The Conquest

Rhaenys

The extensive quagmire called the Neck was a treacherous plot of swamp inhabited  by all kinds of reptiles, poisonous insects and crannogmen, led by Reeds of Greywater Watch. There was a narrow causeway that went through Moat Cailin- it was the sole path for anyone endeavoring for the North. Leading an army would perilous for they would be susceptible to attack from any direction; not to mention the trees of the bog are partially submerged and covered in fungus, and beneath the water, quicksand will drown anyone who ventured in the waters.

"It's a good thing that Torrhen Stark had crossed the Neck rather than waited beyond the bog." Visenya said. "The terrain is unfamiliar and dangerous. It's too vast and harsh for us to conquer traditionally. I wonder how anyone survive there in this cold. They must have heart of ice."

"You should feel right at home then." Rhaenys quipped to which her sister glared.

Even after their victory against Gardener and Lannisters, their conquest of west remained  incomplete, so Aegon parted from his sister-wives and marched at once for Highgarden to secure its submission before anyone else, especially the Dornishmen, could seize it for their own.

He arrived at Highgarden to find the castle in the hands of Harlan Tyrell who had been left in charge as their Lords waged war against the Dragons. Aegon was quick to read this ambitious and opportunistic scion of Gardeners' vassal and dangled in front him the luscious offer of Lordship. One parley later, Tyrell was quick to lay down his weapons and swore allegiance to House Targaryen. Aegon, true to his words, promoted him from the castellan of Highgarden to its master and conferred the titles of 'Warden of the South' and 'Lord Paramount of the Mander'. 

In the absence of the King, the two queens were left to prepare for rest of the conquest. In south remained Dorne and Oldtown while Sharra Arryan held sway in northwest. Their submission was must before all three of them march to Oldtown and Dorne. But then the northern sky darkened with ravens bearing news of Torrhen Stark's arrival, leading an army of savage Northmen thirty thousand strong. The King in the North had already crossed the Neck and entered the riverlands, intent to bring the battle to them.

"Send word to Edmyn Tully to call all his knights and lords. Lannister as well and all those who have bent the knee." Aegon wrote back. "We regroup at Harrenhal."

Such arrangement would take days but Rhaenys knew what her lover's intention was. An army of that size amplified their formidable reputation in the aftermath of Harrenhal and the Field of Fire.

Aegon at once started toward north, racing ahead of his army on the wings of Balerion, the Black Dread. The great dragon joined its fellow dragons in the sky as Aegon landed in their camp along with Lord Tyrell and Lannister.

"How far are they?" Asked in the war council.

"A day's ride from the Trident." Lord Tully informed them.

Rhaenys observed her husband hum in good humor, working out strategy silently in his mind. "Station your men along the lines of Trident then. Dig up trenches, just in case they should decide to show their 'Northern valor' but do not provoke them. Do not let them cross either."

"Then what?"

"Then we wait."

Soon the King in the North arrived at the banks of the Trident, to find a host of forty-five thousand men-Riverlords, westermen, stormlanders, men of the Reach ... all flying their sigil and above them, the three headed dragon flew, red upon black.

Immersed in the warmth of her bath, Rhaenys was lost in thought. Her handmaiden- Anysa continued to prattle which Rhaenys had long since blocked out as she scrubbed her porcelain skin. All of a sudden she saw the flap of her tent lift and Aegon Targaryen came in, a warm smile lighting up his otherwise gaunt face- the smile of a lover upon making through every danger to see his beloved; just like when they were child and played hide and seek in the caves of Dragonstone.