Excerpt(s) of a maester's history on the events of a most terrible time in Westeros's history, written centuries after the fact. What caused such a crisis? Are the Water Kings really bastards? Can the sources surviving into the future be trusted to tell the truth? This maester of the Citadel seeks to answer just those sorts of questions. Oneshot.

Robert was slain at the Trident, the Mad King died a victim of his own madness, and Rhaegar passed away not long after. The young Targaryen children must now brave an uncertain world. What will be their fate when the last of the dragons are mere hatchlings surrounded by wolves, lions, krakens, and even worse?

Alexius was nobody important, not anymore. He had been the son of the Count of Kvatch, until the Lord found a bride and set aside his former lover and their son. But this is not the end of Alek's story, he will not be a footnote in history. In the waning days of the Third Era, the bastard of Kvatch will rise to become a hero, a champion, and perhaps something more.

In his early years, Emperor Neretzes had stabilized a tumultuous empire. His had been a reign of promise, and the Emperor had hoped to restore the Empire of Calradia to its glory days. But so many within and without the Empire wished to see him fail. In the year 1077, there came a battle in which the fate of the Empire was gambled. A battle which many say doomed the Empire.