The course of action was simple for the Targaryen army. The part of Aegon's host would cross the Blackwater Rush and make South for Storm's End under the command of Orys Baratheon and Queen Rhaenys, aided by the Princess of Dorne as an ally and not a subject. Aenar had been the one to convince his brother and council of this, explaining that they were a smaller army and anyone willing to help them against a grander enemy was welcome. Plus this would give the Dornish an insight into how the Targaryens were, which could go a long way to establish something with the Martells who refused to bow or be broken.
Aenar of course did not reveal the true reason behind him supporting an alliance with the Dornish, temporary as it may be.
The Targaryen Feet under Daemon Velaryon went North for Gulltown and the Vale, with Queen Visenya accompanying them. The King himself would head Northwest to the Gods Eye and Harrenhal.
The King's brother, Prince Aenar, would fly North to Winterfell alone. A mission that none of the Targaryen siblings were okay with at first. For the past few years, they'd thought their brother dead, mourned him every day and watched their mother die mourning him as well. To have him back and going out to danger again, they couldn't have it. But Aenar had convinced them, ensured them that he would be fine. He braved the horrors of Valyria for fuck's sake! He'd make it out of Winterfell. They all relented in the end, Rhaenys being the last to do so.
A modest host of three thousand set from Dragonstone to the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, which in the days of a hundred kings had many claimants. This time the claimant was none other than Aegon Targaryen, who designated the place as the capital of his kingdom to be.
Aenar stared at the banner that flew proudly over the tallest hill on the Rush. The great silken battle standard fluttered in the wind, a great black dragon with three heads on red, one head black as the body with crimson eyes, one bronze with bright green eyes and the last silver with golden eyes. It was Aenar's idea to have a different colour for each head to match the three dragons Balerion, Vhagar and Meraxes, signifying Aegon the King and his two wives Visenya and Rhaenys. Aego had readily agreed to it.
"I still think there should have been a fourth head" Aenar looked away from the banner to see Orys beside him. Orys was a large man, rippling with muscles under the silver armour he wore, and had a shaggy black beard, shoulder-length black hair and black eyes.
"This war is very much Aegon and his wives'. I am just someone who is helping" Aenar clarified.
"You are their brother."
"My representation missing on the banner would not change that."
"I suppose not" Orys paused, "Argillac would have been happier had your hands been offered instead of mine."
"None of you knew I was still alive."
"After he had sent the hands of our envoy back. We could have avoided a war against the man, much like how we are avoiding it against the Dornish."
"By then he had insulted you, and none of us would have our brother be insulted" Aenar pointed out with a small smile. He reached up next and patted Orys on the arm. "You are our brother Orys, even if we do not share a mother."
Orys smiled back.
"I'm happy you are back, Aenar."
"I am happy to be back."
The gathered men all cheered, Aenar and Orys included when Visenya crowned Aegon with a Valyrian Steel circlet studded with rubies and hailed Aegon as the First of His Name, King of All Westeros, and Shield of His People when Rhaenys did so.
Aenar stepped forward after to meet his siblings, all of whom were smiling. It only grew at the sight of their brother.
"And so it begins" Aenar smiled back at his siblings.
Aenar would accompany Aegon's forces to Harrenhal before moving past it to Winterfell. Aegon took care to guard their head while Aenar took care to guard the tail. And it was because of this that Aenar had spotted the threat to the rear and promptly burned them with Cannibal's flames.
As Aegon's armies marched through the Riverlands, their numbers swelled. Lords that were unhappy with Harren Hoare declared for the Targaryens and added their numbers to Aegon's. And when Aegon's armies had met with Edmyn Tully's army, the Lord of Riverrun who led the army that turned on Harren Hoare, the numbers stood to a strong eight thousand.
"Harrenhal is impenitrable. The massive black walls are too tall for any ladder and too thick to be broken by a ram or a trebuchet. The castle has five gargantuan towers, an inexhaustible source of fresh water, and huge subterranean vaults well stocked with provisions. They are well stocked to withstand a siege" Edwyn explained to his new King.
"There are always other ways to win a battle, Lord Edmyn. Gather the other Ricerlords and bring your Maester" Aegon ordered and Edmyn was rushing out to do just that. "You will also join us, brother" Aegon added.
"Of course" Aenar nodded with a smile, before noticing the look in his brother's eyes. "What?"
"You knew about the attack to our rear, didn't you" There was a hint of an accusation in Aegon's voice. "Which was why you insisted on taking the rear instead of flying beside me up front. Were the warnings you gave Visenya and Rhaenys more than just you worrying about things then?"
Aenar stared at his brother for a moment before smiling.
"We are winning this war, brother. And I intend for us to win it without any losses to our family."
Aegon noted Aenar's use of 'family' instead of 'side'. The King nodded and was out in the next moment, his brother on his heels. He met with the Riverlords who waited for him and the group made their way to the gates of Harrenhal with a peace banner in hand. They intended to parley. The Riverlords did not seem too pleased by the notion, but Aegon reminded them that anyone who willingly bends the knee to him would be given mercy in the same way the Riverlords had been.
Harren emerged to meet him, an old man and get, yet still fierce in his black armour. There was something dark in those eyes of the River King, something chaotic and dangerous. Pride, Aenar could only describe it as extreme pride.
"Yield now," Aegon began, "and you may yet live to see the next day. Yield now, and your sons will live to rule as Lords after you. I have eight thousand men outside your walls."
Aegon had initially wanted to give Harren the Iron Islands, but Aenar had pointed out how Harren had crowned himself the King of the Islands and the Rivers. Whoever Aegon chose to be the Lord of the Riverlands, should also have dominion over the Islands as well. There was a bit of back and forth on the matter but in the end, Aegon conceded on the matter.
"What is outside my walls is of no concern to me," said Harren. "These walls are strong and thick."
"But not so high as to keep out dragons. Dragons fly."
"I built in stone. Stone does not burn."
"When the sun sets, your line shall end."
And with that, both parties went their separate ways. Aenar stayed back a moment to get a better look at the castle's walls before he followed his brother.
One thing Aegon Targaryen was not, was an oath breaker. And he has made an oath in everything but speaking the correct words. That night Harren Hoare slept with his family a living man, overly confident of being protected by the defences he built for himself. Men on the parapets stared into the darkness to catch a glimpse of Aegon and his dragons. When no dragon appeared, they thought Aegon's threats to be hollow.
None of them saw the speck against the moon until it was too late.
Balerion plunged towards the castle from high in the air, and when the great towers of Harrenhall had become visible he roared with fury and bathed it in black flames.
From the camps, the Riverlords watched in horrified awe as Harrenhall melted from the onslaught of Balerion. Even Aenar and Cannibal had been awe-struck, not terrified but awe-struck at the sight. Harrnehal's towers glowed red against the night, like five great candles, and like candles, they twisted and melted as runnels of molten stone ran down their sides.
And when the sun rose the following day, Aegon called his men and accepted fealty sworn by the Riverlords.
"I name my brother Aenar the Lord of Harrenhal" Aegon declared, to Aenar's surprise since this was not planned. The Riverlords all accepted it easily. The Prince was the King's brother after all.
"And I name Lord Edmyn Tully as the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands and The Iron Islands" Aegon added after.
There had been talks between the brothers that Aenar would be given the title, but Aenar had declined it. He needed to be close to his kin if he wished to keep them safe, and being Lord Paramount would take away a lot of his attention, especially since he had no heirs to take over responsibility. It was one thing to have Ser Quenton (master-at-arms at Dragonstone) be Aenar's steward for Harrenhal but to have him handle responsibilities of all of the Riverlands and The Iron Islands would be throwing him into the deep end.
After that was all done, Aenar and Aegon separated from the rest and headed for the dragons. Cannibal and Balerion were not on the best of terms, but the two dragons seemed to be behaving for now.
"You will send a raven to Lord Edmyn about your updates in the North" Aegon ordered.
"Yes brother" Aenar rolled his eyes. He then turned to the castle, still smoking and twisted. "I'll need to send a raven to Qohor and get in contact with my acquaintances there. It will take their best to restore this castle to its former glory."
"You have contacts in Qohor?"
"The smiths I hired for business were Qohoric" Aenar explained. "I'm sure they'll be able to fix this place" he paused a moment, "and perhaps help with establishing an actual castle at your capital."
Aegon hummed but said nothing more.
Aenar climbed his dragon, snorting at his brother's comment of how he still has a hard time seeing him ride a dragon without a saddle. Cannibal took to the skies and Aenar was already planning on how to approach the King of Winter, his shadowy friend whispering possibilities in his mind.