Chapter 84

Snowflakes drift from the gray sky, settling gently on the stone courtyard of Winterfell. The towering walls stand as silent witnesses to the gathering of powerful lords and ladies within.

In the Great Hall Of Winterfell. The hall is dimly lit by flickering torches, casting long shadows across the stone floor. At the head of a long table, Merlin, sits flanked by Dasta and N'Jadaka, his students.

Before them are the three kings of Westeros: Torrhen Stark , a brooding and steadfast northern lord; Mern IX, a regal figure from the Reach with an air of authority; and Loric Dayne Martell, a sharp-eyed ruler with a hint of mischief in his smile.

Merlin leaning forward questioned."So, you must already have plans for the Targaryens?"

Loric Martell smiling slightly answered."We've heard whispers. The Targaryen ambitions are no secret. Our networks keep us well-informed."

Mern IX nods, the weight of his own intelligence network apparent in his measured demeanor. Torrhen Stark listens intently, his trusted friend Ingreas Tepes at his side, he remembered this friends words. In this game, honor means little. It's all about how you play the game.

The fire crackles as Loren speaks, his voice steady and clear."Aegon Targaryen landed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, building the Aegonfort. His presence was known to all the great lords. Lord Darklyn of Duskendale and Lord Mooton of Maidenpool rallied against him but were crushed by dragonfire and Targaryen steel."

Merlin nods thoughtfully and muttered."A dragon can change the outcome of any battle, regardless of numbers."

The kings exchange knowing glances, understanding the power they face. Ingeras adds with a wry smile ans continued."After their defeat, the lords bent the knee, swelling the Targaryen ranks with men and resources. Aegon was crowned at Aegonfort, proclaiming himself king."

Mern IX spoke up."After the battle, they took time to recuperate. But Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, made his intentions clear. He aims to conquer Westeros and unite the Seven Kingdoms under his rule.

Loren Dayne Martell lets out a derisive laugh, his eyes gleaming with amusement."

Loric snorting added."And this is when the foolish Queen Sharra Arryn, acting as Regent for her son Ronnel Arryn, King of Mountain and Vale, thought it wise to send her portrait to Aegon, offering marriage on the condition he name Ronnel his heir. Naturally, Aegon refused."

Mern IX joins in with a scoff, his voice dripping with disdain."What did the old cow think? Has she gone mad?"

Torrhen Stark, his face shadowed and thoughtful, mutters under his breath."The Vale is known for producing a few crazy ones from time to time."

Mern and Loren share a knowing nod, while Ingeras Tepes, ever the strategist, adds his insight."They also do produce quite a few insightful and manipulative ones."

Torrhen continued."After being crowned at the Blackwater Rush, Aegon dispatched his fleet, led by Daemon Velaryon, to seize Gulltown. With him went Visenya Targaryen, formidable as ever."

Merlin nods, recalling how Daemon Velaryon's loyalty to the Targaryens was rewarded with promises of a noble marriage, his lineage intertwining with the dragonlords through Corlys and Rhaenys.

Torrhen added."The Arryns, scrambling, assembled their fleet, bolstered by Braavosi warships. The clash at Gulltown was brutal. The Arryns managed to decimate part of the Targaryen fleet, and Daemon nearly lost his life. But Visenya, riding the dragon Vhagar, rained fire upon them."

Loric added."Though they didn't lose outright, the Targaryens' failure to capture Gulltown was a strategic setback."

The hall grows quiet, the weight of these revelations settling in. The fire crackles, shadows dancing across the walls.

Torrhen adding."The Sistermen on the Three Sisters took advantage of the chaos. With the Arryn fleet destroyed, they revolted, proclaiming Marla Sunderland their queen."

The great hall is filled with the rich aroma of burning pine as Merlin sits back in his chair, striking a match to light his pipe. He inhales deeply, then exhales a perfect smoke ring, watching as it floats upward. Within the ring, a tiny sailing ship appears, its masts and sails casting delicate shadows in the firelight.

Mern after a pause."The next battle, known as the Last Storm, unfolded when Argilac Durrandon, the aged Storm King, sought to use Aegon Targaryen, Lord of Dragonstone, as a shield against Harren Hoare, King of the Isles and the Rivers. Argilac, in his desperation, offered Aegon the hand of his daughter, Argella, along with lands east of the Gods Eye between the Trident and the Blackwater Rush. Once controlled by the stormlands, this territory was now under House Hoare's rule. But Aegon, seeing the folly in the offer, made a counter-proposal. He demanded Massey's Hook and lands between the Blackwater, the Wendwater, and the Mander, territory long held by the stormlands, in exchange for Argella's marriage to Orys Baratheon, Aegon's friend and rumored half-brother. Enraged, Argilac cut off the hands of Aegon's envoy and sent them back with a message: "These are the only hands your bastard shall have of me."

Merlin nods thoughtfully, the flickering firelight catching in his eyes.

Loric Dayne Martell sighs, the weight of the past heavy in his voice."Argilac's response ignited Aegon's wrath. After landing at the mouth of the Blackwater, Aegon was crowned by Visenya, one of his sister-wives. He swiftly gained the allegiance of the riverlands by burning Harrenhal and killing King Hoare. Meanwhile, Orys Baratheon and Rhaenys, Aegon's other sister-wife, moved against the stormlands. Argilac, refusing to fall like the Arryns, called his banners to Storm's End. Lords Buckler, Errol, and Fell ambushed Orys's van on the Wendwater and then retreated into the kingswood. Rhaenys retaliated by unleashing Meraxes, setting the forest ablaze with dragonfire."

Merlin listens, the room silent except for the crackling of the fire. The air is thick with tension and anticipation.

Loric continuing."The stormlands faced further turmoil as pirates attacked Cape Wrath from the Stepstones. Rhaenys, atop Meraxes, tracked Argilac's movements while Orys fortified a position in the hills south of Bronzegate. As the armies clashed, a fierce storm broke, with rain lashing the Targaryen host. Confident in his numbers, Argilac, having almost twice the men and four times the knights and heavy horse, chose to press the attack."

Mern IX, noticing Loren Dayne Martell's parched throat, raises a hand to speak."During the initial clash, Argilac's horsemen struggled against the muddy ground and steep slopes. However, his spearmen found success on foot, capturing two hills. In Argilac's fourth charge, his forces broke through the enemy center, only to face Rhaenys atop Meraxes, the dragon grounded by the storm. Visenya unleashed dragonflame upon Dickon Morrigen and the Bastard of Blackhaven, leaders of the Durrandon vanguard. Argilac's personal guard perished in the inferno, and the Storm King was thrown from his saddle in the chaos. Even in confusion, Argilac fought fiercely, slaying six men and holding off another six as Orys rode down the hill to meet him."

The great hall falls silent, save for the crackling of the fire. Merlin watches as Mern pauses, the weight of history hanging heavy in the room.

Mern continued."Argilac refused Orys's offer to yield, choosing instead to engage in single combat. Both warriors took wounds, but Argilac met his end as he wished—dying in battle. With his death, the fight ended, and the stormlanders yielded or fled."

Mern sighs deeply, the echoes of past battles lingering in his words."In the aftermath of her father's death, Princess Argella Durrandon declared herself Storm Queen and barred the gates of Storm's End. Her garrison, fearing the fate of Harrenhal, soon revolted. After a few days, they delivered her to Orys, chained and naked. Orys, showing mercy, removed her chains, covered her with his cloak, and offered her food and wine. He later married Argella, becoming Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. The sigil and words of House Durrandon became those of the newly-founded House Baratheon. Following the stormlands' submission, Rhaenys flew from Storm's End to support Aegon at the Field of Fire."

The lords sit in contemplative silence, reflecting on the shifting tides of power and the role of women in their history. Torrhen Stark, Mern IX, and Loren Dayne Martell exchange glances, their expressions respectful.

Some of their greatest ancestors were queens—Winter Queen Lyra Stark, Dorne's Queen Nymeria and Reach' Green Queen Rena Gardner. They have never doubted a woman's strength to rule. But Argella was not ready nor taught to be a Queen.

Tankards of ale and goblets of wine before them. Ingeras, holding a goblet of wine, leans back in his chair and speaks with a measured, thoughtful tone. While sipping his wine added."After the submission of Harrenhal, Crackclaw Point, and Storm's End, Aegon and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, gathered at Stoney Sept with their dragons. The bulk of House Targaryen's forces were conscripts from the newly liberated riverlands. Lord Jon Mooton of Maidenpool, one of the first lords to swear loyalty to the Targaryens, was entrusted with command of their army."

Ingeras pauses, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. The room is silent, save for the occasional crackle of the fire before continuing."But their trials were far from over. Loren I Lannister, King of the Rock, fearful of the dragons' power, allied with the surviving sons of King Hoare, who had escaped through hidden tunnels. With Loren's wealth, he hired mercenaries to bolster their ranks, aiming to repel the Targaryen invaders. Between the two kings, they mustered around 55,000 men, five times the number of Targaryen forces, including 5,000 mounted knights."

Ingeras sets his goblet down, leaning forward to emphasize his next point."The armies clashed on the plains south of the Blackwater, near the present Goldroad. The Two Kings hoped to outflank Aegon and smash his center with their knights. However, the Targaryens had established a defensive crescent. As the allies charged, breaking the Targaryen spear lines, Aegon and his sisters took to the skies on their dragons, Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar. The dragons set the dry fields ablaze, encircling the Hoare and Lannister armies in flames. Safely positioned upwind, Lord Mooton's forces finished off any allied soldiers who escaped the inferno. King Loren Lannister, seeing the battle lost, rode through the flames to safety. The dragons claimed the lives of 4,000 men from the combined Lannister and Hoare army."

The lords exchange glances, the enormity of the Targaryen victory clear in their expressions. Torrhen Stark, contemplating the events, adds his perspective."From what I heard Many River lords, where coerced into fighting by Hoare's sons and some were bought with Lannister Gold, but all most all fled during the chaos. It seems interestingly amidst the flames and confusion, few noticed the Tully army had never engaged in battle, ensuring their survival. Aegon and Visenya observed this and rewarded the Riverlands to the Tullys."

Merlin, with a thoughtful expression, leans forward, observing the lords gathered around the table. So seeing that the conversation has ended, he questions."So, what are you going to do?"

Torrhen Stark, his face a mask of contemplation, answers with measured words."Aegon seems to understand that neither Dorne, the Reach, nor the North is easily conquered without risking their dragons."

The lords exchange glances, knowing the truth in Torrhen's words. Ingeras Tepes adds his insight, his voice cutting through the room like a blade.:Which means they'll likely seek alliances. Losing a dragon is a risk they can ill afford."

Merlin nods, pondering the implications. The lords lean in closer, sensing he has more to offer."I'll give you some advice."

The room grows silent, the lords hanging on his every word. Merlin, centuries old and wise beyond measure, commands their respect. His wife, a renowned seer, adds weight to his counsel.

Torrhen leaning forward questioned."And what would that be, Merlin?"

Merlin meets each of their gazes, his voice calm and steady."Meet with the Targaryens. They have their reasons for conquering Westeros. It might be worth hearing them out."

The lords exchange curious glances, intrigued by Merlin's suggestion. They know his advice is not given lightly and is often guided by foresight.

Mern hummed and questioned."You believe there's more to their conquest than ambition?"

Merlin nods, the firelight reflecting in his eyes."Indeed. Understanding their motives might offer you a way to shape the future rather than merely reacting to it."

Loren Dayne leans back, considering the wisdom in Merlin's words. The crackle of the fire punctuates the silence as the lords ponder their next move.