The Bronze Dragon-A House of the Dragon fanfic

Chapter 83

As my father began to solidify his hold on the Riverlands and dispatched a column to reinforce Lord Kermit at the Twins, Rhaenyra had fled King's Landing. The city was lost to her, and though a handful of supporters such as Ser Eldric and lady Mysaria remained behind, they would meet violent ends.

As would Rhaenyra herself . . .

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Near Dragonstone

Rhaenyra could scarcely believe how quickly it had all fallen apart for her. Only months before, she had taken King's Landing and had been on the verge of winning the war, now she had all but lost it. Oh, there was still Lord Stark and his army of course, but they were trapped on their side of the Twins, with no wish of coming to their aid. Daevar's demand of unconditional surrender was no longer possible to meet with the city now in the hands of the mob.

It had all ended for her quickly. She needed to re-strategise, fast. Perhaps Lord Stark would be able to offer her safe haven in the North. After all, no southern invader had ever conquered the North; she and Aegon would be safe there. Her last son . . . the two of them were among the last of their kind now, along with Baela and Rhaena.

She had hoped to find some safe haven at Rosby or Stokeworth while she planned her next move, but she had been barred entry by the ruling ladies of both holdfasts. What petty-minded fools . . . can they not see that I did what I had to? Their fathers had not named them successors like hers had. She had instead fled to Duskendale and sold her father's crown to buy passage to Dragonstone. It had been a moment of despair for her; her father had entrusted her with the future of their house. It was to her that the Song of Ice and Fire had been told, to her that the safety of the world had fallen.

And she had let them down.

She shook her head. She hadn't let anyone down; she had been betrayed and deceived by those she thought to be her allies. Alicent, Daevar, Helaena, even Daemon . . . they had all betrayed her for their own ends. Now here she was, on a Braavosi ship, sailing for her home with a handful of her Queensguard and her only living son.

"Mummy?" Aegon asked. The boy still had rings around his eyes; he had slept about as well as Rhaenyra had since they left the city. "Will we be there soon?"

"Yes, my son." She smiled, kneeling down to him. "We will be at Dragonstone soon."

"Then where to?"

"We will take your sisters and go North. Daevar won't be able to get us there."

Aegon looked like he wanted to say something else, but remained silent. Just as well, since Rhaenyra had no idea of what to say next. Her father had not prepared her for this. He had always said that she would be the one to take the Iron Throne one day, but he had never mentioned it would involve bloodshed.

Or a war more terrible than anything Maegor had ever wrought.

When they passed Driftmark, Rhaenyra cursed House Velaryon with every fibre of her being. She could've held on if it hadn't been for them turning tail and running from the danger. They had been the ones who had betrayed her when Corlys refused her orders! She was the Queen; they had no right to refuse orders in a time of war!

Arriving on Dragonstone, the sky above was grey and ready to rain. A longboat took them ashore, with the ship waiting out to ferry them to the North with any dragon eggs that she was able to salvage. Ordinarily, Dragonstone would be impervious to assault, but she had no reserves left and the loyalty of the Velaryons was gone. The only men she had were waiting onshore for them; Ser Alfred Broome and thirty men stood ready to receive her.