"We have won many battles, your Grace, but still many more are up to come," said Visenya.
"Aye," said Aegon.
"I would like to attack the Kingdom of Maintain and Vale again. Alone this time," she continued.
"That must wait for now. I have a different job for you. Cracklaw point has still not surrendered. I will want you to deal with that while I prepare my army for different battles."
"As you wish, your Grace," said Visenya and left. She went towards her dragon. Preparing for the attack. Cracklaw point wasn't far away from the King's landing. It did not take her too long to reach there. But when she did, she did not see an army instead she saw one man trying to negotiate with her. Behind him, there were lots of lords. She landed near him. "What is this?" she asked.
"We surrender," said the man and all the other lords bent the knee to her.
"Very smart of you," answered Visenya.
"Thank you, your highness," answered the man.
"What's your name?"
"It's Rewan Pyne."
"Well, Rewan as a reward the Cracklaw point will be a direct vassal of Targaryens."
"Thank you, your highness," said Rewan as he bowed to her.
Visenya returned to the King's landing with good news.
"It is done, your Grace. They have surrendered."
"Great!"
It was almost nighttime. Aegon went to his room. Rhaenys was waiting for him on his bed.
"I thought I might please the king," she said with a little smile. She stood upright in front of him.
"Good thinking," said Aegon as he touched her hair. Right after that, his door has been knocked. "Come in," he said. Visenya was standing behind the door. "Umm… we were umm…" Aegon tried to explain.
"I know. I'm just here to say… that I want to be in too," She said with a little hesitation.
"Come in then," Aegon said with a smile.
()
While Aegon was celebrating his victories for a little while king, Loren Lannister was pacing towards Highgarden. They both knew that they had to do something against Aegon and none of them wanted to give up that easily. After riding his horse with his loyal guard for some hours he finally reached Highgarden.
"Your grace, King Loren of the Rock is here to see you," said a man to his king.
"Good, take him to the meeting room. I will be there soon," said King as he stood up. He left and went to the meeting room.
"King Loren of the Rock, it's my pleasure," said the king.
"Aye, I'm enjoying being here too, Mern. But you and I both know why exactly I am here," said Loren Lannister.
"Aye, we gotta act fast or Aegon will attack us first."
"With two of us combining our forces we could crush him," said Loren.
"Indeed, but we don't know the power of the dragons. He burned Harrenhal after all."
"He did. But we will not wait in the castle. We will attack first. We will probably have three times more army than he has," said Loren again.
"An army of fifty-five thousand strong, including over five thousand knights I would guess," said Mern.
"I already called my men. In few days they will be here," said Loren.
"Good. I called them too. In two days we will lead the mightiest army the Westeros has ever seen."
"Aye."
()
"Your Grace! I have urgent news…" said Orys as he stormed into Aegon's room. Aegon was laying on the bed in between two queens. Orys immediately looked away. "I didn't know… umm… I will wait outside," he said and left.
Aegon woke up touched his neck like there was a little pain. Then he wore some clothes and left the room.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Your Grace, two kings Mern Gardener and Loren Lannister are planning to attack us. The rumors say they will have around fifty thousand men," explained himself Orys.
"Prepare the army. They might be more than we are, but they don't have dragons!" said Aegon.
"Aye," said Orys and left immediately. Aegon left to see the condition of his army. It was very good. However, they did not have many men. But for Aegon, it was not a problem. Then he went towards his lords to discuss the battle strategies.
"Your Grace, we were thinking to attack them near the Blackwater Rush," said Alyn Stokeworth.
"It's a good idea," agreed Aegon. "I think we need to attack them the south of the Blackwater Rush where are the open plains. We have dragons and plains burn," he added.
"It's brilliant, your Grace," said Jon Rosby.
()
Arlo was going to Merlin's castle. He was nearby the castle which muggles were calling Valyria. There was a magical barrier allowing only mages to pass. Arlo walked inside.
"Merlin, you wanted to see me," he said as he glanced to the room. He found out that he was not alone with Merlin. Radella was there too.
"Aye, you see you have done something bad. And there's a punishment for that," Merlin said slowly.
"You are talking about…"
"Aye, I'm talking about you killing Athelstan," said Merlin.
"You were the one who has sent us to kill them, Merlin!" Arlo said angrily.
"I know, but the time has changed so did the rules," said Merlin again.
"Alright, so what's my punishment?"
"This is not a punishment," said Radella.
"In a way, it is," Merlin corrected her.
"What are you two talking about?" asked Arlo.
"You are out of the order," said Merlin calmly.
"What? Why? Because I DID WHAT YOU ASKED ME?" Arlo yelled at them.
"It's not you, Arlo," said Radella.
"I might have started my sentence wrong," replied Merlin. "There won't be any more order of Merlin," he added.
"Oh."
"You see nothing to worry for," Radella said with a fake smile.
"This is how it is now, Merlin? Do I look like a fool to you? I can see things clearly! You kicking me cuz I did not obey the orders," said Arlo.
"Aye, you what you were doing, Arlo. This is not the first time we have done this kind of thing. I don't need people that will disobey me," said Merlin. "But I have to say Merlin's order is coming to its end slowly, but it does."
"After everything? After everything, I have done. EVEN KILLING THEM WAS YOUR ORDERS!" Arlo screamed.
"There was a change of order."
"By Radella. So I disobeyed her not you!"
"Disobeying one of my people means disobeying me. You know it would have been like this if it was you too," said Merlin.
"Aye," he agreed. "You gotta do what you gotta do," Arlo said feeling a little down.
"I still trust you, Arlo. You will play a bigger role in the future. Soon order will be gone and I will need you," said Merlin.
"Aye, sure. I will do it," he said. Then he turned around and left.
"Did you lie there, sir?" asked Radella after he left.
"No, I believe he will have better connections with muggles."
()
"Your grace, both armies are here," said one of the lords after entering king Mern's room.
"Good, Vernan. Let them rest for a day. We will attack tomorrow morning," said the king.
"As you wish, your grace," said Vernan.
"And also call Loren to me. Tomorrow we will go to war. We better know how we are going to attack," said the king.
"Aye," said Vernan and left the room. After few minutes, he returned with the other king.
"You need to stay too," Mern said to Vernan.
"You are sure you can trust him with the war strategies?" asked Loren Lannister.
"Aye, Vernan Oakheart has been loyal to me and my kingdom," said Mern again.
"What are the strategies then?" asked Loren.
"When we will meet them in the open field I want you…" he said by pointing at Loren Lannister. "…take the right side. While I will lead the center and Vernan will lead the left side," Mern added.
"Fine, I will take it," said Loren.
The army followed the king's command and rested for a day. On a morning army of fifty-five thousand strong, including over five thousand knights started marching north. The Two Kings did not linger at Goldengrove. They have decided it would be if they will meet Aegon first. The army slowly was approaching south of Blackwater Rush as Aegon wanted. But the kings did not know about that. It was a very warm day and everything around them seems very dry.
"They probably know that we are coming," said Mern.
"Aye, but still our army should be victorious. They did not have many men and after many battles, their army is weakened," said Loren.
()
The army was ready. It was much damaged, yet all of the soldiers were ready to fight. With Aegon's command, they started to march. They were going towards the town called Stoney Sept. A few hours later they reached there. Both queens were already there. Joining the main army boosted morale. Now they had more chances to win. Aegon knew that with the dragons, they have the advantage, but still army which was few many times bigger than his was frightening him. He knew he would win; he just wanted to do it with fewer casualties for his army. And there they were a little south of Blackwater Rush. The enemy army was there too and the battle was about to begin. Armies are divided into three flanks. While Aegon's army was waiting for the enemy, the opposite side was rushing towards them. At that moment, Aegon saw the opportunity and burned the ground killing many enemy soldiers. Then Aegon saw few arrows flying towards him. He dodged all of them. And then suddenly a little darkness appeared in the sky for a brief moment. Then unexpectedly an arrow changed its flying trajectory and directed to Aegon. The arrow entered Aegon's neck. The sudden feeling of pain blasted to his brain. The blood filled his mouth. Letting him do nothing but vomiting blood. My lord! Yelled Balerion. Aegon closed his eyes. Seeing nothing but darkness. And then he fell off the dragon. His lifeless body was quickly falling down. The army was shocked. His queens were lost. They loved him. Without him, it all felt for nothing. The battle was lost…
"Your Grace! I have urgent news…" said Orys as he stormed into Aegon's room. Aegon was laying on the bed in between two queens. Orys immediately looked away. "I didn't know… umm… I will wait outside," he said and left.
Aegon woke up touched his neck like there was a little pain. Then he wore some clothes and left the room.
"What is it?" he asked even though he knew what was happening. Was it a dream? He asked himself.
"Your Grace, two kings Mern Gardener and Loren Lannister are planning to attack us. The rumors say they will have around fifty thousand men," explained himself Orys.
"Prepare the army. They might be more than we are, but they don't have dragons!" said Aegon again.
Orys did as his king commanded him. Then Aegon went to see the lords and told them his plans.
"It's brilliant, your Grace," said Jon Rosby.
Aegon did not fully understand what was happening. That was probably a bad dream. He said to himself. But the most shocking thing for him was that everything was happening the way it was in his dream. Did that mean that he is supposed to die? Die again?
Army divided into flanks again and Aegon's army was waiting in defense. While the enemy tries to attack Aegon again burns the ground. Yet again arrows try to kill Aegon. He dodges every one of them until the last one comes. This time no darkness appears in the sky and the arrow misses. The battle continues. More enemies get killed. Some with fire some with the blade. Then Aegon sees Mern and his soldiers. With the help of the dragon fire, he burns them all ending the house Gardener right in the battle. After a long fight battle ends. Over five thousand from two king's sides have died in this Field of Fire, and tens of thousands were wounded. However, Loren manages to escape only to get captured the very next day.
"I am sorry. I have made a terrible mistake. I should have yielded from the beginning. Please have mercy!" said Loren Lannister.
"I don't have a desire to kill someone who yields! From now on you will be Warden of the West," said Aegon.
"Thank you… your grace…" said Loren.
"The Highgarden is still not conquered," said Orys after Loren and his bannermen left.
"Aye, we will need to march there now."
With the command of the king, the army stormed to Highgarden. After Gardener's death, the castle was claimed by Harlen Tyrell. Harlen was a smart man. He has heard the stories about Aegon and most importantly he did not have an army. Right after he saw Aegon's army on the horizon he sent the message that he yields. The gates of the Highgarden were open for Aegon. He entered inside and met Harlen Tyrell.
"In reward for your yielding you will be granted Highgarden and you will be named my Warden of the South and Lord Paramount of the Mander."
()
Arlo left the order. Where he had to go from here? Home? That he hasn't been for years? He was in a forest near Merlin's castle. The weather was getting dark. He did not have a desire to stay in this forest. He thought maybe I should go to the Salazar's mansion. Bad memories, good mansion. Suddenly the weather got darker. It surrounded Arlo. Without a second thought, he took his wand and pointed it to somewhere.
"Your friends abandoned you," said the voice.
"That's not true…" Arlo said. "Who are you?" he asked again.
"Does it matter who I am? Haha…" it made sinister laughter. "Your friends think that you are a monster. They have abandoned you because you killed someone. They think you are useless. But I can see everything…" the voice was coming all around Arlo.
"Show yourself! Who are you?" asked Arlo by turning rapidly.
"Your friends don't need you. But I do. Haha…" it made another sinister laughter.
"Arlo?" said a familiar voice. Arlo right immediately turned to that side to see who that was. It was… it was Winslow.
"You are alive?" asked Arlo.
"No, but I can be…" he made few steps backward. Then he went behind the big tree and disappeared. Arlo ran towards him. But no one was there.
"Arlo…" another voice said from behind. Arlo turned again. It was Holden.
"What is this?" Arlo asked confused.
"It's me Arlo…" said Holden. "I can be alive…"
"But you died," said Arlo.
"Aye," said Holden and went away. Later on, he disappeared too. Arlo tried to follow him but wasn't able to.
"What is this?!" he yelled.
"This is what it can be…" answered the voice.
"You can bring them back?" asked Arlo.
"You asked who I was, Arlo…" said the voice. "Well, I am the god…" said the voice. "Now tell me do you want them back?"
"Aye, I do!" he answered without a second thought.
"There's only one thing you have to do for that… to serve me!"
"I will."