Chapter 243 [Vault]

Title - HOTD: The Last Dragonlord | Chapter 7 | Female

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[3rd POV]

Hearing the offer that her father had just given, Rhaenyra looked at him with wide eyes, anger flowing through them.

“You’d offer me your daughter? She is your heiress, is she not?” Bale questioned, genuinely surprised by his offer.

“…I would. By binding our blood together, the last two primary families of Old Valyria would be together, and I say that without meaning offense to you, Lord Corlys” Viserys spoke, giving an apology to Corlys at the same time.

“And what of my status, father!? You’d sell me off, take my birthright from me!?” Rhaenyra exclaimed, enraged with her fathers words.

“You would remain my heiress. Instead, your secondborn child with Queen Balegelle, regardless of gender, would be heir to the Iron Throne, while the firstborn would inherit the Dragonlands” Viserys explained, as Bale raised an eyebrow at the idea.

“I’d have to deny this, Viserys. I will not cause infighting between my descendants, which is what such a thing would inevitably cause” Bale denied, already seeing what that would cause.

“Then-“ “I am not denying the offer, Viserys” Bale said, knowing what he was going to say.

“Things would just be a little more…complicated, harder to accomplish and not something we can just speak of. And Instead, I have a counter offer, for both you and Corlys” Bale continued, as the two of them looked at her, interested.

“I would speak and interact with both of your daughters, learn more about them, and get closer. And then, after a certain amount of time passes, I shall choose who I marry, with their consent. That way there is no forceful marriage, no conflict. We will marry for love and respect, a fair way of doing it” Bale offered, as the two men looked surprised by the idea, before glancing at one another.

Corlys looked to his wife after Viserys. Seeing his look, Rhaenys looked at Laena, who looked at Bale before looking back to her mother and nodded with a small blush.

Viserys glanced at his daughter, before back to Bale.

“This is an acceptable arrangement” Rhaenys said, speaking for both her and Corlys.

“Agreed. Whichever of our daughters catches your eye, you shall marry. A marriage of love and affection, not force like we were attempting. A proper marriage between old Valyrian families” Viserys said with a smile, happy with the idea, as Bale nodded.

“Excellent. Then I will be staying in Kings Landing for quite some time, I hope you don’t mind if I make my own arrangements for both my safety, and for my comfort” Bale said.

“Of course, you are welcome to stay in the Red Keep, I’ll have a room arranged. And you can bring that guard with you as well. After all, you might just be my daughter in law in the coming months!” Viserys said with a bright smile, as he sent off a servant to arrange this.

At the same time, Laena looked at Rhaenyra and smirked “May the best girl win”

Rhaenyra just rolled her eyes at the girl, as they began to get back to their meal, idle chatter filling the room, as Alicent decided she would need to inform her father about this. While Daemon inwardly scowled at the idea of Rhaenyra getting with this woman.

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Later, Bale was sitting in her new room in the Red Keep. The room itself was sizable, not nearly as much as her rooms in the various Dragonland capital cities, but it was still large. Outside was the dragon guard that was watching over her, and the hidden tunnels into the room were also being watched.

At the same time, she already had a few of her spies within the Red Keep watch out for anyone trying anything funny, as she knew that inevitably Otto or someone else would try to take her out. She was simply that big of a threat to them.

Especially the Maesters, and their plans to wipe out the dragons for good. With her being the greatest threat to that plan, with her Kingdom and her immensely powerful dragons. Dragons that have been boosted through rituals, so they are immune to pretty much any poison you can think of.

Meaning the Maesters would do nothing to them, just as the poisons they make would do nothing to her.

She’d need to take care of them sooner or later, if she was to marry Laena or Rhaenyra.

In truth, she was hoping to marry both of them. They were drop dead gorgeous women, and hit all the right spots for her in terms of an attractive woman. That, and they would work together well, and if she did it right, would allow for them to build an actual Empire.

A Valyrian Empire built from the last living dragon rider families. The Balerion, the Targaryen, and the Valeryon. A perfect union that would bring forth an Empire even better than the last.

Afterall, she was effectively immortal in terms of aging, so she could build it for as long as she needed, before passing it onto her son or daughter.

But that would be in the far future, she had more immediate concerns, like building a power base in Westeros. She already had a lot of wealth and that brought power, but she needed to build connections, and she had a few families in mind.

The Starks, the Tullys, and the Arryns. Each were important families that were leaders of their individual Kingdoms. They were strong (somewhat) and would bring her a means to develop her Kingdom further, and in return she’d develop theirs in return.

The Starks were easily the most important due to their connection to her ancestor, and they were the most important line of defense against the Night King. That and Cregan Stark was a very skilled fighter that would be a good ally to have, especially if she merges Westeros into what she planned on becoming a full blown Empire.

With all that in mind, Bale leaned back in her bed, deciding to get some sleep, as tomorrow would be an interesting day.

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The next day, the Red Keep was absolutely bustling with news. Especially because the news that Balegelle Balerion was actually courting Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen or Laena Valeryon.

Disgust was rampant through those that were hardcore followers of the Seven, and confusion was prevalent through the rest. Most didn’t understand how this was possible, as those that spread the rumors just happened to forget to mention what she said about the Valyrian Freehold and the ritual.

Thankfully she had her own people begin to spread those rumors, deciding that she wanted this to be known. At the same time, she had her people find the ones spreading the rumors, who turned out to be workers for…Otto Hightower.

Not even remotely a shock to Bale. As she had expected this from the man, as he likely understood the danger such a union would bring him.

It’d be the most powerful union in Westeros, and would make whoever was chosen basically untouchable. As the Dragon Lands would now be there to defend them in their times of need. Not to mention the immense resources that would come with it.

Walking through the Red Keep, Bale could feel the glances and looks she was receiving from the people walking the Keep. It was a little annoying, but the dragon guard that walked with her at all times kept them far from her.

She was currently making her way to the Godswood of the Red Keep, in order to meet and speak with Laena for the first time, properly this time.

She hoped to get closer to her, as if she had to choose only one of the two girls, she’d want to choose Laena every time, mostly because she would be a lot easier to work with than Rhaenyra, and wouldn’t bring all the problems being with Rhaenyra would.

But that was only if she couldn’t marry both.

For now, she decided to focus on Laena, as she walked through the Red Keep, one thought on her mind.

‘…Let’s see just what type of person Laena is’

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That’s the end of the chapter!

So begins the Love arc, in which she will grow close to the two of them and get with them eventually.

Anyways, have a good day!