Chapter 3
Alysanne looked around her. The gate was surprisingly in Braavos, in a complex system of underground tunnels protected by magic older than Hogwarts and almost impossible to find. She was carrying a theft-proof bag and inside it was a heated case for the dragon eggs.
Thank goodness it was winter and the cold wind made wearing a cloak mandatory. Her clothes were not like the ones she had seen on other people.
The downside of the Veil was the randomness of where the Veil sent people. It could be anywhere in the world. But she knew that he was alive.
A ship stood at the dock with a deer flag on its mast. Alysanne went into a fabric store and bought clothes already sewn. That was more expensive, but it was the best to go unnoticed. She did not know the current clothing patterns. And, in this cold, everyone wore thick cloaks that didn't let her see anything.
- What does a young girl do without luggage? - said the owner looking at her with evident lust
-Some bandits stole my horse with my bags. Luckily I always carry my money with me and I was able to hide before they enslaved me. Even though I'm all scratched up because of it, I shouldn't have picked a thorny bush.
The merchant nodded and took out several garments. At least they were adjustable thanks to the straps
-You were lucky, girl. Lately the bandits have become more violent. It will be because it is the end of winter. I've lost a lot more business contacts than usual because of it. And because of your condition I doubt very much that they have not disgraced you. You are truly lucky, or they are very unlucky.
Alysanne thanked Mother Magic for choosing such a plausible excuse. The salesman was too close, but Alysanne left the store with a smile.
She walked down the street to an inn and saw a group of men approaching with a deer emblem on their shields. The man in the center of the group was clearly a nobleman. His clothes were on another level in terms of decorations and materials
A strong gust of wind ripped the hood from Alysanne's head and the few strands that had escaped from her braid danced in the air. Alysanne quickly pulled her hood up and looked around her. It seemed that no one had seen it. At least she thought so until she saw the look of the well-dressed man in the center of a group.
The man approached her quickly. Alysanne didn't have a real chance to flee because the men with the well-dressed man moved as one and surrounded her. Alysanne didn't see a way to get out without drawing too much attention. She looked around her clutching her bag before turning to look at the man before her who was assessing her with his eyes.
The cloak left little to show, but enough for him to know she was a young woman.
-Miss, I couldn't help but notice your silver hair. And now that I look closely at you I see that your eyes are purple.- The man went to remove Alysanne's hood and she held her tightly.
She was not native to this world, but sexual assault seemed to be the order of the day and slavery was common. She would not risk being the object of either.
-Not here.
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Alysanne looked around her. In a pinch she could always cast massive sleeping spells on all the men around her.
-Please take off your cape.
Alysanne sighed and lowered her hood under the man's watchful gaze and then pulled it off completely. A couple of men cursed under their breath, but the most richly dressed man of hers just looked at her with a smile.
- I am Lord Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End in the Seven Kingdoms. Is it too much to assume if he said you are Sirius Black's goddaughter, Alysanne Targaryen?
Alysanne straightened up.
-You know my uncle.
-Yes, I was part of the men who rescued him. He now serves our prince, Rhaegar Targaryen, and tells us about his branch of the family. The branch made up not of dragon riders but of wizards. His Majesty, King Aerys, ordered me to set out on a journey to find you and bring you to the Red Keep as the future bride of the prince. Finally, after three long years my journey has come to an end
Alysanne looked around her.
- - Well, I'll go voluntarily. I guess if I don't go with you like that, my trip will be much more… Uncomfortable. I'd rather be a guest than a prisoner.
Alysanne knew all about King Aerys because goblins came to Westeros on a regular basis. They had briefed her on various quirks and basic knowledge. Like the fact that Aerys was crazy as a goat.
If the mad king said something, it was best to lower the head and try to obey.
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Alysanne found herself vomiting forcefully into a bucket as Lord Stannis entered the girl's cabin.
- Don't you have magic to help with seasickness? It's just a little storm
-It exists, but it can only be thrown by someone who isn't dizzy.- She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief while she banished her vomit with a movement of her hand.- It's over, I won't deal with this storm anymore
Alysanne raised her hand and bombarded the entire environment inside and outside the ship with magic. The wind that was driving them was holding up, but the waves were now at a moderate level and the clouds were beginning to dissipate.
Stannis looked at Alysanne.
- Couldn't you have done that two days ago?
-No… Storms have magic, two days ago the magic was fresh and it would have cost me a lot to calm it down, now the magic was dissipating. So I can easily intervene while they're still at their peak. I have also reinforced the boat, a part of the wood was going to give way and the boat would sink
The man remained silent and asked to be told where the weakest part was. Falling into the water in winter would be certain death for all the men on the ship.
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Alysanne felt her eyes fill with tears as she was held tightly by a very tearful Sirius. The man was having a full blown crying fit. in front of many people
-I have to introduce you to my lord, Alysanne! His Highness Rhaegar is a truly extraordinary man!. ---- Sirius said with almost childlike joy.
- Yes, from what I've heard he's my future husband. -- Sirius smirked guiltily.
-I'm sorry, I just wanted to explain where the necklace came from, I didn't think that his Majesty would send the search for the perfect Valiryan bride for his Highness. But if you decide to marry His Highness you have my approval, he is a man your father would have approved of, without a doubt.
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Dragons are greedy beings. Once they see something they want, they won't stop until they get it. And the same thing happened with Alysanne and with Rhaegar. As soon as they saw each other it was instant. A fire ran through their bodies with dragon blood and they knew that the other was her partner, until death.
Aerys was actually very pleased to see the understanding between Rhaegar and Alysanne. His son deserved a bride of Valirya blood, and they had found the best. However, not everyone was so happy about it. Rhaella was also happy about that. The meeting between the two was fruitful, as Rhaegar was showing more interest in the girl than in any other lady he had been introduced to. And the girl seemed to want those attentions.
Tywin had spent most of the last ten years preparing Cersei to be queen. And now this girl was taking her place just because she had silver hair and purple eyes.
- And what will be the dowry of the bride? - They all looked at him - To marry royalty, riches must be offered, not only a suitable lineage is enough. What is her dowry?
Alysanne looked at the blond man with calculating eyes and pulled a bag from her pocket. She reached into the small bag and began to pull out dragon eggs one after another. After her queen's fifth swoon, King Aerys followed her on her twelfth. When the forty were arranged on the ground the whole court was silent
-I have to offer forty dragon eggs as a dowry
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Alysanne watched as Remus judged Rhaegar with his eyes.
-This is your squib cousin?
-- Well, calling him cousin is something very generous. He and I are many generations apart since our family branches were one. --- Alysanne squeezed Rhaegar's hand. --- He's the one, I just know
Remus asked for a few minutes alone with Rhaegar while Tonks began to question Harriet about how handsome and masculine Rhaegar was. And it was true.
Most wizards had lean, swift bodies, suited to casting spells, not hand-to-hand fighting. Rhaegar had grown up with a sword in his hand and maesters teaching him. He could sing the sweetest verses and at the same time slash a man's throat with his sword.
Apparently, Rhaegar passed Remus' test. The man gave them his thumbs up.
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In the catacombs of the Red Keep, Alysanne finished carving some runes into a stone arch. She felt her magic sweep through the door and followed her to the new door, into the chamber of secrets. Then she and Rhaegar could make a quick getaway and take her youngest child to Hogwarts. He had turned out with magic, unlike his older brother
The runes activated and Alysanne threw a stone at the door. The stone returned with a message in the language of the elves
Now it was a human. A prisoner of the mines. The man stumbled in and Alysanne checked his pulse and his mental cycles.
Perfect.
She had a new door