A fortnight after Azaerys met the Envoys of Mereen, a strange sight greeted the people in Vaes Dothrak.
From the sky, twenty Hippogriffs and their Riders landed in the city.
There were a few Khalasar present in the Sacred City on the day, who did not take any action when they saw that none of the Riders were wearing weapons on them.
The creatures whom they had never seen before intrigued them and became the focus of everyone, including the Dosh Khaleen, who came out of their temple.
People were surprised when the visiting Shadowbinders in the Town suddenly stepped forward and bowed to a young man with fair skin and long back hair with platinum blonde streaks, whose purple eyes stirred their souls into fascination.
The crowd followed them to the Temple of Horse God, where the Dosh Khaleen were found during the day, and then the Young Man alone walked inside it.
None of the crones stopped him at the door.
Whilst people outside were busy inspecting the Hippogriffs, who suddenly ran and took off to the sky, circling the city, Azaerys looked around the temple in intrigue, waiting for the dozens of crones to gather their wits and speak to him.
"What brings you to this temple?" An Old Widow asked, and he answered without looking at her. "You."
"I?"
"All of you," he replied, speaking the Dothraki tongue as fluently as it was possible.
"What do you bring to us?" Someone asked, and he stopped to smile at the beautiful Widow.
She was young, barely twenty years old.
"Can't you tell? I have heard that you are good Seers and can tell the future. They say you can interpret omens. Three of you are Moonsingers..." He said and put his hand in the flame of the torch, curiously smiling as it did not burn his skin.
A few crones gasped in shock, and a few frowned, but the faces of the old ones remained impassive.
"You bring Fire and Blood to us..." One of the old ones, a Moonsinger, who was truly a seer, whispered, and the smile on his face brightened.
"Only if you make an enemy out of me," He clarified. "I bring you a warning, which you can interpret as a request as well."
"What?"
"Warn the Khals to not go near Astapor. Warn them to not fight the people of the City."
"Is that where you are from?" Another old Crone asked, and he shook his head to her.
"The place is under my protection," he informed them. "If I am forced, I will indeed bring Fire and Blood to the Dothraki. I do not want to burn Vaes Dothrak to ashes." He smiled as he removed the glamour, revealing his real hair, and then created dragons from Fire, who breathed flames into the air.
"Are you mightier than our Khals, Dragonlord?" The Young Widow from earlier curiously asked when the phenomenon ended.
"It's beneath a Dragon to compare himself to a Horse," He said, not caring about their sentiments, and smiled when he saw some of their eyes narrowing.
They knew he had just mocked their Horse God and the other Gods they secretly followed.
"What's your name?" The Old Seer asked.
"My siblings call me Azer," He informed them.
The Dosh Khaleen then started whispering amongst each other, and even though he could hear what they were discussing, he did not stop them.
A short while later, the wisest of them stepped forward and raised her head to look him right in the eyes.
"We will let the Khals know that they must not go near Astapor or fight the people of that City. In return, you must come here every summer, and accept the challenges of the Khals outside Vaes Dothrak. For as long as you remain undefeated, your Astapor will not be approached by the Khalasars of the Horse God."
"I accept."
She was a little surprised when he readily accepted their decision, and then smiled at him.
When Azaerys came out of the Temple, having worn his Glamour again, the Hippogriffs, being intelligent creatures, immediately came down from the sky.
Under the eyes of the people in Vaes Dothrak, he climbed up his Hippogriff, and led his Riders up in the sky, heading east.
"Tell the Khals and their Ko that the Dosh Khaleen want them to come to the Temple!" A Crone announced, and soon, several Dothraki Warriors appeared before them.
When every Khal and their Ko were in the City appeared before the Crone, she asked them to follow her inside the Temple.
On the other side, after flying for hours, the twenty Hippogriffs soon spotted the three Dragons, who were waiting for Azaerys.
Nefaerion loudly roared when they got closer, terrifying them, and they landed a little away from her, fearing her wrath.
Arthur was standing next to Silvexis, a little away from Aerylyx and Nefaerion, and after Azaerys shared a hug with him, he quickly climbed the back of his unhappy She-Dragon and took to the skies, heading towards Ulthos.
Their journey lasted for nearly two days, and they checked the situation of the Man-Apes before landing outside the Lion's Town.
Viserys and Ashara were present there with Rhaelyx and Starfyre, and they had already made plans to deal with the Man-Apes, who were preparing to cross the waters again in a fortnight.
Their numbers were barely a million this time. Most had not decided to come near the Kharzik Land after what happened last year.
Azaerys spent the next several days and nights accompanying his wife as they visited the different Kharzik Towns, and they returned to the Lion's Town on the first night of the Hunt.
The Man-Apes were lured deep into the open ground by the Wargs, who used the wild animals to bait them.
Once the enemies had entered the attack zone, four stars fell from the sky, blinding them with their light, and before they knew it, they were doused in Dragonfire.
More than a million Man-Apes were burnt to crisps in a matter of hours.
The following nights, the Man-Apes kept away from the river. They let out loud calls at night to the people who had crossed the river, and when they repeatedly received no response, they decided to return to the depths of their forests.
The Dragons stayed in Ulthos for a Moon, watching the Man-Apes go deeper and deeper into the territory, and once it was clear that they would not step on the Kharzik Land again this season, Azaerys led his family back to Siren.
Over the next two moons, a piece of shocking news reached the ears of people in the cities of Slaver's Bay and the Dragonport.
The Dothraki had openly rejected the requests of Mereen and Yunkai to liberate Astapor from the rule of Gremm the Griffin, citing bad omens.
Once the Merchants heard the news, and saw that the war was no longer imminent, their confidence in Astapor grew. It was the same for the slaves and people who wished to take refuge in the newly liberated city.
The trade agreements with Dragonport also came into effect, and the economy of the City dramatically stabilised.
Those who visited the city found it free of the air of melancholy that had plagued it since forever, and even the slaves had smiles on their faces.
The people of Astapor seemed happier, and the fields outside the City were now openly being cultivated. Even the renovation of the crumbling walls of the City had begun.
Some of the former Noble Houses had been transformed into Guest Houses and Playhouses, and even the Fighting Pits were active again. This time, however, the games were more about entertainment than a bloodbath.
Half of the Hostages, who had remained in Gremm's hands, were sent to Mereen and Yunkai, except for those who chose to stay in Astapor since they had no one to take care of them.
To the surprise of those who chose to stay, their City Lord was very kind to them. He found them houses suitable for Free Citizens, returned them all their wealth that had been confiscated and even more, and also warned the former slaves from acting against them.
On the last sennight of the Last Moon, Laeha and Laena Ostaryen, the Twin Princesses of Dragonport, came to Astapor on their Hippogriffs. It was an Official Three-Day Visit upon the invitation of the City Lord of Astapor.
The sight of a hundred Hippogriffs in the sky was something most had never seen before, and when the Kharziks landed, the people were intimidated by their presence.
They were warriors through and through, and it was even more evident when they fought against the best Warriors of Astapor in the Fighting Pits and won every round.
Gremm the Griffin was very respectful to the Ostaryen Twins and openly expressed his desire to host their Husband, the City Lord of Dragonport, next year.
Laeha and Laena did not give a definitive answer on behalf of their Husband, and on the first dawn of the First Moon, they left with their Hippogriffs and Guards.
Azaerys was back in Dragonport when they arrived, and together with them, he oversaw the development and the reorganisation of Iron Legions.
A few nights after his return, in the evening, Lyanna barged into Azaerys' room, upset about something.
"Your Grace!" She greeted him and was mindful enough to close the door behind her.
"Yes?"
"Why have you not abolished Slavery yet?" She irritatedly asked him, and the Dragon King, who was writing a letter at his desk, smiled but did not raise his head from the paper.
"When did I say that I was going to abolish Slavery?"
Lyanna frowned at his words.
"Isn't that the right thing to do?" She asked.
"Morally or practically?" He finally looked up and raised his brow at her, and she lowered her head, not sure how to answer him. "Sit."
The Stark slowly walked to his desk and took a seat adjacent to him.
"What happened?" He gently inquired.
"Rhaenys just announced the new Laws of Slavery for the people of Dragonport."
"And?"
"Why did you ban the selling of Slaves but not the purchase?" She asked, quite confused.
"So that the people of Dragonport do not become Slave Traders. Only Foreign Merchants can sell their slaves in the City. If any Free Man wishes to relieve himself from the burden of a slave, he can no longer sell that person. The only option is to enlist their slave in the service of the City Management, get some compensation, and set the person free. After the Former Slaves spend 18 Moons in the service of City Management, they will become Free Citizens of Dragonport. They can then choose to keep working for the City Management for a fixed wage or go find another livelihood."
"What do you want to achieve with these Laws?"
"Keep the City functioning and clean. Limit the number of new Slaves in the City. Give hope to Slaves that they can become Free Citizens if they work for it..."
"You made it too difficult! How will Slaves be able to buy their freedom from their own Masters?"
"Other than the obvious, the slaves can approach people for help to get out of Slavery if they truly desire it. If someone takes mercy on them and is willing to pay for their Freedom, the Master is obligated to set them free if that's what the Slave desires." He smiled. "Like I said, I am not trying to end slavery. I am merely limiting it. The City's economy is heavily dependent on it, and for our development plans, we need these slaves. Didn't you hear the Laws regarding the Slave Rights? The City Watch will make sure that no Master can abuse their Slaves like before. Those Laws are designed in a way that encourages the Free Men and Free Women to treat their Slaves better. They ensure the necessities of life for them. Food, Shelter, and Clothes. Slavery is deep-rooted in the culture and economy of Essos. It can not be abruptly abolished. Otherwise, millions will die." He seriously said. "We will take it slow, and eventually, there will be just as many Free People under our rule as the slaves."
Lyanna's brows furrowed deeper at his words.
"Now, tell me the real reason why you are upset. It's not the Laws. I know that." He knowingly smiled and she lowered her head in embarrassment.
"I talked to a few slaves in the Pyramid, trying to get their reaction on the Laws and the prospect of becoming Free Citizens."
"And?"
"They were not exactly thrilled by the idea of becoming Free Citizens. They said that maybe youngsters would be keen about it, but for them, freedom was a terrifying thought now that serving was all their life was about. They did not want to become Free Citizens. They just wanted to find the Masters who were good to them and serve them for the rest of their lives..."
"I see. And what did they say about the Slave Rights and Laws?"
"They are happy." She irritatedly said.
"That's all that matters." He chuckled and put the seal on the letter.
"How did you convince the Dothraki to not attack Astapor?" She curiously asked.
"I had a good talk with their Priestesses." He playfully said.
"A good talk with Dosh Khaleen?"
"It did involve some fun and friction, but yes, a good talk."
She raised her brow at him but then shook her head.
"You would never seduce them."
Azaerys amusedly looked at her.
When did he say that he seduced them? What was going on in her head?
"And why would I never do it?" He asked as he stood up and walked behind her.
Lyanna tensed up when his hands landed on her shoulders, and then she felt him lean close to her ear.
"I had a lot of fun teasing them. And now, they await my return..."
"You seduced those savages?" She frowned.
"Not all of them were savages. Some were kidnapped from their homes, forcefully wed..."
"Okay, enough." She irritatedly said and stood up, ready to leave the room and get rid of the stupid thoughts and images in her mind.
Azaerys, however, grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms, and Lyanna's heart started beating like that of a scared rabbit.
He gently tucked the dark strands of her hair behind her ear and looked right into her beautiful grey eyes.
"You know, I had an interesting dream last night, Dame Lyanna," He whispered. "A She-Wolf burning in heat, squeezing a pillow between her thighs..."
"Azer!" She furiously blushed at his words, and the next moment, her eyes widened as he kissed her.
She struggled a little, but then her body grew soft in his embrace.
When their lips separated, Azaerys smiled at her and turned her around.
His hands deftly loosened her breeches and pulled them down with her smallclothes, and before her mind could have second thoughts, she found herself bent over the table.
Her ears caught some rustling, and then something hot touched her lower lips.
The mere rubbing of his glans along her slit sent tremors through her body, and a moment later, she felt him pry her open and line himself at her entrance.
"Az..." She bit her lower lip and winced as he pushed himself inside of her, and the pain burned her.
He, however, did allow her a moment to catch her breath and let her get used to the painful stretch. A mercy she was grateful for.
It was like she was losing her maidenhead all over again, but this time, it was not a gentle affair, but raw and carnal.
A tear leaked out of her eyes when he started moving, hurting her more, but soon her moans were layering his grunts, matching the sounds of the fleshy slaps that resonated in the room.
When his movements became easier inside of her, she felt the wetness leaking out, and it made her burn in shame and sent her off an unexpected orgasm.
Azaerys did not stop.
He pounded her insides with a relentless passion, and painfully clawed her waist, helping her reply to his thrusts.
Her back arched so invitingly when she came undone that he could not help but lean in and bite her shoulder.
It was an instinctive action, and instantly, her walls clamped around him in a vice grip.
Her body spasmed in his arms, and unable to bear the excruciating pleasure, he inseminated her womb.
Lyanna, who was panting for breath, suddenly heard him chuckling close to her ear, which infuriated her.
"Why are you laughing?" She coldly asked.
"I am stuck." He whispered and chuckled some more.
"Stuck?" She frowned, and when she felt him try to pull back and fail, her mind clicked.
The Stark panicked, but Azaerys stopped her from standing straight.
"Don't change the position. It's quite uncomfortable for me." He told her and held her by her waist, lifting her a little, allowing her legs to relax. "Take deep breaths and stop thinking about it. You need to relax."
"How can I relax?!!"
"Lyanna!" He shouted back at her, and suddenly, both of them started laughing loudly at the ridiculousness of the situation.
Eventually, after a short while, the King did manage to free himself from her confines. And he was not deterred by the deathly, vice grip of her insides as he helped her undress and carried her to the bed.
This time, he made love to her in the gentlest of manners. He showed her pleasure that she had thought was never possible.
And when Lyanna, exhausted to the core, fell asleep on top of his warm body, in the safety of his arms, she had the best sleep of her life in years.
For the next several nights, he kept visiting her at night, and she boldly capitalised on any opportunity she found where she was alone with him.
Eventually, his visits became less frequent as his wives started holding him in their Chamber, and during the daytime, he was always busy with his duties as the Lord of Dragonport or accompanied Rhaenys for training.
By the end of the Second Moon, Lyanna, Laeha, and Laena were all with a child, and the Stark was panicking beyond what she had ever done in a long, long time.
Her panic rose when Azaerys told them that he was sending them to Siren for a couple of years.
She, however, refused to go back. Not willing to face Elia and Ashara right now, and given how she could easily cry those days, he did not push her.
Laeha and Laena were wiser, and in the dark of the night, they were sent to Asshai on a Vessel of Red Priests and the servants of the Lord of Light who had come to see Azaerys. Their maids and fifty Kharzik Warriors left with them.
The Targaryen King too wanted to go with them, but his presence was required at Dragonport, and Rhaenys alone could not handle everything in his absence.
Some very important matters required his attention.
Besides, since Lyanna had chosen to stay in the City, he had to stay with her.