16 Scattering The Royal Navy

Hundreds upon hundreds of arrows rose high into the sky, eventually falling back down. Several yells of pain could be heard across the battlefield of ships as a good portion of those arrows struck flesh. However, most of those yells came from the Royal Navy and not the Dragon Prince's fleet.

That is because the undead skeletons do not scream from pain... nor can they be harmed by arrows in the first place. The two navies were nearly evenly matched in ships but not in men. Aerion's ships were more densely concentrated as the undead did not require any kind of comfort. They only lived to serve their King.

Aerion drew his sword from its sheath as he prepared to face the enemies to come.

And so, the battle had begun.

"It will be a great pleasure of mine to bring your head to His Grace!"

A knight confronted Aerion, ignoring everything else around him. He had his eyes on the grand prize and nothing else... which, in itself, was quite wrong of him. Aerion as a duelist was formidable enough to defeat the knight with ease.

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Prince Aerion Targaryen vs Ser Jon

Duelling Skill: Equal

Strength: Slight edge to Ser Jon (+2)

Endurance: Massive edge to Aerion (+10)

Dexterity: Great edge to Aerion (+4)

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Aerion used his greater speed, endurance and lighter armour to outpace the knight and tire him out before ending him with a devasting slash to the neck with his dagger. Meanwhile, the westerosi who had boarded the Mad King were dropping like flies against the ruthless undead and the mighty Kingsguard. The battlefield as a whole was slowly turning in the greater favour of Aerion's fleet, who already had an advantage before. The undead were less terrifying in the day but their strengths and few weaknesses remained, giving them an edge over the men who fought for the Usurper.

Knowing this, Robert Baratheon decided to aim for the very crown of the fleet. Killing Aerion would surely turn the tide of the battle as the undead came from him and the rest would lose their will to fight. Aerion was, after all, the backbone of the entire fleet. His death would also spark the true end of House Targaryen since there would only be Viserys and Daenerys left... both of whom were no more than exiles scouring the Free Cities.

BOOM.

A ship rammed itself into the Mad King. It was no ordinary ship, however, as an extraordinary banner of House Baratheon hung above it. The ship itself was made of more durable material than the rest while also holding a far greater number of skilled warriors. At the head of the ship was none other than the Usurper himself, King Robert Baratheon.

"The flagship of the Royal Navy..."

So, we meet at last.

Aerion smiled.

"Dragonspawn... your head will be mine by the end of today!"

A thunderous voice boomed across the surroundings, followed by dozens of men boarding the Mad King one at a time. Leading the charge was Robert Baratheon, who broke several skeletons with the sheer force of his Warhammer before sending them tumbling into the Narrow Sea.

Ser Arthur stepped forward with Dawn in his hands but Aerion grabbed his shoulder.

"My prince..."

"I'll take care of him."

Arthur nodded, believing in his prince's ability. Instead of facing Robert Baratheon, Arthur confronted one of Robert's Kingsguard. Jaime did the same and found himself face to face against Barristan Selmy.

Aerion stepped to the side and made space for Robert. There were so many things he wanted to say... mostly hateful things, of course, but he kept it all inside. In truth, he appeared as calm as the summer's breeze to Robert which was quite the surprise to him.

"Do you not fear me, boy?"

"A dragon fears no man."

Aerion replied with great confidence which made Robert smile but only slightly. "That was something your father would say... before I cracked his armour open."

"I am not my father." Aerion pointed the edge of his sword in the direction of Robert's chest. "You will soon discover that... if you haven't done so already."

Robert laughed. "You are still a man who can bleed."

"If you can hit me, that is."

Robert grit his teeth. He struck first, charging Aerion with his Warhammer. He had intended to swing it to towards him but a spiral of wind caught him in his tracks. Then, with a great push, the wind sent him tumbling back to his own ship.

"I have yet to bleed," Aerion remarked, looking at his untouched and rather clean armour.

"What in seven hells..." Robert muttered to himself.

Aerion burned away a few warriors before joining Robert at his ship. Several greater undead gathered behind him and took care of the westerosi men who dared to approach closer.

"I admit, you are a far greater warrior than I." Aerion shook his head. "But no amount of physical strength can match the power of magic."

"I suggest you carve my words to heart after this defeat."

Robert grit his teeth once more, rising to his feet and attempting to strike again. He was sent back down to the other side of the ship in a similar fashion as before. However, unlike before, he sustained some wounds from the more vicious wind.

Aerion elegantly walked to the other side of the ship at his own pace.

"You have done well as the King in my stead. Not as I would have done, but you did well nevertheless." Aerion smiled... although it wasn't a true smile. "I'd like you to continue doing so while I spread my influence across Essos. I will take a few things away from you, as the victor of war should, but the rest will remain yours for the near future, my dear Usurper."

Aerion's greater undead surrounded Robert and beat down on him, forcing the king into a state of unconsciousness. He found the sight rather amusing... however, he had other matters to deal with such as the Royal Navy.

~

"The King whom you serve is nothing more than a Usurper."

Jaime stated as he blocked Barristan's strike.

"What are you implying Kingslayer?"

"I do not wish to kill you, Ser Barristan," Jaime replied. "I'd rather you bend the knee to the rightful King and become a true member of the Kingsguard... as you had been before. You, Ser Oswell, Ser Arthur and I were all sworn brothers under King Aerys, the second of his name. Why is it that sworn brothers must face each other in battle?"

"Our Kings have different names."

"Then why do you fight for a false King, Ser Barristan?" Jaime wondered. "Is it because you had no choice after the battle of the Trident? If that is the truth, then you have a choice now. The prince will emerge victorious from this battle-"

"Then I will make my choice," Barristan spoke, lowering his sword slightly.

"And join the battle as a Kingsguard under Prince Aerion Targaryen."

Jaime smiled. "I was afraid you would make the wrong decision."

The battle around them was nearing its end as the men from the Royal Navy continued to fall under the relentless assault from the dead. A massive figure was transported to the Mad King by two greater undead, followed by Aerion and the rest. The silver-haired young man had yet to sustain any noticeable damage as he descended to his ship.

By now, the westerosi on his ship had been crushed entirely

"Ser Jaime... and Ser Barristan? My, you've grown even older."

Aerion observed.

"So have you, my prince. You were but a boy the last time I saw you... and now you have grown into a man."

"I take it that you've joined me, Ser Barristan?"

Barristan nodded and bent his knee.

Aerion smiled. "Then I, Prince Aerion of the House Targaryen, release you from your oath to the Usurper, Robert of the House Baratheon. You may now swear your oath to me."

Barristan made his oath to Aerion and rose as a member of the Kingsguard once more.

"I'm pleased to have you by my side, Ser Barristan." Aerion smiled. "A prince can never have too many good men."

"It is my greatest honour to serve you, my prince."

King Robert was tied up by the undead and left in Aerion's quarters, where he was guarded by five greater undead. With the flagship of the Royal Navy defeated, the rest was rather simple. Aerion's fleet crushed what remained of the navy within a relatively short period of time. Before long, the remaining ships scattered across the Narrow Sea and retreated away to safety.

Aerion spent several days in the sea, gathering the corpses and the remaining ships that were in good condition. The ships that were in poor condition were looted and left to the Narrow Sea since using them would only risk the lives of his men. Once that was done, he brought out his map of the Seven Kingdoms and observed it with great interest.

"Now that you hold King Robert prisoner, what will you do?" Ser Barristan inquired.

"I will release him," Aerion replied plainly. "The Seven Kingdoms require a good king in my absence and they will have him. Besides releasing Robert, I will be assuring my and Dorne's security."

Aerion pointed towards King's Landing before moving his finger across to Dragonstone.

"Along with that, I will be retaking the original seat of House Targaryen in Westeros."

"Assuring your security? How will you get that from King's Landing?" Oswell wondered.

"The Usurper has three children, does he not?" Aerion smiled.

"We'll storm King's Landing, take the king's treasury, the skulls of a few dragons and one of the Usurper's little stags will be taken as a prisoner. Then, before we leave, the Usurper will be released in King's Landing. What we take from King's Landing will be my spoils of war... along with Dragonstone."

Robert Baratheon would soon regret waging war on Aerion Targaryen. Well, in truth, he already regretted it when Aerion turned him into a human ragdoll through his Aeromancy.

This war would cost Robert Baratheon greatly... and the fall of the Royal Navy would lead to another issue. The rise of another fleet... one made of "iron".