Chapter 33: Aegon
Aegon winced as he rose from his bed. His shoulder was healing but it was still painful if he moved too quickly. Actually, it was still a little painful even if he moved slowly but the pain was getting more bearable.
He dismissed the man who rushed forward to help him get dressed, preferring to just grit his teeth and do it himself. Trying to push his arm through sleeves was the worst part but he managed it, cursing under his breath. He had turned down milk of the poppy from the maester. He almost regretted that decision but he wanted to be lucid enough to be out of bed and exploring the castle.
He broke his fast with a meagre offering. He never had much appetite right now when he first woke. As soon as he was done he left his solar with his guards. He visited the sept first. He had received a report on it but he wanted to see it for himself. What he saw angered him. The seven had indeed been burnt.
Stannis and his red woman have a lot to answer for.
He knelt there for a moment, praying for guidance and hoping that his prayer might be heard even though the seven had been destroyed, When he rose, he asked to be taken to Aegon's Garden.
It wasn't quite what he expected. He had heard about it but being there was completely different. It seemed like a different world from the rest of the castle and from many of the places he had been. He breathed in the fresh scent of pine and wandered around looking at the plants growing in the garden. He stopped by the wild roses, fingering the petals. Arya would like it here.
He lingered there until he was forced to leave. He ate quickly then headed for the Stone Drum. Lord Connington had come to see him and they met in the Chamber of the Painted Table. Aegon stopped and inspected the map of Westeros as it was in the time of Aegon the Conqueror. He was genuinely interested in it though his interest had the advantage of avoiding Connington's cold gaze. The man was disappointed in him and Aegon knew he deserved it.
"I know it was foolish" he said defensively. "I will be more careful in future".
Connington exhaled and his face took on a far away look. "We all make mistakes in our youth".
He is remembering the battle which got him exiled.
Aegon changed the subject. Neither of them really needed to be dwelling on past mistakes.
"I received a raven from the Night's Watch".
It had been tersely worded. Arya's brother had clearly not wanted to write and Aegon suspected that Jon Snow thought his request would be refused. Aegon knew Snow had been in contact with Arya. That was the only way he could have known Aegon held Dragonstone. He wondered how much Arya's brother knew.
Connington looked suspicious. "What do they want?"
"They want dragonglass. I asked about it. It is also called obsidian. There is a lot of it here".
Connington's reply was abrupt. "We cannot spare the men".
Aegon bristled. "I keep getting told I have a duty to the realm. I would expect that to involve more than sitting my arse on a throne".
Connington frowned. "You have already decided".
"I have. They have been told to begin mining it. I will write back".
Pale eyes narrowed. "Is this because of her".
"No" Aegon said quickly. It was only half a lie.
The discussion changed to the subject of the war. Taking Dragonstone had positioned them to make an incursion into the riverlands, beginning in the crownlands by landing at Crackclaw Point and from there marching on to Maidenpool. They just needed to gather ships, not an easy feat.
"They will be wary of us" Connington conceded "Many of the riverland Houses took up the rebel's cause".
"The riverlands Houses also turned on the Lannisters after Lord Stark was executed" Aegon argued. "If we made it clear we will not hold them accountable for what happened in the rebellion-"
Connington stiffened. "They helped bring the downfall of your House".
"My grandfather brought the downfall of my House" Aegon argued. "I know what he did. You should have told me earlier".
They had argued about this before. Aegon was still bruised at the secrets which had been kept from him. Part of him hadn't wanted to accept the story of what Aerys had done. When he asked Connington about it, his expression was confirmation. Aegon had been told filtered stories of the Baratheon usurper and his followers who had stolen the throne. He now knew that it was not that simple.
"My father might still be alive if my grandfather hadn't killed them. I will not love those who helped the usurper but I know the true enemy. It is the Baratheons and Lannisters and the people who now keep them in power even after knowing what they did". Aegon curled his lip. "Even after they murdered my sister and mother and thought they had murdered me".
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" Connington muttered.
Aegon could see he still wasn't happy but he wasn't arguing. It was a good sign. They parted and Aegon made his way back to his chambers. He had exerted himself more that day than he had in a long while and he was now feeling weary.
He started as he opened the door to his bedchamber. His guards melted away and he wanted to curse them. A woman sat in his bed. She was slight with dark hair and for a brief moment Aegon allowed himself to hope until she turned to face him. It isn't her. Of course it wasn't. He knew she was in Winterfell.
The woman was naked and Aegon wrenched his gaze from her. The sight had stirred him and he was angry with himself. He picked up a cloak and threw it in her direction.
"Put this on".
She sounded wounded. "Have I displeased m'lord?"
He glanced up at her, averting his gaze quickly again when he saw that while she had picked up the cloak, she still hadn't covered herself.
"I don't fuck whores" he said abruptly.
She rose from the bed and Aegon was relieved to see she was now covered. She shot him a scathing look as she made her retreat. Aegon put it down to the rejection. When she was clear of his quarters he found his guards.
"I don't know whose idea it was but make sure they don't try it again".
It was much more difficult to rest after that. His mind was too occupied with thoughts of women, particularly Arya. What he had told his unwelcome visitor hadn't been completely true. They had taken him to a whorehouse to make a man out of him. The lessons had been rather thorough. Connington had been wroth when he found out. It was not honourable for a prince to fuck whores. The lecture had stung but Aegon had taken it to heart. He hadn't touched another woman until he met Arya.
Arya was distancing herself. He hadn't heard from her since he sent the raven to tell her of Dragonstone. He was trying to follow her lead and he hated how difficult it was. He hated how weak she made him but he only had to picture her and to think of their conversations, to think of riding with her, fighting with her, making love to her to know he wouldn't have it any other way. He wondered what it was that drew him to such a dangerous woman. Perhaps it was his Dornish blood. Perhaps it was the Targaryen madness trying to set in. He didn't know.
He wasn't alone though. Tales had travelled as far as Dragonstone of the warrior maiden of Winterfell who refused to marry. He smiled to hear how she humiliated her would be suitors. He had felt a pang of jealousy towards those who were able to be so close to her. It consoled him to hear she wouldn't have any of them. She had told him she wouldn't marry but part of him had still doubted.
Days continued to pass and Aegon's pain lessened. He knew he would need to move soon. Connington had managed to access some ships, Aegon wanted to be ready to leave with them. It was his sole focus until he received two ravens in close succession. The first was from Winterfell and he opened it eagerly. The contents disappointed him.
Prince Aegon,
My sister, the Lady Arya, told me of your injury. I am sorry. I hope you recover quickly. We are well here. We are preparing to call our banners. The Dreadfort and Moat Cailin must fall. Our family has waited long enough
Lord Rickon
Lord of Winterfell
It was in Arya's hand. He didn't doubt that Rickon had some involvement. Arya was not dishonest, she would not write a letter from her brother if he was not party to it. The message was clear. She was trying to tell him to move on. He was to think of Daenerys, not her. He sighed heavily.
The last part of the letter sounded like Arya. She is as reckless as I am. He could not help feeling fear thinking about it. The Northern army was depleted. The gathering he had seen was weak, full of injured men. They had taken time to recover but he did not think their ranks would have swelled in that time. If anything, the lack of action had probably caused some to head for their homes.
He was still dwelling on it when the second raven arrived. These tidings were from Storm's End and had a different tone. Tommen Baratheon was dead. The circumstances sounded strange. The boy king had been thrown from his horse and trampled to death. His sister Myrcella was to be crowned queen of Westeros.
Connington was triumphant. He wasn't a man to cheer and gloat with words but Aegon saw the gleam in his eye. Haldon seemed to find it amusing.
"They are weak now. The time is ripe. A girl is all that stands in our way".
Myrcella might be a girl. She was also a disfigured girl who was said to be betrothed to Prince Trystane of Dorne. Aegon was not stupid. It was not going to be as easy as what it might appear. Dorne could certainly not be counted on now.
They continued with their plans and the ships began to drop anchor around the castle. Aegon was readying himself to leave when two more ravens arrived from King's Landing. He opened them, curious as to what the Lannisters and Tyrells would be doing writing to him. The first he simply set aside after reading. The second he could barely believe. He crushed the parchment in his hand.
AN: Next up we check in with Arya. I won't torture you long, you will find out what was in the letters in that chapter.
I have a problem i'm trying to figure out. I would welcome suggestions. When Arya has to leave Winterfell she will need to leave Rickon there. There is no way she would leave him without somebody she trusts but I can't figure out who she could leave. The Blackfish has to go, he knows too much about war. I don't believe it plausible that Brienne would stay behind and ditto for Duck. Any thoughts?
I'm planning Rickon and Cersei POV's soon. That will be rather different to write :-)