Chapter 1: Pentos; Volantis; Lys
Notes:
As i've mentioned in my endnotes in the previous fic in this series, this is the part for Essosi characters that have interacted closely with the Targaryens
It sucks that we dont have much essosi povs in the main series except maybe Melisandre and Dany (tho she's also westerosi). So i try to explore more of the east here
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Serpent
From a young age, Tyanna had already been fascinated by sorcery. She was not as pious as her mother was to the Red God, bit she had liked the flames. Sorcery and alchemy give her power above others who only saw her as a magister's bastard with a common slave.
Tyanna learned more as she grew, even went to Braavos to learn the arts of their courtesans. As well as Asshai to learn from the shadowbinders. She had increased her status and that freed her mother. Now, even her fool of a father feared her.
An exiled Prince from the Sunset Kingdoms had arrived in Pentos. Rumors said that he was a dragonrider as he was the blood of Old Valyria. Maegor Targaryen comes seeking for her as a client, to help in his wife's fertility and to destroy his enemies. In return, she could have lands and titles in Westeros. Mayhaps even Queen. She has come far from being a mere bastard.
In Westeros, she finds that she cannot stand the nobility who reminded her of the magisters back in Pentos. Tyanna poisons them slowly with words. The other Queens did not like Maegor much as well did they? It would be merciful to just end their lives. She will also strangle the King, if only she had the time.
Dragon
While father was King of Westeros, he can never lord over the east. And to Essos did Saera went, she will never be a silent sister nor a proper princess. But she can be whoever she chooses for herself across the sea.
Lys was known for its pleasure houses and Valyrian looking people, Saera blended well enough there. She had been allowed in a brothel, as the proprietress spoke the Common Tongue. Being a whore was not her first choice, but she did need the gold and coins.
There she had mingled with all sorts of men and even women. A merchant proclaimed to have fallen for her, and her weakness had resulted in a bastard. But still, this was not Westeros so she should not be ashamed.
It was not enough to be a concubine, Saera had set out again further east with her child. They came upon Volantis, the so-called successor of Old Valyria. Not that she cared, her family had already disowned her nor did she even bonded with a dragon. But Saera was ready to be a conqueror just the same.
Slaves were more populous in Volantis. Part of her frowned at this trade, but what can she do? She recalls the feeling of being trapped. She had learned from her time with the Lyseni... perhaos she can apply that with enough wits.
In a long while and how far has Saera come, now she was her own mistress and has her own pleasure house at that. She will buy the slave's freedom, even if bit by bit.
Worm
Mysaria had come west to escape her slavers. She had found refuge in King's Landing, though life there was not as good as she had hoped. She was still common and a foreign one at that. From her former practice in the Lyseni brothels to continuing in the Street of Silk.
There she learns that secrets were powerful, moreso that of lords and kings. Some Westerosi highborn had preferred her, he was a drunk fool who blabbered about the Old King and his grandsons. One of them was a rogue prince, wandering about the city like some hedge knight.
She meets Prince Daemon as he returns to the city. Tired of his bronze bitch of whoever his wife was. She had caught his attentions, as she spoke Valyrian. She learns more secrets from him. But some he would still reserve as she was just a 'common whore' or so he thinks.
She had collected enough secrets to rise above the brothel. Daemon had thought himself far too clever. Mysaria would outsmart him or any other noble. She will not be bow to them again soon enough.
Cat
"Rijes aōt naejot ñuha tala se dārilaros Visērȳs! Naejot lentor Rogare!" Lord Lysandro proclaimed at Larra's wedding feast. Father has played this game well. she thinks grimly as she looks at her husband who was just as sullen. She could not fault him for that. Viserys had been at lost at sea while his family tored itself apart, then he became her father's ward. Or hostage.
After all, her father and brothers did cherish such ambitions. Magister for life, as if the other magisters would ever agree to that. Mayhaps that is why her father had wed her to the Westerosi prince. Especially now that his brother was King and without heirs.
Upon arriving in the Sunset Kingdoms, she already finds the scent uneasy. Or that was just the capitol city. Larra tries not to be unnerved by the stares either, Viserys on the other hand was happy to be reunited with his brother. Aegon was more sullen than him, he is polite but never warm to her.
Larra found solace in her cats and gods, much as the Westerosi would never understand. They can keep their Seven, hers was Pantera, Yndros, and Saagael. Viserys lets her be as he had his court matters to attend to. She prays as she becomes with child.
Notes:
Tyanna was kinda like Mel with the implied slave background. Tho canon that she was rumored to be a magister's bastard. And we know thats a tough life to have, magic gave them access to power.
Saera... i'm more interested in the younger kids of Jaehaerys and Aly. Ugh the dysfunctional bs of it all. In canon it was mentioned that she had bastards, she's probably like Oberyn in that sense. As for the free the slaves, since she had to start from scratch in Essos she would be less haughty or noble. And ofc interacted with slaves in brothels so she's come to sympathize with them in a way. I also featured this in a diff fic not part of this series
Mysaria was kind of the reverse scenario of Saera, in that she ends up in Westeros to look for freedom. Brothels in King's Landing have so much intrigue lol, and Daemon was commander of the City Watch so... but yeah their relationship was also screwed up as he used her.
Larra... i dont think that she wanted to marry Viserys, more likely she was forced into it by her father for the ambitions. Then ofc she's discriminated against in Westeros... it sucks that she left her kids behind but also kind of understandable given the situation and forced marriage.
*Rijes aōt naejot ñuha tala se dārilaros Visērȳs! naejot lentor rogare - congratulations to my daughter and prince viserys! To house rogare!
Thanks for reading!
Chapter Text
Pearl
As the child of the Sealord and an Islander Princess, Bellegere lived in comfort and prosperity. Though she had always desired for more adventure, as idyllic as the life of a noble was. After all, was it not in her mother's culture to sail ships? As she came of age, her parents had given her that freedom to explore. She took her Widow Wind from Braavos to the Summer Sea and beyond as far as the Jade Sea. Mayhaps she had already traversed throughout the entire Known World save for Westeros, as her mother had warned her of the wars and hostility against the Essosi there.
It was a curiosity on her part, and her daring will to face challenges when Bellegere had befriended Prince Aegon sent as an envoy to her lord father's manse. He was as bold and daring as she was. Her father would reprimand her, as the Prince was already wedded to his sister or so they said. Valyrians did have strange customs as that, but Bellegere herself was not faithful. Just as treasures, she took men from every port, Aegon just happened to be a Westerosi Prince.
In the decade that had passed, Bellegere has three children that she's considered as her treasured pearls. They could have been fathered by the Targaryen princeling or not, it mattered not to her. She regales her tales of adventure and seafaring to her children. Bellanora preferred to stay in Braavos, Narha was more like her mother in not settling for too long, as Balerion frequented the Summer Isles.
Star
Her father had squandered of the little remains of their family's wealth, nothing was left for their once proud House dating back from Old Valyria. Serenei's mother cursed at her father once he had died from consumption, she cursed foolish men until her last breath. Soon, she found herself an orphan with no immediate relatives. She would have to go to the pleasure houses or the merchants that the Free City of Lys was famed for. I will not be weak, not like my father. Serenei repeatedly thought to herself.
Perhaps the merchant's trade would be agreeable, as she was fascinated by the seas as a young girl. Curiously, she peered at the wide expanse of the Narrow Sea from the distance. Beyond it was the Sunset Kingdoms... Serenei find herself engaged in the trade of precious jewels from Essos to the West. In particular, the port city of Oldtown had patronized her. Until a wretched partner turned traitor led her to their business' demise. Much as she would like to stand on her own, she was driven by hunger to contact an old patron. Lady Hightower wrote of her husband's upcoming mission to Lys on behalf of the King. And so she had come to Westeros with Lord Jon on his return.
But everything did come with a price as well, Lord Hightower was the Hand of a King who had a monstrous appetite. Serenei maintains her composure as she is introduced to Aegon the Fourth of his name. He was known by the Lyseni as the son of the disgraced Lady Larra of the Rogare family as impoverished now as she was. Immediately, Lord Jon compels her to become the King's mistress in exchange of wealth and protection. I will kill him myself once the time has come. She schemed as he repulsed and forced her.
Serenei dies before the damned King, she both blesses and curses her daughter, Shiera, with a fatal beauty.
Shell
Bolts of dyed silks accompanied Rohanne to the Sunset Kingdoms as part of her father's gift for her wedding day to the King's son. Her mother had gifted her sea shells from the snails that secreted the bright colors of Tyrosh. Mother had been wary of the marriage as Daemon Waters was baseborn, gods know that Rohanne would not be made a Princess. And yet, father had been assured by the King that his son will be legitimized. And he was, though King Aegon died shortly after. The bride price was to be paid by the new King and her future goodbrother, Daeron. The Archon was adamant of his daughter receiving the proper honors that she was due, after all was the alliance between their City and the Iron Throne important? The Triarchy wars were long over, trades and partnerships had to be renewed and so it was.
Her betrothed Daemon was at the castle's great yard training at arms, she had already heard of his skills with the longsword. Rohanne herself had been taught some of the shortsword, as Tyrosh was famed for its armor and sellswords. She attempts in beginning their relationship there. Daemon confides in her of his affection for his half-sister who was now married to the Prince of Dorne. It took time for them to gradually resolve their relationship, founded on duty and alliances made by their forebears.
When Daemon raises his own banners, now Blackfyre after that famed sword, Rohanne follows. Surely her family must support them? Their marriage had brought forth several children. It was for their sake when she retreated to Tyrosh as her husband was killed and defeated. She persuades Aegor to come along as well. He was impatient, but Rohanne knows that they had to bide their time to return and claim the Throne.
Wings
Kiera was wedded twice, both to Targaryen Princes as King Daeron himself had first proposed the betrothal to her lord father. Her father was the famed rival of the Archon who he wished to succeed, the previous King had also made a match between his bastard son and the Archon's daughter. It was important to gain some power in Tyrosh lest another Triarchy form to aid the Blackfyres or so her parents had said. They dream for me to be Queen. But would the Westerosi really accept a foreign Queen? She recalled Lady Rogare of Lys and how she had been shunned. Mayhaps Lady Rohanne was no less different, and preferred the Free City than to hide out in the West.
Her first husband was a noble knight, Valarr had been polite, but stern with her. Their sons' deaths and his own had grieved her all the same. Cursed be the Spring Sickness that had come. His uncle insists on her to stay, much as Kiera already felt that the court was like a gilded cage with her like those decorated colored birds back home. She is wedded again to Daeron, who was in contrast with his cousin as he was a drunkard with the tendency to spout riddles. He spoke of dragons dying slowly, as Kiera had been puzzled by. The gods give them a daughter, Vaella, whom she carefully protects and nurtures for her to live.
One by one, Daeron and many other Targaryens die. Was this what he meant? Kiera asks herself bitterly as she was summoned at the Great Council. Vaella would never be considered as Heir to the Iron Throne. On account of her sex as was determined by that foolish Dance a century ago, as well as her 'simple-mindedness'. Kiera had fumed at that, she already knew that the Westerosi regarded women with power as lesser, but her daughter was not a simpleton. She was a shy and sweet girl frightened by the Council she was yet to understand.
Daeron's brother, another Aegon, asks her if she would be amenable to betroth Vaella to some lord as befitting her station as Princess. Kiera vehemently disagrees, her daughter would not wed a stranger just as she had. She will not be taken away to a distant land. And so Kiera brings her daughter along as they sail across the Narrow Sea towards the East. They would escape from gilded cages together.
Notes:
Aegon IV's mistresses... some were consensual and most were not. Bellegere was one of those who managed to outsmart him, Serenei was forced to survive. still sucks that we don't really know much abt them except for tidbits (well maybe more will be revealed in a 2nd volume of F&B but given Gyldayn's sexist pov mehh)
Rohanne and Kiera oof... examples of betrothals and alliances made between a Free City with the Crown but ofc the Blackfyre rebellions happened so yikes. Also sucked that we dont know what happened to them in the end, esp Vaella (similar to Daenora and Maegor lol).
I have a Blackfyre-centric fic here: Fiendfyre
Happy new year to all! thanks for reading! :>

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