(Aerion's POV)
"Make sure every entrance to the castle is fortified. Nobody goes in and out without being searched." I told the guards as we walked outside in the Dragonmont, "Increase security in the fishing village just below. Every port should be closed, no ship that isn't ours or from House Velaryon is allowed to be near the coast. Spread the word, patrol the island, I don't want anyone to even attempt to land on this rock."
"Yes, Lord Aerion." One of them said, "We'll see to it."
"Also, tell the villagers to watch out for any dragon sightings." I told them as I stopped, "Any winged beast that isn't any of ours should be reported, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes." They said in unison
I nodded, "Good." I said, "We have enough food to last us years if we're to be under siege, but that won't be an issue. Nobody can lay siege to Dragonstone so long as a Dragonrider remains here. Now go, There's much to do."
They bowed slightly and turned around, beginning to walk away when the loud crack of flapping wings were suddenly heard.
I raised an eyebrow, "What's this?" I said, "The Princess Rhaenys should still be in patrol...."
I looked up to see a massive grey figure swoop down almost hitting us as a loud roar resounded through the air. The guards flinched and some of them fell to the ground as the Greyfiend flew away, roaring loudly. I merely stood there, unfazed as I followed it with my gaze.
"What's it doing now?" I said with a scowl as I watched Greyfiend circle around far in the distance, "Always a nuisance, eh?"
I took a step forward when I heard an even louder roar above us in the skies. I looked up to see a massive black figure soaring through the skies.
"W-What the hells?" one of the soldiers said, "A-A Black dragon!! That's the Cannibal!!!"
I narrowed my eyes to see the Black Dragon soar far above the castle, its glowing green eye looking down at us. For a moment, we locked eyes, it was looking right at me. There was tension in that quick moment, our history flashing before my eyes, our encounters in the past and the battle we had. For some reason, I didn't feel as threatened as I did before. Despite all the rising tensions that this potential war was causing, I felt calm....a bit more at ease when seeing this old enemy.
But at this moment, The Cannibal wasn't my enemy. It was more of an old friend if that made sense.
As for the other wretched beast.....I couldn't say the same.
I heard the Greyfiend roar loudly and I turned to see it flying towards the Cannibal, in a challenging manner.
I sighed, "That one...." I said, "There really isn't time for this."
I watched as the Cannibal quickly turned around and opened its maw, firing off a large collumn of green flames, causing the Greyfiend to avoid it by flying to the side. The flames nearly hit it and as it avoided the flames, The Cannibal crashed against it, hitting Greyfiend hard. The Cannibal wasn't fazed by the collision, merely flapping its wings as it turned back around in its original direction. The Greyfiend, however, was plummeting down but managed to regain control at the last second, mere meters from the ground.
"Bloody hells..." I said as the two dragons roared
The Cannibal casually flew away, heading in the direction of the Sea, to the East. As this happened, the Greyfiend let out another roar and headed to the Northern side of the Island. I saw both of them slowly become small figures in the sky.
I had no idea what this entire encounter meant, but it was more than just a coincidence. The Cannibal had never flown this close to the castle and the Greyfiend gave up so easily in its challenges. Typically, Vermithor is needed to keep it away.
I looked over at the guards, they were shaken up by this event, "Are you alright?" I asked them
They nodded, "Y-Yes."
"Good." I said, "As you were."
***********
(Third Person POV)
[King's Landing]
After a certain incident in Fleabottom, there was a riot, swarming all over the streets of King's Landing. The City Watch and the Hightower Soldiers were trying their best to quell the ire of the smallfolk who took offense to the actions of the goldcloaks.
After a tip-off, specific smallfolk were targeted by the Crown to be brought in for questioning as they were named as the culprit behind the Queen's assault. After a struggle, a few people ended up dead, their heads cut off. This caused a massive riot that resulted in several injured and dead, pushing the Goldcloaks and the Hightower soldiers back.
It was only then that a handful of people began to sneak out of the City through two specific smuggling ships. The people who were marked as "Sterling" found it to be too risky to stay in such a hostile environment, especially with the King incredibly angry. While it was understandable that he required the head of the one behind the death of his children, several innocent bodies were dropped and this caused some problems.
During the riot, several establishments were set ablaze, directly linked to House Hightower. The ones behind the arson claimed it was an attack from Queen Rhaenyra and denounced Aegon as King. They even claimed that Lord Aerion Targaryen was the one who paid them to create chaos, burning down several establishments that were linked to the small council members and even killed knights that served Hightowers.
With the riots, the burning of several properties, and the deaths of Hightower Knights, this could only mean that the Crown was forced to act and declare War. This was merely added to the blockade which disrupted supplies to the City from the Sea. This, along with the fact that House Hightower was unable to convince House Tyrell to aid them, put the Crown in a tough situation. The Reach was one of the best sources of food and supplies and they were unable to secure even that.
House Tyrell refused to bend the knee to Aegon, claiming that Rhaenyra was the one true Queen and that they'd be fools to challenge Aerion Targaryen and Vermithor. They marked House Hightower as a traitor House and warned them not to make any movements or their forces would be mobilized towards Oldtown.
Now, it was Nightfall, and a boat was being prepared to leave, to take some smallfolk out of the city.
A Tall Man, his hair and beard white, ran towards the boat, holding a young girl in his arms as his wife hurried behind him.
"Hurry." He said hastily as another man bumped into them
"Oi, careful!" The other man said, with dirty white hair, "There's room for all of us here."
They got on the boat as a man with his face covered began to ready the oars.
The tall man frowned at the other one, "Who're you?" He asked
The man flicked his hair, "They call me Ulf." He said, "But apparently, I'm Sterling tonight. Well, I'm getting the fuck out of here. I guess The Grey Snake was pissed off at me or something, burning me like this."
The Tall Man looked at him with surprise, "Y-You were also named Sterling?" He said, "I was named Sterling!"
The man's wife looked at him, "Hugh, what is going on?" she asked with tears in her eyes, "Why must we leave our home like this?"
The girl in Hugh's arms coughed as Hugh looked over to the city, a faint glow of red in the distance, "I..." He said, "I don't know....I suppose the Grey Snake was angry at me as well...."
"Hugh, huh?" Ulf said as the masked man began to row the boat, "Where are we off to?"
"I don't know..." Hugh said, "I heard this ship is sailing to Gulltown."
"To the Vale, eh?" Ulf said as the boat was rowed into the sea, "I guess that's smart. That's the region protected by Aerion Targaryen."
"Apparently he's the one behind this...." Hugh said
"Aerion? Nah." Ulf said, "You kidding me? He's one of them traditional Knights. He'll never pull something like this. That one is more direct than anything, he'll come at you face to face, cutting your head off himself. If Aerion Targaryen wanted to burn some buildings down and kill some Hightower Knights, he'd do it with his dragon."
Hugh nodded, "I suppose you're right."
"Hugh...." Hugh's wife said, "Will we be okay?"
"Yes." Hugh said, "Worry not....I won't let anything happen to you."
"Best get ready, mate." Ulf said,
"War is inevitable now."