10 A.D.
A few days had passed since the conversation with Errine, Erlef, and Luna. Kael sat on the beach where Luna usually took her naps. It was quiet; a pleasant breeze drifted through Kael's hair as he leaned against a tree. Magic books lay to his right, while to his left sat a basket of sandwiches he had quietly prepared that morning. Fortunately, those 200 years had not been in vain. With the help of elven engineers and mages, Amber Isle and Naath were quite advanced. Modern food was available, pleasant drinks were plenty, and sanitary life was just like in his former life: toilets, showers, running water. But none of this was known to the outside world, and it would stay that way. He had elves and humans in his realm who loved to research—magic, technology, medicine, and much more. But he would share nothing with the greedy lords. Why should he? Let them shit in their buckets.
His thoughts simply wouldn't stay on the book. Luna wasn't herself, and he believed he knew why: Daenys Targaryen. She was growing weaker, and no one knew why. Luna had asked everyone: mages, the other dragons, the phoenixes. No one could help. This would hit Luna hard. She had them, of course, but Daenys was different.
Luna had explained it to him once: Daenys felt "right," dragon-like, unlike the rest of her family. It was as if she were a dragon trapped in human form—as if they came from the same mother.
Kael had a rough idea why Daenys was fading. It was the dreams. When the dreams came naturally, everything was fine. But he believed she was forcing the dreams to peer into the future. That was draining her vitality. What exactly she wanted to see, Kael didn't know, but it must be important to her if she was sacrificing her life for it.
Kael just thought, "Well, I can be glad to have shed my humanity; that's what 200 years does to you." By now, he no longer saw himself as human, nor did he see humans as his own race—except for those on Naath.
Kael walked through his port city, Amber Port. He watched dockworkers loading and unloading ships; the smell of salt water, spices, fish, and other sea creatures filled the air. He heard the clamor of a harbor and market where languages from all over clashed. He saw people trying to buy, sneak, or threaten their way into the true city behind the wall—all just to get past the gates. It was said that the people of Amber Isle lived in paradise behind those walls. He didn't know who had started the rumor, but for years, all sorts of people had been trying to reach Amber Isle. And this city was the only way onto the island for non-elves.
Amber Isle was surrounded by a wall 20 meters high, with no way to climb over. The wall, like the watchtowers, had been the first thing finished and was what Kael valued most. In Amber Port, this very wall divided the city: behind the wall lived the elves and the humans loyal to the realm. In front of the wall were the harbor, the market, the shops, and the taverns where he liked to meet Erlef and the common folk—sailors and others—to just have fun or hear rumors from around the world.
Kael was about to enter one of these taverns when an elf ran up to him. "Your Grace, it is important. The Queens need you." He turned around and knew instantly it was incredibly urgent if he had to be fetched from here. Kael thanked him and ran to the lookout tower where they always met.
After ten minutes, he arrived and immediately sensed the heavy atmosphere. Luna spoke first, her voice rushed: "Kael... Daenys, she's not doing well. It's bad. We have to go to Dragonstone immediately... I don't know what to do..." Kael took her in his arms and looked at Errine and Erlef. Both just shook their heads sadly. He tried to calm her: "Luna... steady, we will take a ship right away..."
Luna interrupted him instantly: "No, we fly, as fast as possible!"
Then Kael knew it was dire. Luna was the last person to create stress for no reason. He looked at her. "Luna, take Errine and Erlef and fly ahead. I'll leave word and warn our people that we'll be gone for a while."
Luna took Errine and Erlef by the hand and hurried off. Kael summoned his commanders and explained that the Queens would be away and that everyone should be on high alert.
He then ran to a park in the elven district of the city and partially transformed. Dragon wings grew from his back—purple-black with silver veins. The families in the park stared at him; everyone was about to bow before their king, but before they could, Kael launched himself into the air. He caught up with Luna over Storm's End. Errine and Erlef sat on Luna's back, looking thoroughly windswept. Luna was in full "race mode."
In Dragonstone, the mood was dark and somber. Daenys Targaryen was dying. No one knew why. Her children, father, mother, and brother-husband were all with her. Daenys lay outside on a balcony and whispered, "Is Luna here?"
Her father and mother looked at each other. "No... we only sent the message yesterday. How could she know so soon, my daughter?"
Daenys smiled at them. Just as she was about to speak, there was a sound like a boulder crashing down a cliff. In the resulting cloud of dust, dancing golden in the pale light, stood Luna, the Star Dragon. On her back sat Errine and Erlef, the Elven Queens of Amber Isle. Luna's head searched for Daenys. When she saw her, she immediately transformed into her elven form in a warm light and ran to her. Errine and Erlef followed elegantly.
The Targaryens stood in shock. A massive dragon, twice the size of Balerion, had landed in their backyard and then transformed into the Luna they knew only as the loud and cheerful one. Only now did they understand why Daenys had repeatedly warned them not to anger Luna or make fun of her. The Targaryens had thought they were the most powerful dragonlords alive.
A moment later, Kael landed elegantly beside Daenys and Luna with his mighty wings.
Daenys smiled faintly. "I knew it... Kael, you are a dragon too... "
"I saw it... the dragons fighting, killing, dying... brother against brother... death, so much death..." Tears flowed and would not stop.
The Targaryens in the background were still shocked that Luna was a dragon and that Kael, this easygoing and somewhat lazy fellow, was one too. They had barely heard what Daenys said.
Daenys spoke again through her tears to Luna. "Luna, you are the best thing that ever happened to me... I saw the Doom of Valyria, I felt it... I was there when I was just a little child... the dying of so, so many... I had these dreams, these nightmares, the whole time." Daenys was a young woman in her mid-30s who should have been full of energy, but as she lay there—broken and weak—one would think she was a poor woman of great age. "Then you came, Luna... full of energy. And whenever you were with me, there were never any nightmares... but I am a daughter of the Targaryens... I had to know. My big sister... can you forgive me?"
Luna held Daenys in her arms as they both lay there weeping. "Oh, my little one... my little sister..."
Daenys looked at Kael. "Kael, can you help me... help the Targaryens... when they need help. I know nothing in the world really interests you as long as your family is safe. But the Targaryens are my family."
Kael knelt beside Daenys, whom he had grown to cherish as Luna's little sister. He took her hand in his and gently stroked her cheek. "Little Daenys, I promise you, I will not let House Targaryen die, and I will protect those who need it."
Kael was no saint, but seeing Daenys there dying, he vowed to protect those who were worth it. He thought of Daella, Gael, Helaena, Rhaella, Elia—names that immediately came to mind. Targaryens who were worth saving. They weren't mad; they were just poor souls who couldn't protect themselves.
Daenys smiled slightly; she knew Kael would not let House Targaryen perish. She looked at Luna. "My sister, would you give me the honor of accompanying me to my ancestors?" Luna's tears wouldn't stop, but she nodded with determination.
Everyone went outside. Kael held Daenys like a delicate princess. Daenys was at peace with herself. "Thank you, Kael. Thank you, Luna. Now I can finally rest. But Kael... would you and Luna send me on my new journey together? I have never seen you in your dragon form, not even in my dreams..."
Kael smiled at the little Targaryen princess. "For you, my little dragon, I would do anything."
Kael laid Daenys gently on the platform and stepped back. He turned to her and smiled. Then he transformed.
A purple-black dragon, shot through with silver veins and golden horns on his head like a crown, stood at least as large as Luna, if not larger. Both dragons stood beside the platform where Daenys lay with a smile. "Thank you both. Let me go."
Both dragons unleashed their flames. They met upon Daenys together, forming a tornado of fire that shot into the sky. The tornado raged for several minutes. As it slowly subsided, a dragon's roar erupted from Luna—a sound of rage, loss, and the end of the world.
Days later on Amber Isle.
Kael came to the beach where Luna liked to lie and saw her there. Kael sat down quietly beside her. Then Luna spoke. "It hurts so much. She's gone."
Kael said nothing; he was just there, providing an anchor.
"I think... I don't want anything to do with the world for a while."
Kael gently took her head and laid it in his lap. He stroked her hair softly and said, "Of course, my love. But we will always be here for you—Errine, Erlef, and I."
Luna hummed softly and fell into a quiet, gentle sleep.