The Dragon’s Jaws (Part II)

Chapter 39 – The Dragon's Jaws (Part II)

POV: Aerion Targaryen

The battlefield was chaos—mud, blood, and screams mixing in the air as the battle raged on. The Dothraki charge had been broken, their front ranks impaled upon stakes and cut down by volleys of arrows. But they were not broken yet.

Through the smoke and carnage, Aerion fought at the heart of the spearwall, his spear dripping red, his shield dented but still strong. The Dothraki pressed harder, hacking at his men, trying to force a gap in their formation.

But they held.

Aerion took a moment to look beyond the melee, past the battlefield—toward the horizon, where his true plan was unfolding.

The Flank Attack

From the east, hooves thundered against the ground.

A small cavalry force, no more than a thousand riders, swooped in from the side, striking at the Dothraki flanks like a dagger to the ribs. At their head rode Monterys Velaryon, his silver-gold hair flying behind him, his blade flashing in the sunlight as he cut down Dothraki warriors caught off guard.

The Dothraki flank wavered, surprised by the sudden attack. Some turned to face the new threat, others chased after the retreating cavalry as Monterys gave the order to fall back.

The Dothraki took the bait.

The warriors who should have been reinforcing the center were now chasing Monterys' riders, drawn away from the heart of the battle.

But they did not see the true trap closing in behind them.

The Hammer Falls

From the western hills, thousands of heavy cavalry emerged, charging at full speed.

They were armored riders, their horses bred for war, lances leveled as they descended upon the exposed Dothraki flanks.

The trap snapped shut.

The encirclement was complete.

The Dothraki army was now split into three—the center still locked in battle against Aerion's spear wall, while both flanks were isolated and surrounded.

From the rear, the heavy cavalry smashed into the distracted Dothraki, crushing them against the mud and steel.

The Dothraki were fearless warriors, but they were not meant to fight surrounded.

Aerion's Rallying Cry

Aerion, still at the frontline, saw his strategy unfolding, saw the panic begin to spread in the enemy ranks. This was the moment to strike at their will to fight.

Raising his bloodied spear, he bellowed to his soldiers:

"LOOK AROUND YOU! THE ENEMY IS CAUGHT! THEIR FLANKS ARE BROKEN! THE JAWS OF THE DRAGON HAVE CLOSED!"

The men roared in triumph, their spirits surging.

"FIGHT! HOLD THE LINE! THIS DAY BELONGS TO US!"

His soldiers slammed their shields together, their spears bracing once more, and with newfound strength, they pushed back, forcing the Dothraki center further into chaos.

The battle was not yet over, but for the first time, victory felt within reach.