Burn Together ❖ Daemon Targaryen

Chapter 36

" ... Rook's Rest was the first time anyone saw Dragons Dance. King Aegon's army had marched there followed by Sunfyre and Vhagar, and then the sky had turned black as Meleys and Cannibal descended upon their dragons. The men below stopped fighting, watching up above them as the dragons roared and collided hard enough to shake the ground. Blood rained down in thick streams, covering the field below and the men until their Green and Black sigils could not be recognised. The dragons screeched and tore at each other's skin until two of them fell, never to raise again ... "

While Queen Rhaenyra was gone from Dragonstone to meet with Dowager Queen Alicent in King's Landing her council was having to rule in her stead, which meant all eyes were turning to her Hand Princess Rhaellanne.

The men of the council hoped they could appeal to the more vicious nature of the Dragon Queen, but they were surprised to discover that she was not so easily persuaded or indulged and was adamant about not allowing this war to continue anymore without the Queen's direct say so.

However, it was difficult to shoot down her small council without being able to say where the Queen really was.

"My Princess, we must do something before their forces reach further North. We know that Ser Criston Cole's army is moving and the only way to stop them from sacking more of Westeros and turning men to their side is to cut them off now" Lord Massey said to her.

Rhaellanne sighed, putting her head in her hands. "I know, My Lord but we have no ground army in Westeros to send after them"

"We have dragons!" exclaimed Ser Alfred "Send them after him!"

"That's not possible" Baelor said firmly "Ser Criston Cole's host has taken to exploiting the tree cover to conceal its movements. He now only travels by night to confound our dragons."

Lord Celtigar asked, "And what is Cole's heading?"

All eyes turned to Baela who was the one patrolling Cole and his army. "It is difficult to say, but there were signs of an army moving northwest, I believe."

Ser Alfred scoffed, "She believes. You should've burned them when you had the chance."

She narrowed her eyes at him "Perhaps you can, Ser Alfred, when you next sight them on your dragon."

"The only reason we know any of this is because of Baela's efforts." Jace added, coming to her defence. He glanced at her, and Baela smiled slightly, and Jace's hand drifted towards hers close enough to brush the soft skin of her palm

"What do we know, my prince?" Lord Celtigar bit off "If you ask me, it is little and less." 

"We know that Cole possesses a host that is growing in strength and that it is a problem." said Rhaenys

Lord Massey replied, "Can Daemon hope to meet it with his own in time? And if I know the Riverlands, he has more disentangling ahead of him than the end of a Lyseni orgy."

Lord Celtigar turned to Rhaellanne, "Have you heard word from your husband?"

Rhaellanne sighed and then shook her head. "No. I have sent ravens to Harrenhal seeking news of Daemon's progress with the Riverlords. None have, as yet, returned." It ashamed her to admit that her own husband was not responding to her letters in front of the council, when deep down she was growing more frustrated and worried for him.

The Lords of the small council grumbled unhappily.

"Just so." said Ser Alfred "An enemy host, growing in constitution, marches somewhere in the vastness of the Crownlands. We could, perhaps, act if only we had a host of our own. Or someone here to lead us."