Chapter 14: Let the Dance begin

129 AC

It was in the Queen's apartments in Maegor's Holdfast that the Small Council met, not in the Small Council Chamber all the while on the floor above, Viserys' body began to cool. I went upstairs to take a look after I was told of his death. None of the guards, not Criston nor Alicent tried to stop me. It seemed that he was dead of what I assume was asthma. He did have respiratory problems for a long while. Alicent had already begun quarantine measures to seal off everything until it was time.

Otto and Alicent looked tense, Tyland and Larys were nonchalant, Jasper was jumpy, Criston Cole looked like his heart was about to jump out and Lyman looked mournful for Viserys. I, on the other hand, was openly yawning, I needed some sleep, I had been sleepless all these nights thinking about Viserys' death and now that it had happened, I wanted to sleep. Oh, the irony.

I have played this scenario a thousand times over in my head and it always ends in bloodshed and devastation across the continent and in this case, beyond. The least violent solution that I have is for a single dragon-on-dragon combat between myself and Daemon to decide the victor with the blessings of the High Septon, though I imagine that bloodshed will follow regardless of the result.

Otto began the proceedings as we all sat down, "The King is dead. We grieve for our king, Viserys the Plentiful, our sovereign lord, our friend, and our brother."

Grand Maester Orwyle then spoke stating the protocol when a King dies, "We should get Septon Eustace to perform the last rites for the soul of the king along with the Silent Sisters to prepare the body. Someone should also see to it that the bells are rung for the death of the King. And of course, I shall send a raven to Dragonstone, would the Queen like to add a few words of comfort in the missive to soften the grief? We shall have to begin making preparations for Queen Rhaenyra's coronation."

Otto cut him off before he could go further and I thought that this dude was a Green the whole time, "All this must need to wait," Otto declared, "Until the question of succession is settled and until our new king is crowned."

"Until our new queen is crowned, you mean." Lyman corrected.

"King," Alicent insisted earnestly, "The Iron Throne by rights must pass to His Grace's eldest trueborn son." Except for the part in which he named Rhaenyra his heir.

Lyman voiced my thoughts, "Viserys made Rhaenyra his heir and he did not change the line of succession, not even once. She is older than her brothers and she has more Targaryen blood," I fail to see how the last point has any bearing on this.

"She was made heir before the King had a trueborn son, not after," Jasper countered. I notice how only Lyman calls Viserys by his name in public, not even Otto does that. Then again, Lyman was Master of Coin from the days of my grandfather, he knew Viserys for as long I knew him. The only time he wasn't the Master of Coin was when Daemon had a stint for a few months before Viserys had to recall him after Daemon was worthless in that position.

"Hundred of Lords and landed Knights have done obeisance to the Princess and swore solemn oaths to defend her rights, myself included." Lyman reminded us.

"Many of the Lords and Knights that swore to defend Rhaenyra's succession are long dead. It has been more than two decades since then, I was a child at the time. I swore no such oaths, and neither did my brother." Tyland pointed out.

"And yet, your Master was the first one to swear his oaths to Rhaenyra." Lyman hissed looking at me.

I rolled my eyes but I stayed quiet letting Tyland do all the talking for me, "The entire point of naming Princess Rhaenyra as the heir was to prevent Prince Daemon from getting close to the throne and now she is married to him. That ought to nullify her from the succession."

"The Great Council voted in favor of King Viserys and the Old King made Prince Baelon the heir over Princess Rhaenys, that itself is good enough precedent on why Prince Aegon should ascend the Iron Throne over Princess Rhaenyra," The Ironrod resolutely declared.

Otto chipped in, "Aegon the Conqueror ruled as Lord of Dragonstone and later King, not Visenya, his elder. This not even mentioning the hallowed traditions of both Andal and First Men law wherein sons inherit first over daughters."

"And Viserys overruled it all," Lyman insisted.

"Have you forgotten that it is Daemon who is Rhaenyra's husband," Otto reminded him not that any of us needed reminding. "If Rhaenyra were to ever sit on the Iron Throne then it will be Lord Fleabottom himself that will do the actual ruling. A king consort of the same cloth as that of Maegor. I do not doubt that it will be my head that will be first cut off but your queen and my daughter will be soon to follow."

Alicent followed it up, "Nor will Rhaenyra spare any of my sons for they are the King's trueborn sons with a stronger claim than her bastards. Daemon will kill them all within a year." She then looks at me, "Even Helaena and Maegelle's little ones. Those Strong boys are bastards and bastards are treacherous and monstrous by nature." I, a person who has been called a bastard his whole childhood disagree with that last statement. Besides none of the Velaryon cut out Aemond's eye.

But I stayed quiet as did Larys, we merely watched everyone else talk.

Then the ever honorable and incorruptible Ser Criston spoke, "Should the Princess Rhaenyra reign then it will be Jacaerys Velaryon who will reign after her, a bastard. May the Seven save us all and the realm should a bastard ever place his arse on the Iron Throne. Rhaenyra and Daemon are the most infamous and wanton people to ever walk under the sun, they will turn the Red Keep into a brothel." No doubt he has sampled some of Rhaenyra's wares, but was he not pleased with the service?

He continued his righteous rant, "No man's maiden daughter or lawful wife will ever be safe with them. Even the boys for we all know what Laenor's true nature is." I am pretty sure that the last guy he mentioned is dead, very dead in fact. Even though Laenor's skull was crushed we managed to make out enough of Laenor's face to know for certain that it was him and not some imposter.

I hate listening to self-righteous people, they make me retch.

Orwyle warned, "If we place Prince Aegon on the Iron Throne, it will lead to war. Princess Rhaenyra will not stand meekly by and let this happen and neither will her husband Daemon nor will the Velaryons, and she has dragons."

"We have stronger and larger dragons to deal with that," Jasper confidently retorted.

Lord Lyman stood up and declared, "And friends, honorable men who will not stand for this farce. I will not sit meekly by while you plot to steal her crown. I am an old man but not so old as to let this injustice happen under my watch. I will not have this, to hear that you are plotting to replace the King's chosen heir with an imposter."

"The King's firstborn son is hardly an imposter," Tyland cut in but Lyman was in no mood to stop his rant. I noticed Criston Cole sneaking behind Lyman Beesbury.

"This is theft, this is a seizure, this is treason, at the least it is sedition," Lyman ranted off while Criston inched ever closer. I needed to stop him.

Orwyle tried to stop Lyman, "Mind your tongue, Lyman,"

"I will not be silent while this miscarriage of justice is being carried out," Lyman angrily replied while Criston drew out his knife.

Then I spoke for the first time that night, "Ser Criston, do me a favor and don't kill Lord Lyman."

Lyman stopped talking while everyone turned to look at Criston who stopped in his tracks, Lyman turned around to see Criston with the knife but he was undaunted, he said to Criston, "And you Ser Criston Cole, the sole reason why you wear the white cloak, why you happen to even step foot inside the Red Keep is solely because of the Princess Rhaenyra and this how you repay her. She is the reason why you stand her instead of being a fucking guard in Blackhaven."

He turned to me and said, "Maekar, we both know how horrible those days were at the beginning of Viserys' reign. When half the court believed that you were plotting to seize the crown by rebellion. Daemon tried to have the Kingsguard arrest you but when Lord Commander Redwyne wouldn't follow his farcical orders he tried to go after you with his hired goons. It was Viserys who stopped him and this is how you repay your brother by plotting against his chosen heir."

That set me off, "I repaid my brother with my loyalty and my dutiful service. Viserys could have had ten thousand more brothers but none so loyal as me. I did everything he asked of me and more, and any slights I received I took it with grace. I gave him the Stepstones, Dorne, Tyrosh, and Lys and I brought Volantis to its knees for him. I cleaned up the city for him. So don't you even dare say that I betrayed Viserys and you know full well that as far as I am concerned this has nothing to do with Rhaenyra, not for me anyway, perhaps for the Queen and for all the many Lords who can't stand to have a Queen ruling in her own right but for me it has always been Daemon,"

For a moment nobody said anything and then Lyman mournfully shook his head and said, "How your grandmother would weep if she saw her grandsons ready to kill each other."

I snarled back," Good, let the old bitch weep from the Seven Hells, and may she weep enough to fill the Rhoyne and more."

Lyman looked around and said, "You men may go about doing your treason but I will serve my Queen," He turned to leave but before I could react Criston grabbed him and placed him back on the chair.

Otto then said to him, "You will be going nowhere, Lord Beesbury." He turned to Criston and said, "Ser Criston, bring forth your sworn brothers and have them escort Lord Lyman to his chambers and keep him there until further notice."

Ser Rickard Thorne and Ser Willis Fell arrived to escort a protesting Lyman to his chambers, Criston made sure to gag him before they left the Queen's apartments.

It was the Hour of the Wolf and pretty it would become the Hour of the Nightingale.

With Beesbury gone, there was no more dissent in the Small Council or rather the Green Council. The rest of the night was spent drawing up plans for Aegon's hasty coronation, a list of all allies and enemies was worked out. And of course, contingency plans should war break out.

Rhaenyra was on Dragonstone about to give birth and this time she was due any moment instead of being a month early. As long as she was unaware of the events of King's Landing it would be an advantage to the Greens. We had the superior army on land while in the seas, the Blacks ruled it because of the edge in numbers given to them by the Velaryon fleet. It was in the dragons where we had an advantage.

"I think that we should bring the Silent Sisters to prepare my brother's body and a trusted Septon like Septon Eustace. The Silent Sisters won't go around saying anything and neither will Septon Eustace." I said to Alicent and Otto and Otto agreed with me for should Viserys' body start to swell and rot then people might start to suspect that something is wrong.

I looked over the military layout with Tyland. We tried to limit Dragonstone's military capabilities but Daemon caught on and began recruiting heavily from Pentos and Myr. The surviving war fleets of those cities were rebranded into the Royal Fleet without my or Tyland's approval as Daemon has Viserys' approval in this as in most things. But we held the advantage in the sense that my men were battle-hardened war veterans who fought with me from day one in the Stepstones. Once the call for mobilization for all reservists from Dorne and Tyrosh is sounded the army will have a twofold increase in size.

The city would have to be prepared for a possible siege, unlikely but better safe than sorry, once the war begins, only those who can store food and afford to feed their families for a whole year will be allowed to stay, the others will be expelled to prevent unnecessary mouths and to free up the military silos.

Once the coronation is done and the Stormlands secured, Maegelle, Helaena, the kids, my mother, and my wife with their dragons will go to Cape Maekar for their safety with the escort of the dragons. I reminded the Council that Daemon knew the hidden passages around the Red Keep. Mysaria is dead, Larys saw to it that her pickled head was sent to Dragonstone on Daemon's forty-sixth birthday but Daemon still has contacts in King's Landing and I am not risking a Blood and Cheese.

"There are two captains in the City Watch who must be replaced for they are loyal to Daemon. The Commander Adrian Thorne is sympathetic to us and he was not a member of the City Watch back when Lord Fleabottom led the Gold Cloaks," Otto pointed out when the conversation came to the City Watch and the Fire Watch. "My son. Gwayne shall serve as his second in command to ensure that there is no treachery."

My man Gareth was the Commander of the Fire Watch and loyal to me as were the rank and file. But the same could be said about the Gold Cloaks.

"Most of the other officers are on our side as well," Jasper remarked but I shook my head.

"You are forgetting the rank and file, it doesn't matter if the officers are loyal to us, the brutes ever see Daemon flying atop Caraxes over the city, they will turn cloak. I do not doubt that. The same can be said about the Fire Watch," I pointed out.

"What do you suggest that we do?" Alicent worriedly asked.

"Well, for starters, make sure that it is the Royal Army that is guarding the Red Keep, not the Gold Cloaks. For now, that would be the best thing to do," I said with a shrug. The soldiers of the Royal Army who protected the Red Keep were a special battalion led by Captain Adrian Tarbeck called the Royal Guard. They wielded halberds and were fully covered in plate armor from head to toe. They were the most elite division of the Royal Army.

"Do nothing, but you just said that Daemon's loyalists infect the City Watch," Alicent incredulously asked.

"What do you expect to do?" I asked, "The only thing to do right now is to wait and ensure that any plots that Daemon tries to weave with his loyalists are foiled from the start. I would assume that duty falls to Lord Larys here," I said pointing to the smiling man who bowed his head in agreement.

"Shouldn't we purge them right away?" Criston asked dumbly.

"And who exactly will keep the peace in the city if you purge a thousand and five hundred men from the city," I mockingly asked.

"The Fire Watch," The dumb fool answered. No matter what happens, this fool should never be made the Hand of the King, Otto is far better.

"And who exactly will put out the fires?" I asked back.

Tyland then spoke before I lost my temper, "There are four thousand men right now in the City Watch and the Fire Watch who keep the peace and protect the city from burning down, if we cut that to half, then the resources of the Fire Watch will be stretched to their limit and beyond. If we were to purge the City Watch then we would have to have a hiring surge to make up for filling the ranks and if our experiences with the Royal Army during hiring surges have taught us anything it is that any hiring surge comes with a huge drop in quality."

Otto then spoke, "Instead of wasting time hunting for Daemon's men, it would be better that we wait for them to turn cloak when we can catch them or better foil their plots in the shadows, and for that Lord Larys, you will have to work on that."

Larys wordlessly nodded.

But by far the most important thing was the Treasury, the massive overflowing treasury that nobody could imagine. When Viserys inherited the Iron Throne, he received a treasury of seven million gold dragons which in itself was a massive amount, it was the first time that any Targaryen king ever received a surplus treasury but now with all the spoils from the conquests and tributes, there was around thirty million gold dragons. This was simply far too much to be kept in a single place.

Tyland, the newly appointed Master of Coin reported, "I have planned on dividing the treasury into seven parts, three parts will go to the Iron Bank, the Odorys Bank, and the Rogare Bank, a part will go to Cape Maekar, another to Oldtown, and another to Casterly Rock, and the final part will remain her which we shall use to bribe Lords and hire sellswords from the East to bolster our forces."

"Even then, it is still too much, when the Seasnake inevitably closes the Gullet, the trade across the seas will stop and the value of the shares of the RTC will plummet with it. Keep a certain amount aside to bolster the value of the shares and to keep confidence in the market else we shall find ourselves with a very angry company in our city," I advised and both Otto and Tyland agreed while the rest except for Larys didn't understand a word I said.

The servants who knew of Viserys' death were to be held in the dungeons as were the Blacks at court until all of them bent their knees.

Otto instructed Criston, "We shall give every man and woman a chance to bend the knee to Aegon. Do them no violence unless they resist. those who bend the knee and swear fealty to our king shall suffer no harm from us."

"And if they do not bend the knee?" Orwyle asked.

"Then they shall die a traitor's death," Ironrod firmly answered.

"I suggest that we keep the executions for the nobles after the war and then give them a chance to bend the knee. If you execute everyone right here and right now all you will do is motivate their loved ones back in their castles to raise the banners for Rhaenyra." I interjected. "The last thing we need is motivated people fighting for Rhaenyra until the bitter end because we killed their loved ones, while I don't doubt that we might win, it will be more costly in gold and blood, and with winter coming as the Starks are oft to say it would be unwise to spend too many resources on a war that is better won with diplomacy."

Otto nods in agreement while Criston Cole and Ironrod look like they have sucked a lemon. They expected me to side with the whole executions thing.

Then Larys Strong finally spoke, "Let us be the first to swear lest there be traitors amongst us." He drew out his dagger. "A blood oath to bind us all together, brothers unto death."

There is no way that I am doing that blood oath shit with Larys of all people when there might be a certain Trystane Truefyre. I get up from my chair and I say before the others can draw out their daggers, "Making blood oaths is all well and good but it is in my personal experience that if the central person to a plot doesn't agree with you then your plot is dead then and there, blood oath or no. Bring Aegon and then we should proceed."

Otto didn't agree with it but Alicent did, "Ser Criston, please bring both my sons here. Aegon and Aemond must be here with us as Prince Maekar has stated, also bring Gaemon and Haegon here as well."

As Ser Criston left to bring the boys to the Council there was a lull where we broke off into groups to talk.

Otto and Alicent were talking together as were Jasper and Orwyle, I turned to Tyland, "Give out the call for all reservists to assemble while putting the Fleet on standby for further orders."

Tyland asked me, "If it comes down to it, our ships can easily outclass those that the Seasnake has but I do not doubt that they might have learned their lessons from watching the previous battles and prepared accordingly. Not to mention, the numbers are against us."

I thought for a while before saying, "Tell the Admirals and the Captains, no matter what happens, they are not to be drawn into a fight in open water, keep the Velaryon fleet close and congested where their numbers work against them."

Then the four boys arrive, the Hour of the Nightingale is about to end and dawn is about to break. Other than Aemond and Gaemon who might have already woken up for their early morning practice while Aegon and Haegon were still bleary-eyed and in their night clothes.

As Otto and Alicent explained the situation to Aegon, I noticed both Aemond and Gaemon eager for a chance at war while Haegon looked at me for guidance. I nodded to him in reassurance, he was a quiet and unassuming boy who would prefer to be in the shadows, a true introvert if there ever was one.

Once the whole spiel was done, Aegon answered, "He named Rhaenyra as heir, if I steal that then I will be called a usurper, and this will start a war, a war that could easily become a war of kinslaying at its finest." Aegon knew the dirty reality of war which is why he was hesitant to get into a war of dragons, rightfully so.

Criston tried to convince him, "If you do not take the throne, Aegon, then Rhaenyra will kill you immediately after ascending the Iron Throne, Not just you, but your brothers and your son. She has to kill them if she expects her bastards to rule after her."

Aegon turned to me, "What do you say Uncle Maekar?"

All eyes turned to me, I was the one who could spell the beginning of the war. "I was in a similar situation as you are now, twenty-five years ago but I would say that I had worse odds back then. Had Daemon come after me with his goons and if I escaped I would have certainly declared rebellion, if nothing else but to save my life. But Viserys was never one to believe half-baked rumors so Daemon nor the Kingsguard did not come after me and I did not have to worry for my safety. So the question you have to ask yourself is do you worry about Rhaenyra going after your head."

"The decision is yours Aegon, others will say what they have to say but the final choice is yours to take and yours alone," I said to him with a finality as I got up.

"Where are you going?" Otto asked as I began to walk out of the room.

"No matter what happens I will kill Daemon, and for that, I need the Army and the Fleet ready," I said as I left the room.

In the end, the fear of Rhaenyra and Daemon won out as Aegon agreed to go along with the plot.

The next day Ravens flew from the Red Keep to Oldtown, Casterly Rock, Tyrosh and Lys, and all of the Green supporters and sympathizers and everyone else who supported Viserys at the Great Council. As for Riverrun, Highgarden, and Storm's End, it was dragons that would go to convince them instead of ravens.

After the coronation, Aemond would go to Storm's End, Gaemon would go to Riverrun and Haegon would go to Highgarden

There was no stink from Viserys' corpse because I had the Silent Sisters work on him before they were swallowed up by the dungeons after they were done. We needed to get this secrecy thing over before it was too late. It wasn't much of the secret as most of the officers in the Army and the Fleet knew about the Viserys' death and that Aegon was to be crowned after him instead of Rhaenyra. By and large, they gave their support.

"We can not keep this a secret for much longer, it has been five days, we should have a coronation as soon as possible," Shiera insisted. Otto wanted to wait another week but Alicent agreed with Shiera, this couldn't wait any longer before too many people got suspicious, already the Red Keep dungeons were filled to the brim with any possible traitors.

So finally, after six days of his death, the bells began to ring for Viserys' death while ravens flew across the realm announcing the ascension of Aegon II Targaryen while riders rode across the city to spread the word, "King Viserys is dead, long live King Aegon." Tomorrow would be the coronation in the Dragonpit.

I had ordered the City Watch and the Fire Watch to arrest anyone who dared to say, "Long live our Queen."

"I don't understand why I can't participate in the war while everyone else goes off fighting," Maegelle raged around in the Small Council chambers. Looks like she is in a mood. Why are both Gaemon and Maegelle such temperamental freaks, why can't they be more like Haegon, a calm, quiet, and collected boy,

The reasoning for being a queen, a woman, a mother who gave birth five months ago just doesn't register with her. Alicent, Shiera, and Viserra are at their wits' end while Aegon has wisely stayed away from the conversation. So the next person happens to be me.

"You will get your chance, calm down," I said to her trying to stop her temper from further exploding and it worked.

"And when is that?" She asks calming down.

"You will be given the escort of a thousand men from Fort Blackfyre to go all the way to Cape Maekar while you are at it, I want you to fly to Starfall and convince Tristan Dayne to side with us, Benedict Dayne may have not but his son is different, once he sides with us, his armies will join ours from the Stormlands and Dorne and march up to King's Landing all the while, you and Haegon will fly to Tyrosh and Lys and rally the army there with the army of the Stepstones and march on Pentos and Myr. Once you capture the two cities, you and Haegon will consolidate your fleet gather the army, and attack Dragonstone while we do the same from our side."

"And while you are at it, there are a few Dothraki horse lords who might offer to fight as mercenaries for you, be sure to take their help. I know quite a few of them who might help you, just say my name for they are scared of me. I know that Daemon's commanders will do the same," I finished.

She was mollified with this though the other ladies were not. Before they could rage at me for throwing Maegelle into the conflict, "Calm down everyone, she just needs a taste of battle to realize its ugly truth and if she relishes in battle like Queen Visenya, we will be fools to keep her chained."

It was pitch dark with a crescent moon above when I looked over the walls of King's Landing by the Blackwater but I managed to make out a certain skiff with a few guardsmen, a couple of stewards, a squire, and a knight of the Kingsguard with a fisherman trying to make their way across the bay with a certain crown.

To my side was a certain man named Ben 'Bean' Storm from the archers, a good shot if Aegon is to be believed while on the other was Black Trombo and his Myrish crossbowmen who had sworn themselves to my service.

I asked Ben, "Can you make out that skiff over there in the darkness?"

"I can, Your Grace," He nodded.

"Good, take a flaming arrow," I said to him before I turned to Trombo who was standing with his men, "Aim for wherever the flaming arrow hits that skiff, in the two seconds it takes to put out the flame, you and your men must riddle that boat with crossbow bolts, think you can do it."

Trombo confidently nodded, "Yes, we can. We are far better than whatever crossbowmen your brother has in Dragonstone and we can certainly make this shot."

"Good, let us put it to the test," I said to him before turning to Ben who had a flaming arrow knocked on his bow. Once the ten crossbowmen were ready, I nodded, "Do it."

Ben drew his bow, aimed, and released his flaming quarry within a second, the only sound was the twang of the bow as the flaming arrow whooshed through the air and found its mark. Shouts of surprise came out of the skiff before they were quietened and the flame smothered out but it was too late as the crossbowmen loosed their quarells. The sickening sound of impact was followed by grunts and cries of pain as certain bodies fell into the water.

"Do it two more times, same place," I commanded them while I turned to one of the lieutenants near me, "Get a ship down there and investigate."

After an all-night search, the remains of the skiff were found as were the bodies of all nine escapees but it seems that the crown will be at the bottom of Blackwater Bay.

The next day morning, we had the coronation in the Dragonpit. It was crowded inside at maximum capacity to the point that the City Watch had to stop admitting people in.

Otto, ever the orator, began with a loud voice that carried over a significant part of the Dragonpit, I would imagine that with the hubbub of the Dragonpit, not many would hear him speak just those that were nearby.

"PEOPLE OF KING'S LANDING, TODAY IS A SAD DAY, FOR OUR BENEVOLENT KING VISERYS THE PLENTIFUL IS DEAD." He has been dead for some time now but no one needed to know that right now. Otto does know how to make a sad face when needed. The people began to quiet down once they learned that Otto was speaking.

"IT IS ALSO THE JOYOUS OF DAYS FOR WITH HIS LAST DYING WISH WITH HIS LAST BREATH THE KING HAS NAMED HIS FIRSTBORN SON AEGON TO SUCCEED HIM AS KING." Need a legitimate reason after all, especially when the previous king named his daughter as heir and steadfastly refused to change it.

People began to whisper and murmur first before they began clapping as the soldiers meant for the honor guard marched into the Dragonpit and formed a path for Aegon.

The trumpeters began to blow their trumpets as the soldiers raised and crossed their swords waiting for Aegon. Then Aegon began his walk through the honor guard.

Ott continued as Aegon approached, "IT IS YOUR GOOD FORTUNE THAT YOU ARE ABLE WITNESS THIS HISTORIC EVENT," Naturally, the beginning of a Targaryen Civil War is indeed a historic event though I doubt that many people will call it a good fortune.

"A NEW BEGINNING FOR OUR REALM, A NEW KING TO RULE US ALL," Otto said as Aegon approached the stage.

Alicent came to Aegon and kissed him on the forehead and brought him forward to Septon Eustace where there was a pillow on the stone platform for him to kneel on.

"Remove that pillow," I commanded the Royal guards, "The King is a warrior and a soldier, not a pampered Prince." I gave Aegon a slight nod before looking back to the masses.

As one of the guards removed the pillow, Otto motioned to Aegon where to kneel while the holy oil was brought forth to Septon Eustace. He took a step and came in front of a kneeling Aegon and dipped his thumb in oil before blessing him by smearing the finger on his brow with each blessing.

"May the Warrior give him courage."

"May the Smith lend strength to his sword and shield."

"May the Father defend him in his deeds."

"May the Crone lift her shining lamp and light his way to wisdom."

The Mother, Maiden, and the Stranger were not used for coronations.

Then Alicent came to me with the crown of Aegon the Conqueror. By the time of Maegor's death and before Jaehaerys arrived in the Red Keep, the rubies in his crown were stolen, no one knows where they have gone and Jaehaerys did not want to even see that crown for he considered it tainted with his uncle's misdeeds and had it thrown into the vaults. Only the small circular ruby in the front and center was left, the main big square-cut rubies were gone, so once this crown was fished out of the vaults, Alicent had the jewelers working overnight to fix new square-cut rubies into it. Some of the rubies were hers that she gave for the crown. Good thing that we are loaded with jewelry.

"It should be you, Maekar, who crowns him. No one else," Alicent said to me handing me the crown.

I nodded as I took the crown and I went to a kneeling Aegon, I raised the crown to the crowd to see and I declared, "THE CROWN OF AEGON THE CONQUEROR, PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS OF TARGARYEN KINGS, DOES HEARBY REACH KING AEGON, SECOND OF HIS NAME OF HOUSE TARGARYEN."

I placed the crown on his head and I raised him from his knees, "BEHOLD, AEGON, SECOND OF HIS NAME, KING OF THE ANDALS, THE FIRST MEN, AND THE RHOYNAR, LORD OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS AND THE STEPSTONES, DEFENDER OF PENTOS, MYR, TYROSH, AND LYS, AND PROTECTOR OF THE REALM."

Then it is Maegelle's turn to be crowned, she kneels before Septon Eustace and the same thing happens as before. This time it is Alicent who crowns Maegelle with her own silver crown studded with rubies and emeralds and then kisses her and bows her head calling her, "My Queen."

One of the soldiers brings forth Blackfyre and Ser Criston bestows it to Aegon, "As the King, you must wield the sword of Kings, Blackfyre, the sword of the Conqueror."

Aegon drew out Blackfyre from its scabbard turned to the people and raised it in the air which turned the quiet and awkward clapping of the crowd into huge cheers from the people who began to roar with approval, that sword had a magical property of inspiring people, I don't know how but it did.

After Aegon and Maegelle flew over the city on Sunfyre and Ghost and landed in the outer courtyards, there was a feast thrown for at least a thousand people that day. Lords, knights, and other prominent people of the city.

I brought Aemond, Gaemon, and Haegon aside and said to them, "Once you reach the castles, do not go about threatening them or right away giving our offers. They will host feasts and hunts for you and you will be nice and play along after a week of these festivities you will reveal the main reason for your visit."

I turn to Aemond and place a hand on his shoulder and I say, "Aemond, you will offer your hand in marriage to one of Baratheon's daughters and get him to support us, where Storm's End goes there all Stormlords will go and with our army in the Stormlands you need fear much about Borros siding against us as your mother and grandfather might fear. He might haggle with you over the dowry and the bride price and be sure to haggle back with him, it is a sign that you have a spine and that you are not a pushover."

I then turn to Gaemon and I grab him by the head to ensure that he gets it through his head, "When you reach Riverrun be sure to befriend Lord Grover's great-grandsons Kermit and Oscar and intimidate his Black-supporting grandson Elmo. With Riverrun and Stone Hedge, the western part of the Riverlands will be forced to side with us regardless of whether they want to or not and Grover might ask you to convince his more recalcitrant vassals to side with us and you will do it. But stick to the western part of the Riverlands and force the Leffords into a siege before you force them to surrender."

Then finally there is Haegon, "And for you, Haegon, just lay it out for the Lady Regent in Highgarden that if she doesn't support us then she will lose Lord Paramountship for her house and if she even thinks about siding with the Blacks she will lose her fucking dress."

Haegon nodded and finally, I said, "And don't get into any fights, you are going as messengers and diplomats not as warriors."

That night as the feast was winding down, it was time for them to leave for the Dragonpit. While Haegon and Aemond mounted their horses, I called Gaemon back.

I took him aside and said to him while the other two left, "Listen Gaemon, once you get Lord Tully's allegiance and those of his nearby vassals especially the ones on the Red Fork to the west, you will march the army to the Golden Gate where Lord Lefford who hates me will hold out against you and Lord Jason, you must capture that castle and consolidate your forces and you must be the one to hold them together. Rivermen and Westermen do not like each other. Once your army is consolidated, march up north to deal with Frey and Mallister and cut off any Northern army that comes from the causeway up the Neck and whatever you do not go to the eastern part of the Riverlands no matter how much those Lords try to coax you and goad you into doing it."

"But why not go to the east?" Gaemon asked with a puzzled look.

"Because once the Blacks learn that we have crowned Aegon, Daemon will fly to Harrenhal to consolidate all the Black supporting forces. With Jeyne Arryn no longer fearing any possible usurpations, she will come with the might of the Vale down the Bloody Gate to Harrenhal. So if you go east, then you will run into them, and while the fucking Lords might want that fight you should not because you will face Daemon and Caraxes."

Before Gaemon can say anything, I grab his face, "And listen to me Gaemon, the Cannibal may be bigger than Caraxes but that means jack shit because Daemon is ten times the dragon rider that you are." I hug him before I say, "I do not want you to die which is why I want you not to face Daemon, I will take care of him."

Once we break the hug, I tell him, "Once you destroy any northern advance force, I want to go south to the Stoney Sept and then the Gold Road before going to King's Landing, crushing all Black supporters on the way, Daemon will leave your army alone as the prize is King's Landing."

Gaemon nods before leaving to mount his horse.

Within a few minutes, three dragons departed the Dragonpit in three directions.

Grand Maester Orwyle has gone to Dragonstone with the terms for Rhaenyra who by now not only has learned about the coup in King's Landing but also had her coronation with what Larys tells me is a golden circlet with rubies. As for her pregnancy, it seemed that she was already in a difficult labor when news reached her of Aegon's coronation. Wisely her councilors did not tell her this until two days after she recovered from giving birth to a new daughter named Aemma Targaryen, very much living.

The terms did not placate Rhaenyra as most of us knew it would, she instead threatened to declare all of us as traitors. So we responded by issuing bills of attainder against them and their supporters and they retaliated with the same to the point it was on the verge of becoming a full-blown war.

I convinced Otto not to send any offers to the Greyjoys, they will side with the Blacks out of feeling dishonored by us and that will be our excuse when we destroy them and remake their pirating and slaving society and bring back the Faith to the Iron Islands and make them civilized. The Small Council unanimously agreed with the plan, so a raven was sent to Casterly Rock to beware of any Ironborn attacks.

A raven arrived from Highgarden declaring their allegiances to Aegon, it was rather earlier than most of us had expected but I imagine Haegon's arrival must have intimidated Lady Tyrell then when another raven from Riverrun came declaring their allegiances to Aegon and yet nothing had come from Storm's End, it was decided that I should go to Storm's End.

"I will go to Storm's End and find out what has been taking so long," I talked to the Small Council and they agreed.

After a short flight to Storm's End, I arrived soaking wet at the castle of House Baratheon for it was in the middle of a storm, which might explain why no raven had yet been sent and I caught the shape of Vhagar by the walls of Storm's End but as I flew closer to the castle readying myself for a stormy landing I noticed that Vhagar was not the only dragon outside the walls of Storm's End, there was another and it was not the small Arrax, far larger of a messenger than I thought they would send.

I couldn't make out the coloring but I could see the crown of spikes on her head and then lightning struck in the sky and the brief light showed the color I needed to be certain it was her, it was the Red Queen. Rhaenys Velaryon nee Targaryen, the Queen who never was had come to Storm's End.

As I landed Vermithor, he roared that crossed the thunder of the storm, I dismounted from Vermithor and walked to the castle. All three dragons began to snap and growl at each other. I have a feeling that Lord Borros will be going crazy with the amount of large dragons here right now.

"Halt, who goes there, declare yourself," The sole guard standing outside the closed gates said to me as he whimpered in the rain while the dragons glared at him for interrupting. Poor guy, he wasn't paid enough for this, and his bad luck with the guard rotation was most unfortunate.

"I am Prince Maekar Targaryen, I am here to meet Lord Baratheon," I said to the guard and he quickly nodded and and opened the wicket gate. As I entered the outer ward of the castle, I noticed that there was yet another dragon inside, this one was Arrax. So he did come in the end. Four dragons in one place, this was not going to end well.

A couple of Knights came to escort me to the Round Hall.

As I walked into the Round Hall dripping wet, I noticed both Aemond and Rhaenys and Lucerys by the two sides of Lord Borros, it seemed that they had been in a shouting match that stopped to find out who was the new guest. Borros was enjoying things by the look of it as he tried to play them off each other but upon seeing me he became serious.

Aemond lit up upon seeing me while Rhaenys growled and Lucerys paled, "Uncle," Aemond called out as he came to me.

"We were wondering what took you so long, Gaemon and Haegon wrote of their success while nothing was heard from you," I said to him as I hugged him.

"I was delayed because of this bitch, it was going all well before she came with the bastard." He said turning to Rhaenys and Lucerys. The soldiers in the forts present in Stormlands were loyal to me, so I am assuming that Daemon and Rhaenyra saw that as a greater threat and sent her to deal with Borros. She wasn't happy about my arrival.

"Did you get the betrothal?" I asked him as I approached Borros.

"I did, the girl's name is Floris Baratheon but while we talked over the bride price and the dowry, she came in," Aemond informed me.

I turned to Borros, "Lord Borros, it is good to see you again."

"Indeed, Prince Maekar," Borros agreed with a little sweat.

I walked over to him, "Imagine my surprise when I learn that Highgarden, Riverrun, Casterly Rock, Oldtown, Tyrosh, and Lys have declared for King Aegon but not you my Lord. I dare not think that you would be disloyal to the King." That broke him into a bigger sweat, now he knew he was surrounded.

"The Queen," Rhaenys hissed, "King Viserys named Rhaenyra as his heir and you were the first one to kneel before her and swore your oath of loyalty."

I ignored her and I turned to Borros and said, "Tell me Lord Borros, would you side with us who have five battle-ready dragons that can change a battle and a war with their presence or will you side with those who have just two? Prince Aemond here has come offering his hand in marriage for your daughters, what does Lady Rhaenys offer other than an old relation, nothing but insult you by taking you for granted like a dog that she can whistle whenever she needs." I played to his pride and it worked.

"Very well, Prince Maekar and Prince Aemond, I accept your offer. I shall declare for King Aegon," Borros then finally said.

"If our shared blood means nothing to you, Lord Borros then so be it, I will take your answer to the Queen," Rhaenys declared, "Come, Luke." She said to him before turning to leave with Lucerys following her.

I decided to bait her into attacking me for the Blacks must cast the first stone, "Run along now, Rhaenys, go and tell Rhaenyra of your failure, then again that is all that you are good for, failing. Failing to convince our grandfather that you were good enough for the throne, Failing miserably at the Great Council, and now here. You failed as a mother and a wife as well, both your children are dead and I hear that Corlys has a mistress in Hull because he has grown tired of you. A certain Marilda of Hull I hear, the daughter of a shipwright, with two bastard sons from Corlys, Addam Waters and Alyn Waters."

She ignored most of my taunting but that last one ticked her off and with the famous Baratheon and Targaryen temper that she had, she lunged at me, "YOU SON OF A BITCH, HOW DARE YOU," She shouted before Borros' knights caught her from reaching us. Poor Luke was too scared to know what was happening.

"NOT IN MY HALL," Borros boomed, "Take the Lady Rhaenys and Prince Lucerys outside and escort them to their dragons."

As they left, I turned to Aemond, "Come, get your dragon. I have a strong feeling that she will try to kill us while we are still inside the castle by making Storm's End another Harrenhal."

"But why? She comes as an envoy just as me," Aemond asked as we quickly left the Round Hall after warning Borros to get everyone to safety in the bowels of the castle.

"Because I fucking baited her and what better chance for her to kill us both and leave Vhagar and Vermithor riderless, that will change the game for good, she may be a woman but she can be vicious when needed and I would do the same thing in her place," I replied as we rushed out into pouring rain in the yard. "And she probably sees Lord Baratheon siding with us as breaking the ties of blood she has with him."

Both Meleys and Arrax had taken off by the time we reached our dragons. I said to Aemond, "I will deal with her and take her attention while you come from behind. She will be after me more than you. I will take her up above the clouds, that's where we will have it easier than in this rain."

"What about the bastard?" Aemond asked as we crossed the wicket gate.

"Leave him," I answered, "Let him run back home, he is not a threat."

I climbed aboard Vermithor and I quickly attached my chains before I prepared to take off while Aemond was still putting on his chains.

Despite the rain, Vermithor spread his wings and took a running leap before flapping his wings powerfully sending gusts of wind and making the necessary lift for him to fly up in the middle of the storm. Usually, during storms, I wouldn't fly and I would mostly land, in all my years this is the first time I have ever taken off in the middle of a storm.

As Vermithor ascended into the clouds, Vhagar began her take off. I snapped my whip over Vermithor's head twice to increase his speed and he flapped his wings further to create the needed speed as then as we ascended into the skies near the clouds, a forked lightning struck and in the brief light, I saw Meleys descending straight for Storm's End.

I wait until Meleys lets loose a stream of blinding hot orange fire into the outer yard of Storm's End. This is my caucus beli. She must have noticed both Vermithor and Vhagar not being present as she tried to ascend back and that is when we struck, I snapped my whip, and Vermithor roared as we came out of the clouds and released a blast of brass flames straight at Meleys as she ascends but she gracefully rolls away from the flames before turning to face us.

I crack my whip over Vermithor's head as we turn to meet them. I see that Meleys' maws are open with orange flames dancing inside and instinctively Vermithor does the same and the moment that all of Westeros dreads has arrived.

"DRACARYS," I shout as I see the flames from Meleys come toward me.

The orange stream of flames that come from Meleys is countered by the brass flames of Vermithor. And once more it happens as a stream of orange flames is countered by a gout of brass flames by Vermithor, then once more as Meleys lets loose another stream of flames to be countered by yet another brass fireball.

And then it was my turn as I snapped my whip for Vermithor to loose a jet of brass flames that hissed in the rain. Meleys dodged the flames before returning with one of her own, I grabbed Vermithor's reins as we narrowly avoided the flames with a violent jerk.

This was no good, I decided to play to my strengths as I grabbed the reins and made Vermithor close the gap between us and she ascended to meet us while we descended to begin the grappling match that would change history. Meleys was at most, just two-thirds the size of Vermithor and that was my advantage, Meleys was faster and more agile compared to Vermithor and I couldn't play to her strengths.

As we closed the distance, Vermithor roared and Meleys gave a similar reply before we slammed into each other. Then began the slugging match as both dragons began to tear at each other in a vicious battle of tooth and talon. Each impact rattled me but I tied well by the chains and I did not let up.

"KEEP AT IT, VERMITHOR, FINISH THE BITCH," I screamed as both dragons struggled viciously to find purchase on each other in the darkness of the storm. I could feel that with each grapple, Vermithor was winning as Meleys tried to break off the attack only to be grabbed by the claws and jaws of Vermithor and then Vhagar arrived.

With two dragons, Meleys was trapped as her attacks became more desperate. When Meleys finally broke free of Vermithor's grasp she would find herself to face Vhagar and an even more desperate struggle ensued before Meleys finally broke off and dived low well below the two of us.

Vhagar followed her down but I knew this trick, I stayed above waiting for her ascent and as Meleys ascended making a break for the clouds, I pounced. Meleys managed to barely avoid Vermithor's searching jaws and claws and I began to pursue her up. I unleashed streams of roiling fire to slow her down but she just wouldn't stop as she nimbly dodged everything I threw at her. If she made it to the clouds and above she would be able to outfly us, I had to grab her before it was too late.

And then as she was nearing the top of the clouds, my break came from down below as Vhagar unleashed a massive stream of searing hot bronze flames straight at Meleys and forced her to slow down as she tried to dodge, dodge she did but she came into my grasp as Vermithor crashed headlong into her.

This time as we grappled, we had a clear advantage as we began to tear away at her even as we broke out of the clouds. Once we broke out into the bright sunlight, Meleys made a final desperate attempt to escape but I baited her as I found the perfect chance to grab her neck. And when she was open, Vermithor lunged forward as he closed his jaws around her neck, now she was done for. No matter how hard she struggled, no matter how desperately she scrambled.

To put the final nail in the coffin, Vhagar finally emerged from the clouds, and then, unexpectedly, a certain small dragon arrived, it was Arrax, he unleashed his golden flames straight at me, Vermithor in an attempt to protect me, loosened his jaw on Meleys' neck as he ducked and raised his wing to shield me. But it was slightly too late as some of the golden flames reached me. I raised my left hand to protect myself, the flames ate through my water-soaked clothes before licking into my skin causing me to scream in pain. A scream that Vermithor echoed with a bellowing roar and blast of flames straight at the small dragon.

Arrax dodged the flames before he turned to Vhagar and unleashed another stream on her head-on, I heard Rhaenys scream into the air, "LUKE NO"

But it was too late as an enraged Vhagar bellowed a mighty roar that caused both Meleys and Vermithor to shy away from her before she unleashed a massive stream of flames that hit Arrax straight on the body. The dragon and the boy screamed in agony. Once the flames subsided the once pearlescent white scales became blackened with ash as most began to fall off. The wings were burnt to a crisp while the boy might as well be as good as dead. But the Queen of Dragons was not satisfied as she lunged forward and crushed the dragon's body and the boy between her jaws.

All that was left were the tail and head of the dragon along with other bits.

For a while, all three dragons merely stayed aloft as their riders looked on in shock. And then Meleys flapped her wings and tried to escape, she had rents in her wing membranes and if I wanted I could have chased her but before that, I felt the pain in my left arm spike as the burns began to make their presence known.

I hissed in pain as I brought Vermithor low before turning back to head to King's Landing for healing. Storm's End is no doubt half-burnt and their Maester working to death. Maybe this act will force Borros to take a more active role in the fighting rather than waiting till the end.

I will get Rhaenys later in the war, seeing me leave the pursuit of Rhaenys, Aemond, and Vhagar follow me back to King's Landing.