paradox - part II

Chapter 2: Aegon's Small Council

In King's Landing... 

Alicent and Criston Cole entered the room of the Small Council, and several of the members greeted them. Then Aegon came in, with his young son and heir, Jaehaerys in tow. 

'Good morrow, my lords!' Aegon called out cheerily. 'Mother.' He sat. 'What news?' 

'Our letters to the Vale and to the North continue to go unanswered,' Otto Hightower announced. 

'Cunts,' Aegon replied blankly. 

'The Stormlands should be ours after Prince Aemond's marriage pact to the Lady Floris Baratheon. I anticipate their sworn declaration,' Otto said. 

'My brother is raising the strength of the West to mass at the Golden Tooth, but we...' Tyland Lannister began to say, but was interrupted by Jaehaerys playing with the marble ball he had to signify that he was in attendance. Tyland turned to talk to the boy for a few moments, and looked back at the king, who gave a big, beaming smile. 

'My nephew, Lord Ormund, musters his forces to sally forth from Oldtown. They expect to march quickly, meeting little resistance, until they reach the Riverlands.' 

'My letters to Rhaenyra. Has there been any answer?' Alicent asked. 

'An apology for her dead son?' one of the other council members asked. 

'None, Your Grace,' the maester sitting to the right of the council member replied. 'Between that and their blockade of the Gullet, we must presume that the princess has refused the offered terms, and that war is now inevitable.' 

'Perhaps his Grace might lend his voice to our outreach -' Alicent began to urge Aegon, but she was interrupted by a sharp, scolding voice, which happened to be Tyland scolding Jaehaerys for taking the ball again. 'In hopes that new terms might be negotiated.' The boy was scolded again. 

'Is the heir to the throne bothering you, Tyland?' Aegon asked, and both Jaehaerys and Tyland turned to look at Aegon. 

'No. No, no, not, not in the least, Your Grace,' Tyland replied. 

'Because I think he wants a ride,' Aegon said. 

'Your Grace,' Alicent urged, but she went ignored. 

'A ride?'

'A pony ride. Wouldn't that be fun, Jaehaerys? Should the Master of Coin be your royal steed?' The boy nodded and those in attendance began to laugh. Tyland began to stand as if to offer the boy a ride, but then Alicent's voice cut through it all. 

'Your Grace. There are important matters to discuss... despite Ser Tyland's interruptions.' 

'Very well,' Aegon replied. 'No time for amusements, Tyland.'

'Your Grace,' Tyland replied, and sat down. 

'Off you go, Jaehaerys. Good boy,' Aegon called out, and a maidservant took the boy's hand, leading him away. 'Where were we?' 

'Rhaenyra's blockade has placed King's Landing under strain,' Otto announced. 'And those pressures will multiply quickly.'

'Well, we should have just killed her when we had the chance.'

'Regrettably, the opportunity for surprise has been lost, and with it, the chance to end this conflict quickly.' Otto looked at Alicent. 'We must play the board before us.'

'If we are to break the Sea Snake's blockade, we will need to bolster both the Lannister and Hightower navies,' Tyland spoke. 

'We do have need for a new Master of Ships,' the maester said. 'We could offer the title to the young Lord Dalton Greyjoy.' The doors opened, and Aemond stepped through. 

'Aemond,' Alicent said. 'What is your business here?' 

'The king summoned me,' Aemond replied casually.  

'You do not have a seat at this council,' she scolded. 

'Aemond is my closest blood and our best sword,' Aegon replied. 'I welcome him.' Aemond walked up to the map, his fingers glancing across it. 

'Path to King's Landing is through the Riverlands. We must establish a toehold there, at Harrenhal,' Aemond spoke. 

'The Riverlands will either declare for me, or they will meet Vhagar and Sunfyre together,' Aegon replied. 'And we can burn the blockade while we're at it.'

'Rhaenyra has dragons as well,' Alicent said. 

'Mine are bigger,' Aegon retorted. 

'If we lose the dragons to war, there'll be no calling them back. We must proceed cautiously.'

'No. Fat, old Lord Tully will either raise my banner or see his burn,' Aegon replied sharply. 'We should fly to Riverrun.' 

'You are the king, Your Grace. You must not put yourself at risk,' Criston Cole remarked. 

'And Vhagar is needed here to deter Rhaenyra from attacking in retribution for the death of her son,' Alicent said, turning to look at Aemond, who had taken a seat at the other end of the table. He simply gave her a slight smile in return. 

'Errors were made in the hours following King Viserys' death,' Otto noted. 'We mustn't compound them.' He turned to Aegon. 'You've already demonstrated your might, Your Grace. We must now favour patience and restraint. I send ravens by the hour.' Aegon sighed in boredom, sinking in his chair. 'Many and more houses will declare for you in time. History and precedent will come to your side.' Aegon took his ball, starting to spin it absentmindedly, now quickly growing bored.