Chroyane 298 AC.
Dany.
Each day they traveled she felt it and so did Shiera, the dragons were getting larger and the time was drawing ever closer for them to take to the skies. Ellagon was growing more and more impatient with her, Rhaegal too, while Sandorix seemed more distant than ever. Her son was the moodiest of her dragons, something which always brought a smirk to her face given who he was named for.
As for their new traveling companion's, Melisandre barely acknowledged the dragons, while the others either looked at them warily or with fascination. The men of the Company of the Rose never went close to them and never alone while the Essosi who had helped her, seemed eager to be allowed near them. She had come to like the large bald man, Strong Belwas was always happy and jovial, that he annoyed Sandor also amused her.
"Keep that annoying fucker away from me." Sandor said.
"Why? he just wants to be your friend." she replied with an innocent look on her face.
"I don't need more fucking friends." Sandor said making her chuckle.
"Strong will be the best friend you ever had, show you where to get the best honeyed locusts, maybe if you smile more, even where we can get some liver and onions, Sandorix." Strong said.
"My fucking name is Sandor, the dragon is called Sandorix, you silly fucker."
"Forgive me, Strong thought you were a dragon, ha, maybe you really are." the bald man laughed.
She did her best not to, but she couldn't help it and when Sandor got up and stormed away she doubled over she laughed that much. Strong looking to her and slapping his belly as he picked up Sandor's plate and Dany laughing even more. Once she was done eating, she spent some time with Missy and Irri and Jhiqui. The three girls had become close friends and while Dany was friendly with the two Dothraki, it was still the young girl that she was closest too.
In two years Missy had come on incredibly, the shy girl was still there sometimes but more and more she had grown into herself. For Dany having a girl close to her age was something she never knew she needed so much, a true friend, a sister, is how she thought of Missy and that the girl felt the same was very much clear to her.
"Will Westeros be cold?" Missy asked as they sat together.
"I don't know, Shiera says it'll be colder than here but I've no memory of it and Sandor just laughs." Dany said.
"What will we do when we get there?"
"We'll find my nephew and help him take his throne, stop those who wish to harm my blood." Dany said determinedly.
"And after?" Missy asked worriedly.
"I wish to visit the place I was born, where my mother…" she said softly closing her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Dany." Missy said taking her hand.
"I'm good, does it worry you going to a new place?"
"I don't know, I've known only here and my home, it will be good to see somewhere new." Missy said with a note of excitement in her voice.
"I'm glad you're coming with me." Dany said with a smile which the girl returned.
The next day when they were breaking their fast she felt it in her head. Ellagon was not willing to wait any longer, looking over at Shiera she could see that she felt it too, her aunt smiling at her and nodding. As soon as they were done they moved to the dragons, Strong, Sandor, Rodrik, Grey Worm, and the girls looking on nervously while Melisandre seemed certain there would be no problem.
Dany looked on as Ellagon dropped her wing, the dragon's eagerness apparent for all to see. Climbing up it unsteadily she looked on her back for somewhere to sit and saw an indentation that almost looked made for her. Once she was comfortable she looked to Shiera to see she was sitting slightly more nervously than her, Rhaegal too looked eager while Sandorix sat watching almost lazily.
"You must use your mother tongue, princess." Melisandre said and Dany nodded.
"Sōvegon Ellagon." (Fly Ellagon) she said and she felt it then, the butterflies in her stomach as she took to the air.
The only sound louder than the wings of the dragon was the laughter coming from her mouth. Ellagon took her up into the air so easily that she felt she could have done this moons ago. The dragon flew over their camp, doing so almost slowly so that Dany could get used to being on her back, though it was clear she wished to fly higher and faster, Dany quickly giving in to her wishes.
"Eglikta Ellagon, adhirikydho" (Higher Ellagon, quickly) she said and the dragon did as she bid.
Soon those below were no bigger than ants and Dany felt the coldness of the air on her face as Ellagon raced through the sky, the camp soon a blur in the distance. Looking over Dany could see the smile on her aunt's face as Shiera flew Rhaegal close to her. They flew over the ruined city below and Dany wished to have a closer look at it. She'd been warned by her aunt not to go through Chroyane as the city was full of Stone Men and cursed.
"Ellagon, Sōvegon ilagon konīr." (Ellagon, fly down there) she said feeling they were safe enough on dragonback and curious as to what she may see in the city.
Shiera had told her much about the ruined city, how it was claimed to have once been beautiful and it's Palace of Love had been the envy of much larger cities. She told her of the bridge and of the Shrouded Lord, Dany fascinated by the tale. As they flew through the mist though Dany began to see the city for what it was now, The fogs from the Sorrows rose high and both the bridge and palace were now named for the river and the despair the city had fallen to.
She saw the shapes move around near the top of the bridge and watched on as Ellagon took her far out of its range. The city was cursed and the Shrouded Lord waited below with his grey kiss, Missy had said as she told her Prince Garin's tale, but there was something there, something Dany could feel, and as they flew she swore she heard a voice in the wind.
"The prince will have need of us."
She looked to Shiera to see if she heard the voice, her aunt though seemed more intent on flying under the bridge and Dany watched on as when she did men jumped from the top of it. Breathing a sigh of relief when she saw Rhaegal fly out the other side with her aunt unharmed on his back, Dany felt the time was done flying for today. Ellagon flying high over the bridge and Rhaegal flying with her when they headed back to the camp.
"Tegun Ellagon." (Land Ellagon) she said when they saw Sandorix looking up to them, the others standing out in the open looking relieved when she finally did land.
After assuring everyone all was well and making sure her aunt was unharmed, Dany thanked Ellagon for allowing her to fly with her. The dragon's trills louder than any she'd heard before, when she told her that yes they would fly again on the morrow. That night she dreamt of men with silver hair being swallowed by water, of a dark-haired grey-eyed man being held in a golden cage and beseeching his mother to strike down his enemies.
"Prince Garin princess, or at least that's the tale. They hung him and he called for Mother Rhoyne to aid him and then the Sorrows rose to swallow his foes." Missy said to her the next morning and Dany nodded, the voice she had heard still in her head.
"The prince will have need of us"
As they traveled over the next few days she took every chance she could to fly on Ellagon, Shiera too feeling happiest when she was in the air. By the time they reached Myr flying was second nature to her and as she looked out on the Sea of Myrth she wondered if she could fly to Westeros from here or would the dragons need to fly alone. Rodrik brought them to the companies base, the men of the Company of the Rose looking nervously at the dragons.
When she told them what she wished to do they didn't argue with her or tell her she could not, only that they wouldn't join her. Instead, they said they'd find her a ship that would sail her West and that their own return would only be when the war was done. Dany found that odd and questioned them on it, only to be told some truths weren't for her to know.
Still, it excited her that within the week she'd be heading home and she waited impatiently for the days to pass. Each day she flew with Shiera and it was her aunt who saw them first, Dany looking down on the sheer mass that rode towards the city and wondering if the Khal she had met before was among them. Ellagon flying back to the company's base and Dany finding out from Torrhen Snow that he most certainly was.
"Why is he coming here?" she heard one of the men say to Torrhen Snow and the look the older man gave her sent a shiver down her spine.
"For a bride." the man said simply.
Myr 297/298 AC.
The Onion Knight.
He didn't need news to come from the battle, it was clear it was over almost as soon as it began. When Stannis didn't return that night though he made his move. Selyse, Shireen, Ser Lambert Whitewater, Ser Norbert Grandison, and a half dozen guards all headed to the gate at the base of the keep. The short walk to the boat had Shireen excited while her mother was much more nervous.
When they reached the Black Betha, Davos looked to Mathos and gave the order to set sail. The black sails soon caught the wind, and Storm's End faded from their view within moments. Calling for Devan to show Shireen to her room, Davos waited until she was gone before turning to Selyse and the two knights. The woman looking at him much differently than usual.
"Where are we going, Ser Davos?" Selyse asked.
"Myr my lady." he said.
"Would it not be best to take Lady Selyse to her family?" Ser Norbert asked.
"The new king is close to House Tyrell, should he win this war then we risk them marching on Brightwater Keep if they know Lady Selyse and Lady Shireen are there. Besides House Martell has risen for him now too, we'd need to sail the entire coastline of Dorne to get to the Reach. I swore to Lord Stannis I'd keep his family safe, I believe for now this is for the best." he said and looked to the lady rather than the knights.
"My husband trusts Ser Davos with Shireen and my safety, if he thinks it's for the best then it's for the best." Selyse said.
"My lady, Mathos will take you to my cabin, it's not much but it's the best on the ship." Davos said and Selyse smiled at him perhaps for the first time ever.
"I thank you Ser Davos, for everything." she said and he nodded.
While Selyse kept below decks mainly, Shireen did not. The little girl spending most of her time on deck with him, enjoying the view, the weather, and annoying him as she taught him to read.
"Aegon came with his sister wives and three dragons, see that word there, it's Aegon, it sounds like Egg." Shireen said as Davos looked at the book.
"Aye, Egg-on" he said running his fingers over the word.
"See I told you that you'd get it Ser Onion Knight." Shireen said happily.
"Aye, that you did." he smiled.
"Ser Davos, father, the king, do you think?" she asked worriedly.
"The king claims to be a Targaryen, Shireen, your great grandmother was a Targaryen. You know what they say about Kinslayers?" Davos asked.
"That they're cursed." she said.
"Aye, I doubt this king wishes to be cursed." he said hoping to relive her worry.
She sat silently for a moment and Davos thought he had, the worry looking like it was gone for now at least.
"Then why are we running, Ser Onion Knight?" she asked catching him by surprise.
"Not all who surround the king may feel the same, better safe than sorry." he said and she looked at him and nodded.
"Will we have to live here from now on?" she asked.
"No, we'll go back when we're able, I promise." he said and she seemed for now to accept it.
When they arrived in Myr he found them a small Manse, nothing too extravagant as the coin they had would cover only so much. Shireen settled in right away but Selyse didn't like Myr, Essos, the food, the people, none of it agreeing with her and as the days went on she became more and more irritable. One day a few weeks into their stay, he arrived back at the Manse with Shireen and Devan to find the lady's mood altogether different.
She was happier, seemed more sure of herself, and asking the two knights he found out that she'd gone to the Red Temple, and had embraced the Lord of Light. Davos was not happy about it but it changed her mood and stopped her from being overly critical of Shireen and so he let it go for now. To earn some coin Davos took small contracts, he'd sail for a week or two and it allowed him to provide as their own coin ran out.
It was on his return from one of these contracts that he was contacted by a man with a job taking some people to Westeros, a job which paid well and one which he accepted gratefully. They need to see that his family was safe and to find out news on the war something he welcomed. That he then later found out that there was a Targaryen in Myr, one with three dragons, only making him happier for the contract and so that night he told Selyse and Shireen that it was time for them to travel back with him.
"I don't think we're safe here anymore. We can sail to your family, surely no one is looking for us now." he said and though he didn't truly believe that, he really wished them to be away from here.
"We cannot, the Lord doesn't wish me to leave yet." Selyse said and that it seems was the end of the discussion.
"Ser Onion Knight, are we really in danger?" Shireen asked worriedly.
"I fear so, better to be away from here just in case." he said and the girl nodded.
"I'll speak to mother." she said and he gave her a smile and mussed her hair.
While she'd enjoyed being in Myr, the differences of the place and being outdoors something she welcomed. Shireen had found it hard to make friends other than Devan. Other children saw the scars on her face and almost ran away from her, if she was lucky that was, the ones who stayed only did so to make fun of her. Breaking his fast the next day only made the need to leave even more clear. A Dothraki horde arriving looking for tribute was not something he'd have Shireen caught up in.
"Mathos, find the Northmen who gave us the contract, he's with the Company of the Rose. Tell him we're leaving on the morrow." he said and his son raced off to do as he was bid.
Davos himself headed to the Black Betha, readying it to sail morning tide. Once he had the ship prepared and saw to their food and water stocks, he headed back to Manse. He'd decided it was for the best if they slept on the ship tonight, he'd take it out to the bay and be ready to leave even if their contract never arrived. When he arrived back at the manse though he found Mathos pacing nervously.
"Mathos?" he asked.
"Some people came father, they're inside speaking to Lady Selyse, men in armor." his son said.
Davos ran into the Manse, his pace slowing though when he heard laughter, when he reached the room he saw them sitting around the table. Selyse was speaking to a woman in red, a priestess, while two men in leather armor carrying spears stood speaking to Ser Norbert and Ser Lambert. Shireen was laughing and japing with a silver-haired woman and Davos gasped when he saw her.
"Ser Onion Knight, this is Shiera Seastar, she's my kin and she says Jae wishes to see me." Shireen said happily.
"Jae?" he asked the name not registering.
"My nephew, Jaehaerys Targaryen, Lady Melisandre says he wishes to see his kin once more." Shiera said and Davos looked to the people in the room wondering had he failed his lord and his charge.
Harrenhal 298 AC.
Ser Richard Lonmouth.
For many years he considered this castle to be cursed, even more so than the Whents did. It was here he'd seen it all begin to fall apart, yet as he rode up to the gate Richard could only smile. For it was clear now that what happened here would be seen in a very different light by the rest of the realm soon, just as it was by him already. That the keep hadn't been taken showed just how different a war this was than it could have been.
Richard looked at the poor defenses and the poorer force garrisoning it and knew that Shella could never have held this keep if the war was to turn another way. He was glad that it wouldn't come to pass, this wasn't a war of sieges and taking keeps, of those behind walls suffering and those with no walls suffering even more. This war would come down to battles and dragons and the lands would suffer far less because of it, just as his king wished.
When he was brought to the lady of the keep, he only felt it more keenly. Oswell's goodsister above any deserved peace in her final years. That she had risen for the king showed the mettle of the woman. House Whent was a poor but proud house and yet their loyalty was not to their kin, especially not after what they had done, but to a king that one of their own had died protecting.
"Have I died in my sleep and made my way to my gods or is there a dead man in my hall, a specter come to haunt me?" Shella said with a small smirk on her face when she looked at him.
"Like the dragons Shella, my death was necessary for a time and like the dragons, that time has long since past. His grace would be most pleased to see the banner which flies over Harrenhal, as am I." he said and Shella smiled.
"Sit Richard, for far too long have I been unable to speak to a good man and true and I take it by your miraculous recovery that you've served our king even longer than I?" Shella said as he took a seat beside her, the offered wine gratefully accepted.
"I have, for nigh on five years I've been Master of Whisperers to the king, ever since I saw him knock a fish on his arse." he said laughing as Shella joined in.
"What's he like Richard, truly? I've heard tale of the boy and the things he's done, but you've met him supped with him, is he who we've been waiting for?" Shella asked her voice more eager than he'd ever heard it before.
"Aye, he's his father's son without the melancholy. I'd not thought to find a king that would ever come close to what Rhaegar could have been, I believe the son to be better even than the father, Shella." he said and the smile that appeared on Shella's face was one he was sure the woman hadn't worn in years.
"I spoke up for him when I thought him a bastard and dead. That fool of a Tully dared raise a toast to a dead child, I'd thought then that was the stupidest thing that Edmure could do." Shella said shaking her head.
"Not now?" he asked.
"No, he pulled on the dragon's tail, I've heard those songs Richard, he pulled on the dragon's tail and we all know what happens if you do that."
"Aye, you get burnt." he said and she nodded.
"You'll stay for dinner? it's been some time since I've had company I actually enjoy." Shella asked.
"Aye, overnight if I may?" he asked.
"I'll see a room arranged, it's good to see you Richard, good to see this. When my time is finally at an end I'll be glad to know it's a good king that sits on the throne." she said as she got up and walked away.
After washing and changing his clothes, he took a walk around the grounds of the keep. The memories washing over him like rain filled day. The place where he'd drank with Robert, where he'd seen Lyanna Stark for the first time, the tilt grounds, and the Godswood. Richard found himself inside and walking to the Weirwood, it's angry face glaring back at him as the thirteen marks for now didn't bleed.
He came to him there, one of his lips carrying the messages and Richard nodded sending the man back on his way. There were more whispers to be found out and songs to be sung after all. Looking around he soon found a cut tree trunk and took his seat, the whispers needing to be known so he could tell his king on the morrow.
North.
The Kraken reached out its tentacles but the North cut each of them off, the leech lord readies to say his long goodbye.
Reach.
The rose longs for a dragon's kiss and the fat flower feasts while the young bud readies his thorns.
Dorne.
A frog takes to the sea and heads into the storm, while a snake's tail remains cut off from its head.
Riverlands.
A trout and a mockingbird blow away in the wind, while a lion chases after a floppy fish.
Crownlands.
A buck thinks himself a stag, while a golden army marches east with a fat man at its head and a crowned stag thinking himself above the bitter steel. The Black Hammers rise and welcome a Seahorse, old friends reunited once more.
Stormlands.
A viper strikes hard and true and the stag finds itself trapped. The storm is broken but small winds may join to make sailing troublesome. A fawn travels east in an onion's embrace.
The Vale.
A Red Castle stands firm as does a Yellow Tower, its flames the dragons once more. The baby falcon flies high in the mountain and makes its nest in the highest hall of them all.
Richard looked at them and then the last two even more eagerly.
A quiet wolf howls long and loud and a falcon's honor is questioned, three rivers combine and two armies meet but a dragon flies to join and make it three.
Opening the next one he smiled.
Dragons and lions lead the way while a huntsman strides to follow, east to gold and glory to bitter steel and what lies beneath. The stag is the prize but cheese the dish to dine on.
He rolled up the messages in his hand and when he entered the hall he walked to the nearest brazier, dropping them in and watching as they burned. Taking his seat by Lady Shella he enjoyed his meal and his conversation, stories of Rhaegar and Oswell filling their time. For Richard though as much as he tried to give the lady the attention she deserved, his mind was on his lips and the messages they brought him.
When he had asked Jae about Roose Bolton and told him his plan he'd expected the king to be outraged, to question him about honor, and instead he'd been given a simple nod. Richard finding that Jae's own plans for the Bolton's only helped by what he had planned to do. So the bard was sent and the hippocras poisoned, the death would come soon it seemed and the Dreadfort would soon have a new lord.
What other plans Jae had for Domeric Bolton he left to the king, only doing what he asked regarding the Redforts and ensuring they played no role in the war to come. The war itself seemed to be proceeding along lines he expected, though the Golden Company was a surprise. Richard sitting drumming his fingers and wondering how he'd missed that.
"I'm sorry, my mind is elsewhere it seems" he said when Shella asked him something, clearly doing so for not the first time.
"Something to worry about?" she asked.
"What? No, nothing like that, just so many things going on at once Shella, my mind wanders as I look for threats to or ways to help the king and sometimes I see things that are not there." he said taking a sip of his wine.
"Better that than miss what is Richard." she said and he nodded.
Sleep was hard to come by that night, Richard worrying about the battles to come, they had the men, dragons, but the Golden Company gave him pause. How they'd managed to get to Westeros without him knowing only proving that Essos was a wasteland to him in terms of his lips. That they had come at the behest of the cheesemonger only annoying him that they'd not killed the man sooner, though it was not for lack of trying.
He knew Jae had not wished to use the dragons to destroy their enemies, rather the plan had always been for them to be the Hammer and the armies the Anvil. They would use the dragons to force the surrender, the army to drive the point home. Now with the Golden Company, they may need to change that plan and he wondered if Jae was ready for that. His king was so desperate not to be thought of as his grandfather and now was being forced to perhaps burn them all.
After breaking his fast the next morning, Richard rode south around the God's Eye, with luck he'd reach them before the battle began, should Jae wish for advice he'd be there to offer it to him. It was time for the Master of Whispers to be by his king's side, to offer whatever help he could.
Stormlands 298 AC.
Oberyn.
He sent scouts out to see where the Stormlords had ridden to, eager to see if his battles here were won or if he needed to march and besiege some keeps. As long as the men hadn't gone to join the usurper's army he'd be happy, his work here had been done far more quickly than he had expected. That part of that was down to his daughters only making him proud and so he once again paid their prisoner a visit.
Stannis had expected death, he knew that and so when it had not come the man had been surprised. When he'd not tortured him or threatened him to give up Storm's End, even more so. Jae didn't want to take the keep, the men were far more important to his nephew. What had surprised Stannis most of all though was his treatment, though Oberyn had to admit that were he in the same position then he'd be surprised too.
"I'll not yield Storm's End." Stannis said as he looked at him angrily.
"I'll not ask you too." he said back with a smile.
"Nor will I call on my men to surrender."
"Your men have been defeated my lord, I've broken your army. The others are free to march back to their keeps, the king will deal with them fairly and in good time." he said as Stannis glared at him.
"You speak as if your king is different than any others, as if he'll not seek retribution against us." Stannis said dismissively.
"Do I, then you've taken me wrong. There will be retribution but unlike with your brother, my nephew will be fair." Oberyn said.
"You place a lot of faith in a green boy."
"A lot of faith in my king." he said laughing "I ask but one thing of you, give me that and I'll leave Storm's End untouched."
"What?" Stannis asked curiously.
"Your oath you'll not try and escape, you'll face the king and welcome his justice. Do that and your family, your keep, have nothing to fear from me." he said and Stannis looked at him "I give you my own oath, as a prince of House Martell, give me yours Lord Stannis and you'll be treated fair." he said and Stannis nodded.
"I swear I'll not try to escape and accept the king's justice." Stannis said.
Stannis had been true to his word just like Jae had said he'd be, honor and duty something the man lived for apparently. So they'd treated him like a guest rather than a hostage, he'd eaten well, been left unchained, yes they'd guarded him heavily but the man had made not a move and Oberyn had lived up to his end of the bargain. Something which though it should give the man comfort seemed not to.
Arriving at the tent he never got the chance to enter, the riders coming fast up the hill forcing him to divert to them. He looked to see Obara leading them and so he walked to his daughter to find out what news she'd brought. Seeing her smiling face at least making him suspect the news was good.
"Father, it seems we've even more Stormlords wishing to join us." Obara said pointing down the hill, Oberyn looking to see Beric leading a small force of men, the yellow sun and crescents representing House Tarth being worn by most.
"How many?" he asked.
"500 and 200 horse." she said and he nodded, they'd need more supplies soon and he hoped they'd arrive.
He readied himself to meet Lord Selwyn, the older man looking happy to have made it, even if this part of the war may already be done.
"My prince." the lord said as he dismounted.
"Lord Selwyn, come to swear fealty to my nephew?"
"I've sent a raven to Casterly Rock and to the Red Keep saying so my prince, I'd have arrived sooner but…." Selwyn said shaking his head.
"That you've come is to be welcomed my lord, I'm sure his grace will appreciate it when he receives the news." he said and the man relaxed. "Obara can see to settling you and our men." he said nodding to his daughter and then watching as the lord walked away.
"From what I can tell, no one south of us has risen for Robert, those who fought with Stannis have marched back to their keeps." Beric said when the lord had walked away.
"Thoros and Nym have ridden with the scouts to the North, so when they return we'll know if the war here is done." Oberyn said.
"If it is?"
"Then we ride to King's Landing and join the king unless he orders us differently." Oberyn said.
"Aye, let us hope it's that easy." Beric said with a smile.
Oberyn decided not to go to speak to Stannis, instead heading back to his tent and looking over the map. Bronzegate, Haystack Hall and Felwood, if they'd not risen then they could begin their march north. House Fell he knew had not at least not yet, House Errol they'd fought on the field for Stannis if they've retreated then all would be well. House Buckler rode with the usurper by all accounts and while he could besiege them, it would only keep him here and out of the war. Mace Tyrell he was not, a viper was made for striking, not besieging.
Nym and Thoros arrived later that night and the news they brought was equally as good as Obara's, the War of the Storm was over, the War for the Throne was about to get a Viper's Kiss. When he went to bed that night he felt excited, eager to ride in the morning, and to see King's Landing and hopefully his nephew soon. He looked to the bird in the cage and laughed.
"Are you in there nephew, I march to King's Landing on the morrow, do let me know if I'm going the wrong way." he said as he lay down to sleep.
He tried not to chuckle as he dressed himself the next morning and caught the smell of the birdshit from where he sat. His daughters thought him mad he knew, cleaning it's cage himself, talking to it morning and night, he was sure if anyone else saw him then it would be even worse. But the things his nephew could do with these birds were beyond even Oberyn and so he did as he was bid and spoke once more. His plans clear as he readied to take down the tent and march.
"Father, Dornish sails." Tyene said running in to his tent, his daughter scrunching up her nose at the smell.
"How many ships?" he asked.
"Three, one baring the royal flag." Tyene said worriedly.
It worried him too and as he rode to the beach and watched the rowboat being lowered he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your cousin, Quentyn." he said and saw his girls nod their own relief clear.
They had made a plan for Arianne or Ellaria to come to them if need be or if his brother proved false and that it wasn't them meant that things were still in hand. Though why Quentyn had come he wasn't sure, his nephew had no mind for war and had not even offered to join them when they'd left. Oberyn watched him and those who were with him as they climbed from the boat.
Ser Gerris Drinkwater, Ser Willam Wells, two of his nephew's followers, and as he looked closer he could see none of his or Arianne's men were accompanying them. Knowing then it was clearly Doran who sent him and not his niece. Still, he welcomed him warmly and when Quentyn asked to speak to him in private once he was settled, Oberyn was glad he'd not taken down his tent.
He nodded to Tyene and walked to his tent, it seemed not that they'd not be setting off for some time. It took far longer for his nephew to come to him then he had expected and when he did he was not alone, Oberyn welcoming him into his tent as he looked at those who'd accompanied him. The two of them took a seat and his nephew gratefully accepted the wine while outside Ser Gerris and Ser Willam had been joined by Cletus and Archibald Yronwood.
Oberyn looked at his nephew as he lounged in his seat drinking the wine and asking for another, the boy's nerves clearly on display and Oberyn wondered what he had to be nervous about.
"Uncle, father sent me here because circumstances have changed," Quentyn said handing him a letter.
"What circumstances?" he asked.
"It explains it better than I can." Quentyn said and he nodded, opening the letter and seeing his brother's handwriting.
Brother,
I've received the most welcome news, news I had never even hoped to wish for. Our nephew lives, Aegon is alive brother. I've received proof beyond doubt that he rides with the Golden Company and is accompanied by Illyrio Mopatis and Jon Connington. He rides to treat with Jaehaerys but I fear for his safety, word has reached me that Jaehaerys will refuse to accept his brother's claim, his brother's right. That he seeks the throne as he fears that Aegon would take his bride from him or that Olenna Tyrell would not go forward with the match.
Love can be a powerful motivator as well you know brother and it is the death of duty. We have no choice but to fight for our blood, for our true blood and I ask you to lead our men, to fight for Elia's son, her true son. For Dorne brother, for Elia, For Rhaenys and Aegon, we must rise.
Your brother,
Doran Martell,
Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken.
"Is this some kind of jape, has my brother lost his mind?" he said angrily as he stood up, Quentyn looking at him fearfully.
"It is the truth uncle, father has no reason to lie."
"You wish me to go against my kin, my king, based on what?" he said and Quentyn shook his head.
He saw his nephew rise to his feet and he was about to move to him when the bird began to sing, the chirps sounding like a morning call. Quentyn turned and looked at the bird like it was a strange exotic beast and Oberyn looked down at the letter and then at his nephew once more.
"Forgive me, nephew, it seems I've overreacted. Aegon lives, my brother is right, we march for Elia's son." he said and saw the deep relieved breath his nephew took.
"Thank the gods, I'm happy to have you lead us uncle. Father says we've to march to join with Aegon and the Golden Company but to look as if we march against them." Quentyn said.
"Ha, my brother, I'm sure he has a plan to deal with the dragons too?." he asked with a chuckle.
"He does." Quentyn said proudly.
"Which is?" he asked and watched as his nephew took a defensive stance.
"Another time uncle, come we should set off as soon as we can." Quentyn said and he nodded.
"Tomorrow nephew, the best of the day is gone and you've only arrived. Rest up and we leave on the morrow." he said smiling as Quentyn nodded.
"You have the right of it, uncle, we'll feast tonight?" Quentyn asked.
"As much as any army can, nephew." he laughed.
He walked his nephew from the tent and noticed it immediately once he did, more and more Yronwood men had gathered near his tent, Ser Cletus and Ser Archibald relaxing once they saw the smile on Quentyn's face.
"Nym, Tyene, see that Quentyn is settled. Obara speak to the Lords we march on the morrow." Oberyn said slapping his nephew warmly on the back and walking back into the tent.
The letter still in his hand and he felt his anger rise before he heard the bird chirp once more.
"You heard it all?" he said and the bird chirped once "My spear is yours nephew." Oberyn said to a loud chirp which made him smile.
He spoke to Tyene later that night, his daughter telling him that Quentyn went to speak to Anders Yronwood before him, Oberyn was not surprised, the plan becoming clearer to him now. The feast was more like a large dinner, yet Oberyn noticed where Quentyn sat and who sat with him. His army was full of traitors that needed to be weeded out. When he met with his daughters for their morning spar the next day he made his thoughts clear.
"Your uncle and cousin are traitors to Dorne, I believe Yronwood is too but I know not who else. We must root them out and ready ourselves. The Stormlords are our only certain allies." he said and the girls nodded.
"We wait father?" Obara asked.
"Like snakes in the grass ready to strike." he said with a smirk.
"Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken." his daughters said and he nodded.
The Battle of the God's Eye 298 AC.
Aegon (before the parley)
Seeing the bastard who claimed to be his brother was infuriating, that he looked nothing like him or his father should have been enough to prove him false. Yet it had not and he had more to paint him a bastard, true, than Aegon a trueborn son had. His armor was unlike anything he'd ever seen before. The steel was or at least looked Valyrian, the black plate and the rubies were a clear attempt to make it look like the armor his father wore.
Were that all it would have been enough, but on his hip rested a sword he knew all too well. He had Dark Sister, he had the blade of Visenya, of Aemon the Dragonknight and Daemon, of the Conciliator he claimed to be named for. On his head he wore the crown of the conqueror, his crown by right and blood. Behind him walked four men in white cloaks and while two were unknown to him, two were anything but. Barristan the Bold stood at his right shoulder and Ser Arthur Dayne on his left, the Sword of the Morning standing by a bastard pretender.
All of it, all of them, they should be his, he was the king, Rhaegar's trueborn son, his heir. Yet while he'd hidden in the shadows this bastard had come along and stolen everything from him and now he wished to steal his birthright. No he'd not have it, he'd not allow it he put him in his place. To then see him call out the usurper, to claim he was acting for his father, for his mother and sister, the sheer nerve of the bastard.
"We cannot allow him to take more from me, no more I say." Aegon said loudly, Illyrio and Harry Strickland looking at him.
"No, you must make your claim true Aegon, but he stands in the way. Without him, the rest of them will come to us." Illyrio said.
"Then we end him, here on this battlefield today." Harry Strickland said.
"Or we end him before a battle happens." he said looking at them both.
"Aegon?" Illyrio asked.
"Who is your best archer?" he asked turning to Harry.
"Balaq." Harry said.
"Can we pierce his armor?" he asked and Harry nodded
"We can, but this isn't honorable."
"What price honor against the lives of your men, Harry?" Illyrio said and Aegon watched as Harry nodded.
He waited as Harry sent for Black Balaq, Illyrio looking to him while he himself looked to the empty seat where Jon should sit.
"Jon will be a problem, he thinks too much of your father to see the truth, Aegon." Illyrio said.
"I know, we can use that though." he said and Illyrio smirked.
As he rode out he felt even more confident, his plan was sound and Balaq assured him that he'd not miss. Though Aegon knew it was more the sword on his hip that made him feel how he did. The bastard may have Visenya's blade but he now had Aegon's, Blackfyre was the sword of kings. Aegon was keen to get to use it and looked forward to having the chance to do so, there were many traitor's heads he intended to take when he was crowned.
He looked to Jon and shook his head angrily, as is he'd give this bastard anything but a quick death. After everything he'd stolen from him, no he'd see him dead, he'd see the traitors dead and when they had knelt and named him king, he'd see his aunt dead. He'd not forgotten what she cost him or what she'd stolen from him either.
After the Parley.
The things he had dared say to him, him a trueborn king having to listen to such lies from a bastard's lips. It was true what Haldon had said, bastards were evil deceitful creatures who sought what wasn't theirs. He almost felt that an arrow was too good for him, that he deserved to suffer more. Where it not for the fact that he'd lose some of his strength in fighting the army at his front, Aegon would see them fight and have the bastard dragged before him.
But he couldn't take the risk and so he raised his hand and watched as the arrow flew. It almost glided slowly in the air towards the bastard's back and he smiled when he saw it hit. Only to watch on stunned when it fell harmlessly to the ground. When he saw the bastard step off his horse and look to his Kingsguard, Aegon felt nervous. They were too far to make it back to their camp and he had Barristan and Arthur Dayne should he attack. Was he to die here, he wondered. Then he saw them ride off and for a moment thought about ordering his men to ride the bastard down.
"You've woken the dragon now if I were you I'd run, run for your fucking lives as they belong to her now" the bastard said his voice making Aegon shiver involuntarily.
When he saw it he couldn't believe it, the dragon made Balerion look like a lizard. It was huge, white scales the color of the moon itself and its wings the brightest blue he'd ever seen. As he rode away he couldn't help but look back and see the dragon look his way, its purple eyes that seemed to bore into his very soul and he'd never seen hate like that before. Her? Was this her? And if it was then he felt sure that she'd take his life this day.
He didn't wait to see the bastard climb up on the dragon's back, nor to hear him speak in Valyrian or for the dragon to take to the air. Instead, he rode, he rode as hard and as fast as he could and he prayed he rode far enough to never be caught.
Jaime.
He loved the boy, truly, but by the gods could he be a pain in his arse and a strain on his heart. It was bad enough that he'd not only agreed to fight Robert one on one but had actually been the one to suggest it. Jaime looking on nervously as he proved all the lessons he and Arthur and others had put him through were worthwhile. He'd even admired that he'd been able to stop himself from ending the stag, to be better than those who came before him was something Jaime had done his best to ensure.
When he'd then offered the same thing to the false dragon though Jaime had almost stood forward and dragged him back to the camp. Thankfully it had not gotten to an actual fight, though given what happened and was now sure to take place it perhaps would have been better if it had. To break parley so clearly, no one on Westeros would follow him now.
As they rode back he made a note to himself to thank the lad who'd made Jae's armor once he returned to Lannisport, for now he had other things on his mind. Beside him, Arthur and Barristan rode to their forces while he, Loras, and Walder rode to his. The men were formed up and ready, mostly, seeing him ride back in they quickly moved to fill the gaps.
"Form up, form up, we ride at the signal." he shouted as he rode down the line.
He looked to see Arthur and Barristan doing the same, Lord's Crakehall and Banefort under their orders for the day. Once he had ensured they were ready he looked up to see Jae on Rhaenix in the air, the dragon and his king remarkably restrained and he could only imagine what that was taking out of both of them.
"Loras, take a dozen men, ride for Tarly, tell him to bring his cavalry." he shouted.
"At once my lord." Loras said and Jaime watched as Bluebell rode off.
"Ser Walder, you're with me." he said and Walder nodded.
They looked out and waited, down the line horses readied to charge, the lances were dropped and men were ready to attack. Behind them, the archers waited for their own signals. Jaime looked to see his brothers. Arthur with Dawn drawn looking as majestic as ever while Barristan's men looked to his eyes to be ready to charge into hell itself if needed and Jaime hoped more than anything it would not.
"He's going in." Walder said from beside him and Jaime heard the cheers when the dragon roared.
The battle plan had been simple, Jae would take care of the elephants and with Rhaenix would box the Golden Company in. The flames would stop their charges, break their spirits, and then Jaime and the army of the West would do the rest. Plans for battle though were a tricky thing, even if everything went how you wished it would, they never played out as you hoped.
Barristan told him once many years earlier, that no plan survives first contact with the enemy. You can predict every move a man would make on a cyvasse board but that didn't tell you whose courage would hold or falter. What line would break or hold or allow for a multitude of other things that could go right or wrong. Would it rain? Was the ground too hard, too soft? Did you have the high ground? Even who chose the field of battle could define everything.
"Even when it all goes how you wish, it's all in the hands of the gods, Jaime, you win the battle and your commander falls, then you lose the war." Barristan had said.
When he saw the flames come down, heard the roar of the elephants, and saw the horses begin to move their way, Jaime smiled. He looked up to the sky and saw his king was far from danger and he smiled more broadly as he turned to his men.
"For our king, For King Jaehaerys." he shouted louder than he had ever shouted before, and as one they charged.
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
He had held his anger well during the parley he felt, though everything in him was telling him to drag the mummer from the horse and end him right there. That he felt her in his head wishing it too only making the fire threaten to overwhelm him. As they rode away and he heard the twang of the bowstring and felt the arrow crash harmlessly against his armor though, he knew his and more precisely her anger would not be contained.
"I'll fucking burn them all, Now Jae, we go now." Rhaenix said in his head and Jae knew he couldn't hold her back any longer.
"Now." he said.
He gave Jaime and Arthur the nod and they rode off and he dismounted and turned, telling them what they'd done as he felt her above him. Rhaenix had insisted she wouldn't stay on the ground when he parleyed, not this time, this time she'd be in the air and close by. That she wished to get to him was all that stopped her from laying her flames down on them as they retreated. The dragon instead landing to make sure he was unharmed and Jae climbed up on her back.
"You are unhurt, did they hurt you?" she asked worriedly.
"I am unhurt, sister, I've taken measures to make sure no one can hurt either of us." he said and felt her relief.
"Good Jae, no quarter, we give them no quarter." she said angrily.
"No quarter." he said as they took to the sky.
She wished to go now but he had her wait, he needed to give Jaime and the others time to ready themselves. They had forced him into a battle here today and they would get one they'd remember for a long time, one he'd not leave to chance. Their plans were already sound and it was time for the hammer to strike. Closing his eyes he reached out finding the doors, the elephants readying to be deployed and he bid them charge.
"Perzys Ānogār Rhaenix." (Fire and Blood Rhaenix) he shouted as she began to fly towards the Golden Company.
He saw them below him, infantry, archers, cavalry, all scrambling to ready themselves and as he flew over them Jae saw the elephants tearing through tents and their own men. He passed them and was soon at the main force of the Golden Company, looking through Rhaneix's eyes to see they were now between those scrambling at the front and the carnage the elephants were causing.
"Dracarys." he said and Rhaenix let her flames free.
It started as a wide arc and unlike the plans, he had made where it would force men to move, scare them and take their will, these flames were far more deadly. Jae was stunned both at the intensity of Rhaenix's flames and for how long she was able to keep them up. So much so that when she stopped he had to ask her how much it had taken out of her.
"Nothing brother, nothing at all." Rhaenix said.
"Dracarys." he said as they turned to fly over a different section.
The flames cut through a line of spearmen as if they were nothing, Jae seeing men burn to ash and men who'd not been so lucky. The screams as they burned alive were something he could hear over the panicked shouts and even the horses as they moved to run away. Looking out to where his own men were he saw them charging and so he turned to see what they were facing. The cavalry and infantry force moving against them was less than a quarter of Jae's own and though he wished to take them too, he saw more men form up at the back of the camp.
"Zirȳ Rhaenix, mazemi zirȳ." (Them Rhaneix, we take them.) he said pointing to the cavalry readying at the back, and almost in the blink of an eye he was flying over them "Dracarys."
He felt sorry for the horses, though nothing at all for the men who sat their backs, Rhaenix's flames though not making a distinction. Once he'd done another pass and he saw horses on fire, he had her give them a far more peaceful death, her flames ending them quickly. Closing his eyes he looked to the doors once more, the elephants had shaken men from their back, ran through tents, and trampled men and Jae had sent them far from the field towards the God's Eye itself.
Feeling his sister's tiredness he opened his eyes and took another pass, watching as his cavalry's charge easily dealt with the Golden Company's. Jae flying over to see a shield wall hastily try to be formed and as he did so the men threw down their shields and ran. Rhaenix's bloodlust and flames dimmed for now as they flew to check on their own forces.
Arthur's white cloak was bloodstained and Dawn bore the marks of whatever lives she'd taken but looking through Rhaenix's eyes he could see the knight was unharmed. As was both Barristan and to his relief Jaime too. Walder was the only one off his horse but Jae could see that while the horse may have taken an injury, his knight did not. For a brief moment, he worried about Loras not seeing his friend anywhere before Rhaenix reminded him that he'd gone to bring Tarly to them.
They took one more flight over the Golden Company, the devastation left in their wake clearer to see now. Jae had not wished another field of fire, he'd hoped it wouldn't come to this even though he always knew he'd need to use the dragons at some point. But he had feared what it would mean and how people would think of him, how those he cared about would think of him. Would they think of him as a monster like his grandfather or a conqueror like Aegon? Would she think him a monster?.
"No little brother, they'll think you a king, a Dragonlord, and they'll fear you as much as they respect you. Fear is good, it'll protect you and those you love, had they feared us more then we'd not have so few of our family alive today." Rhaenix said.
"Thank you, Rhae, for this, for everything." he said softly.
"Come, I'm hungry." she said as she flew in the direction of the elephants, Jae not denying her what she wished for.
She gorged herself on them and Jae let her. While he'd not wished to burn them, he had no true use for them and at least they'd serve to keep his sister fed. Some of them ran but Jae opened the doors and led them towards his men, it wouldn't only be food for today that Rhaenix would need. As he looked at Rhaenix eat, he saw a man crawling off in the distance, Jae climbing down from her and running after him.
"Please, please." Harry Strickland said and Jae crashed his boot against his head before dragging the unconscious man back to Rhaenix's side.
He'd get what information he could out of him and then take his head, this man he'd have no trouble swinging the sword on. Struggling to drag him up Rhaenix's wing, once he was ready he flew back to the battlefield. Landing as soon as he got there to see Jaime, Arthur, and Barristan walking towards him. He pushed Harry from her back and heard the thump when he hit the ground and then climbed down to find out the extent of their victory and of their losses.
Illyrio.
They should have charged them not used a single arrow, yes they'd have been even more clearly shown to have broken parley but given what was coming for them, he shuddered. Aegon had wanted the Kingsguard and he'd gotten so wrapped up in the symbol of what they'd bring to his son's reign that he'd lost all sense of reason and agreed.
Now not only would they not get the Kingsguard or the trappings that the boy wore, they'd be lucky to escape this day with their lives. A dragon, where did he get a damn dragon? He had thought the ones the princess had were the only in existence. Had hoped that once she died and die she would, that Aegon would end up with hers and now he found himself riding for his life away from one that was far bigger than even they.
Beside him Aegon panicked, Harry almost cried and Black Balaq shook his head, they rode fast and though the Golden Company was forming up, the men beside him had no intention of fighting this war any longer.
"Call the men, sound the retreat." Harry Strickland shouted.
"How dare you, my army marches forward, we take him and his dragon." Aegon shouted and though his son was trying to sound firm and in control, Illyrio could hear the panic in his voice.
"I'm not fighting against a dragon." Harry shouted.
Illyrio looked back over his shoulder and saw the dragon was in the air, its size not diminished at all by this fact. Yet it had not attacked and that gave them time if nothing else.
"You heard him, he'll offer no parley now, fight or die, or run and he'll chase and take us down." Illyrio said when they reached as far away as he was comfortable with.
"I'll not fight a fucking dragon." Harry said shaking his head.
"We have no choice, Illyrio speaks true, we fight or we die, we tried to kill him and now he and his dragon come for us, forward not back is our only hope." Ser Franklyn said.
"Against a dragon?" Lord Buckler said.
"He'll not use it against his own men, here we're fucked, out there on the field we may have a chance." Laswell Peake said.
"He has the right of it" Balaq said and Illyrio was glad to see them ride off, Harry to his elephants and the others to their positions.
When Aegon made to join them Illyrio shook his head, for them this battle was over, and should they stay then they'd lose the war also.
"Where's Jon?" Duck said and Illyrio shook his head.
"Out there, either with them or dead. We cannot stay here, we ride." he said and both Aegon and Duck looked at him angrily.
"I am their king, I must lead my army." Aegon said.
"We can't leave them to fight and just run." Duck said.
"The battle is lost, we stay and we lose our lives and this war, we ride or die." he said, and when the dragon roared the choice was made for them.
They rode to their tents and Illyrio called his guards, around them men hurried to ready for the fight to come, while he calmly covered himself in the poorer clothing and grabbed his sword. When he heard the screams he knew the fight was already underway. Mounting up they rode east and rode hard and he hoped they could outrun a dragon.
Jon Connington.
They had tried to kill him, in the middle of a parley they'd tried to kill Rhaegar's son and it all became clear to him then.
"Protect him, Jon, Protect our son from the Black Dragon."
The voice he had longed to hear for so long was once again in his head and were the situation less serious than it was then he'd have taken time to enjoy it. He looked back to see Jaehaerys climb on the dragon's back, looking every inch the true dragon that he was. Then he turned to look behind him and Jon saw the battle was still about to take place, the men were fools, they would die here today and Jon felt his anger rise.
Aegon, Illyrio, Varys, all of them, they had lied to him and caused him to lose his honor serving a false dragon, a mummer, a lie. They had made him wish to see Rhaegar's sister die, plot to see her killed and Jon had not thought anything wrong with it. So eager was he to put this lie on the throne that he'd done as Jaehaerys had said, he'd besmirched the memory of his silver prince.
When the dragon flew over him, Jon knew he had no choice men would die here today and there was nothing he could do about that. All he could do was see the man responsible died too. Could he though? Illyrio he could kill with his bare hands but could he bring himself to kill Aegon, to see him dead? The boy he'd raised, the boy he'd thought of as his son.
As he watched the dragon burn man and beast, as he looked at the Golden Company go up in flames, he thought he could. He rode through what could only be described as one of the seven hells. Around him men burned, horses burned, he heard the screams and shouts as steel melted just as Jaehaerys had said it would.
"Help me".
"Kill me."
"It burns."
The voices intermingled with one another as men died, some of them far too slowly. Still, the flames fell as the dragon took another pass, and how he himself was not hit he couldn't tell. When he heard the sound of the horses behind him, Jon knew the end would at least come quicker to some of these men and the dragon would then move on. He was unsurprised to reach Illyrio's tent and find he'd gone, so he too rode away from the destruction behind him.
A part of him wished to ride back, to kneel and look into the eyes of Rhaegar's heir, to accept his judgment and welcome the blade if it came, as long as it came from him. To speak to Arthur and Barristan one last time and should he be lucky enough to hear them tell him what he already knew. Hearing from their lips that Jaehaerys was all they had hoped Rhaegar would be, Jon could die happy with that knowledge. But he could not, he couldn't leave them out there, take the chance they'd escape and plot against him some more, no his path lay ahead.
He had ridden hard and been forced to hide more than once, the forces now riding toward the God's Eye bearing banners he knew all too well. The seahorse of House Velaryon, the blue swordfish of Bar Emmon, the red crabs of Celtigar, golden seven-pointed stars of Sunglass, and the black hammers of Rykker. The Lords of the Narrow sea had risen for the king and Renfred had gotten his wish, Jon smiling at that even as he hid from them all.
It took him two days to find them, Illyrio and his guards, Duck and Aegon, Haldon and Lemore. Jon feeling the tension as they saw him ride in and the spears of the unsullied only lowered a little when they saw it was him. As he dismounted he looked to see Illyrio look at him warily, while Aegon too wasn't giving him the most friendly welcomes.
"I had thought you'd switched sides, Jon?" Illyrio said.
"I came for the truth, magister, I feel I'm owed it." he said as the magister shook his head.
"You know the truth, Jon." Illyrio said and Jon sighed.
He watched as Illyrio nodded to two of the unsullied and they moved towards him, Aegon looking at both the magister and him in confusion.
"Your arms Jon, for my peace of mind." Illyrio said and Jon nodded undoing his sword and handing it and his dagger to the unsullied.
He moved to sit beside Aegon but the magister motioned to the unsullied and he was made to sit a little away from him. Aegon again looking to the magister with a confused look on his face. He knew it then, the boy didn't know and as he looked around the camp he saw it clearly. The only one who was a threat to Jaehaerys was the fat cheesemonger, should he fall then Aegon could do nothing, he had no army, no gold, and maybe he could have a different life, a better life.
"You wish to serve him don't you Jon, the bastard who stole my throne, who rides my dragon." Aegon said.
"It's not yours Aegon, the throne, the dragon it's not yours." he said as he moved his hand to the small knife on his back.
"How can you say that? I'm Aegon Targaryen, the son of the dragon, the rightful king, how can you say that?." Aegon said angrily.
"Jaehaerys is the true king, you're nothing more than…"
"I loved you, Jon, like a father." Aegon said as Jon looked at the blade that was in his throat, Blackfrye's Valyrian steel being covered in his blood.
His hands fell to his side and his knife tumbled from them, Jon falling over as he gurgled and watched the blade be pulled from his throat. He reached up and tried to stem the flow of blood and then felt it as the blade pushed down against him again and again.
His vision began to fade and the boy in front of him no longer had silver hair, the mask he wore was no longer there. Grey eyes looked down on him and raven black hair flowed in the wind as a hand was extended to him. He saw the smile, his prince's smile, now his son's smile, the king he should have served.
'Jaehaerys.' he thought as his eyes closed, the words he'd tried to speak garbled and unintelligible, the smile on his face as he died though was as true as it had ever been.
Arthur.
The dragon laid down flames in an arc of destruction the likes of which he'd never even imagined. He could feel the shock and horror of those beside him keenly because he felt it too. It was magnificent and terrifying and yet they had called it down upon themselves. To break parley, to try and kill someone under a flag of truce, there were few things considered worse in their culture, and though it was said the gods would see you punished for it. Arthur could see if it was true then they'd picked a terrible punishment for these men.
He gave the order to ride and while around him lances were readied, yet he would wield no lance. In his hands, he held Dawn and woe betide any who came near his blade this day. The horses gathered speed and he looked to see the charge they faced, fewer men, loosely formed and panicked, they would not last long. When he reached the first of them he swung and Dawn sang, the man's head coming from his shoulders and to Arthur, it was like swinging against the wind.
One, two, three, four, Dawn cut, thrust, slashed, and each time she moved a life was snuffed out as if it were a candle. By the time they reached the camp, his white cloak was blood-spattered and Dawn's milky blade was red. What they saw once they got there was unlike anything he'd ever imagined, he'd fought men, killed men, and saw the carnage. Compared to this it was as if each time he'd done so it had been mere spars.
"Ride them down." he shouted to men beside him as some members of the Golden Company tried to retreat.
Arthur looked down the line to see Barristan swinging against foes that were beneath him, literally and figuratively as their blades were no match for his. Jaime's golden armor glistened as he cut through men as if they were training dummies and Arthur shook his head as he rode with his own to face even more. When there were no more men on horse to face, Arthur dismounted and began to move through the camp, the true horror of what they'd done now revealed.
There was blood and shit everywhere, men had soiled themselves both in death and life he had no doubt. Men cried out in pain and Arthur gave leave for some to be put out of their misery. Few came at him, their will to fight was broken just as their bodies were in most cases. For eighty and six years the Golden Company had been the fiercest force of Sellswords in Esssos. Three times they'd rebelled and tried to take a Targaryen from the throne, there would not be a fourth.
"Prisoners Ser Arthur?" one of the Westerlands men said and Arthur was too busy looking at the destruction to notice who it was.
"Accept all surrenders." he said and the man hurried off.
He moved through small fires, past burning tents and the bodies of men and horses. Most had met their end by Dragonflame but some had been ridden or cut down. Hearing footsteps behind him he turned to see Lord Crakehall looking his way, the man not seeming as shocked as perhaps Arthur felt he would be.
"The day is ours." Roland said.
"It is." he said his voice clearly showing his concern.
"What the king did here today was good Arthur, aye, I know what it looks like, but I'd rather their men fell than mine. Without the dragon we'd have lost maybe half of our army, the elephants Arthur, did you see them, their heads adorned with those blades, gods what they'd have done to our men." Roland said shaking his head.
"How bad were our losses?" he asked.
"Barely any Ser, barely any." Roland said as he walked off.
When he reached the others he found the same looks on Jaime and Barristan's faces and yet they both said the same thing. Arthur looking around and thinking was it the fire that gave him pause and if so why? Jaehaerys was not his grandfather, this had not been their plan and in the end their lives were more important were they not.
As he looked to see more and more of the face he recognized and heard the cheers as the dragon landed, he felt the concerns begin to fade away. The shock of what he'd seen was wearing off and had this just been a normal battlefield they'd have celebrated such a victory. To win so comprehensively at such a small cost was a cause for celebration to be true.
"Come, I'm sure the king wishes to speak to us." Jaime said and Arthur nodded, looking to his brothers and seeing they too seemed past their own shock and like him bore no doubts that what Jae had done had been right and just.
The God's Eye 298 AC
Jaehaerys Targaryen.
That she was tired and he was too was the only thing which stopped him mounting up on Rhaenix to find the fat man and the mummer. Jaime telling him also that their plan was sound and the Lords of the Narrow Sea would surely pick up any who'd tried to retreat. When he told them about the elephants Jaime chuckled asking him would they be eating them too, Jae shaking his head at the thoughts of it.
"I think we'll stick to meat for now my lord, let Rhaenix enjoy the spoils of war." he said with a smirk.
"We've taken 2,000 prisoners. my king, there are quite a large number of men who are injured who may recover too, though some may not, all in all, I'd say 5,000." Barristan said.
"What do you plan to do with them?" Arthur asked.
"The wall, Ser. They can take their vows or lose their heads, the choice is theirs" he said and Arthur nodded.
"Strickland?" Jaime asked.
"He and any of the commanders don't get a choice, I offered them terms and made them a promise, they kneel and lose their heads." he said and saw the knights agree.
It was dusk when Loras arrived back with Randyll Tarly and his cavalry, the Lord both happy at their victory and upset at the fact he'd missed the battle. When he looked out at the field and saw what they'd done, Jae waited for the recriminations, just as he'd done since he'd landed. But just like then he received none, the lord actually giving him a respectful nod and Jae didn't know how to take that. Was it fear or truly respect he was getting from Tarly and the others?.
For now, he had no time to think too much on it as Harry Strickland and the others were brought to the side of the lake. Black Balaq the man he found out had fired the arrow at him, Franklyn Flowers, Lysono Marr, and Gorys Edoren. These five men now the last remaining leaders of the Golden Company alive. He was about to pronounce the sentence when Gorys Edoren, the red-haired paymaster of the Golden Company spoke up.
"Please, don't kill my, your grace, I'll give you access to our accounts, the cheesemonger paid us well, please your grace." the man begged and Jae looked at him, feeling the fire in him ready to rise.
"How well?" he asked as he allowed the ice to calm him.
"Three million gold dragons, in an account in the Iron Bank under my control." the man said shakily.
"You have access to this account?" he asked and the man nodded "Very well, you'll travel with some of my men, transfer the coin to my account and I'll give you your life and your freedom." he said and saw Jaime nod.
"What of the rest of us, please your grace, send us to the wall or exile." Harry Strickland said.
"I told you what would happen here today, you tried to kill me in a parley and refused my offer. Actions have consequences and as for exile, no, the Golden Company ends today, Strickland. You should face that end like a man." he said and Harry blubbered as he was brought to the block.
Jae looked around at those watching, Arthur, Barristan, Walder, Loras, Lord Banerfort and Crakehall, Randyll Tarly, and Jaime. There were men who'd rode and bled, some who'd lost friends even in their victory, all of them looking at him as he drew his sword.
"These men have come to our lands to place a false king on a throne that is not his to take. They've killed good men today, men we honor now by seeing those responsible for their deaths pay with their lives. I, Jaehaerys Targaryen, the Third of my Name, King of the Andals, Rhoynar and First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, sentence you to die. Your words?"
"It was a contract." Harry Strickland blubbered.
Jae raised Dark Sister and then swung the sword, the blade slicing through Homeless Harry's neck easily. Lysono Marr, Franklyn Flowers, and finally Black Balaq, each of them dying by his hand, and once it was done he turned to the men who'd stayed to watch each one.
"You men did well today, the spoils of war are yours, tonight celebrate the victory you helped me win, mourn those you lost, and know your king is proud of you all." Jae said as he walked away.
That night he spent going over the plans for the next step, he'd look to the others in the morning. See how his uncles fared before deciding if he was to ride or fly to someone's aid or if it was on to King's Landing. He lay down and felt himself drift to sleep, the exertion of the day finally getting to him and when he woke the next morning he felt barely refreshed. After breaking his fast he decided to forgo the spars, instead going back to his tent and going to the birds, seeing if he could find out where he was needed if anywhere.
The more you warged into something Jae had found over the years, the more your connection with them developed. At first, he had thought it was just Ghost and Rhaenix that could share what they saw with him, show him past adventures or things they wished him to see. But over time he found that if he warged repeatedly that those things were there in those animals too. The birds would share their thoughts with him and the mice and rats he repeatedly warged into would do so too. With time and practice, he'd found a use for it.
He found Gerion's bird in a cage still in the tent, Jae looking on annoyed as Gerion rode off and left it behind, the damn fool he thought as he wondered where he'd gone and looking into the bird he found he was chasing Edmure Tully. With his uncle Ned he found him sleeping, the bird not giving him anything and so he resolved to use the glass candles to see if he should march to join the Northern camp. Tyrion he found laughing and japing, he and Satin and Jors and young Walder, all of them sitting around laughing about the Freys. It was when he got to Oberyn that he found he had to take control, chirping to let him know he was watching.
"You heard it all?" he said and the bird chirped once "My spear is yours nephew." he heard Oberyn say as his uncle smiled at the bird.
Jae opened his eyes and felt the pressure in his chest, the roar of Rhaenix as she felt it too. He stormed from the tent and raced to her, needing to calm her down and knowing it had to be soon. Walder and Loras ran behind him and by the time he reached the dragon, he felt her rage was ready to be unleashed on anyone but him.
"I'll fucking burn him and his whole country, Jae, all of them." she said loudly.
"Oberyn is with us, not all our blood feels as Doran does." he said as he stared into her eyes.
"He is my uncle, your uncle, he'd betray us so? He's betrayed us, Jae, for how long has he worked against us?" she asked.
"It matters not, we'll end him, but first we need to make sure our other uncle is safe, then we can work on Doran." he said and she brushed up against him, Jae trying his best to calm her more even though he didn't feel it himself.
Once he was sure she'd relaxed enough he turned and headed back to the tent, Jaime, Arthur, and Barristan having joined him now.
"Your grace? "Jaime asked.
"It seems not all of Dorne is behind us, Doran sent his son to turn Oberyn to his side, he's with Illyrio and the Mummer dragon, seeks to join up with the Golden Company and work against us. Intends to stab us with a sword in our backs, I expect." he said as he looked through his chests.
"What will he do now they're defeated?" Loras asked.
"I don't know, but I'm about to find out." he said as he took the Glass Candles and the jar of blood out of the chest.
"Jae?" Jaime asked.
"If he's working against me now, then what almost happened to Margaery makes more sense, I need to know if it was him and what his plans are." he said as he placed the green candle on the table and put the black one beside it.
"If it was him?" Loras asked.
"Then my sister may get her wish." he said as he poured the blood over the green candle and began to look into the past.
A/N: For some reason the site seems to have stopped posting the reviews for a day or two, so those who I don't mention here, don't worry, I'll add them in the next chapter and it's not me ignoring you, it's simply the site didn't post them yet. Up Next. Dany faces a Khal with a purpose, as the North and Vale ready to fight we take a look into a Vale house that refused the call. Richard arrives as Jae looks into the past and as Jae rages against the truth, the second Battle of the Trident takes place.
Biohazard: So glad you liked it.
Anarchichmind: She enjoyed her elephant today lol. He actually thought that Jae would have died here, but he still thinks his assassin is coming. I think that's Tywin's thing also, the idea that coin means everything, while it does to some it's not to everyone. I think also the fact that the HOBW takes contracts based on what you can pay and who they are, shows it too. We will see it in the next few chapters, Lord Rosby and Buckler have to face Jae and explain.
Dscot: Hope you liked this then, there will be a price to pay for fighting against him, so don't worry about that.
Daryldixon: Depends on what you mean by suffer, you'll have your answer next.
Vdwade: I always think the IB are made too big a threat, like once the North comes back they pretty are done for in canon, they can't hold keeps, hit and run is pretty much all their good for. Had to have Arya do that with Theon. The GC has burned but the fat cheesemonger and fAegon live another day. As you see Quentyn is fully on board with his father. LF is what he is, when next we see him his pov will answer a lot of questions. I've always wanted to see that with Walder frey.
Jman: Theon is ever destined to lose his balls lol, I figured it was best to have it all in one sitting so to speak, show the dragon and then well unleash her here.
Oonighteyes: So glad you enjoyed it.
Melppmene: The Maege was a mess up on my part, I had meant Alysanna/Lyra and put in Maege/Jory there too, I've fixed it and well its Alysanna and Lyra on Bear Island and Maege/Jory with Ned and the North. We'll see Balon's reaction soon enough, as for Theon he so bit off far more than he could chew, he really was a coward in canon imo. Jon C was always destined for a tragic end.
Jumpinmanatee: I originally had it ending after the parley, but I wanted to show Rhaenix off, so it may feel a little disjoined because of that.
Cheryl: No worries. Yep, though the brothel is just temporary, once the battles are over they plan to run. We'll see Renly in a bit, maybe next. Jon A we'll it's all coming to a head for him. Dany has one more step to take and then she's on her way, Jon C tried but it was too late and well the Black Dragon lives for now. Theon vs. Arya is a mismatch lol.
Kuski: If he gets to him before Jae or Arianne maybe lol.
Vfsnake: Jon C knew it but it was too late. We'll see Asha in a few chapters it may not be a bad thing for her, as for Theon yep, the wolf's price was high lol.
Dame Layla: Creo que si alguien se lo merece, es theon lol. Walder Frey es casi un hecho para ser así como para fAegon que corrió, veamos si llega hasta el final.
Zyrus: One of the thing is though this isn't canon, if I can put in a four legged dragon who is part dragon and part Rhaenys who Jae can speak to then I think me making his fire proof is more than allowed. GRRM shouldn't have put it in if he didn't want people to use it, yes he explains elsewhere that it's a blood sacrifice etc, but by putting it in at all he opened the door to people to explore that part of the mythos as much as any other. I've already established it when Jae hatched Rhaenix, used it with Dany too (her difference being Wfire) so using it here is fair game I think.
Also, the fact that I burned fAegon pretty much is as clear foreshadowing that I was going to do this as anything could be. Tommen we'll see more of later, he and Jae will have an interesting talk. Glad you liked the IB stuff. LF has enough gold you're right.
Remi: As you see the Griffin isn't making it. With Theon it's a little of the determined man can do what an army cannot, in trying to find a force a man slips through. Both Dorne and IB suffer from delusions of grandeur to a point, neither actually have any great military victory other than one fought on their terms. LF and Cat we're getting to. On The GC you're right, an open field and a dragon with an army to break them too, is game over.
DarthmIane Hope you got my Pm.
Adgedless. On Theon I always wanted it to be Arya here, she's far too good for him and he's not a great warrior. The IB are piss poor on land, they took the north because of circumstances, as soon as they changed they're screwed. Here the North is not just ready because of the warning, but they also are far better off, the extra coin they make and he influx of people from the South, helps them a lot, more people, more coin means more men and better equipment. With cat/LF it just had to be, we'll see LF's plan in a little bit.
On the GC, as you see it was more a plot than anything else, fAegon trying to be clever. We'll see Jon A next and well Jon C is gone and paid the ultimate price. On Quentyn you can see his plan here, but the GC are done.
Celexys: So happy you're enjoying it.
Jessicanightmarefox: I like to think of the world as a series of universes and in each of them Theon loses his junk lol.
Debeator Max: We'll have some reactions to Robert, the problem here is that at the God's Eye no one really cares about him. On the Small council, it's a bit presumptuous, Jaime is hand and Richard MOW, the rest will come. Renly technically is king right now.
Xionmao: So happy you liked it.
Guest; I go with book canon so Lyanna Mormont is 8 and Arya 9.
Anja: So glad you enjoyed it.
Lady Octarina: I messed up on Maege, it was meant to be Alysanne and Lyra and I got confused and put in Maege/Jory, fixed it not but It's a mea culpa moment. On Arya she's had a couple of years with them and so she's done training, here I felt this was the best way for Theon, he got cocky and ended up cockless.
With Robert it's that yes, it's also the perception of being a kinslayer, no one would really think of it with Arthur, I'm not sure how far you go back either, like for example Robert/Rhaegar are cousins, yet Arthur is not ever suggested to be Rhaegar's cousin. I had thought of having Jaime do the deed here too, but it felt best Arthur. Glad you liked the fire bit, I thought people may see it coming after burning fAegon with the dragon.
Jon C was too little too late and so it's tragic in a way. I figured with Cat that she obviously has that knowledge regarding the escape. Her dreams are fears, subconscious and truths all rolling together, couldn't resist having them hide in a brothel. The best part of LF is he never actually comes out and lies, TTS's carefully chosen words lol.
I had thought of Victarion falling but I figure he's a good window into the IB for later. Asha is the only one, you're so right, Jae knows a lot about things thanks to Richard, here it was a little of both, capture the Greyjoys if you can, especially the girl, but Asha's fate will be better than Theon;s.
As you see the field of fire has taken place.
