Aegon walked the road toward White Harbor. It was a simple road so getting there while walking wasn't an issue. Even less when he used the Force to run at times to speed up his travels and move faster than a horse in full gallop. When he reached his destination, the people looked at him in surprise and a hint of fear given his form was wearing all black. His black mask didn't exactly win him any looks of admiration, but Aegon could care less about that since he wasn't seeking such things right now.
At first, people thought Aegon was a member of the Night's Watch given how his attire was all black from head to toe. The people initially suspected he was looking for potential recruits to join the Wall, but getting a better look told them this young man was not one of its members.
He was something else. Something dangerous. Someone you don't want to cross if you knew what was good of you.
"I need passage to Essos," said Aegon with his voice being muffled and distorted slightly due to his mask with the Harbor Master looking a tad intimidated.
"Yes well...uh...such passage is a long one. And expensive! I take it you can afford such a trip?" asked the Harbor Master in charge of such things.
"You will allow me passage for free," said Aegon while discreetly rotating his right hand below his hip.
"I will allow you passage for free," said the Harbor Master with his eyes glazing over.
"Preferably with a descent size cabin all to myself," said Aegon with the Harbor Master nodding.
"Preferably with a descent size cabin all to yourself," repeated the Harbor Master.
"You will not put me down in your records," said Aegon since he didn't want anyone to know anything about where he was going.
"I will not put you down in my records," repeated the Harbor Master.
"One last thing, you will not be able to recall anything about who I am, what I look like, or even this very conversation shortly after my departure on the ship," said Aegon with another wave of his hand.
"I will not be able to recall anything about who you are, what you look like, or even this very conversation shortly after your departure on the ship," repeated the Harbor Master.
"When you see me next, it will be to provide the name of the ship I will be on. After that, you will remember nothing," said Aegon with the Harbor Master nodding.
"When I see you next, it will be to provide the name of the ship you will be on. After that, I will remember nothing," repeated the Harbor Master.
Nodding in satisfaction, Aegon left to stay at an Inn for the night. A mere Force influence thought made Inn Keeper believe he paid for a room in advance for the night and was not to be disturbed. As such, it gave Aegon time to sort out his thoughts and how to proceed from here with his plans. He already knew getting an army to rally to his cause in taking the Iron Throne while here in Westeros was not possible. Not yet at any rate. Those loyal to the dragon were brought to heel by the Stag, backed by the Lion, the Falcon, the Fish, and the North.
Aegon knew he needed to gain an army that would make those Houses think twice about fighting him and give dragon loyalist the courage to call their banners to his cause. Right now, the Stag was on top, his current strength in ruling over the Seven Kingdoms with the lion backing him made any attempt at the moment to be impossible.
Aegon knew he had to wait for the right moment to strike after building up his own army in Essos. Fortunately, time would be his ally here. Time would be his weapon in which it chipped away at the Usurper's control. Time to reveal the truth and bring his enemies low before crushing them without mercy.
A truth he looked into through the Force about what really happened regarding Robert's Rebellion and the Usurper's plans for Aegon's family.
- Flashback - Five Months into Robert's Rebellion -
Aegon glared at the past version of Robert Baratheon in his prime, fully armored, as he was standing beside Jon Arryn in the Baratheon war tent. Oh how the Targaryen wanted to be there right now, run a Valerian steel sword through the man's armored torso before taking the man's head clean off. Alas, the price of seeing vision of the past through the Force was you couldn't do anything to alter them.
At the moment of this vision, the war was slowly, but surely shifting in Robert's favor against Rheagar Targaryen. His mind and skills as a battle commander had allowed him to win one victory after another. Plus his rage, drive, and claiming he was doing all of this for betrothed Lyanna Stark helped him win the hearts and minds of a large portion of the Seven Kingdoms.
Of course, the last part was carefully orchestrated by Jon Arryn himself. Right now, Ned had been sent out with a patrol to scout for potential threats that could ambush them right now. So the meeting between the Falcon and the Stag would not be known to the young wolf long after it ended.
"Our plan is working Jon. The fucking dragon's supporters are seeing the writing on the wall. In a few more moons, we will have the majority of the Seven Kingdoms backing us in our war against Rheagar," stated Robert happily with Jon nodding, but did not have the smile his foster son had on his face.
"Yes. The lie we have been telling about Lyanna being raped by Rheagar certainly helped in turning some House Targaryen's supporters. Everyone assumes the Prince also has the madness like his Father. Given how the Mad King would rape his own sister and Queen after seeing people burn alive only helped reinforce the possibility of it being true," said Jon Arryn while looking over the map in front of him in thought.
"Ha! Serves the dragon spawn right. Taking my future wife from me. All because he can play a fucking harp and sing like barb. I'm going to enjoy killing him when we meet for the final time," said Robert while clenching his hands into fists.
"Just remember Robert, you need to make everyone believe you are doing this for your 'love' for Lyanna. Not simply because you want a trophy wife in a woman who doesn't bow down to authority and is considered by many to be untamable. As far as your sworn brother, Ned Stark, and the rest of the Seven Kingdoms is concerned, you are doing this for noble reasons. No one can find out we did this based on a lie. No one can know that Lyanna refused to marry you and this rebellion is being done to spite the dragon. If we can remove them from the Iron Throne, you can legally claim it for yourself because of your own connection to their bloodline. We need to win this war and for you to become King of the Seven Kingdoms. Once we accomplish this, the power to rule is within our grasp and no one will have the strength to oppose us when it is all over," countered Jon so Robert understood he had to be careful at this point since the balance of power right now was shifting in their favor.
But that could change if they weren't careful.
"Don't worry Jon. The lie we told Ned has the man riled up in a fury. He'll cut down well over a thousand Targaryen loyalist to get his sister back. And as for Rheagar and Benjen Stark knowing the truth about Lyanna, one is the enemy so no one will believe him. The other won't say anything since Ned is too stubborn to hear it and you made it clear to the fool what would happen if he tried," said Robert with a laugh with Jon Arryn smirked.
"Tywin Lannister isn't the only one capable of doing unspeakable things to get his point across," said Jon Arryn with a sense of pride in his voice.
"Speaking of the Lion, will he join our cause? He has every reason to want the Mad King dead for his slights against him," commented Robert with Jon Arryn sighing.
"Unfortunately, Tywin Lannister won't do anything yet since victory is not in our favor at the moment. He will only back the winning side. Which means House Lannister won't join us so long as Rheagar is alive. When this war is over and the Targaryens are all dead, we will need the Lannisters and its gold to sustain your rule. You must consider the idea of marrying Tywin's daughter Cersei in order to obtain his full backing," said Jon Arryn with Robert not looking happy about the idea.
"Piss on that! I am going to marry Lyanna. If Tywin has a problem with that, he can tell it to my war hammer," said Robert with Jon Arryn scowling now.
"Think beyond the battlefield for once Robert. This war is expensive. We will be draining a large portion of the Crown's treasury once we take King's Landing to pay a lot of those Houses for their time and troops. Not to mention any damage done to the city once it has been finally taken. Tywin Lannister's gold will help us cushion the loss tremendously, but he will not give it or his support unless we give him something of equal return. Meaning you will have to marry his daughter when you become King to ensure he will not only supports us with gold, but with troops we need to prevent anyone from seeking to strike back while we are still recovering from the fighting. He will only provide us both of these things on the conditioning his daughter is made the new Queen. Which means you will have to marry her and deal with it," said Jon Arryn with Robert grumbling.
"Can't we just make Tywin the Hand of the King again? Surely that would be enough for him," replied Robert with Jon shaking his head.
"Not when a more suitable deal can be made Robert. Making his daughter Queen through marrying you is the only way he will throw in his support. Provided you can kill Rheagar when this is over," said Jon Arryn with Robert snarling and grunting.
"And what about the Dornish whore Elia Martell? And her children? They will be a threat to my rule. Especially the newly born son of hers. And there is also the issue of Viserys and his Mother being pregnant with a child. If she gives birth to another son, I will never be able to sit on the Iron Throne uncontested," said Robert with Jon Arryn sitting in his chair and drinking some wine.
"Once Rheagar is dead at the end of this, Tywin will provide us support in exchange for you marrying Cersei. That is the main goal at the moment we need to achieve. We will focus on that particular problem. Besides, I have no doubt Tywin has a plan to deal with the issue of Elia Martell and her children. In our last correspondence he informed me such an issue with them wouldn't be a problem once our side was going to win without question. All we need to do is kill Rheagar and Tywin will ensure everything else that we need to secure the Seven Kingdoms will fall into place for you to be King so long as his daughter is the new Queen," said Jon with Robert snorted angrily like a bull.
"And what about Lyanna? We both know she wasn't raped or killed. What happens with her? asked Robert with Jon looking up at him with a serious expression.
"For the greater good, when the time comes to rescue Lyanna Stark, our men will have to end the woman's life. We don't know if Rheagar has been with her and if he was, there is always the chance she is with child. In the end, we will play it off as the dragon loyalists killing Lyanna to spite you. This will allow Tywin's daughter to marry you and ensure the lion is on our side," said Jon Arryn with Robert now snarling since Lyanna dead did not sit well with him and it wouldn't sit well with Ned.
"I don't like it Jon. Can't I marry Cersei, but keep Lyanna on the side?" asked Robert with Jon shaking his head at the man's stubbornness.
"No! Besides, what would happen if you did get your way? With Lyanna on the side for you to fuck while you were married to Cersei? You think Tywin would tolerate it? Or the North? What happens when you impregnate Lyanna? Will you legitimize her children? Do you know what that will do Robert? It will cause instability. Possibly another war! Chaos! Like it or not, Lyanna Stark must not live past this war. Nor any child she brings into the world that is of Rheagar's blood," said Jon with Robert growled angrily.
"Fine! But you won't stop me if I wish to lay with other women when I'm King. I'll marry Twin Lannister's daughter and give him a few Grandchildren. But in the end, I can fuck as many women as I damn well want on the side. Even if it means my actions will result in siring bastards!" exclaimed Robert with Jon sighing.
"Fine. But you can't legitimize them. If you have any bastards from the women you take on the side, none of them can become part of the Royal Family. Ever!" replied Jon while making a mental note in his head to keep track of all the women Robert slept with and the bastards Robert would no doubt sire following the results of sleeping with these women.
"Fine! Not like I would anyway," answered Robert with Jon accepting this since it would keep Tywin Lannister of their backs for the most part.
- End Flashback -
Aegon sat up, his spine cracking from the sudden act and it made the young Targaryen Prince grimace at the slight, but sharp pain caused by action. He had yet to control the end of the Force visions surrounding the past. Still, the truth behind what occurred during Robert's Rebellion only fueled his rage and hatred for the Usurper, the Falcon, and the Lion for their actions against the dragon. They even managed to keep all of the North in the dark knowing the moment the truth was revealed, the Northern Lords along with Lord Stark would abandon the cause of fighting the Targaryens.
Such an action would not be forgotten nor forgiven. The North would one day be told and they would remember this event and seek justice. Justice that Aegon would gladly give to them through fire and blood.