The White Dragon

ALLIANCES AND ARMIES MARCH

THE WHITE DRAGON CHAPTER 36 : ALLIANCES AND ARMIES MARCH

A FANFICTION ON HBO'S HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

AERYS TARGARYEN

"Where are we with our defenses?" Aerys asks and Ser Samwell places markers onto the painted map "Each tower on our walls have had a scorpion installed. Three layers of dry moats have already started to be dug around the City and we've called villagers from across Dragon's Maw's lands to make for the city. The last of them should be arriving within the next couple of days. The Queen's bridge has a garrison of five hundred men defending it while five catapults are being sent there as we speak. The banks around the bridge have wooden palisades as well. No army will pass through the bridge without taking severe losses."

"Ensure that the smallfolk are assigned work. The last thing we want is for panic and riots to break out in our streets. Smiths, street cleaners, even volunteers for the Sept will do." Alicent suggests and Aerys nods before turning to Ser Rymun "Our forces? How many are ready to march?" Rymun steps forward and removes his helm "As it stands we have two thousand men-at-arms, seven hundred riders and a thousand archers. I thought it best that the city watch remains to guard the city." Aerys nods and turns to his gathered lords.

"Lord Bain?" Aerys asks with a raised brow and the lord of Kingsgrove bows his head "My army of eight hundred will join your host." Rosier then speaks "And already five hundred of my own have arrived to march with you." Finally Selwyn stands and nods "I have ensured that three hundred of my best ride with you my King." Aerys sighs and turns back to the map "Over five thousand men will not be enough to breach Storm's End, but with Vermithor the castles of Errol, Peasebury, Hasty, Buckler and Penrose will submit and raise their levies for me. When Lord Borros looks over the battlements of Storm's End he will see his own lords charging against him."

The door then bursts open and a page enters and sighs breathlessly "Your Grace. A rider came just over an hour ago carrying the colors of house Reyne accompanied by a box. Said that it was a gift for you from Prince Aemond." Aerys takes a moment before nodding "Very well bring it in."

The page nods rapidly and leaves for a moment before reappearing with a grimace as he carries the ornate wooden box before laying it down on a table. Aerys moves over to the table and opens the lock before pulling back slightly to hide a grimace as a foul stench hits him. In the box on a lining of red velvet lining sits a decapitated hand and a singular note. After a slight hesitation Aerys lifts the note from the box and reads it aloud "I took her murderer's life and honored what you asked for years ago. Visenya's death has been avenged. Signed Prince Aemond Targaryen." Alicent looks into the box before covering her mouth and lets out a silent noise of discomfort as Aerys tosses the letter back in the box before looking at the hand of Lucerys. A silver ring sat on the pinkie digit with the emblem of the seahorse of Velaryon and Aerys scoffs "Get this out of my sight."

"We should send it to Rhaenyra. Let her have something to bury." Alicent says quietly and Aerys shakes his head "No. If she is still considering our terms, I doubt us giving her Lucerys' hand will bring any favor. Toss it back into the ocean." Alicent looks at Aerys with wide eyes and sighs exasperatedly "You cannot be so cruel as to hide this from her. Let her have his flesh so that the grave or the pyre is not filled only with his clothes and possessions."

"It would be a mistake. If we this box to her then she will call for not only action but retribution as well. Keep her distracted with finding her son's corpse so that we can focus on the war." Lord Rosier says with a cold infliction in his voice and Alicent's eyes dart between her husband and the council before scoffing "Aerys, when Visenya and Baelor died we had their bodies to burn. As a mother she should be allowed to bury her boy or whatever remains of him."