Aegon Targaryen, second of his name and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, was in his chambers, toying with coins on a map.
It's been a half-moon since his grandsire assured him they would be ready to go to war, yet his Uncle has unified the Riverlands and even now, rebellions break out in the Reach.
He admits to having felt bored with this game of ravens and quills that he hadn't the need to go out with his companions, friends he wants to name to his Kingsguard with Harrold, Erryk, and the lackeys protecting his sister at Dragonstone having left without leave or consent.
Perhaps it is the glory he is missing out on when not riding Sunfyre into battle, or maybe he feels that his people won't respect him if he continues to hide behind his castle walls.
"You look miserable, brother." startling him, Aemond entered the chamber and took a seat by the table with him. "You missed council this morning."
"I didn't miss it; I simply refused to attend, only to be told once more how the city is being affected, how the blockade is disrupting trade, and how the fucking traitors are taking my lands from me." Aegon slammed his hand on the table in frustration. "And yet our grandfather and mother would make me weak by corraling me in the Red Keep."
If Aegon had the decisions his way, he would eradicate the blockade, leading his brother in a triumphant march from the city to recapture Harrenhal and vanquish his uncle and Caraxes in the process.
Aemond poured himself and him a glass of wine. "Seems to me that this blockade is an issue, but it is but the tail of the snake who commands it."
"What do you suggest, Aemond?" he asked, and his brother smirked. He sipped from his glass and set it down before taking a gold piece and placing it on Dragonstone.
"I say we take what grandfather initially suggested and send men, or a man to slay Rhaenyra and her sons." With their sister and nephews dead, then the major opposition to his reign will be settled. "After that, then we would fly out and burn Driftmark and the Velaryon and even the Redwyne ships that starve our people."
It was a mad plan; he didn't even know if it would work. "Who would you send, little brother?" Aegon asked, and Aemond spoke of how the idea had come from Criston Cole a night before.
So the brothers began plotting the downfall of the Blacks; the rest after will be easier for them.
After sending their man out to see if their plot was successful, he returned to his court with an upbeat attitude. His friend Martyn Reyne announced him as Aegon the Magnaminous, which just sounded absurd.
The throne room was filled with commonborn and noble alike.
His eyes looked to his grandsire, who stood to the right side of the Iron Throne. "Grandfather, let us begin," he said aloud and seated himself on his throne.
A part of him felt a little sympathy for his late father. The Iron Throne was indeed the seat for a King, but as for its purpose, it was incredibly uncomfortable and hard on his rump.
The first petitioner came forth, "Good morrow, Yer Grace."
"Good morrow... ?" The man called himself Jerard, "Jerard. Welcome, how may your King serve you."
The peasant drawled on about some sheep. He had a tax on herds and animals so his dragons could feed themselves for the war, and if he wasn't at war, then he would certainly return them, but as of right now, "I am sorry for the hardships you've suffered, good man, but if I am to defend the city against the rebels and their dragons then mine own will require sustenance."
The next one was a merchant who asked about acquiring salt for the upcoming winter, "The blockade, my King, had put a damper on such trade." Again about the damned blockade?
Aegon toyed with his ring for a moment before stopping the merchant from continuing, "The traitorous blockade will be dealt with soon. I will be sending Vhagar to burn it to ash. Let us have the next petitioner."
Otto eyed him the entire time, and Aegon is sure the old man is doubting his ability to rule and make decisions as he and Mother have been doing since they had him crowned.
The third one was a stocky man with pale blond hair and a big beard. He bowed to Aegon, and the King smiled at the obeisance, "Good morrow, my good man."
As the courtly tasks of the day drawled on, Aegon only thought of the victory feast upon the success of their man.
Baelon took a deep breath, Archonei groaned below him as she looked out to the sea.
A Redwyne ship was laid at anchor, a skiff bringing to the shore Ser Quenton and Jon Roxton who flew his house banner. The King dismounted from Archonei's back and started to descend to meet them.
"Your Grace," Quenton greeted and knelt with a somewhat reluctant Jon. "You surprised us with your unexpected sojourn to Dorne, treating with Princess Aliandra despite... " Quenton tried to say but stuttered to finish.
Jon Roxton however, was blunt, "We urged you to forgo this folly, Your Grace."
"Not a folly, Aliandra and I are to be wed and together, a Targaryen/Martell front will grow whilst my siblings tear one another apart." he explained to his men and both were quite quiet about the match, "I understand your ancestors and Dorne had been foes for thousands of years, just as the Martell's were to mine for a hundred... But it is time to put that aside."
"The Reach has the strength only if you fight for it, Baelon." Jon started and finished, "We shouldn't need the soldiers cowards who only repelled the dragons by running away."
"Then tell me, Lord Roxton, how else am I to win against Vhagar, or Meleys and Caraxes who vastly outmatch my dragon?" no doubt, Archonei is fierce but she is still smaller than the three and a lucky maneuver won't happen twice against Vhagar.
Sighing, he wanted to change things a little, "Tell me, how are our fleets doing in Oldtown and the Narrow Sea?"
Quenton cleared his throat, "Word is that King's Landing is starting to feel the effects of trade being cut, and Corlys is caught between engaging our ships or keeping the Gullet in a chokehold."
"And Oldtown?" he asked about.
He was worried when Quenton became silent, and dismayed when he started to brief him on the front, "Your brother is in Oldtown and has been harassing the ships, he's sank twelve over the last several days on Tessarion which is why we've asked to see you."
This was news, he hoped things wouldn't come to armed war quite yet, "What of our army on the land?"
"Ser Jonothor Flowers is gathering a host of Tyrell men, however, Lady Tyrell refused to leave Highgarden with her son." Jon said and added, "Ser Flowers is preparing Highgarden for siege, our base in the Reach while the Blacks and Greens combat each other, the new Lord Beesbury is leading the effort of Rhaenyra against Oldtown and Lord Ormund Hightower."
Quenton narrowed his eyes at Jon who grew angry in his report, "Your Grace," Baelon turned to his man, "We require orders on engagement?"
He wasn't ready for war, that much is clear, "Just hold our ground, tell our captains blockading Oldtown that they have permission to bring my brother down with his dragon, and engage the Hightower ships if they try anything."
Margaery crossed his mind, "What of my lover?"
"She's doing well, though you shouldn't worry about such distractions when you are to have your new Queen." Jon reminded him with a little more sarcasm than was necessary and Baelon narrowed his eyes on the knight.
"Are you still my man, Ser? Your tone concerning my paramour is giving me some concern."
Jon Roxton sighed, chuckling a little then nodding, "I am your man, King Baelon."
Bidding his men farewell, he returned to Sunspear on Archonei who still seems to dislike the hear or the lack of rain which she had grown accustomed to on the Stepstones.
Princess Aliandra came to his chambers with some of her courtiers and it was there they made some terms upon their marriage.
As his largest supporter, Dorne walked away with some less than savory terms such as not being obliged to give tribute or taxes to the crown, they would keep their traditional title as Prince or Princess of Dorne, unlike the other Kingdoms who were given titles of Warden and Lord Paramount.
Baelon didn't much appreciate it, to his chagrin he wished for only House Targaryen to hold such titles as Prince or Princess.
In exchange for these terms, House Targaryen may call upon Dorne in times of war or support, and Aliandra would abdicate her title to her sister upon victory where she will then go by Queen Aliandra of the House Targaryen, wife to King Baelon I Targaryen.
"Are you happy, Your Grace?" Aliandra asked him when they were alone.
He spoke truthfully, "Not really, the other Lords of the Realm will not be happy about these terms, even if it comes with Dorne joining the rest of the realm."
"You are the King, they are subjects, and we will make them accept it." she sounded so confident, he wished he had such bravado. "I heard you had visitors on my lands, what was it about?" she inquired and he didn't answer her right away. "We will be sharing bodies together, Baelon, don't withhold talks from your future wife."
Baelon groaned, already wishing he listened to his advisors and stayed away from here. "My army gathers at Highgarden, and at Oldtown, my brother rode out on his Blue Queen and sent twelve of my ships to the bottom of the bay."
"I thought you were letting your siblings cut each other down?" he did but his foolishness forced things further into play and now he is stuck between leaving his Reachmen between Beesbury and Hightower.
a sigh escaped the young King until he felt a hand on his waist.
It felt good, he liked her touch even if she irritated him somewhat but then he remembered the Old King, in all his years, wasn't wholly in bliss with his wife, they quarreled more than once.
"We must first deal with the Hightowers, then, if what you say is true then the large dragon won't leave King's Landing when your sister sits with five or more dragons across the bay." hmm, that is true but perhaps they wait until the first blood is drawn between Aegon and Rhaenyra.
Turning to his betrothed, he cupped Aliandra and kissed her on the lips, she moaned against his forwardness.
Parting, he smiled, "Let us join our houses first, Princess, then we wait as you had suggested."
Rhaenyra stood alongside her sons as Ser Erryk was being buried next to his twin, Ser Arryk.
In the stillness of the night, she was abruptly roused from her slumber by the unmistakable sound of approaching footsteps. Confused and disoriented, she initially mistook the intruder for Erryk.
Her heart pounded in her chest as the figure forced his way into her chambers, the glint of steel in his hand casting an ominous gleam in the dim light. In a terrifying instant, she realized the true intent of the intruder as he lunged toward her with murderous determination.
She nearly would have been slain if not for the actual Ser Erryk coming to her rescue, the brothers then engaged in violent combat and bloodied one another so that none could tell who was which, not even Harrold who helped both rise to the Kingsguard.
The fight ended when one brother mortally wounded the other, she still didn't know which brother survived as he writhed in pain for hours before being mercifully killed by Ser Lorent.
"He is the basest of villains. He sullies the grave of his brother," she whispered, she regretted losing such a dependable man and one who saw the usurper for who he was, rescuing Harrold and bringing her father's crown to her.
"I knew both lads since they were knights and made your father's Kingsguard, a shame what this war is doing, and not only to the royal family." Harrold said and then turned to her, "I am sorry, my Queen,"
"Be sorry for nothing, Ser Harrold, this was Otto Hightower's doing, I know it."
She had been grateful that her sons were not on the island, servants noted that Ser Erryk crept into both Jace and Luke's chambers, Arryk had come not just for her but her whole family. "I want a guard for all of my younger sons, guard them day and night." She commanded and Harrold nodded, leaving to see it done.
Jace is still in the North, and Lucerys is in the Vale.
Rhaenys walked up to her as the digger finished putting soil on the grave of the good and false brother. "Rhaena is learning quickly." the Princess gestured to the Gullet where Baela and Moondancer flew alongside Rhaena and her dragon, Silverwing.
If only they had a rider for Vermithor, then she needn't even fear Vhagar, Sunfyre, or Dreamfyre. "She will greatly lessen our trials for the war."
"I don't believe Otto ordered for this travesty, perhaps hotter blood prevailed."
"Does Aegon hate me so? I babied him and Baelon as children, treated them with kindness."
Rhaenys shook her head, "So did Aenys with Maegor, then he usurped his son and wasn't afraid to bring him to the stranger at the God's Eye." the Princess turned to her, "Corlys heard news."
Rhaenyra was surprised and relieved the Redwyne fleet was blockading Oldtown, yet she was upset when Rhaenys informed her of Baelon's upcoming marriage to the new Princess of Dorne.
This conflict has thus involved the whole of Westeros, she worries for outside forces that intervene for her enemies.