162
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299 AC
Summer Isles - Ebonhead
Eragon Targaryen
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I rub my forehead as I set aside the last message that will be sent out to the one of the Lords we appointed. I thought we would have much more time but I was still at least somewhat prepared for this. We will be heading to Westeros a lot sooner than I expected and calling the men to arms will be quite sudden. Ideally, we would have years of ruling here and then go when people know us a bit better but regardless the war in Westeros is about to start.
We won't be setting sail for still a while longer, it takes time for people to prepare and arrive but it won't be too long. This is the first time the Summer Isles will ever sail to war like this, other than the Slaver Wars to end the tyranny of slavery on the islands. But that was almost a civil war and they did not sail to fight on foreign shores. So regardless of how people see our rule and the things we said we would do to make the Islands better, we are immediately pulling them to war in a foreign land.
This is why we are only calling half the men anyway, for multiple reasons and not just to keep the peace. It would be near impossible to ready everyone in time but half is a simple matter and will be timely. It will also leave the Lords enough of their men to defend themselves and still have people to rule over. The Lord stuff is still new to the Isles and it has been rocky so taking everyone to war might shake things too much for the time being.
But we will have more than enough people and with the sheer amount of Golden heart bows we have they will be lethal on any battlefield. I can already see hardwood arrows raining down like a storm upon any approaching army long before they are in range for their own bows. So long as we use the archers of the Summer Isles correctly we will decimate any battlefield. Dornish spearmen and Vale knights along with Summer Isles archers sound like a horrible force to have to face.
It is hard to see where the North is, they seem to want to sit out and avoid conflict and the Riverlands might just do the same. The Reach is up in the air and I am kind of concerned if they will land on our side or there's, it would be best if they stayed neutral and stayed out. Iron Islands... well they are the Iron Islands after all so I have no clue, maybe we could convince them to raid the Westerlands and promise to let them keep anything they claim in return for only attacking them. Crownlands will bend the knee as soon as we touch the shores, that much is almost guaranteed.
The main enemies and the confirmed ones are Westerlands and Stormlands, I am worried about how this will go. I am sure of our victory so long as we are not fools, but that does not help the unease. Ideally, we attack the Stormlands first and then have the Crownlands flip after we secure Storms end. Then it will just be a matter of having Kingslanding cleaned of the Usurper's loyal men and the isolated Westerlands.
Stormlands and Westerlands will need a new Lord paramount's and both are 'Kingdoms' that betrayed my House, no reason to show them any mercy. New blood will be what is best to fix the wrongs that have been done, maybe we will be putting Targaryens into Casterly Rock and Storm end. I could see Aegon in one of the two, he is sharp and would have even been a King eventually if not for the rebellion.
I am sure some things will be passed around once everything is settled, for now, we need to win the war anyway.
"Are you going to stare at that wall all day?" I hear Daenerys slip behind my chair and wrap her arms around my neck before kissing my head.
"Maybe." She snorts and ruffles her hand through my hair messing it up.
"I am sure Daeron and Shaera would like to be held by their father at some point today." She slips around my chair once more and turns her rear to face me before hopping backward and landing on my lap.
"I am still in shock that Melisandre just walked into the room after Ashara was birthing for nearly half a day and she had Shaera in her arms. We did not even know she was on the birthing bed as well and then I had a daughter in my arms from out of nowhere." I shake my head as I remember the little baby girl with purple eyes and blood-red hair.
Daeron looks much the same as Jaehaerys except for maybe a darker eye color, we named him after the young dragon. Shaera looks different from what I could see of Viserra, Shaera is not only the first child of mine without my hair but also her facial structure seems different. I am sure it will be more obvious with age, right now they all have fat little cheeks but Shaera seems to have taken after her Mother.
"Yea, do not expect a silent delivery from me, I am going to scream loud enough you will always hear the ringing in your ears." She smiles up at me as she places one of my hands on her belly.
"Joy." She lays the side of her head on my chest and I sigh as some of the tension in me left with the thoughts of my babes running through my mind.
We will win the war, I won't have my children grow up during a war, dragons or no dragons we will kill the stags and the lions quickly and be done with this.
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299 AC
Kingslanding
Eddard Stark
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"My Lord, are you sure about this?" I nod and get a solemn nod in return.
"Ride hard and ride fast, split as soon as you think you have gone far enough, and do whatever it takes to return to your homes. I will be taking the boat with the two kids that the spider set up for us." I do not trust the Spider but this plan is better than the one I had before, he even knew I was planning on running so if I denied his help I could expect Cersei after me before I knew it.
Robert's two youngest are already ready to leave after I took them aside and told them the truth. I gave them the choice if they wanted to go to the North with me and avoid what is coming from the Targaryens or stay here. I was ready to leave after hearing their answer and they agreed to come and now they are waiting on the ship, even with Cersei fussing over her firstborn she will soon notice their absence. The Spider is running interference and I do not have much time.
I turn and leave my men to take off on their horses and drag the attention of Cersei, she will be after them and they know it. They will have to do whatever it takes to avoid being captured and I regret it came to this, but they accepted it. I even offered them to avoid all this and go into hiding elsewhere but they decided to be the distraction I needed to get these two children out.
It still gnaws at me that I put my men in danger but they made their choice and they are stuck with it now. Once I get back North if they are not heard from I will send men to find them. I hope Rob got the last raven I sent, if he is blindsided by all this it will be a tragedy.
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299 AC
The Vale - The Eyrie
Aemma Arryn
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"Yohn Royce you will be responsible for leading the men and all battlefield decisions, I put my trust in your ability to succeed." It's not like I could lead them myself, nor my 'husband' as he will be responsible for the men who are staying and defending the Vale.
"How many men are marching?" He preens hearing he will be the one marching our men to war, even after the anger he had about my new daughter he quickly got over it.
It was out of his and my hands so he pushed his anger onto his son who should also not be blamed but it was the easiest thing to do. But I am sure that by letting him gain all the glory on this campaign he will have his ruffled feathers smoothed.
"As you well know, the Vale can call upon up to forty thousand men but we can not leave ourselves open. Not with the problems we have sitting right here at home, the mountain men, and others. Thirty thousand will be marching and ten will be called on to ensure the peace remains in the Vale." He looks thoughtful before nodding with a smile.
"I will do as my Lady commands." He bows and off he goes to likely handle some preparations.
At times like this I really do wish I was more marital, I want to lead the men myself to cut down some of the stags men. But the stag himself is dead and it leaves a lot of my anger with nowhere to go. I guess it was unhealthy to hold onto it for so long anyway, he died horribly and embarrassed himself, almost worse than anything I could have done to him.
I stand up to head to see my daughter and make sure she is not hungry, I also wonder if Eragon will get in contact again. I want to see the other babies once more, I can not wait for Viserra to meet her siblings. I also wish to talk to my other daughter once more, she has been busy the last few times and I have yet to hear from her.
I want to know how she feels about everything that is going on and if she is alright. It will not be long that the Targaryens reclaim the throne and I will be able to see her whenever I want. I want to see her holding Viserra and maybe even her own babe in the not to fair future.
But a bloody war stands between me and that future and I am both nervous and concerned but I am pushing past that. Victory will be found, I am sure of it after I heard the North called their banners. I doubt the young Stark knows what is happening truly but he is marching his men to war regardless if he wants to or not. They can defend the moat but they will be dragged in one way or the other once the Riverlands becomes a battleground. And it will become a battleground, it's not like they will be avoided just because they are not active in the war. So the Rob Starks Tully blood will drag them into the fighting regardless, we just need to make sure it's the Lions and Stags they are after.
With the Riverlands and North on the Targaryen's side, the war is a sealed deal so long as the Tyrells stay out of everything. If they joined the dragons we win faster, if they join the enemy it will drag this out needlessly but I am still confident the Reach will not make a difference in who will ultimately win.
Walking into the room with my daughter I smile seeing her still sleeping in her cradle, her sleeping face puts my heart at ease. I feel the worry slip away, maybe it is not so bad to avoid the front lines of battle. If I had to run off with a sword in hand I would not get to see this every day.