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Chapter 43: Aegon

The men in Maidenpool had given it up almost without a fight. Aegon guessed that between Randyll Tarly having turned on the Lannisters and the imposing sight of Harry Strickland's elephants, they decided it was not worth it.

The town became their base for a time but it was a temporary one. Lord Connington had insisted on coming with Aegon. Aegon was glad to have him with him. He may have looked cold most of the time but his presence was reassuring and he gave good counsel.

He had waited impatiently for news of Arya. Connington had told him he would be a fool to rush North but the waiting was hard. When a raven did come it was sent to Dragonstone and had to be sent on to Maidenpool. He suspected Lord Connington only told him of the contents because he was worried that a prolonged wait might prompt something reckless. Aegon had to admit he might have been right.

He almost sagged with relief to hear that she was safe. That was followed by the realisation that she had written to Connington, not him. He frowned and tried to restrain himself from responding. In the end he relented. I have to address it to her he argued to himself, she is commanding the men, my new allies, and this is about war. He kept it formal, following her cue but it was very hard.

Lord Connington frowned when he found out Aegon was writing but he did not argue. He did prompt Aegon to tell Arya of his decision regarding the Riverlands Houses. He did not tell him why however until after it was sent.

"Her uncle needs to know" was the explanation.

Aegon had words with him over that. He did not like playing games. If Arya's uncle needed to know something, Aegon would have much preferred to simply write Brynden Tully. When he said as much Lord Connington snorted.

"A noble sentiment but your raven may have been burned before he read it. At least this way you know he will get the message".

They did not stay at Maidenpool long. Lord Connington had suggested during a number of their war councils that they needed to send a signal to the Riverlands. It had been discovered that Harrenhal was only lightly held.

"It is the seat of Petyr Baelish" Connington stated. "They took the title of Lord Paramount of the Trident from the Tully's and gave it to him".

Aegon understood. He knew from what Arya had said that Littlefinger had served the Baratheons and Lannisters. The decision to make him Lord Paramount of the Trident would not have sat well with the Riverlands Houses loyal to the Tullys and that was said to be almost all of them. Harrenhal was a prime target. It was said to be cursed but Aegon had no intention of staying there or making it his seat, even temporarily. It was a strategic move, that was all and it would give him a castle to bestow on one of his loyal followers.

It was a long march to Harrenhal. It was made worse by all the damage done to the lands. The Lannister soldiers had moved on, said to be in position to defend Kings Landing against any assault but the signs of their former presence were everywhere. The people were frightened and hiding. Their crops had been burnt and they were starving. Aegon cursed the Lannisters yet again.

Aegon and his men had food though they did have to ration it. Their provisions were still being replenished by the Reach, one of the only areas where food was still plentiful. Even so, the march was a hard one. Aegon had done most of his travelling by sea. The journey from White Harbour to Winterfell had been longer and that to Maidenpool had its own difficulties but crossing into the Riverlands had a new set of challenges. There were more wolves here and they had no fear of men. There were also outlaws.

Arya had told him of the Brotherhood. He knew of Beric Dondarrion but hearing the stories in the Riverlands from the people (the few who overcame their fear to face them) was completely different. Aegon heard of the outlaws killing Freys and Lannister men. There was talk of someone named Stoneheart. Things had changed from what Arya described of her time with the outlaws. Aegon was only thankful his men were not targeted.

He could not help feeling more than a little taken aback by Harrenhal as they approached the castle. The sheer size of the castle was dizzying. Aegon had thought Winterfell to be large but it was rather small in comparison with Harrenhal. The sight of the towers melted by dragon fire gave him a reminder of the dragons still coming. It was a reminder of why he was to win Daenerys. Originally he had thought he needed dragons to conquer Westeros. That did not look to be the case. The match was no less important now, it was needed to keep peace and besides, he could not deny he wanted a dragon.

Aegon insisted on being in the party sent to treat with the current castellan of Harrenhal. The man was not what he expected. Ser Bonifer Hasty was a stern, sad looking man who was deeply religious. His first question took Aegon by surprise.

"Do you keep the seven, your grace?"

Aegon composed himself quickly. "I do ser".

"Do you repent of your sins?"

Aegon glanced at the men around him. They were hiding sniggers though Connington had fixed the knight with a cold stare. What sins?

"I pray if that is what you are asking Ser".

The knight bent his knee. "I pray that you will be a just and pious King".

Aegon was lost for words. They are yielding.

"Why?" he could not help asking.

"The Lannisters have committed crimes they do not repent of" he replied. "They are not the rightful rulers of Westeros. I will pray for you".

Aegon nodded and because he did not know what else to do he thanked the knight. The men moved into the castle. He took quarters himself, making sure he had a heavy guard. He was not overly superstitious but he thought it wise not to take risks. It was not ghosts he was afraid of but he remembered that Harrenhal was where Arya first learned of the faceless men and what they could do. It would be too cruel to meet his end in the same place.

He explored the castle, finding it to be a dark and morbid place. He visited the Sept but he also visited the godswood. The heart tree was hard to look at. He could not help feeling from the angry face on the tree that he was not wanted there. It was not like Winterfell at all. He did enjoy the bathhouse. It reminded him of his younger years in the free cities, not that he spent much time in bathhouses. It was odd that after hiding for so long part of him missed the freedom that came from being unimportant.

When the time came to hold the war council, there was a squabble. The line of men wanting to claim Harrenhal was rather long. Aegon did not know what to do. He was thankful that Lord Connington intervened, telling them the decision must needs wait for now. When they were relatively alone, he asked Connington's advice.

"It might be wise to keep Bonifer Hasty as castellan for now" was the answer. "It seems that he has forged some peace here. You can put off naming a Lord of Harrenhal until you take the throne".

It sounded right so Aegon agreed. The decision was met with grumbling when it was announced but Aegon did not need Connington to tell him his supporters would have been more divided if he had made a hasty decision. The Targaryen banner was raised above the castle.

They did not want to linger long. Aegon had not been certain of the next move to make. As it turned out Lord Connington already had a plan in mind. He announced it with a grim smile.

"The stories we are hearing of these outlaws killing Freys has had me thinking. The smallfolk are loyal to them for it, it seems to be a popular notion. Perhaps we should use that".

Aegon latched onto the idea eagerly. "Are you suggesting we march on the Twins?"

Connington nodded. "Between the losses they suffered at Winterfell and the losses they are suffering at the hands of the outlaws they have been weakened. The time is ripe".

This was Aegon's favourite idea his Hand had suggested so far and he could see a glint in the eyes of the Commanders of the Golden Company and the lords bannermen alike. If the Twins was taken it would be a rich target. The tolls from the Crossing made it so. Harry Strickland was the only one to protest but that was not unusual.

Aegon could barely sleep that night thinking of it. The gold would be helpful but that was not the reason he wanted it. It would make him popular but that was not the true reason either though he could not deny that popularity appealed. It would not just win him the smallfolk, he knew it would help cement his alliance with the North and help bring the Riverlands Houses to his cause. There was something else which kept him awake, the wish he knew would be fulfilled in doing this. He could hear her whispers still.

When Arya hears of it she will come.

A/N: I looked into Bonifer Hasty before writing this. He supported anybody but the Lannisters to begin with so I don't think it implausible that he might yield, particularly given his faith and the things the Lannisters have done.