Aegon sat on his dragon, his thoughts of House Stark gone. He felt no need to linger on something that wouldn't affect him much now. Ned Stark is sure to see the errors of his decision.
Whether it's before or after he has lost some of his family for betting on the wrong king, is yet to be seen.
"Now that I think about it, it's not even a day since what happened in Kingslanding, I doubt the lords of the realm know. News really travels slowly in this world; it would be easy to take advantage of that to win a war using dragons, that is, after all, even if the news travels slowly, a foot army or cavalry would still be slower, but not a dragon." Aegon says aloud before sinking back into the silence as the wind blows away any other thoughts.
And soon after a short flight, a castle appeared in the distance, and the cold was long gone.
They had arrived in the Reach, Highgarden. Seat of the Tyrells.
The roar came first.
A sound like the earth itself crying out, shaking the stones of Highgarden's towers and setting flocks of birds fleeing from the fields below.
Servants screamed. Guards ran to the battlements. The Tyrell banners, brilliant green and gold, fluttered violently as two vast shadows passed over the castle, dragons, their wings blotting out the sun as they circled overhead.
Olenna Tyrell stood at her balcony, a goblet of wine half-raised, her sharp eyes narrowing as the sky darkened and the roar caused the wine in her goblet to shake.
"Seven hells…" Mace Tyrell breathed beside her, his mouth agape. "Is that..."
"Dragons," Olenna cut in dryly. "Your powers of observation remain astounding, Mace."
From below came another thunderous roar, enough to rattle the very glass in the windows. Margaery had run to the balcony now, pale but curious, her golden-brown hair whipping in the wind.
"They're landing," she whispered.
Two great beasts descended onto the field just beyond the castle's outer wall, one black as obsidian, the other silver-white. The ground trembled under their weight.
Guards scrambled to the walls, crossbows drawn, arrows nocked, hearts hammering as the dragons lowered their heads with deep, echoing growls.
And from their backs, three figures dismounted.
The first, tall and broad-shouldered, with silver hair that caught the sunlight, shone like polished metal and eyes of deep violet a dragon in human skin.
At his side were two hardened men. Baqo and Rahko each moving with the stillness of predators.
When they began to approach the gates, Baqo stepped forward, his voice carrying across the courtyard with booming authority.
" Before you stands Aegon Targaryen, rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms, Ruler of Pentos, the great Khal, the blood dragon, Father of dragons. He comes seeking an audience with Lady Olenna Tyrell and Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden!"
Hearing Baqo introduce him, Aegon couldn't help but think.
'It's a good thing I had some of them learn the language, otherwise I would have to introduce myself, but that's a lot of titles I have already, and I am not even done yet.'
The words rolled like thunder over the stunned garrison.
For a moment, there was only silence, then one of the captains turned and bolted back inside to deliver the message.
Mace was pacing, muttering about soldiers and walls and defenses. Olenna sat calmly, wine in hand, while Margaery watched her grandmother's face with growing unease.
"They can't mean to attack us," Mace said, wringing his hands. "We have done him or anyone else no harm..."
"The Tyrells have done whatever is needed to survive," Olenna replied sharply.
She looked to her granddaughter, then back to the door. "We'll meet him. Better to hear what he wants than force him to give us a display of what his dragons can do."
The guard looked at them as Olenna spoke.
Olenna stood, straightened her gown, and sighed. "Tell him Highgarden welcomes His Grace."
The gates creaked open.
Aegon and his bloodriders stepped through, eyes sweeping over the mass of soldiers lining the walls and towers, bows drawn, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
Aegon smiled faintly. "They must feel safer with me surrounded," he murmured.
Then he turned, raising one hand toward the dragons. "Circle the castle," he commanded in the tongue of High Valyrian.
Bahamut and Albion lifted their heads, shrieking once before beating their wings and taking off, circling Highgarden in lazy, menacing loops.
Aegon stepped forward, cloak trailing behind him, his boots echoing against the stone as they were led inside.
The great hall of Highgarden was awash in light and color, polished marble, golden roses carved into pillars, tapestries of past glories.
Waiting for him were Olenna, seated with regal calm; Mace, already sweating; and Margaery, who watched him like a cat watches a flame, wary, curious, and perhaps a touch fascinated.
Aegon stopped before them.
"Lady Olenna. Lord Mace. Lady Margaery." His voice was smooth, confident. "I thank you for your hospitality."
"You seem to have brought your own," Olenna said coolly. "I can hear the beating of their wings from here."
Aegon smiled faintly. "They just don't like being far away from me."
He took a seat opposite them, Rahko and Baqo flanking him like shadows. "Highgarden is… magnificent," Aegon said, glancing around. "The Reach as always a jewel of the realm."
"Yes, well," Olenna replied dryly, "it's a jewel that tends to crack under the weight of kings."
Her words drew a faint grin from Aegon. "Perhaps. But some kings are more careful with their treasures."
Olenna's sharp gaze didn't leave his face. "Why are you here, Your Grace?"
"Why do you think I'm here?" Aegon countered.
The old woman's silence was answer enough.
"Tell me," Aegon continued, leaning back. "Has word of what happened in King's Landing reached you yet?"
Mace frowned. "King's Landing?"
Aegon tilted his head, studying their reactions. "Then it hasn't. Allow me to enlighten you. I prevented Lord Eddard Stark's execution, returned him and his daughters to the North, and left the Lannister trio scrambling."
All three Tyrells froze, Mace's eyes wide, Olenna's narrowing with interest.
"So the North has bent the knee, then?" Olenna asked carefully.