On the fourth day after Oldtown was burned by Jacaerys's dragon, at the Dragonpit in King's Landing.
Whoosh, whoosh!
A massive scarlet dragon and a 'miniature' light green dragon flew in from the southwest, then landed outside the scorched Dragonpit.
After being scorched by the high temperatures of various dragonflame during the Battle of King's Landing, the entire Rhaenys' Hill was barren, and some areas of the ground were even vitrified.
But the Dragonpit's dome, built to house dragons, remained undamaged except for the circular pit cut out by Womax.
The scarlet dragon was naturally 'the Red Queen' Meleys, but on its saddle, besides Rhaenys, sat the recovered Baela.
And the accompanying light green young dragon was Moondancer, who had previously flown from King's Landing to Driftmark alone to find Baela.
Rhaenys and Baela dismounted from the Red Queen's saddle, and the waiting Dragon Guard immediately stepped forward to guide Meleys and Moondancer into the Dragonpit.
These Dragon Guard had taken shelter in the underground Dragonpit and suffered minimal casualties.
After silently getting into the carriage heading to the Red Keep, Rhaenys used the task of removing her dragon-riding gloves, armor, and other items to consider how to phrase her words.
To be honest, when she had returned to Driftmark in anger after failing to save Daeron, she had already decided not to bother with the Blacks' mess.
But she hadn't expected that the less she restrained and disciplined him, the more her nominal 'grandson' would act like a reckless and unruly dragon.
Upon receiving the news, she had just flown back with Baela from Oldtown—no, it should be the mouth of the Honeywine.
Because there, besides a large amount of floating building debris and corpses on the water, there was no sign of Oldtown at all.
Queen Rhaenyra had been confirmed dead, and Daemon had not yet returned.
And Jacaerys now not only held all the power of the Blacks but also, through some unknown method, could control three dragons by himself.
The more Rhaenys thought about it, the more exhausted she felt, but if she let him do as he pleased, the Seven Kingdoms would likely be thrown into chaos.
Every night recently, she would dream of scenes of dragon destruction, and she didn't know if this was the dragon dream passed down in the Targaryen family.
"Grandma, don't think too much.
Queen Rhaenyra was killed by Aemond, and Jacaerys's revenge on House Hightower is reasonable."
Seeing Rhaenys remain silent, Baela was the first to speak, breaking the slightly strange atmosphere in the carriage.
"Yes, his act of revenge against House Hightower is indeed reasonable.
But wasn't destroying their Hightower enough? He even burned the Citadel, the Starry Sept, and even the entire Oldtown to the ground.
Baela, do you know how many people were in Oldtown? Nearly three hundred thousand!
And it's unknown if even thirty thousand survived this catastrophe.
Even 'Maegor the Cruel' only flew over the sky of Oldtown on his dragon to threaten to burn the Starry Sept to the ground when he brutally suppressed the Faith Militant, and he didn't actually carry it out!"
Hearing her granddaughter's words, Rhaenys finally couldn't help but speak the many words that had been weighing on her heart.
"The civilians affected by the war are indeed very pitiful.
But there's nothing we can do, who told their lord families to choose to become Jacaerys's enemies?
Anyway, in my opinion, whatever Jacaerys does is not wrong!"
Baela made her stance perfectly clear with just one sentence.
"You...well, I don't know how to explain the serious consequences of this matter to you.
Now I just hope Daemon can return as soon as possible!"
Looking at her granddaughter, who seemed to be enchanted by Jacaerys's magic, Rhaenys shook her head and sighed.
"Princess, we have arrived at the Red Keep."
Not long after, the coachman stopped the carriage and announced their arrival.
Creak!
Baela was the first to open the carriage door and get out, then thoughtfully reached out to help Rhaenys.
"So good...oh, damn Jacaerys!"
Rhaenys had intended to smile and praise the thoughtful Baela, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the Red Keep's walls.
She saw rows of figures hanging from the Red Keep's walls, and a rough count revealed at least forty to fifty people.
Rhaenys, who had been involved in the center of power at the Red Keep, recognized many familiar faces among these corpses; they were mostly Crownlands lords who had supported the Green Party.
Among these rows of corpses, there were also two living people hanging conspicuously on either side of the Red Keep's main gate.
The person on the left was Alicent Hightower's brother, the former Commander of the Gold Cloaks, Gwayne Hightower.
The person on the right was the former Master of Whisperers, 'Clubfoot' Larys Strong.
As if to deliberately humiliate them, these two Green Party members, with their hands tied, were completely naked.
Especially Larys, many King's Landing commoners watching the spectacle were pointing and gesturing at his naturally twisted and shriveled right leg.
The reason Rhaenys couldn't help but curse out loud wasn't because of Gwayne and Larys, but because of the many Crownlands lords who had been hanged.
These lords had indeed supported the Green Party before, but they had already surrendered to the Blacks after the deaths of the main culprits like Alicent and Ser Otto.
Such noble captives only needed to swear fealty again and pay an equivalent ransom.
Jacaerys's current actions were equivalent to breaking the rules mutually agreed upon by the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms.
This game of thrones is not played this way!
"Greetings, Princess Rhaenys!"
Just as Rhaenys was lost in thought with a pale face, a strong man with short black hair, wearing armor inscribed with the sigil of ravens surrounding a Weirwood, stepped forward to greet her.
This greeting strong man was Earl Samwell Blackwood of Raventree Hall.
It was he and Lord Forrest Frey of Twin River City who had stabilized the situation in the Riverlands at the beginning of this Blood Dragon Dance.
"Earl Samwell, no need for formalities!
Hmm, are you in charge of guarding the Red Keep?"
Rhaenys looked at Earl Samwell, who was on duty, with some surprise.
After all, given Jacaerys's personality, such a task concerning his own safety should be entrusted to his trusted personal guards.
"Yes, thanks to His Majesty Jacaerys's trust, Lord Forrest and I are respectively responsible for the security of the Red Keep and King's Landing."
Earl Samwell spoke with excitement.
After all, Jacaerys's current actions were equivalent to telling them that they would be rewarded with rewards commensurate with this trust after the war was completely over.
Hearing this, Rhaenys's expression improved significantly.
At least Jacaerys was treating the nobles loyal to the Blacks well and entrusting them with important responsibilities to win them over.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Rhaenys took Baela into the Red Keep.
Meanwhile, Earl Samwell called his soldiers to release Larys and the other man, giving them water and rest.
After all, His Majesty Jacaerys had specifically instructed them to keep them alive for as long as possible.
When Rhaenys and Baela arrived at the Throne Room, Jacaerys was seated high on the Iron Throne, with a group of people kneeling or standing at the foot of the throne's steps.
Rhaenys did not have the doorkeeper announce her name loudly, but instead, holding the hand of Baela, who was reunited after a long separation and whose eyes were practically trailing threads of longing, she joined the crowd of nobles standing on either side of the Throne Room.
...Your Majesty, our Weeping Town is willing to pay seven thousand golden dragons and gems and pearls worth four thousand golden dragons as war reparations.
And Earl Velaryon will also swear eternal fealty to you!"
A brown-haired middle-aged man was currently kneeling on both knees, relaying his liege's terms of compensation.
Jacaerys nodded upon hearing this, and replied in a gentle tone: "Hmm, I remember Earl Velaryon.
Although he politely refused to submit to my mother, at least he replied to Storm's End.
Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, and I look forward to Earl Velaryon swearing fealty again!"
"Thank you, thank you for Your Majesty's mercy.
I will request the Earl to come to King's Landing as quickly as possible!"
The brown-haired middle-aged man immediately showed joy upon hearing this, repeatedly thanking Jacaerys for his mercy.
This was understandable, after all, with the vanished Oldtown and those Crownlands nobles who had firmly supported the Green Party serving as examples.
These nobles from the Seven Kingdoms who had previously refused to submit to Jacaerys felt as if a sword was hanging over their heads, ready to fall at any moment.
After the brown-haired middle-aged man finished speaking, the attention in the hall focused on the last young knight.
This young blonde knight, wearing armor with a vibrant red roaring lion sigil, was the only one standing proudly among the group.
He bowed slightly and spoke in a very clear voice: "Your Majesty Jacaerys, my name is Rorien House Lannister.
Today, I am here as Duke Jason House Lannister's messenger to convey his sincere apologies.
Duke Jason is willing to pay 150,000 golden dragons, 50,000 adult cattle and sheep, and 200,000 bushels (1 bushel is about 27.2 kilograms) of wheat as war reparations.
Please forgive the mistakes the Lannister family made before."
Wow!
As soon as Rolyon spoke, the lords watching in the Throne Room immediately burst into an uproar.
After all, the previous noble messengers mostly offered reparations of a few thousand golden dragons, and those like the Weeping Town messenger who offered tens of thousands of golden dragons were few and far between.
The Lannister family from the Westerlands showed such generosity as soon as they spoke; they truly live up to their reputation as a great family whose wealth is among the top in the Seven Kingdoms.
But Jacaerys didn't care about this huge amount of war reparations at all; instead, he asked, "Rolyon, right?
Do you know what has happened recently?
I really want to know what is supporting you, making you dare to keep standing and talk to me in such a tone."
"What happened recently? Oh, I have already heard of Your Majesty's brave achievement of burning 300,000 people in Oldtown.
As for why I dare to stand and talk to you?
Because I am a formal knight, knighted by Earl Humphrey Lyford of Goldengrove, who never slaughters the weak.
Oh, and also a messenger who didn't even bring a weapon."
This young golden-haired knight seemed to be just answering the question, but his words were full of mockery towards Jacaerys.
When two armies are fighting, do not kill the messenger!
This unwritten rule was not only applicable in my previous life, but also in Westeros.
"Tsk tsk tsk, this foolish fellow who has been brainwashed by knightly biographies is going to suffer."
Among the crowd, Baela shook her head and whispered to Rhaenys.
As expected, as soon as she finished speaking, Jacaerys on the Iron Throne burst into laughter, saying, "Hahaha, I haven't heard such a funny joke in a long time.
Stone, send a message to Jason House Lannister.
The war reparations will be five times the amount just offered. If there is one copper star less, I will wipe Casterly Rock off the map of the Seven Kingdoms.
Then have someone take this spirited fellow down. The next time I see him, he will be as tall standing as others are kneeling.
Oh, and have the Grand Maester treat his bleeding carefully.
I am a rule-abiding person, I never kill messengers!"
"No, no, no, you can't do that.
I am a noble knight, I am a messenger delivering a message!"
Even if Rolyon was slow to react, he could understand the meaning of 'standing as tall as others are kneeling'.
The originally arrogant look on his face immediately turned to panic, and he kept repeating his identity.
Thump!
Seeing Stone and several personal guards closing in, Rolyon's legs went weak, and he knelt down, weeping and begging for mercy, "Your Majesty Jacaerys, I was wrong.
Please be merciful, I am willing to pay reparations for my previous slip of the tongue.
Three thousand golden dragons, no, five thousand golden dragons.
Please, please, don't cut off my legs!"
Clearly, Rolyon had no idea what he had done wrong.
Then, this young golden-haired knight was dragged out of the Throne Room by Stone and others, like a pile of mud.
The messengers from various families kneeling on the ground in the Throne Room looked at each other, all feeling fortunate that their posture had been low enough.
Burning Oldtown with a dragon might indeed have serious negative consequences in the future, as Rhaenys said.
But for now, the effects of this incident are all positive.
Today was the last batch of Green Party lords who sent messengers to show their submission.
Now, except for the Martell Family of Dorne and the Lannister family of the Westerlands, all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms have knelt before Jacaerys and recognized his rule.
At least... on the surface!
Clap, clap!
Jacaerys on the Iron Throne first clapped his hands lightly to attract everyone's attention.
Then he said in a calm voice, "All right, the formal government affairs for today have been handled.
Next, let's chat for a while."
"'Kingslayer, Kinslayer, Usurper' Aemond Targaryen, I don't know where he is hiding after burning the Eyrie.
He is a dangerous madman with a dragon, and he could do anything.
However, you can rest assured in King's Landing, because Aemond is not stupid and will not come here to seek death on his own.
Both Aemond and the dragon need food supplies, so he will definitely go to towns or villages.
If anyone finds this madman before their territory is attacked, please notify us as soon as possible.
Of course, this is not an order, it is entirely up to your willingness."
Rhaenys in the crowd nodded secretly upon hearing this, praising Jacaerys's clever move in her heart.
If he gave a mandatory order, it would still be a war between the Blacks and the Green Party.
These lords who originally supported the Green Party, if they changed sides and then betrayed Aemond, would certainly be criticized by other lords behind their backs.
And Jacaerys is now clearly telling them that Aemond does not dare to cause trouble in King's Landing.
As for whether you will be attacked by this madman, that depends on your luck.
Finding Aemond and reporting his whereabouts is not for him, Jacaerys, but for the safety of the lords themselves.
As expected, when Jacaerys waved his hand and told them to withdraw.
These noble messengers flocked towards the ravenry in the Red Keep.
The mischievous Baela originally wanted to hide in the crowd and give Jacaerys a surprise.
But she didn't expect that Jacaerys had already noticed them as soon as they entered the Throne Room.
And Rhaenys, after witnessing Jacaerys's various methods, had already realized that she could not change the current situation on her own.
She simply used the excuse of bringing Baela and Moondancer to King's Landing to cover up her true intentions.
While Jacaerys and Baela were intimately reminiscing, Rhaenys returned to her room in Maegor's Holdfast royal apartments to rest.
But when she reached the entrance of Maegor's Holdfast, she happened to encounter little Aegon squatting in the corner.
"Aegon, what are you doing squatting here?"
Hearing Rhaenys's question, little Aegon immediately turned around and replied in an innocent childish voice, "This little dog's hind leg is bleeding, I'm bandaging it."
Rhaenys leaned in to take a look and saw that there was indeed a small dog in the corner whose hind leg had been scratched by something.
"What a kind child!"
Rhaenys smiled and reached out to stroke little Aegon's head, praising him before stepping into Maegor's Holdfast.
Crack!
When she was sure she had gone upstairs, the innocent smile on little Aegon's face instantly disappeared.
His eyes were cold as he looked at the wailing puppy, extended his hands, grabbed its head, and twisted it forcefully.
...
Eighteen days after the battle in King's Landing ended, an army, the vast majority of whose soldiers were white-haired old men, carrying the banner of the direwolf, arrived at the rebuilding Dragon Gate in King's Landing.
This belated army was naturally the Stark Family army that had marched south from the North.
Although it did not actually participate in the war between the Blacks and the Green Party, the leader, Duke Cregan Stark of the North, brought two people and good news to Jacaerys.
The two people they brought back were Ser Erryk, who was severely injured and unconscious, and Joffrey Valyrian, who had lost his left eye and was covered in dirt.
According to Joffrey's description, Jacaerys learned that they had seen him and Womax in the Eyrie half a month ago.
It was only due to the sweeping by the wildlings of the Mountains of the Moon that they were unable to meet him.
After hiding for nearly half a month, Ser Erryk seized the opportunity to force his way out of the ruin of the Bloody Gate, which was cleared and guarded by the wildlings of the Mountains of the Moon.
But unfortunately, when Ser Erryk and the two others escaped to the Crossroads,
The pursuing wildlings of the Mountains of the Moon, seeing the Northern army, knew there was no hope of capturing them alive and shot their arrows directly.
Joffrey, who reacted quickly, hid behind a tree and was unharmed, but Ser Erryk and little Viserys, whom he was carrying on his back, were directly pierced by two arrows.
Little Viserys died on the spot, and Ser Erryk has been in a coma since receiving treatment.
As for the good news, Cregan Stark saw Vhagar flying in the sky while marching south.
According to his estimation, the only town on Vhagar's flight path was Twin River City.
Upon receiving this valuable information, Jacaerys immediately rode Womax, and flew to Twin River City with Silverwing and Seasmoke.
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PS: I worked overtime today and only wrote 5000 words when I got back. I will add an extra chapter tomorrow, and then I will write the decisive battle with Aemond properly. That's all.