The Bastard Prince

7

"Good morrow, Your Grace. My lords." Criston says walking into small council." Forgive my lateness."

"Important business, no doubt." Aegon says bored.

"You've appointed new knights to the Kingsguard, Your Grace." Criston, Aegons new Hand speaks.

"To replace those we lost." Aegon speaks.

"The last one needlessly, some might say."

"Ser Arryk was awarded the great duty of ending Rhaenyra's challenge. He failed to discharge it." Criston says.

"He failed because the scheme was rash." Alicent speaks up.

"Perhaps, Your Grace, but we cannot all hide in our castles waiting for war to come to us." Criston rebuttles.

"As now it surely will." Alicent speaks.

I scoff. "It already has." I speaksup and the room goes quiet as everyone looks to me. I clear my throat." Im sorry my king I've spoken out of turn." I say and look down.

Aegon turns to me." No, I like to hear what you have to say, speak." Aegon tells me.

"House Bracken took it upon themselves to attack the Blackwoods, who declared for the pretender. Lord Samwell Blackwood himself is slain." I speak up going over what Aemond and I looked into.

"Good. First blood in our name." Aegon speaks.

"Both sides took heavy losses, Your Grace. I-I'm not entirely certain we can declare this a victory." The Lannister speaks up.

" The Blackwoods and the Brackens have feuded for centuries. This is nothing more than an excuse for them to indulge their ancient grudge. It's no true war." Lord Jasper speaks.

Aegon slams his dagger into the table. "Call it what you will... I call it war. And so will Dragonstone. The question is, what are we going to do about it?" Aegon asks.

"We send a raven to Lord Tully. These houses are his vassals, are they not? He must control them." The Maester speaks up.

"Lord Grover Tully is a flaccid, old fool who couldn't control his cock in a cunny. Begging your pardon, Your Grace." Lord Jasper speaks.

" Do you have any better suggestions, Lord Jasper?" Aegon asks.

"Your lord uncle Ormund marches from Oldtown at the head of a great host, Your Grace. And your brother Daeron's dragon nears fighting age. Call on them to suppress the Riverlands." Jasper suggests.

" Alas, they are months away. My lord brother Jason is raising a great army at Casterly Rock. In a matter of weeks, he will be able to harass the Blackwoods from the west." The Lannister speaks once more.

"Should we not aim to unite these armies and then strike as one?" The maester speaks Tyland chuckles.

"Ah, the great military mind of the Citadel."

"I served the realm..." The Maester tells him.

"Do remind me, which link in your chain denotes the art of war?" Tyland asks him and I sigh.

"This council must rediscover the discipline it lately had if it's to be of any use." Alicent snaps.

"The Riverlands are the key to the war. Harrenhal is the key to the Riverlands. I will ride out with those I can muster here. Men I know, men I've trained." Criston speaks.

"You need time to raise the numbers to challenge the Rivermen." Alicent speaks up.

"Speed is my ally. I will turn the Crownland houses who declared for Rhaenyra to our cause. We will add their numbers to our own and then turn west. Where I will enlist the Brackens, subdue the Riverlands, and take Harrenhal." Criston speaks.

"So impatient to ride with so few men. So like to be destroyed by the first stronghold you meet. A bold scheme indeed." Alicent speaks again.

"Well, the gods favor the bold." Criston rebuttles.

"They did not favor Ser Arryk." Alicent fires back and Criston chuckles.

"What say you, my king?" Criston asks and Aegon turns once more to look at me.

"What do you think?" Aegon asks me.

"My King, is it really aproipriate to ask your sword for advice he isn't apart of the council?" The Lannister speaks up.

"He was in line for the thrown, he has the training of not only a king but a warrior and I value his opinion above all else in this room." Aegon snaps. " In fact, Tyland give him your chair, bring it around so he may sit." 

"Aegon-" Aegon shuts Alicent down.

"Quiet!" He shouts and bangs on the table.

I sigh as Tyland brings his chair around and moves back to where his seat used to be and stands there.

Aegon nods to me." Sit, and speak." I sigh as I sit and glance at a smirking Aemond.

"I agree with Criston, but to be safe you should bring a dragon, I think Aemond or I should go, show our strength, that will leave a large dragon to guard the castle, even though I dont see Rhaenyra desperate enough to attack kingslanding head on just yet." I speak up and Alicent throughs in her question.

"Why, why wouldn't she attack head on?" Alicent asks.

"Rhaenyra outnumbers us with dragons, on their side they have 5 dragons who have riders, only two of which have been in battles and can match our size, now she also has Seasmoke, Vermithor and Silverwing, but they dont have riders. We have four dragons, Two of which are the biggest. She knows when it comes to strength she would be crushed." I finish.

"You'll take Aemond and Vhagar?" Aegon asks.

" Vhagar will remain here... to defend the city. I would like to take Maelor, I wouldn't be wrong to assume you have war strategy?" He asks.

"Daemon trained me well." I tell him and he nods.

"Im not sure." Aegon speaks up." I would rather you by my side." Aegon speaks and I sigh.

"My king, this is whats best." I tell him and he stares at me with fear in his eye, I lean in closer to him." Trust me." I whisper to him and he shakes his head.

"Maelor stays, Good. To war, then." Aegon speaks up. "I'll come, too, with Sunfyre." I frown at this.

" Aegon." Alicent speaks up at the same time Criton speaks, "Your Grace."

" You'll need a dragon." Aegon speaks up.

" My plan is not to draw attention." Criston speaks.

"And-And what will you do if you encounter one or more of Rhaenyra's dragons? She'll want to answer for Ser Arryk." Aegon speaks.

"We will be more like to encounter one if we field one of our own." Criston speaks and Aegon glances at me but I dont look at him.

"That is precisely why you must remain, brother." Aemond speaks up. "It's a brave thought, but we cannot risk your loss."

"I'm as fearsome as any of them." Aegon speaks and the room goes quiet.

We were soon dismissed and I was one of the first out of the room.

"Meet with me, later." Criston mutters as he walks past me. He looks back as he passes me and I nod.

"Maelor, wait." Aegon says and I sigh.

"Your Grace." I say plainly.

"Your upset with me." he speaks and I scoff.

"You wont let me fight, you wouldn't let me find Jaehaerys, you wont let me do anything but stand by your side." I snap at him.

"I dont want you to get hurt." Aegon speaks and I sigh.

"I dont wish to be a young prince stuck in his tower, I have the blood of the dragon and the spirit of a warrior, keeping me traped here is how resentment grows." I snap at Aegon and march off to meet with Cristion.