Fifth Moon of the Journey

  Near on three days of storms have left us slowly limping towards the nearest port, a city called New Ghis so I'm told. Yet, it doesn't matter I am so close... we've successfully passed through the Jade Gates, and the imperial lands are now behind us. The Summer Sea now stretches out before us, these very waters remember the power of Old Valyria, and rage at what was lost to greed. Yes, greed for I have been blessed with a vision of how Valyria fell so I may guide the lord's chosen.

  The Fourteen Flames, blessings of R'hllor yet worshiped by the Dragonlord's as false idols. Below the great fires lay nigh infinite wealth gold, silver, jewels and gems of all kinds. This is where greed comes, the freehold dug deeper and deeper too deep. Their mines produced a great font of wealth and materials yet as they dug the mines became dangerous. Cave ins, magma, noxious gasses and abominations of nature. The Valyrians would not risk themselves to satiate the fires, no they instead looked outwards. First they turned to the Ghiscari, then the Rhoynish and then the Andals. The Freehold's conquest was for many things but primarily it was for manpower.

  Slaves

  The peoples of western Essos from Pentos to Quarth men, women and children where chained and brought to Valyria. There they were tossed into the great maw of the fire mines from which infinite wealth was extracted in exchange for life. The flames hungered for life itself... and when they didn't receive enough the false idols would rumble in rage and the great mines would falter in their bounty. Eventually this hunger became too great and the magic used to restrain the flames was weakened. That is The Doom, when the Valyrians took too much and gave too little in return. They failed to sacrifice enough so in exchange their debt was fulfilled with their dragons, lives and empire.

  Now, my acolytes have grown more proficient in the art of glamour, yet it still appears to tax their minds and bodies. I caught one of the younger ones, Taren, attempting to summon the spirit of his long since deceased mother, I administered a firm correction. The Lord of Light grants us this holy power for greater purpose, not for mundane and trivial affairs.

  As for magic, the comet has changed. Though it still burns a deep crimson in the sky, now in it's tail I have noticed threads of gold. I am... unsure of the meaning at this time. The flames have shown me two paths. We pass through the Smoking Sea directly through the heart of Valyria or... we skirt across the edges like the common sailing ships do. I know what path we must take.

  As of now the entire ship's crew prostrate themselves in the front of my fires. Even the once sceptical and scornful captain now bows before the lord's glory. They know that they will never see their homelands again, though they believe they shall live on long past their mortals time in the form of stories and songs. The devout crew who ferried the holy woman to the lord's champion. They don't understand the cost of such immortality. Useless fools.

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  In my dreams... I walk the halls of my destination. I know every curve of it's walls, every shadow in it's corners and every crack in it's floors. Dragonstone... it enters my mind like a swarm and refuses to leave. Yes I know my destiny and my destination now.

  I must wake the dragon, and I must be the one to guide it on it's first flight.

  ---

  Seventh Moon of the Journey

  The decision has been made. We must take the direct route through Old Valyria. The captain wept when I informed him, he knows what to sail into the ruins means. They only see the smoke on the distant horizon, not what treasures linger still in the Land of Always Summer. Beneath the false idols knowledge unimaginable waits for the intrepid to simply reclaim it.

  The great comet has split my visions... it shows two paths twining togethering like a pair of cobra. One burns with a golden fire , the other with ice so cold it burns with flame of black. The figure at the Dragon's Stone stands between and beyond the two. Other powers gather around him both of the bright and of the dark. The Lord of Light has chosen this place and time with great care, I mustn't disappoint. Purpose and malice brews in the west.

  The shadow glass no longer merely sings into the crews dreams... no it screams. It drives away fish, rats and seabirds sending them wheeling away in a mad death spiral. Our dreams are no longer our own instead we see dreams of dragons returning, cities burning green, of a wall of ice weeping. Three men have walked into the sea rather than face another night... weak fools their sacrifice shall simply ignite our fervour. My powers grow with each league we sail westward. but as magic goes they come with a price. Something in these waters strips deceit and falsehoods. It is becoming increasingly hard to hold my glamour, I saw my true appearance in the reflection of the water yesterday. It shook me yes... yet I now have a purpose. Nothing shall stop me from achieving it.

  I see Valyria now, through the banks of smoke and steam. Ruins of a great empire, the bones of petrified dragons smashed against the ground like they froze mid flight. Statues of... people made of ash coat the coast all in positions of fear and desperation. Cursed to forever stand still frozen in their last seconds. The water now grows warmer and at night creatures not born yet that will never die move beneath.

  Tonight I shall preform a ritual that will seal the fate of all onboard. The Lord demands sacrifice and the Smoking Sea demands it's own tribute. This ship and it's crew shall serve as my token of passage to be allowed to survive the doomed lands. Nothing else matters.

  One door closes behind me, while another door opens ahead. Through the fire of light we come, and through it we shall be cleansed.

  The night is dark and full of terrors, but the fire burns them all away.

  ALL OF THEM

  All of us.

  ~ Melisandre