20 Two Crowns, One Hand

Haemon, 129 Dragonstone

"Presenting Prince Haemon Targaryen. Hand of the King, Prince of Bloodstone, Conqueror of the Stepstones, Rider of Gaelithox, wielder of Black..."

"That's enough Ser Steffon, we all know who I am." We we're in the room of the painted table. I had just landed at Dragonstone and wished to plan as soon as possible. "How many men do we have on Dragonstone?" The lords of the Blackwater were around us. Rhaenyra stood across from me, Jace and Luke at her side, trying to play grown up.

"We have 30 knights, 100 Crossbowmen, and 300 men at arms." Ser Terrance said. I hummed and looked around the map.

"Dragonstone is easy to defend with our advantage on the Narrow Sea. Have the men start building scouting towers around the island. This will not be a war of men. But of dragons." He nodded and went off. "Do we have any news of Kingslanding?".

"No, Lord Hand." Maester Gerardys mumbled. I sighed.

"What of confirmed loyalties. How many houses can we expect under our banner?" Lord Bartimos Celtigar moved forward placing figurines of every house on the map.

"We have the Blackwater, every old Valerian house aids the Red and Black dragon."

"That will not be enough. We need more. I plan to treat with the Starks, we need to send missives to the Eyrie and Storm's End, maybe even Dorne to solidify absolute victory." The lord around me looked unsure about Dorne. "I understand the hesitance when it comes to Dorne. I do. Now is not the time for petty feuds, from wars when none of us were born. We are on the verge of a war not seen in the history of Westeros. We need as much allies as we can get. We need the Riverlands as well. I will stop at Riverrun on the way to Winterfell. I hope the Princess Rhaenys will join me to reinforce the Riverlands once I leave." The doors opened and in came Ser Erryk Cargyll. Alone. All men of the Kingsguard unsheathed their swords and pointed it at them.

"I mean no harm, brothers." He was grabbing something in his bag and he pulled out the crown of my father. "The king is dead." Rhaenyra gasped and everyone around the table were stunned. I gestured for the crown and held it in my hands. Watching the light reflect off of it and rubbing the lion of House Lannister. "Aegon has been named King of the Seven Kingdoms." Murmurs started to fill the room."

"And what of the Queen? Was she the one who crowned him?" Rhaenyra asked, and Erryk only nodded. Silence again filled the room. I looked around and saw everyone just standing there. Doing nothing. It was a shock to all of us. I walked around to Rhaenyra, and placed the crown on her head. I stepped back and with a nod I kneeled.

"All hail Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. First of Her Name, Queen of The Andals, The Rhoynar and The First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." Everyone kneeled at that, and Rhaenyra looked around the room with a fire in her eyes. It was a strange thing to see, her eyes were just as sad as they were hard.

"Rise" We all did. I unsheathed Blackfyre and held it out for her.

"My Queen. Blackfyre is the Sword of Kings. If it is what you wish then I shall return it to you." She just gave a soft laugh, close to a scoff.

"I am not fit to wield such a blade. Nor any of my children. You shall continue to wield Blackfyre in my name as you did King Viserys The First." I bowed my head. "You shall also remain my Hand. I give you the title Hand of the Queen."

"You do me great service my Queen." She just shook her head.

"You do me the greatest by staying at my side." She then looked around the room at all the lords gathered. "All of you. You lords will be rewarded for your loyalty tenfold. Though I fear, this war will not be as easy as I would like it to be. I must close this meeting early. The news of my father's death has left me wanting to mourn him. We will continue discussions on the morrow." We all bowed as she walked off. Rhaena having followed her as her new handmaiden. I motioned for Aemon to come here. He has been frosty with me, since I left Darksister with Aemond.

"Aemon. You are to not leave the Queen's side. Everywhere she goes you will go. This will only be for the next month or so. I trust no other man then you. Do you understand." I was looking at the princes. Jace and Luke.

"Yes, father." I nodded and gave him a smile.

"Good. I'm proud of you, Aemon." He looked surprised but wiped it away and left. I walked closer to the princes and they noticed my approach.

"Jace and Luke. I fear I have been remise in my duties as your uncle. I understand things happened when you were children." I eyed Jace and he gulped. "But now loyalty is all that matters. Jace you will be King and Luke you will be Lord of Driftmark. I will teach you a valuable lesson today. Fetch the Kingsguard and bring them to the Dragonmount. Only the Kingsguard." They nodded and rushed off. Princess Rhaenys was the last one.

"What are our plans, Haemon?" I sighed and rubbed my eyes.

"I hope you will join me to Riverrun. To reinforce and provide dragon back aid until I return from Winterfell. I plan on taking Harrenhall, and establishing our control there. The Riverlands are a key point in the Kingdoms. We can choke out the Green's army just from there." She nodded and we fell into silence. "I do not know my fate in this war...Every night i see dragons falling and fire rising. Every night. Should any of the Green's dragons ride we will have to meet them. The both of us alone."

"Laena has Vhagar"

"This is true. Laena however has never flown Vhagar to war."

"Visenya flew Vhagar to war with the Dornish multiple times."

"That brings more of a risk. A war machine of mass destruction. That does not have a rider that can bring it to heel. My fears come from Vhagar, not from my wife's ability." Rhaenys just snorted.

"She won't listen to you."

"That is why I want you to bring it up to her. She will listen to you. Hopefully."

"You're a fool Haemon."

"I'm the fool that has to plan out a war. I'm the fool that ran my father's kingdom. I am not a fool to want my family safe. Should Sunfyre fly you will meet him. Should Caraxes fly I will meet him. Seasmoke and Dreamfyre shouldn't be a problem for now. That is final." She stepped back with a smirk.

"As you say, Lord Hand" I turned and made my way to the Dragonmount. It would be a decent walk. Long enough for me to think a little. Laena. My Laena, what will I do with you? It's true she will do whatever she wants really. Her fiery spirit still hasn't died, but only tempered by the children. Speaking of the children. Little Baelon was on his way here along with Corlys and Laena on dragonback. She was escorting them. Both Aemon and Rhaena were with Rhaenyra right now, everyone was safe for now.