The Horns Of War(2)
Legio II arrived in Exsilium Three Days Later, Arthur didn't waste any time and summoned the Legate into the Council Chamber.
"My Lords."
"Ah, Welcome Legate Augustus."
"Thank you, My Lord. Happy to serve you."
That was the cue to explain why Legio II was summoned.
"Seat first, Augustus. We have much to discuss."
The Legate sat at the reserved seat, in front of him was the Supreme Legate, Raganvad, and on his side was Arthur.
"Where shall i start first, hm? Well, let's put it this way. I had a Deal with Lord Eddard Stark, and in that deal was to support him and the Rebels in the War against the Mad King. And in Return we will be able to form our Kingdom without having to worry about The Seven Kingdoms trying to see us as a Threat."
"Hmm, this war is going to decide wether we will be able to form our Kingdom Safely. We will not fail you."
"Good. We have already designed a Plan, would you like to hear it?"
"Of course, My Lord."
"The plan is to Raid Dragonstone and get rid of their Fleet, Capture some ships and integrate them to our Fleet if Possible, Have Ships from Braavos deliver us Horses, then sail south into the Stormlands-Stonehelm Precicely-We go ashore, Then into the Reach, We don't need to follow the Roads as we are in Horseback and it's all Plains, we just need to send Scouts. Once in the Reach we Divide ourselves and capture Bitterbridge, Grassy Vale, Long Table, and Ashford. We leave Cider Hall alone because it is too close to Highgarden. Once we capture these settlements we will try to stop any goods going to Kings Landing, And also stop the Reach to Reinforce the Crownlands. They will surely try to Defeat us so we will do Hit and Run Tactics, once we can't Hold them up anymore we retreat East and will Fake that we retreated up North, when they go North we will Follow them slowly, and try to Ambush them at the best moment possible."
"Hmmm, it is impossible, My Lord. For any other Army. But we're not like any other Army."
"That's what I like about you, Augustus."
----------
"Calisto, I would like you to have Spies everywhere in Westeros, Specially in Kings Landing And Casterly Rock."
"Consider it Done."
"Raganvad, Order Classis Exsilius to Escort the Whole Army South, once done they will Patrol the Narrow Sea along with Classis Braavosis."
"Azaire, Have the Workshops, make new Siege Equipments, you will Deliver it to Ned and the Others, Have the Blacksmiths make new Weapons, Armors, and Arrows."
"Very Well."
"Augustus, Send for the Army to Land Ashore, have them Fed and make sure they are in their best Conditions, perform Drills near the Star Fort, and have their weapons looked at by the Blacksmiths, get a new one if their weapon have Problems."
"As you command, My Lord."
"Maester Noe, send word to Braavos, War has Come and have them make Propaganda off of it. Don't lend any Loans for the Reach, Dorne, and Crownlands. And Block their Trade Routes."
"Calisto! You mentioned about some 'Newspaper' thing that Mentions and Writes everything happening in the World, Right?"
"Yes, what of it?"
"Then Invest, and have them Write everything happening in the War, Make Propaganda off of it, Overly write stories about our Victories, and Humiliate their Defeats."
"But, what of the people that can't read?"
"Didn't I make Schools to teach people to Read, Count, and Everything Maesters Teach to a Noble Child!?"
"Well only the Children went."
"Then have some people Read it in Markets, Pubs, and Places where people gather!"
"Of Course."
"Make our Banners all over the place, Hang them Everywhere! And Sell them Everywhere! Tomorrow i will publicly announce in the Town Square about our Kingdom, Have some of those 'Writers' here to Write about it into the 'Newspaper' thing."
----------
The Next Day Arthur stood in the middle of the City Square, the Praetorian Guards made a Perimeter around him.
"As many of you know I am Arthur Godfrey. Leader of this Island, and Ruler of Braavos, when i was First Exiled here along with some of my Loyal People, i promised them one thing. To Bring them up and make this land Great. I have achieved that, with the Help of my Advisors and you, the People. I won't take your time so let's cut to the chase. We are at War with the Mad King."
That announcement shocked everyone, many murmured that the Mad King was seeing them as a Threat and Declared War on them, and many also said that Arthur, plans to conquer the Seven Kingdoms.
"The other Day, Lord Eddard Stark visited me, He asked me one thing. To Aid Him in the Wars to come, of course I didn't agree immediately, i asked for a Condition, and that is, we will be able to Form our Kingdom without having to worry about The Seven Kingdoms Attacking us, and they have also promised us Freedom to do as we wish, without interfering with the Seven Kingdoms, Trade, and many others, if we Win."
The people murmured again, they really didn't argue as they didn't hold any Love for the Mad King. They also thought the Deal was Fair.
"That is why, I, Arthur the Impaler, Of House Godfrey, The Fearless, The Adventurer of Old Valyria, The Founder of Exsilium, Conqueror of Braavos, And Death's Emissary: Declare the City of Exsilium, the Free City of Braavos and all of it's Inhabitants along with it's Armies, are now part of the Roman Empire until the End of Men Itself! Ruled by the Emperor, Arthur Godfrey!"
Silence.
The people absorbed the words like sponge and the City erupted in Cheers, people were running towards him, and many Shouting like Madmen, they knew there was a Day that they would be part of a new Kingdom Ruled by Arthur, but they didn't expect it to be this Day.
""LONG MAY HE REIGN!!""
"ROMA VICTOR!!"
""ROMA VICTOR!!""
The words came out if his mouth unexpectedly. But he didn't know at the time, That it would be Repeated again and again in History, wether in Fear, or Pride.
----------
"You're going again."
Arthur was in bed, Ariana by his side, her head on Arthur's Shoulder. It was deep in the Night and both of them Couldn't Sleep.
"Well, you can forbid me to go."
"I can, but you will still go to war."
Arthur picked up a Necklace on the Desk beside their Bed. The Necklace was made from Diamonds and it was Designed to look like Flowers.
(Image Here)
"Do you remember this?"
"Yes, Of Course! You gave that to me."
"But do you Remember how i got it? When I wanted to go to Valyria, you asked me if i was sure about it. And i told you about what would happen if i Succeeded. Back then i couldn't care much about Failure, But now, Failure Haunts Me. Because the Consequences are much Deeper. So, i promise you this, I Will Return. Alive."
"For Our Child."
"For Our Child."