Midnights // Aemond Targaryen // Aegon Targaryen (2)

21. Oh Joy

Jump then fall // Jaime Lannister x Jurassic world crossover!

Dalton Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, was on his own side. The Greens had offered him the title of master of ships for his fielty.

Rhaenyra's council offered Dalton something more to his liking, however, and so House Greyjoy declared for the blacks.

Dalton was known as the red kracken and he was vicous.

With Lord Jason Lannister dying after the battle at the Red Fork, his Lannister army destroyed at the Fishfeed, and the green armies of the Reach marching east to Tumbleton, the coasts of the westerlands only had skeleton defenses.

Greens were looking more like dead grass than thriving meadows.

Dalton and his ironborn raided and pillaged the coasts of the westerlands and the Reach. Dalton captured Kayce and Fair Isle, and though the ironborn could not force entry into Casterly Rock after Jason's widow Johanna closed its gates, they sacked Lannisport.

All of Aegons allies were being ripped away little by little as his body healed and he got stronger his armies got weaker his allies dwindled and he didnt know where Aisha was.

Aemond burned Darry, Lord Harroway's Town, Lord's Mill, Blackbuckle, Buckle, Claypool, Swynford, and Spiderwood. Vhagar went turning Rhaenyras allies to ash. But he wasnt gaining anyones favor either.

Criston however going south, found everything in front of him dead already, the forests, villages, horses, men. His scouts found land where armored corpses sat beneath the trees, rotting away, a mockery of the fallen throwing a feast.

Criston walked through getting closer recognition set in of their allied houses.

"Gods this is... too much." Criston whispered. He thought what they were doing was right but looking around now seeing all the death and decay. All the lives lost over this war yet it seemed they were no closer either way. Aegon and Aemond were not stepping down and Rhaenyra held the throne and the capital.

Rhaenyra saw red. Aegon saw red. Aemond felt the fires rising up around him. All were ready to watch the world burn to get what they wanted.

After Seeing multiple corpse feasts during their march, Criston and his men grew accustomed to the sight. He hated that seeing it seemed so normal hated that there was so many fallen and they kept going kept going and didnt stop to dig a grave or pay respects they didnt have the time. They had to march on.

At Crossed Elms, however, the corpses were actually disguised blacks not dead but waiting and they attacked Criston and his men when they were riding past.

Criston's greens were ambushed by river lords and Roderick Dustin between the Gods Eye and the Blackwater Rush.

Criston hadnt been paying attention not as he should have. He had been a guard and a knight then the commander and now the hans of the king. He should have been more focused.

"My men don't deserve this." Criston declared. "Please. We dont all need to die in this." But the Blacks laughed out. "I challenge you to a one on one combat!" Criston demanded.

"No. You all will die. As is the order of the true queen of the seven kingdoms."

Criston fought valliently and courageous and honorably. Criston died a brutal death, and his men were killed by the hundreds. The massacre became known as the Butcher's Ball, and it marked the high point of Rhaenyra's fortunes.

She thought everything was going her way. All she needed was her half brothers and their children and she would have no competition and she could rule freely without challenge.

+

"Aisha!" Aemond declared sliding off of Vhagar. "You are not at the capital."

"No." Aisha agreed hugging him tight.

"Where is everyone?" Aemond questioned kissing Laenor's little head. "Gods he so big."

"He is." Aisha agreed leaning into him. "I missed you. Gods I missed you so much Aemond!" She hugged him again and never wanted to let go. "Where is Criston? I thought you two were together."

"We split up." Aemond informed her "he went south and I started burning bridges."

"We split up too. Larys got Aegon out. Daeron Addam and alyn flew off. Larys sent Jaehaera and Maelor in opposite directions. But I wasnt about to send Laenor off to Gods knows where."

"Smart." Aemond agreed.

"Its been too long. Its too damn long."

The war kept going. Winning and losing right now all Aisha saw how much time they missed out on. Time with each other. Time to be a family.

"Why dont you give me my grandson and let you two catch up." Corlys suggested reaching for Laenor. And caught up they did.

Aisha lay curled up next to Aemond kissing his chest as his hand ran up and down her spine.

"Little Laenor its a shame he wont ever get to meet the man he was named after." Aisha whispered.

"Did you happen to have his journal?" Aemond questioned.

"Jour- oh yes I was..." showing Aegon while laying in bed beside him and wondering all the what ifs of my life. "Yeah. I will get it." Aisha remarked as she moved to the tree and pulling at her cloak she had rolled it up on her journey not wanting to lose it.

"Here it is." Aisha declared sitting back down beside him.

"Do your thing." Aemond said kissing her shoulder. She drew water up and revealed the hidden messages below. Aemond pulled her closer as he read over her shoulder. His fingers touched the symbols gently.

"Those symbols... sail, a boat perhaps." Aemond remarked. "This means free..." He ran his hand over another symbol. "City."

"Sailed to the free cities." Aisha offered.

"This is unburnt." Aemond remarked. Aisha couldn't believe her ears.

"He is alive?" Aisha whimpered out. "Laenor my Laenor is alive?"