"So, you tried to summon Aegon's soul?"
"Yes, but unfortunately, the god that possessed it wasn't all too happy with me for taking it away," I replied with a sigh, pacing around in Helaena and I's room.
My wife in question sat in her chair near the heart, Erryk and Arryk guarding the doors while Anne was perched atop the back of my chair.
"And you're still alive after pissing off a god?"
"Not because I want to be," I responded to Erryk's question. "The god simply decided that I should be allowed one chance since I did not know. However, doing it a second time will most definitely result in me getting to meet this god personally."
"Well, you were reaching into powers beyond your comprehension," Helaena replied and I sighed as I glanced at Anne. I know she wanted to rant and rave from the strained expression on her face, but she also didn't want to give herself away.
"I know, my love, but at least we learned something from Aegon about his death."
"Which is?"
"I'm not allowed to say. I wasn't even supposed to tell you all about the whole 'summoning Aegon's spirit' thing, but I guess I didn't want to leave you in the dark."
"Oh? You hear that, brother? The great Lord Torrhen trusts us with his life."
"Indeed, and all because we're the sworn shields to his lady wife."
"The dragons still dance, my love," Helaena replied, a vacant look in her eyes that made me frown.
Another dream, already? Damn, that's quicker than normal.
"What of the kraken?"
"He approaches from the West, spreading his shadowy influence. Soon, the Lion shall lose its fangs."
"What if we asked of the Old Ones and the Mother Rhoyne to help?"
"Neither will help. He has not yet encroached on their territory," she replied, blinking as the vacant look in her eyes faded.
Then, she turned to me and frowned. "What happens now?"
"To be quite honest, I have no clue," I replied, plopping into my seat as Anne fluttered over to perch herself on the armrest.
That was an honest answer as I have absolutely no clue on what the next best course of action should be.
Of course, we could prepare and even attack Dalton if he is coming from the Westerlands, but on the other hand, Anne and I have not even begun in helping me figure out exactly what the limitations are of what I can do.
At the same time, we could also go the opposite route and prepare the rest of the country, leaving the Westerlands to their faith while making sure that everyone else survives his attack.
'Not that that's a guarantee. Dalton might just decide to stay in the Westerlands and its seas, cutting off that part of the world from everyone else,' I thought with a frown, leaning back in my chair whilst staring at the flames.
"Stag for your thought, Lord Torrhen?" Arryk asked, Erryk and Helaena staring at me as well as I scratched the top of my head.
"Unfortunately, a stag is not too much for the jangled mess that is my mind, Ser Arryk," I replied, making him smirk before Helaena spoke.
"Well, do you wish for me to deviate your mind from this stressful endeavour?"
"Did we not already do it when I returned from Dorne?" I asked in a soft whisper, a bit confused and eager at the same time as the twins smirked at my words.
"Not that, my love," Helaena replied with an amused eyeroll. "Something much more...riveting and shocking."
"Please, do not tell me that you're dying?" I asked, now feeling a bit concerned. Thankfully, I let out a sigh of relief when Helaena giggled.
"Not at all, my love, though some would say that it is the end of the young adult chapter of our life."
"I am very confused."
"Think, Lord Torrhen. What is the next step after laying together that defines a man and a woman as a husband and wife?" I furrowed my brow at Arryk's question, turning my gaze back to Helaena.
I then scanned her expression, trying to go through everything about this world that I could remember in order to figure out this riddle.
'Okay, the next step after laying together, hmm? Well, that would be owning a castle together, wouldn't it? No, Moat Cailin is almost completed so it can't be that. Well, when a man and a woman lay together, then the next natural step would be...' My thoughts trailed off as the lines connected and my eyes widened at Helaena's waiting smile.
"Truly?"
"Truly what?" she asked and giggled as my eyes flicked to her stomach. "Have you figured it out?"
"Are you certain?" I asked, standing as she did the same, raising my hands to her hips as she smiled.
"I did have the grand maester confirm it before you arrived," she replied with a nod. "I am with child, my lo-Ahahahaha!"
"YES!" I exclaimed as I picked her up, Helaena squealing as I spun us rapidly before putting her down. Before she could speak, I laid a searing kiss onto her lips, one which made her melt right as I pulled back.
"Erryk! Arryk! I'm going to be a father!"
"Not the reaction we were expecting," Erryk replied, though he and his brother patted my shoulder as I turned to Helaena.
"Who else knows?"
"The archmaester, my handmaiden, mother most likely and finally, us four in this room."
"Good," I spoke with a nod and a wide grin. "That means I can still go and surprise a few people with the news."
"You don't see like you hate the thought?"
"What? Of course not, my love," I replied with a scoff, wrapping my arms tightly around her. "Just think of it. Torrhen Stark and his little menace to society, making life a hell for everyone in the castle."
"Arryk and I do not mind being the uncles that help with the mischief," Erryk spoke up with a raised hand, making me chuckle while Erryk snickered when his brother smacked his arm.
I then turned to Helaena to see the relieved look in her eyes and smiled. "You thought I was going to hate the idea of being a father, didn't you?"
"Well, we're still a bit young, are we not?"
"We are and I admit that the thought of being a parent is making me more and more nervous as the seconds pass," I responded with a nod, "but as long as you are with me, and both you and the child are safe and well after the birthing process, I will face down even the gods to make sure we're one happy family."
"Even the gods?" she asked, referring to the first part of our meeting and I just gave a sheepish smile.
"Okay, maybe not the gods, but you get the idea, my love."
"I do, indeed. Hah, well, now let's hope that my family are as overjoyed as you are," On cue, the doors opened, but both Helaena and I paused at the grave look on Jaecerys' face.
"Princess Helaena, Lord Torrhen, her Grace has just received word that Dalton Greyjoy and his army have taken Banefort and many other castles in the Westerlands."
'Right, of course the world doesn't want me to be happy.'
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"Banefort, The Crag, Castamere, Ashemark, Fair Castle, Kayce and Feastfires have all fallen, Lord Lannister," A knight reported and Jason Lannister was silent as he sat in his solar with a frown.
"What of Crakehall, Silverhill, Deep Den and the Golden Tooth?" Those were the three locations he was most worried about. Given that those were the routes that connected the Westerlands to the rest of Westeros, cutting them off would be detrimental.
"We have not received word of Dalton nor of his men approaching said locations, but I have ordered the maester to be vigilant nonetheless."
"Good. Go and tell him to send ravens to both King's Landing, the Riverlands and the Reach," Jason replied with a frown. "If Dalton is truly attacking us and making his way inwards, then one of them could be the next target."
"At your command, my lord," the knight bowed, walking away with the dismiss of Jason's hand.
"I came home for a little family gathering, but it appears trouble is always following me," His younger twin spoke in a wry tone, Jason turning to see Tyland standing with his arms crossed.
They were not the only two in Jason's solar as his lady wife sat next to his desk with a frown, her gaze scanning the map on his desk.
"This is Dalton Greyjoy's declaration of war upon the kingdom, is it not?"
"Indeed, my love. Therefore, I must ask that you go and make sure our daughters are okay while my brother and I here plan out our next move," Jason replied and the woman bowed her head, leaving the twins on their own.
"You do not possess a single plan of action, do you brother?"
"Not in the slightest," Jason replied with a sigh as he stood up. "Johanna is the more competent of us two when it comes to planning ahead, but don't tell her I said that. I'd never hear the end of it."
"No need to worry, brother," Tyland replied with a chuckle, walking over to stare at the map with his brother, "though, I will say that you may have your hands for the time being. Dalton Greyjoy is considered a grave threat by her Grace the Queen."
"Of course he is," Jason muttered with a sigh. "From the reports, Dalton and his men are immortal, they control the seas as well as all life that exist in it and the man can control your shadow. Tell me again how I am supposed to win this?"
"You don't," Tyland answered with a shake of his head, "though, I believe there is one throughout Westeros that would not mind helping you for a favour or a price."
"The Great Sorcerer of House Stark? Would he even dare to help me if his Queen says no?"
"The Queen would be foolish to deny you help when she herself fears Dalton growing more powerful than he already is."
"Lovely. Then, help me craft a message that can play at their heart strings."
"You would sooner be able to seduce a dragon than tempt either her Grace or Lord Torrhen by playing to their emotions," Tyland said with an amused smirk, something that made Jason give him a flat stare.
"Then, all-knowing little brother, how would you go about asking for their help?" Jason asked and Tyland just smiled.
"Simple. You ask."
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The air inside the throne hall was tense as Helaena and I walked in. Both of us smiled and waved at the lords and ladies greeting us, but kept our pace, walking over to where her family members were standing.
Daemon and Aemond nodded in greeting, which I returned with a slight bow of my head, while Viserys smiled in greeting.
Alicent on the other hand didn't even notice us and I hid my frown when I saw her eyes fixed directly on Rhaenyra who was seated upon the throne.
Well, I managed to clear my name and divert the attention to someone else, but at what cost?
'Alicent's definitely not going to listen to reason now,' Since Aegon didn't specify which sibling and since Alicent believed in some motherly way that her children all got along, she was definitely aiming for the one child that wasn't hers.
That was a big problem. If Alicent was Rhaenyra's enemy, then she was definitely going to try everything she can to undermine the woman, whether that is done subtly or publicly.
A divide between the former and current Queens means a divide in the House of the Dragon. Sure, Aemond may be close to Helaena and I, but that is still his mother whose side he is going to pick, especially if Alicent spins the story perfectly enough.
'Aemond is the one we need to keep on our side. As long as he is an ally, that means that the Dance can't begin,' I thought, crossing my arms as the last of the nobles trickled in.
The Queensguard took their position in front of the throne and I didn't question Criston Cole being as far away as he could from Rhaenyra and as close as possible to Alicent.
'Honestly, I'd rather just give up being a Kingsguard and go back home.'
"In the past week, Dalton Greyjoy and his fleet have invaded the Westerlands," Rhaenyra spoke as she began the meeting. "The last message we received was from Lord Lannister himself, revealing not only Lord Dalton's involvement but also the seven castles that he have taken.
We have received neither word nor message that speaks of the residents that previously occupied these residents, but given the tendencies of those of the Iron Islands, it is safe to say that their fates did not end in death."
"What is our course of action, your Grace?" Lord Lyman asked and I stated at Rhaenyra as she took a moment to gather her thoughts.
"We cannot allow Dalton Greyjoy to secure himself further into the mainlands," she replied at last with a shake of her head. "Lord Corlys, what would you say would happen should the royal navy as well as yours and that of the Reach try to take this battle to the waters?"
"That depends on Lord Torrhen's opinion. Would you say that Lord Dalton 'controls' the sea?" he asked me in turn and I stood up straight as dozens of eyes moved to me.
"He does. As I am sure the Lord Hand has informed her Grace, I am able to summon entities known as Elementals. As the name suggests they are made out of the very elements we see every day.
However, while I am able to summon Elementals, Lord Greyjoy serves the god that control the very seas and all life in its depths. Therefore, any fleet that he comes across will be sunk by storm and wave if his god so wishes."
"If that is true, then I will admit that fighting Lord Greyjoy at sea would be a fool's gamble, your Grace," Corlys replied with a shake of his head. "What of dragons?"
"Dragons are not a blade meant to be swung blindly in order to solve every problem faced before the Crown," Rhaenyra replied and to be fair, I mostly agreed with her.
Unfortunately, this is a big threat to the Realm and her not wanting to use dragons here to take care of such a threat was a bit of a risk.
On one hand, she keeps the dragons in reserve, but on the other hand, Alicent could play into this and cut off some of her support. Of course, that's if I don't suggest another course of action.
"Send me," I spoke up, everyone's eyes turning to me as I felt Helaena's hand tightly gripping mine. "I am both a Stark and a sorcerer. If you do not wish to send your blood relatives, your Grace, send a Stark with a dragon instead."
"That would be foolish, Lord Torrhen," she replied with a frown. "Not only are you the only dragonrider that is not blood-related to any Valyrian house, but you are also the only source on magical warfare that we have. To lose you would be detrimental to our side."
"Agreed," I was not surprised to hear Helaena speaking, but I was a bit surprised to hear Alicent agreeing, seeing the stern looks from both mother and daughter.
Still, this works in my favour.
"Of course. Then, what if we fortify the choke points he has not taken?" I asked and saw Daemon narrowing his eyes at me.
"Force him to bleed on land where his god's influence wanes? A sound plan."
"A defensive net instead of a spear does work well in this battle, your Grace," Corlys replied with a nod. "At the same time, we should also rally the Riverlands and the Reach, reassuring them while at the same time fending off Dalton's advances."
"What if he is to turn north? Or abandon the Westerlands and go south to Oldtown?" One of the lords asked and Rhaenyra replied before anyone could.
"Then, he reveals his true intentions, and intent is something we can prepare for," she spoke, appeasing most of the council before she nodded. "Lord Corlys' plan is viable and thus, I will leave it in his capable hands."
"I thank you, your Grace."
"As for the rest of you, lords and ladies of my court, I command that you send word to your homes and your vassal lords. Inform them of our plans and my command to prepare for the war to come.
Dalton Greyjoy has just declared war upon the Seven Kingdoms. Let us fight for what is ours. Dismissed."
A/N: And we end it off here! Finally, the war is beginning and the so-called final arc of this story as well.
Next chapter, we're focusing a bit more on magic before moving on to mortal warfare.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!