A Maester's Finale

The Brightflame threat died with Maegor Brightflame the son of the mighty Aeron Brightflame. His empire crumbled around his children, Gaemon and Daenys Brightflame watched as the various nobles that their father and grandfather had brought to heel through force and fear began to rise up in rebellion, over the next ten years the Brightflame empire would lose Pentos, Tyrosh, Lys, Myr, Lorath, Qohor and the slaver cities. Only Volantis remained part of the empire. And that too under the regency of one Alegro Maegyr, a elephant triarchy who bribed his way into the regency. Gaemon and Daenys Brightflame would grow up to be the joint rulers of Volantis as in Valyria of old, and though some of their advisors would whisper about expanding their reign, they both steadfastly refused to do so and any who mentioned Westeros were hung out to dry or fed to the sea. The pair made it quite clear what they thought of expanding beyond Volantis.

The cities that once belonged to the empire now warred between each other, Bravos had silently broken away from the empire during the war in Westeros and now dominated Western Essos with an iron grip, the Iron Bank and the Faceless men inspiring fear and terror into the hearts of those who ruled elsewhere. Pentos governed by the Tattered Prince managed to remain out of many of the conflicts that arose by allying with Bravos, the mere mention of that city's name was enough to convince everyone else to leave Pentos alone. The dothraki emerged from out of the shadow led by one successive Khal after another, raping and plundering throughout the shadow and the lands beyond the shadow but never venturing close enough to Volantis to threaten the Brightflames, some said they had learn their lesson after what had happened to Khal Drogo, others claimed that the fact that Gaemon and Daenys came from a red witch, meant that they were impervious to attack. Whatever the cause, Volantis thrived and prospered under the peace that came with Gaemon and Daenys Brightflame.

Across the narrow sea peace and with it summer returned to Westeros, it seemed as if the defeating of the White Walkers lessened the effect winter was supposed to have on the kingdoms. Crops began growing during early spring, and the snows lessened enough to make travel much easier than it had been during previous winters. In the north, led by Lord Brandon Stark and Sigorn the Magnar of Thenn, entered a new age where an alliance was formed between the people of the north and the Free Folk. By decree of the king, land was given to the free folk, that land that had once been known as the gift, and the free folk soon proved their usefulness to the north. Helping to till the land and harvest it and contribute to defending the north from raiders from the sea, pirates who thought to use the winter for their own uses and even during the summer. Though such attempts lessened after a while.

Brandon Stark, the wild wolf was at the end of the war with the white walkers only one of two surviving children of Rickard Stark, his brother Eddard being the other. Their sister Lyanna having died in a bed of blood eighteen years before the war, and their brother Benjen slain by a white walker. Brandon Stark would go down in history as the hero who ended the long night before it could truly begin, and would be celebrated as such throughout the kingdoms, he would reign as Lord of Winterfell until his death in 320 A.L. from a fever. His son Robb, would rule well into his eighties continuing the peace and prosperity that his father had given him. The rest of his children would go onto achieve a great many things. Brandon Stark the younger would serve in the Kingsguard just as Brandon Stark the elder had, serving first under King Aemon and then under King Maekar and then King Maekar's son King Aenar. Lady Sansa Stark would go onto to wed Joffrey Arryn, after the heir to the Vale expressed an interest in her, and the princess Samaira decide to join the silent sisters. The Lady Arya would travel around the world, selling her trade as a swordswoman to the highest bidder.

Tywin Lannister served as Lord of the Rock and Hand of the King until his death in 315 A.L, he died in his sleep. His son Jaime would take the reigns as Lord of the Rock and would continue the peace his father had left him as well, ruling until his own death from fever in 355 A.L. The Lannisters enjoyed a period of fame they had not seen since the days before the Blackfyre wars began during this period, seen as the bringers of peace and the defenders of the true king, Aemon Targaryen. That the king held such a close relationship with them only served to reinforce this point. Cerenna Lannister was wed to Prince Laenor Targaryen who became Prince of a rebuilt Vulture's Roost and one of the most powerful lords in Dorne with his control over access to the Boneway Pass. At least one of Tywin's dreams was recognised.

House Hightower of Highgarden continued to light the way and grow strong during the reigns of King Aemon and King Maekar, defending the Reach and providing crops and resources for all during the short winter and the harsh spring that followed. The Tyrells gradually came back into the fold and continued to grow strong, though their power was not what it once was and they were still viewed with suspicion by others. Lord Garth Hightower died in 320 A.L. from the same illness that took the king, his son Mern continued the hard work his father had done and continued to expand the Hightower name and influence through various acts, which are too long to note down here.

As for House Targaryen, well the royal family became more and more loved as each year of peace rolled by. In fact when King Aemon died in 320 A.L. at the age of fifty five, the royal family were at their peak of popularity since the days of the old king Jaehaerys. And though some speculated that there could only be a steep decline from here, it seemed the gods had been kind and King Maekar when he came to the throne already a grandfather himself, continued the prosperity of what his father had toiled for. His rule, which last for thirty years was one that continued the peace and saw no wars or fighting happen in it. The crown's coffers continued to expand, and even boomed beyond previous levels during the falling out of the Brightflame Empire and with trade reopened they continued to grow.

All in all, peace had returned to Westeros and Essos, and this time it promised to be the everlasting peace that the singers sung about and maesters had written of and foretold in ages past. Eighty years have passed since the crushing of the Brightflame rebellion, and the restoration of the long peace, and not a war has been raged since then. Aemon Targaryen, the prince who was promised, the peace bringer, he saw peace return to the world. And with that, the story of Aerys I Targaryen and his descendants comes to a close. Fire and Blood, have finally brought peace and plenty.