After concluding affairs at the New Citadel,
Emperor Aegon set out with his retinue, following the planned route through Riverrun, Acorn Hall, Pinkmaiden Castle, Atranta, and Stoney Sept.
This progress was meant to inspect the realm, learn of the people's conditions, and strengthen his rule.
At Queen Alysanne's special request, Jennis Templeton accompanied the Emperor on this journey.
She carried an important charge: to hold the "Women's Court" at Riverrun and Stoney Sept on the Queen's behalf.
There, she listened to the voices of women from all walks of life, sought to ease their hardships, and showed the crown's care for them.
Meanwhile, Queen Alysanne remained in the Red Keep. In the Emperor's absence, she presided over the Small Council, seated upon a velvet chair at the foot of the Iron Throne. With calm wisdom, she managed the realm's affairs and displayed uncommon judgment.
As weeks passed, her belly grew, swelling with the joy of impending motherhood.
...
Across Blackwater Bay, on the isle of Driftmark in the Gullet, another woman brought new life into the world.
The birth of her son drew little notice at the time. None could have guessed that, in years to come, he would carve his name upon the seas of Westeros and beyond, becoming a legend.
His father was Daemon Velaryon, a first-time father. Overjoyed, he named the handsome, healthy boy Corlys, in honor of his great-great-grandfather, the first Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
In later years, Westerosi would know him better by another name—"Sea Snake"—a title earned through adventures and triumphs at sea as mysterious and formidable as the serpent itself.
...
Not long after, Queen Alysanne's own child was born at full term.
In the middle of the fifty-fifth year of the Conquest, she endured long hours of labor before giving birth to a strong, healthy daughter.
She named the girl Daenerys, her heart overflowing with joy.
At that moment, Emperor Aegon was at Stoney Sept attending matters of governance. When the news reached him, he could not contain his impatience—he leapt upon Ghidorah and sped back to King's Landing with all haste.
The entire realm rejoiced at the birth of the little princess.
On Dragonstone, Queen Regent Rhaena shared in that happiness for both her sister and her son. Yet, at the same time, a shadow of discord began to fall between her and her closest companion, Elissa Farman.
Alyssa, with sapphire-blue eyes and soft flaxen hair, was strikingly beautiful. Rhaena had first met her at Casterly Rock, where Alyssa's wit and spirited charm had made her unforgettable. The two had bonded instantly and soon became inseparable friends.
After returning to King's Landing, Rhaena brought Elissa into her household as her attendant, keeping her close at all times. With the years, their friendship deepened, growing into a bond that surpassed ordinary companionship.
But recently, Alyssa's brother, Franklyn Farman, Lord of Fair Isle, had refused her any financial support, leaving her desperate.
She turned to Queen Regent Rhaena, asking for gold to build a great swift ship at the shipyards of Driftmark—one strong enough to sail the Sunset Sea and fulfill her dream of voyaging.
Rhaena, however, refused, saying tenderly, "I cannot bear for you to leave me."
But Elissaheard only the refusal.
...
Time moved swiftly, and the realm entered the fifty-sixth year of the Conquest.
No one yet realized that this would become one of the darkest years of Aegon II Targaryen's long reign.
Small, seemingly trivial omens began to hint at the tragedies to come, as though the wheels of fate had begun to turn.
During the New Year's celebrations, the first loss struck suddenly:
Septon Oswyck passed peacefully in his sleep.
The old Septon had been frail for years, yet his passing still draped the entire court in a heavy pall.
When lords, the Hand, the Grand Maester, and elders alike stood united against Emperor Aegon II's expedition to seek lost Valyria, only Septon Oswyck had the courage to stand at his side. His resolve and loyalty would be remembered by all.
At Aegon's request, his remains were laid to rest on Dragonstone—the isle where he had labored faithfully for so long—so that he might find peace in the land he had served.
The Red Keep was still deep in mourning when another message arrived.
At first, it seemed joyous: a raven from the Tower of the Hand announced, to general astonishment, that Lady Alyssa—now forty-six—was once again with child.
When Grand Maester Bennifer brought this news before the Emperor, he proclaimed it:
—A second miracle!
For a woman of her age, another pregnancy was exceedingly rare.
Yet Septon Barth, who had succeeded Oswyck's duties, urged caution. He reminded all that Lady Alyssa had not fully recovered from the birth of her son Boremund. He doubted she had the strength to survive another labor.
But Rogar Baratheon, blinded by the prospect of a second son, ignored every warning. He stubbornly declared that since his wife had already borne seven children, an eighth would be no trouble at all.
...
On Dragonstone, long-simmering tensions between Queen Regent Rhaena and Lady Elissa Farman finally burst into the open.
Elissa's passion for the sea burned too fiercely. To her, the endless days on Dragonstone felt like a prison she could no longer endure.
She came before Queen Rhaena, her eyes blazing with longing for freedom, and declared:
"The sea has been calling me. My time here is over. It's time to leave."
Rhaena, never one to bare her emotions, answered with calm composure even as her heart churned.
"I tried to keep you," she said quietly. "But I will not force you. If your mind is set, then go."
At dawn the next morning, Elissa Farman departed without hesitation.
She sailed first to Driftmark, then crossed the stormy Narrow Sea to Pentos. From there, she hurried overland to Braavos—the city famed across the world for its shipwrights.
Queen Regent Rhaena, however, had no idea of her true destination. She believed Elissa had gone to Driftmark merely to sulk and would soon return. She never imagined the girl's resolve, racing to put leagues between them with every passing hour.
Two weeks later, Ser Merrel Brune, commander of the castle guard, appeared before Rhaena with three terrified servants and the keepers of the dragonyard.
His face was pale with fear as he reported:
—Three precious dragon eggs had vanished. Despite days of searching, no trace of them could be found.
After questioning all involved, Ser Merrel was convinced: Lady Elissa had taken them.
The betrayal of her beloved struck Rhaena Targaryen like a dagger to the heart. Rage consumed her.
She ordered Ser Merrel to continue the interrogations of servants and stable boys. When no answers came, she dismissed him in fury, stripping him of command and banishing both him and his son, Ser Alyn, from Dragonstone.
More than a dozen others she deemed suspicious suffered the same fate.
Rhaena stormed to Driftmark demanding answers, only to learn Elissa had already sailed for Pentos. She dispatched pursuers at once, but they were too late—Elissa was gone without a trace.
With no other choice, Queen Regent Rhaena mounted Dreamfyre and flew in haste to the Red Keep, burning with desperation to tell her son Aegon II the full tale.
...
In his study, Aegon received her privately, with only Grand Maester Bennifer present.
Rhaena spoke with urgency:
"Elissa cares nothing for dragons. What she wants is gold—gold to build ships. She will sell the dragon eggs. They could buy—"
"—an entire fleet," Aegon finished grimly.
His face hardened. "Do you understand? If these eggs hatch, our house will no longer be the only dragonlords in the world."
Bennifer pondered a moment, then said, "They may not hatch—at least not outside Dragonstone. Dragon eggs require immense heat to awaken... many in the end turn to lifeless stone."
"No," Aegon snapped, unyielding. "The bastard blood of the ancient Valyrian dragonlords still runs in Essos. No one can guarantee those three eggs will not hatch into dreadful dragons."
Bennifer inclined his head and added, "But if they do hatch, the birth of three hatchlings cannot be hidden. Their owners will boast. We must place spies in Pentos, Tyrosh, Myr—all the Free Cities. Pay whatever price is needed for every scrap of dragon news."
Rhaena pressed anxiously: "Then what will you do?"
Aegon showed no hesitation. His voice was cold and absolute:
"I will do what must be done. I will command the Governor of the Western Protectorate to issue a warrant across the world for Elissa Farman. House Targaryen will never permit dragon eggs to fall beyond our control.
Any man or power that harbors dragon eggs will be our mortal enemy, a foe to the death."
His words carried a chilling finality. Then he added:
"If the eggs hatch—even in distant Yi Ti—we will take the dragons back."
They were stolen from us—they are ours by right.
If they refuse to return them, we will take them back by force. If that fails, we will slay every last dragon. Newly hatched hatchlings are no match for Ghidorah and Dreamfyre."
"And Silverwing?" asked Queen Regent Rhaena. "My sister, your wife—"
"She will not be involved. I will not risk her," Aegon II answered firmly.
Rhaena gave a bitter smile. "I see. She is Rhaenys, and I am Visenya."
Grand Maester Bennifer spoke with unease. "Your Grace, you speak of waging war across the Narrow Sea. The cost would be staggering—"
"That cost must be paid.
I will not allow a second Valyria to rise. Think what horrors the Triarchs of Volantis would commit if they possessed dragons. Gods forbid it ever comes to that."
The Emperor ended the discussion, reminding them both again and again that this matter must remain secret.
"This must never pass beyond the three of us."
But paper cannot smother fire forever.
On Dragonstone, the theft of the dragon eggs was already common knowledge, especially among the fisherfolk, who carried the tale to other isles until the rumor spread like wildfire.
In accordance with the Emperor's orders, Grand Maester Bennifer set about investigating the situation across the Narrow Sea through Pentos's Master of Coin, Rego de Laze, who had agents in every port.
As Rego himself once put it, "We spend a king's ransom to keep those fellows in our pay. Their sole purpose is to sniff out any whisper of dragon eggs, dragons, or Elissa Farman."
A whole web of spies, informants, courtiers, and courtesans stirred into motion, producing hundreds of reports.
Dozens contained useful intelligence for the Iron Throne on unrelated matters... but most of the rumors about dragon eggs were worthless.
At last, one report revealed Elissa's trail.
She had passed through Pentos on her way to Braavos, changing her name before she went. Cast out of Fair Isle and disowned by her brother, Lord Franklyn, she had taken for herself a bastard's name—Alya Nishiyama.
Under this new identity, she gained audience with the Sealord of Braavos.
The Sealord, famed for his great menagerie, was deeply intrigued by the dragon eggs and eagerly purchased them. Elissa placed the gold from the sale directly into the Iron Bank, commissioning the "Sunseeker"—the grand vessel she had long dreamed of.
When word of the eggs' fate reached him, Emperor Aegon II was consumed with fury.
At once he dispatched the swiftest white ravens to Braavos, demanding the Sealord surrender the dragon eggs and return the traitor Elissa Farman to Westeros.
Aegon II waited in King's Landing for nearly a month before the reply came.
But the response only stoked his wrath.
The Sealord claimed Elissa Farman held no dragon eggs of House Targaryen and that no woman by that name had ever stood before him.
Blazing with anger at the news, Aegon II gave the command: the armies of the Western Protectorate were to march on Braavos.
At the same time, the royal fleet, the kingdom's fleet, and the fleets of the great lords were all summoned by the Emperor in his rage. A vast armada set sail across the Narrow Sea, bearing down upon the Free City of Braavos.