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Synopsis

"While dragon dreams affect only those with the blood of the dragon, the dreams that plague the disciples of the Church of Starry Wisdom are far more sinister, driving their dreamers almost mad in the process. Established by the Bloodstone Emperor, the first usurper and the last ruler of the mythic Great Empire of the Dawn, the church worships Nyarlathotep who is called "the Haunter of the Dark", and acolytes of the church are haunted by the faceless god that they claim dwelt in the antechamber to hell. Many scholars believed the Bloodstone Emperor to have been the first High Priest of the church, a practitioner of the dark arts, necromancy, and cannibalism. His descendants are said to be inheritors of his torment and treachery, bound to the very same deities he once enslaved himself to."

— from the writings of Archmaester Agrivane, on the history of The Golden Empire of Yi Ti

King Viserys Targaryen, first of his name, known for his amicable and generous nature, was said to have developed a deep friendship with Emperor Zhong Ren of Yi Ti during his youth. Unencumbered by the weight of their future responsibilities, the two young princes frequently visited one another, fostering a bond that would be remembered through the annals of history. 

The king's unwavering loyalty and adoration for his wife was also a well-documented fact, which made the events following his first voyage to Yi Ti after his coronation particularly startling; for he had brought home a babe. This child, declared as his own bastard and bestowed with legitimacy under the Targaryen name, bore none of the typical features of his lineage, and instead carried an unsettling resemblance to the Yitish Emperor himself. The truth of this, however, was something not a soul in Westeros could properly confirm as the king himself never uttered a word regarding how he came by the child. 

The most remarkable reaction came from Aemma Arryn herself, who, after already having endured a series of losses in the cradle, embraced the infant, christening her Naerys and nurturing her as her own flesh and blood. The circumstances leading to this understanding between the king and queen remained shrouded in mystery, but what became apparent was the strange nature of the child. Plagued by fits of melancholy and nocturnal seizures that confounded the realm's most learned maesters, she grew into a skittish girl, and the only joy she found was said to be around her half-sister Princess Rhaenyra and the Lady Alicent Hightower.

At the tender age of eleven, influenced by the counsel of the King's Hand, Naerys was given in marriage to the youngest scion of House Stokeworth, much to Queen Aemma's vehement objections. The details surrounding this union were scant, save for its brevity, spanning a mere three moons and culminating in the untimely demise of the Stokeworth boy. Naerys, without children or a husband to keep her, returned to court with an even more unsettling disposition.

As she matured, the young princess's hallucinations became even more surreal, often bleeding into her waking moments. The visages she encountered defied description, grotesque and warped caricatures of the people she knew, yet each carried the same ominous message. Whispers in an ancient, yet familiar tongue foretold of an apocalypse—a world consumed by flames, with Naerys herself striking the match. Haunted by these inevitable visions, her plight underscored the tragic futility faced by those burdened with foreknowledge in a world where destiny could not be altered.

She eventually went on to wed Ser Gwayne Hightower, a love match according to many, for no one could deny the young knight's affections for his new bride, but the Dance of Dragons would ensure that their union did not remain a blissful one, marred by the turmoil of war and the relentless march of betrayal.

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She comes to the city hollow, hands empty
Eyes open to what lies in wait for her
She does not weep or wail
In her eyes, home has always been burning
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Cast

Naerys Targaryen

"Does it matter whether I am believed? What is coming, comes, and you who shall witness it will have your pain to tell how much truth I hit."

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Gwayne Hightower

"You are going to break your promise, I understand. And I hold my hands over the ears of my heart so that I will not hate you."

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And swimming back up from the past,
There is Cassandra, holding my gaze
Asking me silently to be released in death
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Warnings: cannibalism, dark arts, torture, assassination, cult stuff, typical HOTD ASOIF things, betrayal, forced child marriage, violence, gore, death, mental illnesses, the whole shebang.
Otto Hightower being a little bish cuz both his kids are in love with Targaryens. 
Viserys being a shitty father and a terrible husband (nothing new)
Toxic sad yuri (rhaenicent)

A/N: going to be exploring a bit of YiTish lore in this fic cuz it has become a bit of a hyperfixation. Also, the Bloodstone Emperor's usurpation of the Amethyst Empress is a nice parallel to Rhaenyra and Aegon lol. Granted we don't have much info on YiTish history and lore so I will be taking creative liberties and a lot of this is headcanon territory. Also, we aren't given much on Gwayne's background/personal life so again, more headcanon territory, I'm just eager to explore his relationships with alicent/otto, hope u like my take on it :)

Anyway, I've had this fic planned ever since I found out my boy Freddie plays Gwayne and I finally have an excuse to publish cuz he's here. So glad they gave him actual scenes so I have more to work with but we're just vibing. A mix of book and show plotlines, and some (plenty of) rhaenicent lol, enjoy!

As usual, don't be a ghost reader. I live for yalls comments/questions/concerns/reactions, even a keyboard smash is highly appreciated and encouraged!