The Madman

Arthur Dayne

The Riverlands

Arthur looked over the vast army of ten thousand men, resting after a long day of marching. They were camped along the Sevenstreams, a picturesque area where several small rivers converged, creating a network of waterways that wound through the lush, rolling landscape.

The setting sun cast a warm glow over the fields and forests, the water shimmering like liquid gold. The air was filled with the sounds of soldiers talking, horses neighing, and the distant rush of the streams.

Their current plan was for Prince Aegon, after defeating the Ironborn in the south, to bring the royal fleet to Ironmen's Bay, where they would ferry the army to the Iron Islands and finally put an end to the rebellion.

Arthur hoped the prince would be successful. His thoughts drifted to the other prince, the one in the north. Would he be at Seagard? 

He closed his eyes, trying to forget the events at the Tower of Joy—something he had been trying to forget for a long time. Would Prince Maekar be there, or would he be with his other uncle fighting the wildlings? He had heard of Prince Maekar's hand in the rise of the north in recent years. Several loyalist lords had even pressured Rhaegar to order Lord Brandon to send him to the Wall. But Brandon was intent on keeping his nephew in the north, and as long as Maekar was there, there would be no threat to Aegon's claim to the throne. He hoped Maekar would stay away, as many rebel lords still wanted to finish what they couldn't sixteen years ago.

His thoughts were interrupted by the approach of Ser Barristan Selmy.

"The scouts have reported that Eddard Stark has lifted the siege of Seagard," Barristan announced.

Arthur's eyebrows rose in surprise. "My sister did write to me of the new fleet her husband was building," he said, "but I did not expect them to be this effective."

The lords of the Crownlands gathered around them, eager to hear the news.

"This makes things easier for us," Barristan said, a note of relief in his voice.

"Ser Barristan is right," agreed Lord Massey. "Now we only need to wait for Prince Aegon to arrive."

"Why wait for the prince? Perhaps we can use the new northern fleet to ferry the army to the Iron Isles," another lord suggested.

The lords began to argue, some still holding grudges against the Starks, recalling how Brandon Stark had ravaged the Crownlands during Robert's Rebellion. The conversation grew heated, old resentments flaring up.

"Enough," Arthur said firmly. "We shall decide when we arrive at Seagard."

The lords reluctantly nodded and dispersed, leaving Arthur and Barristan alone.

Arthur sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. "I am getting too old for this," he said, rubbing his temples.

Barristan let out a hearty laugh. "Then what about me, my friend?"

Arthur chuckled, the tension easing slightly. "You still fight like a man half your age, Ser Barristan."

.

.

.

Aegon

The Narrow Sea

Aegon sat in the brig of the Silence.

He had failed again.

His search for his mother had led to his own capture. A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he felt like his mind was beginning to fracture.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke through his thoughts. Two men opened the door to his cell and dragged him out. He tried to resist, but it was in vain. They dragged him to the deck of the ship. The fresh air was a welcome change, but it did little to alleviate his despair.

On ships, the sound of the sea and the crew always intermixed, but he only heard the sound of the sea. The crew was strangely silent and looked as much in despair as he did.

He was taken to the captain's cabin where, for the first time since his capture, he felt happy and relieved seeing his mother. She was alive, though bound and gagged in a chair. Tears ran down her cheeks as she looked at him, her eyes filled with anguish and fear. Aegon was forced into a chair and bound as well, the men who brought him not uttering a single word before they left the room.

"Mother, did he hurt you?" he asked frantically, his voice shaking.

Elia shook her head, but she was clearly trying to convey something else, her eyes wide with terror. Her expression changed to one of horror again as they both heard footsteps approaching. He turned to see a man in black armor standing in the doorway, a wide smile on his face.

"Welcome, my prince, to the Silence," the man said, his voice dripping with malevolence. "My name is Euron, your humble host." He bowed mockingly.

Aegon remained silent, his eyes fixed on Euron with a mixture of defiance and fear.

Euron walked into the room, his presence commanding and intimidating. He moved with an air of arrogance, his every step measured and confident. "It is a pleasure to have such esteemed guests aboard my ship," he continued, his smile never wavering.

Aegon clenched his fists, struggling against his bonds. "What do you want with us?" he demanded, his voice tinged with anger.

Euron laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the cabin. "What do I want? Oh, so many things, my prince, so many things."

"I would speak to you more, but I do not have much time, you see," Euron said to Aegon, pulling a knife from his scabbard. Elia began screaming through her gag, her eyes wide with terror as she seemed to beg Euron silently.

"You will get nothing from me," Aegon said defiantly, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides.

Euron chuckled, twirling the knife casually. "Like I said, my prince, I do not have time for this. I have to go to Oldtown before the rebellion I helped start is crushed. So let us make this quick. You have something I want, Prince Aegon."

Aegon's mind raced. "What do you want?"

"Your blood," Euron said, his smile widening. "The blood of old Valyria. I want you to say these words: 'I, the son of Valyria, willingly give my blood to you,' "

"Oh, and say it in Valyrian," he added.

Aegon was bewildered. What was this madman talking about? His heart pounded as he stared at Euron, trying to make sense of the demand.

"No," Aegon said firmly.

Euron's smile faded, replaced by a cold, dangerous glint in his eyes. He stepped closer to Aegon, the knife gleaming menacingly in the dim light of the cabin. "You will say it," he said softly, his voice like ice. "Or…." he said, turning his face to the queen. 

His intentions were clear.

Elia's muffled screams grew more frantic; she was telling Aegon to not give in to the madman's demands.

"Do it, my prince," Euron whispered, his tone almost coaxing. "Save your mother."

Aegon's mind raced. He couldn't bear the thought of his mother being tortured, but he couldn't give in to Euron's demands. He steeled himself, trying to find a way out of this nightmare.

"No," he repeated, his voice trembling but resolute.

"Why, why, why do you have to make this difficult?" Euron muttered, striking Elia in the head twice, eliciting a scream from her.

"No! No! No, stop!" Aegon screamed, his heart wrenching in terror. "Don't hurt her!"

Euron grinned, the knife now dangerously close to Elia's throat. "Let's make this quick, shall we?" he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Say the words, little prince."

A small wound formed on Elia's neck, a thin line of blood trickling down. "Yes, yes, I will say it! Let her go, please!" Aegon pleaded desperately.

"Say it," Euron commanded darkly.

"I, the son of Valyria, willingly give my blood to you," Aegon recited in Valyrian, his voice breaking with fear and desperation.

Euron's smile widened as he slashed Aegon's hand, collecting the flowing blood into a small container. "Good, good," he murmured, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

"Let my mother go, please," Aegon begged, his voice choked with emotion.

Euron turned to Aegon with a sinister smile. "You're right. I have no need for her now. I will let her go."

With one swift motion, Euron slashed Elia's throat. Blood poured from the wound as she gurgled, her eyes wide with shock and pain. 

Aegon screamed, a heart-wrenching "Noooooo!" that echoed through the cabin. He continued screaming, his voice raw with anguish as Euron laughed, the sound of his torment a symphony to the madman's ears.

Euron walked off, leaving Aegon to his grief, the cruel laughter lingering in the air long after he was gone.

.

.

Read up to chapter 28 here :

p.a.t.r.eon.com/Illusiveone (check the chapter summary i have it there as well)