Chapter 15: A Son for a Son

129 AC

"I honestly do not understand why you are upset about what happened at Storm's End," I remarked as Orwyle changed the dressing on my burns that would eventually turn to scars. "We all knew that war was inevitable. All Aemond and I have done is tilt the board more heavily in our favor." For some reason, Otto and Alicent were upset that we won the Dance over Shipbreaker Bay. They didn't say anything to my face but it was obvious that they were not happy with what I did and with Aegon deciding to throw a feast to celebrate our great victory, they didn't say anything though they got everything that they wanted and more.

Now Borros was certain to jump headfirst into the fighting instead of dallying about, so that was a win.

"You have emboldened Rhaenyra to fight to the death. We could have tried to coerce her into giving up her claim if she realized that the realm was against her," Alicent replied. She was the only woman of the Royal Family left in King's Landing while the rest were on the way to Cape Maekar.

I snorted and said straight to her face, "As long as either Daemon or myself am alive, there will never be a diplomatic end to this."

"Can you at least be certain that the Red Queen will die of her wounds," Otto asked.

I nodded, "Vermithor was on the verge of snapping her neck before that pesky boy signed his death warrant. The strain of flying to Dragonstone with those injuries not to mention that she was leaking blood like a sieve. I will be surprised if the Red Queen lives longer than an hour after arriving in Dragonstone."

"We have received word that a call has been given out in Dragonstone to the dragonseeds. Those who can tame the wild dragons will be rewarded with lands, riches, and titles." Tyland informed the Green Council. Larys was suspiciously absent while Aegon was present and bored out of his mind as was Criston Cole for that matter.

After Tyland was made the Master of Coin, I took over as Master of Ships in addition to my position of Master of War and I merged the offices to better control the allocation of resources for the war effort and I made a new position subordinate to the Master of War called the Secretary of the Navy, a post taken by a civil servant called Thomas Cooper. I have seen to it that the Army and the Navy have a strong sense of bureaucratic hierarchy and are subordinate to the civilian leadership, the last thing we need is for Army officers to have political ambitions and power.

Jasper snorted, "Giving dragons and titles to dragonseeds, what else do we need to show the world that Rhaenyra is the Queen who will ruin all our traditions."

"So what do we do next? I am flooded with complaints from the merchants who are upset about the blockade the Seansnake has placed on us," Aegon asked as there was a lull after Jasper's comment that nobody wanted to follow up on.

"We have engaged blockade runners to slip through the Seasnake's blockade unfortunately Lady Baela is the one enforcing the blockade and her dragon Moondancer is a rather swift dragon adept in catching any of the ships who can slip past the Seasnake's ships," Tyland answered. Unlike the dwarf horse that was the OTL Moondancer, this one happened to be a lot larger, around the same size as that of Vermax and Bloodfyre, and significantly faster than either of them.

"We have to wait until Maegelle and Haegon capture Myr and Pentos, once our armies and fleets in the East have been consolidated, we shall attack from sides and not only break the blockade but also capture Dragonstone," I answered.

"And how long will that take?" Criston impatiently asked, "We must deal with all the other traitors who refuse to kneel to the king in the meantime."

"A little patience has never hurt anyone. It is impatience and unpreparedness that kills most armies. I began my preparations for the War in the Stepstones before King Viserys even agreed to marry Queen Alicent and I departed for the Stepstones, three years later and the results speak for themselves. Not only have the Stepstones for the first time in recorded history been pacified and occupied by any political entity of Westeros, but that same army went on to capture Tyrosh and break Dorne." I answered, "If you want to look at a war effort made rushed and without preparations then need I ask you to see the war engaged by Daemon and the Seasnake in the Stepstones before I arrived."

"Prince Maekar is right, it is important that we carefully take our next steps. Fighting has broken out in the Riverlands and the Reach between the Royalists and the rebels. My nephew Ormund has things well in hand and is taking care of them. " Otto informed the Green Council.

"I thought that we were the strongest in the Reach," Aegon asked bemusedly. Otto overestimated the influence of House Hightower.

While it is not as bad as before with both House Rowan, Tyrell, Oakheart, and Tarly siding with the Greens because of me, the same cannot be said about House Beesbury, Costayne, Caswell, Mullendore, Ball, Grimm, Hewett, Chester, and Serry. The reasons for joining the Blacks vary from 'keeping my grandfather imprisoned in the Black cells' to 'I hate Ormund Hightower for being a colossal prick who thinks too much of himself'. I have a feeling that after Alicent married Viserys, House Hightower gloated a bit too much with their heads in the clouds to understand that it caused envy amongst their bannermen much less their peers. The lesser lords and houses on the decline in the Reach have declared for Rhaenyra in hopes of advancement while the more established and powerful lords have sided with Aegon.

The bitch in Highgarden tried to go back to neutrality when so many declared for Rhaenyra in the Reach but I sent a letter daring her to even think of doing that. Not a peep from Highgarden since then. The Steward of Highgarden is raising an army in Highgarden. Still, instead of going around attacking the Black supporters around him, he is waiting for Ormund Hightower's army to arrive at Highgarden to join him. These Tyrells do know how to drag their feet.

While there is no question that with the help of Daeron on Tessarion, Ormund will be able to bring most of the Black lords of the Reach to heel it will take time and resources.

"It seems that we erred in that assumption," I remarked as Otto looked like he sucked a lemon, "The Riverlords are bitterly divided as expected. The western and southern Riverlands have declared for us while the eastern and northern Riverlands have declared for Rhaenyra. Gaemon has consolidated our loyalists and will soon begin his march on the Golden Tooth for House Lefford has declared for Rhaenyra." I saw that last one coming a mile away ever since I whipped the shit out of Lord Humpfrey Lefford's son Martyn Lefford during the conquest of Dorne.

The Lannisters will attack the Golden Tooth from the west while Gaemon will attack it from the east, I just hope that Daemon does not attack from the rear while they are engaged. The Arryns have declared for Rhaenyra and the Knights of the Vale have begun massing at the Bloody Gate ready to march, ever since Daemon wiped out all opposition to Jeyne Arryn's rule in the Vale, it seems that Jeyne is honor-bound to provide all the help she can give to Rhaenyra instead of dragging her feet like before. We tried to get the Royce's to declare for Aegon but those honor-obsessed fools refused to turn against their liege lady.

Winterfell has declared for Rhaenyra after Jacaerys' visit that ended in pretty much the same way as OTL with the pact of Ice and Fire.

"So what do we do now?" Aegon then asked as we began to look at the grim situation upon us. The map on the Small Council table wasn't as green as we would want it to be.

"I suggest that we wait until Lord Baratheon arrives before we march out to deal with House Darklyn and the others in the Crownlands who have refused to bend the knee, it will give more time to train the men. Every additional day of training for these Green boys is vital. We have gathered green boys from the streets of the city to bolster our numbers. It will take a while before they are battle-ready. Daemon won't move until the Arryns arrive which gives us time."

As Aegon nodded, Larys Strong finally hobbled into the Small Council chambers on his cane.

"You are late, Lord Larys," Otto said as he bowed to Aegon and sat down in his designated place.

"A thousand apologies, Your Graces and My Lords for have I been listening to the words of my little mice, they have been giving me the most delightful of news as of late," He answered apologetically.

"And what is this delightful news?" Aegon asked.

"It seems that Prince Maekar was right all along, the Red Queen is indeed dead, she died almost immediately after reaching Dragonstone. Princess Rhaenyra is beside herself in grief over the death of her bastard son whilst Lord Corlys and the beleaguered Lady Rhaenys had quite a fight over the matter of the Seansnake's bastard sons, she has now secluded herself in High Tide, rumors abound that she is slipping into madness. The Blacks are on the verge of tearing themselves apart at this point," He answered smoothly.

He continued, "I believe that it is the arrival of Jacaerys Waters from the North that has held the Blacks together for now."

"This is indeed delightful news," Criston said with a savage grin.

After a while of further talking and devising plans, it was time to adjourn for the day, before everyone left I warned, "I suggest that we double the guards around Queen Alicent's and Ser Otto's person for I have a good feeling that Daemon will try to do something. I am not sure what but he will do something, perhaps an assassination."

"Prince Maekar speaks true, there is no question that Daemon will do something. Even though the White Worm is dead, Lord Fleabottom has connections in the city who might try something unsavory." Tyland agreed with me. There was no way that Blood and Cheese would happen this time around, no thug of Daemon would be able to infiltrate the escort carrying the children that were protected by Dreamfyre, Silverwing, and Ghost.

Later as everyone left the Small Council chambers, I was left alone with Aegon and Criston.

"Are there any Lords in the Black cells who will submit?" Aegon asked Criston.

"Rosby and Stokworth are ready to submit according to the chief goaler but not Gunthor Darklyn," Criston answered.

"We will let Rosby and Stokeworth bend the knee tomorrow," Aegon nodded.

"How many men are ready to march at a moment's notice?" Aegon then asked me.

"Around five thousand, including the regular soldiers and the conscripts who are trained well enough to fight," I replied as I poured the Arbor Gold. "Another five thousand are still being marshaled as we speak."

"Five thousand is more than enough, with the dragons, Duskendale will fall within an hour and Rooks Rest following that," Criston confidently asserted.

Aegon expectantly turned to me, "There are seven thousand Stormlanders under Borros gathered at Storm's End. We should wait for them or at the very least ten thousand soldiers of the Royal Army stationed in the Stormlands and Dorne is marching up the Kingsroad as we speak."

"We should wait for the Royal Army, they will arrive within a week but not the Stormlanders who will take more time," Criston advised Aegon.

"What is the plan to deal with Daemon after we deal with the rebel lords of the Crownlands?" Aegon then asked after thinking for some time.

"We will attack Harrenhal in a pincer. Gaemon will advance from the north after dealing with the Twins and Seagard after he joins up with the Westermen, we shall march from both sides of the God's Eye while two divisions of the Royal Fleet that have been outfitted with ships for sailing up and down the Blackwater sailing parallel to both armies." I answered. The Ironborn longships were indeed something, they could sail in both seas and rivers, so I got some of the shipwrights from the Iron Islands to work in the Royal shipyards building longships for the Royal Fleet for this very purpose.

"Which armies will go for that attack from King's Landing?" Aegon then asked.

"I have planned for half the Royal army alongside Lord Baratheon's men and Lord Rowan's men," I responded before continuing, "Lord Thaddeus Rowan is raising an army of around ten thousand men from the Northern Reach, once he is done dealing with any Black holdouts in the area, he will march through the Gold Road to King's Landing to join us. I will go with Lord Rowan while Aemond will go with Borros Baratheon."

I had planned on Gaemon coming down South after dealing with the Riverlords but it seemed that Lord Thaddeus had things well in hand, so it brought about a change of plans.

"And what will the king be doing all this while?" Criston then asked.

I answered as I took a sip of the wine, "Once word arrives of our victory in Harrenhal, the King can launch the final assault on Dragonstone with Prince Daeron and Lord Hightower's army. All the while my son and daughter will attack from the Narrow Sea after conquering Pentos and Myr. Both cities have been stripped of most of their battle-hardened men and all that is left are the green boys and the grey beards. The cities should fall soon enough. Haegon has already left for Tyrosh. His grandfather and future goodfather have begun raising armies for our cause."

"Shouldn't I come along for the attack on Harrenhal?" Aegon then asked.

"It will look better if you are the one who attacks Dragonstone and finishes off Rhaenyra," I replied. "Not to mention, if you leave along with us then that will leave King's Landing with only Daeron should he arrive on time that is."

Then Criston asked, "But what if Rhaenyra attacks while you are gone for dealing with Daemon? Most of the army from Pentos and Myr has already been ferried for what we can assume to be a major assault on King's Landing. If Daemon slips past you and flies down straight down theGods Eye and arrives straight above the skies of King's Landing. The Gold Cloaks will show their true colors then. We will be under assault from within and without and from the air."

I nodded as I drank my cup deeply, "True, that is a risk. If the Hightower Army does not arrive on time, then we must leave Lord Rowan here with his army to defend the city. All the more reason why the King should stay here. The Fire Watch has been warned not to trust the Gold Cloaks, so even if the City Watch switches sides, they will be dealt with before Rhaenyra's army can get a foothold on the city walls or the gates. The Royal Fleet will be able to hold back the Velaryon Fleet at the mouth of the Blackwater where the numbers of the Velaryon ships will not help."

Aegon questioned, "How long will it take for them to train these dragonseeds into using the dragons properly? I am assuming that it will take nearly half a year to properly train whichever bastard ever manages to bond with a dragon. Because Rhaenyra will only attack once the dragonseeds if and when they bond with whatever dragons they have been trained properly. And Daemon will probably be hoping that we attack from three sides with all our dragons to ensure that he has a decent chance to get to King's Landing and find it undefended. Even if it means sacrificing his army as bait."

"We can send word to Prince Daeron to arrive at King's Landing with all haste once the Hightower army has reached Highgarden, by then most of the Black holdouts will have given up." Criston then suggested.

Aegon nodded, "We should."

"So what about Duskendale and Rooks Rest?" I asked.

"We should wait until the Royal Army from the Stormlands and Dorne reaches King's Landing, then we can take Duskendale and Rooks Rest. Once Lord Baratheon and Lord Rowan arrive, we can plan our march on Harrenhal," Aegon decided. "That will give time for Gaemon to deal with the Twins and Seagard."

"Why are we dallying about with Gunthor Darklyn? his head must be placed on a spike atop the gates," Criston then remarked.

"Because we are not bloodthirsty vengeful monsters who go about killing people off," I remarked rolling my eyes.

"The enemies of the king must be met with fire and blood. Those who do not bend the knee must find their heads on spikes above the gates of the city." Criston countered.

"All in due time to the most recalcitrant of nobles," I replied, "We must give them the understanding that the Princess that they support with misguided notions has failed them. These people that you desire to execute are still the King's subjects who have erred in their judgment and it is for us to show them the light. Once all this is done we must reconcile with them for we are one kingdom under one king. If you treat these people who support Rhaenyra as your sworn enemy and treat them as such then you sow seeds of division and hatred that will poison the kingdom. for future generations."

I turned to Aegon, "When your rebellious subjects disobey you, you must meet that with fire and blood but once they go down to their knees you must help them back up, or else no one will ever bend the knee to you. You need just look at Maegor. These same subjects that you must protect go from Reachmen who were once leal vassals of your mother's family to unwashed barbarians from the north who are seen as heathens to the newly freed slaves of the east."

"Considering your reputation, Prince Maekar. I would expect you to have taken a more hardline approach as would many," The asshole snarked back.

"You are a man who knows how to kill and lead men in battles but you know nothing about how a man needs to lead a war, you know nothing about the duties and the obligation that a Lord has to his people much less the king." I bit back before continuing, "When the subjects of the king err in their ways, they must be disciplined and brought back into the fold. When the wolves seek to hurt the flock, then they must be destroyed. There is a stark difference, Ser Criston, between the king's subjects who have erred and the wolves outside our door. They must be dealt with differently."

High Tide

"Grandmother, you cannot just stay here forever," Rhaena quietly said to her disheveled grandmother. Ever since Grandfather's infidelity was revealed, it became too much for her once proud and powerful grandmother. With the loss of Meleys, Luke's heroic sacrifice, and Rhaenyra's accusations, her grandmother was now a shell of the woman she once used to be.

"You do not understand children," Grandmother quietly whispered.

"Oh, we understand well enough," Baela declared, "I have half a mind to roast Grandfather right here and now but that is exactly what they want us to do. They want to split us apart." 'They' being the Greens and, more specifically, her uncle Maekar, the devil in man's clothing. He got into her grandmother's head and twisted it to his ends.

Rhaena went to her grandmother and held her hands and pleaded, "You are not some pathetic helpless woman that we see right now, this is not you, grandmother. You are Rhaenys Targaryen, a princess, the Lady of Driftmark not that whore that grandfather has, a dragon rider who will regain her honor and get another dragon. You are our grandmother and it hurts us to see you like this."

"Whatever nonsense Maekar may have said to you is false, you have not failed as a mother nor a wife," Baela continued.

Rhaena pled once more, "Please grandmother, come back, the Greens are winning the war. If you do not intervene we will all lose our lives: me, Baela, Alyssa. You are the only one who can stop that. That demon Maekar will not spare us and you know it."

"If not for us your granddaughters then come back for yourself, grandmother, and prove him wrong," Baela said after her.

It seemed that their words had little effect on her, so after a while, they gave up and left.

As Rhaena walked with Baela to the outer courtyard of High Tide where the dragons were kept, Rhaena thought of what the future held for them.

The war was now in full swing and it looked like the Greens were winning. If things kept up the way they were then surely the Queen's cause would falter further. There was enough and more grumbling about the dragonseeds and now with a schism between Houses Targaryen and Velaryon, some people would be convinced to desert and abandon the Queen in her hour of dire need. No doubt the Greens sowing the seeds of distrust between them.

As they arrived at the outer courtyard, Morning raised her head to meet her, even now it was Morning's presence that stilled her fears. Morning may not be as large as Vermax or Moondancer but she was large enough to be ridden but still young and growing, almost as large as Arrax would have been if that blackheart Aemond didn't kill him.

"What shall we do now Baela?" Rhaena asked her sister as the dragonkeepers unchained their dragons.

"I do not know," Baela answered looking defeated, "If I was ever in doubt I would ask grandmother." Once more Rhaena cursed her uncle to the Seven Hells, that man brought her once proud and powerful grandmother low. If only her grandfather hadn't been unfaithful then perhaps grandmother wouldn't have been like this.

"Come let us go back to Dragonstone, Jace is concocting some plan," Baela said to her as she walked over to the now unchained dragons.

Dragonstone

In the Chamber of the Painted Table, Rhaena saw Jace talking with Grand Maester Gerardys. Her grandfather was nowhere to be seen, ever since his bastard son Addam bonded with Seasmoke, her grandfather made it a point not to be anywhere near Baela or Rhaena, aware of Baela's temper. At least Addam Waters and his brother knew not to act above their station and their mother knew how to make herself scarce,

"Ah, Baela, Rhaena, I was waiting for you," Jace said to them as he looked up to see them walk over to him.

"Yes, Jace, you wanted to ask me something?" Baela said as she reached him.

"Yes, I was wondering if you would take over the training of the dragonseeds, I know that you don't like Addam right now but I will be leaving Dragonstone for a few days and as such you are the best person that I know to help train them," Jace revealed.

"Where are you going?" Rhaena then asked what her twin was thinking.

"Harrenhal," Jace answered, "Uncle Daemon has asked me to come to Harrenhal to prepare a proper revenge for Luke's murder."

"And what is this plan for revenge?" Baela then asked as Gerardys handed her one of the missives in his hands.

"I do not know, all I know is that Uncle Daemon has promised revenge with a son for a son," Jace said with a shake of his head. "Which is why I want you to train them? Let them join your patrols across the Gullet, any blockade runners will be like a target practice for them. I know that you do not like Addam Waters but for my sake, please treat him as any other man. He is not grandfather."

Baela grudgingly nodded. Addam Waters now rode Seasmoke while Silver Denys, a man who claims to be the descendant of a bastard of Maegor the Cruel rode Grey Ghost. Sheepstealer was the only remaining dragon that killed nearly every man who dared to ride him. They could ill afford to push away the dragonseeds for they were the only chance the Queen had to fight against the Usurper.

"Haegon has arrived in Tyrosh and soon the Green army in Essos will be marching on Pentos and Myr. It is obvious what their plan is once they capture both the Free Cities." Geraradys then noted. "The army that we have here in Dragonstone and Driftmark is being supplied by the grain shipments from Pentos, soon those shipments will stop once the Green fleet cuts off Pentos. Which means that we have a limited time to attack King's Landing."

"I believe that Father intends to draw out the Usurper's dragons from King's Landing, we have to wait until then and we cannot afford to split our forces to protect Pentos and Myr, we should hope that they can slow them down significantly to buy us time to attack King's Landing."

"When will you be leaving for Dragonstone?" Rhaena asked Jace as Baela rolled up the missive and gave it back to Gerardys.

"By sundown," Jace answered, it was already midday.

"What has the Queen, your mother said?" Baela asked as she took one of the figurines on Driftmark.

"She is still indisposed, Luke's death has hit her hard as it has to all of us. I have told her of Uncle Daemon's plan and she has agreed to send me. She is boiling in fury over what has happened to Luke and she wants revenge." Jace answered turning his hair to the side before kissing Baela on the cheek.

"Don't worry, I will be back soon," He promised and Baela grumbled.

"You better be back soon," She groused, "I find training people to ride dragons the most tedious thing ever. I can barely stand teaching Alyssa, Aegon, Viserys, and Visenya. I am not one for the job, you are the one who is good at this."

Before Jace could cheekily reply, a sudden commotion was heard outside and one of the guards rushed in, "Your Grace, the dragon Sheepstealer has been tamed. He has landed in the courtyard, a girl managed to bring the bastard to heel."

Now that was surprising.

Golden Tooth

Lord Lefford's defiance was a bold one but ultimately futile in the face of a dragon. A few strafing runs on the Cannibal upon the walls of the Golden Tooth combined with the assault on the castle from both sides meant that the Leffords stood no chance.

"A glorious victory indeed," Jason Lannister remarked after the victory while Gaemon stayed silent.

"We have seized the wealth of the Golden Tooth and we have added it to our war chest. All men of House Lefford are either dead or have taken the Black. The children will be taken as wards to Casterly Rock," Jason Lannister informed the war council as they deliberated their next steps.

The war council was mostly westermen with a select few Lords from the Riverlands who could be trusted. Gaemon did not trust Elmo Tully who joined them mostly in fear of the Cannibal, he did not trust Tristan Vance nor Petyr Piper yet he was forced to get their cooperation. The only Riverlord whom Gaemon could trust not to go over to Daemon at the first sign of defeat of Lord Humfrey Bracken. Bracken was the only true supporter since he was rewarded all the lands held in dispute by the Blackwoods Aegon for his loyalty even though the war was not yet won.

"Our scouts have reported that Lord Frey and Lord Mallister have gathered their strength with the advance guard of the Northerners. We must march on them at once and put them to flight before we march to Harrenhal," Lord Robert Reyne said as Gaemon asked for suggestions.

"We mustn't send our entire force to deal with them. We have them outnumbered more than ten to one. They will undoubtedly march to Harrenhal," Ser Elmo Tully replied.

"We must stop Daemon from increasing his strength especially if the Knights of the Vale are soon to arrive, we must intercept them before that happens," Lord Harys Crakehall suggested.

"We need not send our entire force, just a third is more than enough," Lord Tristan Vance cautioned.

Before anything more could be said, a scout entered the tent, he knelt before saying, "My Lords, the rebel army has been seen marching on Stone Hedge, they bear the banners of the Princess along with those of House Blackwood, Darry, Roote, and Mooton."

Lord Humfrey Bracken stood up, "Those blasted Blackwoods seek to attack us whilst our backs are turned. We must answer this at once."

Then as murmurs of agreement went through the tent yet another scout rushed in, "My Lords, the rebel army of Lord Frey, Mallister, and the Northmen are marching on Stone Hedge."

That set off all emotions inside the tent. Gaemon wondered if his father ever had to deal with noblemen who would dare to shout in his presence. Ever since Gaemon could remember no nobleman would even meet his father in the eyes except for a handful. Gaemon was a dragonrider but he still had to wrangle with these noblemen whilst the officers in the Royal Army would be silent and accept orders without question.

Then Lord Jason stood and screamed, "SILENCE."

"Let Ser Gaemon, the dragon rider in charge of our army by the decree of the king decide," He said turning to him at the end. Dragon rider, Ser, he thought with a scoff until he received Cape Maekar with the Greenblood and the Stepstones, he would never be called a Prince.

Once the tent had quieted down, Gaemon got up to say, "It is obvious that it is my uncle who is leading them else they will never tread so close to us which means that this requires a complete effort on our part for this battle my lords will decide the fate of the Riverlands."

Gaemon knew his father asked him to bide his time while chipping away at Rhaenyra's support in the Riverlands but it seems that Daemon was going to force Gaemon into battle and he didn't have a choice. Daemon must have realized the trap unfolding and decided to strike first.

"Ser Elmo, you shall take a third of our men and repulse the northern attack whilst Lord Jason shall lead the army from down below and counter the Blackwood attack. I shall deal with my uncle when he arrives." Gaemon boldly commanded and many of the lords in the tent nodded their heads in approval.

Gaemon knew that his father would not want him to attack Daemon but he had no choice now. Daemon has forced his hand and the fate of the Riverlands now hinged on this battle

Stone Hedge

By the time they arrived at Stone Hedge, Daemon's forces had captured the castle. The banners of House Bracken were torn down whilst Rhaenyra's banners took their place. Daemon's handiwork was seen in the charred battlements of the castle.

While Jason Lannister lined up his men to battle with the rebel Riverlords, Gaemon flew over the skies searching for Daemon but the skies were empty. Gaemon looked down below as the Lannister cavalry began their charge into the ranks of the Rivermen assembled for battle. Gaemon would have thought that the Rivermen would have holed up inside the castle waiting for Daemon to rescue them.

As Gaemon waited he realized, it was his mother's nameday, he forgot to send a raven to Cape Maekar, she must have reached by now. He would send a raven after he defeated Daemon and the rebels. What better gift for a nameday?

Gaemon itched to descend into their ranks and destroy them as his father would have done. It was the fear of Daemon that kept him at bay and soon Gaemon noticed that the battle had been joined. The Lannister cavalry lined up in front of the Rivermen and charged. Gaemon could hear the din of their hoofbeats from the sky.

Instead of a glorious charge that would break into the ranks of the rebels and scatter them, a hail of arrows met the Westermen and soon the charge broke. The Westermen were tormented under a nearly continuous barrage of arrows. Gaemon was sore tempted to intervene and put an end to those wretched fools who dared to march against him they were but mere sheep. Soon after a hellish hour, the arrows ceased but it was no respite for the Westermen as another danger entered the skies.

An olive green dragon with its orange wings descended from the clouds from the south. It was Vermax, Gaemon realized with shock and before he could react, Vermax descended upon the disarrayed Westermen and surrounded them in a ring of flames before turning to spew out his flames inside the circle of death.

Gaemon could not hold back anymore, Gaemon snapped his whip, and with a roar, the Cannibal turned to face his smaller foe. Jaceaerys and Vermax took sight of Gaemon arriving and stopped his carnage upon the Lannister cavalry and turned to face him. A fool if there ever was one, there was no way that his small dragon would face the Cannibal. Vermax was but a fourth the size of the most fearsome dragon to ever live since the Dread. This would be easy, Gaemon thought with a savage grin.

Cannibal roared as Gaemon screamed, "DRACARYS," A searing jet of green flames shot through the Cannibal's muzzle and went straight to that pesky bastard who rolled away before sending a stream of his flames. The Cannibal turned sharply away from the fire stream before returning another one to Vermax. Gaemon snapped his whip and urged the Cannibal to close the distance between them. A straight fight with that bastard would be short.

The bastard began to flee upon realizing that Gaemon was after him, the fool. Gaemon would be dammed if ever let the bastard escape. As Vermax tried to escape, Gaemon relentlessly pursued him in the skies over Stone Hedge. The Cannibal sent streams of green flames at him but the bastard's dragon was nimble and managed to dodge the flames.

Then Gaemon heard a screech, it was a screech that he had not heard many times but it was a screech that he remembered. His father had pointed it out to him, it was the screech of but one and only one dragon, the Blood Wyrm. It was Caraxes, Daemon had arrived.

Gaemon whipped his head behind to see Caraxes emerge from the clouds from the north. Instead of coming after Gaemon to break off his pursuit over Jacaerys, Daemon descended lower and Caraxes began to spit fire upon the Loyalist's army that was reforming after the failed charge and Vermax's attack.

"FOR FUCKS SAKE," Gaemon shouted with anger. That asshole planned this trap. If Daemon wanted to play that way then so be it, Gaemon gritted his teeth before snapping his whip instead of chasing Jace or going after Daemon. Gaemon decided to make Daemon and Jace come to him and so Gaemon steered the Cannibal down toward the rebel army. They certainly were not expecting him as almost immediately they began to break upon seeing him.

A hail of arrows and crossbow bolts came whistling toward him but Gaemon merely crouched upon the Cannibal and the rest bounced off his hardened scales. The Cannibal with a great gout of his green flames burnt a hole straight through them as the bowmen scattered. Gaemon snapped his whip once more as the Cannibal then unleashed an unrelenting stream of flames upon the running rebel infantry. Shouts of surprise, terror, and pain were heard throughout the field but Gaemon took no notice as he began to punish those who stood for that bitch Rhaenyra. Knights burned in their saddles as their horses went up in flames. Men-at-arms dropped their spears and ran. Some tried to hide behind their shields, but neither oak nor iron could withstand the Cannibal's fury.

The Cannibal began to engulf the rebels in a burning inferno straight from the Seven Hells. Within a minute or two of unrelenting hell, the rebel army was consumed in the green flames of hell while many more began to flee. Gaemon then turned his attention to the rebel army holding Stone Hedge and in the blink of an eye, a stream of green flames roared across the battlements of Stone Hedge as burning men began jumping from the walls.

He heard the screeches of two dragons coming toward him, as both Daemon and Jace decided to face him but now it was Gaemon's turn to run, he turned his attention toward the fleeing rebels and sent a green swathe across the fields as the wind began to spread the flames themselves. Gaemon then turned to the Red Fork where many of the burning rebels tried to find succor in its waters not knowing that Gaemon was about to turn their succor into damnation.

Another jet of fire fell upon the burning rebels by the river giving them no respite, as the water boiled instantly the men in the river began to scream further before being silenced forever. Then as Gaemon was about to release another, a stream of yellow flames went right above his head, though he escaped the wrath of the flames directly, he was bathed in the wash of its heat, and he turned to see Vermax catching up to him.

Gaemon snapped his whip and the Cannibal increased his pace before sending a gout of flames down to the river, a great plume of the boiling mists sprouted out and that slowed down Vermax as the dragon as the rider was discomfited in the boiling mists. That was the chance that Gaemon was waiting for as he and the Cannibal sharply turned and with a loud cry of "DRACARYS," a green fireball from the Cannibal struck the smaller dragon before he could dodge. Vermax screeched in pain undoubtedly with its rider, and then Gaemon and the Cannibal pounced for the kill.

Before the screeching dragon and his rider could react, the Cannibal slammed headlong into him sending the smaller dragon hurtling through the air before the Cannibal locked his teeth into Vermax's neck and sank his talons into the smaller dragon's chest. With a vicious pull, the Cannibal lived to his name as he ripped off Vermax's head.

Gaemon locked his purple eyes with those common eyes of the bastard who couldn't comprehend what occurred as sprouts of boiling blood came out as fountains out of his dragon's carcass but as the Cannibal removed his talons from the dead dragon and let the bastard fall to his death in the boiling waters, a frightening screech was heard as a shadow fell over him and Gaemon looked up in shock to see the Blood Wyrm above him with his talons outstretched and flames dancing inside his open maw.

'Oh fuck, he forgot to send the raven,' Gaemon thought as the Blood Wyrm unleashed his flames upon him.