The Second Battle of Tumbleton II

(Third Person POV)

As Vermithor flew around, unleashing flames that devastated the town, dozens upon dozens of soldiers scattered about, running away for their lives. There was no warning about the devastation that had come for them, the annihilation that was set upon them. It was all a bad nightmare for any ordinary person who was enlisted for the war. 

The flames of a dragon burned hot, enough to melt steel and reduce anything to ash. The flames of The Bronze Fury burned hotter, incinerating everything in their path. 

Aerion walked the street, corpses falling behind him. Every step he took, he took a swing of his sword, and with every swing, another man died. He didn't think much of it, he just acted, felling man after man as he reenacted the first battle he had in this very town. 

Aerion stopped as arrows bounced off his armor, shattering upon contact with his Valyrian steel armor. He looked up to see archers mounted on the top of the buildings next to him, showering him with arrows. 

"Hm..." He said as he deflected some with his swords, casually, "Is that what you want to do as your final moment? Shoot me from afar?" 

One of the men atop scowled, "Don't stop!! Skewer him with arrows!!" He shouted, "Today is the day we kill him!!" 

"I think not." Aerion said as he pointed his sword at them

Suddenly, a shadow was cast above them and as the archers looked up, they saw the bright light of incoming flames. Vermithor's flames bathed them and incinerated the building, resulting in an explosion that collapsed any nearby buildings. 

As debris fell everywhere, Aerion stood there, his cloak flowing in the wind, "Fools..." He said as Vermithor circled above, roaring, "All of them." 

Then, in front of him, he saw a group of men readying their swords and weapons. In front of them, Jon Roxton stood, wielding his valyrian-steel greatsword, Orphan-Maker. If anyone had a chance to take on Aerion Targaryen, it would be a skilled warrior wielding a valyrian steel weapon. Jon Roxton wielded his House's ancestral greatsword, but was he skilled enough for Aerion? Only the gods knew. 

"Well shit..." Jon said, "Today is quite the day for you, Aerion." 

"Jon Roxton." Aerion said as he stepped forward, "Have you prepared yourself for the cold embrace of death?" 

"Ha." Jon said as he spat on the ground, "You killed that bastard dragonrider like he was nothing. Such a shame....." 

"I did to him what he did to my boy." Aerion said, "Put him in the ground like the trash he is. And I will do the same to anyone who dares take a step forward. If you run like cowards, I'll be lenient enough to spare your lives. But the moment you take a step in my direction, your fates will be sealed. Tumbleton will burn, along with your dead corpses as the blood that I shed boils. The smoke and ashes will fly through the air, spreading across the Realm as a reminder of what it means to cross me!!!" 

"The Mighty Warrior Incarnate!" Jon readied his sword, "It's a cruel thing, watching your slow descent into madness." 

"Madness?" Aerion said as he raised his swords, "This is not madness, this is a Dragon's Wrath! One that was incurred by your overlords! All of those who wish to die due to a fool's usurpation, by all means, come!! I shall send you to the other side!" 

"You were a good lad." Jon said, "But this is something else...." 

His men began to charge forwards, letting out a battle cry that resounded through the air, being drowned by Vermithor's roaring in the background. 

Aerion charged forwards and met against them, clashing with their steel, parrying and blocking their attacks as he countered, cleaving his two blades through their bodies. After a few seconds, the disturbing sounds of flesh being cut viciously ended and the sound of collapsing corpses followed.

Aerion took a step forward, stepping on the blood formed by his massacre, the sound of the splashing echoing throughout the street. 

Jon let out a sigh, "Well, so be it." He said as he charged at him

Jon swung his greatsword down at Aerion, who blocked it with both swords. In an instant, he moved Orphan-Maker down and shoulder-tackled Jon, stumbling him back. Aerion then swung at him, only for Jon to duck the attack and pull away. 

As a quick follow-up, Jon thrust his greatsword at Aerion, only for it to be parried. Aerion swung Lamentation down at Jon's arm, but the Knight was able to jump away to avoid. This was a rather surprising display of skill, Aerion was not expecting Jon Roxton of all people to last this long against him. 

"You're delaying the inevitable." Aerion said seriously

Jon raised his greatsword, "And what may that be?" He asked

"Me." Aerion said as he rushed him

Jon swung hist greatsword diagonally at Aerion, who blocked the full swing with Lady Rhea, causing Jon's body to rattle due to the impact. Aerion then thrust Lamentation at his chest but Jon was pushed away by someone, causing him to stumble away. 

Aerion stepped back and composed himself, seeing that Ormund Hightower had come out nowhere and pushed Jon away from his death. 

"Hm." Aerion said 

"Jon is right." Ormund said as he readied Vigilance in his hand, "Aerion Targaryen was an honorable fighter, not whatever I am looking at. Have you not rested, Aerion? You haven't returned to your home in Runestone? Your kin, the Royce Knights would be ashamed of what you've turned to." 

"Is that what you counted on?" Aerion said with a cold tone, "Honor? I clung to it all my life, I have not discarded it. My forefathers, both Royce and Targaryen, would see this and praise me. If I let some mere men like you walk all over me, all over my Wife's birthright, what good am I as a Knight....a Warrior?!" 

"You'll go so far to put her in the Throne?" Jon asked as he straightened up, "Are you serious?" 

"A woman on the throne is not worth the thousands of lives you've taken, Aerion!" Ormund shouted

"Your uncle usurped her throne, her right!" Aerion shouted, "I am not worthy of her if I don't fight for her. If I didn't fight for her, Viserys was wrong about me after all!! All I do this for is for her!! For her!! And you bastards have taken away her boys, her blood!! Tell me, Ormund, will your last words before dying be insulting Rhaenyra? Just like Otto's?" 

Ormund looked at him with surprise, "What?" 

"Otto Hightower is dead. I killed him like I did your cousin, Gwayne." Aerion said, "Borros Baratheon, Jason Lannister, Gwayne Hightower, Criston Cole, Otto Hightower, and countless other men.....they've all died by my hands.....And right now, Ormund Hightower and Jon Roxton will be the next names I will add!!" 

Aerion lunged at Ormund who readied himself.

The two of them clashed as the sound of steel resounded through the air. 

On this day, The Second Battle of Tumbleton resulted in the deaths of Jon Roxton and Ormund Hightower. It was too ridiculous to say that Aerion Targaryen singlehandedly did this, without suffering any injuries. 

Years after the Dance ended, many would say that Aerion Targaryen suffered fatal wounds during this battle. 

Those stories were lies. 

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

[King's Landing]

"Your Grace." Rhaena said as she walked up to Rhaenyra, "A letter from Lady Tyrell..." 

Rhaenyra was sitting on the Iron Throne, a concerned look on her face due to thinking of her husband, Aerion. 

"O-Oh..." She said as she grabbed the letter, opened it and read it, "I....I see..." 

Rhaena stepped back as Lord Corlys walked up, "Your Grace?" He asked, "Is something the matter?" 

"Aerion....." She said softly, "He's been laying havoc across the battlefields....so many dead...." 

Corlys sighed, "It appears it was inevitable..." He said with a frown, "The death of your boys....it must've set him off....He probably blames himself...." 

"No..." Rhaenyra said softly, "It's...it's mine...." 

She was going to say something when she felt a cold shiver and suddenly, her vision went dark. She looked up to see a woman in black, draped in the veil. Her glowing green eyes were seen through said veil. 

"Queen of Dragons...." The Woman said with a thick accent, "It is quite a shame your reign won't be recognized....it will not be that long...." 

Rhaenyra frowned, "W-Who..." She said softly, "Who are you....?" 

"The Prince Who Was Promised..." the woman said, "Is that what your Father told you about? He was wrong. Aegon's Prophecy is a lie." 

"Ours is The Truth."