The Penitence of the wolf - Blood of my blood. (Patreon)

Aerys Targaryen, Casterly Rock – the Westerlands.

"The damages are... more significant than I expected," confessed the monarch with a frown, while they crossed the Lion's Gate toward the ancestral castle of House Lannister.

Tywin at his side nodded tensely, his face icy and his eyes as cold as the Wall, it was more than evident that the Lord of Casterly Rock was feeling much at this moment.

With fury and helplessness being the most dominant emotions, and it was not as though Aerys could blame him.

The damages to Lannisport had been significant, the harbor was completely collapsed, dozens of ships had been burned, and the docks were unusable until the remains of the Greyjoy fleet were removed.

"Your Grace! My Lord! Welcome to Casterly Rock!" said Ser Kevan Lannister, at the same time that everyone present in the central courtyard of the Rock, with the exception of Queen Rhaella, knelt before King Aerys.

"Your Grace, Casterly Rock is yours," said Ser Jaime, while a pair of servants approached carrying freshly baked bread and a bowl of salt.

"Rise, all of you," ordered the King, while taking a loaf of bread and a bit of salt, invoking guest right.

At the King's words, everyone present rose to their feet, while the rest of the soldiers and Lords accompanying the King from Oldtown began to enter the Rock.

"Father, welcome back," said the young Jaime solemnly, accompanied by his very pregnant wife and the diminutive Tyrion Lannister, who could not stop staring in wonder toward the sky, where Rhaegal and Aeranax danced through the air, happy to have reunited once again.

Tywin, to the surprise of absolutely no one, simply nodded with an icy look, taking Jaime by the shoulders.

"You have brought honor and glory to House Lannister, Jaime, well done," said Tywin solemnly, causing both Steffon and Aerys to roll their eyes at Tywin's typical apathy.

"Oh please Tywin, pull the spear out of your arse, the boy did a great job, he coordinated the soldiers and repelled the invaders, a true lion HAHAHA!" barked Steffon with his characteristic loud voice, giving Tywin a slap on the back, a gesture of camaraderie that revealed the close relationship between the three powerful men.

Tywin simply sighed before looking at Steffon with annoyance, but there was a small and tiny spark of something more, something close to happiness, as though for an instant he were back in the old days, when they had both been young during the reign of his grandfather Aegon V.

Aerys watched the interaction with amusement, when a sweet and familiar voice demanded the monarch's attention.

"My husband, welcome."

Aerys turned slowly with a smile on his face, looking directly toward his wife, who awaited him with a radiant smile, dressed in a beautiful golden gown and accompanied by Genna, both women looked at him with the eyes of predators, they were hungry.

And Aerys was on the menu.

"My Queen," said the King, caressing Rhaella's face softly, smiling in satisfaction as he saw how his sister-wife shivered beneath the touch of his hand.

"I have heard that you rode Aeranax into battle, burning dozens of enemy ships," said the King, the approval and support in his voice working wonders for his wife, who smiled radiantly.

Aerys simply kissed his wife before looking toward Tywin and speaking.

"Tywin, I shall retire to rest with my wife, I will see you tonight at the feast, and tomorrow we begin preparations for the war council."

The monarch's orders were accepted by everyone, who began to disperse throughout the castle.

All the Lords began to disperse, Tywin departed with Jaime and the rest of the lions, with the sole exception being Genna, who approached Aerys and Rhaella.

"My Queen, my King, follow me, I shall guide you to your chambers," purred the lioness, turning around and beginning to walk toward the interior of the castle, making sure to sway her large backside from side to side for Aerys' pleasure, the lioness' intentions more than evident.

Alas, Aerys' blood demanded a hot, wet and tight dragon cunt, after he had sated his lust with Rhaella, maybe he could play a little with his lioness pet.

Perhaps he should have Genna eat his seed from the well fucked cunt of the queen, a sharp reminder of her place at the feet of Aerys and Rhaella.

The monarch took his Queen by the waist and pulled her closer to his body, noticing how Rhaella seemed more thoughtful than usual.

"Turbulent thoughts, my love?" asked the King with amusement, surprising his Queen and causing her to focus her gaze on Aerys.

Rhaella smiled, but for Aerys, it was a complicated gesture, it seemed that Rhaella was truly happy and excited to see him, love and desire were more than evident in her gaze, but also the shadow of something... something that worried her.

It was evident that his beautiful Queen had something on her mind, and the King would find out what it was.

Before long, both of them arrived at the assigned chambers, enormous and luxurious, like everything in Casterly Rock.

Genna entered with a radiant smile and flirtatiously began to untie the strings of her dress, looking directly toward the King and Queen.

"Your Graces, your kitty is ready to please her owners," said the lioness, desire more than evident in her voice, however, to Aerys' surprise, Rhaella stepped forward and ordered.

"Not yet, dear. It has been weeks since I have been with my husband, and I desire time alone with him. I shall ride the dragon all afternoon alone, however, I want you and the twins to prepare yourselves for after the feast, tonight we shall show the King how well I have trained you," said Rhaella with determination, while softly caressing Genna's neck, making the lioness shiver, who looked toward the King awaiting confirmation.

Aerys simply replied.

"Your Queen has given you an order."

Immediately afterward, Genna lowered her head toward both of them while tying her dress back together, leaving the room and leaving the King and Queen alone, just as his beloved wife desired.

"Something troubles you, my love," affirmed the King, while taking a seat in one of the armchairs and looking with complete calm toward Rhaella, who returned his gaze with mixed emotions upon her beautiful face.

"Who are you?" asked Rhaella cautiously, paralyzing Aerys on the spot.

"What? What are you talking about, my Queen?" asked Aerys with curiosity, thinking it impossible that his wife could know about his previous life.

Rhaella inhaled deeply, biting her lips to gather strength before responding.

"In Visenya's studies I followed the trail of an ancient Valyrian ritual, using the old glass candle to visualize the souls of every member of my family," said Rhaella calmly, while looking at a stunned and resigned Aerys.

"It showed me our beautiful children, as well as our beloved granddaughter, exactly as the ritual promised, but... when I searched for you, I did not find your soul... but something else," said Rhaella, while beginning to walk toward her paralyzed husband with a sensual sway, looking at him with dominant eyes that demanded only one thing.

Answers.

"And instead of finding your soul... I was greeted by the soul of an old man, perhaps around one hundred years old, with black hair and grey eyes, evidently a Targaryen, but it was not you, Aerys," said Rhaella, while making an elegant gesture with her hands and softly burning away her robe, leaving herself completely naked before the hungry eyes of the King.

"Who are you? And how are you occupying my brother's body?" asked the Queen, sitting herself upon Aerys' lap with determination, her gaze demanding only one thing.

Answers.

Aerys lost himself for an instant in the beautiful eyes of Rhaella, who remained expectant, she did not seem fearful or anything of the sort, merely curious.

"I can show you, my love, if you wish," replied the King mysteriously, intriguing Rhaella to the utmost.

"How do you intend to do that?" asked the Queen with curiosity, but also with a great deal of caution.

Aerys' answer?

To smile arrogantly, while beginning to channel his green sight, slowly entering the mind of his beloved wife.

Did Rhaella want answers?

The King would give them to her.

"Prepare yourself, my love," said the monarch, surprising Rhaella, who could only open her eyes widely for an instant, before they too became completely white.

The bodies of the King and Queen became entirely inert, while both souls found themselves navigating the vast memories of the Heart Trees.

Rhaella Targaryen, Somewhere, Somewhen.

"AHHHHG!" screamed Rhaella while recovering her balance in an unknown place.

There was snow, both upon the ground and in the sky, but she did not feel cold for some reason, Rhaella looked around her, staring in wonder at the incredible and exquisite winter city before her.

Thick walls.

Sturdy houses.

And a modest but relentless fortress upon the top of the hill.

The strange city was located upon a frozen bay, with a great number of unknown ships docked at an impressive but familiar harbor to Rhaella...

Those docks... were very similar to the docks that now adorned Dragonstone!

But unlike the dragon so characteristic of the Targaryens, the banner of this city was the Direwolf of House Stark, but white in color and with red eyes.

"I didn't remember it being so... small, although to be fair, any city is tiny compared to King's Landing," said a voice, causing the Queen to turn around, finding herself face to face with the stranger she had seen through Visenya's spell.

He was... old, of that she had no doubt.

And even so, he possessed an enviable physique, a body forged and worked by the years, the product of a man who had never allowed himself to decline, who throughout his entire life had been a warrior, keeping his body prepared and ready to fight.

"Who are you? Where are we?" asked the Queen with determination, she was a dragoness, the days of the poor and submissive Rhaella had been left behind, the Queen wanted, even needed, answers to her dilemma.

And she would obtain them one way or another.

The man looked at her with an honest smile, his eyes shining with pride as he looked upon Rhaella, while he responded.

"I always wondered what you were like in life, I never had much information about you. I am glad to see that you are a dragoness from head to toe, only an extremely strong woman could have endured the monster that Aerys Targaryen was," said the old man, causing Rhaella, against her will, to blush completely, opening and closing her mouth with difficulty.

The man did not allow her to respond, but instead turned around and began walking, giving only a single order.

"Follow me."

The tone he used was...

Familiar.

And dominant.

The same voice that Aerys had always used with her since his return from Duskendale, training and conditioning her to obey unconsciously.

Therefore, without hesitation, Rhaella obeyed, walking beside the strange man.

"We are in Winter Fort, formerly known as Hardhome, the first free city of the continent of Westeros, founded by me, during the year 317 AC," said the man, walking through the broad and stone-paved streets.

Rhaella looked at everything around her in wonder, the city was well built, with... familiar things.

The same type of construction that was now beginning to dominate King's Landing.

The same type of streets.

And even the same type of armor that her husband's soldiers used.

The only thing that truly changed were the colors.

Instead of Targaryen black and red, everything in this place revolved around a single thing.

House Stark...

Rhaella looked at the stranger with curiosity, but remained silent, following him toward the sturdy castle upon the hill, entering the imposing but undecorated structure, observing how in the central courtyard there was a group of men carrying shields familiar to Rhaella.

She recognized the seahorse of House Velaryon.

The crabs of House Celtigar.

And even the cross of House Rykker.

All young.

All kneeling.

All begging before a familiar figure.

The old man accompanying Rhaella.

Even in his advanced age, he possessed an overwhelming presence, his presence dominated any space, his white hair and cold gaze gave him a royal bearing that Rhaella had only ever seen in her beloved husband.

And then, the old man spoke.

His voice deep and slow.

But no less imposing.

"You have come from very far away for nothing. I have no interest in King's Landing. You are welcome in my home, but I do not intend to leave Winter Fort to return to those decaying ruins," said the old man, drawing Rhaella's curiosity.

And afterward, the young Celtigar spoke, still kneeling before the old man.

"But Your Grace, it is... it is your right! Your duty as the last dragon! You are Aegon Targaryen! Son of Prince Rhaegar! The Seven Kingdoms are yours by right!" said the man desperately, causing Rhaella to become completely paralyzed, staring at the mysterious old man with shock and astonishment, opening and closing her mouth.

"And I appreciate that you took the trouble to do so. You are welcome for as long as you wish, and your offerings from the south shall be of great help to the city. If you are interested, our people are willing to trade. We have many merchant convoys that would be interested in sailing to the southern coasts. I believe it could be a great opportunity for both of us," said the old man, while extending his hand and helping the three men rise one by one.

Lord Rykker looked at the old man with admiration and a hope so naked that Rhaella could not help but shudder.

"The rumors in the south paint you as a savage, but we all know they are inventions of the disgusting usurper. The Seven Kingdoms belong to House Targaryen, Your Grace, and House Rykker remembers its vows. We are loyal to the dragons and always will be," he said with determination, while Lords Celtigar and Velaryon nodded rapidly at his side, causing the old man to sigh heavily.

"I have no interest in the south, my Lords. I have my wife, children and grandchildren in these lands. My responsibilities bind me to my people," he said with determination, causing Lord Celtigar to step forward, desperate.

"Queen Mera and Princes Eddard and Lyanna shall be received with all the honors corresponding to them, Your Grace! But we request help! The cripple who calls himself King is a damned tyrant, tightening the noose around the neck of every House more and more each day, please, we beg for your help!" said the desperate Lord.

But Rhaella was no longer listening.

Her attention was now upon the old man at her side, who looked at her with a gentle smile and sad, melancholic eyes.

Eyes familiar to the Queen.

The eyes of my beloved son.

Thought Rhaella with terror, while raising her trembling hand and caressing the man's face, tears falling from her eyes as Rhaella spoke with a trembling voice.

"You... you... you..."

The old man.

Her own grandson.

Thought Rhaella with a shiver.

He caressed her face softly, with that gentleness that drove her completely mad, unconsciously, the dragon queen leaned against the hand with all the naturalness in the world.

"My name... is Aegon Targaryen, son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen, the Last Dragon, and Lyanna Stark... the Wolf Maiden. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, grandmother. I did not have the pleasure of doing so in the past," said the old man with a warm smile, his hand never ceasing to caress the Queen's cheek.

Rhaella became completely paralyzed.

Confused.

And afraid.

Suddenly, the change of heart in her cruel brother made sense.

It was not that Aerys had changed...

It was that Aerys Targaryen was dead...

And this man.

Aegon Targaryen.

Had taken his place.

How had her apparent grandson ended up inside her brother's body?

Rhaella did not have the slightest idea.

But she would find out.

One way or another.