Chapter 33: The Dragon King's Peace and the Shadow Kingdom's Bloom (Life Under the New Order)
Decades unfurled like ancient scrolls, marking the passage of time in the newly forged Six Kingdoms of Westeros. Aegon I Targaryen, the Conqueror, had transitioned from fiery warlord to stern, if often beleaguered, monarch. King's Landing, once a muddy hillfort, now sprawled a thriving, chaotic city around the formidable, jagged edifice of the Iron Throne. The King's Peace, enforced by the ever-present threat of dragonfire and the nascent institutions of Targaryen rule, held sway over most of the continent, though the sands of Dorne remained a stubbornly independent thorn.
For Aelyx Velaryon, the immortal Shadow King of Skagos, these were years of profound, patient growth and meticulous observation. While the Targaryen dragons cast long, imperious shadows across the southern lands, his own hidden kingdom beneath Mount Skatus blossomed in secrecy, a multi-generational magical dynasty quietly consolidating its eternal power.
Publicly, Skagos, under the astute stewardship of Lord Torrhen Volmark (Aelyx's eldest son, whose public "aging" was managed with subtle alchemical tinctures and carefully crafted illusions when he made rare mainland appearances) and then, after Torrhen's well-orchestrated "death from a sudden fever" in his seventieth year, his own capable son Lord Cregan Volmark (Aelyx's grandson, now a man in his prime, fully indoctrinated into the family's true nature and purpose), remained a beacon of Northern strength and prosperity. The "Heir's Hoard" gold mine continued its miraculous output, its riches allowing House Volmark to be the financial bedrock of the North. This ensured the unwavering loyalty and support of the Starks of Winterfell – first King Torrhen "the Kneeler," then his son, and then his grandson – who, as Wardens of the North, found their rule significantly eased by the immense wealth and staunch military support flowing from their Skagosi vassals.
Tribute to the Iron Throne was paid promptly via Winterfell, Skagos contributing a disproportionately large share of the North's dues without complaint, a small price for continued autonomy and the Targaryens' benign neglect of their remote, "eccentric" Northern jewel. Skagosi merchant ships, their designs subtly superior, their crews disciplined and loyal, dominated trade in the northern Shivering Sea and increasingly, under carefully disguised flags, ventured into the ports of the Free Cities, bringing back exotic goods and vital intelligence. Lord Cregan Volmark, like his father before him, was a respected figure in Winterfell's councils, his advice sought, his loyalty unquestioned, his island domain seen as a bulwark against threats from the northern seas and a source of endless bounty. No one questioned the Volmark family's Valyrian features, now attributed to a proud, distant ancestry, nor their remarkable vitality, chalked up to the crisp Skagosi air and the blessings of the Old Gods upon their line.
Beneath this veneer of prosperous Northern nobility, the hidden sanctuary of Mount Skatus pulsed with a life and power that would have terrified the Targaryen kings. Aelyx and Lyanna, their forms eternally youthful, presided over a complex, thriving society. Their eight direct children were now figures of immense magical power and authority within the sanctuary. Torrhen, before his public "death," had been Aelyx's chief administrator for public affairs, seamlessly bridging the two worlds. Visenya, her fiery spirit now tempered by centuries of experience (though her temper could still be formidable), was the undisputed commander of their aerial dragon legions, a sorceress whose command over elemental fire rivaled that of their most potent dragons. Maegor, her boisterous brother, led the elite ground-based magical shock troops and the more… direct draconic assault squadrons. Lyra and Daenys, their combined greensight a constant, invaluable tool, were the chief seers and intelligence analysts of the sanctuary, their minds sifting the currents of time and the whispers of the present. Aenar, with his younger brother Aegon Volmark, headed the vast research and development enclaves, their enchantments and alchemical creations forming the magical bedrock of Skagos's defenses and prosperity. Rhaenys, the mistress of illusions, was responsible for the sanctuary's unyielding cloak of secrecy, her powers capable of deceiving any mundane or magical scrutiny.
The next generation, Aelyx's more than forty grandchildren, were now young adults, many already married amongst themselves (Aelyx encouraged unions within the magically potent bloodline to further concentrate their gifts, though occasionally allowing carefully vetted, magically sensitive individuals from the Skagosi elite to be brought in) and producing the first of his great-grandchildren. Each grandchild had been rigorously educated in both mundane subjects and the deepest secrets of Volmark magic. Their specializations were diverse: some were formidable dragonriders, bonding with the new generations of Skagosi-born dragons; others excelled in healing arts, tutored by Lyra and the house-elves, their skills augmented by phoenix tears; many became skilled enchanters, ward-smiths, or alchemists. A select few, those with the strongest Stark blood, were trained by Lyanna to master their warging and greensight abilities, becoming invaluable scouts and sentinels.
The house-elf population, now numbering close to five hundred, formed a multi-generational society completely devoted to the Volmark dynasty. They were not slaves, but cherished, essential members of the sanctuary, their lives extended by the Elixir, their innate magic amplified and directed by Aelyx's teachings. They managed the complex logistics of the subterranean kingdom, from the vast dragon hatcheries and training caverns to the arcane libraries, the alchemical forges, the hydroponic gardens that produced exotic potion ingredients, and the very air and light enchantments that made life comfortable deep within the mountain. Young house-elves were apprenticed from a young age, their education tailored to their aptitudes, ensuring a continuous flow of skilled magical support for generations to come.
The phoenix flock, too, thrived. Nearly fifty of these magnificent, fiery creatures now nested in the highest, sunstone-lit caverns of Mount Skatus, their songs echoing with healing and protective magic. Each Volmark child, upon reaching a certain level of magical maturity, was often gifted a phoenix feather, a potent focus for certain types of benevolent magic.
The dragon legions of Skagos were Aelyx's ultimate hidden weapon. Over one hundred and fifty dragons of varying ages and breeds now dwelled within the expanded volcanic caverns beneath Mount Skatus. The original twenty-nine were colossal, ancient beasts, their wisdom and power immense. Their offspring, bred for specific traits – speed, stealth, unique fire capabilities, even enhanced intelligence – formed disciplined squadrons, each bonded to a Volmark rider. The training was relentless, overseen by Visenya and Maegor, incorporating lessons gleaned from Aegon's Conquest and the Dornish resistance. They practiced coordinated assaults, defensive formations, aerial ambushes, and even techniques for combating other dragons, should the need ever arise. The sheer scale of this hidden dragon armada would have dwarfed Aegon's original conquering force many times over.
Life within the sanctuary developed its own unique culture. It was a blend of Valyrian tradition (as Aelyx chose to interpret and reinvent it, focusing on knowledge, power, and dynastic loyalty, while excising the decadent excesses that had led to the Doom), Stark resilience and pragmatism (instilled by Lyanna and the Northern spouses), and the pervasive influence of their unique magical environment. Festivals were held to mark astronomical alignments, magical achievements, or the hatching of new dragon clutches. Art forms unknown to the outside world flourished – illusionary light-shows, music composed from the songs of phoenixes and the resonant frequencies of crystals, tapestries woven with enchanted threads that shimmered with captured starlight. Loyalty to Aelyx, the immortal Founder and Shadow King, and Lyanna, the eternal Hearth Mother, was absolute, a religious devotion instilled from birth. The guiding principle was the preservation and advancement of the Volmark dynasty and its hidden kingdom, an eternal vigil against a world that must never learn of their true power.
While this hidden world bloomed, Aelyx meticulously monitored the Targaryen dynasty. Tibbit's network, now incredibly sophisticated, provided him with intimate details of Aegon I's reign. He observed the King's struggles with Dorne, his efforts to build a unified realm, the personalities of his sons, the frail, sickly Aenys and the grim, martial Maegor. He noted the growing influence of the Faith of the Seven, a power Aegon had to appease, and the simmering resentments of some great houses who chafed under Targaryen rule.
Lyra and Daenys's greensight became increasingly focused on the future of House Targaryen. They brought Aelyx fragmented, disturbing visions: dragons fighting dragons in a sky filled with fire and smoke, kinslaying, civil war, the eventual decline of the Targaryen dragons themselves. These prophecies, though decades or even centuries away, were invaluable. They confirmed Aelyx's core belief that all overt empires, even those built on dragonfire, were ultimately finite, prone to internal decay and self-destruction.
"The seeds of their own undoing are sown within their own blood, within their own ambition," Aelyx would muse to Lyanna, as they reviewed these prophetic fragments. "They fly too close to the sun, their power too visible, too envied. Our way, the way of shadow and patience, is the path to true eternity."
He used this knowledge to further refine his long-term strategy. Skagos would remain the loyal, unassuming Northern vassal, its true strength a secret whispered only in the deepest vaults of Mount Skatus. The Volmark dynasty would continue to grow, to learn, to prepare, its tendrils of influence subtly spreading through carefully managed trade and discreet alliances within the North. He initiated research into even more esoteric forms of magic: deeper manipulations of life force, control over time (though this he approached with extreme caution, knowing its perilous nature from Flamel's warnings), and the creation of magical artifacts of immense power, drawing upon the combined knowledge of Voldemort's Horcrux creation (though he had no interest in fragmenting his soul, the principles of imbuing objects with consciousness and power were instructive) and Flamel's mastery of alchemical enchantment.
Occasionally, the outside world would brush against the carefully maintained veil of Skagos. A new Lord Stark might make a formal visit to his wealthiest vassal, to be lavishly entertained by the public Lord Volmark (now perhaps one of Aelyx's great-grandsons, meticulously trained for the role) in Icefang Keep, never suspecting the true immortal rulers watched from the shadows. A rare Targaryen envoy, perhaps a tax assessor or a minor diplomat on a tour of the North, would be received with all due deference, shown the prosperous port, the "bountiful" gold mine, and sent away impressed by Skagos's loyalty and productivity, utterly oblivious to the legion of dragons slumbering beneath their feet.
The Northern spouses of Aelyx's children and grandchildren lived out their natural lifespans in luxury and respect on Skagos, their primary role fulfilled by providing fresh Northern blood to the Volmark line. Few ever guessed the true extent of their in-laws' secrets. Those who showed exceptional discretion and perhaps a hint of compatible temperament might, in their old age, be granted a gentler passing by Lyra's healing arts, their memories of Skagos peaceful ones. Their children, however, belonged to the sanctuary, to the eternal dynasty.
Life under the new Targaryen order was, for Aelyx Velaryon, a period of profound, patient, and immensely productive consolidation. He was the unseen gardener, tending his hidden, magical grove while the great, fiery trees of the Targaryen forest dominated the public landscape. He knew that forests, too, could burn, could wither, could fall. His grove, protected by shadow and sorcery, was designed to outlast them all. The Dragon King's peace provided the perfect cover for the Shadow King's bloom, a silent, inexorable preparation for a future that only he, in his immortal wisdom, could truly envision. The centuries ahead were but a canvas upon which he would continue to paint his masterpiece of eternal power.