The Fire That Burns Within US - Aemond Targaryen

Dragons And The Others

138 - Hardhome

Getting to Hardhome had been easy. The last few wildlings that Visenya's party had been tracking gave themselves up once they were stuck between the hunting party and Hardhome. The group that Erich was leading had been successful in killing any wildlings that thought they could hide on the coastline to escape them.

Visenya had heard about Hardhome, who the people beyond the wall and the night's watch thought the place to be crushed like Harrenhal. Visenya doesn't believe in those kinds of things. She knows that magic is real, but she refuses to entertain the idea that spirits of the dead hunt the ruined town.

Aemond had grown used to the killing; it no longer fazed him, and he wonders if it ever will again. The time in getting to Hardhome Visenya had given him more responsibility, going with Ben and his scouts to make sure the area is clear and even giving him a small group of soldiers that would protect that area at night.

After the first attack at night, Visenya made sure that it would not happen again. Forgetting Cregan's words about not sending warnings to the wildings. Aemond had found out why Rob had told him not to touch the heads of the wildings. Visenya's men would cut off their heads once they were dead. Sewing opens their eyes and craving Visenya's mark into their foreheads before hanging them from the trees. Aemond must admit that it was a gory sight initially, but it did send a clear message about why they were there.

They had made camp at Hardhome, The men making fires and setting up tents to sleep in. Visenya, the few men in charge of groups, and the rangers stand at the makeshift war table. Maps of the area and places that have already been cleared lay on it, along with letters from the other hunting parties.

"Lord Flint needs more support. Jojen and Cregan have almost cleared their sections and are moving to Flint's aid," Visenya tells the men around the table, setting down the letter one of Jojen's ravens had brought her. "Our best bet is two splits into two groups,"

"One going across the shoreline and the other across the Shivering Sea?" Rob wonders out loud, and Visenya nods.

"Exactly," Visenya tells everyone as she stands up tall at the table. "Rob, Erich, and I will take the shorter route across the Shivering Sea. Aemond and Ben will lead the rest of the men along the shoreline,"

"How should we split the men?" Ben asks. He had a few men that he would want in his group, but he knows that Visenya and Rob get the first pick.

"Erich's group will be with us, and I will pick out a few others," Visenya tells him. The men Erich has with him are Ironborn, and Visenya would want them there just in case the ice breaks. There are also a select few she wants in her group. She would rather have a small group than a big one. "I want your group to be the bigger one so that if we die, Cregan will still have enough men to win,"

"Die?" Aemond asks, slightly worried for his wife. Visenya looks to Aemond, wanting to tell him not to worry, but she wouldn't be so affectionate around her men.

"If the ice breaks. This is the fastest way, but the air is getting warmer, and the Sea isn't known to freeze over, so we should use it to our advantage," Visenya answers him, and Rob stands from his chair.

"I would like to be the one to pick out the men," Rob tells Visenya, who nods. She trusts Rob to pick out who is with them. The two think alike and share the same opinion of their men. "If that is okay?"

"Perfect," Visenya tells him as she looks around the table. "We will take a day to rest before we leave,"

The few men at the table and the rangers nod to Visenya before they leave, doing something to help around the camp before they leave the next day. Aemond moves from his spot to stand next to Visenya, leaning on the table as Visenya smiles at him.