Riverlands, Harrenhal.
It had been a long time since this place was so solemn. Soon after Lord Lucas Roxton took over this massive castle, he began to repair it. With Prince Viserys's backing, Lucas's repair work proceeded relatively smoothly.
Unfortunately, it was only relatively smooth. Harrenhal was simply too large, and Prince Viserys couldn't fully support House Roxton's repair efforts. House Roxton ultimately only completed the initial repairs of this giant castle.
Making it at least a bit more comfortable to live in.
However, Harrenhal's lingering curse still seemed to hang over the massive castle. Old Lucas Roxton had only taken over the castle for a few years when he was severely injured by an accidental fall while participating in the repair of King's Pyre Tower. He soon went to meet the Stranger. The younger Lucas Roxton, who succeeded him, gave up on fully repairing all the towers and instead focused his gold on repairing King's Pyre Tower and the Tower of Terror.
The effect was excellent.
The younger Lucas Roxton hosted Prince Aegon many times in the lavishly decorated King's Pyre Tower, and it was rumored that he provided Prince Aegon with at least a double-digit number of mistresses.
Prince Aegon, riding Syrax, hadn't changed much in his behavior. He was still lustful and loved to flirt with girls he fancied, even though he had already married Princess Rhaenyra and shared a bed with her under his father's compulsion.
But he had no interest in his beautiful, shy wife. He preferred to fly to Harrenhal on Syrax and flirt with beautiful women everywhere with his friend, the younger Lucas Roxton.
He never forced anyone; the girls introduced by the younger Lucas Roxton would leave with bulging money bags, completely satisfied. Although Prince Aegon was promiscuous, he also had moments of deep affection.
For example, he had a special fondness for Miss Mylissa of House Blackwood and Miss Barba of House Bracken, but the two ladies had very different attitudes towards him.
House Bracken, which had not recovered enough blood in the Dance of the Dragons war, was severely weakened. Although they recovered after decades of recuperation, their numerous descendants caused them immense suffering.
This made Miss Barba quite proactive in responding to Prince Aegon's advances.
House Blackwood prospered greatly under the rule of Lord Benjicot. Their good relationship with the Varezes family brought House Blackwood considerable profits. When Lord Benjicot discovered that Miss Mylissa was enchanted by Prince Aegon's handsomeness and became his mistress, he was furious. If he hadn't been rational, any other Blackwood might have directly led troops to Harrenhal.
But Lord Benjicot was very rational.
Although he was "bloodthirsty," he wasn't fond of killing. He used his wife's serious illness as an excuse to recall Mylissa, who was traveling abroad, and imprisoned her.
However, what Lord Benjicot didn't expect was that Mylissa escaped twice, forcing him to seek help from Queen Samantha. Ultimately, Mylissa returned to Raventree Hall.
But she didn't return alone.
Miss Mylissa was pregnant.
Because Mylissa showed no sign of blaming Prince Aegon, Lord Benjicot could only swallow this bitter pill.
So, when King Daeron convened the Great Council in Harrenhal this time, the Riverlands lords were more or less resentful. However, after so many years of tempering, the Riverlands lords had long learned to compromise and remain calm.
This made Jacaerys and Dan, who had just arrived on dragons, gasp.
"Seven Hells," Dan said, looking at the tents outside Harrenhal, and calming Syrax beside him. He always worried that his dragon would get excited and start burning people. "What exactly does King Daeron want? Does he really want to fight for the Disputed Lands?"
"How did you figure that out?" Jacaerys asked in confusion. He saw the banners of all the Riverlands lords. This Great Council could even rival the Great Council of 101. Even House Umber from Last Hearth had traveled south to Harrenhal.
Almost all families in the Seven Kingdoms were present.
"All the nobles of the Seven Kingdoms are here," Dan pointed to his own territory.
The vassals of the Varezes family also responded to the call. After obtaining Rhaegor's consent, the lords of the Borderlands and the lords of Dorne marched north together, arriving at Harrenhal.
"If King Daeron wants to solve the current problem, he only has one path," Dan analyzed calmly. "War."
Jacaerys was sensitive to war. He immediately understood his brother's meaning.
He couldn't help but feel a little excited.
King's Pyre Tower, Hall of a Hundred Hearths.
More than thirty years ago, Prince Daemon gathered the Riverlands lords here and organized them to fight for Queen Rhaenyra.
Today, King Daeron gathered all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms here.
Lord Cregan Stark of the North once again traveled south. This time, he did not bring the Winter Wolves army that had roared south, but rather a contingent composed entirely of Northern nobles.
Lord Hugh Arryn of the Vale led the brightly armored Vale nobles out of the Bloody Gate. The older generation of lords had almost all withered away. Lord Joffrey closed his eyes during this long summer, and Hugh Arryn inherited his position.
Lord Joffrey Velaryon of Tide Stone, accompanied by the Crownlands nobles, gathered in a corner of the Hall of a Hundred Hearths. Joffrey, who was entering his twilight years, watched with satisfaction as his grandchildren regained the silver hair and purple eyes characteristic of Valyria. He felt it was time for him to depart.
Unfortunately, he was still remarkably robust.
Even his son-in-law, Adam, who was several years younger than him, couldn't outlive his father-in-law.
Lord Royce of the Stormlands, Lord Leonno of Highgarden, Lord Kermit of Riverrun, and Lord Loreon of the West, and even Dalton Greyjoy, arrived at the Hall of a Hundred Hearths with representatives from the Iron Islands.
"Roar."
Dreamfyre lazily stretched her body. This ancient dragon, who had lived from the end of Aegon the Conqueror's reign until now, had not visited this familiar castle for a long time.
Coming here felt like coming home.
Although the arrival of other dragons made her somewhat displeased, Dreamfyre knew that this was not the time to act on her displeasure. Moreover, even if she were to act, Skyfire, Syrax, and Tyraxes outside would be enough to give her a hard time.
Besides Dreamfyre, who was in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths, Syrax, Seasmoke, and Vermax were also hovering near Harrenhal.
The lords had grown accustomed to so many dragons being simultaneously in the sky and on the ground, but seeing Dreamfyre coiled in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths still made the older ones among them recall that scene from nearly forty years ago.
It was also in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths, and Vermithor had more presence.
King Daeron spoke at length from the throne, addressing both the Realm's current predicament and the East Continent's wealth.
But the core of his speech lay in its conclusion.
"My lords, the Realm has now brought Tyrosh and Lys to their knees under our swords. The Stepstones are undeniably sacred territory of the Realm. There is no longer any power in the East that can threaten us at sea.
Thousands of years ago, the First Men, Andals, and Rhoynar came to Westeros from the East Continent. Two hundred years ago, my ancestors also arrived here. But there is no doubt about the East Continent's wealth. Even after being ravaged by war, the Disputed Lands still possess vast plains and fertile lands comparable to the Reach and the Riverlands.
My lords, that place is now a scattered mess. Think about it, how fragile a place ruled by hundreds of warlords and mercenary groups would be. Our knights are enough to sweep away any ambitious individual in the Disputed Lands. If they can take root there, why can't we?"
As he spoke with passion, King Daeron couldn't help but stand up.
"My lords, I know your children need land. I know the nobles of the Realm need glory. By the Seven, I know the Seven also long to once again spread their light upon the lands of the East Continent."
"Your Majesty, what do you mean?" Lord Lucas Roxton was the first to step forward.
"Expedition!"
King Daeron nodded slightly in satisfaction and declared to the dense crowd of nobles:
"I have gathered you all here because I hope you will support my plan—an expedition to the Disputed Lands. I swear by the Seven that the spoils of this expedition will be shared by all participating families. Land, castles—whoever conquers them will be granted them!"
"Your Majesty... this..." Some lords began to hesitate.
The King raised his hand, and Dreamfyre, understanding, gently rested her massive dragon head on King Daeron's hand.
"No need to worry, my lords."
King Daeron gently scratched Dreamfyre.
"We have dragons." The King's eyes suddenly lit up.
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