- Essos - Several Moons Later -
It was amazing to Aegon how quickly people, who had so little, had no hope, could do the exact opposite when given the chance. For most of the slaves, they were given tasks similar, yet different ones that free people did to earn a living. The only real difference was the name of the jobs and tasks assigned. There was also the fact free men, women, and children were not whipped, starved, beaten humiliated, or violated by their employer.
In the end, Aegon, Daenerys, Ser Jorah, and Jon Connington were able to setup the first Council of Free Men within Yunkai. Each member would be in charge of a specific area related to the city. Each individual's purpose was to ensure the city prospered without having to resort back to slavery of any kind. It had not been easy to obtain the qualified people for this Council, much less other administration type jobs, but they did, and had setup various academic institutions to help the next generation learn how to govern the city properly in the absence of their liberators.
Because at the moment, Aegon was marching toward his next conquest in the form of the Free City of Meereen. And not just with the Unsullied and three dragons. Former slaves had volunteered to join the cause, to take up the sword and shield in order to free other slaves from the cruel chains and whip of the Wise Masters of Meereen.
And bolstering the ranks of Aegon's forces even further.
"Look at this. Crucifying children," remarked Daenerys while riding her horse beside Ser Jorah and Connington and seeing one crucified body after the next.
"A warning to whoever challenges the Wise Masters of Meereen my Princess. It is their way of sending a message and showing how cruel they can be to their enemies," replied Ser Jorah with Jon Connington looking at the scene with disgust.
"This whole area is filled with barbarism," commented Jon at the sight.
"I'll order the Unsullied to remove them Princess," offered Ser Jorah, but Daenerys had signaled him to stop.
"No. Keep them up there for now. I want to see them all. So does Aegon," said Daenerys while walking forward with a furious look on her face after seeing more children as well as adults in this same position.
When the army stopped in front of city of Meereen, they saw Wise Masters and slaves were all looking down at them from their position. Some worried. Some arrogant in the belief the invading army would fail in their attempts to attack. Others were indifferent since they did not know how to act.
At least until they saw three dragons flying right over the army and the banner of House Targaryen being held by the Unsullied and many started to show signs of fear.
"Slaves of Meereen. My name is Aegon of House Targaryen. I am the one called the Life Giver of Dragons. The Breaker of Chains. Beside me is my Aunt Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen. Like me, she is also a Life Giver of Dragons and Breaker of Chains. Together, we sacked Astapor and freed the Unsullied, who choose of their own free will to fight for us here. Near them, you will see former slaves of Yunkai. When we took their city, the Wise Masters were attempting to kill their slaves over the idea of letting them know the taste of freedom. Those former slaves are here now, as they choose to fight for me in the hopes of providing freedom to other slaves not unlike yourself." said Aegon in High Valyrianwith his words echoing loud for the people of Meereen to here.
"Catapults move into position," said Daenerys with the siege weapons moving into place.
"No doubt your Wise Masters would say otherwise to you. They would denounce me as a liar. A conqueror who would butcher everyone in the city once sacked and taken through violence. My counter to their words is to call them liars. Cowards all! They would sooner see you taste the steel of the sword to your throat and heart over the taste of freedom and without chains to hold you down. If you still doubt my words, let my actions speak for me so you can know what I say is the truth!" said Aegon before nodding toward Daenerys, who smirked and nodded toward Grey Worm.
Within moments, the catapults launched their projectiles toward the city, the people on the walls ducking, some shouting and screaming in panic. When no loud explosions or damage to the walls were found, everyone on the wall saw the projectiles were not large rocks or other forms of hurting others. No. The projectiles in question were chains and collars.
The chain and collars that were once worn by the now former slaves of Yunkai. Worn by some of the very former slaves marching in Aegon's army beside the Unsullied.
The Wise Masters looked at this action by Aegon with fear, realizing what this meant, and what the man was trying to do. The slaves however, looked at it with curiosity and dare they even think it...hope?!
"To the Wise Masters of Meereen, I give you the same offer I did the Wise Masters of Yunkai. Leave the Free City for another. Take what wealth and family you can take and do not come back. You will leave every slave living in Meereen unharmed, untouched, and unspoiled. If you refuse to comply with any of these demands, your lives will be forfeit. You have two days to decide. But know this, if you attempt to kill any of the slaves or citizens in Meereen out of spite, the horrors that await you following this will make you regret ever harming them. This I swear on my blood as a Targaryen!" said Aegon while his three dragons, who landed on a nearby cliff beside him let loose streams of fire from their mouth into the air to further enforce that last statement.
Do you think they will take the deal nephew?" asked Daenerys at last.
"No. They will choose to stay. They think were bluffing. They think we won't use our dragons and risk the slaves we intend to free," answered Aegon.
"What will they do exactly your Grace?" asked Jon curiously.
"On the second day, they will have every slave in the city stand on the wall and be their shield. They want us to cave into our bloodlust and do the dirty work in killing the slaves for them. They want us to betray our very convictions for victory," answered Aegon with Daenerys scowling in disgust with Jon looking furious.
"As if we would do something so dishonorable," replied Jon with Ser Jorah nodding.
"Agreed. Which is why I have a plan. We aren't going to wait for the two days to go by and let them agree to the terms. We are going to give the slaves the means to rise up and take the city for us," replied Aegon before walking away and motioned the others, plus Grey Worm to follow.
"How? And in what way your Grace?" asked Ser Jorah curiously.
"When the Sell Sword assassin Daario Naharis tried to assassinate me in my tent, I read his mind. All the places he has been to and all the secrets the Wise Masters of each Free City possessed about the walls. Including hidden entrances for more...discreet clients the Wise Masters employed and wanted to enter the city in secret. There is one located not far from here. We will use it to send a small team of Unsullied into the city to meet and arm the slaves within Meereen in the middle of night. By morning, every slave capable of wielding a blade will be armed. By morning, nearly every Wise Master will be dead, if not captured to face our judgment. By morning, the city will ours, and given to us by the very former slaves living in it," answered Aegon while explaining things further to Grey Worm and to have him select some Unsullied for this task along with a few former slaves of Yunkai for this assignment.
Sure enough, the secret entrance was where Aegon said it was located. Carefully lifting it up enough for one person at a time to go through, Grey Worm and those chosen for the assignment, all dressed as slaves with the collars on their necks entering the tunnel. They had misgivings of wearing the collars again, but it was required to fool anyone in the city when they made their way to the slaves locked up underneath the city.
"This is dangerous my Prince. If they fail, it could make the Wise Masters desperate and do what the Wise Masters did in Yunkai," warned Ser Jorah with Aegon nodding.
"I know. But the alternative of having the Wise Masters use the slaves as living shields on the city wall is unacceptable. If these slaves truly wish for freedom, let them earn it through the swords we give them and use the blood of the Wise masters to be their keys to unlock the chains binding their bodies and spirit," replied Aegon knowing that some things can't be done by outside forces like an invading army.
You wanted your freedom from slavery? You had to fight for it. Otherwise, what was the point of wanting it?
"When will we know?" asked Jon since the Sun was now setting.
"Tomorrow morning. If they succeed? The gates will open and they will welcome us with open arms," said Aegon confidently.
"And should they fail?" asked Ser Jorah while told to not be afraid of questioning if there was a worst case scenario.
"Then we do what needs to be done and contain the damage as appears Ser Jorah. One way or another, the Wise Masters will fall here in this city. We will answer their injustice against the slaves with justice for the slaves," replied Aegon darkly.
- King's Landing - Red Keep -
Tywin Lannister walked into the Small Council chambers. Proud, strong, and looking as fierce as any lion should despite all the signs of aging with his hair thinning as well as graying. Still, the man's spirit had lost none of its potency. He had molded himself to be an unyielding force that did not take being scorned, insulted, or challenged by others. He had made his House strong and feared by putting down a rebellion within his own lands, crushed two Houses with none of their bloodline left to retaliate, and led the sacking of the city of the King to ensure the Usurper Stag would sit on the throne with the lion's daughter becoming Queen.
And now it was being threatened by the possible return of the dragon. Unacceptable. He had helped crush one weakened dragon and wasn't about to see another one, strong, and healthy rise up to threaten his legacy. While Tywin had nothing against his old friend he had served as Hand for many years, the madness had destroyed what friendship they once had in their younger years. Denying the idea of a marriage between Cersei and Rheagar to tie their Houses together. Allowing Jamie to join the Kingsguard and deny Tywin his rightful heir to Casterly Rock and future Warden of the West.
It had been too much. When the rebellion first started, Tywin wanted no part in it. "Let the two sides fight it out" he told his brother when asked should if they consider the idea of calling their banners. Tywin knew with the way things were, the war could go either way. He also knew it would eventually come down to a fight between Rheagar and Robert with the winner of their fight being the winner of the war. He had conveyed as much to Lord Arryn on the issue and told the Falcon that if the Stag wanted the Lion's support, it would cost him.
And when Robert finally bested Rheagar at the Trident, it was clear where the winds of victory were blowing. The dragon would lose, but in a cornered position, Tywin knew the Mad King would not go down without a fight. The Lion knew his old friend to well and knew the dragon still had some fire left with no restraint on how it would be unleashed. Tywin knew Aerys well enough to know the man would unleash one final attack out of spite and would be so horrifying that any victory obtained in the war would feel like a defeat.
Hence the plan to come to King's Landing under the disguise of fighting for the Mad King out of respect for their past friendship. The trick was to get into the city, but Tywin knew Pycelle would come through for them. The Grand Maester knew it was better to serve the ruthless lion over the sickly weak dragon. When his finally army entered the city, a mere motion of the hand was all it took for Lannister army to suddenly strike in their surprise attack on King's Landing, making their way to the Red Keep while killing, destroying, looting, and raping where they could. The Lions ran free over the populace that day, to remind them that the dragon was not the most fierce or feared animal in the Seven Kingdoms. Not anymore.
Tywin Lannister had secured his legacy. His daughter was the Queen, his Grandchildren were the Princes and Princess of the Seven Kingdoms. All that was left to do now was to get Robert to dismiss Jamie from the Kingsguard. Of course, the last one was difficult to do since the Stag was feeling spiteful of Tywin's son killing Aerys before he could. So getting Robert to let Jamie go was becoming a growing annoyance. Fortunately, Robert owed his House quite a debt of incredible wealth thanks to the Master of Coin's dealings with him.
If Robert didn't' want the debt called in, Jamie would be dismissed from the Kingsguard and dismissed soon!
But that was the far future. Tywin had to focus on the present. Namely dealing with the threat of the dragons returning to take back what some Houses said was stolen from them.
"Lord Tywin. Thank you for joining us," said Robert, who was surprisingly sober today since this was a serious matter he knew couldn't be handle drunk.
"Of course your Grace. I am at your service in removing the Targaryens once and for all," replied Tywin while sitting down beside Lord Arryn since it was a close to showing his authoritative stance as possible.
"First, what news of the Targaryens? Where are they right now?" asked Robert to Varys with the Spider being as composed as ever.
"My little birds tell me whispers of them still in Essos your Grace. They have claimed the Free City of Yunkai, liberated all the slaves, and killed all the Wise Masters. They even setup a Council made up of well trained former slaves to run the city while they move to the Free City of Meereen. So far, the city has had no issues and the people in Yunkai are happy with the change," said Varys with Robert growling.
"Of course they are happy. The fucking dragonspawn freed them. If I freed them, I would have former slaves wanting to suck my cock left and right too," commented Robert with Jon sighing since this was serious.
"I also received the latest new from the Free City of Meereen last night your Grace. The city has fallen. The slaves apparently saw a chance to be free and took the city from the Wise Masters before opening the gates for this Aegon Targaryen," said Varys with the Small Council looking shocked.
"They overpowered their enslavers? And they just gave the city to the Targaryens after that?" asked Grand Maester Pycelle.
"From my understanding Grand Maester, a small infiltration force made up of Unsullied and former slaves, who willingly volunteered to be part of the Targaryen's army, entered the city through a secret passageway. They secretly armed all the slaves so they could rise up against the Wise Masters. Mostly due to the slaves outnumbering the Wise Masters by a considerable margin," replied Varys since it had happened before with slave revolts, but were usually put down and the poor slaves who didn't die in the revolt being punished to the point where they did wish for death.
"And he didn't use the dragons on the city?" asked Tywin with Varys shaking his head.
"No Lord Tywin. Aegon no doubt felt a more subtle approach was required over using dragons," replied Varys with Tywin saying nothing, yet clearly respected the tactic to achieve victory.
"The needle over the sword to the neck approach," said Tywin commented since there were some who used such finesse to end things over the more violent ways.
"The what?" asked Robert with a frown.
"A type of tactic your Grace. Rather then violently claim something like a city with lots of bloodshed or dragon's fire in this case, Aegon chose a tactic where the losses on his end were practically nothing while using very little in the ways of force to achieve total victory," explained Varys with many on the Small Council looking a tad unnerved.
After all, if this man could win with to little no force of arms against others, what could he do with an army fully unleashed on them.
"This also present a problem in the future for when they sail here brother. From what I have been told by my most trusted of man, Ser Davos, the Free City of Meereen has a port capable of taking in ships as well as building them. Depending on their funds, the Targaryens may try to build ships and eventually a fleet to come here," added Stannis with Robert frowning since this was going to be an issue.
"Can't we attack Meereen first? Destroy the port or lay siege to it?" offered Renly with Stannis shaking his head.
"Even if we did either one, it wouldn't be enough. Besides, those three dragons would destroy any kind of fleet we send. If we lay siege, the dragons will burn the ships and the crew. Same if we destroyed the port and the ships fled. The dragons would best any ship sent with speed alone and destroy them all with fire," countered Stannis while Robert was grumbling.
"So we can't attack. At least not with brute force. What about something more subtle? An assassin or a few who know how to end lives from the shadows?" questioned Baelish and saw them thinking it over.
"An assassin or three may work, but it is unlikely. While I am skeptical, my little birds tell me a rumor, a faintest of whispers regarding young Aegon. They claim the man has the power to wield magic no doubt from hatching the dragons," countered Varys with the Small Council frowning at this since magic had died out with the dragons, only to come back.
"I never placed much faith in magic. Slight of hand, smoke and flash to distract the eyes. Hardly something to be considered impressive," commented Baelish.
"Don't be so sure my friend. He somehow sacked the House of the Undying when in the Free City of Qarth, which were known to produce Warlocks capable of unusual acts of magic in their prime when dragons roamed the world. He used his connection to the dragons and magic to best them and, if the rumors are true, took absorbed the magic from the building to make himself stronger. Rumor has it, young Aegon can manipulate any objects or even people with a wave of his hand. Some have seen him move faster then any horse, becoming a blur of motion, striking like a wraith, leaping high over most roof tops. There is even one such rumor that the man even shot lightning from his hand," said Varys with Baelish smirked and Grand Maester Pycelle shrugged it off as nonsense.
"Rumors Varys. Mere rumors. Perhaps your little birds aren't very reliable when it comes to these sort of things," commented Baelish with Varys surprising him by looking in his direction with a sudden seriousness.
"Lord Baelish, I was born Essos. I have seen many things in my time. Experienced many things too. Some good. Most of them sadly not. I know what magic is and I know that many have tried to use different ways to conjure it. I have even done my own personal research on the matter and dragons were ultimately the source of its strength. With three dragons now alive and growing stronger by the day, it stands to reason such a thing with magic will happen. If half of these rumors are true about the man, who is to say the other half is not far behind," commented Varys with his words effectively shutting Baelish up.
"Since its clear that attacking the Targaryens using any kind of offensive plan, perhaps a defensive one is better," offered Stannis with the idea getting a few nods from the others.
"But is that even wise? We don't know when they will attack, if at all. They may wait a generation or two before coming over here. By that point, we will be dead and our future heirs and their heirs will be dealing with this mess. Sustaining such a defense for so long would be expensive," countered Renly with Robert becoming impatient.
"Piss on all of it! We can't attack and we can't defend for one reason or another. What can we do?" demanded Robert with Jon Arryn grimacing.
"At this point your Grace? Nothing. We can't do anything right now, except wait for them to make the first move," said Jon with Robert yelling and slamming his fists down on the table, causing it to shake.
"I'm going to train. Get back in shape. If I face another Targaryen again, I want to at least get back some of my strength so I can at least wield my damn war hammer again," said Robert before leaving the room.
And all the while Varys had to hide the smirk that wanted to appear on his face.
'All is going according to plan your Grace. With the way things are going, none of your enemies will know how to deal with you until its too late,' thought Varys knowing Aegon wanted him to use his position to cause the supposedly great men on the Small Council room to scratch their heads.