Seventh Month of 239 A.C. Storm's End

Ser Vaegon Blackfyre

The past two years since their last invasion of Westeros had passed by in a huge blur. There had been the usual feelings of hurt and anger over yet another failed rebellion and the question over whether or not they would ever succeed in achieving their destiny, Ser Aegor, the man who had raised Vaegon and his siblings had taken to bed ill and they had all feared that they would lose their leader and yet the man had recovered as if spitting in the face of death and they had gone on. Alliances had been shored up with Lys and Tyrosh, through marriage and promises of reward, Vaegon had wed his own daughter Saera to the heir of Aenys Rogare, and their cousin Aerion the Archon of Tyrosh had given his daughter Rohanne as a wife to Bittersteel's grandson Aegon. Alliances had been made with Pentos, where the Mopatis family held the other magisters in their pockets, gold and swords were given to them and the Dothraki were beaten for a while, Volantis backed them surprisingly, insulted against the growth of the Targaryens and their snubbing of Valyria. At the forefront of this all was their King, Daemon Blackfyre fourth of his name, eldest son of Vaegon's older brother Aenys. Daemon was a strong warrior, good with a sword and a military genius, a proven battle commander, but without a head for political intrigue. This was why Vaegon was so useful in the councils they held, such as this one.

"Dragonstone has fallen, Jaehaerys and Shaera Targaryen are dead, slain by Maelys and the men under his command. The castellan of Dragonstone bent the knee and acknowledged you as King Your Grace." Vaegon said.

He knew that his own son Maelys was a monster, born with two heads and an insatiable desire for blood. "In what manner did Maelys destroy the garrison?" The king asks. Vaegon hesitates and the King says. "Tell me truly uncle, I want to know what sort of things I shall be facing when this war truly begins."

Vaegon sighs and looks at the letter his son had sent, written in all its gruesome detail. "The garrison of Dragonstone were butchered as they fought, they died honourable in battle. As for Jaehaerys and Shaera Targaryen, well Jaehaerys was slain whilst begging for mercy and Shaera was raped and then killed by Maelys."

All those gathered at the war council shudder, the king though merely stares at Vaegon before saying. "His methods were not pleasant, but he got the job done. Write back to Maelys and tell him that he is to hold Dragonstone until such time as I tell him to come ashore. Now what news from Aerion?"

Of course the king would be worried for his wife and children. "the Archon writes that Queen Vaella and the children are safe and sound as they can be behind the walls of his mansion, and that the whole of Tyrosh is willing to die for them and for you, before allowing the Targaryens so much as near them."

The king nods and then turns to Bittersteel who looks tired and worn but still ready for a fight. "How ready are our men for battle Ser Aegor? Will they be ready to move soon?"

"They will indeed be ready Your Grace. The men hunger for the war that is coming and the glory and the praise that will come. As well as for the chance to shed blood, Targaryen blood." Bittersteel replies.

The king nods and then turns to Lord Lyonel. "My lord, what news have you had from your goodson on the marches? How goes his progress?"

Lord Lyonel Baratheon is a great swaggering giant of a man, and the king's most ardent supporter. He takes a sip of wine and then says. "Lord Marcus has written to say the all is going according to plan against the Dornish lords. Lord Blackmont and Manwoody have both been slain and Lords Dayne and Fowler are hesitating in calling for more men. Soon enough we shall have broken the northern Dornish lords. And the Martells shall be forced to come into open battle."

The king nods and then turns to Vaegon and asks him. "And what news from the Reach? I know Lord Gareth Tyrell has declared for me, but I want to know what fighting has gone on there so far, and what houses have declared for whom."

Vaegon nods and says. "There has been fighting near the Mander, the Florents and their sworn bannermen have come up against the Tyrells themselves and Lord Desmond Florent was slain and his heir has fled back to Brightwater Keep, whilst Lord Tyrell marched to join with Lord Tarly and Lord Rowan. The Fossoways are fighting each other, and the Ashfords and the Merryweathers fight one another. All in all there is chaos growing in the Reach, the Hightowers remain aloof in their tower and the gates of Oldtown are closed."

The King nods and then turns to Lord Lyonel and says. "My lord when the Dornish are broken I want you to send your goodson and his men to aid the Tyrells in the Reach. The Florents will no doubt fight on for the Targaryens hoping to gain Highgarden, they cannot be allowed to do so."

Lord Lyonel nods and Vaegon asks. "What of Prince Daeron Targaryen, Your Grace? The boy is a squire for Lord Gareth Tyrell, what is there to say that should Prince Duncan die in battle, the man will not simply declare for him?"

The king smiles then and it is Bittersteel who speaks. "Because the man has a smart head on his shoulders. He knows that once the fighting in the Reach is done there will be no more force left to muster behind Daeron Targaryen. And besides the lad is just a boy, his older brother still lives and then there is his sister and the boy Maegor in the Vale. So long as these live, Daeron Targaryen will be ignored, and that we can use to our advantage, we need merely remind Tyrell what we have on him."

Vaegon nods understanding, though Lord Lyonel speaks then clearly confused. "And what exactly is that?"

Vaegon speaks then, so that the king won't have to. "Lord Gareth has been accepting bribes, huge sums of money from the Iron Bank and certain others so that they can charge extortionate prices to the rest of Westeros for their services, using the Tyrells as a bait. Furthermore, Tyrell killed his own brother to get to the heirship of Highgarden in a duel many years ago, that one of my spies witnessed. No one knows of this but him and me, and if this gets out he will be done."

Lord Lyonel nods and then asks. "SO he is fighting for you, so as to make sure his secret does not get out? As much as to get revenge for the broken betrothal?"

The king nods and says. "Yes, yes he is. And it will serve us well. Now Lord Lyonel what can you tell us about the different great houses and who they might fight for?"

Lord Lyonel nods and then says. "Well I can tell you for one thing. Gerold Lannister will continue fighting for Aegon Targaryen even if he has nothing left to live for. Aegon Targaryen stuck up for the man when his own father wanted him gone for some crime or the other, and for that Gerold Lannister has remained ever loyal to the man. His son Tywald died fighting in the fourth Blackfyre rebellion, his son Tion died trying to find Prince Duncan when he was rescued by that whore. The man's third son Tytos is a weakling though, he has no steel and the Reynes are angry about being slighted, they will be very useful in taking down the Lannisters."

The king nods and then asks. "And what of the Tullys? What will they do?"

Lord Lyonel is silent a moment and then responds. "Lord Oscar Tully is a proud man who holds more to the honour part of his family words than the family or the duty. The broken betrothal with Jaehaerys Targaryen and his daughter Celia, will have hurt his honour and his pride. And he will be furious about that, and the fact that he cannot get anything from Aegon Targaryen because of it, means he will be more than willing to fight for you. Though he might need some proving that you are a worthy contender. Battles must be fought Your Grace."

The king nods and says simply. "They shall be. And what of the Arryns? They hold Maegor Targaryen in their hands. Will they fight for the boy, or for Aegon Targaryen?"

Lord Lyonel is stumped for a moment and even Vaegon does not know this one, he could have told the king the information about the Lannisters and the Tullys. But the Arryns the evade even him. Lord Lyonel eventually speaks. "They are bound to serve Aegon Targaryen, their honour dictates it though should Aegon and his line die then they will serve Maegor Targaryen, after all the boy has Arryn blood in him and they want an Arryn on the throne no matter what."

The king nods and then asks. "And what of the Greyjoys? Will they remain neutral?"

Lord Lyonel nods his head. "Aye they will wait for the chaos this war will create before moving to take the spoils they believe they need. They will declare for no one, and I would not be surprised if they declared themselves independent."

The king nods and then asks. "And the Starks, will they be swayed to join us against the Targaryens?"

"No they will not do anything. The Starks want nothing to do with the south and never will. Unless Edwyle Stark overrules his uncle and regent, then there will be no movement from them. As for Dorne the Martells will fight for the Targaryens till the bitter end as will the Yronwoods, they have a staked interest in it." Lord Baratheon says.

The king nods and then says. "Thank you for that. We shall ride out for battle in three days time, the Riverlands must needs know that their rightful king is here and he will fight to prove to them he is the one they need."

With that the meeting comes to an end though much later, Vaegon is sat in the king's room with Bittersteel present as well. "Why did you go about asking Baratheon all of those questions your grace? We already know the answer to those questions, Lannister and Arryn will fight for Targaryen their bannermen as well. Tyrell and Tully will face opposition."

The king is silent, and it is left to Vaegon to respond. "You were testing him were you not Your Grace? Seeing if his reports would match ours? Seeing if he truly had abandoned the Red Dragon?"

The king nods. "Aye, we have been betrayed far too many times before to allow such an opportunity to go unquestioned. Baratheon was a staunch supporter of Aegon Targaryen for many years, this one broken betrothal would not send him into such a rage. I needed to know why he was so angry and willing to support us."

"And?" Bittersteel asks never one of much patience. "Did you learn what you needed to?"

The king nods. "Baratheon's anger is genuine. He truly has forsaken the Targaryens for good and for all. That his lords are so willing to fight for us is proof of that. We must now prepare for the great beginnings of the war."

"I shall send word out to Aerion and ask him to ready the Tyroshi fleet." Vaegon says.

The king nods and then says. "You shall also be paying a visit to Riverrun, with an escort under the guise of merchant. Convince Lord Oscar to fight for us, or kill him. Either way the Riverlords shall fight for us."