The Crownlands ― Rook's Rest…
Amidst the ongoing battle against the invading Caltrops, Lord Staunton found himself increasingly troubled by the rapidly depleting supplies at Rook's Rest. The situation had become dire, as his provisions were being stretched thin. He urgently exclaimed in great urgency, "We must dispatch a raven to Dragonstone without delay! Hurry!"
"My lord," one of the archers urgently reported, "the enemy's archers are continuously targeting our ravens and taking them down with arrows! We can't possibly send a call for help at this rate!" The archer quickly prepared another arrow, nocking it onto his bowstring before releasing it towards the enemy. The rest of the archers on the battlement followed suit, unleashing a flurry of arrows toward the sellswords attempting to breach the walls. "Tuck tail!" the archer shouted, urging his fellow soldiers to find shelter quickly.
Lord Staunton and a handful of his men frantically searched for cover amid the turmoil caused by the relentless barrage of arrows from Ser Criston's men. The air was thick with a cloud of arrows so dense that it obscured the sky. The archers of the Caltrops had inflicted significant damage on Rook's Rest's defenders with their arrows, reducing the castle's manpower. The enemy's scorpions and trebuchets added to the chaos, relentlessly bombarding Rook's Rest or targeting Meleys in the sky. Unfortunately, Sunfyre and Vhagar's attack made the situation that much worse. House Staunton and its defenders were outnumbered and outgunned, and the situation appeared bleak. Frustration and fear were palpable as Lord Staunton desperately exclaimed, "Damn it! Where are the reinforcements when we need them?!"
"We need help!"
"By the Mother, this is it, isn't it…?"
While the battle raged on below, the clash in the skies grew more intense. Meleys faced a daunting challenge, battling against both Sunfyre and Vhagar simultaneously. Despite the odds against her, Meleys's speed and maneuverability enabled her to hold her own against her opponents. Nevertheless, the situation was far from secure. Rhaenys had to be cautious and alert as she had to fend off scorpion bolts from below but also evade the relentless pursuit of Aegon and Aemond. While her main objective was to stall for time, the Queen Who Never Was knew that she could not withstand the combined might of Sunfyre and Vhagar for much longer.
"Mazēdan arlī kesīr, nākostōba! (Get back here, coward!)" Aegon firmly held onto the reins of his saddle as he taunted Rhaenys. With Sunfyre leading the charge, the majestic golden dragon swiftly outpaced Vhagar and relentlessly pursued Meleys. Aegon's unwavering determination to seize glory for himself was evident, as he knew that taking down the Queen Who Never Was would be a devastating blow to the Blacks and result in the loss of Velaryon support. For Aegon, this was not just about victory but also about establishing his legacy as a dragonrider, following in the footsteps of the Conqueror himself. "Kostagōn dakotan nyke daor! (You can't run from me!)"
"*Raaaaaah!*" the Red Queen screeched.
"Pālēs! (Turn!)" Rhaenys commanded. If this is the end for me, I'm taking these boys with me.
Meleys deftly swerved left again, narrowly escaping three more scorpion bolts launched from below. The Caltrops were no match for Meleys as long as she remained airborne and out of their range. Their attempts to hit the moving target were proving to be futile. With both wings tucked to her side, Meleys executed a perfect barrel roll to avoid another scorpion bolt. She then made a wide turn to come back around for a full-frontal assault against Sunfyre and Vhagar.
Aemond, however, felt his intuition triggered by Rhaenys' sudden aggressive change in tactics. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. Whatever you're up to, princess, I'm not falling for it. Pulling back on the reins of Vhagar, the Queen of All Dragons ascended higher into the sky, keeping a watchful eye on the Red Queen's moves. Despite Rhaenys' apparent bait, Aemond refused to fall prey to any potential danger.
Aegon, meanwhile, gladly charged in. "Idakōs, Vēsperzys! (Attack, Sunfyre!)" he shouted.
As Sunfyre and Meleys approached each other, their foot claws extended, ready for battle. They met in the air with a resounding clash, sending shockwaves rippling through the sky. The Red Queen's sheer velocity pushed Sunfyre back, but the young dragon was undeterred. With fierce determination in his eyes, he engaged in a vicious fight for supremacy with his older opponent. The clash of their claws and the heat of their flames filled the air as they battled for dominance. Despite Sunfyre's youth, he proved to be a formidable opponent, while Meleys, despite her age, was still a force to be reckoned with when provoked. The two dragons were evenly matched, and their battle raged on, each determined to emerge victorious.
The archers of Rook's Rest bravely fired their arrows at the approaching Caltrop forces, hitting their targets with precision and speed. Just above them, Meleys and Sunfyre clashed in an intense battle, their deafening roars filling the sky. They descended towards the ground, their movements aggressive, and their enormous claws tearing at each other, causing deep wounds that would leave scars.
"Get off!" Aegon shouted angrily.
Despite the situation, Rhaenys chose to keep her thoughts to herself and continued to take the lead.
Both dragons continued engaging in a fierce battle, their bodies becoming entangled as they locked their talons with each other in a struggle for dominance. Plumes of plumes of golden flames were unleashed from Sunfyre's mouth. He fiercely snapped and bit at Meleys, who responded with a growl of anger and clamped her crimson jaws around Sunfyre's neck, causing him to screech in pain. Sunfyre dug his claws into Meleys's side, desperately attempting to escape her grasp. However, despite the injuries inflicted upon her, the Red Queen refused to let go of her opponent.
With his heart racing and sweat pouring down his face, Aegon held tightly onto the reins of his mount as Sunfyre battled fiercely against Meleys. Aegon strained to steer his dragon out of harm's way, but Meleys had clamped her jaws tightly onto Sunfyre's neck, making it almost impossible for him to break free. The danger was palpable, and Aegon knew that if they didn't escape Meleys's grip soon, all four combatants would almost certainly meet their demise. This bitch is trying to kill us both! "Get off! Let go!" he continued shouting.
In a tense moment, Meleys applied intense pressure on Sunfyre, her eyes fixed on the young golden dragon. The Red Queen knew that if she could take out Sunfyre, she could redirect her attention to attacking Vhagar. However, Meleys's intense concentration on Sunfyre proved to be a mistake as it blinded her to the approach of Vhagar, who swooped down on them from above. The inevitable impact carried nearly the force of a colossal tidal wave. Vhagar clamped down on Meleys's hip and right leg with a violent snap of her jaws, causing the Red Queen to roar in agony. The sound of the sickening crunch echoed in the air as Meleys was forced to release Sunfyre, who quickly flew to safety. The collision was so great that Rhaenys grunted and tightly shut her eyes.
Aemond, now forced to intervene, directed Vhagar to plummet Meleys to the ground. I have you now. "Dracarys, Vhagar!" he commanded.
A brilliant, luminous orange radiance emanated from Vhagar's ferocious jaws as they remained locked onto Meleys's flank. Rhaenys, fully aware that a blast of fire at point-blank range would inevitably lead to her and her dragon's demise, braced herself for the worst. However, as she was mentally prepared for the end, a faint roar echoed across the sea, catching her attention. Aemond, too, heard the sound and quickly surveyed his surroundings, checking his blind spots for the source of the commotion. Suddenly, Silverwing appeared, swooping in with unparalleled skill and precision to intercept Vhagar. The elder dragon clamped down on the nape of Vhagar's neck before driving her foot claws into the ancient dragon's chest for stability. Silverwing might be merely half Vhagar's size at 193 feet compared to her 330, but she was younger by at least a century and slightly faster, proving a formidable opponent.
"*GRUUUUUUUU!*" Vhagar roared, releasing her hold on Meleys.
Meleys, still reeling in excruciating pain, felt blood trickling down her mangled leg. However, once she knew she was freed, she reached the ground with incredible speed and force and tried transitioning from flying to running. However, the velocity and balancing of her weight on one leg alone proved too great, and the Red Queen ended up falling forward and sliding on her belly in an attempt to stop, ceasing only when nearing the edge of a cliff. Rhaenys was nearly dislodged from her dragon, her harness tightly holding her in place. Yet the force of Vhagar's impact and the sudden descent jerked her forward, groaning in discomfort. The Queen Who Never Was felt her ribs, hip, and femur cracked. Rhaenys looked up at the new battle in the sky with one eye open.
You… You've finally come, young one.
"Lord Staunton! Look!" one of the archers pointed up at the sky.
Lord Staunton heeded his men's calls and looked. "It-It's Silverwing," he stammered.
"Princess Aemma's here!"
"She's here! The princess is here!"
In a fit of fury, Vhagar vigorously swung her head back and forth in an attempt to dislodge Silverwing, who had clung onto her. After exerting enough strength, the Queen of All Dragons successfully threw off Silverwing. However, the dragon, though spiraling briefly, quickly regained her balance and began to fly around Vhagar in circles. Vhagar mirrored Silverwing's actions, both dragons extensively assessing each other.
Aemond was clearly frustrated, emitting a low growl as he focused his eye on Aemma. Despite her lack of experience and battle-hardened expertise compared to her uncle, Aemma's intense purple gaze remained fixed on him. Though she appeared to be nothing more than a princess and a young, inexperienced girl from his perspective, Aemond sensed a powerful fire burning within her. As a Targaryen dragonrider, Aemma had over ten years of experience, more than Aemond's three years. He knew better than to underestimate her, as he realized that if she found a weakness in his dragon, she would undoubtedly exploit it. Not taking her seriously was not an option, as he could quickly find himself outmatched. "Aemma," he acknowledged.
"You'll burn for what you've done, kinslayer," Aemma's eyes narrowed with an intense glare; her lips pursed tightly as she refused to acknowledge her uncle by his name or the familial ties that bound them. The memory of Aemond's actions above Shipbreaker Bay still burned fiercely in her mind, and she was resolute to see him answer for his crimes.
"You're burning the wrong bridges, niece."
"I want none with Daeron's killer!"
Aemond's heart was filled with an intense flame that seemed to consume him from within. The mere mention of his late nephew Prince Daeron's name brought back a flood of memories of what had transpired at Storm's End. The constant barrage of disapproving looks and whispered insults he faced wherever he went only added fuel to the fire burning inside him. It was as if something had finally snapped, and he could feel the anger boiling over. "It was AN ACCIDENT!" he shouted.
"*Gruuuuuuuuu!*" Vhagar roared.
"*Raaaaaaaaa!*" Silverwing answered back.
Without warning, the two colossal dragons charged toward each other with their razor-sharp talons exposed and their mouths spewing out intense flames in a fierce display of power and aggression.
As Criston stood firmly on the ground with his men, his gaze was fixed upon the enthralling sight of Vhagar and Silverwing engaged in fierce combat. Knowing that the initial wave of additional forces was already present, he was confident that more would follow soon. "Engineers," he firmly commanded his comrades, "man the scorpions! Concentrate your aim on Silverwing! The rest of you, take out Meleys before she gets back up!"
The Caltrops' engineers hurried to the scorpions, each placing a new bolt on the mechanism before turning the wheels back to draw. While they prepared, archers drew back on their bowstrings while a horde of sellswords and soldiers rushed toward Meleys and Rhaenys with their swords drawn. Those farther off could not see other than the flame and smoke. It would be hours before the fires guttered out. Rhaenys groaned, her hand still clutched to her sides, and watched as the enemy ran toward her. Meleys weakly raised her head, hissing at the humans. No matter how hard she tried, the pain in her right leg caused her to fall back to the ground. And considering she was dangerously close to the cliffs, the Red Queen would fall.
Rhaenys and her dragon prepared for the incoming attack but were caught off guard by a burst of intense heat. The charging vanguard was suddenly engulfed by a blazing inferno, sending streams of flame towards them. Despite the danger, Rhaenys shielded herself from the fiery onslaught by closing her eyes and raising her arm. The intense heat made her feel like she was on the brink of being consumed by the conflagration. Who…?
"We're here, Princess Rhaenys! We'll give the Caltrops something else to shoot at!"
Rhaenys's gaze drifted across the vast sky until she recognized a familiar voice. She saw Viserys and his dragon, Maelyx, soaring with remarkable speed and agility. Maelyx's unique dark shade of purple shone brilliantly in the sunlight, and its cyan scales shimmered with an almost otherworldly quality. As they navigated past Rook's Rest and towards the distant rolling hills, Rhaenys couldn't help but admire their impressive nimbleness and graceful movements. However, she realized that Viserys was flying straight toward the engineers, putting himself at risk of getting hit by scorpion bolts.
"Dragon!" the Caltrops called out a warning.
"Dracarys!" Viserys commanded.
With a contemplative tilt of his head, Maelyx unleashed a ferocious eruption of flames that completely obliterated the Caltrop forces stationed before Criston. His incredible speed allowed him to soar past them with ease, ascending into the vast expanse of the sky.
Criston grunted in discomfort, using his hand to protect his eyes from the searing heat emanating from the flames. After the fiery inferno subsided, he noticed that six more scorpions had been obliterated, reducing the number of anti-dragon armaments to thirteen, including the ones Princess Rhaenys Targaryen herself destroyed earlier. The Caltrops now had only seven scorpions remaining in their arsenal. However, he couldn't see Viserys and Maelyx anywhere, even though he could still hear them. Suddenly, his attention was caught by a glimmer of light in the distance. He instinctively shielded his eyes to get a better look. Then, to his surprise, he saw Maelyx emerging from the blinding sun, hurtling through the sky with incredible speed towards them. He's coming for another pass! "Turn it around! Turn it around!" he barked orders at his men.
"Dracarys!"
Aegon the Elder turned his head to witness the devastating display of Maelyx's dragonfire decimating his men on the ground below. His attention then switched to Vhagar and Silverwing engaged in a fierce aerial battle. Behind him, Maelyx was strategically thinning the Caltrops while skillfully dodging the scorpion bolts aimed his way. Viserys expertly maneuvered his dragon with every bolt fired to evade the incoming attack.
As Aegon the Elder contemplated directing Sunfyre to engage Maelyx, he suddenly felt the jolt of impact as another dragon rammed them from the side. Grasping onto his dragon's reins tightly, Aegon looked up to meet the gaze of a dragon with gleaming golden and bronze scales complemented by pale cream wing membranes and was the same size as Sunfyre. It was Corxes, ridden by Viserys's twin brother, Aegon the Younger. It was clear that reinforcements had arrived just in the nick of time.
"*Reeeeee!*"
"Come here, you son of a bitch!" Aegon the Younger's voice echoed through the air, his anger palpable. It was clear that the memory of Aegon the Elder's attempted sexual assault towards his sister-wife Aemma still burned within him. This time, he was not going to let him get away.
In stark contrast to Sunfyre, who had endured significant injuries during the fierce battle with Meleys, Corxes was in pristine physical condition and entirely ready for the impending confrontation. With unwavering determination, Corxes launched himself at the golden dragon, unleashing a ferocious assault that could only be described as supernatural. Every bite and swipe inflicted further harm upon Sunfyre as Corxes relentlessly dug his sharp foot claws into the dragon's side. In a moment of pure predatory aggression, Aegon the Younger's dragon viciously tore into Sunfyre's left wing with his razor-sharp teeth, relentlessly raking it until he felt the golden dragon's membrane beginning to tear, causing Sunfyre to let out a loud, painful shrill. If Corxes continued to deliver such a potent onslaught, there was no telling whether he would end up ripping off one of Sunfyre's wings.
"Vēsperzys! (Sunfyre!)" Aegon the Elder shouted in fear.
"Dracarys!" Aegon the Younger commanded.
Corxes, still firmly attached to Sunfyre's wing, unleashed a powerful burst of dragonfire, engulfing the golden dragon's wing in flames and melting the delicate membrane at point-blank range. The intensity of the attack was evident from the scorch marks left behind, and it was clear that the ferocity of the battle was only just beginning.
"*REEEEEEEEE!*" Sunfyre screeched.
"VĒSPERZYS! (SUNFYRE!)"
"*Raaaaaaa!*" Corxes roared. Recognizing on instinct that Sunfyre's injured wing would soon be incapable of supporting his body weight mid-flight for much longer, he once more launched himself at his opponent with both talons extended, awkwardly plummeting towards the ground together.
Amidst the raging chaos of battle, Vhagar and Silverwing were still locked in an intense and brutal aerial skirmish. Aemma, tenaciously clinging to the reins of her saddle, was fighting fiercely on Silverwing's back against Aemond and his dragon. Each dragon relentlessly attacked the other, inflicting severe damage with each strike. Despite Aemma's valiant efforts, Vhagar's massive size and immense strength made it almost impossible for Silverwing to gain any significant advantage alone. With ferocity and aggression, the two dragons clashed, their powerful jaws and razor-sharp claws ripping into each other's flesh, leaving deep and visible marks all over their bodies. Their deafening roars reverberated throughout the sky, a testament to the sheer brutality of their battle. Eventually, both dragons separated and were back at square one. As Aemma and Aemond locked gazes, the tension between them was palpable, neither side willing to back down from the fight.
"Dracarys!" both riders commanded.
In near-perfect unison, Vhagar and Silverwing unleashed a torrent of draconic conflagration at each other. However, both flames collided and locked a struggle. Aemond gritted his teeth as the prolonged dragonfire-lock had been progressing to this point. Vhagar was the largest and most powerful dragon in the Caltrops' arsenal; Silverwing was one of the largest, but not the biggest – she was smaller and weaker but younger. He theorized that Vhagar's advanced age of one hundred ninety-three years would take longer to utilize the Queen of All Dragons's full power. Time-consuming, yes, but her dragonfire is the strongest of the two. Deciding playtime was over, Aemond went for the throat.
"Dracarys! lēda kostion, Vagar! (Full power, Vhagar!)"
During the intense dragonfire-lock, Vhagar exhibited a fierce and aggressive demeanor. She forcefully reared her head back and, with a sudden jerk forward, unleashed a ferocious stream of flames at maximum strength. This overpowering display caused Silverwing to falter, and the fireblast hit her chest. The impact was so powerful it nearly sent her plummeting out of the sky.
"*RAAAAAAAA!*" Silverwing roared in pain.
"Gēltīkun! (Silverwing!)" Aemma shouted. As they rapidly descended towards the Narrow Sea, the Targaryen princess clutched onto her saddle fiercely, her knuckles turning white as she struggled to regain control. No! I won't let you die, Silverwing! I will not let you die! The sound of a rushing wind filled her ears, drowning out any other noise as she focused all her energy on steadying herself and her mount. "Ngh! Māzigon, Gēltīkun! Gomila bisi kostas, uēpa riña! Pāsan isse! (Come on, Silverwing! You can do this, old girl! I believe in you!)"
With her strength significantly depleted, Silverwing stretched out her wings to decelerate her descent. Flapping her wings with all her might, she grasped the air under her thin membranes and ascended once more. As she rose from the edge, Aemma was again face-to-face with Aemond.
"Mm." She's more resourceful than I thought. No matter. That blast made her dragon weak. One more attack like that, and they're done for. And you know it… don't you, Aemma? "Zirȳla idakōs, Vagar. (Attack her, Vhagar.)"
Aemma steeled herself, readying for the attack once more. She was more worried about Silverwing than herself. As she and Vhagar were again getting close to resuming the fight, the Targaryen princess felt a strange sensation within her psyche. She sensed something. Not only her, but Silverwing sensed the presence of another dragon.
Whatever the case…
…something…
…was coming.
Chapter End
Author's Note: The second part of the battle at Rook's Rest is here, with Aegon the Younger, Viserys, and Aemma arriving to assist Rhaenys and Meleys against Aegon the Elder and Aemond. Although the Red Queen puts up a fight, she basically can't handle two dragons at once. But when three come to the rescue? Slam on the brakes. Circumstances may be avoided for now, but it looks like there will be a third part to the battle. What was your thoughts on the dragon fight? Who had the advantage over the other? What was the extense of the damage caused by either the Blacks or Caltrops? And what do you expect in part three? Stay tuned for more.
C.E.W: The Battle of Rook's Rest continues, loses worse on the Caltrops than the Blacks. Aegon the Elder and Sunfyre are down, 13 scorpions destroyed leaving only seven, and 600 hundred men dead. Although the Blacks have taken a hit, specifically Rhaenys and Meleys, Rhaenys has a broken rib and Meleys is seriously injured. Wonder if it will bring up the memory of Rhaenys' grandmother Alysanne being unable to ride again on Silverwing in 93 AC.
Corlys Velaryon will be extremely grateful to Aeonar's children for saving his beloved wife no doubt. Baela will surely be joyed to hear it.
Jaehaerys and Vermithor are about to show no doubt, Vermithor will fare well against Vhagar I'm sure. While not as large as Vhagar, Vermithor is enough to match her, alongside Silverwing, Corxes and Maelyx if they decide to join which is a possibility especially Maelyx who remains uninjured in the fighting thus far.
Questions:
Is Rhaenys' rib break injury permanent?
―Unknown at this time, but Rhaenys is in a lot of pain
Are Meleys' injuries fatal?
―I'm not a doctor or medical professional, but I can't spoil anything on Meleys' condition yet
How many troops have the Blacks lost in the battle so far?
―800
I guess Aeonar might confront his children, given that they could've been killed? Aemma, Aegon the Younger and Viserys left without his knowledge or consent.
―Yes, he would
xJehova: thanks for the chapter. you write dragon combat well, I felt like I understood where all the characters were located throughout the battlefield. I look forward to seeing this mysterious new dragon!
randomdude24: I've been looking forward to Part 2, as someone who knows a lot about the dance, Rooks Rest has me very on edge. You're doing a great job bringing the battle to life. Could go either way. A black victory would probably make Aegon and Aemond desperate for payback if both survive. Whereas a Caltrop victory would only embolden them even more, assuming they can kill one or more dragons and their riders.
So, looking at both sides, how many men do the Caltrops still have? How baldy injured are all the dragons?
―The Caltrops lost about 600 men and 13 scorpions total, most of them to dragonfire by Meleys and Maelyx respectively. As for the dragons, Meleys and Sunfyre got the worst of it, and Silverwing is not too far behind. Corxes has some, but hardly enough to be considered real damage and Maelyx remain untouched. Vhagar has some wounds, but not enough to be taken out of the fight; she's tougher than she looks.
10868letsgo: Love the battle. It was a tense feeling I got from this scene.
LordDarkness89: thanks for the chapter bro. love the dragons fight
―I try