(POV: Gaemon)
Sometimes, I really really hated how the universe fucked you up. I had a good plan going. I was being a gregarious, kind, pious prince for everyone to eat up. I was basically Aegon the Conqueror reborn, complete with the black dragon. Though mine wasn't quite Balerion the Black Dread.
And then my dear old dad, Old Jaehaerys just had to die! I was going to suggest he call a great council, knowing that I'd obviously win. I mean, you had Viserys who would have to have Daemon as his heir or Rhaenyra until Aemma gave him a son, and I doubt any lord wanted either a woman or Daemon near the throne in any shape. Then you had Rhaenys who was basically just a Velaryon so I mean, unless Corlys used his wealth to bribe some lords, I doubted they'd vote for him.
I, on the other hand, was a proven warrior, had the support of both the Lannisters and the Greyjoys and had 2 sons. Me becoming king was basically a confirmed thing. And all I had to do was be patient. I could then more easily clear up Daemon and Viserys after all, no one would look into any tragic accidents that happened to them if I was king. Their tainted lines would come nowhere close to my throne though. I would wipe them out to the point that my line would be the only one sitting on the Iron Throne. I will sooner die a thousand times before letting the tainted spawn of Baelon and Aemon take my rightful place.
Then he got sick. Alright, that was fine, losing his favourite sons and wife would make anyone depressed and stuff. So I sent the Grand Maester to tend to him but the stupid old Maester had to have a stroke and then die! Then I had Viserra read to him to help him with his depression while the Grand Maester's assistants take over his duty while we waited for a replacement.
Then he got worse, until he died. I had been with the council, debating on pointless matters while we waited for the king to finally turn up and actually settle the succession. Then a servant burst into the room, breathless. "King Jaehaerys has passed." Honestly, I was kind of just… numb hearing that.
I mean, I was surprised but I wouldn't exactly mourn the man. He wasn't winning Dad of the Year anytime soon. I was nothing if not good at improvising though, "I suppose that makes me the King then? My father passed over Aemon's line by naming Baelon his heir after he died, thus following his logic, I am the next heir." I turned to Vaegon, "Begin drafting letters, send them out to all the Lords in the Realm, declaring me the king."
I stared at Ser Ryam Redwyne who kneels before me, "All hail His grace, King Gaemon Targaryen, the First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms." I smiled, "Excellent. Bring all the lords who are present in the Red Keep before me and summon a septon. I must be crowned and we have no time to wait for the High Septon."
Ser Ryam nodded, stepping away as the small council began speaking, all at once. Some were encouraging, others were against what I had done. Or well, they were until I unsheathed my blade, "Silence! Your king commands you! While I would prefer to have settled the matter of succession with my father's blessing, we must make do with what we have. Lord Beesbury, have as much of the royal treasury as you can placed onto saddlebags and have them fitted onto the Cannibal and Stormfyre. King's Landing is at risk from Viserys and Rhaenys's forces so I will ensure that when they take the capital, they will find no riches for themselves."
I coughed before continuing, "I name my brother, Prince Vaegon Targaryen as the Grand Maester since a replacement has not yet been sent by the Citadel for Archmaester Allar. Ser Otto, send a letter to your brother and ask him to begin mustering his forces. Viserys may love peace but Daemon and Rhaenys are bloodthirsty and will do anything for the throne. Even go so far as to poison my father."
Some of the members gasped in shock at the accusation. Lord Jasper stared at me carefully, gauging me. I had recommended his appointment to my father after all, "And why would anyone believe such things?" To that, I smiled, "Well it's obvious. I was to be the next in line. Obviously Daemon, or mayhaps Lord Corlys could not handle being passed over. They may have sought to take advantage of the chaos to plant his wife or Viserys on the throne."
I shrugged, "But it matters not what I believe. What matters is what the other lords believe. I must take a moment now my lords, you are all dismissed." And with a wave of my hand, the Small Council meeting ended. My plans had fallen into chaos. I needed to speak with Viserra, tell her to take the twins to Casterly Rock. Tymond Lannister was a drunk, but he was loyal, and his sons, Jason and Tyland served Aegon capably, so why not me?
Thus, I made my way to my bedchambers, finding Viserra in there, dressed in expensive Myrish lace that made her look even more beautiful. "Viserra. Father is dead." I said blankly, sitting next to her as she wrapped her arms around me, planting gentle kisses upon my brow. "I am King… and you are my Queen. I… We must flee, Rhaenys, Corlys, Daemon may come upon us soon, and I will not lose you or my sons to them."
Viserra murmured irritably, "I would face them on Stormfyre for you." I shot a glare at her, "And you would die. Stormfyre is no match for Balerion and Caraxes, even if I rode alongside you upon the Cannibal. We will fly to Casterly Rock, Maegor's Holdfast has too many passages I don't know of and can be conquered again at a later time."
In the next few days, I was crowned by the Red Keep's septon in a sept, built upon Visenya's Hill in front of a crowd of smallfolk. While my goldcloaks displayed charity, distributing food to them. I had Blackfyre upon a scabbard at my side, and when the crown of the conqueror was placed upon my head to the cheers of the smallfolk, I felt strong. I was a king in truth, none could deny it. "My people!" I began, as the crowd grew silent. "I pledge to protect you! In the coming days, my nephews and niece will stake their claims with fire and blood. They do not care about you! I do! Listen not to the slander they will spread. They will name me a kinslayer, usurper, falseborn and other tales. Yet they will be proven liars and damned to the seven hells!"
The crowd erupted into screams as I ordered more food to be given out, using whatever pieces of the treasury I hadn't hidden away or had stuffed into saddlebags on the Cannibal and Stormfyre to finance this. Now normally, abandoning the capital would be seen as a sign of weakness. But Casterly Rock was where the main bulk of my forces were located and with the Iron Islands close by, the Ironborn would be protecting the seas, because their support was a lot more guaranteed when I had fought with them, they had seen the might of my dragon and if they did not kneel? Then I would give them fire and blood.
Thus, I would be secure in both navy and manpower. So in the coming days, I received vows of fealty from lords, some minor, some major and silence from others. When letters came from Dragonstone and Driftmark, asking, nay, ordering me to give up my claim to Viserys or Rhaenys, offering me little besides some lands and a marriage between Rhaenyra or Laena, I knew it was time for me to evacuate, the capital held little for me now.
As if I'd ever agree. I was no fool. I knew they would kill me off. I was too great a threat. Still, the letters meant they would begin attacking soon, so I took Vaegon and Daeron while Viserra took Baelor as we rode to Casterly Rock. We only stopped every so often, mostly due to how young Viserra's dragon was because while nimble, it was not made for long distance travels.
I had sent a letter a few days before my arrival and was greeted by a celebration before learning of Lord Tymond had passed a few days ago. That made Lord Jason the new Lord Paramount. He kneeled to me in front of everyone, swearing fealty to me. For such loyalty, I named his brother my Master of Coin and waited for some news of the rest of my council.
Letters came a few days later, I had informed my council of my plans and was unsurprised to learn Lord Beesbury had immediately defected to Viserys, a few days after I left. Sadly, he couldn't help him get back the gold I had taken. He'd have to find some other way to gather gold for his army, maybe by raising all taxes.
Casterly Rock was nigh impenetrable as well, allowing me to relax a bit more. Maegor's Holdfast was filled with who knows how many paths that could lead to my bedchambers or to my sons. I would not have a Blood and Cheese pulled on me. A moon later and a raven had come from the Iron Islands, swearing fealty to me as well.
I received some letters from Lord Ryam Redwyne, he had taken some gold, bought provisions for travel and had begun riding with Ser Clement Crabb and Ser Robin Shaw to Casterly Rock in order to aid me. My father's Kingsguard had been glorious, with the finest knights in the realm, yet it saddened me that only 3 of the 7 had come to swear to me. Ser Harrold Westerling and Ser Willis Fell had gone over to Rhaenys on Driftmark. Ser Adrian Redfort and Ser Jon Oakheart had defected to Viserys.
There was little I could do for now though, besides wait for my armies to muster and make plans. As much a quick blitz would be appreciated, I could not risk it. My death might end my cause because what would Viserra's Stormfyre do against Caraxes and Meleys? I would have to face them, but I would do so on my terms. Thus, I waited at Casterly Rock, and ordered the Ironborn to ready all their warships. In a few more days, my Kingsguard and councilors had arrived and I could properly plan out my war.
Though the Ironborn and the Westerlands had some grudges with each other that I had to work around. Still, I was lucky. The Lannister's wealth combined with the gold taken from the treasury would be enough to keep our men well fed for years. I'd be able to procure enough provisions for an army a hundred thousand strong with how rich I was. Though, I doubted I had that many men.
Viserys was my main fear with how he had the Vale's knights and 2 Lord Paramounts in the form of the Tully's and the Tyrell's. Good thing was those lords had bannermen that were not happy to follow them and so the Reach and the Trident were fractured into various squabbling lords. I had a good position for now, wealth and a big fuck off dragon with a decently strong army. Now the real issue was dragons.
Viserra's dragon was young and nowhere near strong enough. I could face Caraxes alone and stand a reasonable chance, but two? I'd certainly lose. Rhaenys had wealth and her dragon was swift. Yet it was only one dragon and the second she died her cause was left with a boy who hadn't ridden his dragon and the wealth of the Sea Snake. I would let my nephews and niece fight it out amongst themselves, then, when they were weakened, I would take my armies, my dragon and kill them to the last. They would never even be claimed as legitimate monarchs after I was finished with them.
But, I couldn't sit around doing nothing, there were minor lords supporting my niece and nephews that I would burn and show the might of the dragon. I would stamp them down so thoroughly that they would never try and rebel again for fear of dragonfire. I sighed and looked around the room, my hand on the hilt of Blackfyre. I wasn't a fan of waiting around but it was the best choice of action.
My blood called to face Rhaenys, Viserys and Daemon upon dragonback, to feed them to the Cannibal and to execute their daughters and sons so that none would dare doubt the might of the dragonlords. The throne would reject them. I had sat upon it and had suffered no cuts upon myself. I didn't believe in such things but I could use it as propaganda against them. As my new Small Council followed inside the room, we began to properly plot out our strategy for the war