RedKeep 296A.C.
Rhaegar P.O.V
King's Landing stood as it had for nearly 300 years, now pristine and fuller Than ever. The ebb and flow of commerce filled every inch of the capital city, bringing continuous wealth with every ship, or caravan.
The North especially had given rise to the Iron Throne, the wealth flooding the coffers of the royal family was not to be underestimated. The Gift lands that Lord Benjen Stark ruled gave birth to the North surplus. Their trade of lumber, crops, wool, stone, metal, leather and meat were only some of what the North offers Essos, and Dorne had been more than happy to have trade deals with the Mormont Family in particular, House Dayne had become the most prosperous when they offered to sell glass for gardens and other jugs, containers and dishware.
It was a success.
King's Landing had been polished, and redressed, if you will, by the taxes of the realm.
The stone worked buildings, most three or four stories high, all created in orderly neighborhoods, entertainment districts, industrial complexes, and other such areas.
Flea bottom had been burned to the ground some years before, and rebuilt in the image of the rest of the city.
Many of the poorest citizens had left for better wages in the Northern lands, migrating by the 10s of thousands over the years, leaving behind their former lives for that of farmers and craftsmen.
Flea bottom had been renamed in honor of the King, to the "Silver Quarter". It was done by those who lived there, remembering their Prince playing a harp and giving out coins along the streets of the slum.
The streets were clean, though dedicated sewer and sanitation workers kept it that way. Thet 13 or so years since the end of the Rebellion had been prosperous for many.
The King, Rhaegar Targaryen was usually associated with the drastic change in the city.
Said King, now stood resplendent in his house colors in the small council chamber, with a scroll opened and laid upon the table, it's seal broken from the form of a Lion.
House Lannister calls for aid.
"Sire, your orders?" Lord Jon Connington, Master of Laws for the King, and a close friend of the royal family.
The King stared at his old friend, his purple hued eyes not betraying any emotion.
Rhaegar looked no older than 30 yet his eyes bored into the friend that advised to leave the IronBorn in peace after the last attack, which was a failed attempt at Cape Blúd, where they had lost 3 quarters of their men.
Breaking the eye contact, Rhaegar looked around the table, his small council.
'Eddard will most likely already have mustered his forces and sent them to the ports for transport.' The silver hair King thought to himself.
'Robert will be sending his own forces soon, if they haven't already left.'
"Arthur." The King's velvet voice sounded out.
"Stark will have already called his men. Their war ships will be a boon. Lord Robert Baratheon, our Master of war, will have already begun transportation of men and supplies. I expect either young Lord Renly or Lord Stannis to be sent to give a full report, and knowing your Lord Cousin, they will most probably arrive by the time we leave."
The Lord Commander summarized.
"Lord Aurane, Rally the fleet, you will inform the Redwyne's that they are to hold any invasion, none shall pass the shield Islands.
Now, Grand Maester Marwyn, call the banners, I will have a letter written to each of my Lord Paramounts by tonight. We will speak further of war at the 18th bell." The King waited a moment for his council to nod in agreement.
"Good. Now, Lord Arryn, you will hold KingsLanding while I am at war. Aegon will be your shadow, allow him to learn, and make decisions whenever you think best. He will be King and as the Crown Prince he must be alive and well for the Kingdom to survive if I die.
I will have The Queen hold the court in my absence, and her word is law just as if I had spoken it myself."
In essence, I gave Lord Arryn control of the Political arena and international affairs, while his Queen would rule from the Keep, keeping the Kingdom flowing smoothly. Aegon would be beside both as I performed my duties while at war..
You never had to worry about the Hand of the King trying to take power,
Jon Arryn loved Lyanna more than his own blood.
The two had connected over Eddard, the Northern Warden, and his time in the Vale as a boy.
The Queen loved her brothers fiercely, even years later while not seeing her family, letters could only convey so much.
Jon Arryn had been a broken man when he became Hand, the betrayal he faced had hurt him deeply, as his former wife had cuckolded him.
Yet, the time the old Lord spent with the royal family had given the grandfatherly man a chance to dote and shower the children and the Royal family with gifts and favors. He became a surrogate grandfather for the royal children, all four of them.
Jon Arryn was a firm Targaryen ally now, the man would gut anyone for disrespect to them or his former wards.
"Aye my King, Aegon will make you proud, I know it. It will be a pleasure to work with the Queen more. What about Prince Aemon?" The Lord of the Vale asked concerned.
Rhaegar knew this would come up. As much as the Hand of the King doted on Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya, it was Aemon the man saw as a true blooded Grandson.
Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon were more than young heirs being fostered by the man. He saw and treated them just as he would his own heir, which he had resigned himself to never have.
No, Aemon Targaryen was just 14 name days old and stood taller than the crown prince, who was 16 name days old.
"He is the best sword arm we have besides the KingsGuard." Arthur Dayne spoke plainly, a common occurrence for the Commander.
"You are taking him to War?" The unsurprised tone of voice showed that Lord Arryn had feared as much.
"Yes, Aemon will join me, once he and Lord Stark join our forces in the coming months."
Aemon had been gone 2 years now, fostering at Winterfell with Orys Baratheon, heir of Storms End.
Letters had been sent, and witnesses from the guard sent to deliver the prince spoke of kindred spirits among the boys, as well as the Stark family in general.
A relief, but not unexpected. The Stark and Baratheon families were close, and they accepted his son among them as their kin.
Sansa Stark was betrothed to Orys, and they would marry in 3 years time.
Orys was a spitting image of his father, yet held none of the ego. He was a kind, hardworking boy, intelligent as well.
His mother was a woman from Volantis, one of the old blood, a noble merchant family dating back to Valyria. The woman's family had been saved by Robert's father while on his quest to find Prince Rhaegar a bride.
The woman had sworn visit and bring gifts.
It was after the Rebellion that the Lady had come to fulfill her debt.
They married weeks after their first introduction.
Lady Naerys Baratheon was the firm hand her husband never knew he needed.
"Lord Wendal, open the treasury. We will need arms, and supplies quickly. Send word to every Smith in the city to begin producing items of war. They will know exactly what and how much to provide, it was in their contracts to open in the city. Now, we need the city guard bolstered. Commander Thorne, how many Cloaks do we have ready?" The King questioned the men and provided answers before they were asked.
Lord Allister Thorne stood and saluted the king before straightening and explaining.
"Sire, 10,000 Dragon cloaks stand at the ready. 5,000 reserve units can be recalled from the city.
We have another 200 in training, I will prep the grounds for training my King." The Commander of the city's watch or the Dragon cloaks as they had been called for several years now.
The gold cloaks had been dissolved and reborn into an order that protected both the city and the royal properties.
Their cloaks were black with the insignia of the red three headed Dragon I'm the middle of a silver tower shield.
"Have five thousand of your best report to serve Arthur five days from now, at the Dragon pit. Call the reserves back into service, their pay will be equal to that of a full-time guard." I calmly instructed the veteran knight.
I could see he wished to say something but did not wish to interrupt the king.
With a raised hand I spoke directly to the knight.
"You are a member of my council, speak your mind freely, I need not my ass kissed, I only need loyal and vocal advisors."
The man's face paled, but a look of resolve corrected that an instant later.
"Sire, might I suggest you take the 5,000 reserve forces? They are our most mobile force, I have been using this unit to run every patrol of the Crown lands.
They are fierce, they have also been consistently fighting bandits. Much more seasoned force than just city guards. I wanted to make sure the crown had a force that could be reckoned with if you ever needed it, sire." The man spoke frankly, hands clasped at his waist. The look on his face showed his worry.
Arthur and Jon gave me odd looks, but relief was more prevalent on their faces.
Rising, the King of the realm placed his hand on the shoulder of the knight, a small smile on his handsome face.
"You have gone beyond any of my expectations, Lord Commander. I believe you might just have saved many lives. A seasoned army can topple thrice their numbers if planned correctly. You will be rewarded for this Allister." The King's voice seemed to encapsulate the room, or that was how it seemed to the men standing around the room.
Rhaegar turned and sat down in his throne-like chair, finishing giving out instructions and dismissing the council to go about their duties.
His mind wandered to Dragonstone and knowledge he had found there. All because Eddard Stark had sent a cryptic message to search the Castle for hidden knowledge.
He had found cashes around the Keep, tunnels and dragonmont. A specific tunnel leading from a hidden alcove in the King's Chambers was the crown jewel.
Lost tomes of Valyria, crafts, magics, dragon eggs plus, an astronomical amount of wealth and materials.
Dragonstone and the Valyrian vassal Islands had been completely shut off from all but their loyal King.
Trade flowed just enough to make it so that no one suspected a thing. All transactions happened in King's Landing instead of the Narrowsea isles, and it had been this way for nearly 7 years.
'I should send for Visearys, we would be about to scout and remove any surprises from the board. '
Visesrys was named Lord of Graeves Hallow and with it, lands, titles, and people to run the household, all upon his 16th name day.
The lands lay south of God eye's lake, it had once been a tower hold.
The King had it repurchased by the crown from the Minor Lord that owned the land.
The town and Tower had been expanded into a large and well fortified castle town.
But, had instead been serving at Dragonstone for the last several years, alongside the Queen Mother, and his younger sister Danaerys.
Several years back, Rhager had done something his grandfather failed to do.
He hatched a clutch of dragons.
Dragonstone was now the most important island to the King now.
A dozen baby draconians were born from fire and blood, via a ritual the King performed by himself with only Ser Arthur as witness.
Queen Rhaella was quickly let in on the secret, after all, the King had swept the Island clean of all life except for those fully entrenched into the Targaryen House.
The town of Dragonstone was rebuilt in the Valyrian way, the King led Volante mages in the construction. Each and everyone of the mages stayed in King Landing after their appointed work was completed.
Rhaella had bonded with a small brown dragon almost the moment she had seen the little thing, Faith.
Visaerys had bonded to a silver and gold dragon, and he the King had bonded with the largest of the reborn dragons. A blue tinted silver dragon, it's scales looked as if made of sky colored frosted ice, Xathia was its name.
Over the course of the last seven years King Rhaegar had mastered his Valyian magicks while teaching his own family in small doses.
Rhager had made every single Targaryen swear the exact same oath when they became aware of the family secret. The oath was seeped in magic and bound them all to Rhagers line, no rebellion would happen this generation.
The oaths were the same as those given during the Dance of the Dragons.
It was safe to say that Rhaegar Targaryen was the last true Dragon, until his children were born.
Rhaenys had bonded with an orange dragon not a month past she named, Fycria. Aegon had bonded with a purple dragon two years past, named Sky, a very fast growing Dragon.
Daenerys was recently bonded to an irritating black and yellow dragon with an arrogant streak a mile wide. Draga kept the poor girl on her toes.
Visenya had not bonded with any of the Dragons, yet.
Aemon, had bonded with a snow white Dragon, Lord Stark had even given Ramsgate to Aemon as a Castle of his own, and more importantly, kept the Dragon away from everyone and since it was a secret none knew why the Lord of the North would give a Prince a fief. The King could only agree with his good brothers decision at the time.
Visenya had been sent to her grandmother at Dragonstone six months prior to make her own connection.
The King's younger brother would be the only other Royal than the King to fly into battle on the back of their house sigil.
Ser Allister Thorne had swept through the City with a demonic energy.
As the knight Commander blazed through the city to reach the garrison Mansion fort, built around the Dragonpit.
The call of arms went up, just as he passed the street of steel. Looking to his left, he waved a group of men to him, sending those men to alert the craftsmen of their required orders.
Smith's, weavers, bowyers, and the like rushed from their shops as the guards read aloud the proclamation of the King.
Ser Allister rode past the gathering crowds, his men would handle the jaw yapping and recruitment.
The shipyards of Kings Landing were large, providing frigate warships, with massive cargo ships with three masts, and mid sized, but fast schooners, ships meant for trade but could be used for war as well.
All of which were owned directly by the Crown.
Currently the new fleet holds four dozen warships, 90 large cargo ships, for both transport of supplies and men. The schooner fleet was up to one hundred and ten ships, fully manned.
The designs came from an innovative ship blueprint used in the North, some long forgotten Stark King who had been famous for beginning their fleet, created these designs for their own uses.
While some complained, Eddard Stark had built two fleets in the last decade, one for each of his coasts.
The King was pressured to take action, until the Lord of Winter, Warden of the North decided to make a deal with the Iron throne.
The schematics were bought with a hefty price,some added amendments, yet more removed in the North charter that the conqueror and the last Northern King had signed.
The Stark's and the North were now near as independent a Kingdom, as can be, outside of an annual fixed tax, calls of war, and favorable trade with King's Landing in particular.
The Stark's regained their titles of Princes and princesses of the North just as Dorne continued to do. The Pact of Ice and Fire had been completed, and that led to even more uproar.
The North was happy, and booming in economy. The taxes over the last several years had a definitive uptick in gross profit into the royal coffers.
"Lord Valyrion, the ships are being prepped for war, all available ships have been conscripted by the Dragon cloaks. As you commanded all the captains were given one of the chests you gave from the King. None made a complaint.
Additionally I alerted the men to not touch any foreign vessels or nobleman ships, or freedman sail sailors. Only the vessels in the port that held liens, or were being paid for to the crown shipyard."
Aurane Valyrion, former bastard and Master of Ships for King Rhaegar turned to the young woman speaking formally, and a bit stiffly.
"Thank you Captain. The ships of Tarth will be under your direct command for the foreseeable future. I will need you to begin going to every port town on the Narrow Sea to bring in men and ships.
Your father sent a half dozen warships, them and their men are yours to command, listen to your boatsman and first mate. You leave once your ships are packed with food and your continent of Dragon Cloaks."
Aurane explained to a platoon captain of the City Guard.
Brienne of Tarth.
Renly Baratheon was the one to bring her to the Capitol, to serve under Lady Lyanna as a squire.
Something most found hilarious, until Lady Stark began letting the girl train against her guard. Four years later she is the youngest captain of the city. and a well respected one at that.
"Aye sir!"
The young Tarth Captain had been assigned to him a few months back. Her father had raven'd the King asking thst his daughter be taught of the sea, as their home was an Island.
The King agreed to the suggestion and had sent for the Tarth woman to be assigned to his loyal Master of Ships as a guard and a second in command.
Lord Robert Baratheon.
"More than a decade since the last rebellion, and now the Squid wished to rule themselves? hah!"
The tone of voice was harsh, mocking, and filled with venom.
Clearly no love was lost between the reavers and the men of the Storm.
Robert Baratheon stood tall and strong at the bow of the Vantage, his personal Northern flagship, a large ship, known as a man of war, but built with a similar builder, like the frigate class but on a large scale.
It was a personal gift from his best friend, (Prince) Lord and Warden of the Entire North, Eddard Stark. The change in title had caused an uproar among the sly court nobles, that liked to lick the boots of the King and any above them, only to stab them in the back.
Yet, it was a stipulation from the Pact of Ice and Fire, made by Cregan Stark, hand of the King.
And so, the Starks had become as Royal as the Martell Family, in the far south.
"Stannis, raise the black! These ironborn shits are about to learn something!"
Robert roared to his brother at the helm.
Renly had been sent to King's Landing to meet with the King and their forces there.
Stannis had opted to join Robert on the sea of war.
The younger Baratheon called for the quartermaster to raise his brother's personal banner of war. A golden outline of a proud Stag on a black canvas, hence his brothers annoying habit of calling it after a pirates flag.
"The Black is raised, man your stations!" Stannis Baratheons deep and harsh voice boomed across the ship.
Lord Baratheon himself hurried to stand beside his brother at the helm, calling his warriors into formations.
The Sergeants in charge of the men whacked a man here and there, breaking off arguments.
"The scout pigeon circled thrice, the trap is set. Stannis, you are solely responsible for our ship movement. Do not wait for my thoughts, I'll be in the heat of the battle, you will be our guiding hand." The usually boisterous man said calmly and seriously.
"I understand, brother." Stannis said, though his voice was slower, none of the gritting or scowls in sight.
"Good man, the faster this is over the sooner we can see Orys and Ned!" Robert chuckled half heartedly.
"I'm surprised Lord Stark is bringing them, they are only 14 years old, no?" Stannis said to him.
"Aye, Ned's oldest, the King's second son, and Orys are only a year apart. From the reports I've gotten, the three have become fast friends, and even have been running around the North, learning from the North Lords themselves. Last I read, the boys had been sent by Ned to rebuild and grow an old castle, in the lands of Ramsgate. Supposedly it is a gift to his nephew, Aemon, since the old Noble family had died out with no kin. " The Storm Lord explained to his brother.
"I've been thinking Stannis, it's time you held your own lands and marry someone worth your time."
"Rob-"
"There is a daughter, a couple years younger than you, from house Westerling, I believe her name is Wenthra, she is a beautiful woman, a no nonsense type woman, whom I believe you will quite like. I signed the contract already. It's time you started your own branch. Avarice Port Castle and all its lands and accompanying incomes." The older brother cut off the younger's protests.
"Behind my back!"
Ah there the fury is!
"Enemy in sight!" A call from the crows nest sounded.
"Prepare projectiles!" Stannis' voice roared with barely restrained fury.
"That's the spirit, Stannis! Had to get your blood going, I need you angry as a Baratheon!"
His lord called as he rushed to tie himself to the cord slackened from the mast closest them.
"We will have words once this is over Robert." Was all the reply needed.
Robert looked out to sea, there was the majority of the iron fleet.
The King's fleet was several knots to east, leading the charge head on.
We, on the other hand, were performing a classic flank. The Storm fleet only numbered 120 ships, but all were strong war ships with rams fitted, large flaming projectiles, wildfire weakened to a state of being manageable, and placed in tiny jars attached to the heads of javelin, and the massive bolts of the ballista.
Hundreds of ships had turned east to fight off the Royal fleet, none saw the Barathron fleet as they flew towards their rear.
They could hear the clashing of battle ahead, minutes felt like ages as they held their breath waiting for the impacts.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
BOOM
CRUNCH
BOOM
SKRRRT
BOOM
BOOM
"FUCKK!"
the sounds of the smaller iron born long shops being utterly crushed filled the entire world. Or at least, in their world.
The 100 ballista per side of the ship let loose piercing death.
All along the sides of this ships opened portholes, releasing javelin and arrow of death.
It was truly a massive deadly floating Fortress.
All along the line of the ships the same continued to do the same, but on a moderately smaller scale.
Flames of green razed ships from bow to stern for many of the ironborn, not allowing a chance of mercy.
Once the Vantage had rammed it's way through the formation of ships, it lead a wedge formation of destruction, Stsnnis Baratheon composing with flags and horns.
At this point the ironborn had begun to climb up the sides of the war ships, attempting to board their enemies to claim the superior ships.
Robert Baratheon lead the men in crushing the fools from all sides. Crossbow men. Were lined all across the rail, crouching and picking off reavers.
One soldier kicked a Greyjoy man so hard it sent the poor bastard flying into the ocean.
Another swung a wide bladed axe in a wide arc as three reavers, blood flowing from cuts and injuries stuck their heads over the railing at the same time.
A three for one, as the men would later say over mugs of ale.
It was a chaotic symphony of screams, shattered wood, squealing steel, and the smell of blood, fire, fogged over by smoke and taste of salt.
"The King's Flagship comes from the middle! " The crows nest called over the din of chaos.
The Silver and all her glory spewed death, but with much larger amounts of wildfire, ballista rained hell from all open rail, port hole, and even the glassed in back end looked like it was boiling and pouring wildfire.
It left green flames on the sea as it passed, making sure no ship would entertain the idea of attack it.
"They go for Victarion! Let's give them a hand!" Robert's voice called over the noise between him and Stannis, who was currently cutting the head off a reaver that had rushed his guardsmen.
The crew of the Vantage finished off the rest of the watery Ironborn and all the ships in their vicinity.
"Oarsmen! Time to pay your keep!" Stannis's Knight of the Onions hollered at iron born chained below. Mons later the oars were out and the ship began to slide towards the flagship of the Iron Fleet. It's Kraken sigil arrogant in the strong winds of the sea.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
There was the sound of metal on wood, creaking, and shattering as the Royal Man of War, and the Baratheon war ship rammed either end of the Kraken Ship.
Within only moments, did the Longshot give as it slipt in two, tearing the ship asunder, killing everyone on board within moments.
As if by magic, the sound around them silenced as they passed the Royal Flagship. The Silver.
Robert new the King wouldn't be on the vessel, he would have led the men across the land to one of the port cities.
No this was most likely Aurane Valyrion, a feared sea Captain with a wicked streak cunning as wide as any maester.
"Raise the Dragon!" Came the call of Lord Baratheon.
A moment later the red three headed Dragon flew above the Baratheon Black.
The Silver swung around and joined them at the starboard side, examining the pure unadulterated carnage around them.
"Milord! The Silver is signaling for boarding."
"Granted!" Robert told the quartermaster who had rushed over to them from mast.
