Lord Corlys Velaryon
The white raven had arrived from the Citadel some three days ago, heralding yet another winter. Corlys thought back to the last one and shuddered to think of what this winter would bring. The last one had been a fierce thing, lasting ten years, giving way to spring and then a short four year summer, enough time for the farmers to till their lands and bring in the crops and for the harvest to be brought in. Yet it seemed to Corlys in his old age that winter nowadays for this younger generation only seemed to bring war and destruction. Why the last winter had seen two wars, the Dance of Dragons and the River Rebellion, both of which had been aimed at ending King Valarr's reign on the throne, those responsible were dead and rotting in the ground, and yet there was another war going on now. Pentoshi armies had landed in Gulltown on the premise of an invasion, and now slaver's had landed in the Crownlands to achieve the same purpose.
Corlys was sat in the small council chamber, along with the other members of the King's council, Ser Bryce Lannister the master of Ships, Lord Simon Toyne master of coin, old Lord Larys Strong an old ally of Corlys' from the days of King Jacaerys, Grand Maester Godrick Manderly and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Ryam Redwyne. The council meeting had been called late in the night, Maester Godrick knocking on Corlys' door himself, alerting him to the fact that there had been a raven from the Vale. Word on the war with the Pentoshi, Corlys had shot up awake, though his bones had ached, and had sent word to the other members of the council including the King. They waited for the King in a sleepy silence; it was late in the night still.
The door to the small council chamber opened, and in walked King Valarr, dressed in a red and black doublet the crown of the dread on his head, his eyes wide open, not an inch of sleep present there, likely he'd been up speaking with his wives. Corlys knew the King liked to do such a thing, that he often sat up till the early hours speaking with his wives. It was a good habit, Corlys thought, it made the King seems more human, more real. But then again the Targaryens had always held a mythical edge to them, even those like his own wife Rhaenys, whom he had known for neigh on fifty years. The King's voice, iron and strong even now, snapped Corlys out of his reverie. "The council was summoned; as there was a raven I was told. Now what does this raven have to say?"
Grand Maester Godrick hurried to unroll the letter and speak. "The raven was writ in the hand of Lord Arryn Your Grace. It details the fighting between the forces sworn to the Eyrie and those of Gulltown and Pentos."
Corlys saw the king sit down, and then look at Maester Godrick. "Go on." Was the king's terse reply.
Godrick swallowed once and then spoke once more. "The Pentoshi and Gulltown forces numbered some 30,000 men according to Lord Arryn's scouts. Prince Matarys and Lady Heleana led a initial pass at the forces of the enemy within the city walls. Taking out their archers and removing their scouts with dragonfire. Prince Maelor was then tasked with leading the Pentoshi cavalry away from their base, he did so, and the men under his command infiltrated the city through grappling hooks and scaling the walls. The Pentoshi cavalry was destroyed, though Prince Maelor died in the attempt, brought down by scorpion bolts and arrows. Lord Aegon led the attack on the mountain clans, burning them to dust, and his men broke down the city gates, allowing Lord Aegon and Prince Matarys' dragons to burn the Gulltown forces and those remaining of the Pentoshi forces as well as Gulltown castle. House Grafton has been extinguished, as have their bannermen."
Corlys grimaced slightly, he had always known the risk of dragonfire, had grown up on tales of Harrenhal and what the three dragons of legend had done to that great castle. And yet each time he heard or saw what destruction dragons could truly ring he was immensely grateful he was on the dragon's side. He turned to look at the King, Valarr was sat staring straight at Maester Godrick speaking not a word, and then he coughed slightly and said. "What of Lady Heleana and our losses does my brother speak of that?"
Grand Maester Godrick looked at the letter once more before speaking. "Yes Your Grace, as well as Prince Maelor and his dragon Shykros, Lord Gaemon Stonefyre and Lord Bryce Royce died along with some 6,000 men from the Vale. Lord Aegon writes though that the Pentoshi fleet was burnt at anchor, and those of the Pentoshi forces who escaped the initial carnage in the city were either slain trying to flee or were burnt by dragonfire. Of the Lady Heleana he writes that she has returned to the Gates of the Moon with his permission to mourn the passing of her son."
Corlys saw the king nod then. His voice seemed heavy when he spoke. "Very well, Maelor deserves a hero's burial. He fought bravely and honourably. Corlys I wish for you to see to that, now that this business with the Pentoshi is done. Perhaps there will be some chance at peace."
Corlys nodded and then spoke his voice thick with sleep. "What of the threat of the slaver alliance Your Grace? They hold Stonedance still."
The king cursed. "Gods, the slaver alliance. Damn them, why could they not just stay out of Westeros? Very well, what news do we have of their movements, Lord Larys?"
The Old master of whispers Lord Larys Strong, Lord of Harrenhal and server of the king since King Orys Baratheon some sixty years previous, spoke in that soft voice of his. "My sources report that the slaver alliance, has deigned to split its force into three parts. The Yunkish faction under the command of Marko Rivers numbers some 20,000 men and remains in Stonedance plotting their next move, my sources state it seems as though they mean to conquer Massey's Hook before they march. The Astapori faction under the command of the Beggar King numbers 25,000 and has marched out for the Stormlands they mean to take Storm's End and its wealth. Finally the Meereneese faction under Loraq the butcher numbers some 30,000 made up of slaves and unsullied and sails for the Reach."
Corlys heard the king sigh then, a long and deep sound. "Very well, Maester Godrick write to Ser Gormon and tell him to summon the banners of the Stormlords, I will not have my son's caste fall to some heathens from across the sea. Send word to the lords of the Crownlands as well, tell them to raise as many men as they can and to meet us in King's Landing in two weeks. Lastly Lord Corlys, how soon would the Velaryon fleet be able to set sail to chase these Meereneese fools?"
Corlys spoke. "Some two to three days Your Grace."
The king nodded. "Very well, will you be able to lead the fleet?"
Corlys sighed, that was the question, the million dragon question. Corlys was not a young man anymore, he was old, older than he had been during the dance. His seventy-fifth birthday had come and gone moons ago. He would not be able to stay healthy for the voyage and capacity that required one to lead a fleet into battle, and though it shamed him to admit it, the king needed to know. Shaking his head he said. "No Your Grace, my time leading the Velaryon Fleet has long since ended. My eyes are not what they once were, my strength leaves me much to easily. My grandson Alyn will be the one to lead the fleet in my place."
Corlys notes how Ser Bryce Lannister seems smug by his apparent confession, he knows Lannister has always felt belittled by the might of the Velaryon fleet compared to that of the Royal and even the Lannister Fleet- which itself never recovered from the thrashing the Ironborn gave it during the Dance- Thankfully the king speaks next. "Very well, write to Ser Alyn, and tell him to have the ships ready to sail within three days, I want the Meereneese fleet dealt with and swiftly."
Corlys nodded and that was when Ser Bryce spoke. "What of the Royal Fleet Your Grace? There are fifty war galleys ready and waiting for your command. Would they not serve as well to help defeat the savages?"
The king shakes his head slowly. "No Ser Bryce. The Velaryon fleet has 100 war galleys ready and stocked for fighting, the Royal Fleet is still not ready for battle. No it is better that the royal fleet remain here to defend the city, the dragons shall not be here."
Ser Bryce seems speechless then, and Corlys cannot help but chuckle slightly at the young man's expression. Lord Larys speaks then. "Where will the dragons be Your Grace, if not at King's Landing?"
The King sighs slightly and then says. "I shall be going with Vermithor to fight the Yunkishmen before they advance further in the Crownlands. My wife Baela and her dragon Moondancer shall be coming with me. Lady Rhaenys shall fly on Meleys to the Stormlands to assist Ser Gormon and I shall write to Matarys and ask him to fly on Crimson Fury to assist her."
Ser Bryce speaks then. "That still leaves five dragons in King's Landing Your Grace. Surely they should be enough to aid the defence of the city especially if you were to write to Casterly Rock and Oldtown and ask your daughters to ride their dragons in defence of the city as well."
Corlys shudders slightly at the look the King gives Ser Bryce Lannister. His voice is cold as the ice on the Wall when he speaks. "My daughter Rhaenrya shall be helping defend the Reach, she shall do that by remaining in Oldtown and not exposing herself to the fire of the Meereneese. The other dragons are too young to be involved in warfare, and I shall not involve them in combat regardless. Now that is all, Maester Godrick sends those letters now and be done with it." With that the king stands and walks out of the council chamber followed by Ser Ryam Redwyne and Ser Tom Costayne of the Kingsguard.
Ser Bryce and Lord Simon do not look at Corlys as they stand and leave the chamber, Maester Godrick picks up the letter and the notes he made during the council meeting and leaves, leaving the two old men of the council Corlys and Lord Larys behind. Lord Larys sighs then and says. "We shall live through this yet old friend. As we did when the Dance raged, as we did when the Tarlings threatened us, and the Pentoshi tried to invade the Stepstones. We shall survive."
Corlys sighs then and says. "Aye my friend, but for how long? This game is no longer a game for old men, and I grow weary of arguing with the likes of Lannister and Toyne."
Larys laughs then and says. "I never thought I'd hear you complain of arguing with someone. When we were young lads you argued with everyone and everything."
Corlys smiles then and says. "Aye, but that was the young me. The me of today, would love nothing more than to retire to High Tide and relax with my wife by my side."
Larys smiles sadly then and says. "Aye wouldn't we all." They leave the council chamber together, Larys for the gods alone know where, Corlys for the Tower of the Hand where he sends writes the letter for his grandson and then heads to the rookery giving the letter to a sleepy looking Maester Godrick, before he heads back to the Tower and his own chambers, just as the sun is rising.
He gets into bed then, and Rhaenys mumbles in her sleep, before turning and fitting herself into him. He pulls her closer to him and strokes her hair as he has done since the early days of their marriage. "What was discussed in the council meeting that you left so suddenly?" Rhaenys asks sleepily. Corlys sighs and then relates all that was said, and all that he fears for the future to his lady wife. Rhaenys stretches sleepily then and says. "Well it is just one more threat we shall need to deal with. I shall make sure to come back safe." Corlys kisses her then, and then they fall asleep for the nonce.
The ravens are sent out early that morning, and soon enough a raven comes from High Tide from Corlys' grandson and heir Alyn, stating that the Velaryon fleet is setting sail to attack the Meereneese fleet from behind, the Arbor fleet commanded by Ser Desmond Flowers sails to attack from the front, a hammer and the anvil position. The Lords of the Crownlands come in droves, 20,000 men answer the King's call to arms and they begin the march for Stonedance, where it is said that the Yunkish forces still sit. Before leaving the King speaks with Corlys, dressed in black and bronze armour, his crown glittering atop his dragon winged helm. "Hold the city for my Lord Corlys, hold it and defend my people, and I shall return and you shall get the retirement you have always dreamed of." Corlys merely nods and watches and his king and his granddaughter Queen Baela fly off into the sky, alongside his lady wife Lady Rhaenys on her red beast Meleys, bound for different destinations, his lady for Storm's End to meet the forces assembled under Ser Gormon Storm, the king and Queen for Stonedance. The army of the crownlands, is led by Lord Steffon Hollard, a man in his prime, accompanied by Lord Simon Toyne and his own squire Prince Orys Targaryen, the presence of the Prince has meant that the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard Ser Ryam Redwyne, and Ser Olyvar Frey have ridden out for the battle. Riding on the ground with Rhaenys are Ser Humfrey Hardying and Ser Madden Darry of the Kingsguard as well as some fifty men from the garrison from Corlys guard.
The moons trickle by slowly at first and then all at once, the war in the south rages on, and news comes sporadically. First from Storm's End, where a battle that will later be known as the Final Fury is fought between the Stormlords numbering some 15,000 men led on the ground by Ser Gormon Storm the castellan of Storm's End, and in the air by Corlys' wife Lady Rhaenys atop her fiery mount Meleys the Red Queen, the Astapori forces are crushed, though they number more than the Stormlords forces, they have never faced dragon fire before, and their men scatter or burn or are killed by sword, mace or spear. Victory is completed, Rhaenys will later write when the commander of the Astapori soldiers is slain by Ser Gormon's war hammer. The rest of the man's men surrender then, only for the King to order them fed to Meleys when word reaches him.
Word from Stonedance arrives next, an easy battle, the Yunkish more disorganised than the Astapori, the discipline of the Unsullied belittled by the treachery and cowardice of the sellsword companies and slaves. Their armies burn under the fire of Vermithor and Moondancer, the final touches being added when Crimson Fury descends down upon the masses and burns the lot of them, slaves, sellswords and Unsullied alike. Stonedance is freed from the slavers, and the King and his wife and son descend down upon the Meereneese fleet.
The battle of the narrow sea, sees the Velaryon Fleet prove its worth once more, commanded by Ser Alyn Velaryon the heir to the Driftmark, they smash the Meereneese war galleys to pieces, and when the dragons descend upon them, all that is left is the charred remains of ships and men alike. The slaver alliance is broken, and those men who are not dead either in Stonedance or in Storm's End is held prisoner until the King sends word.
Meanwhile in King's Landing, Corlys holds the city and the realm together. He sends coin from the Velaryon and Royal treasury to aid in the rebuilding of Gulltown's walls and port, the castle itself shall remain a ruin until the king sees fit to deal with it. The issue of Oldstones still looms large, the question of succession with Prince Maelor dead, means that by rights the Princess Jaehara is the rightful lady of the seat, and yet Corlys does not think the King will be happy with the usurper's daughter as lady, no matter that his own grandchild would one day sit the seat. The fact that the princess of Dragonstone remains without child despite Prince Matarys constant attempts is a worrying fact. So much so that once the King has returned from battle, after a celebration is held and a tourney, once business as normal is decreed, he calls the council together to discuss that and other matters. But before Corlys can attend the meeting his heart gives way and the world turns black, the bells are tolling when he closes his eyes. It is the seventh day of the seventh month of the 147th year after Aegon's Landing.