111 A.L. King's Landing

Prince Aemon Targaryen

After a year of fighting Aemon was glad to be back home, though of course in some respects he did sort of wish that he was still fighting out across the narrow sea. When his father had come to tell him that he was being relieved of command, he had both been relieved that he no longer had to listen to the screams of men or see the fire of the dragons, and he had felt like a boy who had been caught doing wrong. It was a strange feeling, this need to impress his father, something he had been trying to do since the day he could walk, and yet it was something that he always felt as if he never managed to do. When he and Rhaenys had met with their father in the command tent on Bloodstone they had both asked him various questions about how things at home were going particularly the Stark- Arryn war, King Aemon had looked at them both and had simply said. "They have progressed as far as they have naturally, Stark has taken the Sisters and Lord Sunderland has now betrayed him and has invited Jonnel Arryn into take Stark and his men. That is as far as I am willing to allow that conflict to go, Rhaenys you shall return to the mainland with your brother and head north to the Sisters to bring the two men to heel, tell Sunderland that his days are done, and feed him to Meleys, it is time Lord Celtigar was named Lord Paramount of the Sisters." Their father had then gone onto say how he planned on invading Myr and breaking down the Daughters strength and will power one by one, and so when Aemon had left the Stepstones his wife and his daughter Alysanne and their dragons Meleys and Silverwing had come with him.

His eldest child and daughter Alysanne who had turned nineteen whilst they had been at war and had grown into a very beautiful and strong woman, was wed to Ser Aenys Celtigar, a man who had won much renown and acclaim for his feats during the battles of the sea against the daughters. Ser Aenys was a good warrior and a average thinker, but Aemon knew that he would treat Alysanne right, after all his eldest did take after her mother and should that not be enough, Aemon would wipe out Claw Isle to protect his daughter from a brute. The wedding had taken place at the Sept of Remembrance which was now being called Aemon's Sept, all of the court and some 1,000 other noblemen and women had attended the wedding, and Alysanne had glowed throughout it all. She had then left for her new home on Claw Isle, whilst Rhaenys had left for the Sisters the following day, leaving Aemon in King's Landing to deal with the various vipers and crows that hovered around court. But before she had left, his wife had left him with the news that she was with child once more, something that had left them both very happy and delighted and hoping that this time perhaps the gods would see fit to grant them a son.

Aemon's daughters Vaelana and Visenya who had remained in King's Landing under the supervision of their grandmother Queen Jocelyn were also growing into fine young women, both of whom reminded Aemon of their mother, in that they were very strong minded and not afraid to voice their opinions. Vaelana though had a softer side and was much more willing to others compared to either Alysanne or little Visenya who even at four was a strong minded and fierce little lady, who had already bonded with a dragon whom she had named Vermax. Aemon loved his daughters something fierce and was weary of the lords who came sniffing by trying to get him to betroth his little girls to their sons, especially that oaf Benjen Stark who had sent a raven soon after Rhaenys had left for the Sisters asking if perhaps a betrothal between Vaelana and his son and heir Rickon might be considered, like hell!

Of course just now those were not the most pressing of his concerns, he had called a meeting of the small council at his cousin Viserys suggestion to find out where the factions lay now. Lord Boremund Baratheon had passed away in his sleep a few weeks ago and his son Ser Borros was busy fighting in Myr and as such the position of master of laws was currently vacant though Aemon knew that soon enough it would need to be filled. Apart from Boremund and Lord Corlys who was away fighting in Myr also, the other council members, Hand of the King Prince Viserys, master of coin Lord Lyman Beesbury, Master of Whispers Lord Larys Strong, Grand Maester Runciter. Lord Commander Ser Harrold had gone with Aemon's father to Myr whilst Ser Willis Fell had returned with Aemon. Aemon looked at the men before him and assessed that someone here was like to turn traitor, the question was who. Soon enough he would find out. "My lords," he began. "I thank you all for coming. As you know I have been away from court for some time, and so am not as up to date on some of the comings and goings of the kingdoms as I would like. I wish for you to fill in what gaps I have. Who would like to go first?"

Lord Lyman spoke first his voice shaking somewhat. "Well Your Grace, the war between the Starks and Arryns and the war in the Stepstones greatly disrupted trade and as such, the crown has not been able to bring in as much gold as it has in years previously. And so our coffers are only half full and as such that number might lessen depending on how long the war with the Daughters goes on for."

Aemon nodded and said as reassuringly as possible. "Well that should change now. Princess Rhaenys has headed north to settle the issue with the Starks and Arryns once and for all. With that sorted trade should return as normal between the kingdoms. Once the war with the Daughters is done, trade can return in full flourish. We shall not have to resort to speaking to the Bravosi I should hope?"

Lord Lyman nodded and said. "I should think not Your Grace. After all we are at war with Bravos as well are we not? It would not do well to ask them for gold if we are to bring them to their knees later on."

Aemon nodded and then turned to his cousin. "Viserys what news from the Marches, are Lords Dondarrion, Swann and Caron still bickering like little girls over gods alone knows what?"

His cousin was silent for a moment and then said. "They are indeed Your Grace. They are all laying claim to a piece of land that is very small in size but apparently very profitable in tax, and as such all three claim that it has at some point belonged to their respective families and was stolen by one or the other at some point or the other."

Aemon sighed and asked. "How true are their claims? Did the land in question actually belong to them at one point or another, or are they simply trying to create trouble because of the situation around them?"

Runciter spoke then his voice slow and tired sounding. "They are indeed true Your Grace. At some point in history, both Caron and Dondarrion have held claim over the lands. Swann has never held such a land, though they might be claiming lordship over it due to Lord Swann's mother having a senior claim through an earlier marriage. But as of now, it should be viewed as a claim between Caron and Dondarrion and one that has taken them both to war."

Aemon sighed then and asked. "And what of the situation with the Crakehalls and the Kennings of Kayce what has happened there?"

Viserys sighs and says. "All out war Your Grace. The Crakehalls with the backing of the Reynes, Tarbecks and Lord Jason's regent called enough men to exterminate the Kennings save one girl, Kyra who is now being held in Crakehall castle for further judgement."

Aemon was taken aback and then felt his anger boil. "They felt that because they had the backing of an embittered old woman and two houses that would be nothing without House Targaryen they could exterminate a whole house? What nonsense is this? They must answer for their crime, I want a raven sent to Lord Crakehall demanding he come forth to King's Landing to explain his actions at once."

Runciter nods and then says. "There was also a raven from Highgarden, it seems as if the Dornish have broken through whatever peace the king had established between the Reach and Dorne. They have been raiding through the southern reach and Lord Hightower has apparently had to flee the Hightower for Highgarden for fear of his life."

Aemon sighs and says. "Then I guess I will have to go and deal with this new crisis before it becomes an all out war."