Harrenhal
They followed the Blackwater Rush for two days until the ground turned fertile and farms began appearing. They had arrived in the Riverlands, the most fertile and the most violent area on all of Westeros. The Riverlands' fertile lands and rolling plains made it easy for invasions and power has shifted several times in the past century. The terrain was what led the ironborn under Harwyn Hoarse of Orkmont to successfully kill the last ruler and install himself as the new River King. Perhaps the terrain was the reason why Harren the Black decided to build a massive fortress to lock himself in.
"You were right," Aegon said. "No one bothered us."
"And even if they did, no doubt your grace would cut them down," Ashen replied.
Aegon laughed as he drew his great sword. "This blade was passed down to me from my father and from his father. Valyrian steel, with rubies embedded on the hilt. Its name is Blackfyre. Do you think they can stand up to this?"
"No your grace."
"These fields, they're overgrown. No one has tended them for years it seems. And the houses abandoned. Have all these smallfolk gone to Harrenhal?"
"No doubt," Ashen said bitterly. "When they come back they will have no food to eat at all. What little coin Harren paid them won't be enough for food once the merchants take advantage of the situation and raise prices."
"There's a town up ahead," Aegon said, pointing to a collection of buildings before them. "Let us stop there and rest. Maybe we can get a few words out of their mouths."
Aegon and Ashen galloped towards the town at full speed, hoping to have a warm lunch and collect some information from the townsfolk. They were thoroughly disappointed when they found out half the town had been abandoned. Most of the houses looked like they haven't been inhabited for years. The buildings were falling apart and so were the stone roads. People that were on the streets scurried home at first sight of Aegon and Ashen.
"They don't get much visitors here it seems," the young man muttered.
"There," Aegon pointed to a small building with a sign that read 'Blackheart's Inn'. "We'll stop there."
They rode up to the inn and found a grumpy looking old man sitting out front. Aegon figured he must be the owner and paid him a gold coin to bring their horses into the stables in the back. They walked into the inn and found it was barely suited for human habitation. The entire room reeked of the smell of burnt wood. Rats ran across the floor and all the furniture was covered in dust. When the old man wiped a table and some chairs, the plume of dust that flew into the air caused Aegon's nose to tingle.
"M'name is Harold," the old man said. "Sorry 'bout the mess. Nobody's been here for ages."
"Where did everyone go?" Aegon asked as he took a seat and look around.
"Harrenhal, years ago," Harold replied. "A bunch of em left and never came back. You boys want anything to eat?"
Aegon didn't really trust the food here and he could tell Ashen didn't either. "Uh..no we're just here to rest. You made sure our horses are being fed?"
"Fed n watered don't you worry," Harold said as he grabbed a seat for himself and sat down. "You boys ain't around here are you?"
"We are merchants, just returning from the Stormlands," Ashen replied quickly. Aegon smiled, the boy was sharp and quick.
"You two look pretty well armed for merchants," Harold said, eyeing their swords. He seemed especially interested in Blackfyre.
"One can never be too careful," Aegon said. "They say the Riverlands are full of bandits and thieves."
"Aye you got that right," Harold said sourly. "Ever since Harren the Black built that godsforsaken castle of his. I swear the ironborn might be good warriors but they ain't good rulers."
They suddenly heard horse hooves coming from outside, followed by horses neighing and men shouting. Their voices were hard and stern; they were either bandits or soldiers. Either way Aegon and Ashen wasn't going to sit here and find out. The door opened and both of them got up and drew their swords. The guards yelled and drew their swords as well and just when it looked like there might be a fight a lord walked in.
He was an average sized man, with red hair, green eyes, and fair skin. He just a simple robe with no armor but carried a large sword with him. Judging by his wear and demeanor, he must be their master. Aegon studied the sigil that the soldiers bore, a leaping silver trout on a field of mud-red and blue. These were soldiers of House Tully of Riverrun.
"Stand down," the man said sternly. His soldiers looked at one another and sheathed their swords. Aegon and Ashen did the same. "Sorry if we startled you."
"No offense taken," Aegon replied with a nod. "We thought you were bandits."
"You were right to be careful," the lord nodded. "These days it's not such a bad idea. They spread everywhere now. No food, no shelter, no money. Everyday they multiply, raid, and pillage. And our king Harren the Black does nothing about it. Even a lord like me has to travel with an army of bodyguards."
"I'm sorry and you are?" Ashen asked.
"Lord Edmyn Tully," the man said, "of Riverrun. And who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"
"My name is Belric Goodwyn," Aegon lied. "And this is my friend Ashen Blacke. We're merchants from the Stormlands on our way to Maidenpool."
"You're a long way from there my friend," Edmyn said as he drew up a dusty chair and sat down. "Maidenpool is nowhere near God's Eye. You're closer to Harrenhal."
"Well you know everyone was making such a big commotion out of the new castle of Harren the Black," Ashen chuckled, "that we just want to see it for ourselves."
"King Harren the Black," Edmyn corrected. "But you're from the Stormlands. I don't blame you."
There was something in Edmyn's tone that interested Aegon. When he stressed the King part, he sounded bitter. "You don't like King Harren?"
Edmyn waved a hand and all his guards disappeared. He tossed a gold coin at the inn owner and he too disappeared out the back door. Edmyn dropped his voice to a low whisper. "To be honest, no I don't like him. He stripped our lands bear and caused all kinds of problems with his castle. I petitioned him several times to give us the money to crush these bandits but he never listens. His little castle is too important."
"I thought lords such as yourself kept a share of the taxes the smallfolk paid to you," Aegon said.
"Yes but when construction of Harrenhal started forty years ago Harren demanded more and more taxes," Edmyn said angrily. "He set his ironborn on those who refused to pay. Now our only source of income is the money he gives us yearly to run our lands. We have to live on a budget. At Riverrun no one uses money anymore; we have to trade good for good."
"Then why not overthrow them?" Aegon pressed. "The ironborn are not native to the Riverlands."
"Believe me we tried," Edmyn replied. "But everyone fights on who should be the next River King. Every single alliance we've ever put upon failed because of infighting while Harren defeats every single rebel one by one."
"What you are saying is that the lords will rebel if they can find someone to unite them," Ashen said.
Edmyn nodded. "Highly possible. I hear this Targaryen boy has landed from Dragonstone. I'll see how good of a King he claims himself to be before I decide whether or not I throw my support behind him."
Aegon chuckled. "Well then I hope you won't be disappointed."
"Your friend said you two were going to Harrenhal?"
"Yes he did."
"Well lucky for you so am I. Why not travel together? You'll be much safer with me. Harrenhal is only half a day's ride from here. We will be there by nightfall."
Aegon and Ashen looked at one another. "You honor us Lord Tully," Aegon replied. "But I'm afraid we're not very good company."
"Bah I've been with worse," Edmyn laughed with a wave of his hand. "It's decided. We ride for Harrenhal together!"
Aegon finally understood the commotion about Harrenhal. It was the largest castle he had ever seen in his lifetime. Just the walls of the monstrous fortress were enough to put a cliff face to shame. On top of the walls were large scorpions carved out of stone. There were mainly for decoration but Aegon knew the scorpion's mouth can be used to pour boiling oil on any army foolish enough to lay siege. The main castle consisted of five gigantic towers, each taller than the other, even the smallest towered above the tallest keep on Dragonstone. The massive main gate of the castle was enough for a dragon to fit through.
"Impressive isn't it?" Edmyn said as he rode up to Aegon. They were on a hill overlooking the sprawling castle town that had formed at the base of Harrenhal.
"Indeed it is," Aegon replied. He kicked his horse and rode forward, followed by Ashen, Edmyn, and the Tully bodyguards.
By the time they reached the castle town, the sun had already set. "This is where I must leave you," Edmyn said. "King Harren has summoned me to court and I have kept him waiting long enough. Until next time then."
"Until next time," Aegon nodded. He watched as Edmyn rode down the main street with his bodyguards towards the main gate of the castle.
"That was some journey," Ashen said. "We best find a tavern to spend the night."
"Aye," Aegon agreed. The pair of them rode down the street, looking for a tavern that wasn't filled with travelers who had come to see Harren's new castle. The streets were littered with visitors, mostly merchants and traders who had come to peddle their wares. There were soldiers too and a couple lords here and there. Those people were mainly confined to the brothrels which, Aegon noted, were overfilled. However the smallfolks who built this castle were nowhere to be seen.
After riding for some time around the town, they finally found a small tavern at the edge of the city willing to take them in. Aegon and Ashen had their horses brought to the stables and entered their rooms. Rather than dine down below with the other guests, the two chose to have their food delivered to them. For some extra coin of course.
"Ah meat, bread, and wine," Ashen said happily when food was served. "What more can you ask for?"
"Fish, lobsters, stew, ale, and cake," Aegon replied, he suddenly lost his appetite. The food was nothing compared to what he normally ate on Dragonstone but it would have to do. He grabbed a cup of wine and a piece of bread and sat down on his bed.
"I'm starving. I haven't eaten anything since that rabbit this morning," Ashen said through a mouth full of bread. He swallowed and emptied his cup of wine. "I hope your majesty is pleased with this mission."
"I am," Aegon replied, tearing down a chunk of bread and taking a long draught of wine from his cup. "Now that we know what we're up against, we can prepare our next course of action."
"If you want my opinion," Ashen said. "I think this Edmyn fellow could be of some use. Maybe he can get the River lords to support us."
"Look at you, one cup of wine and you're drunk already," Aegon chuckled. "Edmyn Tully is a cautious fellow. A bit too cautious in my opinion. He was given plenty of opportunities to overthrow the ironborn but he failed to grasp any of them."
"No I'm serious," Ashen said after another cup of wine. "He is a follower, not a leader. And if given the right master he would follow. He could rally the lords to our side. Besides, he seems to have taken an interest in you."
"Aegon Targaryen or Belric Goodwyn?"
"Aegon Targaryen you fool."
Aegon threw his cup at Ashen and laughed. "I'm your king; you'll want to address me in a better tone before I chop off your head."
Ashen suddenly turned serious. "All jokes aside though," he said, sitting up. "I do think Edmyn Tully is of great use to us. Once we pacify the Stormlands and the River Lords know our victory, they'll all be swearing fealty to us."
"You're do have a point," Aegon nodded. "Once Orys takes care of Argilac, I can reorganize my forces and march on Harrenhal. By then I will send ravens and summon Edmyn and the other lords. Won't he be surprised to see me again?" He laughed.
"How long does your grace plan on staying here?" Ashen asked curiously. He picked up Aegon's cup from the ground and filled it, handing it back to him.
"Not long. We leave tomorrow morning at first light. By the time we get back Orys should've concluded the battle against Argilac already. I have full faith in his ability to win."
"Then we better finish the wine tonight."