Aegon Targaryen when I first read the letter written I thought nothing of it. Sure he had Dragons. But if one was smart they would be able to fell even the black dread. His forces were small and only had a single commander of note his bastard brother Ory's. And so I held up in my castle and waited for another upstart to be squashed like every other upstart before him. But he sent a few of his vampire knights to watch the fools campaign. Soon word reached the Impaler of the war waged in the Riverlands telling him of how almost eighty percent of the Riverlords had rebelled and declared for Aegon, then he heard how Harren held up in his castle waiting for Aegon to and his army to return to the muck and Dracula agreed for he knew that any army would be broken on Harren's walls. But Dragon fire answered thus ending the line of House Hoare.
The Riverlands had been Aegon's first victory. As Aegon conquered the Riverlands his friend and half brother Orys and Aegon's sister-wife Rheany moved to the Stormlands. Argilac rode out to meet his enemy and met the Targaryen host in the battle that became known as the last storm. Those Argilac was strong and had more men he like Harren unestimated Dragon fire and in the center of the fighting Orys slew the last Stormking. Soon after bringing the rest of the Stormlands to the Targaryen banner. Orys took Argilac's daughter as his wife.
But then came an unlikely alliance of the Rock and reach marched against House Targaryen. In the field of fire Red, Green, and Black met and House Lannister was humbled and bent the knee. But house Gardner's line was ended. So bringing Rock and Reach into the fold. In the Reach, he placed House Tyrell into power making them lords of the Reach.
In the North King Torhhen Summoned his leads listening to their counsel. Most were not worried and even placed bets on how long it would take for the south to burn. Torhhen silenced the hall and ordered them to raise their hosts for war. They did and the full might of the north marched south an army that was posied to end the Dragon and maybe make a Northern Empire. But when Torhhen reached the trident he was met by the full might of Aegon's conquest. Flying above them were all three of his Dragons. That night Torhhen called a conference of his lords, Many voiced that they should face the enemy and let Northern valor carry the day. The wiser among them voiced a withdraw to Moat Calin where every southern invasion was broken. There was even a man who voiced a night raid. But when the Morning sun rose Torhhen showed his wisdom and bent the knee saving his people.
And in only a few days the Vale of Arryn for a ride of Visenya's dragon bent the knee. Then Ageon moved to Old town where he was declared King. Shortly after the Iron Throne was forged and King's landing rose around the Red Keep. Rheany's went south to Dorne while her siblings went to the Black Vale. When word reached me of their approach and how thirty thousand men followed them I rode out to met them not in the field but in the night. As Ageon entered my lands Me and my Coven descended upon them using hit and run tactics we picked at the Conquers forces burning tents, foods, and setting camps on fire. Each day the Men of Aegon's host would be found impaled along the road before them each body drained of blood. But Aegon pushed forward his Sister wife flew forward burning villages in retribution for each raid. But each village burned fueled my forces more as my Men-at-arms became more bloodthirsty with each Village burned. By the Time they were camped outside my Castle they had lost a third of there army.
They fortified there position raising wooden walls and a deep ditch in the front. The camp was divided into three camps the main force of the Crownlands took the middle. The Knights of the vale took the two side camps. The animals were placed behind the encampment those the dragons slept by the next to there riders tents. As the castle was sieged with a Garrison of sixty vampires knights and six hundred men-at-arms. They were only a small fraction of Dracula's forces. Seeing this Aegon lift leaving Visenya in charge of the camp. Visenya, after her lord husband left, tried to fly over the castle to burn it. But as she neared the walls twelve Scorpions opened fire One catching Vhagar in the joint sending the dragon to the ground. It did not kill the beast sadly those it insured that the siege would last. And last it did for a time of three months they sieged the castle in that time Visenya had been recalled to Dorne to help her siblings. In her place was Crownlands lord who merely continued the siege. But as he waited for the garrison to surrender Dracula was making meetings with a foe he never considered for aid. The mountain clans those having a burning hatred for the Andals considered the Black vale as an Ally and so Dracula saw no reason to fight them. So as his Garrison bought time he slowly gathers more warriors till he had an army of nearly six thousand warriors.
Upon his return, he found his Enemy still sieging Blood Spire and in the cover of night he sent a knight to establish contact giving them their Orders. When he got word back he prepared to make his move. A week later under cover of a blood moon, Dracula and his allies struck. He leading his knights and men-at-arms moved to attack the center camp while the clansmen struck the sides. It worked his men broke a hole in the enemies wooden wall and in a fury mounted knights charged through the breach cutting down men, tent, and rope as they moved through the camp followed by the men-at-arms who finished any in there way. On the sides of the camp, Mountian clans attacked using premade ramps they moved over the walls of the camp before charging there stunned enemies. The Commander of the Targaryen forces rallied his men around his tent and formed a shield wall to face the enemy. As the enemy met Dracula in the front the Garrison moved. The gates opened and the knights and men-at-arms charged out. It was a slaughter the enemy was surrounded, tired, and the fire was all around. The army broke.
Out of the eighteen thousand who sieged the camp only a thousand escaped the camp. But they were not left in peace for all the while they fled they were hunted by the Knights of Dracula till every man had been driven from his land leaving around forty men to have survived the Campaign. A few months later Aegon received the skull of the commander's eyes plucked out, blood drained. Aegon wanted his head but Dorne was a more pressing matter as what was supposed to be a quick war became a brutal war over Dornish Independence. Dracula gave the princess of Dorne credit for no other was able to humble the Dragon yet there Dorne stood tall as the Dragon's bent more and more. But Aegon gave the order to pull back and prepare for a full-scale invasion. And as material, food, men, and ships weres ready for war. Aegon and his sister wives flew to my Dominion on their Dragons it was time for a meeting. Soon the last living Dragons who had caused such fear and change would meet one who did the same a few thousand years ago.
It was as the sun reached it's zenith that they landed before the gates of my castle crossbows trained down on each of the three. As they dismounted the gates of Blood spire opened and before them was a Man. He looked middle aged with long thick black hair tied in a short pony tale, he wore a fine suit of black and white with a large necklaces that carried a large ruby in the center, he wore no crown. His brown eye shun a warning amber for a mere moment before he breathed and began his Approach.
To Aegon, it was liking at a idle. In his youth, he had read of the impaler, the blood king, the butcher of the Erie. Now walked toured them a light smile on his pale lips. But Aegon kept a hard face for before them was no man he had not been one for many centuries, no before them was that to which many talked of in fear for the riders in black and red, the beasts in the skin of a man who fed on all those of mortal birth. A vampire stood true as day and even more worrying as he was the first.
For Visenya it was the bastard who had slain her men in cold blood draining all of whom followed her and Aegon. The beast who gave no mercy to those who had surrendered. The image of lord Bronn black-sun returned to her mind as she remembered a drained skull of the man she left in charge. Looking back at her Dragon she saw the scar left on it's shoulder from the Scorpions who even now she bet wear trained in on the Dragons. But she held herself as she saw the blade on the mans hip. Dragon's bane the blade the Impalers house was said to have earned from slaying a Dragon rider and his dragon. It held another name those a more well known name Bloodthirstier a name that fitted the blade as well as it's another title. As Dracula approached she placed her hand on her own blade.
Rheany's those didn't look at the man's past or present actions. She looked into his eyes and saw something she didn't expect, a tiredness that spoke of bloody wars, betrayals, long nights of no rest, loss of many dear to him, She saw a human with years of pain who still wore the scars of his wars those not seen still spoke for his experience. Each step he took seemed more than forced as he got closer and closer. He carried himself as a man of anger his fists clenched in a cold fury.
As the Dracula was sword length he stopped not bowing before the royals before him. For a moment all stood not saying anything merely looking one another. Then The blood king spoke in a strong predatory voice reflecting his Vampire nature." I grant you Aegon first of his name guest right under my hold."
The siblings blinked surprised by this. Aegon replied." Why are we not enemies."
The old king answered." I see no reason why even enemies can't eat."
"And what will we be eating Impaler," Vesenya said still gripping her sword.
"Hmm let me think... Oh yes! tonight we will be dining on boar with Dornish red wine. Will, that please you?" Dracula said matching the eyes of the queen.
"You can eat meat?" The youngest asked, Dracula merely chuckled.
"Those I no longer gain anything from it I still have a regular meal from time to time. Now will accept?"
The three siblings looked at each other for a moment as the Impaler waited hands resting around his lap. Then as Dracula believed it would be battle Aegon turned to him a smile upon his lips and he said." We accept guest right." And the Impaler smiled.
It was a few hours later that we find Aegon and his sisters being served by the Maids of the castle there beauty inciting a few glances from Aegon to the ire of his sisters but they eat their meals and spoke to there host who answered them in kind for a time of hours even having servants bring food to there dragons. It was like this for a few more hours till the Impaler clapped his hands, suddenly the candles lights were gone, the music they hadn't even realized they listened to stopped and knives were to each other throats. As they sat in silent terror they saw the amber eyes of the blood king watching. Then his voice cut the silence in a threatening tone.
"Tell me your highness's why should I not give the order to have my men slit your throats."
Aegon spoke without speaking." Why are you doing this."
"Why will that is simple, I am not a simple lording clinging to the boots of the conquerors. I am Vlad the Impaler, king of the vampire, lord of the night, servant of the seven hells. And I do not bow without reason. So get to it what reason do you have for this conquest. To birth the glory of the freehold? Or another reason perhaps causes for a century the Targaryan's have ignored all of Westeros. What changed Aegon first of his name? Speak quick or your line ends hear!" The Knights holding knives to there throats pressed their blades. They must answer or face the blade.
So for once in Aegon's conquest he relented and gave the Impaler what he wanted. No one knows of what was said. But when the Sun rose the Blood spire flew the Targaryen banner. In the years to come to Aegon never returned to the castle. Blood spire paid its taxes and that was that. Now the lady Regent of the vale did ask if the Vassal ship of the black vale could return to it's the rightful lord. Aegon merely replied, "If you can hold it it's your but do not Expect help." Dracula never saw a knight.
During his Rule Despite the failures in Dorne the loss of Rheany's as well as her dragon Aegon's reign as king was one of stability, prosperity, and an explosion of trade throughout the realm, Aegon was mindful to all under his throne high or low. In his reign, I was given a task by my king. He had me send my knights out to drive out the bandits that plagued many of the kingdoms from the wars and so it was that my Men became known as bounty hunters a task we have done ever since. We were not liked nor respected. In some of the kingdoms, we were even attacked for what we were. Stories and rumors grew. But in every kingdom, we did our duty to the letter. As my knights traveled the land I gave them orders to bring Every orphan found to Blood spire which they did and soon three thousand children were being trained for future service of the realm. Lords complained but Aegon did not stop me he even encouraged it as it meant fewer men to take up the roads when grown. When Aegon passed I was there with his Family to pay respect.
When King Aenys began his reign I was unconcerned. He was well-liked, had good commanders, and best of all Dragons. But the first Rebellions was the first test he faced and those each was crushed it showed how weak the king was, where was he when his loyal vassals needed him, where was he when it was his brother to bring the vale under control.
At first, it seemed to be a hiccup the rebellions were squashed quick and clean, Aenys even seemed to have split the kingship with his brother giving him there fathers sword. But the faith was not done. It waited and bought it's time slowly gathering swords, bows, arrows, and armor. All they needed was a simple spark to send the realm into another war. Measter's even helped as a sizable portion had hidden messages telling of armies gathering in the woods, of Septon's speaking a very anti-Targaryan readerict. I saw what was coming, I ordered my knights to work at driving out as many Militia cells as they could. Are work was minor, but no less important. I soon switched from Raven as many were being shot down before leaving the Vale. I instead used a special breed of bats I had been cultivating for many years under blood spire originally designed to become a way to cut enemy communication now were used to deliver message flying by night and day they gave word to any lords known for loyalty to House Targaryen. By the time of the next Rebellion, I was ready.
