章節 36: Stepstones
(Third Person POV)
[King's Landing, Several Days After Aerion Departed]
Inside the King's Chambers in the Red Keep, Otto Hightower stood in front of Grand Maester Orwyle as they were in front of the door. On the far side of the room, Viserys sat on the bed as a group of Maesters huddled around him, cleaning his wounds and giving him tea to drink.
"How is this possible?" Otto whispered, "He was in terrible pain but a few days ago, Grand Maester, and now he's with energy? Is this....a deception? Should we be worried?"
Orwyle, who was holding a small cup that was covered, "I have seen situations like this one." He said in a hushed tone, "I believe our treatment is working, but I did not think he'll suddenly gain the energy like this. Hopefully, if we keep at it, we can rejuvenate him with the constant treatment of herbal concoctions that I prepared for him."
"Hm..." Otto said as he looked over at Viserys who was waving the Maesters away, "So he is well?"
"For the time being, we should keep him examined, make sure he does not exert himself." Orwyle said, "His health might improve, I pray."
"Yes." Otto said, "That is true. Thank you, Grand Maester."
"Of course." He said, "Another thing, Lord Hand. We received a letter from Dragonstone, Lord Aerion has departed to join the conflict in the Stepstones. However, as ordered by Princess Rhaenyra, the letter said not to inform anyone else other than The King. She felt it was necessary he should know."
Otto frowned, "He what?" he said as Orwyle handed him the letter, "What is he thinking?"
"Otto!" Viserys managed as he slowly walked over, "What are you two whispering about?"
Orwyle bowed slightly, "Your Grace, The Princess Rhaenyra sent a raven." He said, "Some sort of tactic, I believe. I do believe she intended to keep quiet but according to the contents, she decided to inform you."
Viserys reached them, "Hm." he said, "What does it say?"
"Aerion has departed for the Stepstones." Otto said, "Whatever they have planned, they do not intend to leak the information any further."
"What?" Viserys frowned, "He went off to War? Right after his Daughter, Princess Visenya, was born? Who does he think he is? Daemon?"
Orwyle cleared his throat, "Well, Your Grace, the Princess does state he acted in the interest of the Realm and their alliance with House Velaryon."
Otto let out a sigh, "Reckless behavior." He said, "If we lose Aerion and Vermithor due to pointless impulses, what will that make us look like?"
Viserys looked at him, "And if he succeeds, what will that make you look like, Otto? You should have lent aid when Lord Corlys asked for it." He said, "Now because of that, Aerion has gone out himself."
Orwyle looked at him, "How are you feeling, Your Grace?" He asked
"I am well, Grand Maester." Viserys said with a slight smile, "The news of my Granddaughter has overjoyed me! Ah, where is my girl Helaena? I wish to see her! I wish to see my beautiful Girls! Rhaenyra, Helaena, and Visenya! Otto, gather the Family, we shall eat together. Also, call a meeting, I have made a decision."
"There is a Tourney in honor of my granddaughter's birth!"
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[Stepstones, Two Weeks After Aerion's Departure]
It was a vicious sight, in the waters near Bloodstone's coast, several ships were locked in Naval Battle.
The Velaryon Fleet was seen keeping its distance from the combined forces of the Triarchy and the Dornish fleet, trying their best to avoid their onslaught of catapults and ballistae. The more the Triarchy and Dornish fleet tried to fully crush the Velaryon ships, the more they retreated and when they left them be, they would be hit by several pincer attacks, invoking retaliation.
For days, they have been in the open sea, locked in battle, only returning to land to resupply and rest momentarily. The Velaryon Fleet would dock in the northern coast of Bloodstone, having a full garrison readied there to protect their encampments from any attacks on the ground coming from any other direction. The Dornish would be on the coast of the Broken Arm, recruiting more manpower to send to the onslaught.
One could say that both the Triarchy could attack on land, taking out the Velaryon forces that were there, but something told them that that would mean a trap, so they would only seek battle in the sea, sending waves of ground forces occasionally.
But....today was the day that they decided on a full-force assault. Qoren Martell, the Prince Sovereign of Dorne, had decided that he would take the majority of forces on the western coast of Bloodstone and march them towards the middle to meet with the Triarchy forces, pushing towards the North and eradicate the Velaryon soldiers on Land as their fleet destroys the Velaryon on the Sea.
On the Sea Snake's Vessel, Lord Corlys Velaryon stood at the front of the deck, looking off into the distance as his ship was in the waters close to the coast. He had received word that the Dornish forces had made landfall and were closing in on his men in the encampments. He had left said encampments defended, heavily fortified, and with enough men to repel as much Triarchy and Dornish forces that they could.
On the Naval side, however, Corlys's ship alongside a few others were cut off from the main Fleet, as they were pushed off further north to avoid too many casualties. Triarchy ships were slowly but surely closing in to create a barrier between them. The Dornish fleet stayed to the west, waiting for the Sea Snake to be chased off into a slaughter.
Vaemond walked towards Lord Corlys, "My Lord." He said with a scowl, "We have been cut off! For days, My Brother, You have had us play a game of cat and mouse! Look where it has gotten us! Our ground forces are about to be raided by hundreds, if not thousands of enemies while we have been cut off from our main Fleet! If we are to be pushed into the mainland, we only secure the Triarchy's victory!!"
Corlys nodded, "Indeed." he said, "Quite the precarious situation we have gotten into."
"My Lord!!" The Far-Eye called from the lookout's tower, "I see them! The Dornish Forces are closing into our fellow brothers!!"
"So it has begun." Corlys whispered, "What of the Dornish fleet?"
"They are like dots in the far horizon, but they are there!" The Far-Eye said, "My Lord! The Triarchy Ground Forces are also closing in! They are about to start attacking our brothers!"
"What of our situation at sea?" He said as he turned around and walked past Vaemond
"I see several Triarchy ships closing in!" the lookout stated, "They are bound to engage our ships!"
"Prepare for battle." Corlys said as the rest of his crew began to scatter around
"We should not have done this, Corlys!" Vaemond exclaimed, "We have been surrounded! Like a snake coiling around a mouse!"
Vaemond spoke truth, they have been surrounded, and Corlys knew this.
But little did Vaemond know that this was all part of Corlys's plan.
Several days ago, he had sent a ship to signal their reinforcement; Aerion was on his way.
It was only a matter of time, and Corlys prayed that they fought long enough to stay alive until he got here. He had been in many Naval Battles, more than he could count. He has been doing this far longer than the young dragonrider was alive and right now, he was relying on him, on Aerion Targaryen and his dragon.
"Brother!" Vaemond said as he grabbed his arm, "You have killed us all!"
Corlys scowled at him, "I am you Captain, Vaemond! You have done well as always, My Brother." He said seriously, "You have managed to keep the fighting going for as long as you could until I got here. But now, I am here, and we shall not die today. We will not lose this fight, we will prevail!"
"What miracle are you hoping for?" Vaemond replied, "What impossibility are you hoping for?!"
"The Bronze Fury." Corlys said
"M-My Lord!!!" the Far-Eye called, "The Dornish ships! They're on fire!!"
Corlys and Vaemond both walked over to the side of their ship, looking into the distance.
"Someone bring me a myrish eye!!" Corlys said
A sailor then did as he was told, handing Corlys a small telescope as the Lord immediately raised it up to his eye.
He squinted and looked within, seeing that in the far distance, the Dornish fleet, or at least the front of it, was set aflames.
"What? How?" Vaemond said
"Hehe..." Corlys smiled, "Just in time.....Aerion..."
He looked above the fleet and saw a shadow fly towards the cover of the clouds.
"Ballistae!!" Corlys said, "Point the signal bolts straight up! Make sure not to aim to the west! Now!! Signal our cut off fleet to advance for the attack!!"
Vaemond nodded and looked at the crew, "You heard him!!" He said, "Signal to the other ships to do the same!! Prepare for battle!"
In the span of a minute and a half, almost all of the ships that were near the Sea Snake fired off signal bolts into the sky, attempting to communicate with their cut off Fleet. This was meant to tell them to start attacking the Triarchy fleet.
"My Lord!" the lookout said, "The fighting has begun at land!!"
"Take us to land, we fight there!" Corlys said, "Have the other ships to close in for a defensive formation."
"What of the Triarchy ships, brother???" Vaemond said
As he said this, a loud roar was heard, alerting everyone in all the Velaryon ships.
In the sky, far above them and near the Triarchy ships that were incoming on their position, Vermithor descended with a furious speed, his angry eyes glaring down as he opened his maw.
Corlys then watched as in the far distance, the Bronze Fury easily destroyed several ships with his flames in a single sweep.
"V-Vermithor???" Vaemond said as Corlys laughed
"Yes!!" He said, "He has come!!"
Atop Vermithor, Aerion, clad in his black and bronze Valyrian Armor, merely looked down as he went for another sweep.
"Dracarys, Vermithos!!!"
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