𝙏𝙍𝙐𝙀 𝙇𝙊𝙑𝙀 // 𝙅𝘼𝘾𝘼𝙀𝙍𝙔𝙎 𝙑𝙀𝙇𝘼𝙍𝙔𝙊𝙉

𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣

The next day they were all back in the council room. Elaena stood leaning against Jacaerys. It was early in the morn, too early for her.

She zoned out as maesters and lords spoke to her mother of plans and solution. She sighed from boredom as Jacaerys hand rested upon her waist.

Her head lifted up as soon as a knight entered the room "The lord of the tides! Lord Corlys Velaryon, and his wife the princes Rhaenys Targaryen" The knight announced.

They all looked to see Lord Corlys walk down the king steps, he used a walking stick as he clearly was not fully healed. Rhaenys walked by his side and Baela and Rhaena behind them.

Elaena glanced at her twin brother, as he stared at the man. She knew he intimated him, he was a brave leader and Lucerys believed he was not fit for his role.

"My lords" Lord Corlys began as he walked up to the council table.

"Lord Corlys, it brings much relief to see you hale and healthy again" Rhaenyra said now standing up from her chair.

Lord Corlys nodded to her "I'm very sorry about your father, princess. He was a good man"

Elanea smiled to her cousins Baela and Rhaena as they stood beside her at the council table. She smirked as she saw Lucerys staring at Rhaena as she smiled to her twin brother.

"Where is Daemon?" Lord Corlys addled making Elaena look to the floor. She knew her grandsire would probably be very angry with her uncle for killing his brother.

"There were other concerns which demanded the princes attention." Rhaenyra said.

Lord Corlys merely stared at Rhaenyra for a minute before walking up to the large steel table "Your declared allies?" He asked.

"Yes" Rhaenyra said.

"Too few to win a war for the throne" lord Corlys spoke.

"Well we would also hope to have the support of houses Arryn, Baratheon and Stark" Rhaenyra said.

"Hope..is the fools ally" Lord Corlys said.

"Both Arryn and Baratheon share blood with my house. But all of them swore oaths to me" Rhaenyra said.

"As did house Hightower..if I remember" Lord Corlys said making Elaena bite her tongue.

"As did you, Lord Corlys" Rhaenyra spoke making her daughter smile, Proud of her mother answer.

Lord Corlys looked back at the three Velaryon teens, as well as their cousins, his other grandchildren.

"Your fathers realm.. was one of justice and honour. Our houses are bound by common blood and common cause. This Hightower treason cannot stand" Lord Corlys spoke.

Elaena placed her hand on Jacaerys which was around her and squeezed it with anticipation from his words.

"You have my full support of our fleet and house, your grace" Lord Corlys spoke bowing his head to Rhaenyra.

"You honour me, Lord Corlys. Princess Rhaenys" Rhaenyra said smiling at the woman behind her who returned it.

"But, as I said to my bannermen, I made a promise to my father to hold the realm strong and United. If wars first stroke is to fall it will not be by my hand" Rhaenyra said.

"You do not mean to act?" Lord Corlys asked suprised by her words.

"Taking caution does not mean standing fast. I wish to know who my allies are, before I send them to war" Rhaenyra said.

Lord Corlys began to walk over to her with his stick in his hand. "The consequence of my.. near demise at the stepstones... is that we now control them. I took care to fully garrison the territory this time. A total blockade of the shipping lanes will be in place in days, if not already. The triarchy have been routed. The narrow sea is ours. If we further seal the gullet, we can cut off all seaborne travel and trade to kings landing" Lord Corlys spoke making everyone is the room stare at him in astonishment and happiness.

"I shall take meleys and patrol the Gulley myself." Princess Rhaenys said.

"When we drain the narrow sea, we can surround kings landing, lay siege to the red keep, and force the greens surrender" a lord said.

"If we are to have enough swords to surround kings landing, we must first secure the support of Winterfell, the Eryie and storms end" Rhaenyra spoke.

"I'll prepare the ravens your grace" A maester said.

"We should bare those messages" Jacaerys said suddenly making Elaena nod at his words.

"Dragons can fly faster than ravens, and they're more, convincing" Elaena explained.

Jacaerys placed a hand on his betrothed back before saying "Send us"

"The prince and princess, is right your grace" Lord Corlys said sharing a proud look with Elaena.

"Very well. Prince Jacaerys will fly north, and Elanea you may go with him. First to the Eyrie to see my mothers cousin, the lady Jeyne Arryn, and then to winterfell, to treat with Lord Cretan Stark, for the support of the north" Rhaenyra said, making Jacaerys hold Elaenas hand and they nodded to each other.

"Prince Lucerys will fly south to storms end, and treat with lord Borros Baratheon. We must remind these lords, of the oaths they swore, and...show them our strength" Rhaenyra said looking at Elaena and Jacaerys.

"How do you suggest we show our strength?" Princes Rhaenyra asked.

"We show our heir, with his...wife" Princess Rhaenyra said.

"Wife?" Elaena asked shocked by her mothers words.

"You mean to marry us before we depart" Jacaerys said understanding his mothers words.

"Yes...only if you both agree" Rhaenyra said.

Jacaerys looked down at Elanea who clasped his hand tightly, they shared a knowing look "Of course" Jacaerys answered.

The entire room smiled at this, although the events of late have been somewhat devastating, and there may well be more in the future, they would have a happy memory to cherish before any war begins,

A wedding.