To The West

Aegon's stay at Storm's End lasted a week. During that time he called his banners and inspected his new army assembled outside the castle. They were mostly peasants and levied soldiers but they would have to do. Aegon's more elite forces had been ordered to stay behind; if the campaign went wrong Aegon would still have men to defend himself with. In the morning of the seventh day Aegon summoned his generals for a war council. Objections to this new campaign against King Mern were high, but in the end the decision was still Aegon's to make.

"The combined force of Mern and Loran is well over fifty-five thousand," someone pointed out. "And about five thousand of them are mounted knights. We only have about eleven thousand soldiers total."

"Size doesn't matter," Aegon replied. "Speed does. Mern and Loren won't even know what hit them."

The council didn't last long after that. Orys Baratheon was also skeptical of this campaign but he did not voice his objections and instead chose to follow Aegon. He trusted Aegon's judgement. After all Aegon had never been wrong. When the order was finalized, he was given command of the right wing of the Targaryen army alongside Balion Qoherys- promoted after the campaign against Argilac, who held the left wing. Aegon's cousin Kaeon was given control of the vanguard while Aegon himself chose to take the reserves. Aegon had pitched all his elite generals into the campaign, but if only generals could take on entire armies.

When Elena heard of this she scoffed at the idea. "He must be mad! This sounds more like a suicide mission."

Her less-than-pleasant opinion of him seems to have toned down a bit; although there was still bitterness in her voice everytime his name was mentioned.

"Well you know Aegon," Orys said as he grabbed his shin guards. Elena hurried over and helped him secure it around his legs. "He isn't one to back down that easily."

"Well just be careful," she said as she grabbed his gauntlets.

"Why are you worried?" Orys grinned.

"What? No!" Elena replied hurriedly as she worked to put his metal gauntlets on. "It just looks bad if you died a week after we just married."

"You're blushing," Orys pointed out, his grin turning into a smile.

"Stop it!"

"You'll have to rule in my stead while I'm gone. Remember don't do anything stupid," Orys warned.

"You don't trust me?" she asked innocently, her large eyes shining in the sunlight.

"There's an old Valyrian saying I head somewhere that said 'Never trust a woman'", Orys chuckled.

"I feel hurt," she frowned. Orys laughed and kissed her.

"My lord?" a soldier walked up to the door open and stood outside. "The army is ready to leave."

"I'll miss you," Orys said after he dismissed the soldier. Elena handed him his great sword and helmet.

"Stay safe!" The couple kissed once more.

"Don't worry, I always do," Orys smiled. He walked out the room and disappeared down the hall.

The army marched out that day at noon. Orys, Balion, and Kaeon rode at the head of the great force while Aegon and his sisters flew above them on their dragons. Morale was certainly bolstered by these beasts and even Orys felt more reassured of the upcoming battles with the dragons acting as support.

Aegon was quick to demonstrate the speed of his army. On the third day of the campaign, he punished a Gardner reconnaissance force and laid siege to Grassy Vale. Knowing that the wooden castle wouldn't stand a chance, Harrow Meadows' son, Gregor Meadows surrendered Grassy Vale without a fight. A small cavalry detachment sacked the town of Tumbleton after its leaders refused to surrender.

With his supply line to Felwood established and secured, Aegon's army rested for a day and then crossed the Blueburn River. They marched with stunning speed, setting camp only a day's ride away from Bitterbridge and the combined armies of Mern and Loren. There Aegon sent a message to the two kings and prepared for battle.

When he heard the news, Loren was shocked that Aegon made it this far in this little time. He went into the main hall of Bitterbridge and found Mern pacing back and forth. From the looks on his face he too must have gotten the news.

"You have to admit," Loren said, "this Targaryen boy has certain zeal to him."

"Grassy Vale and Tumbleton has fallen," Mern said bitterly. "It's as if our defenses never even existed!"

"It's not our fault," Loren said reassuringly. "We didn't have enough time to prepare."

"Well his recklessness is going to cost him," Mern said. "With his number of troops, he'll be crushed in a single battle!"

"So have you considered his offer to meet tomorrow and fight?"

"Of course I have."

"And?"

"And I accept. If he wants to taste defeat, I'll serve it to him."

"Why bother attacking?" Loren asked. "We should refuse battle and send a force to his rear to take back Grassy Vale. That way we can cut his supply route and he will starve to death. Then we'll strike!"

"Ha!" Mern laughed. "The gods sent us this opportunity, why should we sit around and wait for another one? Besides the men are growing restless, if we don't fight soon they'll begin rioting. It's decided, we'll fight tomorrow."

"I hope you know what you're doing," Loren said uncertainly.

"Relax my old friend," Mern said. "Tomorrow evening we will be drinking to our victory."