Notes: I've finally got around to editing this chapter. No major changes in it, just a few details changed.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, it's all GRRM's.

Prologue

Aegon stood at the Painted Table looking over the lands of Westeros, his new desire. "Westeros should be united under one King, rather than these little Kingdoms." Aegon Targaryen was always one to get straight to the point. He had seen the way that the so-called Kings acted with each other and decided they were not fit to rule. "Why should they fight between themselves on this small continent when one great man could rule over all the land?"

"And how would you unite them?" Orys Baratheon questioned. He was seen as the sensible one in the preparations, looking at the finer details whilst Aegon looked at war.

"I don't know yet, I will convene a war council in the morning. Now enough talk of war, where are my sister-wives?" Aegon was tired of talking and wanted action, but he knew that he would have to wait until he would get what he wants.

"I believe they're in the bedchamber already, my Lord." With a small bow Orys left the painted table and returned to his bedchamber.

Aegon then took the long journey to go to his bedchamber where his wives were waiting. In Westeros it was considered very wrong to wed your sister, but for generations Targaryens had wed brother to sister in order to preserve the bloodline they had established. This ancient tradition had predated the Doom that fell onto Valyria, which caused the Targaryens to feel to Valyria's remaining stronghold, Dragonstone.

Aegon stepped into the bedchamber and immediately undressed. It took him several minutes to realise that neither Visenya nor Rhaenys were in the room with him. With an exasperated sigh, he got himself up and moved to the balcony. From here he could see his sisters out in the courtyard. He smiled as he saw their Targaryen silver hair blowing in the wind. They were deep in conversation and no doubt Aegon would hear about it soon enough.

As the time approach midnight Aegon wished to sleep, but sleep he would not. As the date of his planned invasion of Westeros approached, he slept ill and dreamt of repetitive images: the burning of men and grass, great columns of stone so hot they were melting, a young boy in a courtyard and a fleet of ships lay waste across the sea. It was these images that kept Aegon awake. It was these images that made him doubt himself. Still he attempted to get some sleep, and wondered what insight this night would bring.

Upon the next morning Aegon awoke to an empty bed. He got up and dressed immediately, before going to study the Painted Table, a new ritual he had adopted. He had hoped the Orys will have told his councillors of his plan for a war council that morning, and was glad to see Orys, Visenya and Rhaenys waiting for him at the Painted Table.

"Where is Daemon?" Aegon was concerned that his close friend, and the best sailor he knew, had disappeared at a time when he was needed. "I specifically asked for a war council, how can this occur when we are one member short?

"Give him time Aegon, now to business." Rhaenys was trying to diffuse the tension and stress that was clearly already built up in Aegon.

"Yes, well as you know, it is my ambition to unite these so-called Seven Kingdoms under one ruler, so that Westeros will be able to prosper in a way not seen before. It is my opinion that we should prepare for war immediately, because the longer we wait, the more time these so-called Kings have time to prepare for our invasion." Aegon knew that his ideas would not be received well, his council were more cautious than he was, but he had seen himself as King, and knew it was his destiny.

"My Lord is that wise? We have little strength to our army and despite the added help from your heritage, I don't know whether it will be enough to take these Kingdoms for your own." Once again Orys made Aegon doubt his plans. "Would it not be wiser to wait for more support and then attack at our strongest?"

"We would run the risk of fighting enemies at their strongest too, get them at a time of surprise and they will crumble with their holdfasts, let me assure you." Daemon was good at bold entrances, even if they later than needed.

"Daemon, glad you could join us." Orys had always distrusted Daemon, but did not say anything that may offend Aegon, "it is still a great risk."

"With respect Orys, anything we do will have great risks, this is war we are talking about." At least Aegon was glad Visenya had made her point. Orys would argue with Daemon, and place doubt on Aegon, but when one of the women got involved, he knew the game was up.

"It's no greater threat than when I have gone to the holdfasts under cover." Aegon regretted what he said immediately. Only Visenyaand himself knew about this and could have almost predicted the response he got.

"You mean you have already visited these places?" Rhaenys said incredulously. She was the epitome of Targaryen beauty, the silvery long strands falling on her shoulders and the deep violet eyes that drew you in when you stared at them, but she often lacked the intelligence of war thatVisenya had, preferring poetry and singing.

"Of course, I must understand my enemy before I plan war, now there is a great deal to discuss, let us sit." Aegon invited the group to sit around the table as breakfast was served

"I intend to inform the so-called Kings of the Seven Kingdoms soon of my preposition to unite the continent into one Kingdom, but to do this I will require some lords to rally to my side and a credible story to threaten these Kings already. How would you suggest I go about this?"

Aegon looked around at the faces he would soon trust in war and studied them in detail. Orys had some elements of Targaryen blood, such as the violet eyes, but his hair was as black as night, which he inherited through his mother. Rhaenys looked the part as a future queen in her new red gown and her hair flowing over her shoulders. Visenya looked more prepared for the war to come, wearing clothes that looked like dragonskin and a hungered look in her final person Aegon studied was the man at the end, Daemon. He was new to their council, but had already proven useful. He was a small, weedy man who looked like he could barely lift a bag of wheat, yet he was smart and strategic and a great help to Aegon.

"We could establish ourselves at the Blackwater Rush, perhaps crown you and then gain support from neighbouring lords." Daemon had once again proven his use to Aegon, and was glad to have his support in this upcoming battle.

"Wouldn't that annoy Harren? Should we risk such a brave statement at the start of our campaign?" Aegon admired Orys for trying to continue a plan to appease everyone. His half-brother was not against war, but had taken a more modest approach to war, after seeing the reaction of the others at the meetings.

"No matter what we do we will annoy one of the Kings, we have to start somewhere and I feel it is as good a place as any. Besides, that is the point of our conquest. Orys, call the bannersand prepare for invasion. Daemon I want the ships ready and prepared for sailing before the week is out and my beautiful wives, we must prepare for our fight." And with that Aegon left the room with a wife around each arm, out of the castle and to the courtyard. From here he saw the beauty of Targaryen heritage in all its glory. "Magnificent as always," Aegon sighed. "These are what will win us this war."

Above them the three Targaryen dragons flew around in some form of dance, showing the start of what was to come.