Peace always makes time fly.
Children grow up. Adults grow old.
Old legends fade into the quiet of peace and tranquility, while new stories quietly take root in times of harmony and prosperity, waiting for the day they may sprout and blossom.
In the year 142 AC, after nearly a full year of travel, Rhaegor returned to Dragon's Nest with a more mature version of himself and three companions who would later become his most trusted aides. After a night-long private conversation with Draezell, he departed with his companions, along with his father's sworn brothers, Arthor Celtigar and York Waters, to Silvercrown, another vast city of House Vaelarys. There, he would spend half the year residing and governing the largest city under House Vaelarys, which thrived due to its rivers and natural harbors and was still expanding. Sebastian Pyrebane had also gone to the city, taking up the role of Lord Chancellor to assist Rhaegor in managing his domain.
Meanwhile, Viserys, the Prince of Oldtown, began vigorously restoring the city. Within a single year, Oldtown saw signs of revival. However, Viserys chose not to rebuild the now-ruined Hightower. Instead, he started constructing a new lighthouse upon the black stone foundations of the former tower, focusing on function rather than spectacle.
That same year, far away on the Isle of Ghaston Grey, Maelor Sunfyre discovered a curious thing in the village beneath the Hidden Spire: several merchants with silver hair and violet eyes had appeared. They sold wines far better than those delivered by supply ships and stocked spices from the East and exotic delicacies Maelor had never seen before. The young prince quickly succumbed to the charms of their foreign taverns. His guardian, Hurd Cobb, after confirming the strangers posed no threat and would not smuggle anyone away, allowed the prince to stay out late at the tavern—and occasionally even joined him for drink and amusement.
In that barren land of exile, candlelight at night became a rare but growing sight.
The Baratheon army landed on the Stepstones under the cover of the Lysene fleet and the Silver Fleet. The pirates' ragtag land forces were no match for the Stormlanders, and no fewer than four pirate kings had their skulls crushed by Borros Baratheon's warhammer in the first wave of assault. However, during the campaign against Bloodstone, the Lysene and Silver fleets both withdrew, leaving the newly built Stormlander ships helpless against Recallio's navy. Borros suffered a crushing defeat, losing two thousand men to the sea as ships sank. He was forced to retreat to the landing site, awaiting supplies and reinforcement from the royal fleet.
That year, neither House Targaryen nor House Vaelarys saw the birth of new dragons. Viserys noticed that while dragon eggs hatched faster on Dragonmount, the survival rate of hatchlings was poor. He ordered all eggs moved to the dragon crypts beneath the Red Hold in King's Landing, to be hatched in regulated batches back at Dragonstone. Meanwhile, Draezell deliberately halted all hatching, preferring to stockpile eggs for future use. In Dragon's Nest, Silverwing had ceased laying, but Zarafax took up the mantle, continuing to build House Vaelarys's hoard.
In 143 AC, nothing of particular note occurred. The war in the Stepstones dragged into a long and bitter stalemate. Stormlanders struggled on the islands while supplies from home were frequently disrupted by pirates. In the harshest month, even Lord Borros nearly starved—until Lord Admiral Adam arrived with the royal fleet, ending Borros's plight. Enraged, the stag struck hard at Bloodstone, only to be rebuffed again by Recallio. Borros retreated once more to the small island he'd renamed "Stag Island" to regroup and prepare for another assault.
That year, King Aegon consummated his marriage with Queen Samantha. Thereafter, Queen Samantha could often be seen sitting beside the Iron Throne on the bronze chair left by Draezell, gently assisting her husband with the small matters of court. She never meddled in affairs of state, instead focusing on the grievances of commoners.
The people adored their beautiful queen, and the citizens of King's Landing spoke of her in the same breath as Queen Alysanne.
That year, on Dragonstone, a dragon egg left by Dreamfyre hatched a hatchling nearly identical to her. The Dragonguard swiftly discovered the pale-white wyrmling and brought it to the dragon nursery.
In Dragon's Nest, Zarafax hatched a red hatchling that looked exactly like Silverwing. Seryna Vaelarys—now a stunning young girl—spotted it while visiting Zarafax and named the new hatchling Blood Princess.
In 144 AC, Draezell welcomed his sixth child, a daughter nearly identical in appearance to Diana. The sickly infant, named Jeyne Vaelarys, inherited her father's silver hair. Though frail from birth, thanks to the devoted care of her parents and siblings, she survived in good health.
At the end of that year, Queen Samantha gave birth to her and King Aegon's firstborn son. The delivery went smoothly, and the silver-haired boy wailed with a mighty cry at birth.
Grand Maester Munkun wrote in his records: "This boy has the voice of a warrior."
Overjoyed, King Aegon gave his son a traditional Valyrian name, one borne by a prominent ancestor of the family:
Daeron.
Draezell, who had flown to King's Landing to be present for his daughter's labor, witnessed the birth of his grandson and gifted him a rare treasure—a Valyrian steel dagger.
The realm welcomed its heir. On the day of Prince Daeron's naming ceremony, King Aegon proclaimed him Prince of Dragonstone and prepared to select a dragon egg for him. Once again, Viserys wrote to dissuade him, insisting that the family's existing grown dragons were far more suitable for bonding with children than newly hatched ones.
In 145 AC, Valar and Leyla welcomed their second child, a wrinkly little girl. Valar, already heavy with another child, cherished this daughter dearly. He personally named her Valenna, after their grandmother. Draezell also blessed the newborn.
That year, Daenyra flew on Aurorae to Silvercrown to reunite with Rhaegor. Under Draezell's auspices, the two held a grand wedding at the city's port. On that day, every dragon of House Vaelarys soared above Silvercrown, and the Silver Fleet paraded gloriously through the harbor, leaving a lasting impression on all.
Bards composed a ballad named The Dragon Wedding, which soon spread across the continent.
After a long period of rest and recovery, Lord Borros chose not to continue clashing at Bloodstone. With the royal fleet led by Adam at his back, he led Stormland elites in a surprise assault on Grey Gallows, stronghold of the Golden Kraken. In that battle, Adam's brother, Erin, commanded his ship through the blockade of longships. The warship's ram drove into the Golden Kraken's flagship Kraken King like a siege hammer. Led by Erin, the soldiers stormed aboard.
Poor Fell Greyjoy, the so-called Golden Kraken, had his head chopped off by Erin.
After this battle, Erlyn, who beheaded the Golden Kraken with a single ship, earned the nickname "Oakenfist" and won the respect of the Stormlands lords.
The Bone Tide Isles had lost their overlord, and Borros happily swept across the islands one by one with his fleet and soldiers. He appointed numerous knights as lords on the spot to govern the scattered isles—but he had overlooked one thing.
The Stepstones never lacked for pirates.
Pirates from the Summer Sea and the Narrow Sea flocked to the Bone Tide Isles and engaged in brutal clashes with the royal fleet. Unable to fully control the waters, Borros found himself in serious trouble. His forces managed to seize only half of the isles before hitting a wall. The fleet from Bloodstone Isle, along with the pirate king fleet under the Tyroshi High Lord, Will Sparrow, launched a surprise attack against the royal fleet at the Torture's Deep. Were it not for Adam's skilled command, the royal fleet might have been lost to the sea entirely, and Borros and his men would have been stranded to die on those barren rocks.
Borros's campaign slowed yet again.
In Year 146 AC, Draezell's close friend and sworn blood-brother, the eldest of the group, Lynn Valtaken, caught a severe chill. Though the maesters tried desperately to save him, they ultimately declared him beyond their aid. Lynn refused the milk of the poppy—he chose "the Griffon's Heart".
Lynn's death sent Draezell into a deep melancholy. He personally flew to Longsky Hold and had Vermithor cremate his dear friend.
After his death, the Valyrian steel plate armor "Black Mirror" was reclaimed by House Vaelarys, while the Valyrian steel longsword "Griffon's Heart" remained with House Valtaken.
It was a symbol of loyalty.
That same year, Borros continued his entanglement with the pirates of the Stepstones, but the pirates' decline had begun to show.
Unlike Borros, they had no steady supply line.
In 147 AC, Queen Samantha became pregnant once more. That same year, she bore Aegon a second son—a scrawny silver-haired boy. This time, Aegon wasn't nearly as excited; even the name was chosen by Queen Samantha.
The boy was named Rhaegar.
Rhaegar Targaryen—a name well-used in the history of House Targaryen.
Oldtown too received joyful news.
Lady Larra gave Viserys his fourth child, a beautiful daughter. Viserys named her Alyssane.
He wrote to his brother, hoping King Aegon would arrange betrothals among their children.
His plan was for Daeron to wed Naelys, and for Rhaegar to wed Alyssane.
But this time, Aegon refused. He had already chosen brides for his sons.
He wrote to Dragon's Nest, expressing his wish that Daeron marry Jeyne Vaelarys—though he had been tempted by the beauty and grace of Seeryna, he hesitated at her honey-colored hair.
He worried that if his grandchildren bore traits not typical of Targaryens, it might cause unforeseen consequences.
He also hoped for Rhaegar to marry either Valenna Vaelarys or Seryna Vaelarys.
But Draezell rejected the latter match.
Only the betrothal between Daeron and Jenny received Draezell's blessing, which greatly pleased King Aegon.
That year, Lord Borros made no progress. His soldiers, seeing no hope of victory, began to desert.
But they were at sea.
There was nowhere for them to flee. They had no choice but to grit their teeth and Hold fighting.
In 148 AC, the long summer came to an end—but the following winter lasted less than a year.
In 149 AC, winter faded, and a new long summer began.
In 150 AC, after three grueling years in the Bone Tide Isles, Lord Borros finally achieved a breakthrough. He promised the ruins of Tyrosh to House Vaelarys, securing the deployment of the Silver Fleet.
Now bloated and nearly unrecognizable, Valar eagerly mounted Silverwing and flew to the battlefield.
But he did not see the worry in the eyes of his family behind him.
In 151 AC, the long war of the Stepstones finally saw a great victory. With support from the Silver Fleet, Will Sparrow's armada was utterly crushed. Valar's descent from the skies turned the tide of battle. Silverwing's dragonfire destroyed everything in its path. Will Sparrow perished amid fire and seawater.
The Silver Fleet made landfall and occupied the ruins of Tyrosh.
From that year on, the war in the Stepstones became smooth sailing.
In 152 AC, Diana gave birth to Draezell's seventh child, a slender boy. This time, Rhaegor named his youngest brother after a dear friend.
Rhaegon Vaelarys.
In the dragonpit of Dragon's Nest, Zarafax's dragon egg hatched. The hatchling wasn't nearly as beautiful as Zarafax—though similar in build, the dark purple dragon lacked the gem-like luster and the gemstone-blue flames of its sire. Seryna named it "Violetwing."
That same year, Queen Samantha gave Aegon a daughter.
Their firstborn girl—Rhaenya Targaryen.
That year, Borros finally conquered the island of Bloodstone. However, Recallio had fled decisively beforehand, abandoning even his fleet to the Silver Fleet and the Royal Fleet.
Since then, the famed "Pirate Queen" was never seen again in those waters.
The War of the Stepstones finally came to a close at the end of the 152nd year since the Conquest.
Borros had conquered the entire archipelago, earning himself a new title: "Governor of the Narrow Sea."
Yet the Vaelarys family also secured the ruins of Tyrosh, and as peace returned, the reconstruction efforts began in earnest.
Adam, having distinguished himself in the war, successfully married into House Velaryon. His bloodline would go on to inherit the Seat of the Lord of the Tides.
In 153 AC, Lady Larra gave birth to her and Viserys's fifth child—a silver-haired, purple-eyed boy, strong and hearty. Even little Aegon would sometimes be pinched painfully by his younger brother. As Aegon grew, he gradually matured. Though he still disliked Aemon, he was more accepting of his sisters and the newborn brother, who was named "Illyon."
There was only one issue.
He had gotten a girl from a brothel in Oldtown pregnant.
This made Viserys furious—but it also stirred a different feeling within him.
Perhaps there was still hope?
In 154 AC—later remembered as the "Year of Sorrow"—many elders who had lived through the wars passed away.
"Old" Rodrick Dustin died in his sleep. His remarkable longevity surprised many, though passing peacefully might not have been a mercy for Rodrick himself.
The chief retainer of House Vaelarys, Vansen Kaon, also died that year. Kaon Hold was officially inherited by Rhaegon Kaon, though he appointed his sister as acting castellan while he remained to assist Rhaegor.
Many elder lords died that year.
But new life also came into the world.
Rhaegor and Daenyra's firstborn daughter was born.
She was healthy, strong, and beautiful—silver-haired, with heterochromatic eyes: one deep purple, the other emerald green.
Draezell named his granddaughter "Daenerys".
Daenerys Vaelarys.
In 155 AC—
—a year also called the "Year of Renewal"—
At the start of the year:
Samantha gave birth to a healthy royal girl named "Diana".
And Lady Larra gave birth to her sixth child—a chubby baby boy. Viserys named his sixth son "Maegon."
But Lara was physically weakened by the birth. The maesters concluded that she would not bear more children.
This made Viserys cherish his wife and children even more.
Although he still had no idea Aegon had gotten another girl pregnant.
At Dragon's Nest and King's Landing, a new round of dragon egg hatchings had begun.
That year, four dragons hatched in the dragonpit at Dragon's Nest—three from Zarafax, one from Silverwing.
Of the three dragonlings from Zarafax, one resembled her in appearance, though like Violetwing, it failed to inherit her unique traits. The other two bore greater resemblance to Starsong, but likewise fell short of his majesty.
The golden hatchling from Silverwing, however, bore even closer resemblance to its progenitor, but with larger horned crests and more pronounced spines.
Three more dragon eggs hatched at Dragonmont: one looked nearly identical to Arrax of old, leaving King Aegon visibly dazed upon seeing it; the other two bore similarities to Syrax and Dreamfyre, respectively.
Seryna, delighted, named and nicknamed the young dragons. The bluish-purple one resembling Zarafax was named "Valarion", after Valar. The green one that looked like Starsong was given the name "Rheyarys", after Rey. The deep-red hatchling was named "Sererys", after Seryna herself. The golden one resembling Silverwing was named with great enthusiasm by Jacaerys Vaelarys—who claimed the naming rights and simply dubbed it "Golden King."
By 156 AC, the number of dragons owned by Houses Vaelarys and Targaryen had reached their historical peak.
House Vaelarys possessed: Vermithor, Silverwing, Shadowmare, Starsong, Morning, Aurorae, Zarafax, Sendros, Skyfire, Vermax, Hovendes, Blood Princess, Violetwing, Valarion, Rheyarys, Sererys, and Golden King—a total of seventeen dragons.
Candlelight, having followed Samantha to King's Landing, was counted among the Targaryen dragons. The sheepstealer and Grey Ghost, still unclaimed, remained wild.
House Targaryen possessed: Dreamfyre, Caraxes, Seasmoke, Syrax, Candlelight, Tyraxes, Morghul, Stormcloud, Aegarax, Gaelithox, Parexys, "Emerald Eye" Jedaerion, the Unicorn, Horned Tide, the White Queen, Igris, Jaeloryon, and Blood-Eye—a total of eighteen dragons.
That year, Draezell turned fifty. Rhaegor had entered his thirtieth year.
A long peace and an unbroken summer brought about a true golden age.
Aegon would later be remembered as the "King of Peace" and the "High Summer King"—and it all began here.