House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men-Chapter 217: A Mother’s Concern

(Third Person POV)

"Mother...!" Maegelle walked up to Alysanne who approached her, "W-what are you doing here?"

Alysanne reached her and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her aside, "Maegelle..." She said with an exasperated tone, "I need to speak to you."

"Mother...." Maegelle said

Alysanne then looked down at Maegelle's belly, the bump barely visible through her dress.

"So...." She said softly, "It is true...."

Maegelle pried herself away, "W-What is...? Me being with child?" she asked, "Why would I lie?"

"I do not approve of you bearing that man's child." Alysanne scowled, "I do not approve of this at all!"

"Mother, it does not matter." Maegelle frowned, "I am with child. I am bearing his child."

"You dare succumb to his desires?" Alysanne asked, "I cannot believe you."

"Y-You cannot believe me?" She asked, "Mother, you allowed Father to give me to Drakken all those years ago! It is because of him that I am in this position and guess what, I am happy, Mother. I am happy that I have been placed here. I am bearing his child and while I don't agree with this conflict, I know that my child will come into a world where they are loved."

"Maegelle...." Alysanne grabbed her hands, "I am so sorry for everything."

"It doesn't matter now." Maegelle said softly, "Things are the way they are now. We cannot do much to change them. The truth is, you have all made your decision in where you stand when it comes to Drakken. You wish to see him dead, you want him gone. But I don't. I love him, Mother."

"You don't know that." Alysanne said, "That is not true. You are simply manipulated by his idea of power."

"No." Maegelle looked at her, "I am not."

Alysanne looked around and sighed, "Listen..." She said, her voice lowering enough for the two of them to hear, "I am not supposed to say this...but.....your Father is planning something."

Maegelle frowned, "No." She said, "Don't tell me this."

"I have to, Maegelle." Alysanne said, "I have come to warn you that your Father has done something terrible in order to end this war. Only we know of this plot and some trusted Kingsguard."

"No, don't say anything!" Maegelle said, "Mother, it doesn't matter! Drakken does not care about plots or schemes, he will prevail! If any of you make a move, he will plunge the realm into war! If you stay as is, he will simply calm down."

"How do you know he won't attack without provocation???" Alysanne asked

"Because he told me himself that his plan is to act as a response!" Maegelle said, "It is part of his ritual, the spell he wishes to cast! It is all due to Sol'Tyr, the Dragon of W-"

"Enough of this Trinity talk, Maegelle, it is not like you!" Alysanne exclaimed, "Listen, the time will come, and your brothers will come for you. They will threaten to burn Harrenhal down, we have Balerion. When we get you and Saera out of here, the plan will take action. I promise you, Maegelle, you will be safe. You will be returned to us."

"No, Mother. What of my child?" Maegelle asked, "What of Drakken's child?"

"We will figure that out." Alysanne said

"You are mad." Maegelle said, "You do understand that Drakken can simply destroy everything just to get us back, right?"

"It won't happen when we enact our plan." Alysanne said, "Maegelle, I do this for you! For my daughters, my children! Please....please tell me that when your brothers come, you will go with them!"

Maegelle shook her head, "No..." She said softly, "I cannot...."

"Both you and your sister are still Targaryen." Alysanne said softly, "You are not Drakkengard."

"Unfortunately..." Maegelle said, "You are wrong. I am a Drakkengard now.....this child inside me declares that..."

Alysanne began to shed tears, "I need you to understand..." She said shakily, "That all of this.....it is not my fault, Maegelle...that man has terrorized us for years.....it is all him...."

"Sometimes..." Maegelle said softly, "We need to come to an understanding...why resist when we can give in and coexist. You'll find that your lives can be so much better and easier when you do that."

"He...." Alysanne said, "Will never stop tormenting us."

"He won't." Maegelle admitted, "Because it is in his nature. But....is he really that bad compared to other cruel men in history?"

"Yes." Alysanne told her, "He is."

"I would disagree." Maegelle said as she looked down, "Goodbye, Mother. I appreciate your concern, but I am fine."

Alysanne stepped away as she looked at her daughter, shocked to hear those words. Maegelle then saw past her Mother and spotted Saera standing in the hallway, looking at them.

The Princess did not say anything, simply stared at this with a serious expression.

"Maegelle....." Alysanne said,

"I am so sorry for everything...."

******************

[Dragonstone]

Jaehaerys walked up to a group of hooded figures, "This is the only location where we can do this without being spotted." He said, "And we need to make it quick."

Vermithor stood behind Jaehaerys, letting out a rumble as he slowly crawled behind him, the waters on the beach slowly crashing against the sand and rocks. The group were surrounding a large wooden altar with a massive stake in the middle.

The Woman looked at him, "Of course." She said, "Worry not. After this ritual is complete, we will move to the Riverlands in secret. I trust you will take the next step in your plan when we do that."

Jaehaerys nodded, "Yes." He said, "Barth will rally his men and march towards Harrenhal."

"I trust that Drakken will intercept them. It is something a warmonger like him would do." The Woman said, "But worry not, it will all go well. The Lord of Light will supply us with the power to do as we desire. After we do that, you can make your demands. Of course, don't forget to give your end of the deal."

"Right...." Jaehaerys said as he saw some men take their cloaks off and get to the altar, "And....is dragonfire really necessary?"

"Dragonfire is indeed fire.." The Woman said, "The Lord of Light's blessings come from fire itself and the flames from dragons are very potent, containing powerful magic that will resonate well with this ritual."

Jaehaerys saw the men begin to tie themselves to the altar, around four of them, as the other people began to lift their hands up and start a chant.

"Is it beginning?" Jaehaerys asked

"For weeks after our agreement..." The Woman said, "These four have been chosen to act as embers of our Lord. They will absorb his Light and they will be bathed in the flames of your dragon. three of them will burn their flesh, and their embers will enter the fourth. And that one will be the Chosen Flame."

As the chanting got louder, the men began to convulse violently, being held by the bindings around them, almost as if they were responding to something.

The Woman then gestured at Jaehaerys, "Go ahead."

Jaehaerys nodded and pointed at the altar, "Dracarys" 

Vermithor slowly crawled past them and opened his maw, unleashing a torrent of flames that struck the altar, causing the men to scream in agony and pain as the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. The Bronze Fury then stepped away as the flames began to rage, as the figures of the men were visible.

Three of them slowly began to crumble as the ashes slowly seeped into the fourth, the flames burning him completely but his body did not relent.

Jaehaerys narrowed his eyes, "This...."

"It is the power of the Lord of Light." The Woman said, "He has given this man the honor of being the Chosen Flame."

"And what will the Chosen Flame do?" The King asked

"Quite simple." The Woman said, "The Chosen Flame will march to the source of Drakken's power and will ignite it, burning away the blasphemy."

"They will destroy the magic."