DRAGONS REBORN: The Era After SI Ch.5 (Patreon)

Chapter 5- The Betrayal!

House Greyjoy ruled over the iron islands for over two centuries. The followers of the drowned god, a religion that promotes plunder and piracy, focused on raiding and taking the thralls and treasure. This was actually nothing other than slavery and stealing.

King Aerys would, in the later half of his reign, end this practice, famously citing.

“I do not care that you sow the lands or not. But you shall not be allowed to plunder and enslave my people.”

Lord Quellon Greyjoy, the lord of Pyke at the time, would accept the edict because it was in line with his desire to bring the iron islands close to the rest of the realm. The King would offer them subsidies and other opportunities to prosper. But Alas!

The Greyjoys would be the house that would betray the royal house as they would join hands with foreign saboteurs and attack King’s Landing.

But this would have consequences! Severe Consequences!

Rhaegar Targaryen!

“How could this happen? How can four ships crash like that into the harbor!” Rhaegar snapped at the people standing in front of him.

“Your grace, these were regular Greyjoy vessels. The officers thought that they were here to dock as they regularly do. But then they did not slow down, and three ships crashed into the harbor one after another. Without any inspection, we had no idea that they were loaded with wildfire,” came the reply from the aged Hand of the King.

Lord Lucerys Velaryon had served as his father’s hand for over ten years now, getting promoted from his post as the Master of Ships. An office that Lord Manderly now occupied. It was not like the Lannisters were completely absent from the court. Lord Kevan Lannister, brother to Lord Tywin, served as the Master of Coin.

Rhaegar turned toward another member, his father’s master of whisperers.

“Qyburn, how is it that the Greyjoys were able to obtain such a quantity of wildfire without any news?” he asked. The man had arisen to the position in the last decade but had been observed in the capital for some time.

“Your grace, I can assure you that the wildfire did not come from Westeros. The ties of such a plot seem to lie across the narrow sea,” and Rhaegar frowned at that.

“But how can they make Wildfire? That secret is only known to the alchemists,” and the man spoke up in his grazy voice once more.

“I believe that they might have approached someone from the guild and smuggled the secret out. But I will look into it at once,” and he turned towards the Master of Ships, Lord Wyman Manderly. A fat man who barely fit in the chair, but his father had always said that he was the most cunning man on his council.

“What are the losses, Lord Manderly? Can we retaliate?” he asked the Lord of White Harbor. The plump man shook his head.

“I am afraid that will not be possible; I have sent letters to Dragonstone for the rest of the fleet to prepare, but we will not be able to retaliate immediately. The damage to the Harbor is extensive. Though I have written to the Lannisters to prepare their fleet.”

Rhaegar nodded at that. With the Lannister fleet, they should be able to attack the Iron Islands.

“But why would the Iron Islands mount an attack like that? This just screams stupidity. And I refuse to believe that the timing of such an attack is a coincidence.”

This thing had been bothering Rhaegar for some time now. The Greyjoys had been somewhat angry by his father’s edicts. But years had passed, and by now, they had been partly integrated into the trading fleet. What had changed? What had emboldened them to such an extent?

“Your grace, while Lord Quellon had always wished to bring the iron islands closer to the realm. I believe the same cannot be said of his son,” began the Lord Hand, and Rhaegar frowned. Lord Velaryon was right.

Rhaegar had met Lord Quellon several times at court and found him an intelligent and cautious man, but his heir Balon had been a different matter. More so, the younger brother, Euron. And he frowned as he tried to recall a piece of important news he had heard about him.

“Your grace, apart from this, we also have another matter of great importance to discuss.” Came the voice of the Master of Coin. Rhaegar looked up at that. The golden locks of House Lannister shined in the light. The green eyes were a bit lighter than he had seen in the man’s brother.

“Your father’s death was a great tragedy, but the realm needs a king in this dire time. I propose that we move ahead with the coronation.”

Rhaegar shook his head at that, but he suddenly stopped. His mind finally remembered something he that had been nagging him for some time.

“Qyburn, didn’t Euron travel to Essos excessively over the last year? Where did he go exactly?” he asked, and the Master of Whispers frowned and replied after a while. Confirming Rhaegar’s suspicion.

“I believe he went to Pentos, though he did visit Myr and Lys as well,” and the man himself stopped at those words. Probably making the same connection as him.

The Triarchy had always hated his father for his role in their defeat and his crusade in the Stepstones. This was all a part of a much bigger plot.

Rhaegar turned to his Master of Ships.

“Lord Manderly! Immediately write to the Dragonstone fleet, and have them send a portion of it to reinforce our holdings in Stepstones and a part of it towards Pentos.”

“Of course, we must protect the Stepstones against any misadventure by the Triarchy, but Pentos, may I ask why, your grace,” the man asked.

And Rhaegar frowned. How much should he divulge to the council? Should he tell them about the sensitive issue of Dragon eggs, Aemon was carrying? In the end, he decided to say a half-truth.

“You must remember that my brother Aemon is on a journey to Pentos. This whole could become disastrous should he be captured. So, I want you to send a portion of the fleet to safely escort him back to Westeros.”

“Of course, your grace.”

Rhaegar then turned to his Hand.

“The coronation can wait. I want you to write to each Lord and have each of them host a modest host. I am afraid the realm is going to ….”

But his words were cut off as the door to the council chambers opened again. Rhaegar frowned while looking up and saw the Grand Maester enter. Another man of his father’s choosing.

Archmaester Marwyn, called Marwyn, the Mage for his fascination with the occult, had been specifically requested by his father. Though the Citadel had been reluctant at first, they had acquiesced to the request when his father had sent a slightly differently worded letter.

“Your grace, you must forgive me, but I bring grave news!” said the learned man as he huffed. His chains clinked and produced a grating sound.

“What happened, Grand Maester,” he asked.

“I have just received word from the Stepstones! The Triarchy has attacked the islands. Governor Oberyn is mounting up a defense but has requested aid.”

The whole council room was quiet. They had just talked about this. His suspicion was correct. They had been betrayed.

“Moreover, Lord Balon Greyjoy has declared independence and crowned himself the King. He has also attacked Lannsiport in the same way as he did Kinglanding.”

Rhaegar’s eyes widen at that.

“What?” came the surprised and worried voice of Kevan Lannister.

The Grand Maester just nodded his head.

“Yes, my lord. The fleet at Lannisport has taken heavy damage, and though the invading force has been repelled, the damage is said to be extensive due to wildfire. According to the letter, they may have also captured your sister, Lady Genna Lannister.”

And Rhaegar saw Lord Kevan’s face morph with worry as he clenched his fists in anger. Rhaegar closed his eyes as he prayed for the safety of Lady Genna in his heart. The Greyjoys were not known for their civility.

For a moment or so, Rhaegar wished that his father had been here. None of this would be happening if he was here. He had always seemed so composed. Rhaegar had rarely seen the man caught by surprise. And for the first time, he understood the reason his father had insisted in his participation in the Council meetings.

All of them, including his mother and sister, had always been forced by their father to sit in the council meetings at least once a month. Though for he and Aemon, they would have to attend each meeting. Reasoning that they should all learn governance, for they would one day rule after him.

Rhaegar had observed his rule, starting as a cup-bearer to his father and later sitting in as an advisor.

“Lord Velaryon, call the army and have the levies assemble. The Seven Kingdoms are at war!”

“Yes! I will go and have the letters sent immediately,” said the fat man as he hobbled out of his chair and began to walk out of the council chambers, leaving him with the rest of his council. He looked over the rest of them and spoke out after a second.

“You do understand what this means? This is a coordinated attack. My father’s death and then such attacks. This is a conspiracy at work!” he spoke up and saw Lord Velaryon nod.

“Indeed, though it will not matter, your grace. We are prepared for any such aggression. Your father has left us with both a well-trained Army and filled coffers. We are ready!” and Rhaegar nodded as he leaned back into his seat.

“Your grace, we still need to discuss about the funeral of your father,” Kevan Lannister spoke up from the side, making Rhaegar sigh as he nodded.

“Yes, we do. The Funeral will be in two weeks. Make sure to mention to all those who wish to attend that this shall not affect raising levies!” and the ma nodded.

“Of course, your grace, but what is the plan for countering this?” questioned Kevan Lannister, and Rhaegar looked toward the commander of his father’s army, Lord Randyll Tarly, who stood up and unfurled a map on the table.

“The enemy is attacking us from two sides, firstly at the Stepstones and secondly from the West. They wish to make us divide our forces and use this to our advantage. My advice would be not to do that and focus all our efforts on one battle before moving on to the second one!”

And he was taken aback by the suggestion. Should we let them have free reign and advance without any retaliation on one of the fronts, potentially ceding ground?

“But this would let them cause havoc on one of the fronts. And then we must also consider that these attacks have their ties to elements beyond the Narrow Sea. We have to take care of them as well,” added lord Kevan, and Lord Tarly nodded.

“Indeed, and that is why my advice would be to let Dornish levies reinforce the Stepstones while we should focus all our efforts on bringing down the rebellion by the Greyjoys. This way, we wouldn’t have to care for them striking us in the back when we march onto Essos.”

Rhaegar nodded as the man began to mark the locations for launching attacks and gathering the armies, highlighting the supply lines that had been established years ago by his father.

“It is a sound plan, but House Greyjoy’s territory is small, and the Stepstones were conquered with great difficulty. I don’t believe that the Martells alone could hold them. Have the Redwyne and Hightower fleet provide them with backup as well. The rest of the plan seems sound, make the arrangements with Lord Manderly and have the preparations begin.”

And with the final orders, he stood up and left the meeting room to give the news to their mother.

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