King's Landing ― Flea Bottom…
Amidst Flea Bottom's dilapidated alleys and shanties, rumors and whispers were rife concerning the ongoing strife that had engulfed the land - the infamous "Dance of the Dragons." The common folk, who were often the most affected by the war, had already christened the conflict as such, owing to the fierce battles being fought by both sides. The Blacks, who had successfully wrested control of Harrenhal from the Caltrops without much resistance, had garnered a significant advantage in the early stages of the war. Knights and lords who had pledged allegiance to Aeonar Targaryen had mobilized their armies and were ready to fight with all their might. Although the reports from the frontlines varied depending on the source's reliability, it was widely known that the first actual battle between the opposing armies occurred in the Riverlands. The outcome of this crucial encounter remained shrouded in mystery, with only a select few privy to the actual results of the Dance's first phase.
"Did you hear?" one of the street urchins mentioned.
"Yeah, I did," replied the other. "They say the war has been intensifying these past few days."
"I got a friend in the army. He says the Blacks scored decisive victories near the Burning Mill and Stone Hedge."
"You're quite the chatterbox! Keep it down! Haven't you heard? They say the Young Dragon's supposed to have eyes and ears everywhere. We wouldn't want anyone overhearing us, would we?"
"Ah, shite! Keep your heads down!"
After the group of troublemakers scurried away to evade any attention, a solitary figure lingered in his makeshift dwelling, consumed by his own intoxication. This particular person's true identity remained a mystery, yet it was clear that he was a massive and menacing swordsman. Suddenly, a smaller man, who, despite his diminutive stature, appeared to be reasonably competent, approached him.
"The White Worm said she'd find you here. They say they call you 'Blood.' How long it's been since they stripped you of your gold cloak."
Blood seemed disinterested in the conversation with the stranger, his body language indicating a lack of enthusiasm. It was revealed through Mysaria's intel that he was a towering figure, characterized by his brutality and a notorious reputation for being willing to use violence at any given moment. In addition to his intimidating stature, he was known to possess a sense of humor, making him a unique character. Prior to his current situation, Blood served as a sergeant in the City Watch and was a loyal follower of Prince Daemon Targaryen during the early reign of King Viserys I. When the Rogue Prince was removed from his position as Commander for his illegal occupation of Dragonstone, Blood continued to serve under the command of Ser Harwin Strong. However, Harwin stripped him of his cloak when Blood was caught beating a whore to death in a drunken rage. Following his dismissal from the City Watch, Blood spent his time in Flea Bottom, drinking and roughing up the criminal elements for money only to waste it on alcohol. "Fuck off. I'm not interested," he grunted.
"Surely your talents could be used elsewhere. They say they need some… 'experienced' ratcatchers."
"Sod off. Do I look like a bloody ratcatcher to you?"
"The request came from Prince Daemon himself, I'm afraid."
Blood paused. Hearing the name of his former commanding officer caused him to sober up. "Prince Daemon?" he reiterated. "Who are you, and what's he want with me?"
"My true identity must remain a secret, but the folks around here call me 'Cheese.' Unlike you, I'm quite a skilled ratcatcher. I know every hidden door and secret tunnel at first glance, no matter the castle," he smirked. "The prince owes a debt to the Caltrops for the death of the Young Dragon's youngest son, and he's enlisted the help of the White Worm to return the favor. The reward, I must say, is quite substantial if we succeed in our mission."
"Then why isn't he here to tell me himself?"
"Prince Daemon has been named a general in the Young Dragon's army. He is campaigning in the Riverlands, rounding up the Caltrop loyalists at Harrenhal as prisoners of war before the remaining Blacks can gather at such a large castle. And so he tasked Commander Luthor Largent to meet with the White Worm and recruit the most capable men for an important mission. Interestingly, my name was the first to come up, and then yours. We both have been watched for quite some time."
"So, who's the target?" Blood inquired.
Cheese smirked. "The message entails, 'an eye for an eye, a life for a life.' The Caltrops took a son, so we intend to take one of theirs," he said. Cheese reached into his pocket and revealed a sack of gold coins. He tossed them onto the table, and Blood could hear the coins rattling against each other. Judging by the bag's weight, there could be around 500 gold dragons as payment. "So… interested?"
With a careful and discerning gaze, Blood examined the small bag that had been placed before him. He scrutinized every detail written on the accompanying paper, taking in each word with a measured and precise approach. After a brief pause to gather his thoughts, he shifted his attention towards Cheese, who stood dutifully by his side, ready to assist in any way possible. With a keen eye for detail and an unwavering determination to serve Prince Daemon to the best of his ability, Blood cleared his throat and accepted the coin bag with a firm and resolute nod.
In his youth, Daemon Targaryen had been the "Prince of the City," his face and laugh familiar to every cutpurse, whore, and gambler in Flea Bottom. He still had friends in the low places of King's Landing and followers amongst the gold cloaks. Unbeknownst to Aegon, Unwin, or Beatrice, he had allies at court as well… and one other go-between, a special friend he trusted utterly, who knew the wine sinks and rat pits that festered in the shadow of the Red Keep as well as Daemon himself once had and moved quickly through the shadows of the city. To this pale stranger, he reached out by secret ways to set a terrible vengeance into motion.
Their actual names are lost to history. They would forever be remembered…
…as Blood and Cheese.
Starpike ― Guest room…
Beatrice's expression soured as she turned to her father. "I'm curious, father. How do you propose we come by the gold and men you speak of? Our enemies are multiplying, and our allies are dwindling," she challenged.
Given the present situation, Unwin managed to control his temper and let Beatrice's impertinent remark slide. "On the contrary. It appears that the numbers have indeed increased, by three, to be precise," he remarked, gesturing towards the shadows from which emerged Tessario, his esteemed Captain of the Guard hailing from the exotic land of Volantis. Before joining Unwin's service, Tessario had an illustrious career as a sellsword in Essos, establishing a vast network of contacts in prominent member states of the Triarchy such as Myr, Tyrosh, and Lys. These connections have proven invaluable in the present context, as they hold a deep-seated animosity towards Aeonar, Daemon, and Lord Corlys. With Tessario's astute assistance, we have successfully negotiated a mutually beneficial agreement with the Triarchy."
The announcement was a complete surprise to Beatrice and Aemond, causing their facial expressions to reveal their astonishment. Even Larys, who was typically well-informed, was taken aback by this unexpected revelation, as were the rest of the group. None of them had anticipated this turn of events, leaving them all stunned and caught off guard.
"As part of the agreement for trading rights, the Stepstones, and the apprehension of Daemon and Corlys, the Triarchy has pledged to provide us with military and economic aid. They are preparing supplies and troops for deployment, and Tessario has already arranged for a sellsword army to support our cause."
"But what about the Sea Snake's blockade of the Stepstones?" Aemond asked. If the shipping lanes were inaccessible, the Triarchy would be forced to depart from Tyrosh to enter the Narrow Sea and from Lys or Myr for the Summer Sea. However, they would still need to navigate around Dorne to reach their destination, even in these cases.
"As I said, the situation is presently under control. It should be noted that Lord Corlys's navy may not be as unified as he may believe. However, we must take swift action and launch a counteroffensive before the opposing forces can solidify their gains further."
"My lord Hand," a scout reported back. "Vermithor and Silverwing are on the move, as are Corxes and Maelyx." Those dragons belonged to Jaehaerys, Aemma, Aegon the Younger, and Viserys.
"Word from the frontlines: Lord Grover Tully has declared the Riverlands for the Blacks."
"The North and Vale have declared for Aeonar Targaryen."
Aemond, with a determined look on his face, walked towards a map and began scrutinizing the current situation of the realm. As he traced his finger along the map, the kingdom was unequivocally split in two - those who fervently supported the Blacks and those who stood with the Caltrops. However, it was revealed that House Greyjoy had not yet pledged to either side. "The North is vast, with its people spread far and wide. Cregan Stark will need a fortnight to gather all his banners and then another to lead them south," he explained while tapping the map. "The Riverlands are crucial to our strategy. If we can secure it, we can keep the wolves above the Neck and the knights of the Vale trapped at the Bloody Gate." He turned to the messenger with an air of impatience. "Tell me, who are our allies in the Riverlands?"
"Umm… apart from House Strong, there are two other houses – House Bracken of Stone Henge and House Vance of Atranta."
"Only three houses in the entire Riverlands?"
"House Butterwell and House Mooton remain undecided, my prince."
"Having the support of those two wealthy households in the Riverlands could prove crucial," Beatrice suggested.
With a swift motion, Aemond seized his sword. "I shall lead the charge to the Riverlands with Vhagar at my side and remind them of the might of the dragonlords. The enemy shall tremble before us and plead for mercy before the moons have turned thrice."
"Your actions at Storm's End have already caused enough significant problems, young man," Unwin stated firmly. "When you killed Prince Daeron, accident or not, now every member of the Black will be seeking retribution against you. While Vhagar is indeed the largest dragon in our arsenal, the recent display of vulnerability at King's Landing highlights the challenges that could arise again when facing overwhelming numbers."
In a split second, an arrow whizzed past Beatrice and Aemond, piercing the air with deadly precision. The suddenness of the attack left them both frozen in fear and confusion. But their moment of surprise was short-lived, as they soon noticed the small piece of paper attached to the arrow's shaft. With trembling hands, Beatrice gingerly plucked the note from the arrow and unfolded it, her eyes scanning the ominous message across the page. "An eye for an eye, a life for a life. You took something from me that I can never get back. So you shall pay your debts in blood." The words were chilling, a clear threat of violence and revenge.
As the gravity of the situation set in, Beatrice worriedly glanced at Aemond. Who could have sent this? And what had they done to deserve such a menacing warning? A piercing scream echoed through the hallway before they could even begin to process the situation. It was coming from Helaena's room, and the urgency of the sound made their blood run cold. They knew they had to act fast before it was too late.
Upon hearing Helaena's panicked cries for help, Beatrice, Unwin, and Aemond quickly made their way to the scene of the commotion. To their horror, they discovered that Jaehaerys and Jaehaera were being held hostage at knifepoint by two unknown men. Aemond's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword as he tried to assess the situation. How did these intruders manage to infiltrate Starpike without being detected? The one-eyed Targaryen prince couldn't help but wonder. It was revealed that Cheese had led Blood into the castle's heart using a secret passageway unknown to any of the guards. By doing so, they were able to bypass the spearmen who were posted at the tower doors. In their wake, Cheese had managed to bind and gag one of the handmaidens, while Blood had strangled a bedmaid. Blood already barred the entry and slew the Dowager Queen's guardsman to ensure no one heard them entering, whilst Cheese appeared to snatch up Jaehaera.
"Well, well. Look who it is," Cheese mentioned.
"Yeah, the one-eyed kinslayer it is," Blood said. He heard Jaehaera's muffled cry. "Quiet! Scream and you all die."
"Matched the description."
"Who are you?!" Beatrice demanded.
"Debt collectors," said Cheese.
"Prince Daemon says you have a choice to make. The boy," Blood pressed the knife at the young Jaehaerys, "or the girl," he shifted to young Jaehaera.
"An eye for an eye, a life for a life. After all, ye did have the king's son killed. We only want the one of 'em, t' square things. Won't hurt the rest o' you fine folks, not one lil' hair. Which one you want t' lose, Your Grace?"
"Now… CHOOSE, or both will die. Which one do you want to live?"
Helaena was trembling with terror, shaking like a leaf. "Please," she dropped to her knees, begging. "Please, please, let them go. Please!~"
"A wife's not a son," said Blood.
"Pick," Cheese reiterated, "or we kill them both. My companion here is getting pretty bored."
In a state of distress, Helaena frantically gestured toward Jaehaera, possibly assuming the children could not comprehend the situation.
"You hear that, little girl?" Cheese whispered to the girl. "Your momma wants you dead." Then he gave Blood a grin.
Blood shook his head. "Sorry, that was a lie," he brutally decapitated the boy instead, striking off the boy's head with a single blow. "Prince Daemon sends his regards."
"WAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Helaena let out a blood-curdling shriek of anguish.
Unwin shouted orders for his guards; Aemond had already drawn his sword from its scabbard. Jaehaera stood there as silent and still as a statue. Her mind desperately tried to make sense of what had just happened, the brutal murder of her twin brother and the fact that her own mother had just sentenced her to die.
"Shénme…?! (What the…?!)"
"Zhèxiē rén shì shéi?! (Who are these people?!)"
Aemond swiftly pivoted, his eye darted to the sight of a compact team of Lykirī Mēre, who already eliminated several of House Peake's guards. Analyzing the expressions on their faces, Aemond deduced that these assassins were operating independently of Blood and Cheese. It was apparent that they were pursuing him, not Jaehaerys or Jaehaera. He was their primary target. But it seemed likely that another party had already bungled the assassination attempt.
Helaena cradled the headless body of Jaehaerys as tears streamed down her face; she kept screaming repeatedly. "RATS IN THE WALLS! RATS IN THE WALLS!" It is rather peculiar to note that the ratcatcher and the butcher refrained from causing any further harm to Helaena or her sole surviving offspring and instead absconded with the head of the young princeling as they had agreed upon. A commotion ensued, but Cheese, being well-informed, led the way to their escape route, and the murderers made a clean getaway.
Amidst the chaotic upheaval, Aemond displayed unparalleled courage as he fearlessly stood up against the infamous Lykirī Mēre assassins. Despite the assassins' formidable skills and lethal abilities, Aemond astutely recognized their techniques and cunningly outmaneuvered each adversary. His sharp instincts and quick reflexes allowed him to deftly evade each attack, even with the handicap of possessing only one eye. With sheer determination and unwavering focus, Aemond ultimately emerged victorious, defeating each assassin individually. His steadfast determination and unwavering resolve were a testament to his unyielding spirit and indomitable will.
Following Aemond's departure from the castle, a group of Starpike guardsmen immediately pursued Blood and Cheese to capture them for their role in the tragic death of young Jaehaerys. Despite their relentless search over two days, it was ultimately discovered that the culprits had already fled the area. Fueled by a desire for justice and revenge, the Blacks took matters into their own hands by sending skilled assassins to eliminate the Caltrops' leadership. The situation was tense and dangerous, but the Blacks were determined to bring those responsible for Prince Daeron's death, no matter what it took.
After more searching, the Caltrops seized Blood along the kingsroad heading north with the head of Prince Jaehaerys hidden in one of his saddle sacks. Under torture, he confessed to taking it to Harrenhal to collect his reward from Prince Daemon. He also gave up a description of the whore he claimed had hired them: an older woman, foreign by her talk, cloaked and hooded, ashen. The other harlots called her Misery. After thirteen days of torment, Blood was at last allowed to die. Dowager Queen Beatrice had commanded Larys Clubfoot to learn his actual name so that she might bathe in the blood of his wife and children, yet to no avail.
Following Daeron's death, Daemon ordered Blood and Cheese to pursue Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. At the same time, Aeonar deployed the Lykirī Mēre to go after Aemond, all to seek vengeance. However, despite these efforts, the Young Dragon's thirst for revenge remained unquenched, and the tension between the two sides grew increasingly precarious. Both sides remained on edge, ready to strike at any given moment. Although both groups had their own objectives, they were independent of each other, which led to an inconclusive outcome overall. Daemon's men sought an equal trade, one son's life for another.
On the other hand, Aeonar's agents aimed to eliminate the individual responsible for Daeron's murder. Unfortunately, their opposing goals resulted in a conflict, ultimately allowing the Caltrops to spread false information. The stakes were high, and the outcome of this conflict was uncertain.
Although Blood and Cheese spared her life, it cannot be denied that Helaena suffered greatly from the events of that fateful dusk. In the aftermath, she became a shadow of her former self, refusing to eat, bathe, or leave her chambers. The sight of her daughter Jaehaera was too much for her to bear, knowing that she had unknowingly named her as a target for assassination. As a result, Aegon the Elder had no choice but to take the young girl away from Helaena and entrust her care to their mother, the Dowager Queen Beatrice. From that moment on, Aegon and his sister-wife slept in separate chambers as Helaena sank deeper into depression. At the same time, Aegon became increasingly volatile, turning to alcohol to numb his pain.
'An eye for an eye, a life for a life. You took something from me that I can never get back. So, you shall pay your debts in blood.'
The letter was loud and clear.
Aemond realized this. Aeonar had no intention of sparing them. He means to kill every single one of them. The prince, with only one eye, crumpled the letter tightly, his expression tense. "If it's blood you desire, blood you'll receive," Aemond spoke through gritted teeth.
Red Keep ― Throne room…
With a sense of apprehension, Farrier and his chief agent, Margan, made their way toward the Iron Throne to deliver the news of the failed assassination attempt. The throne room was dimly lit, the only light source emanating from the braziers' flickering flames that illuminated a path toward the king. Aeonar sat upon the throne, his steel gauntlets rhythmically tapping the pommels. His eyes, a deep shade of lilac, seemed to be aglow with the intensity of the fire. At the same time, the blood-redness that completely covered his sclera gave him an almost otherworldly appearance, as if he were some demonic being.
"Farrier, you better have good news for me," Aeonar said darkly.
"Your Grace," Margan interceded instead, "the… the mission… was a complete failure. I-I'm sorry."
With measured steps, Aeonar stood up from his seat on the imposing Iron Throne, his eyes fixed on the two individuals before him as he descended the stairs with a calculated slowness. He moved with the grace and power of a predator stalking its prey, clearly indicating his displeasure and anger. Margan had volunteered to deliver the unfortunate news instead of the Master of Whisperers. Still, even Farrier, who knew Aeonar well throughout his career, could sense the depth of his disappointment at the botched plan and cautiously took a step back.
"The men you sent… they've all been killed. Our spies learned that… Prince Daemon sent his own men. We believe they… they were the reasons our men were caugh― Ack!"
Without saying so much as a word, Aeonar seized Margan by the throat and gradually lifted him off the ground, the bladed tips of his fingers piercing into his flesh, blood spilling from the puncture wounds. As Margan continued to choke, Aeonar squeezed tighter and tighter until his windpipe was crushed. Before flinging him to the ground, blood splashed over his hand and the floor. Farrier gulped as he stared down at Margan's body. The throat was torn open rather than crushed. It was similar to how the last Grand Maester, Mellos, was killed.
Aeonar stared at his chief agent, his prolonged eye contact more piercing and intimidating. The Young Dragon would not tolerate failure or anyone interfering in his plans. "An unfortunate setback," he dismissed. "No matter. They exist to serve their Grand Master—and that they did. No one is to circumvent my authority again."
"Y-Yes, Your Grace," Farrier replied.
I'm Aeonar Targaryen, a descendant of Old Valyria. My ancestors forged this kingdom with fire and blood and spared the lives of those who bent the knee to House Targaryen. They forget who they owe their allegiance to. Call it what you will, but justice requires order. "Mmm, hm-hm-hm-hm-hm…" With the power of our dragons, I will remind them what happens to those who defy the House of the Dragon! I'm going to destroy these damned malcontents! This is who I am! "HAHAHAHAHAHA…!"
Chapter End
Author's Note: Two of the most infamous people in the Dance of the Dragons have made their brief debut, yet their actions will be enough for the civil war to escalate in earnest. However, two groups of assassins had their own objectives, yet one's led to the assassination attempt being botched up. One person was their target, and the other got in their way. With Stone Hedge and the Burning Mill already a victory for the Blacks, the Dance of the Dragons will kick off as the Caltrops look to retaliate. Let me know what you guys think and keep guessing on where the next fight will take place.
Guest #2: So when is the next Chapter I cannot wait!
―I can't give a specific timeline
Guest #1: Um I have this question, what took you so long to make the chapter? And will Rhaenyra and the others try to snap Aeonar out of his madness, it's overwhelming him. Because Rhaenyra, Alicent and Corlys know what it's like to lose a child you cared about.
―Dude, I have a full-time job and have to take care of my house. Besides, if keep doing it without giving myself a rest, I'll burn out.
SerGhost1: Will Alicent be the one who can pull Aeonar out of the madness? Will there be a happy ending for both?
―No spoilers
Moran: If Cheese is still alive and given his skill in infiltration any castles, would Aeonar still require his services despite his part in botching Aeonar's assassination attempt?
―No. Because Cheese was hired by Daemon that incidentally botched up his plans, Aeonar would have Cheese killed on sight.
XavierWright: Oh, flying hell. In this timeline, we're getting a Mad King much earlier than anticipated.
So what's Alicent's take on this? Has she noticed Aeonar's descent into madness?
―Since Alicent's been mourning Daeron, we haven't really seen much of her lately. But given how far Aeonar descended into darkness, she'll recollect him mentioning the Targaryen madness years ago and will be quite concerned. As if her family hasn't suffered enough, now her husband has gone insane; Alicent will try whatever she can for her family... even if it means saving them from themselves.
hampmack10: Would aeonsr ever hurt daemon?
―If he wasn't all the way in the Riverlands, he would
C.E.W:Blood and Cheese kill Jaehaerys, son of Aegon the Elder and Helaena in response for the death of Prince Daeron. So tragic, so unnecessary... anyone can see that. And to top it off, it messed up Aeonar's plans to assassinate Aemond. Now the Caltrops will have sympathy for their cause in the realm and make the fighting for difficult. Aemond is now more determined to fight Aeonar and the Blacks, and will ride out on Vhagar. Wonder what where he will go first, the Golden Tooth lift the siege, or straight into the Riverlands?
Aeonar is quite upset that Daemon ruined his opportunity, he wanted to elimenate Aemond. Had his men succeeded, Vhagar would be riderless, and if Vhagar was riderless, she'd abandon the Caltrops, and their cause would be great demoralized and the war could've been brought to a close end.
Aeonar Targaryen is getting worse, he now killed another Grand Maester which is not good which means the Caltrops can compare him to Maegor the Cruel. If he can do that close members in his court, wonder how long it will be before he starts hurting members of his own immediate family. The only one who can possibly get him back to his senses is Alicent and she hasn't been seen in quite some time. He's already starting to lose his family, he's shutting them out and started with Rhaenyra and Luke and for what, over a choice Daeron made.
Here's a plan on how the Blacks can weaken the Caltrops and make the Ironborn move against them. A surprise attack on the Lannister fleet at Lannisport. It would need to be a night, where there is no moon light. dragon riders of the Blacks, can attack the Lannister fleet as it lay anchor. Aeonar with Vaelor, and Rhaenys with Meleys could do the strike, they are fast and maneuverable enough. Move fast with a nose dive, and too close range, just like Daenerys did with Drogon in the series against the Iron Fleet. Once the Lannister fleet is destroyed, the Ironborn will raid against them, and eventually force the Lannisters into surrender especially if Jason and the Lannister army get wiped out against the Blacks. Jason's widow surrenders, and Aeonar can deny any involvement in the Ironborn raid because there was never a formal alliance, and he can help Jason's widow move against the Ironborn.
Questions:
I guess Aeonar will confront Daemon about Blood and Cheese like Robb Stark did with Edmure Tully about the Stone Mill in the show? After all, what value is a child's death compared to the rider of Vhagar? Another chance for Otto Hightower to discredit him.
―Daemon will be busy waging war, but somewhere along those lines
Where are Hugh Hammer and Ulf White? They have not been seen or mentioned? The recent Black victories, and I thought they might be deployed by now.
―They're active, mostly in the Reach before departing
I take there will be mixed reactions about Blood and Cheese assassination among the Targaryen family in the Blacks?
―Yes
Will Nettles the Dragonseed appear?
―Yes
The siege of Golden Tooth still going on?
―With the Reynes and Tarbecks leading the front, aided by Viserys on Maelyx, the Caltrops'forces in the Westerlands bogged down. While the mountain paths are treacherous, Maelyx can do some scouting and recon from above and report back.
randomdude24: I think you did a great job with Blood and Cheese. Definitely, no dance without them. Now they dance.
Couple of questions, I know you're probably doing research into all the battles and events, I just wonder, will many of the same battles take place with your unique spin of them?
I know this is probably spoiler territory, but as it stands right, how many of house targaryen will survive in the end? I'm not looking for names, just a number.
―I'll delve into what I can about the battles and see if I can add some things about them as well; Stone Hedge and the Burning Mill occured off-screen, so we've already had five conflicts so far: the coup attempt, Shipbreaker Bay, Daemon's occupation of Harrenhal, and the battles at Stone Hedge and Burning Mill. As for how many Targaryens will be left after the Dance, can't reveal anything as they might be subjected to change.
roggerlopez99: Well it seems Aeonar was fallen to madness not only did the assassin fail to kill Aemond it seems failure is death
The death of Jaehaerys now spark the Dance of the Dragon, but not matter who wins, this is the beginning of the downfall of House Targaryen
Quick question next chapter will we see the Blacks reaction to the news Jaehaerys death
―The Blacks will have a lot of damage control when the Caltrops narrate what just happened at Starpike to their advantage, thereby garnering support and sympathy to help even the odds