Chapter 16 - Lions Revenge Arc
AegonBaby Aemon played with a carved wooden dragon upon his mother's lap. The small enclosed carriage rolled down the paved Rose Road towards New King's landing. If all went well they would arrive there by midday tomorrow, three days before the 1st, the wedding of his niece and nephew. Margaerys favourite septa, Nysterica and her cousin Elinor rode in the green and red wagon. At the same time, the other party members followed in their carriages and on horseback behind.
"I do hope our sister Shaena is well. I have written to her many times since the passing of sweet Alyssanne, but she has not replied. I could not imagine the pain of losing a babe, not after having my own little Aemon. Oh, no I can not, my beautiful boy", Margaery nuzzled with the silver-haired, green-eyed babe.
Aegon smiled and agreed with his wife. Aegon had chosen to ride in the carriage until the next stop, Maragery had claimed feeling unwell, a sickness in her stomach, and he wanted to comfort her, much to the dismay of Lady Alla Tyrell, her cousin, who had to ride outside.
"Shaena has always been…emotional. Even as kids, when Mother told her she was too old for dolls, she cried in her room for at least three moon turns", Aegon said, picking the dirt from under his nails and the wagon jolted on a stone. Margaerys mouth hung a jar.
"Husband, there is a difference between the loss of a child and losing a doll. How could you be so insensitive?", she asked, holding Aemon close. Septa Nysterica pox scarred face shook in disapproval.
"Men often lack the Mothers' compassion. We all pray for Lady Baratheon and Lady Alyssanne. Perhaps seeing her good sister and young Master Aemon will bring her some joy", the Septa smiled and held her arms out for Aemon, Margaery passed the boy. Elinor hummed and continued with her needled work.
Outside, the wagon rolled to a stop and the guards shouted. Goose pimples climbed up Aegons spine. He clenched the hit of the small blade he always kept at his side and drew back the green silken curtains. From the lattice window, thick woods covered the view beyond the Rose Road.
"Harlad, Harlad. What is going on? Why have we stopped?", Aegon called out the window. Horse hooves clattered on the stones and pulled up to the window of the wagon. Harlad lent down and sighed,
"Peseants m'lord, cloggin' up the road. Makin their way to the capital, I reckon. They all stoppin' though, gods know why. I sent one of me boys up the road to look, with one of the Lady and Lord Fossoway, m'lord", Harlad said. Margery shifted in her seat and peered out her window.
"I will go have a look, my love. If it is a problem with the common folk, perhaps we can offer assistance?", Margery offered. Aegon shook his head
"The Septa and I will go, if it is dangerous they would never hurt a woman of the Faith".
The company from Dragon Garden was stuck in the middle of the Rose Road, from Highgarden through to New Kings Landing. They had spent a few nights with the Tyrells and Margaerys family, then left at dawn yesterday. The riding was slow, over five thousand followed on the train. Lords and minor lords, their families, households, knights, and stragglers. Although King Aerys and now Rhaegar had repaired and improved the roads, there was always the danger of bandits.
Aegon walked past his guards in full armour, accompanied by Septa on his arm, clutching it closely. She smelt of red onions and garlic. The road ahead was clogged by horse hooves and wagons but they did their best to part for Aegon as he walked to the head of the party.
A huge tree had fallen over, blocking the way on the cobbled path. Overhead, storm clouds gathered and the wind picked up. A few men had started tying ropes to the immense trunk of the fallen tree. Five men holding hands would have made the base of the trunk. Large wagon horses stood at the ready with new tack to dislodge the tree.
"M'lord. Tree in the way. We 'ave to clear the 'tire thin'. Most of the wagons at the back cannae pass withou' the 'hole road. We'll 'ave to spen' the night on the road, i do believe. Lads have gone to the back to get the axes, too", Harlad said, stroking his grey beard. Aegon said a curse and Septa Nysterica tutted.
"Is there anything we can do to assist?", the older man said, looking at the storm clouds gathering above. Harlad shook his head,
"Not 'less under those Sister robes your hidin' an oxen team. We're stuck until the mornin", Harlad winked at the Septa and she blushed behind her hand. Aegon broke out of the Septa clutches at walked away from the pair who bickered. He rolled up the sleeves of his green shirt and tied his hair back out of his face.
"May I?", he asked a guard with an axe who was drinking from a flagon. The man nodded. Aegon clenched the wooden hilt and walked up to his foe, the huge log in the way. With a deep sigh, he arced it over his head and began to chop. The crowd watched him with crows to a corpse.
Wildfyre circled overhead as the sun began to set over the woods, singing with the birds that heralded the dusk. People would often stop to watch her fly through the sky, and Aegon felt she loved the attention. She would flip and spew smaller flames from her snout to make people watch her. He thought about Aerea, she loved that dragon more than he did, when she left with Maegella, she was more said to say goodbye to Wildfyre than she was saying goodbye to her Father.
A few hours had passed of chopping, tying, pulling and pushing, and Aegon was spent. He hadn't worked this hard since Oberyn and he served with the Second Sons for a year in their youths.
"We may wannae call it here for the nigh', m'lord. There won' be 'nough light for safe workin'", Harlad said, taking a deep swill of water from a flagon and passing it to Aegon. He took a drink, the fresh coolness filling his insides. A few cooking fires had popped up just off the road, the smell of roasting meats and bread filled Aegons nose and made his stomach growl. Aegon nodded and called everyone to stop.
"...and open some casks. Everyone gets some wine for the hard day's work!", Aegon laughed and slapped the nearest guard on the shoulder. The boy, a few years younger than him, he guessed, smiled and laughed.
Aegon found Margeary and some of the other high-born women holding a small court around a campfire. The night was dark but the flames danced on the women's bodies. Margareys brown hair flickered in the firelight. Aegon lingered at the back of the crowd and watched silently, sipping some wine.
"..and my husband, your ladyship, he doesn't treat me like he used to. He spends all the money on wine and betting on dice. The children and I might go days without even seeing him", a middle-aged woman sighed. She sat before Margery and her woman's court, comprised of herself the Septa and two of her ladies in waiting.
Margery suggested she do this after reading a book about the reign of the Old King and Good Queen Alysssane.
"How can we best serve the people if we do not know what half of them want? Women are still servants to their husbands and are too afraid to speak out about injustice. If we want to serve the realm and rule justly, we have to hear them, Aegon", Margery had said after her first session during their wedding celebrations. Since then he had fully supported her in her cause, and for it, the people of Dragon Garden loved them, they felt seen by Aegon and Margaery.
"He won't let me look at boys for our girls. My oldest, Tansy, she's seventeen, m'lady. We found her a nice cobbler's boy but when I asked Willem about it, he yelled at me, and we haven't spoken 'bout it since", the woman sighed and Margary grabbed her hand. Septa Nysterica lent over and whispered something in his wife's ear. Margaery nodded and paused for a moment.
"Septa Nysterica has suggested that perhaps we take…Willam on for a time in the guard. You would receive a steady stream of income from his posting that would be to support you. We can make it so the money does not go to him but directly to you and your family. We can offer work to some of your children back in Dragon Garden, during the harvest we can also do with hard workers. And for Tansy, if you would like, I will personally take her on as a handmaiden, and in time we could find her a knight or squire to marry", said Margaery. The woman smiled and hugged his wife. Aegon looked on and took another drink of his wine. Heaviness drooped his eyes and he stifled a yawn. Margery would likely be here until late, hearing the complaints of the women of the Reach. Preaching the good word of their house at Dragon Garden. With a smile on his lips, he retired to their tent which had been set up and fell into a dreamless slumber.
"AEGON, AEGON WAKE UP", a scream broke through the heaviness of sleep. Aegon shot up, Margery standing at the flap of the tent. Behind her one of her handmaidens held a squirming Aemon.
"Bandits, raiders something. They're here, quickly", she added. Aegon lept from the covers and grabbed his spear which he always slept next to.
"Stay here and keep quiet, I will send Harlad to watch you. Stay hidden", he kissed his wife and baby, stepping into the darkness of the night.
Stray fires had caught some of the tents alight. He could not see any bandits but heard screams over the sound of horses screaming and dogs barking. Hundreds of thoughts crossed his mind while he looked for foes.
How did they break the perimeter? Was anyone hurt? Why did he sleep through this ruckus?
Behind him, footsteps approached. He spun around, spear ready to see Harlad panting, dressed in his night clothes and a bloody sword in hand.
"M'lord. It's mostly under control. They tried takin' some of the wagon goods, some of the women, too. There's 'nly a few of 'em, no more than a dozen, they must-", an arrow tip broke through Harlads chest, unarmoured. Harlad fell face forward onto the grass. Aegon yelled and looked for the shooter. A dozen meters away a man wrapped in a black hood with a golden emblem held a bow and nocked another arrow.
Aegon dove forward, getting out of the shooter's line of sight as he shot the arrow. Sprinting, he ran forward, closing the distance between them. He thrust forward with his spear, and the blade pierced his chest, directly over his heart. The man spat blood into Aegons face and fell to the floor. Aegon pulled his spear from the man's chest and thrust it once into his face, right between his eyes with a cry.
Aegon dropped his spear and raced over to Harlad. He picked up the man and held his head to his chest after pulling out the arrow. His breathing had already stopped, Harlad was dead. The lord of Dragon Hall let out a blood-curdling cry. Hot tears pricked his eyes and he sobbed into the chest of the captain of his guard. Aegon looked up at the stars above and swore he would find the people responsible for his death.
Aegon sat in a seat that had been brought from one of the wagons. Two guards stood at his flanks and Margaery stood beside his chair. Wildfyre sat at his feet. She had taken a blow to the side during the raid, and one of her wings hung limp by her side. The maester had said the wing was probably broken, but he lacked the knowledge of dragon anatomy. Not for the first time on this ride, Aegon wished Aerea was here. His little girl always knew how to make him smile, and a lot about dragonlore.
The sun had begun to break over the forest, and in the wee hours after the attack the log had been finished. They were free to push on to New Kings Landing, but first, Aegon had to deal with the remaining bandits from the night.
Six men in black hoods with golden emblems knelt before him. They were bloodied and tied, all but one of them were gagged. A guard brought a hood before Aegon and showed him the golden seal. A lion roaring on hind legs, the Lannister mark.
"They call themselves the New Lions, my lord. Sons of Lannisport, of the Rock and the Mad Lion, they say", the new captain of the guard, a young man called Dennis 'Long Spear', who had squired under Harlad as a youth. Aegon stayed silent, the blood of the slain bandit still on his face, now long-dried and crusty.
"Who is your patron, fiend?", asked Margaery, looking at the ungagged man. He looked up, his face was puffy from blows and lip cut. He spat in their direction, causing Wildfyre to raise her head and his. The man's eye widened and he looked away. Aegon clenched the armrests of his seat. Words would not solve this issue. Margaery asked the question again, this time with more iron in her voice. The man stayed silent.
Aegon looked at Dennis and nodded his head. The young man with blonde hair stepped forward and pointed to one of the men kneeling. Aegon nodded and Dennis delivered a few swift kicks to the man. He curled over on the floor and cried out. Aegon heard a bone crack and hoped it was his ribs.
"It'll start with beating them, then killing them, master bandit. It is your choice, speak and earn yourself a meal and a bed, or watch your men die one by one, painfully" Aegon said, the first words he had spoken since Harlad's death. He had no intention of completing the second half of his promise, once he had all the information he needed, they'd all hang and be fed to the hounds.
One of the gagged men, the smallest with red hair and a bandaged arm started trying to speak. The leader looked back and shushed him. Dennis walked over and ungagged the boy. He took a deep breath and looked at his leader with pleading blue eyes. The freckles on his pale face were married with blood.
"We were paid by a masked man in black. He called himself the Night Fish", the leader yelled and Dennis kicked him once in the chest, winding him. Another guard pushed a gag into his mouth.
"He said if we started sabotaging the roads and causing panic he'd pay us enough to never need to work again. He told us you'd be here and when. He said "Stop the Targayerns and all costs", and he did. My lord, please. You have to understand, he threatened us too, he said if he didn't he would kill our families. I have a younger sister and brothers I have to take off, my lord. My Ma and Pa are dead, I'm all they have left. Please, lord, mercy", the redhead pleaded. His comrades yelled through their gags, pleading with their eyes.
"Why did you choose the name New Lions, boy?", Margaery asked, placing a hand on Aegons shoulder. The warmth from her hand steadied his racing heartbeat. The redhead shrugged.
"It wasn't my pick, m'lady. I just did want Soren said to do. He said the name was important but I never asked. He fought for the Lions in the last war, you see, lady. But my Pa, he fought for the dragons, a Tully man he was, served lord Edmure', the boy continued, stumbling on his words. One of the older men beside him slammed his body into the redhead and knocked him over. The guards pulled them apart and brought the boy to his feet. The older man was given a few kicks to the side.
"Keep this one for further questions, Captain Dennis. The rest…hang them. Then feed their bodies to the hounds", Aegon shoot glares at the dragon by his feet, and Wildfyre looked up with huge golden eyes. He thought of Aerea for a moment, how she would react if Wildfyre had died.
She didn't want to go with Maegella but Aegon convinced her it would be good, she would bring Maegella joy to have a child in her life, and she could be more of a mother to her than Maragery ever would be. She would never forgive her if Wildfyre had been seriously injured, and he would have never forgiven himself.
If what Maegella had said was true, the souls of his dead family were in the dragons they now possessed, whatever that meant. It felt wrong to see his dragon in pain, he felt an ache in his own shoulder looking at her green scales.
"And the leader, Soren. Hang him last so he may watch his men die, then I will see to it that Wildfyre is fed, she is always looking to try new meat".
By midday, they were ready to move on. Wildfyre, full on the flesh of humans, was loaded into a wagon like the chickens. Aegon chose to ride on horseback at the front of the train, he wanted to watch the woods, he didn't trust them any longer. Margaery rode alongside a chestnut mare called Oats. She was a gift from Aegon for their second wedding anniversary and was now her favourite horse.
The couple rode in silence. Aegon could still feel Harlads body in his arms like a ghost. How his chest didn't move, his eyes blank and lifeless. The man was unmarried and had no kids or family. He lived for Aegon and his family. On his last name day, or thereabouts, Aegon asked what he wanted as a gift. Harlad had said, "a warm roof over me head, a strong ale in me cup, a place at your side and a chance to teach your boy to swing a sword". The man had now died for him, too.
In the tree line, a bird started singing, setting off all the other birds. A huge chorus of tweets and chirps consumed Aegons ears. He looked at his wife while her gaze trailed off into the green, that matched her eyes.
"I am with child, Aegon", she said bluntly. Aegon pulled his horse, a brown gelding called Porridge, to a halt. He dropped his tense shoulders.
"I've known for a time but was waiting until we arrived in New Kings Landing. But time is never right, is it?", she made Oats walk over to Aegon and she placed a hand on his leg.
"You're going to have two children, Aegon. You are to be a father again", she added. Aegon looked at his lap.
"Three children, Marg. Three, you cannot forget Aerea, she is mine, too", Aegon said flatly. Margaery sighed.
"You sired her when you were seven and ten, Aegon. Hundreds of lords have bastards but to bring her into the home? Why? You won't even tell me who her mother was, do you still love her? Why are you protecting her three and ten years later?", Margaery said, "I do not even care that you love her, Aegon. Truly I do not, nor that you see her as your true daughter, but please, why do you defend a woman you have not seen in decades", she pressed. Aegon pushed Porridge forward, leaving Margaery behind. He took a deep breath and let the thoughts of Aerea consume him, and the mother who bore the name that would get Aerea killed…
Dusk fell over the train while they travelled over a large open prairie. It was the last stretch towards New Kings Landing, but they had to make camp, they would not reach the capital before nightfall, nor did Aegon wish to push the party now that he knew his wife was with child once more.
Aegon and Margaery had chosen to take supper separately that night, Aegon with his guards and Margaery with another Womans Court. They had not spoken since earlier that day. Aegon passed a flagon of wine around to his men while they shared war stories. Most had fought in the Lion's Folly on the side of the Dragon, but not all. Some were Westermen who followed their liege into battle and were pardoned, some were men who thought the Dragons did hold much too power like Tywin had said, but changed their minds and took pardons, others did not fight at all, and avoided the conflict entirely... They were the men Aegon trusted the least…they were the ones who never stated their loyalty to anyone, and could sway the most.
"And this woman from the Reach, gods she was beautiful, had hair like a cloud, she was the one who took me first, lads. And gave me the name long spear", Dennis winked and took a drink of wine, "finest maid you ever would have seen, only saw her for one night. Year later she finds me at Dragon Garden and says the little shit she has with her is mine!", Dennis laughed, passing on the flagon to the man next to him. He continued to tell the story with Aegon nursed a cup of ale.
Gods above, why did you make women so fucking complicated? I'd marry a man if that was allowed, you made them more understandable, and handsome more often than not, he thought of the men he'd lain with, half of them were prettier than the woman he had been with. His thoughts then lingered on the two who had his heart, however, the mothers of his children. He regretted nothing in his life, the people he'd slept with, the experiences he'd had, the life he'd lived…but gods above he wished life was easier for him.
"Well, I have eight daughters, boy. None of them little shits, but vipers waiting to strike down their enemies", a Dornish voice pulled Aegon from his trance, "Obara, Nymeria, Tyene, Sarella, Elia, Obella, Dorea and Loreza, all my girls", the Prince of Dorne said. The men around the cookfire stood at attention, Aegon stifled a laugh.
"No wonder you were attacked, I was able to sneak on you without anyone noticing me", Oberyn picked a nail, "at ease gentlemen, I only want a word with your lord". Oberyn pulled up Aegon and dragged him away from the fire, must to Aegon's protest at his spilt cup of ale.
Once away from the main party, Oberyn embraced his longtime friend and offered condolences on the loss of Harlad. Aegon nodded and together they toasted life and death on a Dornish wine Oberyn had brought.
"But why are you here, Oberyn?", Aegon asked between mouthfuls of the red wine. Oberyn took his own drink from the flagon.
"What I say to you now, cannot be uttered again. Swear this on our brotherhood, and the graves of our families", Oberyn held out his right hand, the hand they used when they become blood brothers so many years ago. Aegon took his hand and shook it firmly.
"The New Lions were not only paid off by a man called the Night Fish, yes I know this, my spies are more efficient than yours, little Egg. But are receiving patron from the Freys and old money from the Westerlands. They are working to put Dareon on the throne but through the Lioness. Word has it they are working with the Greyjoys, too. They will overthrow your brother, to wait for him to die, either way, they will strike before your beast grows too large and you are unstoppable", Oberyn waited for Aegon to reply, but no words came from the Dragon Lord.
"Dareon is a weak man who lets fate control him, Westeros would not follow him, Dorne would not follow him", he added.
"It won't happen, Oberyn. Frey? Greyjoy? Some old families, it's not enough to overthrow Rhaegar, and his succession is secured, after Aegon and Rhaenys, your niece and nephew, will stit the Iron throne, both of our blood, Oberyn. Would Dorne not support a half-Dornish King?", Aegon said, struggling to piece Oberyns concern. The Red Viper narrow his infamous eyes, black as the night. He paused for a long moment, the sounds of the train back on the road roared over the night open prairie.
"Even in Dorne, there are rumours of what kind of man Rhaegar is, what kind of man his son will be. Elia would often write to us, telling us terrible things about Aegon. She told us she often wished Aegon had been born a girl, so Rhaenys would be queen. She wished for Rhaenys to be queen, she told Doran and me after she had her", Oberyns eyes turned sad for a moment, then back to fierce.
"Oberyn, Rhaenys will be queen. We are all going to Kings Landing to watch her become Aegons wife, the heir's wife", Aegon put a hand to his forehead.
"Brother Egg, you miss what I am saying. It was Elia's wish that Rhaenys succeed the throne, as The Queen. I will fulfil my sister's wish, Aegon. Rhaenys will sit on the Iron Throne after Rhaegar, and I want your support".
Excerpt 7Following the Reign of King Rhaegar the Silver, laws regarding the succession of dragons had to be formed. As it currently stands: all those born to the immediate monarch, regardless of sex, may be presented with up to three cradle eggs.
Children of the Heir of Dragonstone, regardless of sex, may also be presented with up to three cradle eggs.
Children of Targayern lesser decent, such as children of younger sires of the Monarch, may not be presented with dragon eggs.
However, all those who boast Targayern Lineage are entitled to attempt to claim an older dragon upon maturity at six and ten, with the consent of the Monarch.
Any eggs laid by claimed dragons must be given to the Dragon Keepers of either Dragonstone to the Dragon Pit of New Kings Landing.
Any failure to comply with these laws is the highest of treason with the punishment of death by dragonfire.