Chapter 29: Not Very Cooperative
Aegon Martell
My constant companion since Arianne's 'accident' Ser Gerold, stands just beside me on the prow of the 'Conquerer's Vengeance' as we row away from the Pentos docks. With a solemn expression on his face and a tear stained face of my own, we watch Rhaenys and her captors vanish in the distance.
Illyrio Mopatis and his Blackfyre son Daemon, better not lay a hand on my sister. If that coward thinks I'll let this stand… he doesn't know my family.
"Don't be so glum your Grace." The commander of my 'kingsguard' gives me a smile that I'm only now realizing has never reached his eyes. "Your sister's hand has both given us the Golden Company to go along with Oberyn's own allies and will finally mend the rift between the red and black dragons." Did you at least serve my father loyally, or have you always been in this for your own gain?
"Quentyn will keep her safe, since I know where Dayne's loyalties truly lay." He winces at my bitter tone and shakes his head. He struggles to find an answer but hands off the responsibility once someone else joins the conversation.
"I know all this change is confusing Aegon, but Sers Arthur and Oswell have only ever been loyal to you." My uncle saunters over with a cocky grin. "We're finally going to get your Kingdoms back… we just needed to really search for allies and it took far longer than expected. Rhaenys and Daemon will join us once we've secured the Realm."
Ser Hightower grunts his agreement. "We've all had to make sacrifices for this plan to have a chance of success. Just as you will also be expected to do your part and secure our alliance with the Reach."
"And what if I don't want to marry Margaery Tyrell?" If I'm your King, how come you're the ones deciding everything?
Of course my arrogant uncle is quick with an answer. "Our allies will be crushed one by one with extreme prejudice, until eventually each of our heads is mounted on a spike outside the Red Keep."
"Ser Alliser will be taking the Second Sons into the Riverlands so they can link up with Euron and the Frey's," Gerold explains with a quirk of his lip that makes his mustache appear to dance. "The Red Spears and the Reach reinforcements will liberate the Stormlands…"
He trails off so my uncle can finish with far to much bravado for a man juggling scorpions. "And we can march from Crackclaw to King's Landing, rallying those still loyal to the cause on our way."
"They're just going to let the Golden Company march inside the city?" I'm a child, not an idiot like you all seem to be. No wonder Viserys was so quick to give away the crown, if this is what he grew up around.
"Jeremy Rykker managed to hide himself in plain sight," Explains Jon Connington as he approaches with a half smile that is already shrinking. "He pretended to be his own bastard and this gave us six years to sneak people back in to King's Landing."
Oberyn laughs darkly and I hate a member of my family for the first time in my brief life. "We have nearly a fifth of the Gold Cloaks subverted and will have the Iron Gate and Gate of the Gods opened upon our forces arrival. The King and his Master of Coin have done little to endear the loyalists to his side since his victory."
"The traitor Jaime's son is all we need of him," Even Gerold seems excited for the bloodshed to come and I can only regret ever looking up to men I never really knew. "He can face his justice in the Iron Islands or back at the Rock when my family strikes."
"If Oswell can't convince Jonothor to comeback to his King, he has an agent already in place to help him spirit away the rest of the Targaryens." Jon sighs heavily and I realize he's is the youngest of them all. And he's ancient… maybe they really can't wait much longer for this plan.
Agreeing next is an even older looking Gerold, who has only a head of thinning white hair left. "They'll be brought to Ser Alliser and then you can reward those who remained faithful. Giving the Whents the Lord Paramountcy seems only just." And what do you and Arthur want for your own families? Do you expect the Daynes to get Dorne and the Hightowers to keep the Westerlands?
"I guess you want the Conningtons to regain their Lordship…" Quentyn might hate Uncle Doran's lessons on strategy, but right now I'm very glad I paid attention. "And maybe a little more?"
"See, this plan isn't so hard to follow. We just need to reward those who give us aid in this time of need." Oberyn smiles at me with pride but I just want to scream bloody murder in his face over this betrayal.
Growling the other two into silence, Ser Gerold finishes the explanation. "The Ironborn get the seas and the right to raid Essos all they want. Let Balon's brother have Skagos, the Three Sisters, and the Sttepstones." How can you be okay with what you know they'll be doing in my name! "We ignore the change of ruling family in the Vale and let the Starks bend the knee once the dust has settled."
"The Usurper and the Imp have taken the royal fleet South," Oberyn speaks just above a whisper, as if worried someone will hear him even on the Narrow Sea. "Your prize is unguarded and just waiting for you to reclaim it Aegon."
…
Daemon Blackfyre
Watching the fleet depart brings a combination of conflicting feelings. I'm excited that Father's promise of ending the hate between my family is finally coming true, but dreading having to actually talk to Rhaenys.
She clearly was raised on very different tales and has no idea I just want to reconcile our families bloody history. Father keeps warning me how dangerous war is and that if anything should happen to my future goodbrother… my betrothed and I can't be at odds if we have to rule.
"If you touch me, Ser Arthur will remove whichever hand you used." Rhaenys decides to speak first once the ships are gone from sight, her voice tainted with bitter rage I only wish I could soothe. Black and red together at last, no longer will our family need to tear itself apart with needless civil wars.
"Not unless that touch was meant to hurt you," To my relief the Sword of the Morning rejects her threat with a firm voice. "His blood still offers him some protection."
"Fine… Balerion and I will do it ourselves." She glares with all the heat of the sun behind her soft amber eyes that glint like topaz in the sun. "So don't get any stupid ideas."
The anger hurts since I've been nothing but kind, but I take a deep breath and consider why she's so angry. Father said her uncle Viserys the Vile was going to marry her off to a deformed man and send Aegon to the Citadel once he was a man grown.
How come I'm the one getting all of this hate? This should all be a miracle rescue to someone about to endure such an insulting fate as the one Rhaenys was facing.
"Oberyn says you like music, would you like me to play you a song on my lute when we get home?" Just smile and keep trying, eventually she'll give me a chance. She just needs to adjust to the sudden shock and have time to grieve for her cousin Arianne.
"This isn't my home." She stubbornly insists even as she climbs into Father's litter. "My home is Dragonstone." Her eyes mist slightly for a moment until she shakes her head, clearing away the sad thoughts.
Wincing again as I follow her inside, I try again to bidge this tension between us. We're going to have years to work through this misunderstanding, I just need to be patient like Father keeps telling me. "We'll be going soon, once your brother has reclaimed our families throne."
"We aren't family, you're just the descendant of some uppity bastards." I suck in a breath at that insult and feel my own eyes water. "I hope you're ready to spend the rest of your life sleeping with one eye open." Ignore it. She's hurting and I can't blame her for what she says right now.
"I'm sorry about Arianne, but I only want us to have a chance at happiness." I try one final time for today. No use beating my head against a stone wall.
"I'd be happy if I woke up to you both being dead." Her eyes are harder than ever since I said her cousin's name and I realize that's a subject to avoid tomorrow.
