46 -Chapter 42-

-298 AC-

-27th day of the 10th moon-

-POV Aegon Targaryen (Griff)-

Learning that I had a living brother was perhaps the best news of my life, but everything got complicated once the successive news of his victories and his alliance with the Lannisters, despite what they did to my mother and sister.

"How are we going to do this," I said, looking at my adoptive father.

"I don't know," he said, his expression mixed.

I could see he appreciated the news but felt guilty because he saw me as his own son. I know I didn't have the right to be angry at my half-brother, but I was. He had everything I fought for since I was young, and for him, it seemed almost easy. I was also angry because he didn't punish the Lannisters when he had the chance.

-POV Jon Connington-

"All my life, I fought to raise you as he would have done, to make you the greatest king of Westeros, the king who could avenge his father and destroy all the rebels, those who overthrew the Targaryens. Attacking now would be nothing more than suicide; we don't even have an army, and you're not ready yet," I said, looking at my adoptive son.

I felt guilty for not being able to be angry at that bastard for taking Aegon's place, but I didn't want the two brothers to engage in fratricidal struggle.

But who would agree to hand over a continent conquered alone to his brother from another mother declared dead for over a decade.

"He hasn't conquered everything; he's just starting. There's still the Reach, the Iron Islands, the Vale, the Stormlands, and Dorne," Aegon tried to make me see the validity of this enterprise.

Unfortunately, I didn't want the last children of Rhaegar and the Targaryen line to confront each other. I shook my head and said:

"No, you can't see it yet, but he has already won. The Reach tried to be clever by releasing Renly from prison, and I don't know how he knew, but he knew Renly would lose, delaying Stannis's armies long enough to destroy the Vale-Riverlands alliance.

I think at this stage, few people can see it, but he is breaking the seven kingdoms. He kills the nobles, he scares the people, and he frees the land occupied by the houses around the Crownlands. He wants to break the kingdom of his ancestors to reforge it himself."

"But he is allying with the Lannisters."

"He has no choice," I said because it was true. Without the Lannisters, he couldn't have defeated the Vale and Riverlands alliance.

"So what? I just let him usurp my birthright? Let him take everything like his mother did to us?" Aegon said furiously.

I didn't respond, looking for a peaceful way to resolve this, but then an idea crossed my mind, and I smiled slightly because it might work if we put: "I might have an idea."

-POV Stannis-

-298 AC-

-30th day of the 10th moon-

I smiled seeing the outskirts of my city. The Lord of Light has finally given me what I was born for, what Robert squandered and did not appreciate.

"Your Majesty, three ships are heading straight for us," said the captain of my ship.

'Hahahaha they don't even have another ship, the dwarf is forced to send 3 boats against my armada of 300 ships,' I thought, looking disdainfully at the "enemy fleet."

I was about to give the order to attack, but from afar, I saw an arrow flying straight at the ship, and a feeling of horror rose in me when I realized what my "enemy" really was.

-POV Tyrion-

"hahaha…hahaha yes, it worked," Joffrey screamed with a satisfied expression, seeing more than half of the enemy fleet reduced to ashes.

I shook my head because even if being demoted to the rank of bastard taught him what place he really occupied in people's minds, he was still Tywin Lannister's grandson, which conferred a higher rank than most, especially since our uncle Stafford's army had entered the city.

"Shut up," I said to Joffrey.

He gave me a dirty look but did not flinch and turned towards the burning fleet. I turned my head towards Sandor Clegane, who looked as shaken as I was, and then I said:

"There are still many left, don't forget what the orders are: hold the siege, not a pitched battle. We just need to hold them off until he returns."

Sandor nodded and then said, "Don't worry, I don't want to stay behind these doors any longer than necessary."

I nodded and then said to Bronn, "Your turn."

He didn't hesitate, and then he said, "Listen up, all you little shits. You're here because you're either loyal to King Aegon, loyal to gold, or both. The guys outside have only one goal: to shorten our king's stature and your purse. Do you agree with that?"

"NO"

"Good!! Then all you have to do is make them understand that none of them will enter our city. We outnumber them, so don't be afraid," said Bronn before taking his bow and notching an arrow.

"Bronn, remind me next time not to let you make speeches in my place."

"If you pay me, I might consider it," he said, releasing an arrow that ended up in the throat of a soldier bearing the Baratheon crest.