Who's Afraid of Little Old Me? / Aemond Targaryen / House of the Dragon

51. Promised

"Viserys spoke Aegon's name. He said he was the prince that was promised to unite the realm."

" What?" Maeve questioned.

"The Prince That Was Promised... have you heard it before?"

"Yes, my mother told me of the Song of Ice and Fire." Maeve admitted confused.

"What does it mean?" Alicent questioned

"It's a story he once told my mother ...about Aegon the Conqueror." Maeve answered. "Why?"

The Conqueror. Fuck Targaryens and naming everyone Aegon. How was she supposed to know? There's been a mistake. But there had been no mistake.

She couldnt prevent this terrible war was already looming, and even victory on both sides may be so bloody as to be counted a loss.  With otto gone from court. Cole was on the march, Aemond... Aemond is aemond. At least he loved maeve and protected the children best he could but alicent couldn't stop this, she couldn't stop any of this she held no power in court.

It was too late.

"No reason." Alicent answered after a long pause.

"Any word from ser criston yet?" Maeve questioned

"Not yet."

"M'lady." Alyn remarked.

""Princess", if we're holding to formalities." Rhaenys countered.

"Apologies. Princess."

"And you are Alyn."

"Yes, Princess."

"I'm given to understand my lord husband owes you his life. But I was not told his

savior was so comely." Rhaenys remarked reaching out a hand, he looked like a young corlys. "Your mother must've been very beautiful."

"Rhaenys." Corlys called out. "Is your work finished?"

"No, m'lord." Alyn bowed before heading off.

"I just had a word with your captains. He was the sailor who plucked you from your watery grave?" Rhaenys remarked.

"Yes."

"I met my husbands bastard today. He didn't think to mention it." Rhaenys huffed. Rupert nodded slowly.

"What will you do with the man?"

"Do?" Rhaenys scoffed. "Nothing, he deserves a reward, yet he is forced to live his life such as this."

"You are a good woman, a good wife."

"As I come to sneak off and kiss you." Rhaenys countered.

"it's good for me." Rupert agreed.

"Men of House Darklyn." Criston declared. "All who bend the knee to the true king, Aegon, will be spared. You can earn back your honor by raising his banner and fighting in his name. against the Whore of Dragonstone. All who refuse... will have their death." Criston moved to lord Darklyn.

"Good morrow, Lord Darklyn."

"Is there no honor left in this world, Cole?" Darklyn countered from his knees. "Sacking your queen's own castles and putting her people to the sword? Kingmaker". He scoffed. "You are not fit for the white cloak." Criston shifted his sword.

"This is a better death than a traitor deserves." Criston corrected. "You should thank me for it."

"Yours will come in kind." Darklyn corrected right before his head was chopped off. They bowed down as criston moved back to his horse.

"I'm worried about him." Maeve remarked. "What's that?" Alicent knocked over the vial from the maester. Maeve got a whiff of it. "You miss him dearly as well" she realized. Alicent paled.

"It is not mine."

"Yeah right." Maeve countered.

"Lord Hand." his squire handed off a scroll.

"We'll lead the van northeast, follow the coastline." Criston agreed

"I realize you were neither born nor bred" Gwayne began. "anywhere near the Crownlands, my good Lord Hand, but Harrenhal is to the west."

"Indeed it is." Criston agreed.

"Where did your witch go?" Brandon questioned. Davina glanced up from her scroll.

"my witch?"

"Morgana."

"She's doing good work for our queen." 

"Fuck you. I told you we should've sent our dragons. And now look what's happened. Daemon, of all people, has taken Harrenhal." Aegon shouted. "I give you a job, and now you just sit there. It's your fucking castle!" Larys hesitated.

"Well, that castle is more crippled than I am, Your Grace." Larys admitted, Aegon scoffed. "It's like to drive Daemon to madness as he attempts to make use of it. It is beyond his faculties." He added. "It is also penniless, as I happily control all of its gold." Larys reminded him. "So, as Harrenhal saps Daemon's resolve, the false queen remains trapped on her island, and Ser Criston continues felling castles in the Crownlands."

Morgana poured the wine slowly as she listened. Aegon didn't notice her, which that in itself was a shock, a beautiful woman in front of him. Daemon got harrenhal, that blasted place. Where was vaera then?

" Wh... I need to be informed of these things if I am to make informed rulings. I will not be made to look a fool in front of my allies and enemies". Aegon demanded.

" Harrenhal must wait." Aemond corrected. "Ser Criston is marching on Rook's Rest."

"Rook's Re... A pathetic prize." Aegon corrected. " I gave no such command..."

"The castle is small, weakly defended, and Lord Staunton sits on Rhaenyra's council. After Cole smashes it, we'll have Dragonstone effectively cut off by land. This war will not be won with dragons alone, but with dragons flying behind armies of men." Aemond corrected moving the pieces along the map.

"No! Have him turn about. I want Harrenhal back." Aegon demanded fiddling with the marks.

Morgana could have killed Aegon it would have been easy but then she would have to deal with Rhaenrya, more importantly Daemon. She knew she should go to harrenhal. Play the part...

"Cole is already preparing his attack."

""Uh, how-how do you know this?" Aegon demanded.

"He sent word to me."

"To you?" Aegon hissed. "The two of you have been plotting... without my authority?" Aemond smiled leaning forward in his chair.

Morgana knew many languages, knew what Aemond was saying and knew that it was merely to get a rise out of his brother, to insult him for something Aegon surely did that Aemond was still bitter about. This was why little boys shouldn't be pretending to be men.

"Harrenhal is a useful morass." Aemond finally said for all to hear. ''It will keep Daemon well-occupied while we strengthen our host and weaken Rhaenyra's support on the mainland. We will deal with it in the Riverlands in time. But right now. Rook's Rest is an easy target and a worthy effort." Aemond told them in plain speak. "Don't you agree, my king?" Aemond challenged.