywin quite a few favors. Nevertheless, amongst all of my kingsguards, he might be the only one that I know will help me understand this vision of mine.

A few minutes later, the twenty-two years old blonde knight walked into my room with a smile on his face.

"What's the occasion for this invitation, My Prince?"

Hearing him calling me like this almost … almost made me punch him, but then again, who will I then spar? As carefree as he was, Tyrek was far from being an idiot.

"I had another one. But this time… it was clearer than ever."

For a second, Tyrek looked at me as if I was my father, before letting out a sigh.

"I know that this is far from being my place, Rhaegar, but by the old and new gods, you might have to ease up your training. I think it's starting to take a tool on you, my friend."

"No, Tyrek. I saw my son and another boy uniting the realm to fight something far more dangerous than anything he had ever seen or heard about. And I want to know if that boy is someone we could protect."

"Protect?"

"My visions had changed my friend and I fear that whoever that pale boy with red eyes might be, he might be killed before that fateful day arrive. So, I need your help to find out if there are any strange looking babies in Westeros."

"You bloody want me to look all over the realm for a pale ba… "Tyrek suddenly stopped talking almost as if he remembered something before, he quickly gasped. "You remember that day, two years ago when the grand maester came back from the Valley of Arryn? And how he couldn't stop talking about devils and abominations? I think I might had just found who that pale boy might be."

"Lord Arryn will never give me his son, Tyrek."

"Rhaegar, for a prince you are a fool. If you really think your visions are real, then the only way to save the boy's might be to take him away forcefully. Didn't you said that a war was coming?"

"The war has already started my friend. I sent twenty of my trusted men to kidnap Lyanna Stark and bring her to me, which I have no doubt will make Lord Stark more than furious. But I need her to give birth to my son! The son of Fire and Ice! The son of a Dragon and a Wolf!"

"Very well then, my prince. I shall depart in a few hours for the Valley. Do I bring him here or?"

Rhaegar was about to speak, but stopped himself. Tyrek did asked me a very good question. If he were to protect the boy from harm, either from the faith or worse the future wife of Jon Arryn, the boy will have to be raised as far away from Westeros as possible. Mayhaps one of the free cities?

"Take with you as much gold as you can and rent a ship for the valley. Once you secure the baby, sail for Essos and don't look back. Westeros will be in chaos which will make it harder for anyone to search for a young man and his baby brother, no matter how strange both of them looked. Sail as far away from Westeros as you can my friend and my all of the gods watch you."

Tyrek could only nod his head before he quickly left the room, no doubt rushing already to see himself as far away from this place as possible.

Now then, what should I do with my wife? We might not love each other, but I'm more than sure that if she remains in this place she will die once the war is lost. And as much as I will want nothing more than to see my two kids safe and sound, I … don't know what to do. I can't just send them away for whatever long the war will last and other than Dorne no kingdom will guarantee their safety either.

Maybe for the first time in my life, I should consult with her? Ellia, gods bless her, was, for the better or worse as smart as her older brother, Doran and twice as cunning as he was. She might find a better solution for this problem than I could ever do, but was it prudent to approach her?

Only after slapped myself did I realized what I just thought. Of course, I should consult with her. Not only was she my wife, but she was the mother of children and between these two titles, she will always choose her children's safety.

With my mind set on that, I slowly made my way towards my wife's chamber. To be honest with myself, I was feeling, for the first time in my life, nervous to talk with a woman. And one of the reasons for that was that Elia Martell was not a woman to be trifled with, and that she would not take kindly anything that might endanger her children. But at the same time, I really hope she will understand me and find a way of saving herself and the children from a painful death.

When I got in front of her room, I took a deep breath before knocking on the door softly, until I heard her voice from inside.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Rhaegar. May I come in?"

There was a pause, and then the door opened. Elia stood there, looking at me with a cold expression. She was still beautiful, despite her frail health and the toll of two difficult pregnancies.

"Rhaegar," she spoke, without any warmth. "What do you want?"

That response made me swallowed hard, before stepping inside. The chamber was spacious and comfortable, decorated with tapestries and paintings from Dorne. A fire burned in the hearth, and a table was set with wine and fruits. Once inside, mostly out of her training as a noble lady, Elia gestured for me to sit down, before poring me a cup of wine.

"I want to talk to you, Elia. About our children."

She raised an eyebrow, and sipped her own wine.

"Our children? After not being a father for them, you dare to call yourself their father?"

I looked at her with sadness and regret, knowing that she had every right to be angry with me. I had neglected her and our children, and I had betrayed her trust and love. I had been a terrible husband and father, and I could not blame her for hating me.

"Elia, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything I've done to you and our children. I know I have no excuse, and I know you will never forgive me. But please, Elia, hear me out. There is something I need to tell you. Something that is very important. Something that concerns the fate of our children, and the fate of the world."

She looked at me with suspicion and curiosity, but also with a hint of fear. She knew that I was not a man to speak lightly of such matters, and that I had a gift for seeing things that others could not. She knew that I was obsessed with prophecies and legends, and that I believed that I had a role to play in them.

"What is it, Rhaegar? What do you need to tell me?"

I took a deep breath, and told her about my visions. How I had seen a dark and cold winter descending upon the land, bringing with it horrors beyond imagination. How I had seen the fires of war consuming the realm, and the blood of kings spilling on the ground.

But I also told her about the hope that I had seen. How I had seen two boys standing against the darkness, holding swords of fire and light, fighting side by side.

Elia stood there frozen for a second before looking at me as if I was crazier than my father, something that by how things sound could have been true. "You want me to believe those crazy aberrations?"

"I want you to understand that despite everything, I care about our children and I want them safe from harm."

"What have you done Rhaegar!"

Her shout made me froze. Not because of fear, nothing close, but due to how hurt she look in that moment when she shouted at me. And so, after taking a deep breath, I decided to explain to her everything, even if that will only further hurt her.

"Elia, please, listen to me. I know this is hard to hear, but I have to tell you the truth." I paused for a second before with a heavy heart I told her everything. "Almost an entire moon ago, I've sent three of my best kingsguards to the north to kidnap Lyanna Stark, the daughter of Lord Stark."

Once she heard me, it was Elia's turn to be shocked. She looked at me as if I was mad, something that I wonder myself as of late, before she lashed out at me, once more.

 "You did what?" She yelled and I could tell that I was just a little away from being slapped by her. "You kidnapped the daughter of one of the most powerful lords in the realm? The betrothed of Robert Baratheon, the future lord of the Stormlands? How could you do such a thing, Rhaegar? Have you gone mad for good?"

I sighed and tried to calm her down. "Elia, please, don't be angry with me. I know it sounds insane, but I had a good reason for doing this. Lyanna is not just a girl, she is the one. The one from the prophecy. The one who will bear me the third head of the dragon. The one who will help me save the world from the darkness that is coming. She needs to give birth to a boy, my boy! And by the Seven I will not stand here and do nothing when our true enemy is already gathering his forces!"

"Even if that means a civil war?"

"Even if that means a civil war."

Elia just shook her head, not wanting to think any further about this subject. And at the same time, she knew that the lives of her dear babies were in danger thanks to their mad father. "We were never close nor did we love each other, but as the mother of your children I want to ask you how will you save them? Your father will never allow me and my babies to leave the Red Keep alive."

"He won't know that you are no longer here. I swear on my life and on what little honor my family name still holds that I Rhaegar Targaryen will do anything and everything in my power to save you and your children."

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