104

----

207 AC

The Orange Shore

Aerion Targaryen

----

"I think I am going to have a heart attack." Pacing back and forth as I hear my eldest Daughter scream bloody murder I can't help but feel a bit powerless.

A quick little camp was set up the moment she landed and the rest of us landed to see what was wrong with her only to find her already off her dragon and clutching her belly. She said she was fine when we left, I had thought it would be at least another two weeks based on my own vast experience with pregnancies. But my first grandchild decided to come into the world at their own pace and wanted to do it also on a dragon's back.

Thank fuck we have so much experience with this kind of thing, a baby being born was almost an every few months event there for a while.

But this time it's different.

This one is a Grandbaby.

Poor Danny is missing out on this.

"Can you stop!" Aemon shouts and I whirl around on the young man ready to throw something at him for startling me but his extra pale face stops me.

I remember that feeling.

"First time?" I sarcastically ask and his face scrunches up sourly making me feel a bit better.

"No actually, I have a few bastards back at Harrenhal that you don't know about." He dryly responds which causes Rhaella who seemingly overheard to shout about wanting to kill him.

Aemon has gone even more pale, I think this is the first time any of us have heard her promising violence and pain.

"If that is actually true I will cut your balls off when I find them." If I missed out on my first grandchild I would be more than angry.

I will seriously hurt someone.

This is a big moment in my life, I can upgrade from Dad jokes to Grandfather jokes.

I heavily regret how the family is split up right now, but if this Conquest didn't start up I fear more children would have been on the way soon. This Conquest put a stop to a lot of the babymaking as it was unanimously decided pregnancy and flying sucks. Rhaella however seemed to not care, she wanted the first of the new generation to be from herself so she went for it.

I can respect that.

I pity her and her aching body, but I respect the drive.

"Push!" Shiera not so gently coaxes Rhaella and I debate once more heading into the small thrown-together tent but decide better of it.

I don't need to see my Daughter like that... I might strangle my Son if I did.

Don't think about that part Aerion, focus on the soon-to-be adorable baby you can hold, and everything else won't matter.

Unclenching my fists that I did not even notice I clenched I turn and start pacing again much to the annoyance of Aemon who sighs explosively.

"That's it!" He stands up from the small chest that was hastily dragged off of one of the many saddles and brought down because it has clean clothes. "I am heading back insid-" I hear a thud and turn to see Aemon halfway in the tent lying on the ground face first.

I remember that feeling as well.

Stay strong my Son, the memories of what you have seen today will fade with time.

...or so I keep telling myself.

----

"Cute." I mutter while brushing a finger over the top of my first grandchild's head.

Aeria Targaryen, a cute little chubby faces baby girl who has next to no hair which ironically is common among the female babies I have seen in our family. For some reason, the girls are born with little to no hair and the boys come out with noticeable silver hair.

"She isn't opening her eyes very much." Aemon mutters and I snort in amusement.

"They hardly ever open them, light is a new thing to their eyes so infants keep them shut most of the time." I speak up, though I am a bit curious how he never noticed this before with having so many younger siblings.

I guess it's different when the baby is yours and you really start noticing things.

"Shouldn't you give them a moment?" Shiera asks with amusement and I shake my head swiftly.

"I don't think so, I am enjoying this for both Danny and myself so... it should balance out if I stay in here a little while longer." Rhaella rolls her eyes at me but I ignore her as I watch my granddaughter open and close her tiny mouth.

Daenerys is going to be furious she missed this, but she can only blame herself for making such a convincing argument to split our force.

----

207 AC

Meereen

Daenerys Targaryen

----

"Something is wrong." I narrow my eyes looking down from the top of the Great Pyramid of Meereen.

"What could be wrong?" Mya asks curiously as she leans over the edge and looks down the side of the Pyramid where the giant harpy statue fell and made a mess.

"I don't know... for as long as I can remember-" In this life. "-I can always tell when Aerion is up to something without even needing to see him." Turning to look at Mya I see her raise a brow at me with a strained smile.

"Do you think he is attacking Volantis already?" I shake my head pursing my lips as I turn to head into the large room that will serve as my bedroom for the next few days while we make arrangements for the city.

"I have a feeling we will find out once we reunite with the rest of our kin." I shake my head grabbing a clean cup and then the wine bottle that I myself brought along.

I have kept this bottle for a while, I planned to share it with my Husband when we took the Bay but I can instead enjoy it with Mya.

"Are you worried?" Mya suddenly asks as she takes a seat at the small table I am standing beside.

"About?" Lifting the glass I smell the rich scent of the wine and nod in appreciation.

"The children... they have seen a lot of death recently." Lowering the glass and setting it down I hum as I pull out the chair next to me to sit on.

"Are you?" I have seen nothing concerning, they have not shown any signs of 'madness'.

"No... is that bad?" Mya reaches over the table and takes the wine bottle to pour herself a glass. "Shouldn't this... I don't know-" She shakes her head and starts filling her glass. "-I have heard a lot of things about War and how it changes people." I nod in understanding before turning to look out of the large opening at the setting Sun.

"That very well may be true I am not entirely sure." I am sure many people change drastically after seeing war and bloodshed. "Honestly I think war mainly brings out a side of us we already had and never could or cared to show before." Maybe it is because of my own experiences I think this way but I think most people already have cruelty inside of their hearts.

It's a choice.

To be kind or to be cruel.

To take or to give.

To show mercy or issue a harsh punishment.

"That is an interesting way to see things." Mya kicks off her shoes and brings her knees to her chest leaning her chin down to rest on a knee as she fiddles with her glass. "How many of the freed slaves do you think will head north to settle into the Grass Sea?" I blink at the sudden shift in the topic but hum in thought as I try to make a guess.

"To start with probably less than a fourth." Change is scary after all. "But over time... more than half, maybe as much as three-fourths." We will only be sending direct 'relief' to the newly conquered cities for a year or maybe two years.

Once the newly freed people realize they are going to go hungry without the slave trade ironically or unironically feeding them they will set off to fertile lands. Word will also spread of the hopeful success in the Grass Sea with House Targaryen protecting the farmlands from slavers and Dothraki. It won't be easy but things will smooth out over time, as it does the 'newness' of the way we plan to lead the Bay of slaves will become normal to its citizens.

"I hope you are right, I have seen a lot of the freed people praising and holding their hands out to us wishing us well... I don't want them to suffer more than they already have." I smile having had a similar sentiment in the past.

I have not forgotten the love I have for people who have lived in chains and my desire to free them is obviously still there. But I also know just how quickly their adoration can turn to scorn when they are not given exactly what they want. They will want more and more over the coming months and when they don't get what they want they will throw a fit. 

Give them a little and they will take a lot.

Shaking my head hearing my Husbands own thoughts on the matter echo in my mind I purse my lips.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.

I like this saying, I have heard Aerion say it many times and I think it fits with our plan for the Bay perfectly.

Realistically we are giving them enough 'fish' to live for a year or two with our support while also teaching them to 'fish' on their own. It will take time until we see major results but they will survive and in the future, they will be grateful. At least I hope they will be, if not I suppose they will still find ways to show 'gratitude'.

Taxes being the biggest.

But also the prospect of quickly settling the major resource-rich areas in the Grass Sea will also be a way they can 'show gratitude'.

Aerion has some plans in the works of bringing volunteers from Westeros but the bulk of the populace in the Grass Sea will likely be freed slaves. That or Dothraki who have abandoned their old ways and are willing to settle into cities instead of competing with the new generation of Dragon Lords. Though it likely would be good for trade if Westerosi people settle into the 'new' lands.

I remember a third son of House Manderly requesting a meeting with Aerion, he told me that the young man of the Northern House had an interest in joining Aerion in his trading ventures. Aerion did not specifically state his intentions as the Conquest was still a secret at the time but it was discussed that a new port city might be built in Essos. Near the 'Axe' a jutted out piece of land above the Forest of Qohor.

If that plan comes to pass then that would likely be the start of some of the Westeros Houses starting branches in Essos. This would no doubt be good for trade between the two continents and I hope I get to see it happen in my lifetime. The closer Essos and Westeros become the less likely future wars will be waged between the two.

Well... so long as House Targaryen stands there will be no 'war' but it's still possible for a 'Dance' to take place.

That thought alone is enough to make the wine in my mouth taste spoiled.