The atmosphere inside the Red Keep’s Great Hall was thick with tension. Conversations were hushed, and the usual chatter of the royal family had died down in light of recent events. The revelation that Helaena had named the black dragon—Gazaro—and the fact that it had chosen Aemond as its rider, had shaken everyone to their core. No one had expected such a powerful, mysterious creature to appear, let alone be linked to their own bloodline. As the family gathered in the council room, the weight of the unknown hung heavily over them.

Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Viserys sat at the long table, their expressions troubled, while Daemon leaned against the stone wall, his gaze distant and calculating. He knew more than he was letting on. The memory of Helaena’s name day—a memory he kept close, a memory that should remain buried—lingered in his mind. It had been a day full of strange occurrences, a day when Helaena had seemed far more connected to the dragons than anyone realized. But Daemon kept his silence for now. There were things better left unsaid, things that could unravel everything if spoken aloud.

Rhaenyra broke the silence, her voice cutting through the quiet like a sharp blade. “We need to understand what’s happening with that dragon,” she said, her eyes flicking to the door as though expecting someone to walk through it with the answers. “What does Helaena know? Why didn’t she tell us that she knows the black dragon's Gazaro before today?”

Viserys, sitting next to Alicent, furrowed his brow in thought. “We’ve all seen how strange Helaena is and how she spends time with this dragon, but this is different. This black dragon—Gazaro—is unlike any other. I don’t believe Helaena has been hiding anything out of malice, but she clearly knows more than she’s letting on.”

Viserys sighed deeply, his gaze heavy as he took in the family around him. “She’s always been... different,” he said softly. “More attuned to her dragon than any of us. But she’s also always been a mystery to me. I thought I understood her."

Daemon’s lips twitched slightly, but he remained quiet, his arms folded across his chest. He had been watching Helaena from the shadows for a long time now. He had seen the way she interacted with her dragon, the way they seemed to respond to each in ways they never had with anyone else. He had also seen the subtle signs that there was more to her connection with them, especially the black dragon, Gazaro, than anyone realized. He’d learned enough to know that this was not just about family legacy or bloodline; there were deeper forces at play. And he had a suspicion—one he dared not share—that this bond between Gazaro and Aemond might have been predestined long ago.

“Do you think this is tied to... her?” Rhaenyra asked, her voice low as she turned to Daemon, the question hanging in the air like a heavy fog. “Is this connected to what happened on her name day? What you know, Daemon?”

Daemon’s jaw tightened slightly, his eyes narrowing as he cast a glance toward his wife, Laena who left with her green dragon, had not yet returned with Helaena and Aemond. His mind raced, and he knew that whatever was revealed in the coming hours could change everything. There was no way to explain it without exposing too much—too much of what had happened between him and Helaena, and too much of what he had discovered in the aftermath.

“I think it’s best to wait until we have all the facts,” Daemon finally said, his voice calm but laced with an edge. “Rhaenys and Laena will bring them back, and then we can press Helaena for answers. She’s always been... elusive, but she’s not malicious. Whatever secrets she’s hiding, there’s a reason for it.”

Rhaenyra scowled, frustration evident on her face. “This is madness. We can’t sit here in the dark. A dragon has chosen Aemond, and that dragon is unlike any we’ve seen before. It’s bigger, stronger, and it glows with a white fire, unlike anything we’ve witnessed in this family’s history. We need to know what it means.”

Viserys cleared his throat, looking between his daughter and his brother. He could sense the undercurrent of tension in the room, the unspoken knowledge that something was amiss. His brow furrowed as he spoke. “Daemon's right. We don’t know everything yet. Let’s allow Rhaenys and Laena to bring them back, and then we’ll hear from Helaena herself.”

The door to the Great Hall creaked open then, and Rhaenys and Laena entered, both of them appearing slightly more wearied from their search. They had not yet brought Helaena and Aemond back, and the weight of that absence was palpable.

“They’re coming,” Rhaenys said, her voice calm but tinged with concern. “They were reluctant to leave the beach at first, but Aemond was already bound to Gazaro. It’s not just a bond between rider and dragon—it’s something deeper. And I think Helaena knows more than she’s letting on.”

Laena nodded in agreement. “When we spoke to Helaena, she seemed... distracted, as though she was somewhere else entirely. It’s like she was lost in her thoughts, or maybe even something beyond that. Whatever she’s hiding, it’s more than just her bond with Gazaro. It’s connected to something deeper, something tied to our family.”

Rhaenyra looked at them, her eyes narrowing as she tried to process their words. “What do you mean, connected to something deeper?”

“There’s an energy between Helaena and the dragons,” Laena said quietly, her voice almost reverent. “More than just a connection. It’s as if she’s linked to them in a way we can’t fully understand. It’s not just a rider’s bond. It’s something more ancient.”

Daemon’s eyes flicked over to Laena, and a flicker of understanding passed between them. Laena had been there when it happened—on Helaena’s name day. She’d seen the way Helaena had acted, the strange energy that had filled the air when the dragons had gathered. Daemon had witnessed it too, but he wasn’t ready to share that with the others yet. It was a truth they weren’t prepared to face.

Viserys, sensing the shift in the air, spoke gently. “We must remain calm. Once Helaena returns, we’ll know everything. We will get to the bottom of this.”

The tension in the room continued to build as they waited for the return of the two younger Targaryens. Outside, the evening sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a deep orange glow across the castle. The quiet whispers of the wind were the only sounds breaking the silence within the hall. Everyone waited, their thoughts turning inward, each wondering what the return of Helaena and Aemond would bring.

Daemon pushed away from the wall, his gaze hardening as he glanced at the others. “Whatever happens, we must be cautious. This isn’t just about dragons or bloodlines. It’s about power—power we don’t fully understand. We have to tread carefully.”

Rhaenyra shook her head, her frustration evident. “I don’t care about the power. I care about the truth. What has Helaena been hiding? And why has she kept it from us?” her voice laced with caution, after all, Helaena has a hightower blood in her veins and cannot be trusted.

Just as her words hung in the air, the door creaked open once more. Rhaenys and Laena returned, this time with Aemond and Helaena trailing behind them. Aemond looked pale, his face a mixture of confusion and awe, while Helaena’s expression was unreadable—her eyes distant, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Viserys stood slowly, his posture regal yet tired. “Helaena, Aemond,” he said, his voice softer than usual. “What’s happened? We need to know what’s going on with this dragon—Gazaro. Why did you call it by that name?”

Helaena hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering to Aemond before she finally spoke, her voice quiet and thoughtful. “Gazaro is... not just a dragon. He’s something more. And he’s been part of our family for longer than you know.”

The words fell heavy in the room, and the Targaryens and Velaryons exchanged looks of disbelief, uncertainty, and apprehension. It was clear now that the secrets Helaena had been hiding were far more intricate and far-reaching than they had ever imagined.

The truth, when it finally came, would change everything.

---

As Helaena sat high above the Red Keep on Dreamfyre, gazing out across the vast sky, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Aemond was below, still attempting to bond with Gazaro, the black dragon whose temperament was as volatile as his name suggested. Helaena could feel the tension in the air, thick with unspoken truths, as Aemond’s frustration with Gazaro grew. She knew in her heart that this was not just about the dragon. There was something deeper, something she could no longer deny.

Helaena’s thoughts were a swirl of anxiety. She had been keeping a secret for some time now—a connection to a mysterious figure, one that she had tried to ignore, but could no longer. Watching Aemond struggle with Gazaro, she realized the time had come for the truth to surface. She could not carry this burden alone any longer.

Vensalia, she thought desperately, please, can you sense it? Can you feel what’s happening?

In that instant, everything around her seemed to blur and shatter. The sensation was like being torn from the physical world and thrust into a void. The wind from Dreamfyre’s wings disappeared, and the earth was no longer beneath her feet. All at once, Helaena was disconnected from reality, fully immersed in the realm of her mind. The world was nothing but shadow and mist, swirling around her like smoke.

Then, through the fog, a figure emerged. Helaena’s breath caught in her throat as she saw her for the first time, truly saw her.

Vensalia stood before her, her white hair streaked with red, the colors vibrant and unnatural against the pale light of the mindscape. Her eyes—those vivid pink eyes—pierced into Helaena’s very soul. There was something ethereal about her, something powerful, yet not entirely human. The presence of Valyrian blood was unmistakable.

Helaena was struck dumb. “This is what you really look like?” she whispered, taking in the full scope of the woman before her. “I never realized—”

Vensalia’s smile was soft, but there was a knowing glint in her eyes. “Yes,” she replied, her voice calm and soothing, but edged with something ancient. “This is what I look like, you didn't see my appearance during your nameday. I have Valyrian blood, just as you do. We are not so different.”

Helaena blinked, processing the revelation. “But… why are you here now? What’s happening?” she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

Vensalia tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. “You’ve been struggling, haven’t you? With Aemond, with Gazaro, with all of it.” She paused, eyes narrowing slightly. “I felt your turmoil, Helaena. And I sensed that the truth can no longer be hidden.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Helaena confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Aemond is bonding with Gazaro, but it’s not going the way we hoped. I can’t help him the way I thought I could.”

Vensalia’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Ah. The bond between Aemond and Gazaro. It was always meant to happen this way. But you are right—there is much more to this than you realize.”

Helaena’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

Vensalia took a step closer, her presence both comforting and overwhelming. “You can tell them, Helaena,” she said softly. “Tell them how we met during your nameday, how I have guided you through your connection with the dragon dreams. But you must not tell them my name. Not yet.”

Helaena was confused but nodded. She didn’t fully understand why Vensalia wanted to keep her name a secret, but there was a feeling deep inside her that told her this was the right course of action. Vensalia’s power was undeniable, and she knew that the situation at hand was about to escalate beyond anything she could control.

Before Helaena could respond, the vision around them began to distort. She felt herself being pulled back into her body, the connection severing just as quickly as it had begun.

---

Helaena gasped, her senses snapping back into her physical form. Dreamfyre’s wings were once again beneath her, and the air was thick with the presence of her family. Laena and Rhaenys had caught up, and the dragons were now back on the ground. They were heading back to King’s Landing.

With a sinking feeling, Helaena realized that the time for secrets had passed. She would have to face her family’s questions—and perhaps their suspicions.

Once they arrived, Helaena was immediately swept into an interrogation. Her father, Viserys, was gentle but insistent, his eyes full of concern. “Helaena,” he began, “you’ve been acting strangely. Tell us what you know about Gazaro. How do you know about his name?”

Helaena hesitated, her mind racing. She had never lied to her family before, but this felt like a different kind of truth. The truth that could tear everything apart.

“I met someone,” Helaena began slowly, her voice trembling. “During my nameday, I met someone who... knows about a deeper connection to the dragons, they are also the one who told me the black dragon's name is Gazaro. They arrived in my nameday, giving me a gift and we start being friends, they also have a dragon, a white big dragon, and they’ve also been the ones who help me understand the bond between Aemond and the dragon.”

Alicent’s brow furrowed with suspicion. “Who is this person, Helaena? Why haven’t you told us their name?”

Helaena’s throat tightened, and she forced herself to remain calm. “I… I can’t tell you their name. They asked me not to. But they’ve been guiding me. They just told me the name of the black dragon is Gazaro.”

The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to her. Alicent’s voice was sharp with disbelief. “You’ve been talking to someone in your goddamn nameday, and you’ve kept this from us? Why didn’t you tell us about this sooner? Are you mad?!”

Vensalia who heard everything is enrage, her plan to stay hidden is now long gone when she sees her friend being interrogated by her own mother and calling her mad, before Helaena could respond, the air in the room seemed to shift. A chill swept through the space, and she felt the familiar, heavy presence of Vensalia. Helaena's golden-white hair began to shimmer with an unnatural glow, and shadows began to dance at the edges of her vision.

In an instant, Helaena’s body became a vessel for Vensalia. Her eyes glowed faintly, and the air around her seemed to crackle with dark energy.

Alicent recoiled in horror, her face twisting in fury. “What is happening?!?! Who are you and why are you possessing my daughter's body?!?! Leave my daughter’s body at once!” she screamed. “Witch! What have you done to her?”

Vensalia’s voice, calm and icy, echoed through the room. “I am no witch, Alicent, and shut up! How dare you insult your own daughter and then proceed to act as a protective mother?!?!” she said, her tone sharp. Black tendrils appear on the ground below Alicent and wrap her tightly making her scream before Vensalia covers her mouth with a shadow. “I am Vensalia Vakriyoma.”

Laena and Daemon both stiffened at the sound of the name, their eyes narrowing with recognition. Laena’s expression softened with an almost cautious trust, but Daemon’s face darkened with suspicion.

“Why are you here?” Daemon demanded, his voice low and filled with accusations. “What is your purpose?”

Vensalia’s smile was cool, unfazed by the tension. “I felt Helaena’s fear. She needed help, and so I intervened.”

Viserys, though troubled, approached cautiously. “What is it that you want? What are you seeking, Vensalia?”

Vensalia’s eyes met his, steady and unwavering. “I have come to stop the Dance of Dragons,” she said simply, her words carrying an undeniable weight. “The prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire and the Long Night. I will do whatever it takes to ensure it is averted.”

Viserys’s face paled at the mention of the prophecy, and he exchanged a look with Rhaenys, his suspicions now confirmed. Vensalia was no ordinary figure. She was a woman of power, with unknown blood yet knows the Targaryen's prophecy, and perhaps a connection to something far older and more dangerous than they had realized but what questions him is that how does she know about the prophecy?

Before anyone could speak further, Vensalia’s gaze flickered to Aemond, and a mischievous smile tugged at her lips. “I am excited to see you, Aemond,” she said, her voice laced with meaning. “My future husband.”

Helaena, still mentally tethered to her body, gasped as the vision flashed in her mind. In her dragon dreams, she saw a future where Vensalia married Aemond.

The room fell into stunned silence, everyone processing the revelation. Aemond was visibly flushed, his confusion evident as the words hung in the air.

Alicent, her eyes narrowing with fury, stood up abruptly when the shadows left her body. “No.... no no no!! Aemond will marry someone else!” she declared firmly. “I will not let her…I will not let this witch get near him!!”

The storm of emotions and questions filled the air, but the truth had already begun to unravel. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: Vensalia’s presence in their lives was far from over.