War Council

[a/n: Alright, guys, trying to move things to the big part of the story now. That's why it feels a bit too fast-passed. Things will get good from now on, I promise.]

(Rhaegon's POV)

"What makes you think he's not the Grey Snake?" Sandor asked me as we made our way to the Red Keep's gate

"Because if what you say is true about him, someone as elusive as that person wouldn't expose himself to give me a fucking letter." I told him

"Hm." He said, "That makes some sense." 

"Yea, it does." I said, "But what doesn't is this; what the fuck is going on? Why is this Pretender sending a message to me? And how does he know my name." 

"Everyone knows your name." Sandor said, "The fucker mentioned the Dothraki. You think they're mad about you going and killing their horse overlord." 

"They might be more pissed about Viserys burning hundreds of them with his dragon." I said, "That's for damned sure." 

"That Uncle of yours is one crazy cunt." He grumbled

"Tell me about it." I said with a sigh, "What you do with the guy anyway?" 

"I knocked him out and handed him to the City Watch." He said, "They'll probably look for the real one anyways." 

I nodded, "That's good to know." I said, "Now, time to wait for this massive meeting that the King is having." 

"All while avoiding the Princess." 

*******************************************************

[Two Days Later...]

"I'm bored." Nymeria said as she laid her head on my lap, "Why are we supposed to shut in the rooms?" 

We were in my chambers, sitting on a couch. Obara and Tyene were lying on the bed, asleep. Nothing much happened over the past few days; Oberyn told us not to do anything, the sounds will annoy the people in the castle. 

I couldn't agree more with the Red Viper, I don't anyone hearing the loud sounds we make when they decide to gang up on me. 

I sighed as I leaned back, "You know why." I said, "We have to be patient." 

"Patient for what?" Nymeria said, "We should fly to your Home, Rhaegon. There we might have some sweet time for ourselves." 

"I wouldn't count on it." I said, "I'm suddenly thrust into this entire fucking plot....I can't just take time to enjoy pleasures." 

"Ho?" She chuckled, "You've certainly enjoyed them, eh?" 

"Calm down." I told her with a raised eyebrow

I heard a knock on the door to my chambers and watched as it opened, Ellaria Sand walking inside with a smile. 

"My sweetlings, how are you today?" She said as she walked inside

"Good." Nymeria said, "The others are asleep." 

Ellaria looked at me, "You didn't.." She said

I shook my head, "No, they're just bored." I said, "It's hard to keep them quiet and calm, quite exhausting too." 

she nodded, "It is." She said, "These impulsive children....Ser Rhaegon, my love Oberyn has called for you. Apparently the King has summoned you?" 

"Oh." I said as I gently moved Nymeria away, "I gotta go, Nymeria." 

"Please stay." She said, "I haven't had sex in two days....." 

"Fuck's sake, woman.." i whispered, "Not in front of Ellaria...." 

"Relax, Ser." Ellaria chuckled, "I'm okay with such talk. Nymeria, you know that business is to be handled, okay? Wait until we've left the City." 

"I cannot..." She said, "Fuck...." 

I sighed and shook my head, "Tonight, got that?" I said, "Just sit still." 

"That's a promise then." Nymeria winked at me

"Yea yea..." I said waving her off, 

"Let me go see what this is about." 

*******************************************

"You're late." Tywin Lannister said as I walked through the doors of the Small Council Room

Except this wasn't a Small Council meeting, as none of the other members were present. Instead, I saw Tywin Lannister sitting next to the King as the Prince, Viserys, sat on the other side. 

I also saw that my Father, Lord Stark, and Prince Oberyn sat at the table, looking at me as I walked up to the table. 

I nodded at them, "Lord Stark, Prince Oberyn." I said, "Father, Uncles..." 

Lord Stark gave me a nod, "Ser Rhaegon." 

I didn't think Lord Stark would come all the way down here so quickly. He probably sailed here through Whiteharbor. I was told that Lord Arryn was still bed-ridden, I hope the old man is well.

"Look at this fool." Uncle Viserys said as he leaned on his side, "Casually keeping us waiting. Your bastards keeping you?" 

"Viserys." Uncle Rhaegar warned, "Enough."

Oberyn looked at Viserys, "I would advise against insulting my daughters, Prince Viserys." He said as I sat down in a chair

"Yea, Viserys, my boy would not take that well," Father said as he drank from his wine cup, "Now that he's here, Your Grace, we shall get onto it." 

I nodded as I pulled the folded paper from my pocket, "Yes." I said, "We shall. I'll start." 

I handed the paper to Father, who took it. He read the contents and his face hardened before handing it across the table to Tywin, who took it calmly. 

"So..." Father said, "It's true. The Pretender calls himself Blackfyre." 

"Blackfyre?" Viserys scoffed, "A bunch of mutts derived from a Bastard, that is all." 

Tywin looked at the letter as Uncle Rhaegar looked at him, "He's taken an interest in Ser Rhaegon." He said as he handed the letter to the KIng, "He clearly intends to invade the Realm with Fire and Blood." 

"The nerve..." Viserys said with an angry tone

King Rhaegar sighed, "Well this is not good." He said as he looked at me, "How did you come across this?" 

"Some crimelord lured me to his decoy." I said, "He delivered the message." 

"The Grey Snake." Oberyn said, "People in the streets talk about this elusive serpent, manipulating things from the shadows in your City, Your Grace." 

"A clear declaration of war." Father said, "You would think these Blackfyre runts would learn their lessons by now." 

"The River Dragon should've been the end." Lord Stark spoke up, "But it seems they persist." 

Tywin gave him a stern look, "Watch what you say." He said

"It's fine, Lord Hand." I said leaning back, "I know that the River Dragon's name was Vaegon Blackfyre." 

Both Tywin and Uncle Rhaegar gave me a surprised look. 

"What?" Uncle said, "How?" 

I shrugged, "I have my own ways of finding out the truth." I said

I noticed Prince Oberyn raised his hand slightly, "That's a first for me." He said with a chuckle, "Vaegon Blackfyre. The name is familiar. I believe that a certain man with the same name tried to plot an assassination on me a few years before the Rebellion." 

"Where?" I asked

"YiTi." He said

"What?" I said, "How? Why?" 

"I don't know, didn't care." He said, "I killed his assassins and returned home." 

"These coincidences are too convenient to be just that...." Tywin said, "Vaegon Blackfyre....the Greyjoy Rebellion....a 'sinister' force in the East.....they're all connected." 

I looked at him, "You think all of that is one big plot to invade us?" 

"What else could it be?" He said

"It is not out of the realm of possibility." Uncle Rhaegar said, "We do know this; This Blackfyre is amassing forces as we speak now. He's got an army, he's got ships, and he's got a Dragon Egg. What else should we know about this? And what will we do about it?" 

"We can attack it at the source." Uncle Viserys said, "Send me and Rhaegon back to Essos. We'll burn them to the ground." 

"Are you a fool?" Tywin scowled, "You're the reason they have the Dothraki on their side." 

"Careful." Viserys warned, "I'm your Prince." 

"Enough, Viserys." Rhaegar said, "Tywin is right, that was the most reckless thing that probably incited them to join their cause." 

"I would've said that the Dothraki wouldn't be an issue considering they don't sail ships." Lord Stark said, "But...the Golden Company is a problem." 

"Aye." Father said, "It's a problem, alright. Only a fool would meet the Dothraki in an open field." 

"I did." I said as I leaned to my side

"My point stands." Father rebutted, "And you were on a dragon, you imbecile. Not all of us are dragonriders." 

"The most probable place they'll start is Dorne." Oberyn chimed in, "There has been a conflict in the Stepstones that includes some ships that belong to the Golden Company. They haven't touched the trading lanes that you've secured with the Triarchy but still, it worries me that they're getting ready for an invasion at our shores." 

"So that's why you wanted my boy's dragon..." Father said

I sighed, "What now, then?" I said, "What are we supposed to do?" 

"It's been quite silent." Uncle Rhaegar said, "Our network of spies are working on overtime. So far, there is no word of movement that'll threaten us." 

"There is something, however." Tywin spoke up, "The Greyjoys." 

I looked at him, "What?" 

"Balon's brothers." He said as he looked at the table, "Euron and Victarion, they've both returned from their respective voyages. Word is that Euron spent time in Old Valyria while Victarion was further East." 

"Hm, yes." King Rhaegar said

"Fuck them." Viserys said, "If the Iron Fleet dares to antagonize us again, we'll remind them what happened in their stupid rebellion." 

"Balon Greyjoy won't act." Lord Stark said, "Not while his son is under my care. It's his brothers that worry me." 

I looked at him, "You don't think they'll overthrow Balon if they intend to show support to the Pretender, right?" I asked, "If what the rumors say is true, the Blackfyre name is what fueled the Greyjoy Rebellion. But why, though?" 

"We don't know for certain." Tywin said, "What we do know is this, the Blackfyre Pretender will make a move soon. We need to be ready for now. Dorne is secured, so there's nothing to worry about on that end." 

"Indeed." Obery said, "So long as we keep our relationship." 

"I intend to name Rhaegon the Prince of Summerhall, a proper announcement." Uncle suddenly said, "You can spend your time there with your Paramours, nephew." 

I looked at him with surprise, "T-Thank you, Your Grace..." 

"Spoiled brat..." Viserys muttered

"Enough, Viserys." He said

"This little runt didn't go to our sister's wedding and you give him Summerhall." He said, "And not just that, a nice piece of Valyrian Steel." 

I frowned, "You got your own, too." I said

"Enough." Uncle Rhaegar said firmly, "The both of you." 

Suddenly, the doors to the room opened and I turned to see Lord Varys walk in with haste. 

"What is it, Lord Varys?" Tywin said, "We're in the middle of something. We've agreed we'll discuss this meeting in the next council meeting." 

"Yes, My Lord Hand." He said, "But this is urgent. I just got reports from across Essos, regarding the Dothraki forces." 

"What is it?" I asked

"Say it plain and loud, Varys." Uncle Rhaegar said, "It's okay." 

He nodded and sighed, "Your Grace, My Lords...." He said, "The Dothraki have a Dragon, a full-grown, the size of Morghul, maybe larger..." 

"What?!" I exclaimed, "A Dragon within a Dothraki army?" 

"That's fucking preposterous....." Viserys said

"It's true." Varys said

"It has a rider?" Uncle Rhaegar asked

Varys nodded, "Yes. Not much is known about the rider's description, but apparently...He's Dothraki." He said, "Well, at least he's accustomed to their ways....." 

"His Mount is a massive Black Dragon."