King Aemon I Targaryen

Nine years had passed since the Greyjoy Rebellion, nine years in which the realm had prospered, the Ironborn under his uncle Victarion had finally learnt their place and whilst they continued raiding and plundering in places such as the Summer Islands there was no whisperings of discontent. Trade with Essos had come grinding to a half after Bravos had been taken by the Brightflames, and so trade was largely internal, and occasionally done with Sothoros and the lands beyond the sea. Such trade ideas had been suggested by the master of coin Petyr Baelish, Aemon vaguely remembered Baelish from the time he had gone to Riverrun with Brandon, then Baelish had been a boy with ideas above his station, now he was a clever man who had helped the crown during the trouble following the fall of Bravos.

The throne was not in debt, Aemon had made sure of that, but Baelish had a surprising knack for finding routes for trade that would always benefit the crown. Aemon had been surprised at first by how good the man was with money but then he remembered the whole reason why he had been appointed in the first place and as such his surprise lessened. Baelish had been appointed as a customs officer for Runestone in the years following the war of dragons and had been charged with bringing in a suitable level of tax for Lord Royce, and as such Baelish in the three year period he had serve at Runestone had increased customs intake for Runestone by four times his expected amount. That had seen him rise to become an officer at the Eyrie charged with overseeing the collection of taxes and dues for House Arryn. Baelish had excelled there as well, from 286 to 289 A.L. Baelish brought in five times the amount of revenue his predecessor had whilst also being able to lower taxes on the overall population of the Vale.

Such skill and talent had been noted of course by Tywin, whose daughter was wed to the now Lord of the Eyrie, and so when Damon Celtigar had fallen ill from a fever just after the ending of the Greyjoy rebellion, Petyr Baelish was named the new master of coin. And so far he had done nothing to disappoint, he had lived up to his reputation, new trade contacts had been found to replace those lost in Essos, trade in Westeros was booming and the crown continued to make more and more money, the treasury was overfilling with gold and silver and taxes had not risen for some time. Overall, Aemon was happy with what the man had done though he was still weary of him, considering the rumours he had heard floating around about what Baelish claimed to have done to the Tully sisters. Tywin had advised him to ignore the rumours but to keep an eye on the man nonetheless, and so far nothing had come to support that the rumours were coming from him.

Aemon scratched his beard, and thought about what else had happened in King's Landing. The Kingsguard that institution that represented knightly values and the guardians of the royal family had seen somewhat of a change in recent years. Ser Gerold Hightower the White Bull had died from wounds during the taking of Pyke, Ser Jonothor Darry had also died during the taking of Pyke, taking with him Urrigon Greyjoy a fierce warrior. Those two stand out knights had been replaced by Ser Lucas Corbray who had proven himself time and time again during the Greyjoy rebellion and the war of the Dragons and Garth's younger brother Ser Humfrey Hightower also found a place on the Kingsguard for the valor he had shown on the battlefield as well. Ser Brandon Stark, the white wolf was named Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and so far all had gone as planned

There had been other developments as well, Aemon had become a grandfather recently. His eldest son Maekar wed to Allyria Dayne had had a son with Allyria, and named him Gaemon, the babe had silver hair and purple eyes a true Targaryen. His daughter Daenaerys continued to remain in King's Landing awaiting the nod that all was safe for her to travel north for her wedding to Brandon's son Robb, Brandon and the northmen were still away at the wall waiting for the Wildlings or so the last raven they had received had said. Soon enough there would be pressure for Aemon to find partners for his other children, but as of now he was content to simply allow them to enjoy their childhood.

Essos, that was the problem, the Brightflames had conquered Essos whilst Westeros had been embroiled in its own civil war. The founder of House Brightflame was Aemon's own great uncle Aerion Targaryen, a mad man who had sired many bastards as he had true born children, the bastards had faded into obscurity, or so Aemon had thought, and the trueborn children ruled Essos now. Maegor Brightflame, Aerion's great, great grandson had put down the rebellion led by Bravos and had wed a fire priestess, and of course had now set his sights on Westeros.

Aemon had ordered that the royal fleet be alert and on patrol near the narrow sea to see if there were any direct attempts on King's Landing itself, though he had also asked Stannis Baratheon to have his own fleet of ships ready and prepared. He would not be caught out, not by this fool who was wed to a madwoman. He had heard about the priests of R'Hllor and their mad orders and belief systems. More than likely the woman was using Maegor Brightflame as a way to spread her religion to Westeros as well, Thoros of Myr was a red priest who was part of Aemon's court though the man had done no preaching or conversions since he had been here, and it did not seem as if he would. Still it would not hurt to keep the man under surveillance for the time being.

Aemon scratched his beard and then nodded to Ser Brandon, and the door to the council chamber opened. Already seated where Lord Tywin Lannister the hand of the king, master of laws Lord Garth Hightower, master of coin Lord Petyr Baelish, master of whispers Lord Varys and Grand Maester Pycelle with Victarion away at sea. Aemon nodded at the council members and then took his seat. "Now then my lords, what do you have for me today?" he asked.

Baelish spoke first. "Well Your Grace, I have good news to report. The Bank of the Throne has exceeded its incomes for this year and has seen ten times the amount of revenue predicted. Our reserves are now overfilling."

Aemon nodded. "That is good my lord. How are our other accounts doing? The account with the Iron Bank has been completely closed down now has it not?"

Baelish nodded. "Indeed it has Your Grace. All the throne's last amounts of gold saved up in the Iron Bank have been transferred to the royal bank, and I have sent ravens out to all the lords of the kingdoms advising them to do the same. The Brightflames will not have a scrap of Westerosi gold funding their operations."

"Good," Aemon replied. "Now what more news is there for us to discuss my lords?"

"A raven arrived from Castle Black today Your Grace." Grand Maester Pycelle said. "Writ in the hand of Lord Brandon Stark. He writes that the Wildlings seem to have faded into the shadows for now though sporadic groups do continue attacking the wall now and then. He writes until the threat is completely done he cannot leave for Winterfell. He also asks for some aid to be sent as well."

"More aid? Does Stark not have the whole of the north up at that frozen wall with him?" Baelish asked.

Aemon silenced the man's laughter with one look from his vacant eye, the pit of black could scare many a grown and battle hardened man. "Tywin how many men can we spare to send him? The Watch has plenty of men does it not?"

Tywin was silent for a long moment before responding. "The Watch according to last raven we received from their lord commander had lost a great deal of men on a ranging north of the wall. The men holding the wall at present are Stark men. No doubt Lord Stark is asking for more men for the black. We can send some from the dungeons if the need is truly great."

Aemon nods. "Send the pick of the men from the cells and have them escorted north. Also see if some of these noblemen's sons will wish to join and take the black. Now what more is there we need to discuss?"

Varys speaks then. "There is Your Grace. Word has come from my sources in Pentos. Another fleet has departed from Pentos and from Tyrosh as well and is sailing for the Stormlands flying the Brightflame banner. They will seek to bring Stannis Baratheon to Maegor Brightflame's side using information that the man apparently has gained."

"And do your sources know what information this man claims to have gained and from where he has gained it Lord Varys?" Aemon asked.

Varys tittered slightly. "Ah Your Grace, the information the man claims to have is proof that he should in fact be the king on the iron throne. As you know the man's great great grandmother was a Blackfyre and he claims he has found proof that would support the claim all Blackfyres have made of House Targaryen since Daemon Blackfyre rose in rebellion with regards to the truth of Daeron the Good's true parentage."

"And what would this proof be? A word of an old man? None who were alive during that time still live now. All who knew the good and the unworthy and the black dragon and what happened between Aemon the Dragonknight and his sister are long dead buried. From where could he have found some supposed truth?" Aemon asked.

"His wife Your Grace." Varys replies. "She claims to know the truth in her flames. And the truth of your great grandsire's heritage as well."

Aemon snorted then. "I will not believe that some red woman claims to know the truth of anything. Besides my great grandsire was the trueborn son of King Aerys and Queen Aelinor, all know this. There was never any doubt of that, as surprising as it was. Now what useful information can you give me on Maegor Brightflame, has he fallen for our trap?"

Varys tittered once more causing Aemon to grit his teeth and feel his empty eye flare. "Maegor Brightflame is just like Maegor the Cruel Your Grace. Without the dragon of course. He fights with a two handed great sword, he is as big as Aegon the Conqueror and he is a proven battle commander. He has no experience at sea though, and may fall for the trap Lord Victarion has waiting for him. His other brother Baelon though, Baelon Brightflame will not fall for the trap and that is why he is sailing for Cape Wrath."

Aemon nodded. "Very well, send a raven to Stannis, and tell him to bar Shipbreaker's Bay and to call his banners. I will want him to defend the Stormlands from these invaders. Find out what you can about Melisandre Brightflame Varys and if she can be killed I want her killed. Tywin, Garth I want you to return to your homes and call your banners, wait for my letter before marching. If Maegor Brightflame has any sense he will land on Maidenpool and try and take the Riverlands. Hoster Tully must needs be notified as well. Now if there is nothing more you may leave. Tywin, Pycelle remain." The other lords left and once the door was closed, Aemon sagged and then grabbed his eye.

"Do you need a lotion for the pain Your Grace?" Pycelle asked his voice high with concern.

Through gritted teeth Aemon responded. "No I am fine. Now what news do you have on Varys, have you found out who it is he gets his information from across the narrow sea?"

Pycelle was silent for a moment and then replied. "His friend the cheesemonger, Illyrio Mopatis Your Grace. The man fought in many wars during the years preceding the Brightflame conquest, including for the Golden Company."

"Did Mopatis survive the occupation of Pentos?" Aemon asks.

"He funded it Your Grace. He is backing the Brightflames throughout Essos whether he does so now in Westeros is another matter." Pycelle replies.

"Very well. Keep digging Pycelle. Tywin call your banners and send Clegane here, he might be needed should Varys need to be removed from the board." Aemon replied.