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Rating:
Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warnings:
Graphic Depictions Of ViolenceMajor Character Death
Category:
Gen
Fandoms:
House of the Dragon (TV)Warhammer Fantasy
Characters:
Ikit ClawRhaenyra TargaryenJacaerys VelaryonLucerys Velaryon (Son of Rhaenyra)Baela TargaryenRhaena Targaryen (Daughter of Daemon)Daemon TargaryenCorlys "The Sea Snake" VelaryonHelaena TargaryenAddam VelaryonBackground & Cameo CharactersSilverwing | Alysanne Targaryen's DragonOriginal CharactersJoffrey Velaryon
Additional Tags:
Crack Treated SeriouslyCanon-Typical ViolenceThe Dance of the Dragons | Aegon II Targaryen v. Rhaenyra Targaryen EraAlternate Universe - Canon DivergenceCanonical Character DeathCharacter Turned Into a HumanIkit got isekai'd as Jace's twinSkaven Species (Warhammer Fantasy)Death to all GreensHuman ExperimentationScience ExperimentsIkit is his own warningSilverwing still has shit taste in male ridersPOV MultipleBackground RelationshipsBackground Character Deathshow canon onlyDragon RidersAnimal AbuseIkit is an abusive dragonriderTho he's fairly mellow compared to his SkavenselfGood Parent Rhaenyra TargaryenNo beta we die like LucerysDysfunctional FamilyCannibalismBlood and TortureCanon-Typical BehaviorBAMF Helaena Targaryen
Language:
English
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Published:2026-02-26Completed:2026-04-22Words:181,492Chapters:55/55Comments:1,270Kudos:749Bookmarks:160Hits:33,683
The Rat Prince of Westeros
SkilledWarriorKiwi
Chapter 48: Addam
Chapter Text
The air over Oldtown was of terror and unease.
The entirety of the Hightower had been completely vaporized, with the catastrophic explosion begining at the very zenith of the tower where the emerald flames had been. Over seven hundred feet high the Doomsphere detonated and even then when the explosion expanded it managed to destroy over a third of Oldtown itself.
The ocean the explosion traveled through was boiled and turned into super heated steam that flash-boiled anyone aboard the ships or within the harbour before the green denotation blasted them into oblivion a split second later.
Battle Island, which the colossal Hightower had been built upon, had been rendered down into nothing and when the ocean rushed back to fill the gaps left by the blast and evaporation the entire isle was gone even as a tsunami flooded the roads and streets of the rest of Oldtown. A large portion of those who survived the blast ended up being flooded, many drowning in their disorientation as they were swept out to sea.
The detonation was seen from as far as the Wall itself, the watchers sending ravens about the way the sky turned green to the south, and the shock waves had shattered every single window within Oldtown and sent people hurtling down the streets from the blast of super heated air while rending hundreds of thousands in various levels of being turned deaf and blind in the aftermath. The keeps of Blackcrown, Three Towers, Brightwater Keep, and even as far as the Arbor and Highgarden, had their windows shattered and the noise of the detonation left their ears ringing for days after.
The Starry Sept, located upon the mainland and closer to the city gates, managed to escape annihilation even if every single stained glass window had exploded and several went blind when they looked at the explosion as it burst into being high above like a green sun.
However the Sailor's Sept down by the harbor, the Lord's Sept, and the Seven Shrines in their gardens, along with dozens of guild houses, had been destroyed by the great green bomb. The Traders plaza, the entirety of the city's main harbour, the sun gate and the city watch barracks- all destroyed in the initial explosion. Countless more buildings caught fire, even with the sea and waves crashing through the streets as bells rang.
Addam had thought the acts within Tumbleton horrific realized how utterly wrong he was about everything when Oldtown erupted in green fire as if a sun was exploding within the sky above the city.
It was only due to their altitude that Seasmoke got hurled several leagues away by the shock wave, managing to right himself in the air before loosing too much height even as hot air buffeted them. Addam then witnessed with a birds eye view of Oldtown burning and crumbling as the air seemed to shake and screech as green encased everything. He had the sense to shield his face, knowing full well the dangers light could have, even as the heated air lashed at them as his ears rang.
Silverwing barely even flinched, her massive wings withstanding the air blast, but Addam kept himself at a safe distance as down below parts of the city burned, flooded, or simply were no longer there.
He landed Seasmoke when Prince Ikit landed Silverwing outside the Starry Sept, which took nearly three hours after the initial blast where they had simply circled over the grievously wounded city as people panicked below like an upturned ant hill. So his dragon point of view, it looked like a great chunk of the city had been completely removed. Instead it was just barren burnt earth or swallowed by the sea.
The most obvious was the Hightower now being entirely gone, even the base fortress forged of an oily black stone which had been in Oldtown since before anyone could remember. Now it was gone, just like the Hightowers.
And House Hoare, and House Garderner, Addam thought, his breathing tight and hoarse even as his ears continued to ring.
When they landed it was before the Starry Sept in the great marble plaza, numerous septas and septons were running about in panic and the citizens weren't in better shape. The doors were thrown open and inside Addam could see many wounded and grieving. The huge arched windows, which had been in place since the Starry Sept had been created a thousand years before Aegon's Conquest, were completely shattered with glass shimmering on the ground.
Silverwing hissed and spat, and all Addam could look at was the other great orb at her hip. How did Prince Ikit create such a monstrous unholy thing? Dragons were considered the greatest weapons in the world, but that horrific orb had vaporized a third of the one of the largest cities in all of Westeros. And it had done it in a single, catastrophic moment.
Addam was quite certain if Prince Ikit had dropped the great orb upon the heart of the city, instead of the towering apex of the Hightower, then there would have been absolutely nothing left of Oldtown.
And many of the surviving inhabitants knew that for when Prince Ikit walked towards the doors of the Starry Sept, there was a lot of pointing and yelling yet also a great deal of cowering and people falling in prostrate.
One septa started screaming at Prince Ikit, face bloody and tear streaked as she pointed to where the Hightower had once stood and the burning remnants of the great harbour. The prince retaliated by punching her in the face hard enough he knocked her out. The shouting quickly quietened down at that, even as Addam had to swallow the urge to go and aid the holy woman from where she was lying unconscious on the ground. Prince Ikit at least hadn't impaled her with his halberd, even if he had broken her nose.
"Where is High Septon?" Prince Ikit bellowed, his voice loud and demanding. "Bring-bring him before me!"
There was words, cowering, screaming and more crying, but eventually the High Septon appeared. Old and frail, the man looked as if he was about to collapse as he emerged from the Starry Sept. Clad in brown and golden robes, with a great crown made of crystal and gold. His face was heavily wrinkled and withered hands shaking as he kept them clasped before him.
Addam felt tense, as if he was about to snap, as the High Septon approached Prince Ikit who had Silverwing's gargantuan form lurking behind him. Prince Ikit had his halberd in hand, idly swaying the weapon from side to side. Around them was a growing crowd, even if Addam noted how near all of them were injured in various ways. Most were burns, one man was missing both eyes and only having seared over lids.
"Prince Ikit," the High Septon's voice was reedy and high, yet still heard by all. "The High Septon speaks for the Seven here on earth. Strike at me, and you are striking at the gods themselves."
Prince Ikit scoffed loudly, raising his halberd to point the gleaming blade at the old man, "If I cut-slice your head off here, will your Seven come to save you?"
Addam swallowed, Seasmoke shuffling closer so he could see the white dragon's hot breath upon his nape.
"No-no, they won't," Prince Ikit bared his sharp teeth as the High Septon failed to answer. "Your Seven will not protect you. Think well for your words-squeaking, old one. Your gods will not stop you from dying."
"I would ask what you have done, the lives you have taken," the High Septon said. "What orders you were under, by the crown in this horrific...this attack when you caused that sun to explode over the city. Your own ancestor Jaehaerys the Conciliator resolved the quarrels between the crown and the Faith by promising that the Crown would always protect and defend the Faith. In return, the last few Stars and Swords were to put down their weapons, and the Faith was to agree to accept justice from the Iron Throne from that moment onwards. Yet now you have attacked the heart of our faith."
"Liar," Prince Ikit scoffed at him, ignoring the gasps of the watchers. "If I dropped Doomsphere upon the heart of city-den, nothing would be left. Nothing! Only dust-death-ash. Starry Sept is standing. You are alive to whine. This is Queen Rhaenyra's mercy. Understand? If I did as I want, Oldtown gone. You all gone. Maegor the Cruel? Bah! He was kind, he did not burn-roast you squealing all that time ago when you fought dragon clan! He did not eat your whelps, did not tear your guts out and make you servant-slaves! If you act stupid-dumb like Hightowers, which I have kill-killed here for their treason-treachery, I will do so! And show you true cruelty!"
His voice seemed to roar across the courtyard, bearing a terrible unnatural volume even as Silverwing snarled violently behind him as green saliva dripped down from her jaws. The High Septon looked as if he was about to collapse but even the city watch weren't stepping forward to defend him. Not that there were many present, no doubt the majority were trying to help the thousands wounded within the city, or stop the fires.
So Addam spoke then, voice calm that didn't match his mind as he said, "Queen Rhaenyra punished House Hightower, as Aegon the Conqueror did to House Hoare and House Gardener. The Hightower is no more, with Dowager Queen Alicent imprisoned and her children dying as traitors. Those of her blood aided in usurping the rightful queen of the Seven Kingdoms and they will face the Father's justice in the heavens. And Prince Ikit spoke true, he targeted the Hightower and while it is tragic the loss of parts of the city, if he struck the heart of Oldtown it would be no more. Let the people here know, this is what happens to those who defy the demands of the Iron Throne and the consequences of treason. The only ones to blame for all this death is Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower and Lord Otto Hightower and their treacherous kin."
He had no idea if that was true, but he knew he couldn't allowed Prince Ikit to start butchering the Faithful, especially the High Septon himself.
The High Septon watched Addam, before just as quickly looking back to Prince Ikit. Despite his weathered features his eyes were sharp. Distantly Addam could hear sobbing and screams, the crumbling of a few more burning and ruined buildings. And that ringing in his ears, high and distant like the caw of a sea eagle.
"Dowager Queen Alicent actions were her own, as that of her family," the High Septon said.
"One of your stupid-dumb priests blessed Usurper," Prince Ikit said.
"Septon Eustace acted on his own, without blessings of myself or the Starry Sept," the High Septon said carefully. "The affairs of King's Landing can be a distant thing and many hide their evil hearts beneath a pious face. It would seem the Dowager Queen is one such women. And we are not a militant, we do not intervene in which the crown does. Only that they respect the Seve and protect the faithful."
"You are not all dead," Prince Ikit said with a snort. "See? Respect from Queen Rhaenyra to you. If I had my way, I would bomb entire city. But you live to complain before me-me. That is Queen Rhaenyra mercy. Now declare-announce her so, as ruler."
The High Septon did not even flinch. It was obvious what his only recourse was, with a third of Oldtown vaporized and the other two thirds in terrible condition. With the Hightower completely gone as if it had never even been there at all. At the start of the Conquest, the High Septon prayed for wisdom from the Seven and saw that Oldtown would drown in dragonfire if they defied Aegon the Conqueror.
It was a violent and horrific lesson here yet the bomb dropped upon the Hightower was beyond anything ever witnessed in Westeros or even the known world.
And Prince Ikit had more.
"We abide by the laws, and the Father above will judge the Hightowers for their sins," the High Septon announced. "We, the Faith of the Seven, acknowledge Queen Rhaenyra, First of her Name, as the true queen of Westeros. May the Father Above grant her wisdom in her judgement and the just ruling of the realm, may the Mother grant her mercy for her enemies. May the Warrior give her strength to keep the realm safe, may the Smith allow her to rebuild the peace that her father King Viserys reigned over. May the Maiden remind her of the innocence and sweetness of the people, may the Crone guide her to wisdom to show her the righteous path she must walk. May the Stranger wait until her reign is long and grey before coming forward. Queen Rhaenyra, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men. May she continue to protect the faithful, as she has done so today in sparing us."
"Good. Now see to dying and wounded," Prince Ikit said after a long, terrifying moment where he stared at the High Septon with those terrible green eyes.
Then he turned away, clearly dismissing the High Septon as no longer important.
Addam followed the prince at his sharp gesture, their dragons remaining in the courtyard as they stopped at the stairs which overlooked the city. The destruction was apparent, great pillars of smoke rising everywhere and wounded and disorientated making their way to the Starry Sept. One woman was carried past, with horrific weeping wounds laying open her body as she was held by her husband.
Prince Ikit clearly didn't care, instead his gaze was focused upon the great empty spot beyond where the Hightower had once stood.
"Shall we return to King's Landing, my prince?" Addam managed to ask.
A terrible calm had gripped his mind but he knew it was that or weeping like so many people in Oldtown were doing. A man walked past them with the burnt remains that could have once been a child in his arm. Following behind was a shellshocked woman with an eye missing and a sobbing girl holding her hand. Behind them he could hear the High Septon's voice, as he directed the injured within the Starry Sept to the maesters.
At least the Citadel had been left largely unscathed, due to its location close to the Starry Sept, even if Addam could see cracks and a wall crumbling from the shock wave yet the Citadel itself was standing however wounded it had become. Even now there was a steady trickle of men with chains, those who learned the healing arts, heading to the Starry Sept to render aid to those seeking shelter.
Oldtown would rebuild, Addam knew. Like all the towns lost beneath Vhagar's flames. Like Rook's Rest. Like Tumbleton. The people of Westeros were a hardy lot, they had faced hardships before and survived. They would live through this horrific event like so many others.
"No," Prince Ikit said, turning to face him and snapping Addam from his fractured thoughts. Those eyes were the same colour as the great explosion that had lit up the sky and Addam felt his heart hammering like a hunted rabbit. "You will return on own, inform den mother Hightower no more. I will go hunting-stalking, yes-yes."
That jolted Addam forth, "My prince? Who are you hunting? Hugh the Betrayer is dead, Vhagar is perished."
"Yes-yes, now shattered-broken seer Helaena is all that is left. I can smell blood, smell Khorne. She is out there. Getting stronger each day. Must kill-kill her as soon as possible."
"She will have Dreamfyre, who had hatched during the Conqueror's rule," Addam said, "I can help-"
"No, you will just get in the way. Also useless, run back to King's Landing and weep-wail over dead," Prince Ikit sneered at him while waving a hand. "Will get in way so you will not come."
Addam swallowed his offense, a part of him pathetically grateful Prince Ikit was ordering him away. Prince Jacaerys was just and well reasoned, diplomatic and valiant as was the queen. Prince Ikit was akin to the Rogue Prince, those who steeped for too long in the dragonsblood and left volatile like their mounts. Addam had always yearned for something more in his life but now, staring at Prince Ikit with those terrible green eyes with his sickly monstrous dragon and that great explosion he used to explode the sky, he realize he had no idea what he was asking for.
"I will do as you command," Addam made himself say, as Seasmoke shuffled up to him.
"Yes. Do that," Prince Ikit said, in a cold low tone as those eyes seemed to bore right into his brain. "And watch yourself, careful with doubts-laments. You see what happened to Daeron. To Betrayer."
"I am loyal to the queen," Addam replied, and had never been more truthful about anything in his life.
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