HELAENA

Helaena did not know how to ask Aemond to not tell the king about the war.

The king knew about Rhaenyra's treasons, certainly, and that she would not stand by meekly, but the Small Council had assured him that his sister would not slay her kin for a crown. "Peace can be made before war is joined," Ser Tyland had assured the king. Yet ravens came from the north, letters of defiance from Houses Darklyn, Crabb, and Staunton, as well as Lord Larys's birds reporting to the Small Council of a host gathering at Lord Jacelyn Staunton's seat at Rook's Rest, a red dragon sighted oft flying above. Grand Maester Orwyle and his assistants held control over the ravenrys, and at this moment Ser Otto had been able to prevent word of Rhaenyra's war from reaching the king.

"Rhaenyra knows," Lord Jasper said at a Small Council meeting,"and she is playing the same game as us. Gathering her banners in secret in the hopes that she may take us unawares and appear with such overwhelming strength that we are compelled to accept her peace. The host at Rook's Rest is no doubt Prince Daemon's work, the prince knowing which castle would best serve to strangle us. If he moves south, he could assault King's Landing itself. If he moves west, he may conquer Harrenhal and control the crossroads of the Seven Kingdoms."

When Ser Tyland reported that no trade galleys ventured into the port of the King's Landing two nights after Helaena's father's death, it became harder to keep the truth from the king. The Small Council knew at once that the absence of trade galleys was the Sea Snake's blockade, and decreed in the king's name that no galley was to leave King's Landing's port, "for concern of the traitor fleet". Helaena thought it was as much the work of the king for not knowing as the Small Council. Every man in the city knew of the traitors, except Helaena's husband who drowned in wine and whores after he was crowned. If only he would attend one of his councils. Yet he remained in his endless feasts in Maegor's Holdfast, oblivious to the affairs of the realm. He sent Helaena to listen for him, but she was not about to tell him.

They might have been able to keep the truth from the king forever, if Aemond had not dispatched a missive from Storm's End telling of victory. But in the letter, Storm's End's maester also wrote that Lucerys Velaryon had been present at Storm's End. Even though Lucerys scurried back to Dragonstone the moment he glimpsed Vhagar, it was still solid proof that Rhaenyra had begun the war. The Small Council only told the king that Aemond had won the swords of Storm's End and not of Lucerys Velaryon, but the king then said that he would welcome Aemond with a great feast. "The true blood of the dragon," Aegon said with a wine goblet in his hand,"My brother has made a good beginning." The Small Council knew that Aemond would tell his brother at the feast, so they urged the king that the time of grief after King Viserys's passing was not the time for feasts. But the king was adamant, even putting aside his wine and whores to oversee the preparations. Helaena was silently grateful for her brother. Aemond was the only one who could provoke even a semblance of sense in Aegon.

Unable to convince the king, Ser Otto turned his eyes to Helaena, wishing that Aemond would not tell the king of Lucerys. None of them dared speak with Aemond, so they turned to Helaena, regaling her with praise and pleading for her to sway Aemond from telling the king the truth. Jaehaerys and Jaehaera were disturbed by the constant presence of the stern bearded councilors and their hulking guards. Maelor threw one of his toy knights at Ser Tyland when he would not leave even as Helaena told him three times. At last, Helaena agreed only to get the Small Council away from her children, for Jaehaerys and Jaehaera were eyeing Shrykos and Morghul more and more each time the councilors came.

Helaena wondered what she might say to Aemond to have him conceal the truth, and she was still thinking as Aemond and Vhagar appeared overhead. Her thoughts slowed as she felt the whirlwind of Vhagar's wings beating to slow the dragon's descent. The Red Keep's walls were high, and only the sentries on the castle gates could see dragons on the horizon before they emerged above the atrium. Helaena never heard the message of the sentries, and she hugged Maelor and Jaehaera to her dress. Jaehaerys, however, stepped forward, wanting to be the first to greet his favourite uncle. Ser Rickard was only a step behind his Prince of Dragonstone.

Several Dragonkeepers took Vhagar's tethers whilst Aemond undid his chains and leapt from the saddle. Helaena's brother was smiling, and Helaena smiled back. Scarce had Aemond climbed down did Jaehaerys run forward and hug his uncle's legs. Helaena noted that the top of Jaehaerys's head had already reached Aemond's elbow. That was all she noticed before Aemond lifted her son into his arms. For a moment, Helaena wondered about another world where she was married to Aemond instead of Aegon, and wondered if it may be better. She banished those thoughts in an instant, thoughts unbecoming of a lady and a queen.

"Be careful, brother," Helaena said as Aemond stepped towards her,"Jay will soon tower over you."

"Fat chance of that," Aemond set Jaehaerys down and Helaena let Jaehaera and Maelor run to their brother. She hugged Aemond, and her brother kissed her on both cheeks,"It's good to see you, sister."

"Have you brought me anything from Storm's End?" Helaena asked.

"I have brought something not just for you," Aemond said,"I have brought something for the king and all the realm. I have brought victory." He drew back,"Storm's End is Aegon's. The traitor Luke Strong was there, but when he saw Vhagar, he scurried away like the craven he was."

"Victory," Helaena agreed,"and Aegon has prepared a feast in your honour. But…brother, if Aegon asks you in the feast, tell him of winning Lord Borros's banners, but do not tell him of Lucerys."

"Why?" Aemond demanded, his voice like a bolt of lightning.

Why? Aemond's words rang in Helaena's ears. She never wondered why the Small Council did not want the king to know of Rhaenyra's war. They said so, and Helaena followed without a doubt in her mind. Why? The Small Council told the king that their work was good and no secret leaked to Dragonstone, so mayhaps they wanted to hide their incompetence that Rhaenyra knew as soon as the morning after Helaena's father's death. No, Helaena's heart fell into dread. When Aegon drowned in wine and whores, he gave all authority of the realm to his grandfather Ser Otto. Their grandfather did not want to lose that.

"Hel," Aemond's voice rang as he gently shook her,"Hel. If it is your wish that I do not tell Aegon about Luke Strong, then I shall not tell him."

"No," Helaena bit her lip,"Tell the king."

Aegon hosted his brother Aemond in the Hall of the Summer Queen, a spacious hall open to the sky above and surrounded by carved pillars and a sea of red stones. As Aemond entered with Helaena on his arm, the princes and princess behind them, the lords and knights in the hall rose to greet them with each table they passed.

"To the Spring Prince come again," Lord Bywater said as he raised his cup.

"May the Warrior smile upon my prince's prowess," a merchant with a lean face said.

"My prince has lost one eye," Ser Otto toasted Aemond as he passed,"but sees clearer than all the rest of us."

Aegon descended from his raised dais at the head of the hall to greet his brother, Ser Criston Cole and Ser Gyles Belgrave behind him with their hands on their hilts. "Come, my brother," Aegon pulled at Aemond with one hand, his winecup in his other hand,"All this feast is for you. The seat beside mine is yours."

"You have my thanks, brother," Aemond said,"This victory is yours as well as mine. Storm's End has sworn its swords to your banner, and Luke Strong scurried back to his whore mother when he saw Vhagar."

Helaena saw Ser Otto rise in an instant, his face red, but was soon pulled down by Ser Tyland. "Lu…Luke," Aegon said, freezing as the colour drained from his face.

"Yes, Luke Strong," Aemond said,"He was there to win Lord Borros to our sister who had become a traitor. Did Maester Galladon's letter not tell you of how the dog ran back to the bitch? It must have lost itself in the winds, and a storm was following me as I rode back to King's Landing. I did not tarry at Storm's End for this very reason, to bring you the tidings myself if the raven was lost."

For a moment, all Helaena heard in the hall was silence. Then, the silence was broken by the sound of Aegon's golden wineglass striking the floor. "War is no time for a feast," Aegon said, then turned to Ser Otto, saying icily:"My lord Hand, call the Small Council in your tower."

"We cannot let this feast go to waste, Your Grace," Helaena said,"We must still honour our brother's victory. I can entertain our brother in the feast whilst Your Grace hosts the Small Council meeting."

Aegon turned to her, silent a moment, then said: I think not." He then turned to the high table,"Mother, host our brother and my children in the feast." "My queen," he turned to her, his purple eyes cold,"You shall accompany me to the council."

"Why was I not told that my sister has risen in treason?" Aegon demanded of the Small Council.

For a long moment, none answered, until Lord Jasper raised his voice: "We were uncertain, and it was our greatest fear to falsely declare war. We had unconfirmed reports from the Crownlands of a host gathering at Rook's Rest. There were also sightings of Meleys above the castle, but Your Grace knows how the smallfolk like to invent tales of dragons. It was only when Prince Aemond reported of Lucerys at Storm's End that we became sure of your sister's treason. We were planning to tell Your Grace as soon as the feast ended, but we did not wish to spoil the joy of Prince Aemond's return."

Helaena expected the king to rage, but his eyes were white and sober. She remembered that her husband had drunk less as he prepared for Aemond's return. "Never mind that," Aegon said,"We know now that my sister Rhaenyra has risen in treason. It is clear that the realm is at war. What shall we do of it?"

Ser Criston stepped forward from behind Aegon, and pointed at the map in the Tower of the Hand,"I had advised this course as soon as we suspected Rhaenyra's treason. Remove the dragon's head, and the body shall fall." He pointed at an isle in the Narrow Sea,"Attack Dragonstone with Your Grace's dragons, capture Rhaenyra, and the war is over."

"A simple course," Aegon was nodding,"but bold and victorious. It is what my namesake Aegon the Conqueror would have done."

"No, Your Grace," Ser Tyland hissed,"We had told Ser Criston enough times that his course was folly. Rhaenyra has six dragons even then, perhaps more now if she is wise and calls for dragonriders to tame the wild ones. And even in the littlest chance that Sunfyre, Vhagar, and Dreamfyre overpower Rhaenyra's dragons, our armies shall not reach Dragonstone. The Sea Snake has closed the seas to us. Our dragons shall fly above Dragonstone, perhaps burning the island citadel, whilst Rhaenyra and her stooges disappear into the wilderness like Dornishmen." "Instead of that folly, Your Grace," Ser Tyland turned to Aegon,"Continue that course Your Grace has already followed and has seen fruit. All Your Grace need do is to show the Princess that her cause is hopeless, that the realm stands with Your Grace as per King Viserys's will. She shall be compelled to accept our peace. Storm's End has already declared. Your Grace has only need to continue, and the war shall end before it even begins."

"Aye, Your Grace," Ser Otto said,"Do not abandon the progress made already towards peace."

"It was our folly to not tell Your Grace of Rhaenyra's warmongering," Lord Jasper said,"but do not ruin the realm by refusing our wisdom."

"I have taught Your Grace since you were a child," Grand Maester Orwyle said,"and in the histories, the most able ways to resolve a crisis were that of the Conciliator. Without bloodshed."

Aegon listened to each of his councilors, it was only when their words hang spoken in the air when Helaena heard her husband speak: "Very well, my lords. But from what I have heard, only Storm's End has risen for us. We need more lords if we are to force a peace."

"My nephew Ormund has answered our raven," Ser Otto said,"He has rallied Oldtown's banners and marches now to King's Landing upon the roseroad. With Ormund is Your Grace's brother Prince Daeron with his dragon, Tessarion the Blue Queen."

"My brother Lord Jason would soon follow to rise for Your Grace," Ser Tyland said,"with all the swords of the Westerlands and gold of Casterly Rock. To seal the alliance, my brother asks that Prince Daeron wed one of his daughters, either Cerelle or Tyshara."

"Write to Lord Jason that I consent to my brother's marriage," Aegon said.

Ser Tyland nodded, then continued: "The Tyrells of Highgarden shall soon align as well with the crown. Lord Lyonel Tyrell is a babe, and his mother would most like align House Tyrell with her mighty bannermen House Hightower and Lord Ormund's Oldtown host. Tyrell's mother only lacks several assurances from us-one raven from Your Grace, followed by several wagons. The wagons shall contain gold and jewels, and a valuable charge. Princess Jaehaera, who shall be betrothed to Lord Lyonel Tyrell. The one thing all mothers of boys lords want is for their son's rule to be secure. We can give her that."

"I consent to writing your letter," Aegon's face darkened,"and I even allow for my lord to send gold and jewels from the treasury to Highgarden, but Jaehaera shall not wed the rose boy." Aegon turned to Helaena,"She is meant for Jaehaerys. The blood of the dragon must remain pure." Helaena agreed with her husband, but his words had offended most of the council. Our mother is not of the blood of the dragon, and Helaena saw that her grandfather bristled at the slight. Ser Tyland and Lord Jasper's faces fell, and Grand Maester Orwyle tried to hide away. Only Lord Larys remained smiling, but the spymaster always smiled.

"I have Jaehaerys and Maelor with me, Your Grace," Helaena said,"Jaehaera can leave us. We cannot send the Tyrells gold upfront, for they are proud lords and prickly at being bribed. The gold shall come at the guise of my daughter's dowry."

She did not expect her husband to listen, for he never did before as he whored his way across the city, but his eyes were sober. He put his fist down with a resounding crash on Ser Otto's oaken table. "Very well, Ser Tyland," Aegon said,"I consent to my daughter's betrothal."

"Your Grace is wise," Ser Tyland said,"We must now look to the rest of the great lords. Lord Grover has not answered from the Riverlands, and no raven has flown from Lord Dalton and the Iron Islands. The North and the Vale-"

"Shall not matter, Ser Tyland," Aegon said,"With the Stormlands, the Reach, and the Westerlands declaring for my banner, near two hundred thousand swords shall ride for me, and the rest of the realm shall fall into line."