Chapter 3; singing for a dragon
Night had fallen in the camp of the royal army, when the victors barely celebrated their victory. Lord Frey entered the camp followed by a host of a thousand soldiers and two hundred mounts. His sons Stevron and Waldron were behind him. The cost of the battle had cost House Frey less than five hundred soldiers killed and wounded. But now several hundred soldiers under the command of his son Aenys were already celebrating with the rest of the crown's soldiers.
But Lord Walder could not afford such a luxury, for his son Enmon had been sent with five hundred soldiers back to the Twins, to prevent any attack by Bolton, as it was the only way by which he and his escaped army could return to the North. However, he had left four hundred soldiers in his fortress, so a force as harassed as those of the lord of Dreadfort could not cross the Crossing alone.
When they finally arrived at a slow pace at the prince's tent, Sir Barristan Selmy, without any wound, was waiting to receive them. Lord Walder got off his horse, very carefully, he had hardly been near one in his other life. Although he had paid for riding lessons for his daughter, and had even bought her a pony... Why wouldn't he spend more time with his children? He asked himself, but then he answered "oh yes of course, he had to support them", in any case he had to be helped down by a couple of soldiers, since that old body was quite weak.
"Sir Barristan," said Lord Frey politely, "I am pleased to see you unharmed, I was very concerned for you in your battle."
The royal knight was somewhat flattered by Lord Walder's strange upbringing.
"I thank you for your words," he replied. "Prince Rhaegar awaits you."
Lord Walder entered leaning on his staff followed by his two sons. The tent was spacious and luxurious, as befitted a prince. There was Rhaegar Targaryen in a makeshift bed being attended to by a maester. He had injuries all over his body and would no longer be able to use his left arm. However, the prince not only refused to drink poppy milk, but he was enduring the cures without showing any complaints.
Lord Darry and Sir Axell Florent were also in the tent, representing the Dominion forces, although these were hardly testimonials, but we all noticed the presence of the Freys.
Then Lord Walder and his sons bowed slightly to Prince Rhaegar.
"My prince," said Lord Walder, "I thank the gods that you are well."
Rhaegar smiled in contrast to Lord Darry who grimaced.
"Lord Frey, I am the one who should thank you," he said in a calm voice. "If you had not intervened with your hosts, I do not know what would have happened."
Lord Darry was not so pleased.
"Yes… in the end you fought for us," he said with a certain venom in his voice.
Waldron scowled angrily, his hand very close to his sword. He was not very good-tempered, but Lord Walder's look at him was enough to placate him, as he growled.
"My good lord," said Lord Frey softly, "do you know that I am the lord of the Crossing?" he asked in a lecture-like manner "The crossing, it is a bridge over which soldiers, merchants and farmers pass. It is the meeting point between the North and the Riverlands. Do you know what happened in Gulltown? When they remained loyal to the crown, they were savagely taken by Arryn troops, with the crown doing nothing to prevent it. Tell me, how could I have helped the iron throne surrounded by enemies? "Would you have come to our aid?" – He pointed out – "We intervened when we knew we could intervene… but I do not allow you to doubt the honor of my house, I have not brought devastation to our kingdom through an absurd rebellion" he said in reference to Lord Tully.
"Lord Frey, no one doubts your loyalty," said Prince Rhaegar conciliatoryly, "and you were decisive in the battle."
"Thank you my prince," said Lord Frey, "I have already had the head of Robert Baratheon sent to your father."
Rhaegar frowned, but ended up closing his eyes for a moment.
"Yes… that will satisfy you," he said with a hint of bitterness. Judging by the relationship between father and son, Aerys' reign was close to ending. It would be the best for everyone.
"In any case, without Baratheon the rebellion is practically over," Lord Frey spoke, "my hosts have massacred the forces of the Vale and part of the Stormlanders. Most of the houses in the Riverlands have already abandoned Hoster Tully. And those who don't are our prisoners, including Blackwood. "Lord Arryn is on the run trying to reach the Vale, Storm's End besieged, and the vast majority of the lords of the North are our prisoners, starting with Eddard Stark."
It was true. Of the thirty-five thousand soldiers in the rebel army, around twenty thousand were dead, wounded or prisoners. In fact, the Frey offensive had truly massacred the Valley, causing nearly eight thousand casualties throughout the rebel army.
"And what do you suggest my lord?" Sir Axell asked, seeking the point of importance from him.
"My prince, I propose that Sir Axell and the Dominion forces hunt down Lord Arryn, Lord Darry can help you. He urges to capture him before he reaches the Eyrie. If you see fit, I could head towards Riverrun and lay siege to the fortress, the Tully dominion is broken, my troops could take the fortress…with the help of the crown lands."
"It seems appropriate," Rhaegar conceded. "Sir Axell, Lord Darry, I entrust you with the capture of Lord Arryn. When can you leave?"
"Immediately," said Sir Axell, eager to curry favor with Rhaegar.
On the other hand, Lord Darry, who could read Lord Frey's intentions, limited himself to saying "as you order," he said dryly. Not that he had any intention of being the next guardian of the Riverlands, but he was displeased at the idea of someone like Walder Frey becoming his liege lord, but he left the tent without a complaint, perhaps getting some mercy for it. capture the lord of the Valley.
"My prince," said Lord Walder, "I would like to speak privately with you…it is about a very delicate matter."
Rhaegar asked the maester and Sir Barristan to withdraw for a moment, as did Lord Walder's sons.
Then he sat in a chair near the bed, for the armor was killing him, and he sighed for a moment from exhaustion. If Rhaegar Targaryen had a weak point, it was the prophecy.
"What do you want to talk to me about, my good sir?" the prince asked in a soft voice.
"Of a prophecy"
Upon hearing those words, the prince focused all his interest on the old lord of the crossing. Now he had to be very careful.
"What prophecy are you talking to me about?" he asked guardedly. And it was logical that it was very sensitive information.
"It is a secret that has been passed down from generation to generation," Lord Frey began. "People believe that Aegon conquered the seven kingdoms, he did it out of ambition. But they are wrong, at least in part, the real reason why he undertook the conquest was none other than the dream he had of a threat coming from beyond the wall, one that would end up devastating all of humanity, unless the seven kingdoms "were united"
That truly surprised the prince. Well, he did not know that prophecy as such, and as obsessed as his grandfather was with that of that maegi, the fact that there was a previous prophecy, linked to his house and the conqueror, intrigued him.
"How do you say?" the prince asked.
"You see, when King Aenys died and Maegor usurped the throne, Aegon the uncrowned gathered a host to challenge his uncle, among them one of the closest to the prince, he was my ancestor, who trusted him with the secret, because he feared that If his uncle killed him, as ended up happening, there would be no one left to tell his daughters. My family remained faithful to his oath and guarded the secret for more than two centuries. Know that I was a friend of your grandfather Jaehaerys a long time ago," he said somewhat calmly. "Your grandfather was fully aware of the prophecy, and of the danger that threatens the world, which is why both he and his father King Aegon desperately tried to bring back the dragons, leading to the tragedy of Summerhall. But that did not stop our eagerness, unfortunately your grandfather passed away and let's say that your father... your grandfather did not trust in his grace, and asked me to communicate the prophecy to you at the right time... he had planned to contact you in Harrenhall, but the presence of "Your father dissuaded me from that."
Rhaegar was shocked, but despite his surprise, Prince Rhaegar believed every word Lord Walder said. He was no wonder, his father was crazy, and he was a cruel, capricious man who liked to torment his poor mother. Rhaegar himself scolded himself for not having put up with him for so long.
"Soon I will have Visenya," he said forcefully, "the dragon will have his third head, and my son will be the prince who was promised."
"How do you say?" Lord Walder asked, feigning surprise.
"Lyanna will give me Visenya," he said with full obsession.
"No Visenya is necessary," said Lord Walder, making the prince paralyzed.
"How do you say?" he asked trying to process the information.
"When Lord Aenar left Valyria, he did so with five dragons, of which, after a century, only one, Balerion the Black Terror, was still alive. But two other dragons Vhagar and Meraxes had been born. The dragon lords had no mottos or heraldry. The three-headed dragon is just a symbol of the power he had at that time. The red and black is just an allusion to fire in the midst of darkness, as hope for all humanity in the face of catastrophe. The maegi's prophecy said that the prince who was promised would emerge from the union of your father and mother, but the other heads refer to his family. That implies a mother, a brother, a son... the power of the dragon's fall united around his figure, but not two female figures. It is true that it is possible for the dragons to be reborn, but they will do so based on that person, not three.
Rhaegar sank into utter desolation. He couldn't believe it. How could he have made such a huge mistake? All his efforts to restore the glory of his family had been in vain. Worse still, he had let his crazy father provoke all that absurd war.
Lord Walder saw in this dejection a possibility of gaining a lot of influence over the prince.
"If you allow me, I have been researching how to bring back the dragons…and perhaps I have found…something…a method…so to speak"
That caught Rhaegar's attention, if there was anything to dazzle a Targaryen with it was the promise of a dragon.
"Do you know any method?" the prince asked hopefully.
"It is possible," Lord Walder spoke, "but it depends on many factors...and it will take a long time to do them." Daenerys needed to have been born to do it.
"What methods?" He asked anxiously. "What do you need?"
"For this, the dragon blood of a newborn is essential. I mean the union of your father and mother, so that it can be carried out. Don't worry, I assure you that the girl will not suffer any harm. "But I must warn you that it is a blood magic ritual from ancient Valyria, which your grandfather was working on for many years... and it is very dark."
"We will do it!" roared the prince, totally convinced. "The world needs the dragons back!"
Lord Walder smiled in the kindest way possible.
"I have received news that the queen is pregnant again, it is very likely that she will give birth to a girl...she will be the key, but we will have to wait until she is born to be able to perform the ritual, which would be convenient to perform." in Dragonstone…it's the right place"
"Yes…you are right," Rhaegar said.
"But for now we must extinguish the remains of the rebellion. I already have the machinery ready, we can raze Riverrun, but we must summon the lords of the region. I think it would be necessary to issue some pardons, you are not your father. The kingdom knows this, and we need to reestablish order in the region. "These lands have suffered a lot, they need a firm hand"
"Okay, proceed," Rhaegar said.
And so Lord Walder left at a weary pace, but becoming the new overlord of the Riverlands, but he still had to leave for the capital. He had to get rid of Aerys as soon as possible. And he had to deal with the subject of Lyana Stark... in a delicate and precise way. He thought while in the distance he saw his men transporting the lords of the North in chains towards the crossing.