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Chapter Eighteen

Aegon III

Volantis: 7th July, 298 AC

Talisa was with child. From their calculations, she had gotten pregnant around the date of his successful negotiations with the Triarchy. Perhaps that very night, given how they had celebrated his success. Aegon found himself constantly fussing over her, worried that something might happen. Many a woman lost children in the womb, and first pregnancies were especially at risk.

Yet even with his worry for both his wife and unborn child, he had never felt so happy, nor had he ever been so determined to regain what rightfully belonged to his family. His child deserved better than a life in exile, they deserved to be raised as the heir to the Iron Throne that they were.

He would win the war against the Usurper for them.

He observed the fleet from his position on the prow of the flagship "Syrax". It was a modest fleet that Volantis had loaned, that was for sure, but soon enough it would be joined by those of the Winterlands and the Reach, not to mention their swords. They would take the Usurper and his supporters completely by surprise.

"Your Grace," Aegon turned away from the sight of his soldiers boarding their assigned ships and smiled at Ser Willem Darry. He was one of Aegon's most loyal subjects, and Aegon had rewarded him for it by naming him as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

Back during the Usurper's War, the Kingsguard had been made up of the best fighters of all time, many said. For all they had served a mad king, that particular Kingsguard had been considered one of the best incarnations of the Order: Lord Commander Ser Gerold "The White Bull" Hightower, the most recent Sword of Morning, Ser Arthur Dayne, Ser Barristan "The Bold" Selmy, Aegon's own uncle Brandon "The Wild Wolf" Stark, the only man to ever be a part of the Kingsguard in spite of not being a knight, Ser Oswell Whent, Ser Jonothor Darry and Ser Jaime Lannister.

But when Aegon's father Prince Rhaegar had disappeared with the Martell woman, he had taken Sers Arthur and Oswell with him, and when he had returned after Ser Gerold was sent by Aerys to retrieve him, the royal guards had not come back with him. That had left the Targaryens with only Brandon, Ser Barristan, Ser Jonothor and Ser Jaime to defend them. Of those four, three had gone to the Trident where Ser Jonothor and Brandon had both given their lives for their prince, and Ser Barristan had become a turncloak and pledged himself to the Usurper in spite of there being three Targaryen males, not to mention Queen Rhaella and Princesses Lyanna and Daenerys, still alive at the time.

Aerys, not daring to send away Tywin's beloved son in fear of the West joining the rebels, had kept Jaime at his side when he sent Rhaella and Viserys to Dragonstone (not that it had stopped Tywin, in the end). Instead of having a whitecloak guard his wife and only remaining son, the faithful Ser Willem Darry had been charged with protecting them. For his many years of loyal service and the many sacrifices he had made in the name of serving the dragons, one of Aegon's first acts after turning fourteen (the age of manhood in Volantis and when his grandmother had stepped down as leader of the exiles) had been to name Ser Willem as the Lord Commander of his Kingsguard. Until then, his family had had no Kingsguard, for Queen Rhaella, in spite of being Aegon's Regent, did not have the power to name anybody to the Order. Upon reaching his majority (well, in the Winterlands and in Volantis it was his majority anyway), Aegon had set about naming men to his Kingsguard, so that his family would be better protected.

Other than Ser Willem, Aegon's guard contained: Ser Jorah Mormont (though his knighthood was a strange one. He had stood vigil in a godswood, said his own, made up, vows and been anointed with sap from a weirwood tree. Still, he was a good, loyal man and Aegon trusted him), Ser Wendyl Manderly, Ser Daeron Goodbrook, a Riverlander knight and the half-brother of the late Lord Goodbrook who had fallen fighting for the Targaryens at the Trident, Ser Thaddeus Darke from the Crownlands, Ser Matthos Sunderland from the Three Sisters, and Ser Brienne of Tarth, the newest member.

She was from the Stormlands, but Tarth had stayed loyal to the Targaryens during the Rebellion. Ser Brienne was the younger of Lord Selwyn's two surviving children, his son Galladon being the elder. They had contacted the rulers of Tarth several years past, and found that Lord Selwyn still preferred the Targaryens to the Baratheons. The Lords of Storm's End had generally been well-liked by their bannermen up until Robert had become Lord Paramount, and scorned his duties in favour of whoring at the Vale. Then Stannis had taken over, and people disliked his harsh manner, and his wife's haughty demeanour. The Tullys were considered upstarts by many, both within and without the Riverlands, and Lady Catelyn's arrogance, along with her husband's prejudice towards those of his vassals who had fought for the dragons, left them all eager to restore the Targaryens and see their hated liege lords punished. The Lord of Tarth had sent his only daughter to the dragons as proof his fealty, and due to her skills, Aegon had gone against convention and named her to his Kingsguard, ignoring the muttering.

His seven guards had all been chosen for their skills and loyalty, no other reason. Aegon would take no chances with the lives of those he loved.

In truth, the fact that the Kingsguard only consisted of seven members troubled the young king deeply. He understood that it was considered to be a place only for the best of the best, and that the number was chosen to represent the Seven-Who-Are-One. But the family was often underguarded due to the limited number of whitecloaks. Another of the many changes that Aegon intended to implement once he was king was a reworking of the Order, expanding it and also ensuring that it not only protected the king from outside threats, but from the king himself as well.

Never again would a king be permitted to brutally rape and torture his wife whilst the guards sworn to protect them both stood outside, unable to do anything but listen to the woman weep.

"Your Grace, the Small Council is ready for you," Ser Willem stated. "They wait at your pleasure in the war room, as you requested."

"Excellent," Aegon murmured. "I shall go now, then."

With Ser Willem at his side, Aegon made his way to the war room, where his council was speaking quietly with one another

His council too was made up of those who had been most devoted to his family, and he had plans to expand and reform it also. The amount had been sufficient when the council was first set up, but times had changed, and so the way of doing things needed to change also. Aegon was glad that Lord Connington had preserved his father's notes, because Rhaegar had had many of the same ideas that Aegon did, and begun working on ways to implement them in preparation for his crowning. For the moment, however, whilst he did not have an actual kingdom to rule, he kept the small council the way it had always been, with several other advisors who had no official titles.

First, there was his Hand of the King, his beloved grandmother Queen Dowager Rhaella. Aegon had chosen her for the position because he could think of no person that he trusted more, save for his twin sister. But unlike Dany, Rhaella had seen the reigns of three kings and had far more experience with politics and war than his sister. Some men, usually the newer recruits, grumbled over a woman holding such an exalted position, but Aegon ignored them. He was the King, his councillors were chosen by him. That was the end of the matter, as far as he was concerned.

His sister was his Mistress of Laws. Dany had a strict moral code, and vast knowledge on the laws and cultures of not just the Free Cities but each of the Seven Kingdoms as well.

His Master of Coin was Lord Theomore Whitewolf, a Northron man whose shrewd talent with money had saved their cause more than once. For the sake of deniability, Aegon did not ask where the man obtained the funds, unless Theo informed him outright.

Howland Reed, a Greenseer of the Order of Green Men, was Aegon's Master of Whispers. The man's greensight, his connections to the Warg Warriors and his own Order and his warging abilities meant that he far exceeded even the treacherous Spider when it came to finding out secrets. After all, people would always take a certain, subconscious amount of care when around others that they didn't know or trust, even if they dismissed them as irrelevant servants or smallfolk. But nobody bothered to watch what they said around a mouse or a bird. And unlike the Spider, Howland's loyalty was utterly unquestionable, unlike Varys who seemed to be out only for himself.

Ser Desmond Redwyne, a nephew of Lady Olenna Tyrell, was Aegon's Master of Ships. He and his wife, who had been a lady of Rhaella's and with child at the time, had also fled Dragonstone. They were the Targaryens' link to the Reach, allowing them to maintain their ties with Highgarden.

Unlike the Tullys, who would pay for their betrayal when Aegon took back the throne, the Tyrells had remembered just whom they owed their positions too. Aegon had promised that his eldest son would wed the Tyrell girl nearest his age as reward for their service, something that pleased the roses immensely.

Also attending the meeting was Scholar Cregard Scarstark, as their company had no maesters suitable to act as a GrandMaester, and Aegon's wife, uncle and stepgrandfather.

The company rose and gave obeisance on his arrival, save for Talisa who came over to embrace and kiss him. Her face was rounding with her pregnancy, and her delight at being with child made it appear as if she was glowing from the inside out.

She was so very beautiful.

Aegon did not know if he was in love with her, but he certainly loved her as the mother of his child and his trusted partner.

"Everybody, please be seated, we have much to do," Aegon ordered, taking his position at the top of the table, in between his wife and grandmother.

Everybody sat, looking expectantly at their young king. Aegon cleared his throat and began speaking.

"So, we have the latest numbers of the worst-case scenario tallied up," he announced. "In such circumstances, we have the forces of the Winterlands, our personal host, the Crownlands and the troops sent by the Reach to aid us, fighting against the united forces of the Stormlands, West, Dorne, Vale and Riverlands. That would mean that we would have roughly two-hundred thousand men, versus two-hundred and fifteen thousand men.

However," he quickly went on, as people began to speak. "This is the absolute worst-case scenario, and extremely unlikely, as it would require the aid of those Houses who retained their loyalty to my House from the other kingdoms such as the Stormlands and Riverlands, to all fight against us, with all of their strength. It would also mean that our enemies would have to recruit every man or boy able to lift a sword, and leave their keeps undefended. So the chances of us dealing with such numbers are negligible. That being said, we must have plans put in place for such a possibility, just in case. I want to minimize our losses as much as possible. Just because our men are willing to die for our cause, does not mean that they should have to."

His advisors gave him pleased looks, and pride shone in the eyes of his people.

"Your Grace, if I may," Lord Reed spoke up, the strength of his voice in spite of his small body having ceased astounding Aegon too long ago to remember, even though Talisa still cast him surprised looks on occasion.

"Of course Lord Reed," Aegon agreed. "Your advice is always invaluable to me."

"My thanks, my king," the crannogman replied humbly. "I think, from my sources in King's Landing and my greendreams, that there is a strong chance that Dorne may side with us in this war."

They all stared at him in shock.

"Is the Usurper's Snake dead?" Aegon questioned him after a moment of stunned silence. That Oberyn Martell had died and his eldest son, Aegon's cousin, now stood as Lord Paramount of Dorne with his mother as Regent was the only way that Aegon could conceive of the Dornish (save for the Daynes, who's allegiance had already been pledged) siding with him.

Reed shook his head. "He is not," he denied. "However, I am given to understand that a rift has formed between the Usurper and Martell since he took up the position of Hand. They argue frequently, and it seems that Martell is very fond of your aunt, as he is very protective of his lady wife. The Usurper has evoked Martell's ire on multiple occasions by insulting Magnara Alysanne. In addition, Martell has also been pressing the Usurper to give the Mountain and Amory Lorch over to the Winterlands so they can have justice for your mother and uncle's deaths, as a peace offering. And," he paused and exchanged a heavy look with Rhaella.

"What is it?" Aegon pressed.

"My king," Rhaella stated. "If I may? Lord Reed has informed me of his information already, and we have been debating how best to inform you."

"Go on, I beseech you," Aegon answered.

"It seems, my grandson, that Rhaegar left the Lady Elia with child," Rhaella announced with uncharacteristic bluntness. Everyone save for Lord Reed reacted with shock and surprise, but Rhaella ignored it all, continuing briskly.

"She died of childbed fever, it seems. Her pregnancy was the reason that Rhaegar assigned the Kingsguard to protect her. Her brother arrived at her side just before her death. Long enough to vow he would care for and protect her child where she could not. He claimed the girl, Rhaenys, as his bastard, and changed her name to Nymeria Sand. She has been raised by he and your Aunt Aly in Sunspear ever since."

"So, what is your suggestion then, my lady grandmother?" Aegon inquired, stunned and indignant on his late mother's behalf.

"The fact of the matter is, Your Grace, that the Usurper has well proven what he would do to a child of dragon blood," Rhaella stated, looking solemn. "Lord Martell clearly realizes what would happen to Lady Rhaenys if her heritage were uncovered, otherwise he would never have put the deception in place. And through his marriage to Aly, he is kin to our House, whilst his only bond to the Usurper is a dying friendship. I advise, my king, that you send someone to reach out to Aly, who in turn can give us a more definite idea of her husband's loyalty. Then, we may be able to convince Lord Martell to side with us, or at least keep his kingdom neutral when we attack."

"I had planned to take his head," Aegon muttered. "He was one of those who killed Father."

"Aye, he was," Bonifer was the one to speak this time. "But Rhaegar died honourably in battle. And you are king, Your Grace. You must put your people above your personal feelings."

Aegon sighed and looked at Talisa, who gave his hand a comforting squeeze. Finally he nodded.

"So be it," he agreed grudgingly. "Whom should I send?"

"If I may, Your Grace?" Howland leaned forward. Aegon waved permission at his spymaster.

"I suggest that you send Myranda Flint. She is a cousin to Magnara Aly, and they were close growing up at Winterfell. Lady Myranda was a handmaid to both the late Princess Lyanna and to Magnara Aly. The magnara would trust her, and she is unknown to have come with us when we fled Westeros, and as such she would be able to go around the Usurper's court without suspicion."

"Very well," Aegon consented. "Lady Myranda will be sent to speak with my lady aunt and, should it prove favourable and not a risk to her safety, she will be tasked with negotiating with Lord Martell in order to either gain the support of Dorne, or keep it neutral in the war.

Now, who has any ideas as to how to take control of the Golden Tooth? By doing so, we will not only cut off the West's ability to deliver reinforcements to the Riverlands and Crownlands, but we will have control of the main supply route that they use, so I want its' capture to be a priority for us."

"If I may, Your Grace, I have an idea for that," Ser Redwyne stated, leaning forward.

Although he paid close attention to the meeting, in the back of his mind Aegon was brooding heavily. Could he truly work with one of the men who had murdered his father? The brother of the woman who had shamed his mother so? And what was he going to do about his half-sister? Could he embrace her as his sibling, knowing that she was the symbol of his father's betrayal of Aegon's mother? And did he even want to?

He had many questions, both political and personal, but no answers to any of them.