King Matarys I Targaryen
Spring was different in Dorne compared to the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Matarys knew that in the rest of Westeros the snow would have completely melted, and the greenery of the land would be showing. In Dorne, at least the part of Dorne where he was near the sea, there was little to see but desert and sea and huts of the houses of the people. It was quite a contrast to what he had been led to expect by those who had fought in Dorne before, in the years preceding the Dance of Dragons, but then again he supposed those wars had been fought during the summer.
Matarys found his thoughts drifting towards the last few battles of the conquest of Dorne. Ghost Hill, now that had been a battle he would remember for the rest of his days. More for the sheer amount of destruction that had been unleashed than for anything else. Growing up he had heard stories about, the field of fire and the other various battles his ancestors had fought against the Faith during the years following the conquest and the destruction that the dragons had caused, but never had he thought to see the destruction possible when four of the Targaryen dragons had been unleashed.
He could still hear the screams of the women and children as they had burnt underneath dragon fire in the lands surrounding Ghost Hill's castle. The innocents had paid the price for their lady's stubbornness. Matarys had been generous, he had offered Lady Toland a full pardon and the retention of her lands if she would bend the knee and recognise him as her rightful king, she had sent back the head and fingers of the envoy he had sent, the message clear. The old hag had decided to remain loyal to a sinking ship, and so her people had paid the price for her folly.
The people of Ghost Hill had died by their thousands, their wood houses burning, their fields reduced to ash and dust. Matarys had not wished to unleash the dragons but his mother had told him that if he did not, he would be forever considered weak, the king who had the ultimate weapon and was too scared to use it. He would be mocked in his cups by his lords and the Dornish, and if he wished to hold Dorne for any period of time, his mother had told him her voice strict, he needed to show them his might, the might of the Targaryen dynasty, and that might would be found in the dragons that had come with him. Crimson Fury, Moondancer, Baltizar and Hrurax. Hrurax's appearance at Ghost Hill had been a complete surprise, Matarys had expected his sister to remain with Laenor, and the two of them had been joined at the hip since birth after all. However, it appeared that there had been some trouble along the western coast of Dorne, rebels who had escaped his brother and cousin's capturing of Blackmont, High Hermitage and Starfall had been causing problems for Laenor, burning supplies and killing outriders, and Laenor had decreed in his wisdom to send his wife back to Matarys for safety.
Matarys though angry with his brother for doing such a thing, could not truly complain, for his sister had provided some of the extra fire power needed to break the defences of Ghost Hill. Scorpions had been fired at them, the Dornishmen clearly remembered how they had brought down Queen Rhaenys and Meraxes in the days of old, and seemed determined to repeat the process. Serenei however, had proposed that they attack the castle and its lands from four separate sides and constantly switch positions whilst the defenders on the walls were trying to reload their weapons. The move had worked, and now Ghost Hill was nothing but a smoking ruin, House Toland all dead except for one little boy, the great grandson of Lady Toland, the lad, Matarys had spared, and had decided to take him for a ward.
House Toland's bannermen had bent the knee after the destruction of their liege lord's castle, Matarys had been glad of that, for he no longer had the desire to continue to punish those who disobeyed him with dragonfire, he was haunted by nightmares enough as it was. Instead, he received their oaths of fealty, and waited for news from the rest of Dorne and his troops. Word did eventually come in the form of ravens, one came from Lord Alyn Velaryon, it informed Matarys of a battle that had taken place on the Greenblood between the Velaryon and Royal fleet against the fleet of Sunspear. A bloody battle according to Lord Alyn's letter, fierce fighting that had ended with Ser Bryce Lannister's death and the destruction of the Royal fleet as well as the destruction of the Sunspear fleet.
Mixed news for whilst the destruction of the fleet of Sunspear meant their way to Sunspear itself was rather clear, the ending of the royal fleet was one thing Matarys was dreading having to deal with once the war was over. Still more good news had come, this time written in Lord Marius Yronwood's hand, this letter arrived some three weeks after the letter from Lord Velaryon, and it detailed the taking of Sunspear. It appeared the Velaryon fleet had laid siege to Sunspear by sea, whilst a battle on the Stone Bridge had seen Marius Yronwood and the forces under Ser Lewyn Tyrell successful, the two forces had then broken down the gates of Sunspear whilst bitter fighting then raged in the streets.
In the end though, the forces of Sunspear had been defeated and the castle itself had been captured by Lord Marius Yronwood, the old man had proven himself most adept at commanding troops, Matarys was most impressed. Once the news had reached Ghost Hill, Matarys and his men as well as his mother and cousin and sister had departed the ruins of the land, and made for Sunspear. Matarys and his family had arrived some five days after setting out, the army some two weeks after setting out, for though it was spring now, there was still many leagues between Ghost Hill and Sunspear. Upon arriving in Sunspear, Matarys spoke with Lord Marius Yronwood and in front of the whole population of Sunspear and that of his army confirmed the man as Prince of Dorne, he had then summoned the lords Stark, Baratheon and Arryn as well as their men from the west to come to Sunspear, and now the men had finally arrived some three weeks after the summons had been sent.
And now here he was in the grand throne room of Sunspear, before the gathered lords and ladies as Marius Yronwood was anointed in light of the seven, Prince of Dorne and protector of its people. The man would make a fine Prince and ruler, Matarys knew, the man had already ruled over House Yronwood for neigh on twenty years before the conquest had happened, he had given much of his strength to helping Matarys win over Dorne, and in exchange, his second son and some of his brothers had died. Yes Matarys thought as he watched the Septon of Sunspear place the crown of Dorne, a crown made of ash and wood bearing the black portcullis of the man's houses on it. Matarys had at first thought that the man would take up the religion of the Rhoynish people who had come to Dorne so long ago, but when he had mentioned it once, the man had merely looked at him for a moment before saying. "I was raised in light of the Seven Your Grace. And though they have not been followed in the mainstream by most of Westeros for many years now, I would wish to stick to my faith." Matarys had had to agree then, and as he looked at the gathered lords and ladies, who all cheered once the final oaths, were said, he could not but help and think that Marius Yronwood had the right of it after all.
Once the ceremony was done, there was the feast to be had, and soon enough, Matarys found himself in the great hall of Sunspear eating and drinking with his men, Westerosi and Dornishmen alike. He knew that at some level, perhaps the feast should have been held in King's Landing, but they were like as not to return to King's Landing until the moon was full, three weeks from now, and so Matarys was content to have his men celebrate as they wanted, they had earnt that much. As he looked out at the assembled lords, his thoughts turned towards the news he had received at Sandstone, the taking of Blackmont had been long and brutal; Laenor had later confirmed that their cousin Aegon had been foolish in bleeding and burning out the Blackmonts, meaning that when once of the bastards had thought to put arrows into his neck and armour, he had not had the maester on hand to tend to him, and he had died. That had meant that Aemon was now heir to Summerhall, and as Matarys looked at his cousin, who was talking with Laenor at present, Matarys could not help but wonder if the man would be strong enough to hold up against any incursions that might be attempted by any rebels or pirates in the years to come.
There was no question that his cousin was good with a sword, and a fine a dragon rider as Matarys himself but politically astute he was not. And that was something Matarys worried about. The family needed men who knew how to play the game of thrones, and with Aegon dead and Viserys in King's Landing, Aemon would be required to help Laenor hold the Dornish and Reach boundaries, and Matarys was not sure whether or not his cousin would be up for the task. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a touch on his arm, looking up he saw his mother looking at him, concern written plainly on her face. "Are you well sweetling?" His mother asked her voice low.
Matarys blinked slightly and said softly. "Yes mother, quite well. I was only thinking that is all."
His mother smiled wanly at that and said as softly. "I suppose you are. Going home will be nice, though for how long I will remain in King's Landing this time I know not."
Matarys looked at his mother then, properly looked at her and said softly. "Surely you cannot mean to retire to Dragonstone once more mother? You fought bravely during the conquest, and I could use your help at court now that we hold Dorne and Daena have given birth."
His mother smiled sadly at him then and said. "Court is not my place anymore sweetling. It was never truly my place to begin with. I was never as courtly as my sister nor Sylvia. I was always willing to fight for what I believed in, and for the longest time that was you and your right for freedom, when your father wished for you to mature and grow up. But now, now I simply wish to retire to Dragonstone with Moondancer and spend my days there until I pass on."
Matarys was surprised at his mother's words and the passion in her voice. He wanted to ask her what she meant about father, but instead he simply said. "You wish to return immediately mother?"
His mother smiled slightly then and replied. "No sweetling, I shall wait for this all to be done and then when we leave for King's Landing I shall leave for Driftmark first to visit my sister and then I shall return to Dragonstone."
Matarys merely nodded and they fell into silence once more as the feast went on, course after course, drink after drink it went on until the early hours of the night. Eventually Matarys left the hall with his head heavy from wine, perhaps he had drunk more than he should have, but when Aemon came and found him before he entered his chambers, he was grateful for the wine that numbed the pain of what his cousin told him next. "There has been a raven from The Bridge Your Grace. Orys' wounds festered and he died."
Matarys merely stared at his cousin for the longest time before speaking. "Does my mother know?"
His cousin shook his head. "No the raven arrived just now, I thought I would tell you first."
Matarys nodded and then thanked his cousin before going to his mother's rooms and telling her, she remained still faced for a long time, and he feared she had not heard him, but then she began to cry and cry. Matarys slept in her rooms that night, for the first time since he had been a very young child, afraid that if he did not, the nightmares would come back, and his grief would haunt him.
The next day was the day Matarys had dreaded before word of his brother's death had reached him. The day the Martells would be made to bend the knee or face death. All three were brought to the throne room, where once Olyvar Martell had held court, a year after the invasion of Dorne had begun, the Martells had fallen from power and now they were to formally recognise that. Matarys spoke in an iron tone, even though he knew his hands were shaking. "Lord Olyvar Martell, you have been brought here to formally bend the knee to myself as your rightful king and to Prince Marius Yronwood as your rightful liege. To refuse to do so shall result in the death of yourself and your son. What say you?"
Matarys thought he had never seen nor heard such a broken man as when the former prince got down on bended knee and said in a cracked voice, his chains tinkling as he spoke. "I accept Your Grace. I hereby formally pledge the fealty of House Martell to House Targaryen and House Yronwood from this day, till the end of time."
"And you shall remember what will happen should you try and raise arms against either the Iron Throne or House Yronwood?" Matarys asked, a slight growl coming into his voice as he felt Crimson Fury begin to smoke somewhere out in the courtyard.
Lord Olyvar Martell looked up at him then and said very softly. "Aye Your Grace I do."
Matarys nodded. "Very well then, you and your son shall remain here but your daughter Princess Myriah shall return with my cousin Prince Aemon to Summerhall, where she shall serve as his ward for your good behaviour. And when the time comes, she shall be wed to my cousin's eldest son Prince Daeron."
There was some murmuring at that, and Matarys could have sworn he saw Lord Olyvar's son Maron grimace and strain the chains with which he had been bound in. Still when Lord Olyvar merely nodded his acceptance, the murmuring stopped and Matarys briefed a sigh of relief. A few days later they left Sunspear, the Targaryens, their dragons, and their men as well as one new hostage in Lady Myriah Martell, a sweet girl of four, who was very quiet and shy but seemed intrigued by the dragons that she now found herself in company with. They stopped in Yronwood for a week, where there was more feasting and eve more celebrations, it seemed as if his men were truly keen on celebrating this victory that they had achieved, and on their last night in Yronwood before the long march home, Prince Marius spoke. His voice thick with wine and emotion, still he spoke words that resonated with Matarys. "My King and my lords. We have fought for a year to bring Dorne into Westeros, and now that we have completed that goal, I must thank you all for coming and freeing my people from the brutality of House Martell. Your help has enabled my kingdom and my people to embrace a new age and I hope that we can work together to bring an age of peace and prosperity to Westeros."
There was much nodding of heads at that statement, and Matarys eventually stood to speak the hall went quiet waiting with bated breath for what their king would say. "I fully agree with you Prince Marius. And the moment I shall return to King's Landing I shall order the ending of the trade embargo, and we shall have peace and plenty from now till the end of time." There was a roar of approval at that and soon enough the revelry continued.
A moon later they were back in King's Landing, his uncle welcoming them back with more feast and celebration. "To celebrate the achievement that not even the conqueror could have made." His uncle said the night of the welcoming feast, to much applause. An excuse to show of the wealth of the realm Matarys knew, still he allowed it to go on for a week which ended with a tournament in which Aemon won the jousting crowning Naerys Queen of Love and Beauty. Matarys spent most of his time away from court with his young family, holding his wife and baby daughter who was but six moons old and already inquisitive to the world in his arms.
He constantly marvelled at the fact that he now had a family; his wife was beautiful, she was growing more so every day, and his daughter, well his daughter was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Named Velena for the mother of Aegon the Dragon, she had his silver hair and his wife's violet eyes; she was the jewel of his life. He knew that when the time came to give her away to Prince Yronwood's eldest grandchild he would struggle to do so, but that day was much in the future for now he was content to simply hold his daughter and watch her grow.
He met with his council two weeks after his return from Dorne, and ended the embargo on trade a popular decision with all; he also named Lord Alyn Velaryon to the small council as master of ships to replace Ser Bryce Lannister who had died in Dorne. There was much and more that was discussed in the council meeting and much of it was quite tedious but he persevered, and soon enough it came to an end. However, before he left the chambers his uncle spoke to him, and the words would have a lasting effect for a long time. "Bravos has fallen Your Grace. Valyria is complete."