Stormlands, Storm's End.
Robert Baratheon, with his impressive six feet and three inches, wearing bronze-colored armor and a helmet with enormous horns, stood on the stone throne, listening to his vassals discuss how to pass through the Kingswood without being ambushed by Rhaegar's forces.
Almost two decades after the First Rebellion, Robert appeared gray for his age, half of his hair was whitened while a thick, unkempt beard surrounded his defined face and square jaw.
One of his arms had only a flowing sleeve, indicating the absence of his right arm, the same arm that Arthur Dayne cut off with the legendary sword Dawn on the battlefield of the Trident.
Suddenly, the doors of the throne room burst open and a young squire rushed in and spoke to Robert. "My lord, a fleet of damaged ships has appeared not far from the coast, by the sigil, they are the Golden Company."
Perhaps if it were earlier, Robert would have yelled at the young squire for entering without permission, but after the defeat years ago, the Lord of Storm's End was much calmer and more terrifying. Looking deeply at the squire, he showed a smile.
"Golden Company?" Robert murmured with a bright look. "Blackfyre?"
The first impression you get of the Golden Company was a staunch ally of the Blackfyres, they helped in the Blackfyre civil wars against House Targaryen countless times. So, the first thing that came to Robert's mind was House Blackfyre.
He didn't care if it was really Blackfyre or any other incestuous house, as long as it had the Blackfyre name and looked like a Targaryen, it could be used by him.
"When they dock in port, bring them to me." Robert, ignoring the stares of his vassals, said in a calm tone.
"Yes!!!" The squire spoke loudly and left the throne room.
Robert looked at his vassals, at his brothers, Renly and Stannis, with a deep gaze. "I know what you are thinking, but it is a good opportunity. An opportunity to destroy the Targaryen Dynasty and sweep away the despicable kinslayer, Rhaegar."
"If it's a Blackfyre, I, Jon, Hoster, and Tywin will support this claimant to the Iron Throne." When Robert spoke these words, the faces of the Lords of the Stormlands were not happy.
The Blackfyre Wars caused many deaths of many noble descendants over more than a hundred years. The stigma of bastardy became even more notorious after the Blackfyre Wars, everyone became even more cautious with bastard children.
"Of course, that doesn't mean we will actually support them, we will use them to fight against the Dragonspawn." Robert said with a cold smile. Unlike the drunken king in another universe, this Robert was still the Demon of the Trident, who had honed himself for almost two decades in pure hatred, resentment, and fury.
The expressions of the lords improved, all displayed sarcastic and malicious expressions towards the Golden Company. It was time to exterminate these armies of exiled mercenaries.
-
Aegon touched solid ground and sighed with relief. After plundering the entire Pentos Fleet and killing the remaining magistrates, they finally arrived in Westeros. The place where he will finally escape Varys's clutches.
However, remembering the naval battle days ago, Aegon's face showed a trace of fear. That battle was a true hell, the Royal Fleet of House Targaryen and the Fleet of House Velaryon, led by Lord Monford Velaryon, were terrifying.
The man seemed like a god of the seas, controlling the entire maritime battlefield as if it were something simple. Of the twenty-five thousand men, seven thousand died at sea even before reaching Westeros!!!
The mere thought of losing seven thousand soldiers made Aegon's face contort with deep helplessness. If it weren't for Varys being determined and using the lives of the soldiers as a shield for them to cross the sea and reach the Stormlands, perhaps the Naval Battle would still be happening at this moment.
The weak Pentos fleet had no strength to fight against one of the strongest fleets on the planet, Westeros could be proud of this, as it had an extremely powerful Royal Fleet.
"My prince, beware of Robert, he is not a weak man, he endured almost twenty years to rebel again, this kind of patience and determination makes him an extremely dangerous man." Varys, beside Aegon, advised the young claimant to the Iron Throne with a solemn expression.
Formerly, Robert was a fool who only knew how to wield a warhammer, but the current Robert was a true demon. Cruel, cunning, cold, and had a hobby of killing anyone with hair lighter than blonde.
"I know, he will probably want to use me, but I also want to use him." Growing up where he grew up, Aegon was not stupid, on the contrary, he was very intelligent or his ambitions would have already been discovered by Varys, a master spy and a master who understands human nature.
Robert would use him as a banner to destroy House Targaryen. Aegon would also use House Baratheon to destroy House Targaryen while he watches the two giants destroy each other.
Varys nodded, showing a satisfied look. Each uses the other, only whoever laughs in the end will be the victor, in this game of Thrones, the victor always laughs last.
"It seems King Robert welcomes us." Varys commented, seeing a group of people at the port of Storm's End. It was good news, he did not fear Robert's malice, but rather his indifference. If Robert were indifferent to Aegon, the plans could not even begin and would crumble without a doubt.
"Let's go." Accompanied by the captains of the Golden Company, Aegon spoke in a calm tone. At this moment, he no longer wore blue hair, but the characteristic white hair of a Valyrian descendant.
The eighteen thousand surviving men of the naval war against the Royal Fleet and the Velaryon Fleet gradually touched the ground, forming a quick and cohesive defensive line. Even suffering such a great defeat, they were still a disciplined army, better than other mercenary groups in Westeros.
The reason for the defensive line was obvious, they did not trust Robert, even though the current Storm King had sent only a handful of men to receive them.
Leaving the army at the Port, Aegon and his group were guided to the legendary castle of Storm's End, one of the few legendary castles in Westeros. It looked like a gigantic monster on the side of a cliff and, below it, the stormy and violent sea.
Aegon was amazed by the castle, Aegon I's half-brother conquered the Stormlands and then married the daughter of the last Storm King of House Durrandon, Argella Durrandon.
Entering the castle, Aegon couldn't help but think that the castle was gloomier than expected. Which, remembering the climate around the castle, he understood why there were few colors inside the castle, unlike other castles whose interior was full of vivid colors.
When Aegon saw Robert, sitting on the Black Stone Throne, he couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. The man, undeniably powerful and tall, had blue eyes beneath the helmet adorned with enormous horns, which looked like two frozen lakes.
The malice in his gaze made Aegon rethink for a moment that the man could actually dialogue with him. Robert seemed to want to drink his blood and eat his flesh. Which, remembering the events of the last decades, he understood the source of the self-proclaimed Storm King's malice.
"You look like a Targaryen, did you come out of your incestuous mother's cunt?" Robert's first words were full of sarcasm, irony, and disdain. He looked at Aegon with disgust, as if looking at the young man any longer would defile his eyes.
"I don't think you should be interested in my mother's cunt, Lord Baratheon." Aegon's expression did not change with Robert's insulting words, he would probably hear many more similar things in the future, so he felt he should get used to such insults.
Robert looked at the fifteen-year-old and couldn't help but narrow his eyes, Aegon's danger increased two levels in his mind. A young man capable of remaining calm in the face of such insults was not normal, much less simple.
However, the better Aegon was, the more satisfied Robert was. Although he needed a symbol, he had to support a powerful symbol, not a spoiled boy who couldn't even remain calm in the face of some insult.
"Indeed, I don't care how your fat, ugly father sowed your mother, I'm more curious about you, Blackfyre, do you want the Iron Throne?" Robert said with a big smile appearing on his face, showing his impeccably white teeth.
"Yes." Aegon did not hesitate and spoke directly, he could feel the stares of the lords around, all showed sarcastic and cold expressions, there was no cordiality in them. He understood this and showed no anger or impatience.
He would show that he was a good person, who would surpass Rhaegar or even Jaehaerys Targaryen and change the opinion of these Lords.
"Very well, I will send my ravens to Riverrun, Casterly Rock, and The Eyrie, we will support you on the Iron Throne." With a big smile, Robert said, looking at Aegon as if he were looking at a fun toy.
He knew, Aegon knew, everyone knew, Aegon was merely a tool to give people the idea that this war was just to change who was on the Iron Throne, whoever was on the Iron Throne would still be a descendant of House Targaryen.
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Read my other books:
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos (500,000 words written).
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Wizard