Burn Together ❖ Daemon Targaryen

Chapter 41

" ... The Dowager Queen Alicent had left King's Landing to come to Dragonstone. The once bold, confident Queen had vanished and in her place was a woman who was afraid, and broken by the decisions she had made to lead to this war. She was brought to visit Rhaenyra and Rhaellanne and she begged her once-childhood friends to allow her and her children to bend the knee and cease more bloodshed before more of her loved ones died. It is said Princess Rhaellanne cursed the woman who had tormented her for so long and swore that she herself would kill each of Alicent's children in revenge for her father, her mother, and her nephew. Turning to Queen Rhaenyra, Alicent found no more sympathy. Her old friends had been hardened by the pain of their losses, choosing to imprison her as a hostage ... "

" ... Westeros was changing. Men marched in every direction to spread the rule of their chosen leader, bringing bloodshed and destruction with them. Dragons flew overhead and their fire burned every opponent into the ground. War was consuming Westeros and soon there would be nothing but ash and blood left to rule over ... "

As much as Rhaellanne had enjoyed her admittedly two hours with her husband at Harrenhal (which Rhaenyra had not been happy about), Rhaellanne had not been fond of Harrenhal as a castle. It was cold and damp, and the never ending rain in the river lands made the dark castle all the more dreary, so returning to the warmth and safety of Dragonstone that night was a welcome relief to her.

After visiting both Driftmark and Harrenhal and being sure that Rhaenyra's claim to the throne would sufficiently be defended the Queen needed to inform her small council, so a meeting had been called the following day, and the other Lords and Sers were equally pleased with their preparations for war.

"Your Grace" said Eleana as she entered the small council room. She passed around the large table, around which stood Rhaenyra, Rhaellanne, Bennard, Corlys, Baela, Jace, Baelor, Lyanna, Lady Mysaria, Grand Maester Gerardys, Lord Celtigar, Lord Massey, Ser Steffon, Ser Lorent, and Ser Roderick .

She passed Rhaenyra a scroll at the head of the table, and the Queen nodded gratefully at her niece, who then left the room, before unrolling it.

Her council waited anxiously until she finished and addressed the whole table. "Daemon writes. He says his army has grown large, which I can confirm from our visit, and that he has received word that in response the Greens are planning to send an army towards them."

"What would you like to do, Your Grace?" asked Lord Corlys.

She paused. "If his army is to swiftly defeat the Greens he will need more dragons. I propose we send at least Silverwing and Dracul to Harrenhal to aid him"

Her sister nodded "I agree. But more pressing, Your Grace, is the army which will march from Oldtown any day soon, with Otto Hightower counselling them and Alicent's youngest son Daeron and his dragon Tessarion supporting them"

"What would you have me do?" asked the Queen "We will still need dragons here to defend our home, as well as others available for any immediate or unexpected threats, especially Aemond and Vhagar"

"If I may" said Baelor cautiously "Leaving Cannibal here for now will be more than enough to stop him from coming near, but we should not be so focused on preventing the Greens when we must root them out altogether"

King Consort Bennard frowned, "What do you mean?"

Jacaerys grinned "He means we must take King's Landing. The Hightower army is not yet at full strength, the Lannisters have made no move to leave Casterly Rock, and with the Greens' largest army heading away from King's Landing now is the right time to strike"