Delivering The Dragon
Chapter 1: Dragonstone
The wind howled outside, Aegon closed his eyes and listened to it, taking a deep breath and feeling it. Really feeling it. His entire life had been spent on Dragonstone, apart from the times when he had gone to war, or when he had travelled in secret through Westeros to see how the people there lived. He was twenty-seven years old, and in that time trade to Dragonstone had increased seven-fold, they traded in Dragonglass, and in gems and diamonds that he had discovered buried near Dragonmont. Dragonstone was rich, and they controlled the seas, and yet he hungered for more.
Aegon was not simply content to be Lord of Dragonstone as his father had been, and his father before him. He wanted more, he wanted that thing that Daenys the Dreamer had seen in her visions before the Doom. He wanted the Iron Throne, he wanted Westeros. He wanted to be King. He looked at the map before him on the table and smiled. It would be his soon. Of that he was sure. His visions had confirmed that. Westeros would be his and his dynasty would last for centuries. Perhaps even for millennia.
He looked at the map and spoke. "The time for planning has come to an end. The time for action is upon us." He took a moment, looked away from the map and then continued. "Visenya, you have read through the annals of the Seven Kingdoms and you have travelled with me. Tell me what you think."
Visenya his older sister, and his older wife spoke. "My lord, the people of the Seven Kingdoms are divided. There are the northmen who remain aloof from everything and everyone. They are loyal to the Starks and as such will follow the Starks wherever they go. The Valemen are loyal to the Arryns, but they are ruled by a woman who is past her childbearing years, and her son is a boy who some say lacks sense. He is but a boy, that is true, but such murmuring will be worth considering in the future. The Westerlands are united behind Loren Lannister, a man who wishes for a great many things, but cannot achieve them, due to the power of his rival. King Mern of House Gardener, is the most powerful of all the Kings in Westeros and the most dangerous. He will be the one who will cause trouble. The Stormlands and Iron Islands are ruled by two dynasties that have reached the peak of their powers and are on the decline. Argilac Durrandon, has only one daughter. And Dorne, Dorne is ruled by an old toad whose grasp on power is weak."
Aegon nodded. "And of course we know that Torrhen Stark is amenable to our rule." That had been a good thing. He had spent a lot of time observing the different Kings and had seen Torrhen Stark as someone who would work well with him. Stark had been a second son, his older brother Brandon having died fighting the Ironborn many years ago. He had not wanted to be King, and yet he was, and as such it was a great burden. Add in that song and as such Aegon was not surprised that the man would want to bend. "Of course, our dragons cannot go north right way. We shall need to ease into that. So, tell me, with this information where would you consider going?"
"My lord, Storm's End is the right way to go." Visenya said. "Argilac is old and stupid, he has but one daughter, she can be removed easily enough. No doubt he will fight, but he can be easily defeated. We already have the Masseys, the Bar Emmons, the Marcher lords will come to our side once they see the dragons. It would be fitting to make Storm's End the new capital of this union."
Orys spoke then, their bastard brother, who was Aegon's closest friend. "My lord, whilst I see the sense in what my lady Visenya is saying, I think it would make more sense to land somewhere else. Storm's End is on Shipbreaker's Bay that is not going to be an easy place to land, and to then have to fight an army or to take that castle in a siege? That would be sure to ruin the army. Even with three dragons, you will need men to fight. And men can die."
Aegon nodded, and listened as Visenya replied. "Where then would you send men? The Riverlands would be madness, the Ironborn rule the water. The Vale is mountainous. You need a spot where you can land, set up camp and form a new capital."
Before Orys could reply, Aegon pointed to a location at the mouth of the Blackwater. "Here. This area, there is nothing there. It is fertile land, and will bring many people to it. Furthermore, it will be easy for our ships to land there and for more resources and supplies to come. That is where my city shall be."
There was a moment's pause and then Lord Daemon Velaryon, his cousin spoke. "We shall have more than enough ships to land there, my lord."
Aegon nodded pleased with that. He could see it all forming before him. "Of course, I expect that Argilac will want to act against me when he learns where I have landed. He claims the land around the Blackwater, and he will get the Darklyns and the Rosby family to rally against me. They will be brought to heel sure enough, Lord Rosby is old and Lord Darklyn an idiot." Aegon had met both men and he knew how to make their buttons be broken or pressed down. "Durrandon has put forward an offer of his daughter's hand in marriage to me, and he will give me the land that is Harren Hoare's."
He looked around the table, he saw Lord Daemon's bemused look, he saw Orys hide a grin behind his hand. Rhaenys and Visenya looked angered. He knew they did not consider anyone not of Valyrian blood worthy of their or his hand in marriage. "I have refused his offer, and instead offered your hand for his daughter, Orys." Aegon said.
Orys looked surprised. "Me, my lord? Why?"
"Because you are my brother, and are worthy of a Lady of Storm's End." Aegon said simply.
"And what if Argilac rejects the offer?" Visenya asked, as they all knew he would.
"Why, then he will simply learn why it is not good to anger the Dragon." Aegon said simply.
There was a general chorus of merriment at that. Rhaenys took his hand then, and Aegon knew that the meeting would need to end. "I want the fleet ready to depart by the moon's end. We shall be taking Westeros and completing our destiny before the year is over." He knew that perhaps it would take longer than that, but it felt good to say. "You are all dismissed." Orys and Daemon bowed their heads and walked out. Visenya and Rhaenys remained. Aegon looked at Rhaenys and asked. "What is it, my love?"
"Your seed has quickened, my King, I am with child." Rhaenys said.
Aegon looked at his sister, his eyes wide. "You are sure?" He remembered the previous pregnancy Rhaenys had gone through and how it had ended in tears.
"I am sure, I checked with the Maester and with Visenya." Rhaenys said.
Aegon looked at their older sister who nodded. "It is true, I used the normal spells. She is with child, my King."
Aegon pulled his two wives to him and kissed both of them in joy. "Our child shall be born a Prince or Princess."