Daylight / Aemond Targaryen / Davina Targaryen / Daemon Targaryen

18. Fearsome

" Good morrow, Your Grace. My lords. " Criston said sitting at hand of the kings chair. " Forgive my lateness."

"If i were hand of the king I would never be late." Daemon corrected.

'' Important business, no doubt." Aegon assured.

"You've appointed new knights" Criston countered. " to the Kingsguard, Your Grace."

" To replace those we lost."

"I wanna drive mama!" Baelon declared. "Please please!"

"Okay sit in my lap." Davina agreed. "We can drive the carriage together."

"But im steering," Baelon counted

"You are in charge honey ," davina agreed kissing his cheek.

"Ser arryk is dead. That means those of you in the kingsguard must step up." Aemond informed them. It was a sorry lot. "I have noticed you slacking already. Your white cloaks are a mark of honor. Dont sully them with your actions or lack of diligence."

"Daddy look!" Baelon shouted waving back at him. A smile curved aemonds face.

"I have work to do." Aemond remarked. "So do you." He reminded them waving to baelon before heading off.

"Ser Arryk was awarded the great duty of ending Rhaenyra's challenge." Aegon agreed. "He failed to discharge it." Aemond approached the table with a smug smile.

"He failed because the scheme was rash." Alicent agreed.

"Perhaps, Your Grace, but we cannot all hide in our castles waiting for war to come to us." Criston looked pointedly to Alicent.

"As, now, it already has." Aemond answered. "House Bracken took it upon themselves to attack the Blackwoods, who declared for the pretender. Lord Samwell Blackwood himself is slain."

" Good. First blood in our name."

"Also the new kingsguard are subpar."
Aemond admitted

"Davina and the children need guards. Especially after what happened." Daemon added "i will see to it-"

"I will." Aemond assured. "She is my wife."

"My daughter."

"My children."

"My grandbabies." Daemon challenged

"My daughter Rheia."

"My daughter dav- i see what you did. But i will handle finding them a guard."

"Both sides took heavy losses, Your Grace." Tyland interjected. "I-I'm not entirely certain we can declare this a victory. The Blackwoods and the Brackens have feuded for centuries. This is nothing more than an excuse for them to indulge their ancient grudge. It's no true war."

"Call it what you will... I call it war." Aegon corrected stabbing his dagger down. "And so will Dragonstone." he added. "The question is, what are we going to do about it?"

"We send a raven to Lord Tully." the maester answered. "These houses are his vassals, are they not? He must control them."

"Lord Grover Tully is a flaccid, old fool" Jasper countered. "who couldn't control his cock in a cunny. Begging your pardon, Your Grace."

"It doesnt matter. A man should respect his leige lord. I will speak to tully myself." Daemon assured.

"Good. Thank you Uncle. Do you have any better suggestions, Lord Jasper?" Aegon countered.

"Your lord uncle Ormund marches from Oldtown at the head of a great host, Your Grace. And your brother Daeron's dragon nears fighting age. Call on them to suppress the Riverlands." Jasper suggested.

" Alas, they are months away. My lord brother Jason is raising a great army at Casterly Rock. In a matter of weeks, he will be able to harass the Blackwoods from the west." Tyland assured.

"Should we not aim to unite these armies" Orwyle countered. "and then strike as one?"

"Ah, the great military mind of the Citadel." Tyland agreed.

" I served the realm..."

"Do remind me, which link in your chain denotes the art of war?" Tyland countered.

"Give it a rest." Daemon demanded. "Honestly." He huffed. "Worse than children. But you have been known to start fights with children havent you Tyland?"

"The Riverlands are the key to the war." Criston decided. "Harrenhal is the key to the Riverlands. I will ride out with those I can muster here. Men I know, men I've trained."

"You need time to raise the numbers to challenge the Rivermen." Alicent corrected.

"Speed is my ally. I will turn the Crownland houses who declared for Rhaenyra to our cause. We will add their numbers to our own and then turn west. Where I will enlist the-"

"I will get harrenhal." Daemon corrected. "A one man one dragon excursion," he decided marching out.

"So impatient to ride with so few men." Alicent called after him. So like to be destroyed by the first stronghold you meet." Alicent demanded. "A bold scheme indeed."

"Well, the gods favor the bold." Criston countered.

" They did not favor Ser Arryk." She challenged.

"What say you, my king?" Criston countered.

"And you'll take Aemond and Vhagar?" Aegon pondered.

"Vhagar will remain here..." Criston corrected, Aemond hesitated turning a coin over his knuckles. "to defend the city."

"Davina wont be happy being left out of the fun." Aemond countered.

"Neither are you clearly." Criston agreed.

"Good. To war, then." Aegon declared. "I'll come, too, with Sunfyre."

" Aegon." alicent begged.

"Your Grace." Criston agreed.

" You'll need a dragon." Aegon corrected

"My plan is not to draw attention." Criston corrected. "Unlike your uncles who is rash and-"

"Bold?" Alicent countered. Criston sucked in a tight breath

"And-And what will you do if you encounter one or more of Rhaenyra's dragons?" Aegon countered. "She'll want to answer for Ser Arryk."

"We will be more like to encounter one if we field one of our own." Criston corrected.

"If they come across my uncle?"

"We can say he went rogue. Not too far off for daemon." Aemond mumbled.  "Brother this is precisely why you must remain." Aemond added. "It's a brave thought, but we cannot risk your loss." Aegons lips pursed.

"I'm as fearsome as any of them."