Nerves and Fear

As Daenerys went quiet, thinking upon the words Robb had just spoken, Garlan leaned over to the Wolf King. Quiet words were shared between the two, many too busy looking to the approaching Targaryen host to notice. Though a few did and they watched as a look of consideration came onto Robb's face before nodding his head.

"Queen Daenerys." He spoke, turning most of the attention back to himself, though the guards still kept a close watch upon the Targaryen forces, preparing themselves for a possible attack. "Just as I proposed we should negotiate without asking Aegon, I believe that when he arrives, we should also retire for the evening."

Tyrion smirked to himself, looking towards the man who had suggested it to the King, Garlan Tyrell. His father was an arrogant man, but he had always held a begrudging respect and even fear for the Queen of Thorns, Olenna Tyrell. In fact, Tyrion had overhead a few plans his father had been prepared to implement that would kill the true ruler of House Tyrell and the Reach long before the War of Five Kings. If she died, only her stupid oaf of a son would be left to rule and well, many already knew the extent of his ability.

However, Tywin had, much like he had done with Robb Stark, underestimated the children of Mace Tyrell. For all the intelligence he lacked, they seemed to make up for it. Garlan was well-known to be one of Robb Starks closest confidants, and back in the Riverlands Olenna, Margaery and Willas Tyrell were working to run his kingdom through the war.

They understood politics in a way most Starks didn't and just as he had realised what Aegon's intentions were, so had Garlan. He just hadn't wanted to say anything, he just wanted this whole thing to be over with as soon as possible.

"King Robb is right, your grace." Tyrion concurred, Daenerys turning to him. "King Aegon has arrived late for no reason over than to make us wait for him. A reminder that we are lesser than him and should be happy that he turned up at all. Or at least that's what he has attempted. It's a very simple move and not subtle in the slightest. I doubt he expected it to work at all and if he did, then he is nothing more than a fool."

For a moment, Daenerys sat in silence, considering the options open for her as the Targaryen group continued to march towards them. "I will agree to your proposition, King Robb." Robb inclined his head in thanks. "But I would like to see my nephew with my own eyes."

As soon as those words were said Tyrion winced, as did Ser Barristan, especially when they saw the looks shared amongst the Wolf King's entourage. Unwittingly or unknowingly, Daenerys had revealed that she didn't fully believe the possibility of Aegon being her nephew as he proclaimed. That was something that should have been kept secret, leverage that could be used against Robb. If he believed that Daenerys believed Aegon was her nephew then that family connection could have been used to gain more from these negotiations.

Yet it was their fault for not stressing that to her, something they had realised too late. Robb Stark now had his answer and he looked pleased with it if the way he relaxed into his chair was anything to go by. Both Garlan Tyrell and the Blackfish gave nothing away. But the smirk upon the Mad Giants face told them all they needed to know.

-X- Line Break -X-

"I'd say that today, things went very well," Garlan spoke, sitting at the table within Robb's tent. "Neither Daenerys nor Aegon are allied together. Not only that, but Daenerys doesn't believe Aegon is her nephew and she also seems a little naïve. We can use that to our advantage."

Robb nodded his head silently.

"Robb? Is everything alright?"

"Did you see the Dragon, Garlan?" Robb questioned and Garlan frowned. It was hard not to have seen the beast, a magnificent creature which all knew to be the most powerful and dangerous thing in this world. Reading and seeing the drawings of one was one thing, they could be exaggerated and misinterpreted. But seeing it in real life was an entirely different thing, there could be no exaggeration.

Instead of saying anything though, Garlan just nodded his head. There had been a great deal of discontent when they had approached the meeting place, all had seen the Dragon slumbering along the ground and many had murmured their worries. Even now Smalljon was out there drinking alongside a few others, their nerves rattled.

"It is unlike anything I had ever seen before," Robb muttered to himself, fist clenching and unclenching in an attempt to calm his nerves. "It took every ounce of my control to not show my fear."

He had not even dared to look at the beast because he knew that if he had, Robb would have been unable to stop his nervousness from showing. So he had instead looked upon Daenerys, as beautiful as she was, it was a much harder task especially with the Dragon resting behind her. But he had just focused upon her, trying to appear calm as he avoided looking upon the creature as much as possible.

Clenching his fist, Robb took a calming breath. 'I cannot focus upon that, get ahold of yourself, Robb.' Fear was a powerful weapon and if he allowed himself to feel it, then that would give his enemies the advantage.

Instead, much like he had focused upon Daenerys instead of her Dragon, now he focused upon the negotiations. "What do we do tomorrow?" Robb questioned, relying upon Garlan and his greater understanding of politics. If he held a position of power over the other rulers Robb would be content to act like himself. But he didn't, despite possessing the larger army and kingdom, both rulers were no weaker than himself.

Aegon possessed thirty thousand men and the Golden Company which his spies had reported had brought strange creatures over from Essos. Large, four-legged creatures that could trample men underfoot. And as the Golden Company had shown, they were far more experienced and skilled than his own army.

Daenerys was in a similar boat, possessing the Unsullied. However, above all that, she possessed three Dragons.

He may have a larger army and more influence over Westeros, but that didn't make them weaker than him. That's why these negotiations were so important, Daenerys and Aegon must never become allied and if he could, he needed to make Daenerys his ally. That was the only way he could score a victory that didn't end in the complete destabilisation of Westeros and everything he had worked towards.

"Well, we know that Queen Daenerys isn't convinced that King Aegon is her nephew like he has claimed. He certainly looks like a Valyrian, but as we've learned the people of Lys still possess the blood of the Valyrian Freehold. It's possible that they could have just chosen a random child that looked to have been of Dornish descent with Valyrian features and proclaimed he was Aegon Targaryen." Garlan suggested, Robb nodded his head in agreement. "That's something we should hint about. If we're lucky, not only will Daenerys come to the same conclusion, but possibly even the Dornish."

That caught Robb's attention, having not thought of trying to convince them also. But if it worked, Aegon would lose two-thirds of his fighting force in one fell swoop. He quite liked that idea.

"But we have to be careful." Garlan continued. "If we overtly bring it up, they'll realise that we are simply attempting to manipulate them and whether they believe it or not, it will turn them against us also. We may end up pushing the Dornish away from us and to Daenerys. Or even push Daenerys to Aegon."

That's when the flaps to their tent were opened, Brynden Blackfish striding in after ensuring the patrols were in place. "Start an argument with Aegon." He stated firmly, both Garlan and Robb looking to the man in question as he sat at the table also. "I've seen boys like him before. He's got experience in combat, but little knowledge of politics. He's also not fought properly wars, in Essos wars and battles are usually fought by single combatants who represent both sides. Either that or they end in a single battle or two. A prolonged war like this is something they have little experience in."

"If we deny him what he wants at every turn and make our intentions of being willing to ally with Daenerys, it'll anger him." Garlan frowned at Blackfish's words. "His pride will get the best of him and then when emotions are running high, you can layout all your suspicions without any need to be subtle. It'll be much more hard-hitting and convincing for the others than if you were simply hinting at it."

Garlan wasn't so certain about the plan, however. "If we do that, we'll alienate Aegon and if we're not careful about it, we may also alienate Daenerys with our unwillingness to make concessions."

"Possibly, but as I said, I've met plenty of boys like Aegon. They call him the Young Dragon, a mockery of your own title." Robb nodded his head, having suspected that much. "They believe and expect him to win this war with ease, but you can tell that our army marching upon Kings Landing has shaken him. He didn't expect that and he doesn't know how to respond. If we keep doing that, he'll not know what to do and he won't like that one bit. It won't take much to set him off if that's the case."

Garlan went to argue once more but Robb rose his hand, silencing him. "I'll think upon it and make a decision on the morrow. In the meantime, both of you get some rest."