The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 40

With war now a fact, Aegon and Rhaenyra scrambled to alert their allies. Ravens were sent to all corners of the realm, but the Blacks had one decisive advantage: dragons. A dragon is faster than a raven, after all. It was thus that while ravens were dispatched to Oldtown and Storm's End with orders to rally their forces, Jacaerys Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen had gone on their own missions; Jacaerys to the Vale and then the North, and Daemon to Riverrun.

All the while, my father carefully planned his next move.

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The Eyrie

Jace had been expecting a warmer welcome than this from Lady Jeyne when he arrived that night. His grandmother was an Arryn after all. While he had his doubts about being able to bring Lady Jeyne to his mother's side, at the very least he had expected to be received in private, not before her entire court. He was eerily aware of the Moon Door in the middle of the Great Hall, but steeled himself. "My Lady, the Greens, led by King Aegon, have usurped the Iron Throne. My mother, Queen Rhaenyra, is the rightful heir, as decreed by her father, King Viserys. You are called now to remember your oath."

"My oath?!" Jeyne shouted as she stood up, unable to contain her rage. "Yes, I swore an oath, and we do not take those lightly . . . but your mother has done little to repay my faith."

"Your mother married Daemon Targaryen, a man who has committed innumerable sins against the people of the Vale." Jessamyn said, eager to support her lover. "Lady Jeyne's loyalty to your mother has hardly been repaid by that marriage to a man who murdered Lady Rhea, disowned a boy of four after having his claim rejected, remarried before the mourning period passed, and then beat one of our highest-ranking lords."

Jace gulped. "Daemon's guilt was never-"

"Don't finish that sentence." Jeyne growled through her teeth before collecting herself. "Oaths cut both ways, my Prince." She regarded the Prince coolly; the boy was new to the diplomatic world and it was unlikely he had been taught all the niceties of it. "Quite apart from the Vale's many grievances with Prince Daemon, do you know what I fear, Prince Jacaerys?"

Jace was silent for a moment. He hadn't prepared for this, and wracked his mind to try and think of something before he was laughed out of the Eyrie. "Armies, My Lady?"

"I do not fear armies, My Prince. It was a dragon that forced our submission during the Conquest." Jeyne replied. The story had been told to people often enough. "If you are asking me to call my banners and declare for your mother, you must have a plan to deal with the two dragons currently in residence at Runestone."

Jace was silent. He had counted on Daeron siding with his mother and brothers. His returning to Runestone was unexpected to say the least; evidently he had reasons for remaining loyal to Daevar that ran deeper than his brothers. Was there a plan in process at Runestone to crown Daeron king as a challenge to Aegon and Rhaenyra? The Vale had the manpower to back such a claim, that was certain. 45,000 men, Daemon said, assuming they are fully mobilised . "I . . . My Lady, only one of those dragons is bred for war-"

"I would not stake my family's future on that, my Prince. A dragon is a dragon, and it can be used for what purpose their rider deems fit."

If only you knew. "So you will not support us then?"

"Will your mother set aside her marriage to Daemon?" Jessamyn shot back. 

"If she does not, then there is nothing more to discuss." Jeyne added.

Jace was furious. He wanted to lash out and label Jeyne an oathbreaker in front of the entire court. It would be an easy matter to bring Vermax up here and bring them all to heel . . . but that was uncertain. Even if he managed it, a dictated peace was an unstable one. Not to mention he had no guarantee that the Lords of the Vale would follow an oath made under threat of being torched by a dragon.