The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 45

With Gulltown in the hands of the Bronzes, the war had changed. Rhaenyra had lost what she thought was a stable base of power, and her decision to not send a dragon to support Ser Eldric is one of those decisions that will be pondered for generations. Nonetheless, the war now entered a new stage.

All the while, the Greens began pondering their next move, hoping to take advantage of the Vale going against Rhaenyra. I have pinned Ser Criston as the principal architect of the newer, more aggressive strategy that Aegon adopted at this stage.

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King's Landing

Pondering over maps was not the most exciting thing Aegon had ever done, but Ser Criston had drummed into him the necessity of it. As it stood, things did not seem to be going well. Wooden black icons were in place at Dragonstone, Harrenhal and Horn Hill, as well as in the Vale and most of the Riverlands. The only green icons were over Stone Hedge, Oldtown and King's Landing. Bronze icons were in place at Gulltown, Runestone, and a smattering of castles in the Vale. Rebellion all over , he thought. Where do we start?

Ser Criston and Aemond stood at one end of the map table, while he and Nesaena stood at the other. His sister-wife was eager to pay back Rhaenyra for murdering Jaehaerys, and with Ser Erryk's failure to bring the war to Rhaenyra, they had to take this on the battlefield, which was far easier said than done.

"Their dragons are the biggest threat." Ser Criston said. "Especially with Caraxes and Meleys. And this blockade at the Gullet is putting the treasury under strain."

"Then we burn their ships." Aemond said. "If my uncle wishes to respond, let him. I look forward to the challenge if he dares face Vhagar and I."

"I still say we attack Dragonstone with all of us." Nesaena growled. "They can't stand up to Windfyre, Vhagar and Sunfyre all at once."

"And if they find riders for the dragons that are there?" Criston asked. "We still have no idea where Jacaerys is either; he could return at any moment. Not to mention that a strike on Dragonstone would leave us defenceless if Daemon and Caraxes attack." He shook his head, instead tapping at Horn Hill. "The rebellion in the Reach is the most serious threat. We should remove House Tarly from the table."

"How?" Aegon asked.

"The Hightower army is gathered and about to march from Oldtown. If the Queen and Windfyre-"

"No!" Nesaena shouted, indignant. "You are not going to send me away to fight a different war when that whore sits on Dragonstone!"

"Please try to think strategically, Your Grace." Ser Criston said. "Crushing her supporters in the Reach will be a significant defeat for Rhaenyra, and will enable Lord Ormund to link up with Lords Jason and Borros."

"Think about it, Nesaena." Aemond said. "The Hightower, Lannister, and Baratheon armies combined . . ."

Nesaena went silent. Aemond was right; it did sound incredibly tempting. She would be able to lay a key role in bringing the biggest single army the Greens had into the war proper, and then Rhaenyra would be left hopelessly outnumbered, even with her dragons. The realisation that the whore had not sent any dragons into the Reach made things easier as well. She looked down, then back up, with her decision made. "Fine. I'll go, but I won't be happy with it."

"That doesn't matter." Aegon said carelessly. "We need to take their dragons off the field." He said. They would be outnumbered in the sky until they started picking them off, one way or the other.

"I have been formulating a plan to do just that, Your Grace. It will also allow us to move onto the attack." He pointed at Duskendale. "We strike at Duskendale and then Rook's Rest. They'll send for Rhaenys and Meleys to respond, then we ambush them."