One Day IV

(Third Person POV)

Vermithor unleashed flames throughout the field, burning dozens of men by the second as he swept through multiple times. There was nothing but explosions that followed the massive dragon as it flew by the rear of the army. 

Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower looked at this with shock, "Fucking hells!" Cole said, "Just what we need! We need to get to cover!" 

They both began to gallop their horses towards a treeline, trying to escape the onslaught. But almost as if Aerion heard this, he steered Vermithor to the front of the army, unleashing flames that burned through the hundreds of men that were next to the two of them. 

As explosions filled the field, Criston Cole and Gwayne tried to escape, only for Vermithor to crash in front of them and crush dozens of men that were in front of them. 

The Bronze Fury unleashed a stream of flames that obliterated the right, a massive fiery wall forming with mere seconds. 

Cole's horse jerked upwards, on its hind legs as he fell off, "Shit!" 

Vermithor then turned to their left, firing off flames to obliterate the men that were on that side. This almost seemed to be intentional as the Bronze Fury slowly walked forwards, finishing his stream and then snapping at nearby soldiers and knights, ripping them apart. 

This was not the first time Vermithor and Aerion Targaryen had charged at an army that day. Unbeknownst to Cole and Gwayne, The Bronze Fury was already in a battle-craze, already tasted the blood of men, and had filled the air with the stench of burning flesh. 

Criston stood up, seeing Aerion clad in his armor, stained in deep red, "What..." He said

This told him everything; Aerion had already seen battle that day. Of course, he didn't know the full story, how much blood he had shed. 

Aerion grabbed the sack and flung it in the air, towards Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower, who had also fallen off his horse. 

The sack hit the ground in front of Criston, who had drawn his sword, "What is this?" 

Aerion sat atop Vermithor, leaning forward as Vermithor let out a roar, causing the front of the army to freeze in pure fear. 

"You tell me." Aerion's voice was heard from atop the Bronze Fury

Gwayne reluctantly stepped forth and kicked the sack gently, a portion of blonde hair becoming visible through the opening. 

Cole widened his eyes as Gwayne glanced at him, "It can't be." 

Gwayne reached down and pulled the sack up, the heads of Borros and Jason rolling out of it and on the ground. This caused Gwayne to recoil backwards in pure shock. 

"No..." He said as he looked up, "A-Aerion! You did this?!" 

Cole was speechless, his eyes focused on the two Lords' heads. This meant that Aerion had taken the fight to the Baratheon and Lannister Armies, completely obliterating them and killing their Lords. It was not something he doubted Aerion was capable of, would he be leading an army. But according to reports, no army that was loyal to Rhaenyra was capable of challenging the combined forces of Baratheon and Hightower, much less Lannister. This clearly meant that Aerion did this by himself, which was an impossible feat that could not be done by a mere man. 

But Aerion Targaryen was no mere man. 

Aerion dismounted Vermithor as the Bronze Fury looked around, growling viciously as a challenge to anyone who laid their eyes upon him. The entirety of the army was stopped, some were scattering, retreating as the quick sweeps the Bronze Fury performed was more than enough to cripple them momentarily. 

Aerion landed on the ground and began to walk forward, several wounded men were crawling before him. 

"Are you willing to go this far, Aerion?" Criston said as he pointed his sword at him, full aware of the position he and his army was in, "All for her?" 

Aerion stopped and placed his hands on the handles of his swords, "You are a Kingsguard, Cole, loyal to the King and his heir. Why must go through with this transgression, this Treason." He said seriously, "Despite our differences, you had that oath, that dignity. It was the one thing I tolerated about you." 

Aerion's cloak flowed in the wind, an eerie silence following as the sight of the blood-soaked Knight standing in front of his dragon, staring an entire army down. 

"I am loyal to the King, Aerion." Cole said

"I speak of Viserys." Aerion said, "Or was it the Hightowers you were truly loyal to? When I first met you, you were an aspiring Knight, dying to make a name for himself. You had your history with Rhaenyra, with Alicent. But you were loyal to the Crown, to Him." 

"Things change." Cole said, "You were but a child, clinging to the memory of his Mother." 

"Aye." Aerion said, "Things do change. I set the real you aside from the Knight that you were, a brother of the Kingsguard. But it seems my doubts about you were always true. You do this because you couldn't have her and the fact that you never will, it eats you inside. Which is why you turn to my Aunt, you despicable scum of a man."

Cole narrowed his eyes, "You speak as if your Wife is any better." He said, "You claim to be an honorable man, raised by chivalrous knights. But you overlook the fact that you're married to a woman who birthed bastards. You've always known, Aerion, you were never stupid." 

Aerion looked down, "And that makes me as despicable as you?" He said, "I obeyed my King when he married me with her. She was the Heir and she's the Queen now. I do nothing but uphold my vows, my oaths! I swore to protect her and her children till the day I fucking die. Against anyone who dares stand in her way. And guess what, Cole, today you stand in my way. I suppose this has been long awaited. I'll give a Kingsguard the courtesy of a fair battle....no Dragonfire. Now, come." 

Aerion drew his swords as Vermithor roared loudly. 

Criston took a step forth, "You told me you need one sword for me. Now you're using two." He said with a slight smirk

"Oh, this isn't a duel, Cole." Aerion said, "What I meant is that because of you, I'm giving all of you a fair chance. All of you, as many as you need, come at me." 

Cole gritted his teeth and lunged forwards, "You stupid boy!!" He shouted as he reached Aerion, "You never learn!!" 

Aerion blocked the sword swing with Lady Rhea and immediately countered with a shoulder-tackle, pushing Cole away with ease as several other soldiers began to rush them. Vermithor braced himself for a defensive action. 

"They're mine!!" Aerion shouted in High-Valyrian as he easily cut the men down, "Burn the stragglers on the flanks!!" 

Vermithor roared and did just this, firing flames to both sides of the field, creating a clear path for soldiers to come at Aerion from the front. 

Cole lunged at Aerion once again, swinging his sword at him as Aerion cut several men down. Aerion blocked his sword and countered, only for Cole to be pushed by a knight who took the blade for him. 

"W-what?!" Cole said as Lamentation cleaved through the man who saved him, "No!" 

Gwayne rushed for Aerion from behind, swinging his own sword as Aerion dropped to one knee, blocking the attack with Lady Rhea as he swung Lamentation at a random soldier's leg, collapsing him to the ground. 

In a swift motion, Aerion pushed Gwayne's blade away as he immediately straightened up, swung Lamentation at two men in front of him, and cut them in half as he spun around to swing the sword at Gwyane. The Hightower Knight blocked the sword but the force was so great, it flung him backward, the blade was able to cut him a bit. 

Criston rushed Aerion once again, followed by five different soldiers. The six of them attacked The Mighty, but they were all blocked, deflected, and countered with ease. Aerion's two blades, stained with red already, cleaved through the five men, their limbs flying into the air as blood spewed everywhere. All of them but Cole were killed in a matter of seconds as Gwayne was recovering still. 

It was almost as if the gods, no....it's almost as if Aerion was doing this on purpose, focusing on the men instead of the two Knights. Why? Taking Criston Cole out was the most obvious tactic which would cripple the Host. But Aerion did not do this just yet. 

It was a message. 

Aerion was giving him a message in those brief moments; He was Superior to him. He was superior to Cole. Every swing that took the life of any near soldier or knight, could've easily taken Cole's life. But Aerion didn't want to because he wanted to make him understand that he was never better than Aerion, like he thought. It was personal and Aerion was being petty, akin to his own father. 

As for Gwayne, who was rushing him, Aerion didn't want to kill him out of respect for raising Daeron. But that didn't change the fact that this was the battlefield and their deaths were inevitable. 

Gwayne and Cole attacked Aerion, who blocked their swords with his own. In a quick motion, they were pushed off as Aerion swung Lady Rhea at Gwayne, who was able to dodge, avoiding a full cleave. He was however, cut in his midsection which caused him to fall down. 

"Aghh!" he shouted in pain as he clutched his midsection

"Ser Gwayne!" Cole said as he hesitated

Aerion rushed him and kicked him in the chest, sending him flying, "We're not done." he said as he cut down several soldiers that immediately swarmed him, "Are we, Cole?" 

Cole looked at him, "Fuck you..." He muttered

Suddenly, a loud roar was heard throughout the air, causing Vermithor to look up in alarm. Aerion stopped as well and looked up, seeing that breaking through the clouds, a massive dragon was seen. 

Gwayne looked up, "T-Thank the gods...." he said as 

"IT'S VHAGAR!!" a soldier announced, "WE ARE SAVED!!" 

Vhagar flapped her wings, letting out another roar as Aemond was seen on her back, looking at the battlefield. 

Aerion flicked his swords and immediately sheathed them, "Alright then." He said as he turned around, his cloak flowing in the wind, "Time for the real fight to start." 

"Today, we Dance."