Chapter 1
“Ser Ilyn. Kill Lord Stark.”
Sansa cried. Varys and Cersei both ran to Joffrey, trying to reason with the boy tyrant, who watched Ned Stark with excitement.
Hari had enough of this shit. She was the Master of Death, and no one was going to kill her family.
She raised shields around herself and cast sonorous.
“Ser Ilyn. Step away from Lord Stark,” her voice boomed in the open space. People shrieked. Some clamped their hands over their ears. It wouldn’t help.
Hari walked up to the dias, one step at a time.
Ser Ilyn grimaced and turned back to Lord Stark, raising the sword.
Hari summoned the sword from his grasp and blasted him against the stone wall. He impacted with a sharp sound, fell, and did not rise.
Two of the Kingsgard moved in front of Joffrey.
“My name is Visenya Targaryen, trueborn daughter of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.” Hari’s voice was heard throughout Kings Landing.
She walked until she was standing in front of Ned Stark. She conjured a chair and gently raised him up until he was sitting. His leg looked awful.
“Stop her,” shrieked Joffrey.
Two of the Kingsgard ran forward, raising swords. Hari stunned them, summoned their weapons, and conjured ropes to bind them.
“Sansa,” said Ned, waving her forward. The redhead darted behind her father.
“You can’t. You can’t,” wailed Joffrey. “Guards! Kill her. Kill her!”
Hari levitated Joffrey, conjured ropes around him, and then forced him with magic to kneel. He was still shrieking, so she silenced him. Hari levitated his crown from his head.
“Your crown is broken,” she said. And the gold broke into two pieces and fell to the dias. “Joffrey Waters, your reign is over.” Hari cast a stunner, and Joffrey fell over, unconscious.
Cersei shrieked and ran toward her son. “Protect the King. Protect–”
Hari bound, silenced, and stunned Cersei.
The crowd was eerily silent, collectively holding their breath.
And then a sound began. Was it the wind? Was a storm coming? The wind picked up. People looked up in confusion. Some pushed against each other, moving toward the exit.
“Gellert! Albion! Rhaegal!” shouted Hari.
The wind knocked a few to the ground. Someone screamed and pointed to the sky.
The sky held a scene from legend. Dragons were flying.
A pure white dragon landed on one wall, close to Hari. A dragon with blue-tipped scales landed next, on a perpendicular wall. Then a third dragon, red as molten metal, landed on a third wall. They roared and sent fire into the sky.
People screamed. They ran toward the exits.
“Stop!” yelled Hari.
Most in the crowd froze. At least the stampede had stopped.
“They will not harm any loyal to me,” said Hari.
No one looked reassured by this.
“Tell everyone that the dragons are back.”
Some moved toward the exits. Others stayed transfixed.
“You may leave,” said Hari.
People scattered. But those on the dias stayed.
Arya popped up by Lord Stark, throwing herself at his stomach. He winced, but wrapped his arms around Arya and Sansa. He blinked and shook his head while staring at the dragons.
“Let’s move to the throne room,” said Hari. Her eyes roved over everyone on the dias. “Come.” She levitated Lord Stark and the unconscious Lannisters behind her.
If the others didn’t follow her, they’d have to face three angry dragons.
_______________________________________________________
Hari walked up the steps to the Iron Throne, cast a cushioning charm, turned, and sat.
She said nothing.
Lord Stark was sitting on his chair beneath the throne and off to the left. Hari could tell he was in pain, but his back was straight, his daughters were pressed against his side – Sansa wrapped one arm around her father’s shoulder and used the other to pull Arya’s back to her chest – and Ice was in his hands.
Cersei and Joffrey were in an unconscious heap at the base of the throne to the right.
Members of the Kingsgard and Small Council filtered in, unsure where to stand.
The room was quiet.
A dragon roared, and almost everyone flinched. Hari hid a smile, but Arya’s grin was wide.
Ser Barristan strode forward. Hari tensed. He may be older, but he was still an incredible fighter. She’d have to respond quickly if he tried to attack.
Barristan pulled out his sword and fell to his knees. “Your Grace.”
Hari took a slow breath and used passive Legilimency. She had to know if people were speaking the truth in the upcoming conversation.
“Will you protect me from harm or threat, Ser Barristan?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
He was telling the truth.
“Will you keep my secrets, counsel me, and defend my honor?”
“It would be my honor, Your Grace.”
Hari stood and walked down the steps. Lord Stark stiffened when she was within striking range of Ser Barristan.
“Rise, Ser Barristan Selmy.”
He rose to his feet.
“Why will it be an honor, Ser Barristan?” she asked.
He wasn’t confused. “I have seen enough of your behavior since Winterfell to know you will be a better ruler than the last.”
Hari smiled. “That’s a low bar to rise above, but will do for now. Please,” Hari gestured to the base of the steps to the left, where the Kingsgard usually stood. “Advise me.”
He stood straight, faced the room, and said, “Yes, Your Grace.”
“Lord Varys,” said Hari.
“Yes, Your Grace?”
“Please come forward.”
Hari ignored his approach and moved to her uncle. She conjured a stool in front of him and sat. She cast a gentle cutting charm to split his pants around his leg wound, and exposed the skin.
Varys silently approached, and stood near Ned Stark, out of arm’s reach.
Hari cast a cleaning charm over the wound. It was infected, but the leg was not broken. As she reached into a bag to remove a salve, she asked, “Lord Varys, is a quill good or evil?”
She spread the salve over Lord Stark’s wound. He didn’t flinch.
“Your Grace,” Varys simpered.
Hari stared at him without expression.
His manner changed. “A quill can be used for many purposes. It can be used to record knowledge, convey love poems, create treaties, or start wars.”
Hari looked back at Lord Stark’s leg. The wound was shrinking. She reached for strength and nutrient draughts in her bag. They weren’t up to Snape’s standards, but she’d had to make do with the ingredients in the Northern countryside.
She handed one to her uncle and glared until he drank it.
“Is a hammer good or evil?” she asked.
Varys said nothing.
Hari prompted him again. “A hammer can be used to build a home or kill someone. Is it good or evil?”
“It depends on how it is used,” said Varys.
Hari cast cleaning charms all over Lord Stark. A slight pink was coming back to his cheeks. She handed him another potion. He opened his mouth to speak, but Hari shook her head at him.
Hari leaned back and stared at Varys.
“And magic,” she said, “is it good or evil, Lord Varys.”
He took a deep breath but said nothing. His face gave nothing away.
Hari gestured to Lord Stark. “I used magic to heal Lord Stark’s wounds. Am I evil for that, Lord Varys?”
Varys shook his head.
“A little magic remains in the true North, but almost none in most of Westeros. There is a little in Essos, is there not?”
“Yes.”
“And you saw it?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“And they didn’t use magic to heal?”
“No, Your Grace.”
Hari nodded and studied Varys. “Magic is a tool, Lord Varys. It can be used for good or harm.”
From passive Legilimency, Hari could tell he was scared and hopeful in equal measure.
“Can you judge me for how I use magic? You don’t need to answer now, but I will need an honest answer after you have thought it over.”
Varys’s eyes sharpened on Hari. “Will you use blood or human sacrifice with your magic?”
Hari blinked. “No! And I won’t let anyone in my kingdoms do that, either.”
Varys nodded once, then slunk to a knee. “Your Grace.”
Hari let out a relieved breath. “Will you continue to serve on my small council?”
“I would be honored, Your Grace.”
“Good. I need your advice on cleaning up the mess everyone’s made.”
Varys’s lip twitched. “Of course, Your Grace.”
Ned leaned forward and whispered, “Hari, he can’t be trusted. He–”
Hari cut him off and leaned forward, whispering in his ear. “We’ll talk later, Father. Uncle.”
Ned squeezed Hari’s shoulder. “You have been my daughter since the day you were born.”
Hari pulled back and gave him a slight smile. “We’ll talk more later. How is your leg?”
“Better. Thank you.”
Hari nodded. “Stay sitting for now. You’ve been through a lot.” She conjured a bench for Sansa and Arya.
Arya darted forward and wrapped her arms around Hari. “You saved him,” Arya whispered.
Hari hugged Arya, then said, “Stay with Father. This will be a tense few days. It is still very dangerous. We’ll talk more later.”
Hari stepped back and once more sat on the Iron Throne.
The next hour dragged on. Most of the people in the room were lying to her, but she needed proof. She couldn’t be seen as someone who killed her opponents on a whim.
_______________________________________________________
“I’m sorry you can’t rest right now, Lord Stark,” said Hari “I need you to stay here and keep an eye on things. I’ll leave Albion to help.”
Hari walked out of the throne room, out into the sunshine, and climbed on Gellert’s back. “Let’s go stop a war.” They flew into the sky, Rhaegal following behind.
Albion’s eye glared into the throne room from a high window. He rarely blinked, but occasionally growled. No one forgot he was there.
_______________________________________________________
Through the Resurrection Stone, Hari could feel tens of thousands of souls ahead of her. She hoped it was the Northern host. Flying closer, she recognized the sigils of the Stark’s bannermen, and kept flying until seeing the Direwolf on every bit of available cloth.
Horses and men screamed. No one in living memory had encountered a dragon, but their brainstems recognized Flying Death when they saw it.
Gellert and Rhaegal landed in a clearing at the edge of the encampment. After ten minutes, Robb, Greywind, and a small contingent approached.
“Hello, Robb.”
His jaw dropped. “Hari?”
She grinned.
“But. How… Dragons?” Robb sputtered.
Hari laughed. “I told you I’ve been keeping myself busy since your mother kicked me out of lessons with Maester Luwin.”
“But…”
Hari’s smile dropped. “Your father lied to protect me.”
Robb was still gaping.
“He came home with his sister’s bones and an infant.”
“Hari…”
“Visenya. My name is Visenya Targaryan.”
Robb tried to rub his head through his helmet. “But…”
“Joffrey ordered Lord Stark to be executed this morning.”
“Father!”
“That’s when I claimed my birthright. Father and the girls are fine. Almost everyone else from the North who traveled with us to King’s Landing is dead. But our family is fine.”
Robb leaned on Greywind, breathing heavily. “Then…”
“As of today, I am Queen Visenya Targaryen.”
Robb dropped to his knees. “You will protect the North and our family?”
“I swear,” said Hari.
“The army of the North is yours, Your Grace.”
Hari apparated from Gellert’s back to a few feet from Robb. He startled.
“What?!”
Hari pulled Robb to his feet and crushed him into a hug.
“Hari?”
“Yes, Robb.”
“You have dragons?”
“Three of them.”
“Three?! How? Where?”
“Hmmm. It’s a long story. For now, we need to end this war.”
“The Lannisters must answer for–”
“They will. But I won’t have the realm torn apart. I’ve already imprisoned Joffrey and Cersei.”
“Good.”
“Quite. You have Jaime Lannister?”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Unharmed?”
“Yes, although his accommodations don’t live up to his taste.”
“My heart bleeds,” said Hari.
Robb laughed.
“You need to come to King’s Landing with me.”
Robb frowned and pulled away. “I can’t leave my people.”
“I’m going to forge a peace. Tywin’s losing the throne. Joffrey will either go to the Wall or be executed. Cersei’s a headache to deal with. And we have his favorite son.”
“We can’t let them off–”
“And we won’t. I want your council, as well as Lord Stark’s. Tywin didn’t start the war. I’m going to end it.”
Robb put three of the Northern lords in charge, and said he would be back in two days. Robb, Ser Brynden, Jaime Lannister, and Lady Stark approached Hari, but fell to the ground when Gellert roared.
Robb helped his mother to her feet. She kept her gaze down. It was probably for the best – Hari really hated the bitch. And Gellert could feel her emotions. He roared again; Hari sent a wave of soothing calm through their connection.
“Ser Jaime. Do you have a message for your father?”
“My family, did you–” Jaime looked sick as he watched the dragons.
“They’re alive.”
Jaime’s shoulders slumped. “Are you executing me?”
“No. I’m ending this war.”
He was silent for a moment. “Then I’ll give my father a message when I see him.”
Hari nodded. “Very well. Touch this. All of you.” Hari held out a length of rope.
Robb reached for it first, frowning at Hari. Ser Brynden and Jaime were next. Catelyn’s hand shook as she leaned in.
When all four were touching the rope, Hari activated the portkey that would transport them to the throne room. Her uncle could deal with them.
Hari floated up to Gellert’s back, used a sticking charm so she wouldn’t be unseated, and urged him into the sky. Gellert and Rhaegal took to their air with shrieks of dragonish delight.
_______________________________________________________
Hari flew to the Lannister encampment. Gellert was in a poor mood from playing nice all day, so she encouraged both dragons to roar and shoot flames into the sky.
There was a grand tent toward the center of the encampment with a clearing off to the side. She landed.
A timid messenger approached.
“Tell Lord Lannister that Queen Visenya Targaryen wishes to speak to him.”
After a handful of minutes, three men in full armor approached. One was easy to recognize – Tyrion’s short stature was unmistakable and made her relax. The man in the middle was tall, broad-shouldered, with blonde hair that was graying at the temples. Lord Lannister, she presumed. She had no clue who the third man was.
“It is good to see you again, Lord Tyrion,” said Hari.
Tyrion dragged his eyes from Gellert, and looked even more stunned when recognizing Hari.
“Tyrion, introduce us,” said Tywin. His voice was a crisp baritone.
“Yes, of course. Father, allow me to introduce you to a young woman I met in Winterfall. She was introduced to me as Hadrianna Snow, a natural child of Lord Stark.”
Hari was impressed. Faced with two dragons, Tyrion managed to speak the truth quickly without being offensive. She rather liked him.
“You are Rhaegar’s daughter?” asked Tywin.
Hari nodded. “And Lyanna Stark’s.”
“And why have you come here?” asked Tywin. The man had balls of steel.
“As of today, I am Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. I will end this war, and you will help me clean up the mess made by some of our more idiotic relations.”
Tyrion snorted.
Tywin didn’t blink.
“My grandson is King,” said Tywin.
Not the smartest thing to say to a lady on a dragon. Gellert narrowed his eyes and leaned toward Tywin, more terrifying in his silence. Tywin took a deep breath. Large balls of steel.
“This morning, your grandson ordered the execution of Lord Stark,” said Hari.
Tywin’s face lost all expression, and Tyrion rocked back on his heels.
“I stopped him and took the throne. Westeros is mine,” said Hari.
They said nothing.
Hari took a breath. “I am ending this war, one way or the other. You can choose to advise me, or not.”
Tywin locked eyes with Hari. “Advise you?”
Hari raised an eyebrow. “For twenty years you helped keep the realm prosperous, despite Aerys’s growing madness. I imagine you have a great deal of knowledge to aid the kingdoms. Also, almost your entire legacy is in my care. If you want a say as to what happens next, you will come with me for the day. I’ll return you here by midnight.”
Tywin’s face was expressionless.
“My niece and nephews?” asked Tyrion.
“Myrcella and Tommen are under guard but unharmed. They are innocent, and I will not hold them responsible for their parents’ or brother’s actions. I arrested Joffrey; he is unharmed.”
Hari returned her attention to Tywin and waited.
“Kevan, you are in charge. If I do not return, you will know how to act.”
Hari tossed a rope to Tyrion.
“Both of you need to touch that,” she said.
“Why?” asked Tyrion.
“It will transport you to the throne room.”
“Preposterous,” said Tywin.
Hari just stared.
Tywin glared, but touched the rope.
Hari activated the portkey, and Tywin and Tyrion disappeared. Kevan yelled and drew his blade.
“Don’t be an idiot,” said Hari.
Gellert bellowed.
Kevan fell to the ground. “What? Where are they? How? How?” She could see the whites around his eyes.
“Magic has come back to the world, Lord Kevan. Tywin will be back before the night is over.”
Gellert leaped into the sky, Rhaegal close behind.
Hari activated two portkeys – one around Rhaegal’s paw and one in her hand that was pressed against Gellert. They appeared in the sky above King’s Landing. The dragons roared and joined Albion on the ground.
Hari slid off of Gellert, stroked his nose, and then walked into the throne room.
The room was silent as she sat on the Iron Throne. After hiding her magic and dragons for so long, Hari was rather looking forward to the next bit of chaos.
“Lady Catelyn, step forward,” said Hari.
Ned Stark became rigid, and even Arya looked worried.
“Tell me why you arrested Lord Tyrion Lannister.”
Yes, Hari might just enjoy this.