Burn Together ❖ Daemon Targaryen

Chapter 35

Queen Rhaenyra may not have been prepared to jump into war, but she was finding another use for her dragons in the meantime. Most of it involved patrolling. Rhaenys on Meleys patrolled the gullet and the Velaryon fleet which blockaded King's Landing, Eleana and Vaelon (since they were too young to fight) on Drago and Grey Ghost patrolled the skies of Dragonstone to watch for any dragons or ships approaching, and either Baela on Moondancer, Jacaerys on Vermax, or Baelor on Silverwing would watch King's Landing and its movements.

Today it was Baela's turn to watch King's Landing, and normally the Targaryen patrolling would come back with only the same news about fishing boats coming in and out, but this time Lady Baela returned to the small council looking downright angry and distressed.

"What happened, Baela?" asked Princess Rhaellanne

"There was movement out of King's Landing" she said in a rushed voice "I was flying near Rosby when I saw a group of the Green's Kingsguards there heading North. It was Ser Criston Cole with some half-dozen other knights, I'm sure of it. Perhaps a scout party for a greater army."

"The ravens confirm it, Your Grace." said Maester Gerardys "Lord Farring has reported a larger force moving northeast towards Rosby."

Rhaenyra frowned "Could you be certain it was Cole from such a great height?"

Baela shrugged, "It was not such a great height, Your Grace." The Queen looked shocked, and her sister did her best to hide the smile on her lips. Sometimes Baela was far too similar to her mother. "You said not to engage, so I didn't, exactly."

"Your Grace, we commend the Lady Baela for her sharp eyes, but we can tarry no longer. The time for action is surely now." said Lord Celtigar.

Beside him, Lord Simon nodded "Your Grace, I must agree and request your permission to return to Rook's Rest and fortify my lands."

"I shouldn't fret, Lord Simon. They'll be making for Harrenhal." said Lord Massey "'Tis Prince Daemon who ought to worry."

Rhaellanne did her best to keep a smile on her face, and not show how nervous that made her. "Prince Daemon has Caraxes." she said quickly, more reassuring herself than anyone else

"Cole will look to increase his numbers, and he may call upon a dragon of his own." continued Lord Celtigar

"This is why you must act now, Your Grace." said Ser Alfred "Loose the dragons. Root Cole out and burn him."

Rhaenyra could feel everyone's eyes on her, most of them hoping that she would finally give in and unleash the start of this war, except for Rhaenys who was waiting to see what the Queen would do. It was her war to win, and it had to be her decision to start it, nobody else's.

She sighed and addressed her council, "I have heard your arguments. And will consider them."

She walked away from the council, and Rhaellanne sighed. She understood that her sister needed to do her best to find a route to peace as Queen, but the longer Rhaenyra refused to go to war the more support she lost from her council, who would ultimately be the ones who guaranteed her succession to the throne.

Rhaellanne paid a visit to her own dragon that evening, and after a fly over Blackwater Bay they landed on the beach of Dragonstone and Cannibal lay down beside his rider, letting her stroke his black scales.

He was growing frustrated and anxious, and his rider was too.

She was itching to take him into a battle, and he was hungry for blood.

"Soon, my dragon" she sighed, watching the sun set over the water.

❖❖❖❖❖