Benjicot Blackwood – King's Landing – 131 AC

Ben Blackwood was one and ten when he lost his father at the Battle of the Burning Mill. If he was truly honest, Ben had barely been a part of the battle. He had kept in the reserve with the rest of the greenboys. Had the Bracken horse not charged the right flank and threatened a collapse then he wouldn't have faced battle at all. When it was over, the men told him that House Blackwood had won that battle but Ben had saw no victory that day. 'Only corpses'

Today he lost a mother, while Alys had been his aunt by blood it had been her who had mothered him since his own had died bleeding on the birthing bed. It was Alys that had read him stories when he couldn't sleep or when the older squires picked him it had been Alys to protect him. She had been as close to him as nothing else in the world, and now…

A few more tears left him as he stared at the wrapped body, the linen used soaked in scented oils to mask the smell. He had seen the body without the linen and it was horrifying. There was no gentle to say it, most of the skin had been burned off completely 'and in some places it had been possible to see the bone'. Ben couldn't bring himself to connect the charred thing in front of him with the strong and beautiful woman that he seen a scant few hours ago.

He remembered Stark's impromptu war council, Alys had been commanded to lead the second wave of soldiers through the Old Gate to reinforce Lord Kermit's initial charge. 'Why did I not protest the order? I would have gladly died in her place'. The invasion had gone almost perfectly as Lord Stark planned, on all fronts the Green's were disorganised and breaking, and by evening the city would be theirs.

'And then. The dragon'

A column of purple and red fire descended down from the heavens and unto the cobblestone-paved road of Jaehaerys Street. 'The men call it the Street of Ash now'. The flames cared not for Green or Black, they burned both with impunity. From the scattered reports from what few survivors from the battle, the fire had began from the Red Keep and had annihilated the Greens in their entirety.

That caused the men to cheer for a few seconds but the beast hadn't stopped. Their cheer quickly turned to screams when the dragon continued its stream of flame unto the Black lines. It stopped before long but that was that meant nothing to the scores of blacks that were already aflame and screaming. Alys was among them, 'She led from the front as brave as any other'. Ben could barely look at the body for long before he was forced to tears.

So he left the mansion that the Blackwood men had seized in his name as he made his way out he received respectful nods from the men. Ben mused on the matter as way to distract his mourning mind. It wasn't long ago that he was seen as a green boy, barely used wielding a sword. But now? When men remembered the Dance of Dragons, the Lord of Raventree Hall 'Bloody' Ben Blackwood stood as a major warlord of the conflict. The victor of half a dozen battles and countless skirmishes, and a dragonslayer to boot! Such accolades were far cry for a second son who's own father expected little from. And now with the disappearance of Lord Kermit during the Battle for King's Landing, he stood as Warden of Trident in the interim.

Although if the rumours were true, Stark wanted to see House Blackwood as the most powerful house of the Trident. Rumours varied from House Blackwood being granted Harrenhal or Stone Hedge or even Oldstones, while what land or castle was being given to him varied, the constant was that it was being done at the behest of Lord Stark. While Ben was more than pleased for such advancement he had to wonder why the Lord of the North favoured him so heavily. For while House Blackwood had always got along well the northmen for they both worshipped the Old Gods, they had made no extraordinary effort to ingratiate themselves with the northerners.

Thus Ben was forced to speculate why, and all that had done was make him assume that there was some political machinations going above his head. 'Well, I'm sure I'll find out at some point' Politics had always been difficult for Ben to grasp mostly because his Maester had barely started teaching him before the war started but the fact that Ben was a second son, learning politics seemed pointless when he wouldn't need it.

Either way, Ben may have been young but he wasn't a fool. He was aware of the tensions arising within the Blacks, what had once been united behind the strength of Lord Stark was now factionalised with the reintroduction of the Sea Snake and his dragon. From what his men had heard and passed unto him, the Valelords prefered Velaryon over Stark and so had shifted their support accordingly.

Although, Ben thought that preference was due less to the aged charms of the Sea Snake and more the size of his dragon. Regardless of how large Velaryon's dragon was Ben would not support him, 'how could he when he had lost kin by the dragon's flame?' and Ben had yet to even glimpse the Sea Snake let alone receive some kind of apology. The valyrian had kept himself to the harbour and the Red Keep, for reasons that yet escaped him.

And anyway, Ben had greater issues to deal with as he had been ordered by Lord Stark to support the Goldcloaks in restoring order to city. Even with a thousand veteran river and northmen as his command, pacifying the city was far more difficult than he had expected. The greens that had not died in the battle scurried to the shadows and were plotting rebellion in secret. It was to Ben to ensure that such men did not threaten the Black hold on the city. 'Not as if it could be in any more in threat'.

While the Blacks held King's Landing, Stark had threatened to take his army to Harrenhal more than once over what could euphemistically be called 'disagreements' with the Sea Snake. Although they were closer to open conflict than any kind of discussions and with no peaceful resolution in sight. Stark's northern lords were especially bitter over the Street of Ashes, only barely holding off from open declaring Corlys a traitor for swearing his allegiance to Aegon the Usurper and killing Black swords.

As for himself, Ben stood with the northmen on this matter, for had it not been northmen led by Roddy the Ruin that had supported the Riverlords? Who was Corlys Velaryon to him but the dragonrider who killed his sister?

No, if the Northlords left King's Landing then the Riverlords would leave with them. He swore it on the Ravenstree, he swore it on linen-wrapped body he walked away from, he swore it on Alys.

Larys Strong – King's Landing – 131 AC

"So tell me Clubfoot, are you with me? For the realm."

The voice that spoke was rough but well-cultured. The man that spoke it even more so; Colys Velaryon, a figure who was perhaps one of the most interesting men alive. The Sea Snake was a man far past his prime but yet stood as strong and resolute as men far younger, truly his valyrian heritage shone through. One of the few Westerosi to see Yi Ti and one of the even fewer to make it back alive.

However despite his charms, Larys had little love for the old Velaryon. While Corlys had done him no wrong, his old ally the Rogue Prince had done him much and plenty. 'And that's why you started the Dance isn't it Larys? Out of spite.' His thoughts were special kind of poison, so corrosive in its truth.

"Larys? Are you still with me?" Corlys sounded annoyed at his hesitance, "Speak man!"

Larys blinked thrice and then refocused his vision on the man before him. His guess earlier was correct, Corlys did seem upset, although whether it was to him was the question. "Yes, Velaryon I am listening. Although I must admit that I am not quite certain of what you want from me"

Corlys sighed, "I thought I was being clear" he muttered, "what I want from you Clubfoot is your support and spies. I realise that since Aegon's death we have been… distracted from the larger ongoings of the realm"

'Speak for yourself, valyrian' While Corlys had been busying himself with political strife of the Blacks, Larys had instead spent his time listening. His spies had kept him well informed of the what had been happening in Westeros and beyond. And what delicious happenings they were, the general trend was that the wars were winding down but post-war order? That would surely set the stage for the next century or more.

Still, Larys saw what Corlys wanted from him but the Sea Snake would not gain it freely, "And how may I help you in that area my Lord Regent?" 'Regent? What does such a title mean when half the realm is in open rebellion and the other half despises you?' "If I was Master of Whisperers I may have some information to that affect but seeing as I have been put under house arrest..." for the suspicion of killing Aegon II. How could he? Larys had little to gain from the man's death especially after what happened to poor Maelor, but Lord Stark cared little for such things such as facts, evidence or motives.

Corlys had a thoughtful look for a second before narrowing those piercing blue-green eyes of his, "You want your seat on the Small Council?" Larys noted it was not a question but instead a statement. "What else?"

Larys thought quick before answering, "Harrenhal with its lands intact, and a guarantee that Princess Jaehaera will come to no harm. That she will have your protection."

Corlys eyes soften slightly in response before nodded, "I can agree to those terms, now are you with me?" the speed at which he agreed made Larys think that he could have pushed for more before dismissing the thought. 'the higher one rises the greater one falls, just ask the Hightowers'

Larys sighed before looking at Velaryon's eyes, "For the realm? Yes, you will have my support." support towards what though? That was the question.

The man before him visibly relaxed and sat down, "That makes things much easier, with you at hand we may actually peace before the moon's end."

Peace? How strange the word seemed now, after only two years of war. "And how many deaths?" Deaths caused by his actions, 'what I did was right, if Rhaenyra sat on the throne Daemon would have ruined us all' Yes, he was right in what he did. All those deaths had a purpose, it wasn't needless slaughter that could, should have been avoided. It was needed.

Larys forced himself to refocus on the matter at hand, "And, how is that to be achieved, my lord? And where in this would my aid be necessary?"

"Well, I would see you restored as Master of Whisperers" that was a surprise, Larys would have expected Corlys wanting him to stay in Harrenhal till he died quietly and without trouble. The man continued, "with you on the Small Council, Storm's End and the Hightower would see that this peace one of equals not one dictated by sword point" that was good plan and could lead to a good peace. He found nothing to disagree with here, "but Lord Stark wishes for war, why? I know not but he can not be allowed to lead the Blacks if he does then the realm shall come to utter ruin"

Larys thought on what he knew of Lord Stark and on Velaryon's words for a long moment before speaking carefully "What makes you say this my lord?"

Velaryon sighed and spoke angrily, "Stark and I have had disagreements on a few minor matters," 'the Pact' Larys realised, a little more than a 'minor matter' as the Sea Snake put it. It was the entire reason why there was a northern army in King's Landing and a good reason why the Greens had not won the war. Still, the man continued "in response, he has threatened to take his army north to sulk in Harrenhal till he receives 'his due', whatever that is."

That would not be good for a number of reasons, the main one being that Black hold on the city was tenuous, 'that was an understatement' and rested mainly on their army of which the North made up the largest contingent. To lose the North now could lead to another uprising in the city, 'the last one killed five dragons and tens of thousands of smallfolk', what it said of Larys that he valued the five dragons greater than countless dead he refused to think on.

Larys had to do something he felt and so he spoke up with a warning in his voice "My lord we cannot allow the North to leave the city, if we do then we invite disaster."

The Sea Snake narrowed his eyes at this, "What do you mean by disaster?"

Larys sighed and replied, "Prince Qoren is no longer just the Prince of Dorne but now styles himself as Prince of Dorne and the Stepstones." 'and that's the least of your troubles. Wait until you hear what the Lyseni are doing'

The very second he finished speaking, Corlys threw himself up and roared "What! How is that possible?!"

Larys sighed 'why do I feel like I will be doing that often?', "With the Iron Throne embroiled in civil war, some of the Dornish lords pushed for war in revenge of the Aegon's Conquest"

"Yes, I am aware of this. Rhaenyra offered them concessions if they marched against the Stormlands and the Hightowers in the war. Qoren never replied to her. What does that have to do with it?"

"Well, Qoren decided to go to war after all but chose to look to the east rather than west. He called his banners and chose his son Qyle to lead the invasion."

"Why? The man chose peace did he not?"

"From what I understand, Sunspear's choice of peace did not sit well with the Dornish lords whose blood ran hot, in fact, there were whispers of a conspiracy in the desert forming against him." 'a conspiracy that he crushed without mercy'

Despite his neutrality, only fools would dare call Prince Qoren weak. "At the behest of his children, Qoren was persuaded to war but instead of men marching through the Prince's Pass-"

In his impatience, the Sea Snake interrupted him "They were sailing into Bloodstone and Grey Gallows, yes you have alluded to such. The question here is why?"

Larys buried his irritation of the man infront of him deep, and answered the Lord Regent, "After the Battle of the Gullet, the Triarchy was plagued with infighting paralysing their government to the point of incompetence. To this capitalise on this Braavos formed a coalition between themselves, Pentos and Lorath all united in breaking the Triarchy once and for all."

Corlys looked interested at the news at Essosi had descended to war nearly the same time as the Westerosi had. Larys grew suspicious at this,'What are you thinking of Sea Snake?' When men such as Corlys Velaryon made plans it was the work of men such as Larys to find out what those plans were.

Larys continued, "Dorne entered this war shortly after its inception and on the side of the Braavosi. My spies tell me the Braavo-Dornish fleets swept across the Stepstones unchallenged crushing the remnants of the Triarchy's once grand navy. In the process, Dornish spears occupied key islands as they moved through the archipelago. Qyle Martell took Bloodstone himself with five thousand spears, a bloody and hard-fought victory but victory nonetheless."

After a long moment of silence where Corlys looked contemplative and Larys tried to decipher what the man could be thinking. The valyrian spoke, "Dorne cannot be allowed to hold the Stepstones." The statement was short and made Corlys' thoughts on the matter clear, he continued "With the combined strength of Manderly, Redwyne and Grafton fleets it will be a simple matter to force the Dornish to surrender the Stepstones"

'Interesting, no mention of the Royal or Velaryon fleets? How curious' On paper Corlys' plan was sound if somewhat flawed, however in reality it very much was practically nonsensical. The Redwyne fleet was still very much at war with the Ironborn and it was only due to their efforts that the entirety of the Sunset Sea wasn't an Ironborn fief. To drag them away for a war in the Narrow Sea was unthinkable. Mainly as it would see the Hightower in flames and Oldtown sacked, although the late Queen Rhaenyra probably dreamt about such things. 'And that's even if they don't immediately burn any letters sent by the Blacks'.

As for House Manderly, Larys doubted that the Lord of White Harbour would give Corlys any aid when Houses Stark and Velaryon were so against each other. And that left only the Graftons, of which Larys doubted would be equal to Dorne let alone Braavos.

However what made Larys suspicious was that he was certain, surely Corlys knew about the various strengths of the different houses as well as which would follow him and which would not. Which made Larys suspect that Corlys had been busy scheming, 'what is your plan?' however while Larys wondered he was not too concerned about those plans. While Larys feared Corlys, he was confident that the man had the best interests at heart. 'he is not the monster that Daemon was'

No, the Sea Snake was not the Rogue Prince but was that enough reason for Larys to trust him?

'For now? Yes'