Aegon was seated at the lord's chair back at their citadel on the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, with Jaenyx on his left side, Visenya next to him, and Rhaenys on his right. All of the lords sworn to Dragonstone had assembled at the citadel, with some of the lords speaking for others who were unable to come. Daemon Velaryon, Crispian Celtigar, Ragaemor and Maerys Tarareon, Aevor Rahitheon, and Taygor Leniar represented the Valyrian contingent. Representing the lords of the Blackwater Bay were Jon Rosby, Alyn Stokeworth, and Triston Massey. Representing the riverlords were Colren Blackwood and his trueborn son and heir Malcolm, Edmyn Tully and his nephew Broden, and Lord Mallister of Seagard. Representing the stormlords besides Orys and Argella as Lord and Lady Paramount were marcher lords such as Lord Dondarrion of Blackhaven and Lord Caron of Nightsong alongside Lord Tarth, Lord Estermont, and Lord Penrose. Aegon was relieved that the strength of the marcher lords remained intact, for they would be very useful in the coming fights ahead.
Like the last time, Aegon took over for their father Lord Aerion in times of battle. However, he could not hope to run a successful campaign without Rhaenys, Visenya, Jaenyx, and Orys, so they all held equal authority when it came to resolving crises such as the Faith's call for a holy war against the Valyrians. Looks like I've wasted my years in the sept .
After the burning of Sweetport Sound for House Sunglass' rebellion, Jaenyx recommended that the few survivors be executed as an example. Lord Aerion agreed, before he also attainted the properties of House Sunglass and declared them extinct. Fortunately, the Sunglass rebellion was the only one in the Blackwater Bay and their burning cowed any other like-minded lords in line.
But that was not the only worry that was on all of their minds. From Tarareon and Blackwood patrols came reports of forces from the west and from the Reach marching on their territories. Jaenyx then revealed through his network of scouts and agents that Loren Lannister, King of the Rock, had just passed through the Golden Tooth along with forty thousand troops, with Pinkmaiden and the Tumblestone being prime targets. Among the banners seen were the houses of Crakehall, Marbrand, Lefford, Westerling, and Reyne. Jaenyx had already ordered the Pipers, the Brackens, and the Darrys to assemble their troops and attempt to hold the line against the army of Loren Lannister, but they only had twelve thousand troops and they would need more reinforcements.
Rhaenys had personally ridden on Meraxes as she observed the regions bordering the Reach. From what she saw, the Reach's marcher lords, House Tarly and House Peake, had mustered their troops and were moving through the Red Mountains towards the marcher regions in the stormlands. That alarmed especially Lord Caron and Lord Dondarrion, whose keeps were closer to the Reach than that of the other stormlords. And even though the marcher lords from both the stormlands and the Reach fought against the Dornish for centuries, they hated each other across the Red Mountains and clashes between especially the Tarlys and the Carons were common.
But more seriously, Jaenyx also told everyone present, "The High Septon has declared a holy war on the Valyrians, a people that all of your overlords belong to, and a good number of those present at the moment follow the Faith. I must ask all of you on where your loyalties lie: with us or with your religion?"
Aegon, Rhaenys, and Orys looked at him like he was insane. What the hell are you doing, Jae ? While he can knew Jaenyx was right to ask that, to ask that question in front of the present lords was not wise. You're openly questioning their loyalty, and anyone present will be angered at that inquiry.
"You think us oathbreakers, Lord Belaerys?" Jon Rosby asked, with narrowed eyes.
"I'm not going to assume that all of you present are overly pious, as we can all agree that religion is too often clouded in political ambitions," Jaenyx said, which many nodded their agreement. "But King Loren Lannister has answered the High Septon's call is marching his troops past the Golden Tooth into the riverlands. And it seems that at least the Tarlys and the Peakes have also answered the call to arms and is marching across the Red Mountains in the stormlands, which means that the hosts of the Gardeners cannot be far behind. However, while we're dealing with the threats coming from the west and from the south, we already had a rebellion break out within our lands of control. Who's to say that the Sunglass rebellion will be the last? So I ask again to all of you: is your loyalties with us, or with your religion?"
There was silence in the room, as the assembled lords merely looked upon Aegon and the rest. The Faith had a major influence on Westeros south of the Neck and no matter what lands you held dominion over, everyone worshipped the Seven and everyone paid their dues to the Starry Sept. But in times such as this, there could be no divided loyalties. They either fought together, or they died separately. There was no questioning the loyalty of the Velaryons, Celtigars, Tarareons, Rahitheons, and Leniars, as they were all Valyrians and thus had to fight. Lord Blackwood followed the Old Gods and was the first to rise in support for them, so they were very favored. Lord Dondarrion might have put in a lot of effort to get himself and his house in the good graces of Dragonstone, but the rest admittedly had to be suspect.
Unexpectedly, Lord Mallister spoke first. "My people have suffered the indignity of being enslaved by the ironborn. The memories of Black Harren pillaging my ancestral lands and abusing my people are still fresh and I myself was not spared from his mistreatment." He rolled up his sleeve to reveal a long burn mark on his arm, which Aegon judged to be from being branded. "His son put this mark on me because he felt like it, but I couldn't do anything. Only by siding with House Targaryen and House Belaerys was I able to free my house from the ironborn, so I will only be damning myself and my house if I were to betray the very people who gave us freedom."
Aegon nodded. "Thank you, Lord Mallister."
Alyn Stokeworth spoke next. "All of us present have heard of and witnessed the prowess of the dragons both in the air and on the land. They could have just flown to my family keep and burned us, but they showed mercy and allowed myself, my house, and my good friend Jon Rosby to keep our lands. Your family, Lord Aegon, and your good-brother, Lord Jaenyx, have shown yourselves to be above those who would simply use force to impose their will."
Aegon nodded his thanks, before Lord Caron spoke. "It has only been six months since your house have taken over the Storm kingdom and killed King Argilac in battle. And I must be frank that my house, and I believe that I speak for the rest of the stormlords assembled here, still holds some resentment over you killing our king, even though your actions were justified from an objective perspective." The other stormlords nodded their agreement while retaining their frowns. "However, we have long struggled against the Dornish and especially against the Gardener kings and to have them move against us right now in this manner shows that our survival is at risk. Besides the peace terms imposed by your families, you have not mistreated us or abused Lady Argella. We either stand with you, or we will suffer at the hands of our enemies."
Aegon sighed, but let out a small smile. Besides their martial prowess, the marcher lords were reputed in not wasting their time with pleasantries and such was appreciated in a crisis like this. "Thank you, Lord Caron. I shall hope that your frankness will be put to continual use in the future."
Slowly, but steadily, all of the lords assembled expressed their affirmation in their loyalty to Dragonstone and House Belaerys. However, Aegon noticed that Edmyn Tully took a moment before he also declared his loyalty. The Tullys were among the more pious of the riverlords and despite having a godswood at Riverrun, they were fully committed to the sept. Lord Edmyn also protested the decision to stop all payment of the tithes to the Starry Sept and Jaenyx refusing his request didn't help matters, as the two were never on good terms from the moment they met at the Stoney Sept.
The rest of the day was spent strategizing what to do with the advances of Loren Lannister and the Tarlys and Peakes. Besides Jaenyx sending the twelve thousand troops of Houses Bracken, Piper, and Darry to delay the forces of the Rock, Orys recommended that the stormlords return immediately to their keeps to assemble their troops. Despite the battles of six moons ago, the stormlords could still assemble over twenty-five thousand troops and much of the strength of the marcher lords had remained intact. Lord Caron and Lord Dondarrion were given leave to return to their keeps and fortify their lands to stem the advance from the Reach, only for Jaenyx to recommend to them that they instead advance deeper into the Red Mountains and cut all possible routes into the stormlands. They can use their bowmen to pick off the Tarlys and Peakes at their leisure. Lords Caron and Dondarrion nodded their approval before departing the citadel. Orys, Argella, and the other stormlords followed soon after, no doubt to muster their banners at Storm's End before moving into the Dornish Marches.
As for the riverlords that came, Jaenyx predicted that the focus of the fighting would be in the riverlands, as the region had no significant natural barriers and was easily accessible from the west and from the south. He recommended that a majority of their banners should be utilized to secure both the riverlands from external advances and from potential internal rebellions. There was no doubt that some of the pious riverlords save for the Tullys would use the coming call to arms to rise up against Dragonstone.
"Are you sure it was wise to have Lord Bracken sent against Loren Lannister?" Lord Blackwood asked Jaenyx. "He's a follower of the Faith and he was not shy in expressing his discontent in your family's favoring my house for supporting you first."
"I understand that your house has had long-standing rivalries with the Brackens for centuries," Jaenyx answered. "While such a situation would be disadvantageous for rulers in regards to maintaining unity in the ranks, I have my reasons for having the Brackens lead their troops against Loren Lannister."
"What reason would that be?" Colren Blackwood questioned. Aegon was also curious, as was Rhaenys. However, Visenya handed Jaenyx an opened dispatch.
"This," Jaenyx held up the letter before reading it. "Was written in the hand of Lord Bracken, whose raven was intercepted by my agents in Stone Hedge. 'To His High Holiness in the Starry Sept, I am pleased with your response to my previous letter that addresses all of my grievances with my current liege. I shall look forward to a productive and active response on the part of the Starry Sept to restore the preeminence of the Faith back to this fallen region and that I receive compensation from my rivals. Signed, Prestan of House Bracken, Lord of Stone Hedge.'"
Unsurprisingly, Lord Blackwood was the first to respond with outrage. "Those fucking horse-breeders! I should've known they would do something like this!"
"I understand your position, my lord," Jaenyx put the letter down on the table. "And while this letter is evidence of Lord Bracken's fickleness, evidence sometimes does not corroborate with action. My decision to have Lord Bracken lead all of his troops against Loren Lannister was to see if he could remain trustworthy. If he exerts himself against the forces of the Rock, then I shall burn this letter and deem the matter as a simple instance of grumbling."
"And what if he doesn't?" Lord Blackwood pointedly asked.
"Should he act contrary to my orders along with Lords Piper and Darry, I trust that the soldiers of Raventree Hall can make short work of their lands in response. After all, they've been emptied of their armed strength as per my directive."
Lord Blackwood smiled, seeing what Jaenyx meant. "And would I be alone if the Brackens act against your orders?"
Jaenyx shook his head. "No. I'll have Lord Tarareon and Lord Rahitheon join you. We need all the men we can muster in the upcoming battles."
Lord Blackwood and his heir went over the final details and sent out messages to their troops at Raventree Hall before departing back to their lands. More particulars were discussed with Lords Mallister and Tully before they too departed the citadel to return to their keeps.
That left the Valyrians in the room, those sworn to Dragonstone and those following Jaenyx.
" I must ask this of Lord Aegon and Lady Rhaenys ," Rhaedar Tarareon started. " What is our due ?"
"I beg your pardon?" Aegon blinked, confused.
" We've served our lord, Jaenyx of House Belaerys, for over six years now, and we fully trust in his wife Lady Visenya Targaryen Belaerys. We trusted his decision to come to Dragonstone and we trusted him when he decided to go to war against the ironborn and the Arrogant king to avenge our people. But I must issue that my protest that my Lord Jaenyx is still not in control of any lands, also us at the very least. "
Aegon leaned forward from his chair. "As I understand, Lord Rhaedar, you already have lands on Dragonstone -- "
" But those are your lands, not ours! " Aevor Rahitheon spat. " Your family is the Lord of Dragonstone. And even though our lord is a dragonrider, he still doesn't have lands of his own. You didn't give him any lands in the riverlands, even though he was very important in killing Black Harren. You didn't give him any lands in the stormlands, even though he was important there. What's a lord in any sense if he doesn't have lands! "
" Aevor ," Jaenyx joined in. " I'm not here to pillage. I only did what I did because it was necessary. Your nephews were kidnapped, with one assaulted and one murdered, and I was merely fulfilling the obligations of a lord protecting his people. And if you haven't noticed, we didn't bend the knee to Dragonstone, so we're equal to them ."
" That's not enough, my lord! " Maerys Tarareon shouted. " You're asking us to go to war again and you have no lands or significant titles to your name. Don't misinterpret us, Lord Jaenyx. You've shared in our hardships at the Basilisk Isles and we've all seen how you picked yourself up when your brother and parents died. Any leader who can do that will have our loyalties until our dying days ." Jaenyx's vassals shouted their agreements. " But it seems as if you're forgetting that a lord must have possessions. We're not in the Basilisk Isles anymore, so you have to be the lord of something ."
"If I may, Lady Maerys," Rhaenys said. "If Jaenyx had asked for his own lands, we would have gladly--"
" I wasn't talking to you, Lady Rhaenys ," Maerys interrupted. However, she, and Aegon, did not expect Jaenyx to grab his wine goblet, throw it on the ground, and smashing it to pieces. The glass shattering was loud enough to silence everyone in the room.
" We have history, Maerys, and your loyalty and honesty are always valued. But I will not tolerate you treating my sister with disrespect. You hear me?! " That prompted Maerys to be quiet.
" Sister? " Aevor Rahitheon exclaimed. " She's your good-sister, and she's only related to you by marriage. Is that why you would not ask anything of them and become a joke of a lord ?"
" Aevor, you are out of line !" Visenya snapped. " How dare you speak to your lord that way !"
" What do you mean a joke ?" Jaenyx narrowed his eyes.
" Oh, you don't know? Right, allow me to elaborate for you, Lord Jaenyx. We're stuck on Dragonstone still farming half of the island and enriching your good-family while the very people we've been fighting were allowed to keep their lands and titles. We're the reason that your good-family the Targaryens were able to become more than lords of the Blackwater Bay. But now you treat them as family and I can only see that your title of lord is a mere formality. We're Valyrians and we've exerted a lot of effort in fighting already, but we have not received our dues. We don't have any lands and the only other place where we could have made more permanent communities was given to your good-father's bastard son. And in case you forgot, House Belaerys was one of the seven great dragonlord families in Valyria while the Targaryens were nothing compared to them! "
Aegon clenched his teeth, angered that someone had the nerve to besmirch his family name in his presence. He turned to see dragonfire forming behind Rhaenys' eyes, and the same was said of Visenya. Even though she was the Lady of House Belaerys, she never forgot where she came from.
"There were practical considerations, Lord Aevor," Daemon Velaryon responded while ignoring that Aevor insulted his cousins' family. "We're Valyrians, but we're too few in number and we're surrounded by those who have hostile intentions towards us. The lords who surrendered were allowed to keep their lands and titles because that would make them more loyal towards us. If we didn't do that, our new position in Westeros would've been more precarious."
" You've got dragons! " Aevor threw his hands up in frustration. " You can burn your enemies and no one will ever think to mess with you again. And your considering practicalities didn't exactly prevent us from being in this position now! "
"It's not that simple, Lord Aevor!" Daemon shouted. "Dragons can do many things, but being political is not one of them."
" You're in no position to say that. You've got lands of your own, and so the Celtigars. What about us? In any case, we've done more to elevate your lord's family than even you. "
"Lord Aevor, that's quite enough." This was getting too much for Aegon to handle, and he was struggling to keep the dragon temper from bursting.
" You don't give orders to me, Lord Aegon. And you certainly didn't lose a nephew from fighting these Westerosi maggots! So what do you know? "
Before Aegon could respond, Jaenyx walked to Aevor and slapped him so hard in the face that he almost fell to the floor from the force.
" Whatever grievances you have, you direct them to me. But I will not tolerate anyone in this room insulting my brother. Are we clear?" His vassals muttered their affirmation, which didn't satisfy Jaenyx. " I said, are we clear?! " They were louder, but they were also put back in line. " Now, I appreciate all of you trying to have me attain lands of my own, and all of you bring up a good point. A lord must not remain landless. However, I will not use my family's past status or what I have now to assert myself against my family, because that is what the Targaryens are now. And if you want lands, all right. But all I ask is that you put your energies to fighting the threats we have now. Too often have rulers been undermined by petty squabbles and I will not have that now! And Aevor, you've got your vengeance on the Arrogant king when he was killed, but if you want more, we can discuss the particulars in private. Is that acceptable ?" Aevor Rahitheon nodded begrudgingly while still rubbing his cheek.
The Tarareons got out of the room first, followed by the Rahitheons, the Leniars, the Celtigars, and the Velaryons. They had their orders to muster at Harrenhal before moving to reinforce either the Brackens or the Blackwoods. If the Brackens turned coat, then they would assist the Blackwoods in taking control of the lands around Stone Hedge. Aegon hoped that the Brackens didn't do that, as he knew how ruthless Jaenyx and the others would be, but he also saw it as necessary as betrayal did not go unpunished.
That left Aegon, Rhaenys, Visenya, and Jaenyx in the room. "Is it true, Jaenyx? You see us as family?" Aegon asked.
"Of course I do, Egg," Jaenyx replied nonchalantly. "You're my good-brother and Rhae is my good-sister--"
"No, no, no," Aegon stopped him. "I mean, do you see us as family, truly?"
"Ah," Jaenyx nodded, understanding. " Kessa. Truly ."
"Why?" Aegon had to know. It was true that Jaenyx, despite coming from better dragonlord stock, had treated him and the others with a lot of love and respect. While he was acting as a good-brother should, he deferred too easily and too often to himself and their father despite being equals.
" First time I met you all on Dragonstone, I didn't really think much of you since you were too acclimatized to the ways of Westeros despite being dragonlords and having the blood of Valyria within you. And believe it or not, my gifts to you all when I married Vis was just me fulfilling my promise to treating all of you with respect and love. Just an obligation. But over the past year that I stayed here, I felt something that I did not feel for a long time. "
"And what would that be, Jae?" As much as they were close, Rhaenys was also curious as to why Jaenyx would not be so imposing on their family given his ancestry from the Belaerys Lords.
" Do you really need to ask that question, Rhae ?" Jaenyx raised an eyebrow, but he looked a little hurt, which Aegon did not expect. " My brother is dead. My father is dead. And my mother is dead. I didn't have a family before coming here and you have no idea how lonely… I was for so long ." Aegon saw tears forming in his eyes and heard how he paused compared to before. " Being alone and without the people you love can make you feel dead on the inside while you're still walking, and that's the worst feeling in the world. But Egg became the brother that I had lost and you, Rhae, you know how I see you. " Rhaenys nodded and smiled, her heart warmed at Jaenyx reaffirming their bond as brother and sister. " It might not seem like it, but Lord Aerion has become a father to me and I was always taught to respect my elders. And your mother finally treated me well, and that's something I will never forget. So, do you really think that I am going to just make demands of the people who became my family? "
Aegon could feel nothing but warmth for Jaenyx at that moment. While he also saw Jaenyx as a brother, to hear him actually say that caused joy in his heart. Standing up from his chair, he walked to Jaenyx and gave him a hug, which Jaenyx returned. Rhaenys and Visenya joined them, all embracing each other as the family they had become. If only Orys was here…
They spent the next few moments in each other's arms before they had to separate. Visenya held onto Jaenyx's arm while giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Jae. It means very much to us," Aegon smiled warmly.
" You don't have to say thanks, " Jaenyx replied.
"Would it be too much to ask if you would embrace Orys that way?" Rhaenys asked.
Jaenyx hesitated, but gave Rhaenys a soft gaze. "Not now, but maybe. But Egg, you heard all of them. I might be able to keep them following me because we went through the same hardships together, but I can't stop their dissatisfaction for long. We at least have to give them something."
"I agree," Aegon responded. "How about we give them the Sweetport Sound and the woods around the Wendwater?"
"That can work," Jaenyx bobbed his head. "But I'll tell them that they will only enjoy those lands after they help us win."
Before they left, Visenya spoke up. "And don't forget Jaenyx. He needs land also."
Quickly thinking, Aegon returned to the map. "Jae, as much as I didn't like how your vassals addressed me and our family, they are right in that a lord must have a keep and lands of his own. You can't just live on Dragonstone forever. These marks," he traced his fingers along the black X's in the riverlands, the stormlands, and the lands around the Blackwater Bay. "Represent keeps that were relieved from their previous lords. Take your pick and it's yours."
Jaenyx stared at the map, pondering very deeply on where House Belaerys could take new root. After a moment, he looked at an X near the Wyl. " What's this one ?"
Aegon looked at the X, surprised that he would be interested in that location. "That's Vulture's Roost, but it's been abandoned for decades and it's deep within the Red Mountains. There's nothing valuable there."
" I have to disagree with you there, Egg. From what I see, this keep is near the source of the Wyl. I won't have to worry about the water supply and the location is easily defensible after some modifications."
"Also," Aegon continued. "That's right on the border with Dorne. That particular area has seen much fighting between the Dornish and the marcher lords from both the stormlands and the Reach and House Wyl is seated at the mouth of the Wyl, who will not take too kindly with a newcomer controlling their water supply."
" Leave the worrying to me, Egg ," Jaenyx simply replied. " And just because a ruined castle is worthless now doesn't mean that it will continue that way in the future. With some construction and expansion, that castle can become quite formidable and befitting of dragonlords ."
"But why that particular location?" Rhaenys asked.
Jaenyx smiled. " While we're fighting those of the Faith, I figured it might be time to get acquainted with the descendants of the Rhoynish. After all, the progeny of Princess Nymeria might not respond well to the remnants of Valyria fighting throughout Westeros and being a potential threat ."
Aegon was not convinced of the Dornish thinking that way. "How do you know that?"
" Just a feeling ," Jaenyx shrugged. " But Egg, I have to ask you. "
"Anything."
" What are we, Egg? "
" What do you mean ?"
" We control two kingdoms and the entirety of the Blackwater Bay. We're probably the most powerful lords in all of Westeros right now, and we killed two kings to accomplish that. What are we? "
Aegon was stumped. No one had ever asked that question before and it never entered his mind. But Jaenyx just pointed to a relevant issue. The riverlands were under their control, the stormlands were under their control, the Blackwater Bay. Jaenyx was supervising the riverlands while Orys was Lord Paramount, but their family was still Lord of Dragonstone. They were still simple lords, but commanded more territory than was traditionally held by someone in their station. Such a situation would have been impossible to manage had it not been for their dragons, but their resources were close to being overextended and there was only so much that they could with their current title.
"Our father is still the Lord of Dragonstone and you will be the Lord of Vulture's Roost," Aegon simply answered.
" True ," Jaenyx swayed his head to and fro. " But maybe it's time to start we start thinking bigger. "
" What are you suggesting ?" Rhaenys asked.
" Just a thought, but it'll be much more difficult for us in the future to prevent what happened here in this room if we remained simple lords. We need something more powerful in order to retain what we have ," Jaenyx finished before leaving with Visenya at his side.
Aegon took Rhaenys to their chamber, where she surprised him with a tight hug.
"Um, okay," Aegon awkwardly returned the hug. "What's this for?"
"I'm just happy right now, because of Jae," Rhaenys spoke while still buried in his chest.
"Because he said that we were his family in front of his lords?" Aegon ran his hands across her supple back.
"Mmmhmm," Rhaenys answered. "He could have been just another entitled lord when he arrived at our shores and tried to impose his will on us, but he proved better than that. Well, besides the dowry. He became a brother to us and became another son to our father and mother. He brought nothing but joy for over a year now."
Aegon smiled, touched at how Jaenyx defended them in front of his vassals. The memory of his wedding with Visenya, where he was gifted Flame Screecher, still ran fresh in his mind, but what was more surprising was that Jaenyx merely saw that gift as an obligation. He had over a year to see how Jaenyx would act without having to fulfill commitments and only now did Aegon see that his good-brother acted the way he did was because he saw them as his family. Aegon was thankful that he never had to experience the loss Jaenyx felt, but he was also grateful that such hardships made him be close to their family on Dragonstone. Jae really is a blessing .
While Aegon continued to feel Rhaenys' back with his roaming hands, he felt a strong jerk around his waist as he felt her fingers undo his breeches and push down to the ground. Pulling back from their embrace, he saw her look at him with a fire he never seen before. "What's going on, Rhae?" She didn't respond as she reached up to his lips and kissed them before kneeling them and taking his tip into her mouth.
Aegon sucked in a breath as waves of pleasure flowed through his body at Rhaenys' tongue. There were no words said as he enjoyed his wife pleasuring him. But this time, Aegon closed his eyes as he felt something that had never happened before in their previous coupling. While his core would warm whenever they bedded each other, he felt an inferno bursting on the inside. The desire for his wife had never been as strong as it was now and while he couldn't understand why, he let his instincts take over so that he could enjoy this moment.
Eventually, Rhaenys took his length so deep into her mouth that Aegon felt himself shatter into her. Still in a trance, he saw Rhaenys stand back up before wrapping her arms around his neck and bringing him into another kiss. However, he decided to take control and broke off their kiss to turn her around. Untying the laces of her red and black gown, he yanked it so hard that he could hear a few tears as her arms were forced out of its sleeves and the fabric pooled around her ankles.
"Egg! Be careful with my dresses," Rhaenys whined. "Vis might not mind when Jae does that to her, but I do when you do that to me."
"Sorry, Rhae," Aegon apologized before slowly turning her around. Rhaenys gasped as he kissed across her collarbone. He continued onto her left breast and sucked on her tit, which caused Rhaenys to let out a moan. While they would usually go to the bed, Aegon decided to try something different and guided her to the floor. They were still enjoying the summer years, but there was talk that winter was coming, so Aegon decided to enjoy the floor as it was still warm from the summer heat.
"I like this," Rhaenys managed as Aegon moved to take her other teat into his lips. "We should couple on the floor more often, Egg. Makes us… try new things more often."
"As you wish, sister," Aegon answered while mentioning that they were siblings. He figured that the dragon roared inside her as she reached down to squeeze his cheeks and pulling his face to hers. After kissing some more, he turned her over so she laid on her stomach against the floor. He traced her spine with his lips while his hands ran across the smooth skin of her sides. Her back was lined with new muscle and a few scars from her training sessions with Konno and Arata Haru. He took the time to commit them to memory.
"On your knees," Aegon commanded, voice rough but filled with desire. Rhaenys complied with his command, lifting her ass in the air and spreading her legs until her center was bared to him. She was already glistening.
"Egg…" Rhaenys whispered. Her voice was husky from lust. "Fuck me please. I need it," she begged.
Aegon grunted in delight but didn't comply immediately, his thirst for her not yet sated. He sucked on her shoulders and her neck like a man who had found an oasis in the Dornish desert. His hands held her hips in a firm grip as she squirmed under his ministrations. He brought her close to climax by sliding his index finger into her entrance while his thumb played with her clit. Before she could peak, he pulled away from her, only to slide his length into her before she could urge him on again. They joined together in one motion, her hips snapped backwards to him to the root. Her screams were loud and obscene and he wanted to hear more of them.
Aegon's hand twisted in Rhaenys' silver locks, pulling it so that her neck and back arched in response. she increased the tempo of her hips and their chamber filled with the sounds of the slaps of his hips against her ass. She was trying to loosen him first, as she knew what taking her in this way did to him. He abandoned his grip on her hair and pressed her upper body further against the floor.
Rhaenys dropped to one of her elbows, her fingers reaching behind and briefly played with his sack before they rubbed the nub above her center. He slowed his thrusts, letting her focus on both tempos. She didn't last long, crying out as she neared the edge.
Aegon took his cock out of her entrance, rolled her hips, and got Rhaenys on her back. The floor might have made their coupling a little more difficult to do, but such was the desire for each other that they ignored such a minor inconvenience. Even the bed would have done little to muffle their cries and he knew that anyone outside of their door had in all likelihood heard their screams.
Rhaenys pulled her knee up, the other leg straight, her torso twisted as she stared at him. Aegon growled at the sight of her, and the feel of her was too much. He couldn't decide where to put his hands. Her breasts looked enticing, swaying in response to their motions, but he couldn't maintain his balance if he grabbed them. Her ass looked incredible too but he settled for a slap that turned it pink. One hand gripped her hips and the other pulled on her shoulder while he re-sheathed into her entrance. He continued the fast and intense pace before he changed their positions. Her whining encouraged him onward.
"Cum in me, Egg," Rhaenys' voice was loud, breathless and wanton. Sweat made her back glisten as they both plunged over the edge.
"Fuck!" Aegon exclaimed, burying himself into her until he could feel the end of her cunt. His seed shot out with such intensity that there were black spots in his vision. Freezing momentarily from their peak, he collapsed onto her before lying next to her against the warm floor.
Both took a few moments to process their lovemaking, which was outstanding compared to the other times. Aegon could Rhaenys' shallow breathing while he felt his eyes stop blinking, his mind in a haze as the pleasure surged through him.
"How was that?" Aegon asked, getting to his senses.
"Amazing, Egg," Rhaenys answered. "That was much better than the other times, and that's saying a lot since every time felt like the first."
Aegon chuckled. "I'm glad I could still make you feel like that after over a year. But you know that I'm holding back, right?"
"Are you japing me?" Rhaenys asked in mock surprise.
"Well, kepa said that lovemaking should only get better as we age. That way, once we're old, we become incredibly powerful in our thrusts and we can… pass on while we're coupling," Aegon explained. That got him a hard slap on the shoulder from Rhaenys. "Ow."
"Can we not talk about the time we will become old, Egg?" Rhaenys groaned in slight annoyance. "That's too far into the future and I'd rather we enjoy ourselves now."
"All right," Aegon quickly agreed, their conversation touching upon a heavy subject and he wanted to not ponder on such thoughts at the moment. Getting up from the floor, he picked up Rhaenys in his arms and gently placed her on the mattress before joining her. He covered them both in the sheets before they both passed into the warm embrace of sleep.
"Hurry up. Hurry. Up. Hurry up," Arata Haru said in his heavily-accented common tongue from atop his horse while Rhaenys ran on Dragonstone's sandy shores in her loose white tunic and leather trousers. Such was a regular occurrence since six moons ago, as the Harus had Rhaenys begin with a morning run before proceeding with her archery practice. While her feet bled the first time she did, she was much more conditioned and she got firmer and muscled. The very sight of her caused Aegon's length to harden, but he willed such feelings away as he saw her approach the end of her run.
However, for some reason, Arata didn't think Rhaenys was running hard enough and had his horse gallop beside her. Compared to his father, Arata Haru was much less abusive and instead used light ridiculing to motivate her. He also took the time to learn the common tongue and never raised his voice, but his jesting was enough to rile Rhaenys into putting more effort into her training. But like Rhaenys, Aegon didn't complain since his methods were much more preferable than the hard hammering from Konno Haru.
"Huuuurrry up, don't fall back. Huuuurrry up, don't fall back. Huuuurrry up, don't fall back. Huuuurrry up, catch the pack," Arata Haru repeated from horseback while sounding a little bored. "If you're going to fall down from exhaustion, my lady, fall down on your face."
"Yes, sensei," Rhaenys breathed out.
Out of nowhere, Arata pulled out a bronze pan and started banging on it with a wooden stick while his feet were firm in the stirrups. The sounds were so sharp and loud that it rang even in Aegon's ears, who was sitting on a boulder a good distance from where they were. He just kept banging on the bronze pan, to the point where Aegon was getting very annoyed at his hammering away. But from how Rhaenys looked, Aegon could see that she was more than irritated and ran at a faster pace.
Eventually, Rhaenys reached the boulder and took a moment to catch her breath. However, Arata Haru still banged at his bronze pan as he got off of his horse. Having enough, Aegon snatched the pan and wooden stick from his hands. "That's enough, Arata."
"Ah, you don't like it, don't you?" Arata grinned. "Consider it motivation, Lord Aegon."
"Piss off," Aegon spat. However, Arata merely laughed.
"You're annoyed. That's good, because that is the same feeling your wife has and the only way for her to not have that feeling is to put in more effort."
"I'm putting in my best effort," Rhaenys protested.
"Maybe," Arata shrugged. "But that doesn't mean that I can increase the pressure on you. A fighter must never relax or settle, lest they become weak from complacency."
"You're an asshole," Rhaenys grumbled, with Aegon surprised that she used such language. However, Arata took in stride and let out another laugh.
"Come on, your ladyship. Let's move onto the bow," Arata clapped on her shoulder before moving back up to Dragonstone.
"Well, at least he does have a sense of humor, unlike his father," Rhaenys confessed. "I rather the shit from training come from him than Konno Haru."
Aegon snorted. "Who wouldn't?"
After returning to the walls of Dragonstone, Rhaenys picked up her yew bow and let loose her arrows against the target. Aegon was surprised at how much she progressed on the bow, as all of her arrows hit the black mark against the white background. How her arm muscles tightened as she drew, how she kept her legs in place as she released the arrow, how her slender fingers held tightly on the bowstring… Why is she becoming more desirable with each passing day ?
But what drew Aegon's attention was how… focused Rhaenys was when she held her bow. She picked an arrow from the quiver, placed the arrow against the bow, drew back, released, and kept her eyes on the target until the arrow hit its mark. There was no talking, no struggling on the string, no hesitation. Just her doing the motions as if they were second nature. He had some words with Konno Haru over him making her kill a prisoner, but looking at how she conducted herself as an archer, he wondered if Haru's harsh methods had some merit.
But beside her focus while handling the bow, Rhaenys became more used to getting her hands dirty from Arata Haru taking her on daily hunting excursions that would last half a day. He would merely watch as Rhaenys stalked her prey, with Arata only giving her a few tips, and killing it with a single shot. But from what he saw, Rhaenys had become quite efficient in field dressing the prey. For example, she didn't squirm as she cut open a wild boar's torso to remove its guts and skinned it in front of the other people of the citadel. Whenever she did field-dress her prey after bringing it back to the citadel, she used a dagger finely made of Valyrian steel and with a smooth dragonbone hilt, which was given to her by Jaenyx after he had Aevor Rahitheon make it from a dragonbone from the Basilisk Isles. Then, Arata had her cook the prey's flesh and consume it, thus completing the hunting excursion.
Aegon was thankful for Rhaenys retaining her smile and brightness even after everything that had happened. Innocence was lost whenever one properly hunted down a prey and after killing a living person, but Rhaenys did not crack. In fact, he saw that she had become more durable and was less likely to hesitate whenever she needed to do what had to be done. More importantly, Aegon was there for her whenever she needed to lean on him and when she wanted to be lost in him. It was as Jaenyx said. She became stronger with Aegon by her side.
While still watching Rhaenys refine her bowmanship, Aegon heard Daemon running towards him. "Aegon!"
Aegon stood up from his stool, while Rhaenys stopped her practice and looked at their cousin. "What is it, Daemon?" Aegon asked, concern rising as he looked at his cousin's worried face.
"Message from Lord Blackwood. It's urgent."
Aegon snatched the letter from his cousin and read it, alarm filling his mind as he read it again.
"What's going on?" Rhaenys asked with concern.
"Fucking hells! The Brackens have switched sides, as did the Pipers. But the Darrys fell back without a fight, because it was their two thousand men against an army many times their size. They're advancing on Riverrun as we speak!"
Rhaenys eyes widened in alarm. She understood that if Riverrun fell, then the Red Fork would be open and thus endangering the Blackwood Vale, the one major region in the Riverlands that was loyal to their family. "What about Jae and Vis?"
"They're already taking control of the Brackens' land. There is no garrison at Stone Hedge, so it shouldn't be too difficult for them to take. However, they need all the troops available to reinforce their positions. We need to fly out as soon as possible."
Aegon dressed in his body armor and strapped Blackfyre to his left side and Flame Screecher on his back. He turned to see Rhaenys emerge from the manor house, dressed in her red and black dragon coat, her bow and quiver of arrows strapped to her back, and Valyrian steel dagger on her left side. She looked every inch the dragon archer she was destined to become, briefly mesmerizing Aegon.
"You all right, Egg?" Rhaenys asked with a grin.
"Yeah," Aegon answered before mounting on Balerion. He saw Rhaenys climb onto Meraxes, but she collapsed on the ground before she could also mount her. Sliding down from Balerion and ignoring Meraxes' whimpers of concern, he saw that her eyes were completely shut, but her body was hot as an oven.
"Rhae! Rhae!" Aegon shook her, trying to get her to her senses. He felt another presence come beside him, and saw Taygor Leniar kneeling besides Rhaenys and rubbing her forehead.
"She's having it again," Taygor stated.
"What?"
"The dragon dreams."
Rhaenys had talked about her ability to have dragon dreams like their ancestor Daenys Targaryen, and the last time she did was when she met Brandon Snow, the bastard brother of Torrhen Stark, King in the North. Aegon didn't doubt that she had dragon dreams, but it was another thing to see it up close.
"How long will this last?" Aegon demanded.
"Not sure. It depends on how long the connection will be. But whenever she's around Meraxes, it's very likely to happen."
"So, you mean to say that she can't ride without having the dreams?"
"No, she can. But dragon dreams need dragons and something reached out to her. We have to let it run its course."
Aegon continued to hold Rhaenys tight while still kneeling on the ground, but reassured that she was going to be alright. Jae and Vis need us. What are you dreaming about now, Rhae ?