Arc 17Chapters 401–425

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Chapters 401–425 Vol. 5 Read

Ch. 401Taking Hellholt Along the Way

Danyla learned that the Kingdom of the Three Daughters had made peace with Volantis and planned to reclaim the Stepstones, while her projects in Dorne uncovered valuable mineral deposits near Hellholt. She attacked Hellholt with Myracis, destroyed a secret group operating a giant ballista, and left much of Uller Castle burning.

  • Danyla learned that the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and Volantis had joined forces to reclaim the Stepstones, and she decided to confront them together.
  • Dragonstone Avenue and the canal works helped expand oases in Dorne, while excavation revealed several mineral deposits, including a vast fluorite vein near Hellholt.
  • Danyla ordered Earl Blackmont and Earl Dayne to sweep the Hellholt region, then led a thousand Stormlands troops to attack the castle.
  • Myracis blasted Hellholt's walls and northern gate with dragonfire, allowing the Stormlands troops to storm the castle.
  • Danyla spotted black-robed figures using a giant ballista, then empowered Myracis to destroy them with a Fire Dragon Bomb that reduced their tower to molten rubble and set much of Uller Castle ablaze.

Ch. 402Transforming Hellholt

Danyla transformed conquered Hellholt into a forging base, using its mineral wealth, dragonstone construction, and weirwood plantings to improve the region. After House Uller’s remaining forces surrendered, Danyla sent its men to dig the Grand Canal and its women and children to Sandstone, leaving House Blackmont to govern them.

  • The Stormlands army captured Hellholt, sent most surviving defenders and residents to labor on the Grand Canal, and discovered extensive mineral deposits.
  • Danyla used Myracis and the young dragons to perform a Funeral Rite, then decided to make Hellholt a forging base.
  • Danyla brought in workers, maesters, and artisans, and Hellholt gained stronger walls, forging workshops, and a waterwheel within a week.
  • Danyla planted weirwoods around Hellholt, where they took root, eased the heat and sulfurous stench, and helped bring order to the local magical energy.
  • Maesters found a large copper deposit southwest of Hellholt, and Danyla built a Dragonstone Fortress and road to protect it.
  • Danyla helped House Dayne and House Blackmont defeat House Uller’s main force; she sent its men to dig the canal and its women and children to Sandstone under House Blackmont’s control.

Ch. 403His Majesty the King's Decree

Ser Ryan arrived in Dorne with the King's decree asking Danyla to suspend her campaign and return to King's Landing for peace talks. Danyla agreed to go but rejected the proposed concessions, then learned that the Kingdom of the Three Daughters held Aegon and his two brothers and decided to make their capture public.

  • Ser Ryan delivered Earl Roxton's patent of investiture, and Danyla told Arthur to have Roxton recruit craftsmen for Hellholt's armor and weapons works.
  • Ser Ryan said the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and Volantis had protested Danyla's control of the Stepstones, while the Prince of Dorne had requested peace talks; the King wanted Danyla to return to King's Landing.
  • Danyla agreed to return but demanded that Dorne surrender its princely title and pay one hundred million Gold Dragons, while the Kingdom of the Three Daughters had to abandon the Stepstones and fund the Holy Flame Fleet.
  • Ser Ryan revealed that Aegon and his two brothers were being held by the Kingdom of the Three Daughters, and Danyla refused to surrender her gains for their release while threatening retaliation if they were harmed.
  • A black-clad figure reported that the three captives were held under guard in a manor in Myr, and Danyla ordered the news spread so she could demand their return herself.

Ch. 404Discovery of a vast gold mine

Danyla’s canal project uncovered a vast gold mine near the Greenblood, prompting her to establish and fortify Goldmine City as Dornish lords plotted to take it back. King Jaehaerys granted Danyla the Stepstones, the Stormlands, and her occupied Dornish territories, but his secret letter asked her to save some children, leaving her to ponder its meaning.

  • After months of construction, the Dorne Grand Canal’s western section was usable, and Rafa and Vhagar’s work helped transform the surrounding desert and attract settlers.
  • Viserys discovered that his mental bond with Vhagar had deepened as she regained strength through the labor and Dorne’s fire magic.
  • Workers found a rich gold deposit near Tor, and Danyla confirmed its vast underground reserves with the help of prospecting maesters and Rafa.
  • Danyla ordered plans for mining and built Goldmine City, while Rouge sent two Garrison units from Oldtown to defend it and dragons raised high walls around the mine.
  • Dornish lords secretly plotted to seize the gold mine, but dragons patrolled the region and had already devastated their forces and supply lines.
  • King Jaehaerys granted Danyla the Stepstones, the Stormlands, and the territories she had occupied in Dorne, then secretly urged her to save the children; Danyla sat by the window and pondered his message.

Ch. 405Viserys unleashed

Aemma confronted Viserys over his conduct, and he flew into a rage that led him to destroy Godsgrace before heading to Oldstones. There, Viserys attacked Daemon as his brother welcomed him.

  • Aemma sent everyone away and furiously berated Viserys for hours while Danyla watched in shock.
  • Viserys mounted Vhagar and flew toward Oldstones, but turned aside to destroy Godsgrace with dragonfire and a blood sacrifice spell.
  • Daemon had completed the canal and castle at Oldstones, subdued the Ironborn, and established a profitable toll station.
  • Viserys arrived at Oldstones, where Daemon approached to embrace him, and Viserys punched him across the room.

Ch. 406You still have work to do!

Viserys beat Daemon after learning he had gotten Danyla pregnant, then left for Dorne. Daemon followed, and the next day he and Viserys came to discuss marriage, where Danyla questioned what Daemon could offer her.

  • Viserys battered Daemon and demanded to know why he had failed to take responsibility for Danyla sooner.
  • Daemon learned that Danyla was carrying his child, then handed Oldstones over to Walda and flew to Dorne after Viserys.
  • Walda warned Maggie and the others not to spread rumors about the princes’ quarrel.
  • Danyla told Aemma that her pregnancy had been an accident and said that love was not essential to marriage.
  • The day after returning to Goldmine City, Viserys and Daemon discussed Daemon’s marriage to Danyla, who dismissed his claims of status, bloodline, and skill.

Ch. 407Lannal's tragedy

Danyla left Daemon after receiving news that Lannal was critically ill, then arrived at Dragonstone and found him refusing a cesarean. She tried to reassure him and rejected his claim that his child would threaten her rule of the Stormlands.

  • Daemon threatened Danyla, but she kicked him away and warned him not to touch her again.
  • A raven reported that Lannal was critically ill, so Danyla hurried to Dragonstone while Daemon set off on his dragon.
  • Rafa cowed Meleys when they arrived at Dragonstone, where Lannal was refusing treatment and blaming his suffering on a curse.
  • Danyla arrived and found Lannal exhausted, frightened, and pleading to die in dragonfire rather than undergo surgery.
  • Lannal asked whether Danyla would spare his Baratheon child, and Danyla said House Baratheon had no claim to the Stormlands after the royal house reclaimed it.

Ch. 408The Glory of Bathing in Dragonfire

Danyla discovered that Lannal’s unborn children were draining his life through a nature contract, but he refused a cesarean. After Rhaenys honored his wish to die in dragonfire, Danyla performed the rite, and the chapter ended as three dragon eggs began to change.

  • Herb told Danyla that Lannal’s children were drawing magical energy from him through a nature contract, likely leaving him doomed even if they were delivered.
  • Lannal refused a cesarean, and Rhaenys initially refused to force one; when he grew weaker, she finally asked Danyla to order the physicians to operate.
  • Daemon arrived and, after speaking with Danyla, eagerly set off to deal with the Three Daughters Kingdom and Volantis.
  • Lannal asked to die bathing in dragonfire as a Dragon Warrior, and Rhaenys asked Danyla to grant his wish.
  • Danyla placed Lannal, three dragon eggs, three Faceless Men, and three captured doctors on the Cremation Platform, then used Rafa’s dragonfire to burn them.
  • Two dragonfolk emerged from Lannal’s remains and soon died in the flames, while sinister energy flowed into the three eggs and they began to change.

Ch. 409Three ancient dragons

Danyla witnessed the hatching of three ancient dragons and kept the red and black hatchlings from fighting. She named the affectionate green hatchling Termit and hoped he would become one of the finest dragons in the flight.

  • A scarlet hatchling emerged from the red Dragon Egg, rejected Danyla's attempt to hold him, and ate the charred remains of the little dragonfolk.
  • A charcoal-black hatchling emerged from the black Dragon Egg, and he and the red hatchling fought until Danyla used a Fire Seed to separate them.
  • Danyla and Rafa used a blood sacrifice to awaken Urrax's fossilized Dragon Egg, and a dark green hatchling emerged.
  • Danyla fed the green hatchling roasted meat and named him Termit.

Ch. 410The Horns of War Would Sound Again

Danyla secured the two black and red hatchlings in Holy Flame Island’s Dragonpit, mourned with Rhaenys over Lannal’s ashes, and learned that Vaegon’s sons had been rescued. As the Triarchy gathered its fleet near Myr and Daemon sailed there with a formidable force, Danyla prepared for another war.

  • Danyla had the Dragonkeepers confine the two ill-tempered hatchlings in Holy Flame Island’s Dragonpit, where Silverwing continued assisting with the Funeral Rites.
  • Danyla gave Rhaenys Lannal’s ashes; Rhaenys thanked her and urged her never to compromise with men before Meleys carried her away.
  • Danyla learned that the Secret Guards had rescued Vaegon’s three sons from Myr, though several dozen Guards had died in the operation, and ordered their families cared for.
  • Danyla heard that the Triarchy’s fleet had assembled in the Bay of Myr, Volantis was making threats, and Pentoshi governors had sent wealth toward the Dothraki grasslands.
  • Daemon mustered two thousand Westerosi soldiers and more than a hundred warships, joined them with a hundred ships from Holy Flame Island, and sailed for Myr.

Ch. 411The Battle of Myr

Daemon led the Allied Fleet in an assault on the Kingdom of the Three Daughters' forces at Myr, using Quicksilver and wildfire to overcome their defenses. The battle remained unresolved as the Triarchy regrouped and attacked the Danyla, where Cameron repelled their boarding party.

  • Daemon brought the Allied Fleet close to Myr and used Quicksilver's dragonfire to burn the outer Myrish warships.
  • The Triarchy answered with iron-cable bolt launchers and fire-resistant sails, while Daemon's fleet surrounded the port and advanced in a crescent formation.
  • The Triarchy blocked the fleet with wildfire boats, but Daemon's winds drove the flames back toward their ships and forced them to withdraw.
  • The Holy Flame Fleet attacked with wildfire eggs, and Daemon burned more Triarchy ships from above with Quicksilver.
  • Lysene warlocks summoned a waterspout that disrupted the fleets, but Daemon countered it with dragonfire and ordered his ships to evade.
  • The Triarchy sent boarding parties toward the Danyla, and Cameron trapped them in poisoned Thorn Barbed Wire.

Ch. 412The might of the Holy Flame Fleet

The Holy Flame Fleet destroyed the Kingdom of the Three Daughters Fleet in the Bay of Myr with dragonfire bombs, Quicksilver’s dragonfire, and Valyrian steel rams. After the victory, Daemon proposed conquering the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and giving it to Danyla as a dowry.

  • Cameron ordered the Holy Flame Fleet to fire large Caltrop Dragonfire Bombs into the Kingdom of the Three Daughters Fleet.
  • The bombs ignited the enemy fleet’s wildfire stores, while Daemon rode Quicksilver behind the enemy ships and attacked with dragonfire.
  • After the wildfire burned out, Cameron ordered the Holy Flame Fleet to ram the crippled ships, sinking the entire Kingdom of the Three Daughters Fleet.
  • Quicksilver devoured hundreds of charred corpses as Daemon celebrated the victory with the nobles aboard the Danyla.
  • Daemon suggested conquering the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and offering it to Danyla as a dowry.

Ch. 413A Dragon at the Gates

Daemon and the Westerosi army attacked Myr after the city’s governors rejected his ultimatum, while Danyla’s growing power shaped the nobles’ loyalties. The gates fell, and Daemon’s forces swept through the city targeting the ruling class and its wealth while ordering the common people spared.

  • Daemon’s supporters toasted Princess Danyla, whose influence over the Seven Kingdoms and expanding territories had made her a power the nobles sought to please.
  • Myr’s governors dismissed Daemon’s ultimatum and began moving their wealth out of the city, while the Secret Guards observed their preparations.
  • At sunrise, Daemon used Caraxes to destroy Myr’s defensive emplacements as the Holy Flame Fleet’s battering ram broke through the southern gate.
  • Daemon rode Quicksilver toward the governors’ estates while Westerosi troops spread through Myr to seize noble wealth and capture those who resisted.
  • A Westerosi knight gave bread and directions to an orphan girl, telling her to hide until the fighting had passed.

Ch. 414The fall of Myr

Holy Flame Island’s trade and infrastructure flourished as its forces attacked Myr. Cameron Tarth rescued a trapped boy while advancing through the city, and Daemon seized control of the surviving Unsullied and sent them after Myr’s nobles and wealthy men.

  • Holy Flame Island expanded its glass trade and connected new routes linking the Narrow Sea, the Three Rivers Basin, and the western coast of the North.
  • Cameron Tarth warned his troops of a Myrish ambush, and Caraxes burned the crossbowmen attacking them from a workshop.
  • Cameron rescued a boy trapped beneath rubble and promised the watching civilians that they would soon live safely.
  • Daemon attacked the governor’s residence, and Quicksilver’s Dragonfire killed the mercenaries and many Unsullied defending the gates.
  • Daemon used the Unsullied’s charred whip to command the survivors to join the Westerosi soldiers and hunt Myr’s nobles and wealthy men.

Ch. 415Taking Myr

Daemon and his warriors fought through the chief governor’s residence in Myr and used wildfire to break into the Amber Palace. He captured the six governors, including Loryon, and ordered them imprisoned until Myr was completely subdued.

  • Daemon led his warriors through the residence, killing the defenders who tried to ambush them.
  • Daemon cut off a Dothraki’s wrist and learned that Myr’s governors were hiding in the Amber Palace.
  • Daemon’s soldiers found the concealed cellar passage and blasted open the amber-inlaid bronze door with wildfire.
  • Daemon found Loryon and five other governors kneeling in the Amber Palace and rejected Loryon’s offer of its wealth.
  • Daemon ordered his soldiers to strip the governors of their clothes and jewelry, cage them, and display them after Myr was subdued.

Ch. 416Myr's New Order

Daemon's forces took control of Myr City, and Holy Flame Island's administrators restored order while Daemon claimed the city's wealth. Danyla discovered a Valyrian relic that gave her a warning about Old Valyria's Doom, while the Funeral Rite in Myr strengthened Quicksilver and Termit.

  • Daemon's army captured Myr City, sent more than ten thousand wealthy citizens and nobles to the Stepstones as laborers, and displayed its governors and merchants in cages.
  • Holy Flame Island's administrators took over Myr City, repaired its damage, and managed its seized shops and estates as life returned to normal.
  • Daemon gave Danyla an amethyst statue, and she dreamed of Valyria, where the statue warned her that the world would turn against anyone who became invincible before showing her the Doom.
  • Danyla placed the statue in a Cremation Tower and helped Daemon hold a five-day Funeral Rite for the dead of Myr City.
  • Quicksilver grew larger by devouring the dead, while Termit more than doubled in size and began breathing dark green dragonfire.

Ch. 417Keeping up appearances

Danyla organized Myr’s new government and assured Essos that her campaign would remain limited, while trying to restore order and present dragon rule as merciful. After Rhaenyra arrived at the seaside Manor with Seynella, the family reunited and Daemon was scratched by the child.

  • Danyla instructed Governor Samwell to reassure Essos that the campaign targeted only the Kingdom of the Three Daughters and established new institutions to govern Myr.
  • Danyla demanded a definite answer from Tyrosh within a week, while Daemon urged her to be harsher and she emphasized winning the people’s trust.
  • Danyla continued overseeing Myr’s administration despite Daemon’s concern for her condition and her imminent labor.
  • Danyla returned to the seaside Manor, where Termit greeted her and the people of Myr had grown accustomed to the dragons guarding their city.
  • Rhaenyra arrived on Syrax with Seynella, and she and Danyla warmly embraced.
  • Daemon teased Seynella about her weight, and she scratched his face when he pretended he could barely hold her.

Ch. 418A Celebration for All

Danyla and Daemon married in Myr City through an Old Valyrian blood-and-fire ceremony. Afterward, Danyla returned the seized wealth to Myr’s people and promised that dragons would protect them, leaving the city celebrating the start of a new era.

  • Seynella scratched Daemon’s face after he called her fat, and Danyla helped calm her down.
  • Viserys arrived with Aemma and Vinylla, reuniting Prince Baelon’s family as Daenys focused on preparing the wedding.
  • Danyla and Daemon exchanged blood vows in Myr City’s central square and drank liquor mixed with their blood.
  • Danyla healed her wounded hand in the bonfire, and Daemon followed her example without being burned.
  • Danyla addressed Myr’s people, opened the chests of coins, and declared that the wealth belonged to them.
  • Myr’s people gathered the money as Danyla promised they would be protected by dragons.

Ch. 419Danyla's honeymoon had a rather different hue!

Danyla and Daemon’s wedding and generous distribution of Myr’s spoils secured the city’s loyalty as Danyla strengthened her rule. In King’s Landing, a failing Jaehaerys confessed to Vaegon that his reign had been built on the suffering and deaths of his daughters.

  • Danyla distributed gold to Myr’s commoners, while Daemon’s spoils funded the houses and soldiers, Holy Flame Island, and Myr’s reconstruction.
  • Danyla’s forces intercepted Myr’s former nobles, seized their wealth, and established her commandery-country system across the region.
  • Jaehaerys visited Vaegon in the Maidenvault and told him that Danyla and Daemon had married and won Myr’s people with their wealth.
  • Jaehaerys admitted that Danyla was the best heir and lamented how his prejudice and decisions had failed his daughters.
  • Jaehaerys recalled the losses of Daenerys, Seynella, Gael, Vaella, Magna, Danyla, and Alesha, then asked that posterity remember the cost of his reign.

Ch. 420The Trump Card Unleashed

King Jaehaerys recovered his strength after Sunfyre hatched and arranged marriages for Vaegon's daughters. In Myr, Danyla went into labor and, realizing the Three-Eyed Crow’s hidden attack was draining her power, flew to Dragonstone Square and began a ritual pyre.

  • Sunfyre hatched in the Dragonpit, and King Jaehaerys raised him while regaining his health and control of the Small Council.
  • King Jaehaerys arranged for Yara to marry Rickon Stark and sent Rhaella to Casterly Rock as Jason Lannister’s future bride.
  • Danyla went into labor at the seaside manor in Myr and realized that her strength and magical energy were being drawn toward her abdomen.
  • Danyla ordered a pyre and condemned prisoners prepared, then flew on Myracis to Dragonstone Square despite Aemma and the maesters trying to stop her.
  • Danyla ordered Meryl and the priests to recite prayers, and Myracis lit the pyre and the bound prisoners, causing Aemma to faint.

Ch. 421The True Dragon Has Three Heads!!!

Danyla gave birth to Daemon’s children in a blazing pyre, unharmed by the flames and aided by magic. After Aurelion and Isilia were born, Danyla realized a third child remained in her belly, lying sideways.

  • Viserys, Daemon, and Rhaenyra returned to find Danyla surrounded by flames, and Daemon charged into the pyre before hearing her insist that she was fine.
  • Danyla endured labor in the flames as her guards replenished the pyre with wood and sacrificed condemned prisoners to restore her strength.
  • At dawn, Danyla gave birth to a healthy son, and Daemon named him Aurelion, the Yellow Gold Dragon King.
  • Danyla gave birth to a daughter and named her Isilia, while Aemma and the maesters tended to the newborns.
  • Daemon celebrated his children with Viserys, Aemma, and Rhaenyra, but Danyla discovered that a third child remained inside her, lying sideways.

Ch. 422Born of the Comet

Danyla gave birth to her third child amid fire and pain as a red comet descended toward Myr City. She and her family found three extraordinary young dragons at the impact site, and the smallest bonded with the newborn.

  • Danyla's baby absorbed fire magic and remained stuck until Termit breathed dragonfire at her belly, and the resulting effort brought the child into the world.
  • A red comet appeared over Myr City, split into three, and crashed into the hills south of the city.
  • Danyla, Daemon, Viserys, and their family flew to the impact site and discovered three craters and a glowing stone.
  • Three young dragons emerged from oval stones, including a golden dragon that Daemon recognized from his vision when Aurelion was born.
  • The smallest, a pearlescent young dragon, flew to Danyla's newborn and exchanged a smile with the child.

Ch. 423Danyla tamed a dragon

Danyla cared for the three hatchlings that had bonded with her newborn triplets while Viserys named the youngest Otheryon. After Termit led everyone into the garden, a much larger pitch-black hatchling emerged from the woods.

  • The three hatchlings bonded with the triplets, and Danyla returned to the seaside Manor with them and the meteorite.
  • The hatchlings gathered around the children, while Danyla disciplined the dark red one for rushing toward the roast lamb before feeding them.
  • Viserys and Daemon returned without finding the hatchling from the shattered black egg, and Viserys named Danyla and Daemon's youngest son Otheryon.
  • Termit suddenly led the others into the garden, where Danyla drew Dawnlight and a large pitch-black hatchling emerged from the woods.

Ch. 424Time flies

Over six years, Danyla’s family grew while she conquered and reorganized the Kingdom of the Three Daughters into the emerging kingdom of Reclea. She held off declaring independence out of regard for Jaehaerys, who remained alive despite his poor health.

  • Isilia celebrated winning the paper boat race while Otheryon’s dragon feats left her overshadowed by her younger brother.
  • Otheryon secretly rode Nefemoon to tame Cannibal, becoming House Targaryen’s youngest warrior and delighting Daemon.
  • Daemon and Viserys brought Lys and Tyrosh under Danyla’s rule, and Lisandro Rogare expanded her wealth by founding the Holy Flame Bank.
  • Danyla reshaped the former Kingdom of the Three Daughters into new counties, appointed governors, and established Dragonstone City-Reclea around Lake Reclea.
  • Danyla acquired the Orange Coast and Velonserys Town from Volantis and formed Velonserys County under Rouge’s rule.
  • Danyla refrained from declaring independence while Jaehaerys remained alive, though he had outlived his expected years despite his failing health.

Ch. 425Children were nothing but trouble

Isilia retaliated when Seynella mocked her, and their quarrel escalated into a dragon fight that left Moondancer badly injured. Isilia stopped her dragons before the battle could become fatal, while Seynella fled toward the ground.

  • Seynella mocked Isilia for relying on Otheryon, so Isilia smeared mud on her and escaped on Tyrarion.
  • Rhaenyra and Danyla reminisced about their childhood as their children watched the dragons overhead.
  • Aurelion asked Danyla to punish him for failing to stop the quarrel, and Otheryon confessed that he had taught his sister to fold a winning paper boat to divert attention from himself.
  • Danyla struck Otheryon with a branch, and Rhaenyra defended him while arguing with Danyla over his punishment.
  • Seynella ordered Moondancer to breathe fire at Tyrarion, and Isilia commanded Tyrarion, Drogosarn, and Caraxesos to attack Moondancer.
  • Isilia recalled her dragons after they tore Moondancer's wings, and Seynella sent the injured dragon diving toward the ground.
Arc 17 of 24