Chapter 96: Longze'er's Decision
Vhagar soared into the sky. Aemond looked around and finally saw Aegon II outside the ring of fire. Aegon II was decisive; seeing that he couldn't save Sunfyre, he immediately unbuckled the dragon saddle straps. He leaped off as the dragon was about to crash. Sunfyre truly was magnificent; despite having its neck firmly bitten by the Red Queen, it endured. The moment the Red Queen's neck was severed by Vhagar, Sunfyre, taking advantage of the situation, adjusted its body along with Meleys's head, trying to create a buffer for Aegon II to land more safely. Aegon II rolled and scrambled away from the dragon's crushing weight, then rolled a few times to extinguish the flames on him. Even with the protection of his armor, Aegon II still howled a few times, clutching his knees, and his exposed skin was covered in blood and mud.
"Aemond, you owe me Sunfyre!" Aegon II thrashed on the ground in a fit of rage, but before he could finish speaking, Ser Criston Cole scooped him onto his warhorse. "Your Grace, we must retreat quickly. If the Blacks' dragons arrive, all will be lost."
"How can I run!" Aegon II roared furiously. "My Sunfyre is gone!"
"But Your Grace, you are still here, and that is enough," Larys Strong said as he caught up. "Ser Criston, the King must come with us." The Master of Whisperers rushed over with the Kingsguard and twenty armored cavalrymen. "Your main force is too large a target." With that, Larys nodded to Ser Marston Waters. The white cloak knight dismounted and offered his horse to Aegon II, helping the injured King onto it and fastening the straps.
"Larys, where are you taking me?"
"Your Grace, according to the previous plan," Larys said, "Prince Aemond and Ser Criston have already begun the war. Our opportunity comes when the Blacks' attention is fixed on them. We must leave now."
Aegon II glared resentfully at the burning battlefield, then followed Larys's cavalry into the depths of the forest. Criston also led his loyal cavalry away in another direction. Vhagar flapped her wings and disappeared into the clouds.
Lord Simon Staunton finally managed to block the collapsed wall before daring to lead a dozen riders to inspect the battlefield.
The flames had mostly died down, leaving two massive dragon corpses on the scorched ground. The Red Queen's head lay separated from her body, her wounds torn open by Vhagar. Even in death, Meleys still bit deep into Sunfyre's neck. A bone-deep wound had nearly severed the golden dragon's head. Half its wing was shredded, and its chest was torn apart. Yet even now, its body trembled faintly, and hot breath still escaped its jaws.
Then a thunderous roar came from the north.
"Seven hells—run!" Lord Staunton turned to flee, but his knight pulled the reins. "My lord—it's a friendly dragon."
"Seven save us… Vermithor." Staunton dismounted in relief. "Prince Longze'er has returned."
"Lord Staunton, what happened while Jacaerys and I were in the North? Why did the Queen not summon us? Why was Princess Rhaenys left alone to face this?" Longze'er asked as Vermithor descended.
Before Staunton could answer, Jacaerys leapt from Vermax, but Vermithor's tail blocked him. The bronze dragon pushed aside Meleys's corpse, bit into Sunfyre's head, and tore it clean off.
Only then did Vermithor allow Jacaerys through. With reddened eyes, he searched the remains and recovered a brooch bearing the three-headed dragon entwined with a seahorse.
Longze'er leaned forward from his saddle. "Speak, Lord Staunton."
"Your Highness… the Queen went to Shipbreaker Bay to retrieve Prince Lucerys's body. She also intended to contact your brother regarding a marriage alliance between Prince Ray and Princess Rhaena. Princess Rhaenys answered our call for aid—but it was a trap. She fell in battle, though she also slew the Usurper's dragon."
"Did she not understand? The moment Lucerys died, this became war." Longze'er frowned. "We received letters from Harrenhal and Storm's End—not Dragonstone. Supporting her does not mean I bear responsibility for her decisions."
"Your Highness… the Queen has not yet returned. Lord Corlys governs in her absence."
"Very well…" Longze'er said coldly. "And the Usurper?"
"No body was found. It is assumed he perished in the flames."
"Assumed is not certain," a voice cut in.
Caraxes descended as Daemon arrived. "Vhagar escaped. They fled quickly."
Longze'er nodded. "Then we return to Dragonstone."
At Dragonstone, the council was already in session.
Corlys Velaryon sat silently, grief etched across his face.
"Has the Queen not returned?" Longze'er asked.
"No," Ser Robert answered.
Jacaerys took his place. "I will speak for my mother."
"You are her heir," Bartimos Celtigar said.
"The war has already begun," Longze'er said coldly. "While we gathered allies, the Greens acted. In mere weeks, we have lost two dragons—one of them an adult. Do you still believe Vermithor alone can deter them?"
Daemon sighed. "We will prevail."
"Whether Aegon lives or dies, one thing is clear," Longze'er said, plunging his sword into the map. "They have abandoned King's Landing. They seek to divide us and stretch our forces thin."
He turned to Daemon. "We hunt Vhagar. Jacaerys holds Dragonstone with Ray. Valarr commands the south. If they want war—we will give it to them."
"I agree," Jacaerys said.
Corlys added quietly, "Avenge my wife."
At that moment, two dragon roars echoed.
Rhaenyra had returned.
Exhausted, she dismounted Syrax. Valarr followed silently.
"Your Majesty, Prince Longze'er has returned," Ser Steffon Darklyn said.
Relief flashed across her face—until she heard the truth.
"Princess Rhaenys is dead. She fell at Rook's Rest."
Rhaenyra froze.
Only then did the weight of her actions strike her. Had she not gone south… could this have been avoided?
She rushed to the council chamber, barely steady on her feet.
"Lord Corlys… I am sorry…"
"What's done is done," Longze'er said firmly. "Apologies are meaningless. This is war. Only fire and blood will secure your crown."
Rhaenyra steadied herself and nodded.
"I agree."
Bartimos spoke eagerly, "Then we should take King's Landing. The Iron Throne itself will prove your legitimacy."
Rhaenyra did not hesitate.
"Good. We march on King's Landinh"
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