Chapter 29: The Shadow and the Heir (281-300 AC)
The miraculous, utterly baffling reunion of the ancient Balerion and the newborn Crown Prince Viserys in 280 AC sent shockwaves through the Targaryen dynasty. No maester could explain it, no lore foretold such a phenomenon. Balerion, who had barely stirred in a century, now frequently circled the Red Keep, often landing in the royal courtyard to gaze with ancient, knowing eyes at the nursery window. The bond was undeniable, profound, and immediate. To the realm, it was a wondrous sign of the gods' favor, a clear omen of a new golden age. To King Baelor II and his Queen Aelia, it was a source of both immense pride and a deep, unsettling mystery. For Marco De Luca, reborn as Prince Viserys, it was the chilling confirmation that his ultimate purpose, the prevention of the Long Night, was now critically close.
The two decades that followed were a period of intense, calculated preparation for Viserys. While his infant body slowly matured, his mind, supercharged by the serum, devoured every piece of knowledge he could access. The Royal College of Administration and Scientific Research, under the continued brilliant leadership of Prince Daeron (now a very old but still sharp man), became his personal library and laboratory. He spent hours in its archives, ostensibly for princely study, but secretly absorbing everything he could about Westerosi history, geography, military strategies, and crucially, the prophecies and fragmented lore of the Others. He sought out forgotten texts, quizzed maesters on obscure superstitions, and delved into the minutiae of the Night's Watch's historical records.
His bond with Balerion was the cornerstone of his existence. The ancient dragon, rejuvenated by the serum (given in Marco's previous life), felt more powerful, more vibrant than ever, a true extension of Viserys's will. They communicated not just through Valyrian commands, but through a deep, telepathic connection that transcended words. Balerion became Viserys's truest confidante, the only being in this world who shared the weight of the coming doom. They spent countless hours soaring above Westeros, Viserys assessing strategic choke points, potential defense lines, and resource allocation with an eye towards an enemy no one else truly believed in.
By 300 AC, Prince Viserys was a man of twenty years, a striking figure whose presence commanded attention. His silver hair fell past his shoulders, and his piercing violet eyes held a depth and intensity far beyond his years. The super-soldier serum had matured his body into a peak physical specimen: lean, agile, and incredibly strong, with reflexes that seemed almost supernatural. He excelled in all martial endeavors, mastering every weapon and fighting style taught in Westeros, but always with a focus on efficiency, precision, and strategic advantage rather than brute force. His intellect was legendary, often astounding maesters and councilors with his insights into economics, logistics, and governance.
To the royal court and the realm, he was the "Dragon Prince," the prodigious heir beloved by Balerion. He was charming, insightful, and seemingly infallible. King Baelor II, his father, regarded him with immense pride, trusting his judgment implicitly and increasingly delegating significant responsibilities to him. He saw in Viserys the continuation of his grandfather Viserys I's genius, believing the dragon bond enhanced his son's brilliance.
However, beneath this polished exterior, Marco's ruthless pragmatism had sharpened. He trusted few, saw every interaction as a potential strategic maneuver, and ruthlessly cut ties with anyone who proved inefficient or disloyal. He cultivated a network of personal agents, drawing from the King's Vipers (who now served the reigning monarch, Baelor II, but whose deepest loyalties lay with the unique bond they recognized in Viserys), and subtly placing his own trusted individuals in key positions within the Royal Army, the Dragon Bank, and the Royal College. He was building his own, separate power base, unseen by even his father, knowing that when the time came, he would need unquestioning, absolute loyalty.
His focus remained relentlessly on the North. He used his influence with his father, King Baelor II, to continue the unprecedented support for the Night's Watch. He personally sponsored exploratory expeditions beyond the Wall, ostensibly for cartography and wildling patrols, but secretly to gather intelligence on any anomalies, any signs of the creeping cold. He pushed for advancements in fire-related technologies within the Royal College, from more efficient fire-lances for dragons to rudimentary Greek fire recipes, all under the guise of enhancing military capabilities. He even discreetly initiated studies into obsidian and ancient wards, claiming academic curiosity in Valyrian lore.
He spent hours studying ancient prophecies and lore, particularly those pertaining to the Long Night. He had to understand what might be different in this timeline, what details he might have missed from his book knowledge. The Targaryen line had faithfully passed down Aegon's prophecy, but it was often interpreted as a generalized threat, a grand, almost mythical winter, not the precise, existential horror Marco knew was coming. He needed to ensure his generation truly understood the scope.
The political landscape of Westeros, a century after Viserys I, was incredibly stable. The Great Houses remained compliant, their feudal power largely diminished, their lands integrated into the Crown's vast network of economic and administrative control. There had been no major rebellions, no devastating internal wars. This was the peace Viserys I had fought for, the fertile ground upon which his descendant would now wage a very different kind of war.
As the new century dawned, Prince Viserys stood on the precipice. The Long Night, the ultimate challenge for which his entire two lives had been a preparation, was now undeniably close. He was the heir to the most powerful dynasty Westeros had ever known, and he was bonded with the most formidable dragon to ever grace the skies. He had inherited a kingdom prepared, but he was the only one who truly understood the nature of the enemy. The gambit had indeed returned, and this time, Marco De Luca would face the apocalypse head-on.
This chapter sets up the imminent arrival of the Long Night and focuses on Viserys's preparation. How does this fit with your vision for the story's climax?