Shattered Rubies

Chapter 13

After a long journey back to DragonStone, Rhaenyra finally entered the castle, her mind set and body tired, she walked into the council meeting, a Kingsguard behind her

"Then I see no other choice, we need to send a dragon" Jacearys voice echoed the call, reaching to Rhaenyra's ear as she walked up the few steps, "Where?" Rhaenyra asked a she approached the table, everyone turned to her and stood up.

"To support the war your vassels have been fighting in your absence, your grace" Jace informed, annoyed that she suddenly appears after being away for so long, "Cole's host has grown since riding abroad. He raised the levy's of both Rosby and Stokeworth and with their combined strength sanked Duskendale" Rhaenys properly informed the Queen.

"Duskendale?" The guard questioned, concern clear in his voice, "The city has fallen, many Darkling men declared for Aegon. Those who refused were put the sword."

"What of my father?"

"He kept his oath. Cole took his head for it."

Rhaenyra dropped her head, "Where have you been these last days? You vanished without so much as a word" Jace spoke up, still very annoyed, Rhaenyra looked up to her son, "Well I apologize for my absence and the secretary but such was necessary. I went to Kingslanding."

Jace scoffed, "To what possible end?"

"To meet Queen Alicent and sue for peace" Rhaenyra honestly told him, not understanding why he was so annoyed, "You saw Alicent?" He questioned not believing what she did, "Yes I did."

"You could've been taken, or slain!" Jace honestly not understanding why his mother did what she did, "I inherited eighty years of peace from my father, before I was to end it I needed to know that there was no other path and now I do. Only one choice remains to me, either I win my claim or die."

Jace sighed, his hand at the hilt of his sword, "We stand at the ready" he said not calmer than before, "Cole's victories have only emboldened him, he marches on Rooks Rest."

Rhaenyra still looked to Jace, "His host was just hours away when Lord Staunton's raven took way" Lord Corlys went further into detail, Rhaenyra looked to the table, "Why Rooks Rest? After Duskendale. It is but a small coastal keep."

"His Lord Staunton is a member of this council and because his castle is small and vulnerable and there for the taking. Cole knows we have no army on the main land."

"He is brazen!" Lord Bartimos argued.

"He is daring us to act."

"We need to send a dragon."

Rhaenyra looked up to Jace, a small smirk slowly made its way on her lips, "There are those who have mistaken my caution for weakness" she made eye contact with Jace, "Let that be their undoing. I will go."

"My queen."

Jace rolled his eyes, not again. "You cannot" he reasoned with her, "I will not loose dragons to war whilst I hide here in my castle "

"Our allies raise their banner for you mother "

"Yes they do."

"If you die, all is lost. Send me."

"No."

"I will burn Cole's lines and withdraw before Kingslanding could even-"

"You lack the experience."

Rhaenyra stepped forward, "You must send me, your grace. Meleys is your largest dragon and no stranger to battle. I will meet Cole" Rhaenyra sighed and looked down, this was her only hope, looking up she gave Rhaenys a confirming look.

****

Elinor's hand continued to rack through Aegon's silver hair as she hummed a song she sang to Vaegon, "I cannot just sit here" Aegon said to himself, placing his hands in his hands.

"What else are we to do?" Aegon looked up to Elinor, "I will meet Cole and Aemond, we will fight alongside each other, two dragons are better than one aren't they."

Elinor shook her head, "No Aegon, this is war. Rhaenyra will send a dragon and no matter how beautiful Sunfyre is, he or she is small and never seen battle" Aegon scoffed and abruptly stood up, "You think me weak?"

"I did not say that" Aegon shook his head, "You think I'm gonna die" Elinor sighed, "Yes Aegon, you might die, I already lost our son, must I loose you too!?"

"I am not weak and pathetic, letting others fight my war. I will not sit here and no nothing as my mother wants me to. I must show the people and everyone that I am King worthy" Elinor stood up, "So what are you now? A peasant?"

"I am the King."

"With a pregnant wife, which he wants to leave so he might die in battle!" Elinor scoffed and begun walking out, "You may do as you wish Aegon, but I cannot bare to loose another, unless it's Aemond" Aegon slightly chuckled at the end of Elinor's little speech.

To war then.