Invasion Plans

Aegon found the next morning to be one of his more productive mornings. He woke up happily with both his sisters by him and ate a most delicious breakfast of bacon, fish, bread, and beer. Next he told Minister Casimiro that he was rejecting the Volantis offer of a Grand Alliance in favor of an invasion of Westeros. The minister left soon after and Aegon could tell he was not happy. But Aegon did not live to please other men. No, he was the dragon and he would do whatever pleased him.

Aegon walked out of the Storm Drum keep in a set of mail armor and entered the training yard in the middle courtyard of the castle. On the left of the yard was the armory and the right was the forge, each covered by a wing of an enormous dragon. The head of the dragon structure stared out into the field, looking as if it was watching the men trained. Just as he thought, Aegon found his best general Orys Baratheon there.

"Westeros?" Orys asked, surprised by the news when Aegon told him. "Your lordship thinks it is a good idea?"

"Come on Orys," Aegon smiled. "When have I ever been wrong?"

Aegon trusted Orys, he trusted Orys with his life. A tall, powerful, and honorable man, Orys matched Aegon in strength, leadership, and skill. There are those who say Orys is Aegon's bastard half brother. Still there are others who say Orys is nothing more than Aegon's dog. But Aegon considered Orys a friend and if Orys was indeed his half brother, then Aegon would consider him to be his full.

"An invasion that scale would require many troops and much more supplies," Orys noted.

"Lady Rhaenys is working on the supplies and the ships," Aegon replied. "You do not need to worry about such things."

"Yes my lord, I meant no offense," Orys said.

"None taken," Aegon said. "But I do have something I need you to do."

"Of course my lord, anything you need," Orys replied.

"The invasion is set to begin in five years," Aegon explained. "In that five years I need you to train these men we have into the finest warriors alive. I want each man to kill at least ten men in battle before they die. They will outmatch us in numbers but we will outmatch them in strength."

"Leave that to me," Orys replied. "I'll have them ready in four years."

"Another thing," Aegon added. "I want you to pick out five hundred elite warriors as my personal bodyguards. They will accompany me once we land."

"It will be done my lord," Orys said with a low bow. Orys left to train the troops and Aegon walked back into the Storm Drum, looking for Maester Harwin.

He found the maester in the study, reading up on a tome about folk medicine. "Lord Aegon," the old man said, getting up and bowing when he saw Aegon enter.

"No need for the pleasantries Maester," Aegon said politely. Harwin was an aging man past sixty and had served Aegon's father and grandfather. Aegon respected the old Maester and valued him as a trusted adviser. "We have things to discuss."

"The invasion of Westeros?" the maester asked with a grin.

"How did you know?"

"Lady Rhaenys told me. She also told me to assist you in your devilish plans."

Aegon was not surprised. Rhaenys had always been close to Harwin, ever since childhood. She told Harwin many things and often asked the maester for advice.

"I do have need of you maester," Aegon said. "You are a cartographer if I'm not mistaken?"

Harwin chuckled. "Well I was a cartographer. But I haven't made or studied a map for nearly thirty years! Does your lordship need a map made?"

"Yes, something of the sort," Aegon nodded.

"My eyesight isn't what it used to be," Harwin said. "And my fingers aren't as quick. But I will try my best. What map does your lordship need?"

"Westeros," Aegon said.

"Westeros? I believe we have maps of Westeros my lord," Harwin said. "Seven maps in fact and hundreds of smaller ones specific to a location."

"I need….a physical map," Aegon said. "For years I have dreamt of conquering Westeros. I have consulted the maps we have but I have found them bothersome to use. What I need is a model. A realistic model of Westeros and you Maester Harwin will build one for me."

"Of course my lord," Harwin bowed.

"I want every hill, forest, bay, inlet on there," Aegon said. "Every city, town, village exactly where they are in real life. Anything you require maester, I will provide to you. But I want this project completed quickly."

"One question my lord before I get started," Harwin said. "Where do you want to place this….model?"

Aegon considered for a moment. "At the top of the Storm Drum is a circular room known as the Chamber of the Painted Table. You will build your model in the center of that room."

"Beautiful aren't they?" Aegon asked as he walked into the dragon den. He found Visenya there, dressed in her battle armor and admiring the three sleeping dragons. The dragons were only five years old and still small. But despite being the size of only an auroch, these fearsome creatures could still tear any human apart. They have long necks and tails, with spiny crests running down their backs.

"Brother," she purred softly as Aegon walked next to her.

"Somehow I knew you would be here," Aegon said.

"You know me then," Visenya smiled as she walked in front of him. She put a hand on his breastplate and stared into his eyes.

"I know you," Aegon whispered. He saw only passion burning in her eyes. Pulling her closer to his body, Aegon pressed his lips against hers and the two were locked in a passionate kiss.

"You are a cruel man brother," Visenya said as they broke the kiss, "torturing an innocent girl with your charms and tricks."

Aegon laughed. "You are anything but innocent dear sister."

"Brother you wound me," Visenya said as she began undressing his armor.

Aegon grabbed her hand and kissed it lightly. "Not here sister. Everyone can see us."

"You are the lord of thousands," Visenya smiled. "Why are you afraid of someone seeing us? The dragon never fears."

"Yes but I am the dragon, not you," Aegon said. He scooped Visenya off her feet and carried her out of the dragon den through a side passage. "Sometimes a man's reputation is all he has."

"Shouldn't you be preparing for your grand invasion?" Visenya asked as she ran a hand down his face.

"Yes but we have time. A lot of time," Aegon said. His next stop, the bedchamber.