147A.L. Braavos

Prince Maegon Targaryen

He had been eight when the war with the Free Cities had begun, serving as a squire to his father King Aemon the Dragon, and now he was thirteen and a newly made knight. His father had knighted him after the battle of the plains where he had led a charge that had broken the ranks of Khal Jono and his Khalasar. The knighthood partially made up for the loss of his dragon Darkunor some three weeks before that battle to scorpions, that his brother the weakling Aemon had been there on Thunderquick to save him from his fall only added insult to injury. Apart from that Maegon had found the war to be a very exhilarating experience, it had given him a chance to test his mettle and when his dragon had still lived, a chance to reign fire down on his family's enemies. It had been fun, as well for it had finally given him an outlet for the rage and anger that seemingly boiled inside him like a furnace, he had used that rage and anger to think clearly and do the things his oh so perfect brother Aemon could not do. And the battles he had fought alongside his father on horseback had allowed him to hone his swordsmanship and made him appreciate being able to wield a sword as well as he could command a dragon. The independent free cities had all fallen before their march, Lorath was theirs, Norvos and Qohor protectorates that had added their armies to the throne's. The Dothraki were experience chaos amongst themselves with Khal Pono in King's Landing, and had retreated for civil war in Vaes Dothrak. The Slavers were still a threat but they were falling apart as well. Only Braavos remained, still as a statue and unwilling to bend, for two years now they had laid siege to the city and their men and the men of Braavos were beginning to grow weary.

Maegon's father had called a war council to discuss what needed to be done, and Maegon and his brother and his father's heir Prince Aemon were present, as were Lord Edmyn Tully, Lord Cregan Stark, Lord Joffrey Strong, Lord Garlan Tyrell and Lord Aenys Celtigar. The king spoke first. "Well my lords, it does seem that after holding out on us for two years the Bravosi are beginning to crack. You all heard of and saw the offers the Iron Bank made to us, and though we have refused pay their bribes, I have had word from a source within the city that the bank has now closed its walls and gates to the new Sealord and as such so have the Faceless Men. Now is the time to strike, how we do so though is what I wish to discuss with you."

Lord Edmyn Tully spoke then his voice loud and booming. "Well Your Grace I do believe that the best way to take the city is to send a force forward that will tempt the Bravosi to open their gates to give combat. If the situation within that city is as volatile as we have all been lead to believe then they will be desperate to have some action so that the masses within their walls lay of them. Once the initial force has been sent forward we can then send the rest of the men in and cause havoc as we wish."

"A good plan," Lord Cregan said. "But then how do you propose we get within the city itself, after all we cannot use the dragons not yet, and I highly doubt that the Bravosi will be so foolish as to leave their gates wide open as an invitation to us should they send a force of men out. The only way I can see us getting any sort of action into the city is if we all march as quickly as possible and break into the gates the minute the open, which would leave us open to attack from the sides and the front."

Lord Garlan spoke then. "Aye and that would a cost too high for us I should think. This siege has been costly for us as well my lords, Your Grace. We might have supplies and such, but the men we have sent to deal with the Dothraki have not yet come back, nor has there been word from Lord Addam over the fate of the Slaver alliance. As such it might be best if this probing force comprised some 10,000 men and then the rest began marching to surround the walls and began climbing over when the probe engages."

Lord Joffrey spoke then his voice sounding stern. "So if I heard you right Lord Tyrell, you would have us send a probing force and then at the same time have the rest of the army marching behind them under cover to climb the walls and bring down the city from within? A sound plan, but how are we to achieve the cover when the Bravosi will be expecting something of the sort?"

This was where Lord Tyrell had the decency to blush. "Well I was thinking the cover could be provided by the dragons." At this Maegon saw his father begins to voice protest but Lord Tyrell spoke quickly. "I know that Your Grace is unwilling to risk the dragons for fear of the Faceless Men, but we know that the Faceless men have cut ties to the Sealord and the defence of Braavos. And as such the dragons would not be used to attack the actual city, they would be used to provide shadow and cover for the army that climbs the walls."

There is silence for a long moment and Maegon expects his father to say no, but then his father sighs and says. "Aye that does make sense. And there is no real viable other option for cover. Very well then, myself Lord Joffrey and Prince Aemon shall take to the skies to provide cover for the soldiers on the east, west and southern quadrants of the city wall. Who shall lead the probing force?"

At this there is some silence and then Maegon sticks his hand up and says. "Your Grace, I would volunteer to lead the probing force myself." When his father begins to protest he interrupts and says. "Aye I know the risks father, and I know that though I am only newly knighted, having me leading the force of men to probe the Bravosi is the only sure fire way to get them to come out and attack. After all, they will get greedy and think to themselves that why not open the gates to try and capture a Prince of the Throne?"

Aemon speaks then and usually, Maegon would look on his motives with suspicion but today he is grateful when his brother says. "Maegon speaks the truth father. They are more likely to fall for the plan if it is Maegon leading the probing force. It could spare us some time as well."

Silence and then the King replies. "Very well Maegon you shall command the probing force. But Ser Arryk and Ser Erryk shall ride with you."

Maegon nods and then the meeting ends and Maegon prepares for his first real test of battle, the nerves flutter in his stomach, but as he finishes putting on his armour he comes to peace with what he must do. Before he mounts his horse, his father finds him and says softly. "Do what you must to lead them away from their city Maegon, but do not do anything rash, you are far too precious to us all to die." Maegon nods and then his father walks away.

Soon enough Maegon is armoured and mounted, the Cargyll twins of the Kingsguard by his side, he rides to the front of the probing column, some 10,000 strong, he draws his sword and points it heavenwards and then spurs his horse and charges towards the walls of Braavos. At first the closer they get to the walls, the Bravosi do not react except to fire arrows that soar past them, but then once they are within actual firing distance, the gates open and as Maegon expected a force of men comes pouring out, and the battle and the chase begins. Maegon slashes at the throat of a man who comes close to him, he cuts down another man, and then the hacking and slashing of battle begins. He takes care to lead the Bravosi away from their walls, spurring his horse in different directions so as to confuse them, and all the while he keeps going hacking and slashing, hacking and slashing. His sword is stained red with blood, but still he keeps riding and the fighting continues.

He does have to admit these Bravosi fight well but he is better than most of them, he swings his sword right, then left, and then brings it down in the centre, and more and more men fall to his blows. He gets a few knocks himself, his armour gets dented in places and once or twice he does fear that perhaps he might not live through this, but he always comes out on top and he ends up killing those men who had thought to kill him. The battle rages on and Maegon pushes on hacking and slashing, killing those who would get in his way, his body is aching, but still he fights and on and on and on and on. His sword is completely drenched in blood as is his armour when the fighting stops. Ser Arryk stops next to him and says in that deep voice of his. "It appears that the deed has been done Your Grace. The Bravosi have fallen for the trap."

Maegon nodded and then said. "How many of the dead are ours?"

Ser Arryk is silent a moment and then says. "Some 7,000 are ours. 8,000 are theirs. My brother Ser Erryk died killing some big brute of a man."

Maegon offers his condolences and then is about to say something more when a rider appears carrying the banner of his house. "My Prince, I bring word from His Grace King Aemon." Maegon nods for the man to continue. "Braavos has fallen Sire. The king requests yourself and your men to come through the gates and be presented to the people."

Maegon nods and soon enough finds himself in Braavos, a city that was lush and prosperous once, is now seemingly a ruin. He rides until he reaches the Sealord's palace where his father greets him, the king embraces him and then holds his hand up in the air and says loudly. "I give you Prince Maegon Targaryen, the hero of Braavos!" And the cheers of the crowd will echo in his head for many years to come.