- Stormlands - Sometime Later -
"I didn't think you would be this foolish Renly. Marching our House's bannermen to fight impossible odds like this," remarked Stannis when he along with Aegon, Mace Tyrell, and almost surprisingly Robb Stark coming in his Father's name with several Northern Houses and their bannermen.
In truth, Robb and several of the Northern Lords wanted to see how Aegon would handle this, and if he was truly a strong King without using his dragons to win. Though Robb was a tad intrigued by Daenerys Targaryen and what she had seen in her time in Essos. When it came to marching on the Stormlands, he listened to her advice, adding his own Father's advice afterwards, about how he along with some of the Northern Lords should travel with her nephew. She commented about how it would be a good experience for him to see more of the Seven Kingdoms and there was no telling when they would go this far South again.
"And I didn't think you would bend the knee to the Targaryens brother. Yet you would betray Robert's memory and all that he did by submitting to one of their House. And an ugly thing at that with his mask and black clothing. Are you in mourning? Or are you saying your secretly a bastard ascending to be King through the pure blooded one you have back in King's Landing?" remarked Renly with a smirk while Loras Tyrell and Brienne of Tarth were on either side of him.
"Your brother bends the knee to my House because he knows it is the right thing to do give what has happened recently. Your claim as King is false. Your claim as Lord of the Stormlands is false. Your eldest brother violated the rules of succession by naming you Lord of this region and all to spite Stannis's supposed failure in capturing my Aunt when she was but a babe not even born," replied Aegon with Renly scoffing at him.
"My brother was King. He could violate whoever and whatever he wished. Just as I am now King regardless of what you say Targaryen. The people don't want Stannis with the Crown. They don't want you with the Crown. They want me to rule. And I intend to give the people what they want," replied Renly with Stannis gritting his teeth.
"Your brother was a bloodlust driven, drunkard whoremonger, and abused his position as King whenever it suited him. Humiliating and berating everyone, including his own loyal brother while you, the youngest of three, watched on and did nothing," said Aegon with Renly shrugging.
"So what if I did. Robert would have punished me too. Why should I stick my neck out for some overly serious, stiff necked brother, who doesn't enjoy life at all? Why should I support my brother here? I shall not and will not support him in anything," replied Renly with Stannis trying to keep his temper under control.
"In honor of our Mother who gave us life, I will ask you this only one time Renly. End this farce, bend the knee to the King, strike your banners, and stand aside so I may rule our House's homeland. If you do not, you will die," warned Stannis while Renly laughing at him like it was a joke.
"And who is going to kill me? You? Become a kinslayer? I think not. This so called King whose face hides behind a mask? I doubt the stories people say about him are remotely true. Besides, you know as well as I do that our House's bannermen are skilled and well trained warriors. For every Baratheon man that falls, they will take five of your men with them. And even if I do lose, the dragon's strength will be weak enough for others to see and to rise up against him," replied Renly with Stannis sighing.
"You are an even bigger fool then I originally thought Renly. No one will dare go against House Targaryen. Not anymore. Anyone who would consider it has either been killed or bent the knee in submission. You are entering a battle that cannot be won," remarked Stannis, as he saw Renly still looking confident.
"Just because I don't have your years of experience in fighting and commanding armies brother, doesn't mean I can't hold my own," challenged Renly while Stannis glanced over at his King.
"I tried your Grace. The fact he won't listen means Renly is lost. I will try no more," said Stannis with Aegon nodding.
"You tried Stannis. Despite failing, you at least tried to reason with him," replied Aegon with Stannis bowing slightly from his horse.
"Now, if we are done, I will be heading back to MY army to prepare for the battle that will come and crush you. Don't worry brother. I won't be killing you. Ser Loras will have the honor of doing it for me," said Renly with Loras glaring at Stannis and eager to fight him now.
"Loras! Do not side with Renly on this. You jeopardize everything House Tyrell has done and risk sullying our honor. Do you know what will happen if this continues? The people will question our very loyalty to House Targaryen. They will question your sister's future marriage to the King and wonder if we were playing both sides for a chance to have one of our blood on the Iron Throne. Do not side with this man seeking to Usurp the rightful King!" pleaded Mace while Loras glanced at his Father before glaring at Aegon.
"He's no King of mine. Renly is my only King. The one I intend to serve to the end. We have always bent the knee to the dragon and received nothing for it. Now they promise a marriage for my House's support. Why should we support them? We could kill them all, Renly can sit on the Iron Throne, and even marry Margery so she can be Queen. All you have to do is draw your sword and slay this Targaryen here and now!" exclaimed Loras while seeing the easy path in front of them was to end Aegon so Renly could claim it all.
"And the rules of succession?" asked Aegon curiously while sensing the love Loras had for Renly was seriously clouding his mind.
"Robert didn't follow them. Why should I? Why should Loras? The time of the dragon or an ill tempered Stag on the Iron Throne are over. Right now, the Seven Kingdoms are in need of a new king of King. A kind King. A benevolent King. One that the people will love and support," replied Renly for Loras while still looking smug and Brienne looking as serious as ever.
With his say on the matter at hand said, Renly led his group from the parlay back to his encampment while Aegon watching him leave with his mask hiding his face. He knew this would happen with Renly and Loras. Brienne of Tarth was sadly brought along for the ride that would be the fool's downfall. Not that he would let her die. She was clearly someone who wanted to prove herself in a time when few like her had the chance in a male dominating society.
"I'm sorry your Grace. My son has clearly lost his mind," said Mace humbly while Aegon waved it off.
"You tried Lord Tyrell. It appears this battle is inevitable. Prepare the army. We are now going to settle this matter with the Stormlands in the only way possible here. I tried to resolve this peacefully without the need for violence. Now we will have to end this farce once and for all...with violence," commanded Aegon with Mace nodding before leaving to carry out the order.
"I'm not entirely thrilled by this your Grace," remarked Robb while he rode beside Aegon and felt weird calling the same man his age that title.
Considering how Aegon had been raised prior to this, it was understandable.
"I know Robb. You called your banners to save your Father and bring justice to the North when the Lannisters made a power play for the Iron Throne. To you, this doesn't feel like a just cause in fighting and kill these men for me," said Aegon with Robb nodding back to him honestly.
"Yes your Grace," replied Robb with Aegon being silent for a moment.
"Do you think Renly is in right?" asked Aegon with Robb shaking his head.
"No. If Bran cannot become Lord of Winterfell once my Father steps down or passes on, Renly can't be King either due to so many others in front of him who can claim the right," replied Robb with Aegon nodding.
"And just look at what he plans to do with his army given the choice of peace or violence between us. Renly chooses violence. Even if peace means everyone lives while his own position is questionably lower then his older brother. If only a bit. He would rather see his loyal bannermen die in his name just to win an impossible outcome or to possibly weaken us with a possible hidden enemy striking from the shadows. If you were in his position, would you seek peace with me? Or violence and fight to the last man?" asked Aegon with Robb thinking things over.
"Given your all around strength with your army, the various Houses from all the Seven Kingdoms, adding the fact I know you have three dragons to call upon, and your powers you wield? I would seek peaceful terms. A means to save the lives of my men from being killed in a mindless slaughter," replied Robb with Aegon smirking behind his mask.
"Which makes you a better Lord over Renly. At least you would try. He didn't. His mind was already made up before our arrival here. The fool believes in being the next Robert reborn, but in a more...refined fashion when leading his army. The man is inexperienced and sees it as a game. A popularity contest where the most people who support him gives the man his right to rule. Which is a fool's dream. A true King knows what it means to be responsible when the crown is on your head and has others to help support the weight of all Seven Kingdoms," said Aegon with Robb nodding in agreement.
"And Renly would be like his older brother by not taking it seriously," surmised Robb with Aegon nodding.
"Yes. He would admittedly be better then Robert as King, but only to a small extent of attending more Small Council meetings over his brother. Nothing more," replied Aegon with Robb shaking his head.
"I considered parlaying with him when my Father was held hostage. To make an alliance with Renly since he had the numbers. House Stark and House Baratheon united against a common enemy," replied Robb with Aegon shrugging.
"You had the right idea. But you should have gone to Stannis over Renly. Your Father had initially supported Stannis's claim. Without me around, Stannis would have been the rightful King. But don't tell him that," replied Aegon with Robb nodding since he didn't want to give the Stag commander any ideas.
"And House Tyrell?" asked Robb curiously.
"They would have backed Renly because he had the numbers and would have promised to make Margery his Queen. Stannis is married so they couldn't ask him to forsake his vows and he is considerably older then Margery. They would back someone close to her age, but close to Loras," explained Aegon with Robb nodding in understanding.
"I should brush up on my study of House politics and get a better mindset of those who run them," remarked Robb with Aegon smirking.
"My Aunt is a good teacher given her time in Essos. I'm sure she could teach you a few things about the minds of others," commented Aegon with Robb blushing slightly and coughing.
"Y-Yes. I'm sure she could," added Robb while trying to keep himself from feeling so flustered.
'Oh cousin, you are going to be so fun to tease in the future,' thought Aegon before letting out a small chuckle at Robb's expense.