Blood and Fire: The Blackfyre Rebirth — Two Hearts, One Dragon

The Black Dragon Returns: House Blackfyre of the Whispers An alternate history of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, diverging during the War of the Ninepenny Kings. In 258 AC, Daemon Blackfyre, cousin of Maelys I Blackfyre and Captain-General of the Golden Company, fought Maelys over command. Maelys killed Daemon by striking down his destrier and tearing his head from his shoulders. Daemon’s sister-wife, Lady Allyria Blackfyre, was pregnant and fled Lys with their twin daughters, Visenya and Rhaenys, and 500 loyal Lysene retainers: 50 knights, 350 men-at-arms, and 100 servants. All possessed the distinctive pale Valyrian appearance of Lys. Allyria carried the ancestral Valyrian sword Blackfyre. After months of travel, Allyria reached Westeros in 259 AC. While seeking the Faith’s blessing at the Great Sept of Baelor, she unexpectedly gave birth to her son Aenys Blackfyre at its footsteps on the same day Prince Rhaegar Targaryen was born at Summerhall. Weeks later, she presented herself before newly crowned King Jaehaerys II. Allyria warned him that Maelys and the Ninepenny Kings were gathering in the Stepstones and that Tyrosh had already fallen to the Golden Company and its allies. Her warning gave the Crown time to assemble the realm’s armies and invade the Stepstones before the enemy could reach Westeros. Allyria then knelt before Jaehaerys, forsaking her family’s claim to the Iron Throne, while admitting she could not speak for other Blackfyres. She asked only for lands worthy of House Blackfyre, preservation of Blackfyre, and extension of the Targaryen Doctrine of Exceptionalism to her house. Jaehaerys granted her the ruined Whispers and established the Lordship of Crackclaw Point, sworn to Dragonstone like Houses Velaryon and Celtigar. Allyria became Dowager Lady until Aenys reached sixteen. The Blackfyres were ordered to conquer and consolidate the Point until no rival petty houses or clans remained. The Crown permitted them to act as necessary to pacify the region, in return for rents, levies, and tithes. Young Ser Tywin Lannister, seventeen, privately disliked the settlement because a unified Crackclaw Point would become the largest non-royal landholding in the Crownlands and could eventually provide about 4,000 fierce levies from 100,000 people. As only a knight at court, he kept silent. From 260 AC, Allyria spent sixteen years rebuilding the Whispers. Since House Blackfyre initially possessed no consolidated lands beyond its seat, it maintained no feudal levy. Its permanent household consisted of 40 knights, 360 men-at-arms, and 100 servants, supported by the Blackfyre family. House Blackfyre of the Whispers Seat: The Whispers Lordship: Crackclaw Point Region: Crownlands Status: Lordly House Sworn to: Dragonstone Ancestry: Cadet Branch of House Targaryen Words: “Blood and Fire” Sigil: Black three-headed dragon breathing black fire upon red Heirloom: Blackfyre Faith: Faith of the Seven  Blackfyre is a Valyrian steel longsword with a broad, rippled blade, ornate dragon-like guard, black grip, golden collar, and dark jewel pommel. It was the ancestral sword of House Targaryen and became the hereditary sword of House Blackfyre. The house retains silver-gold hair, violet eyes, and dragon dreams. House Blackfyre, 278 AC Lady Allyria Blackfyre: Dowager Lady and widow of Daemon. Visenya Blackfyre: Allyria’s twin daughter, born 258 AC. Rhaenys Blackfyre: Visenya’s twin sister, born 258 AC. Aenys Blackfyre: Young Lord of the Whispers, born 259 AC and heir to the Lordship of Crackclaw Point. When Aenys reaches sixteen, Allyria intends for him to marry Visenya as his sister-wife, while Rhaenys becomes his paramour, continuing House Blackfyre’s preserved Valyrian marriage customs.