Grand Maester Aemon Targaryen
Growing up Aemon had heard stories about Daeron Stark the Winter Dragon. His own father, King Maekar had been very good friends with King Daeron, and as such had told each of his children the tales of what he and his friend had gotten up to as children playing in the Red Keep, those tales did however become sour following the Blackfyre war and Daeron Stark's continued defiance of the Iron Throne. Aemon's father had loved Daeron Stark like a brother, and had been fonder of him than he had of any of his actual brothers, and yet Aemon had often heard his father talk about how Daeron Stark had been led astray by those fools Daemon Blackfyre and Aegor Rivers, and how it would bring him nothing but ruin.
Aemon had never known what to make of those words his father spoke, for his father had often been in the shadow of his own siblings and had resented that, and though he felt guilty for thinking this, Aemon had often thought that perhaps his father was resentful of how skilled Daeron was and how he was so well liked. That was until he had actually been sent to serve as grand maester of the northern kingdom, something that both his father and his brother Aegon had objected to strongly. Aemon had arrived in Winterfell to find the north's royal family fractured and divided, King Daeron was already falling into the state of madness that he now permanently resided in, his quest to seat the Blackfyres on the Iron Throne becoming an obsession something that super seceded all else including the welfare of his kingdom and his family. His firstborn son Prince Aegor Stark a man who would have made a fine king, had been driven to the edge of resentment against his father, for the pain and suffering he was inflicting, Aemon had been there where mere hours after Princess Delena died giving birth to a stillborn son and Daeron Stark had begun speaking of new wives for his son to consider.
Aegor Stark and Daeron's third son Brandon Stark of the Winter's Guard had died during the fourth Blackfyre War which had been three years ago now, Queen Dacey had left with the winter dragon's grandsons and his heir Daemon Stark to White Harbour to take them away from their grandsire's madness. The king it seemed was not deeply affected by their departure, not like any normal man would be and had spent the past three years dedicating his time to preparing for the next Blackfyre war, training his great grandson Lucerys Blackfyre up for the cause and the war that he was convinced would come. So dedicated was he to the Blackfyre cause that Daeron Stark had completely ignored the grievances that his lords had with him and his constant obsession with the south. Aemon knew the king thought that his lords were just as willing to bleed for the Blackfyres if it meant seating one of them on the throne. He had failed to realise that his lords had raised their banners not for the Blackfyres, who he knew they referred to as dragon scum, but for him and for Winterfell, and for the age old loyalty they had for the Starks. But loyalty would only go so far and some of the lords the whispers had it were planning rebellion.
When the Winter Dragon had learnt of this, he had been determined to raise the banners and crush those who would oppose him and his obsession. It had taken all of Aemon's skills of persuasion to convince the king that doing so would not only be a bad idea because the north was not at its strongest militarily, but also because if he were to wage war on his bannermen then the Iron Throne would use that opportunity to invade the north and harm the Blackfyres. Daeron Stark was not so far gone or perhaps it was because he was so far gone that he accepted what Aemon said, and merely left it to Aemon to sort out and deal with the northern lords who thought to rebel. That in itself had proven to be more trying than anything else Aemon had ever encountered in his years as maester of the northern kingdom. The northern lords were a proud bunch who all hated the south after years of fighting with the south, and as such were deeply suspicious of whatever Aemon had to say, some such as Beron Umber demanded that the 'mad dragon cunt' as he put it come and talk to them himself. Aemon fought hard with both his mind and his words to win the lords over.
He took it upon himself whilst the king brooded and plotted to essentially rebuild the north's trade, establishing contact with Bravos, a city that had always despised Aemon's own family. He pointed to the fact that there was peace in the north to set up trade of timber and wood for spices and other plants and foods, that brought gold flowing into the north's treasury, money that was used to help rebuild the Kingsroad in the north, to strengthen the defences of the neck, and to setting up places for the lords to meet and speak with the king, though more often than not Aemon spoke for the king. Eventually he knew the lords were coming round, and that those who had thought to rebel were losing their interest in such things. Peace had brought good thoughts of the winter dragon to the minds of the people. And as such they merely wished to spend time with their families and not worry about anything else.
Aemon knew though that such thoughts would not last forever if what his brother Aerion had written to him in his letters was true. The Golden Company now commanded by Haegon Blackfyre after the death of all three of Aegor Rivers sons in the fourth Blackfyre war, had recuperated in Tyrosh and after fighting three wars in the Disputed Lands and winning all three of them and taking the plunder offered, had enough gold to fund another invasion. Aerion had written though, that after his anger of being overlooked for the position of King, had decided to take Volantis for himself and so had convinced Haegon Blackfyre to take the Golden Company to take Volantis. Still from what Aerion had described of Daemon Blackfyre's fourth son it would not be long before there was another war in Westeros for the throne, he simply hoped that it would be after Daeron Stark had died from old age for he did not know whether the lords of the north would tolerate such a thing again no matter how highly they might make of the king now, memories were short, and the bad would outweigh the good.
The council chambers opened, and in walked the council. High Steward Edwyle Stark who looked fifty years older than he actually was, High Shadow Lord Donnor Reed, High Admiral of the Northern Fleet, Lord Edrick Cassel , Lord Commander of the Winter's Guard Asphell Wull, and master of coin Lord Rodwell Manderly. The king once again had decided against attending the council meeting, and was perhaps spending time with his other advisors, the yes men who told him what he wished to hear, not the cold realities. Aemon spoke first. "My lords, I thank you for coming. Now the issues we need to discuss include the trade routes with Bravos and Myr, as well as the issue of the south and what is happening there. Lord Manderly if you would go first."
Lord Rodwell Manderly, was a big man whether it was fat or muscle Aemon was never sure, but he knew one thing for certain, the man knew how to play the game and had been speaking with the potential rebel lords for many a moon before the gold from Bravos began floating in. "I have good news to report my lords. The north has seen a fifty percent increase in the profits it is making with Bravos and Myr. Both cities seem to be in desperate need of the timber we have to offer them, as well as the fish and other such plunder that Lord Greyjoy and the Iron Fleet bring back from their travails around the world. This gold I have, with the King's permission used to set up various buildings and organisations for improving the lives of those who were badly affected by the war, and as such more people are out working and tilling our fields and allowing us to sell more for a higher profit."
That was good news though Aemon knew that the King would likely put such money into funding his war effort, of course none of these other lords could know that. Aloud he merely said. "That is good my lord, and I know his grace will thank you most profitably when he learns of the good your hard work is doing for the kingdom. Now with regards to Myr, Lord Edwyle have you spoken to the ambassador they sent here sometime ago?"
Lord Edwyle Stark, High Steward of the North and a grim man with a formidable reputation, dedicated to his duty but wanting nothing to do with the south, a powerful ally to have, a dangerous enemy as well, Aemon is not sure where he stands with the man. Still he speaks calmly when he responds. "Aye I have spoken to the ambassador. He gave me the usual pitch that all these Essosi do. He wants His Grace to invest in some new venture Myr is developing; something that he claims Haegon Blackfyre is investing in as well. He said that it would aid the Blackfyres in winning the Iron Throne."
"And what did you say to him my lord?" Aemon asks dreading the answer.
"I told him the north wanted no more war, whether the king wished it or not. I sent him back to Myr alive, but with fear in his heart." Lord Edwyle replies.
High Shadow Lord Donnor Reed laughs at that and says. "Then you will be glad that you did so my lord. For my sources tell me that Pentos have sent an ambassador to the Iron Throne reportedly trying to sell the same thing that this Myrish envoy tried to sell you. It seems as though the Free Cities are playing both sides for all they are worth."
"And what is this thing that both envoys are so interested in selling to both sides my lord? Do your sources know what it is?" Aemon asks intrigued.
Lord Donnor Reed shakes his head. "Alas my lord I do not. My sources have not been able to get a clear indication or even a look at what this so called weapon is that the free cities would have us fighting over like a pair of dogs. But it must be something very important for them to send an envoy to the south as well."
"The Myrish envoy was no clearer with you as to what it was he was trying to sell you Lord Edwyle?" Aemon asks.
Lord Edwyle shakes his head. "No, he merely hinted at what it could do. I do not have time to listen to hints and suggestions. So I sent him on his way."
Aemon nods and then turns to Donnor Reed once more. "What other news is there from the south?"
Reed is silent for a long moment and then says. "King Aegon Targaryen is expanding the royal fleet, and has been dealing more and more with Lord Tytos Lannister, the man it seems wants the western coast properly defended should another war happen. He has also been in contact with the Prince of Pentos about hiring more sellswords should war come. All in all it seems as if he is preparing for war."
Aemon nods. "Thank you for that. I want you to keep an eye on the south and the north. We want no more talk of treason to reach the king."
Reed nods and then before the council is dismissed he asks. "Where was the King today Maester? It is not like King Daeron to miss sessions."
Aemon is silent and then says. "The king was taken ill, he should be back to full health in a short while." And then you will all see just how mad he truly is.
Queen Rhae Targaryen
It was a strange feeling knowing she was queen, it was not something she had ever thought of nor was it ever something she had truly desired. She had known that with her father as king there was a small chance that she might become queen but she had never truly considered it as an outright possibility, having always thought that Daeron would become king, that he would stop his whoring and drinking for long enough to assume the mantle of some sort of responsibility should father ever have needed it of him. And yet her eldest brother had never really been one to grow out of childhood where he could do whatever he wanted and not face the burden of his actions, Daeron had died of a pox some years ago his daughter now lived with Rhae and her own children in the Red Keep.
Rhae knew that her father had suffered for a lot of his later life, after the Ashford Tourney and the blow that killed her uncle Baelor, Rhae knew that Maekar, had lived with the ghosts of the past and the guilt of his actions, and all the concerns and hurt he felt about that as well as the fact that his best friend was now fighting for the enemy. Her father had died fighting to defend a throne he had never even wanted, a throne that by all rights should have been her uncle Baelor's and the reason he had died was because of Daeron Stark and the damned Blackfyres. Those imbeciles who claimed to have the true claim to the throne, simply because of a rumour made up by someone who did not want Rhae's grandfather to assume the throne many years ago.
The rumour had caused war to constantly engulfing the kingdoms, more often than not brought on by those fools across the narrow sea, Haegon Blackfyre and his ilk. They brought death and destruction to the kingdoms they claimed were theirs by rights. Daeron Stark had brought untold pain to countless numbers of people simply because of a promise he had made to someone who was now a pile of dirt in the ground. His cause, Rhae's father had told her and her siblings when they were younger were not noble nor were it brave, it was misguided and foolish. So much blood had come from that promise and more was promising to follow, for Rhae knew that Daeron Stark would not stop until he had seated one of those cursed black dragons on the throne that was her family's by rights and by blood.
Aegon's hold on the Iron Throne was not as secure as it could have been though, and that was another reason that made her fear that another was would soon loom large on the horizon. Her husband had reigned as king for seven years now, and still all was not completely secure with the kingdoms. The riverlands in particular remained a very divisive region, for there was Lord Walder Frey a prudish man and proud who Rhae knew worshipped the ground Daeron Stark walked on, and as such had always provided him with subtle help whenever he had come calling. Frey might think he was being smart by not calling his banners and marching with Stark, but there were other ways in which one could aid a traitor and a rebel and Frey had done just that. The fact that lords such as Butterwell, Shawney, Charlton and others supported or were linked with Frey meant that Aegon could not enact a harsh punishment on the man, but there were simmering tensions there as well as in the Westerlands.
Rhae had learnt from observing her father and husband at court that, it was important for a ruler to be strong willed and able to command respect, after all the struggles that had engulfed the Westerlands during the previous two decades, when Tion Lannister had been named Lord of the Rock, they had all breathed a sigh of relief, and yet now the man had died and his brother Tytos Lannister had become Lord of the Rock. Tytos Lannister was a weak man who was so eager to please that his bannermen were continuously ripping him off from his gold and his goodwill, that was a problem for someone like Lord Daemon Reyne could very easily raise half the Westerlands for the Black Dragon should he so feel like it. The fact that the man's bastard uncle Borros Hill had been named a Reyne by the traitor Stark merely made things worse.
There was also the issue of her other brother, Aerion. Aerion the brother who had tormented her and Daella for sometime before he had been exiled by their father for his inappropriate behaviour towards Daella. Aerion who according to the reports that came in at court and council had settled down with a family and was happily married with children, and was sane. He had written her a letter once, when father had died, shortly after the war had ended and she had become queen, wishing her well and asking for her forgiveness for the things he had done. The letter had been written so plainly and with such clarity that for a moment Rhae had not been sure whether her brother had truly written this, or whether there would be some sick joke at the end of it all. She had shown it to Egg, and her husband still so angry with their brother so many years later had simply told her not believe whatever it was that Aerion wrote and that their brother was a traitor who needed to die for his sins.
Still, there were times when Rhae would watch her children, Duncan a man grown now, Jaehaerys so smart and Rhaelle a woman flowered and wed to Ser Edric Baratheon the heir to Storm's End, and then little Aelix who was squiring for Lord Maegon Velaryon, Daella's husband Rhae would look at her children playing and fooling about and she would desire nothing more than to engulf them all in her arms and never let them go. She wanted them to know nothing but happiness not the uncertainty that her own childhood had been filled with. And yet, it seemed that such thoughts or hopes would not be possible not with what Egg was planning, in fact that was why she had come to see him, to convince him not to go through with what he was planning.
Her husband, Aegon Targaryen, fifth of his name King of Westeros was hunched over a piece of paper reading it so intently that there were lines appearing on his face creasing his brow. She loved this man, something fierce and yet he could be more stubborn and unyielding than the wall when he wanted to, she needed to make him see sense. "What are you reading my love?" she asked winding her arms around his chest.
"What? Oh this, it's a report from the Riverlands. From Lord Tully." Aegon replied sounding distracted.
"What does Lord Tully say my love? Has Lord Walder responded to the letter he was sent?" Rhae asked curiously.
Aegon sighed. "No, Walder Frey continues to remain defiant, and so long as he has the support of the Charltons, the Brackens and the Vances he can remain so. Lord Tully merely told me what he has learnt from his goodbrother at the Golden Tooth. It seems that Lords Reyne and Marbrand have entered into an alliance of sorts, something with which to oppose Lord Tytos."
Rhae stiffened. "What sort of alliance?"
Aegon must have heard the worry in her voice for he turned round then and brought her head to his chest and whispered into her hair. "Not a martial one my love. A marriage, Daemon Reyne has wed Lord Marbrand's daughter, though to what end I do not know. I have asked Ser Edrick to look into and see what comes from it all. Now what else did you wish to speak to me of? I know that you did not come here to ask me about the letter."
Rhae laughs nervously and then says. "I was wondering if we could talk about your plans for the north my love."
Aegon sighs. "Not this again. Why do you insist on bringing this up again and again Rhae? What is done is done. It must happen I will not let that traitor continue his existence and threaten the peace of my kingdoms."
Rhae pushes away from her husband then and says. "But why my love? Why bring war to Westeros once more when we have had seven years of peace? Longer than some of what happened under our father and uncle Aerys? Why would you risk the throne for a piece of barren wasteland?"
Her husband grits his teeth then and says. "It is not a barren wasteland; it is half of my kingdom. Daeron Stark is a rebel and a traitor, and he needs to know that we shall never tolerate his kind of foolishness to be tolerated. Besides the north still harbours the Blackfyres who have a decent claim to the throne through Aemon Blackfyre. The rest will die before then, but the north must fall and it must learn its lesson. I will not given Duncan half a kingdom, when the whole can be there for the taking."
"But Daeron Stark's lords love him still. They are not willing to rebel against him anymore. If you attack then we shall lose men and your lords will despise you, they do not want the north and the north doesn't want them why not let them be?" Rhae asked.
"Because if I do then those lords who wish to unseat me and put Aerion on the throne, will claim I am too weak to deal with the north and the Blackfyres there. And then they will rebel and we shall give the winter cunt more room for his own war to be waged. It is better we attack first than present him with an opening with which to attack us." Aegon replies.
"So you would send your men to die in a place far from their homes, as a matter of pride would you? Would you be so callous with your sons' lives?" Rhae asks then her tone cold.
Aegon looks stung by her accusation but then his eyes harden and he replies. "If it would help the kingdom and make peace an actual possible solution then yes, I would do whatever it took to see the north brought to heel. Besides it is time our sons were wed, Rhaelle has already married Edric Baratheon, and they are expecting a child any day now. Duncan is heir to the iron throne and is twenty now, a man grown for some time, it is time he stopped acting as if he were a child. I have already had offers from Lord Leo Tyrell and from Dorne for potential brides for Duncan, Jaehaerys as well."
"You would sell your sons for swords for a mission that is doomed to fail?" Rhae asks with disgust.
Aegon's jaw tightens in a manner so reminiscent of their father that Rhae nearly smiles, and then her husband speaks. "I will not repeat myself again Rhae. This is not a mission, it is something that must happen if we want Duncan to inherit a kingdom that is stable and in peace. The north must learn to bend, and Daeron Stark and the Blackfyres must die. Duncan shall wed who I say he shall wed as shall Jaehaerys. And even if I do not invade the north now, in five or six years or perhaps even in nine if it must truly be that late, the north shall fall and with it Daeron Stark will learn the meaning of our house words and what it means to wake the dragon."
"And Westeros will pay the price in corpses and blood." Rhae says before she storms out leaving her husband alone.