Chapter Text
"The Dance of the Dragon is the succession crisis between Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother Aegon. While the conflict officially started with the death of Prince Lucerys Velaryon, no could deny that the seeds of the civil war were planted when Alicent Hightower gave King Viserys a son. A son who was never acknowledged as heir over his older half-sister. Years later when King Viserys died of his illness, it was not a surprise that Otto Hightower, Hand of the King, moved to cover up the news to crown his grandson king.
The Greens had limited support despite Alicent Hightower's undermining of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen for years. They had the Westerlands through Lannisters and Stormlands agreed to support her eldest son as King after King Viserys's second son Aemond pledged to wed Lady Floris Baratheon. However, the Vale was behind Queen Rhaenyra due to the blood ties between them. The North was also staunchly loyal to her as there had never lived a Stark who forgot an oath. Riverlands was also mostly behind Queen Rhaenyra, with very few Houses, like Brackens, choosing to side with the Greens. The Reach, home of the Hightowers, was also divided. Houses Beesbury, Tarly, Rowan, Caswell, Costayne and many minor houses supported the rightful Queen. Tyrells, the Lord Paramount House of the Kingdom, were neutral and Redwynes and their fleet were allies of Hightowers. And yet Velaryons, who had a grander and more powerful fleet than them, were among the greatest supporters of the Blacks with Queen Rhaenyra's eldest child and heir Prince Jacearys being Lord Corlys Velaryon's grandson through his late son Ser Laenor Velaryon.
Otto Hightower, having seen the opposition, planned for years. His first ally had been the Triarchy. The War of the Stepstones had made an enemy of the Seven Kingdoms and they had beaten by Lord Corlys Velaryon and Prince Daemon Targaryen, who had been the Queen's second husband and King Consort.
Iron Bank was another ally he gained. The Greens knew gold was a deciding factor in wars and transferred the royal treasury to their vaults in the Iron Bank. The Iron Bank was a powerful and feared institution, due to their use of Faceless Men even the Targaryens took their in their dealings with them.
Dorne was the only ally he had tried to gain and failed, most likely due to the bad blood between the two kingdoms from before the Conquest.
Otto Hightower's schemes didn't end there however. He financed rebellions against Lady Jeyne Arryn, the Lady Paramount of the Vale and cousin to Queen Rhaneyra, to halt the Vale support. Brackens and Vances were used to sow discord in Riverlands along with some minor Houses.
There is also the matter of dragons. While the Greens had four dragons, the Blacks possessed eleven. However, it should be noted that war is not won by number. The Greens had Sunfyre, Dreamfyre, Vhagar and Tessarion. All had been adequate for battle and Vhagar had even been Queen Visenya's mount. The Blacks had mostly hatchlings not ready for battle, with the exception Syrax, Caraxes and Meleys. Unclaimed dragons such as Silverwing and Vermithor had been later claimed by dragonseeds -bastards with Valyrian blood- but with exception of Adam of Hull and Nettles, all turned against the Queen.
The civil war that had ensued with these circumstances had been bloody and brought the whole continent to its knees. However, the Black forces prevailed at the end and brought the much needed stability back to the Seven Kingdoms."
Once the distant Arryn relatives threatening Lady Jeyne's rule had been dealt with and the threat from beyond the wall was ended, the Northern and the Vale armies were able to commit their full strength for their Queen. Unfortunately the news of Queen Rhaenyra's execution and imprisonment of her eldest remaining son Prince Aegon and step-daughter Princess Baela came as they were marching towards the Reach to aid Black loyalists.
Some suggested making peace with Aegon as he was the last remaining child of King Viserys but Cregan Stark refused it.
"You want us to abandon our oaths when our Queen has just been murdered by the usurper and her son, our new King, our rightful King is a hostage at the hands of the usurpers." Cregan Stark said.
It was noted by many that Cregan Stark might have executed Lord Piper if he hadn't been convinced by Lady Alysanne Blackwood that they couldn't afford infighting in these perilous times.
"Greens burnt and pillaged our lands, invited the Triarchy back to our shores and killed members of our houses for not choosing to be oathbreakers." Lady Alysanne said. "And you wish to make peace with them? That usurper will kill the rightful King as soon as he can. I daresay the only reason he hasn't yet is because his dragon died and there is none he could claim to burn him."
"My lady, if we continue to march, they will definitely kill King Aegon. The usurper has no child left, save his daughter and they cannot crown her for that would delegitimize his own reign and he is said to be incapable of bearing children. They have no choice." Lord Piper tried to explain and gather support.
"What if it's a lie? What if he can sire children? He might also choose to legitimize a bastard of his and make him heir." Lady Jeyne said. Out of all the lords and ladies in the room, there was no one who knew better the perilous circumstances of both having and not having an heir. "I will not abandon my cousin's last child to kinslayers, Lord Piper. If you are too cowardly to honor your vows, say it now so that we may avoid wasting time."
"One fourth of our armies will continue their march to the Reach to aid Lord Beesbury defeat the remainings of the Hightower host. The rest of us will march to the capital." Lord Stark said, taking the control of the conversation. "The traitors will be punished for their usurpation, kinslaying, oathbreaking and any other crime they have committed. We will honor our vows to our Queen and her heir."
Cheers filled the room with that declaration and Lord Piper's suggestion was forgotten. The realm might have needed peace but the Blacks wanted blood to satisfy their lust for revenge to meet that demand.
"We march at dawn." he declared.
The next morning, the marching began and that very day, not long after noon a ambassador arrived from the usurper's court, presenting peace terms. However, the Blacks refused to hear them.
Lord Kermit Tully, the young grandson of ailing Lord Grover Tully, showed he had the makings of a great lord when he rejected the ambassador.
"Tell the usurper if he wished for peace than he should never have stolen the throne. Tell the Green Bitch that not everyone is a traitor masquerading as a friend to the rightful Queen."
A few days later another news came from the capital when the Black armies were only a few hours away from King's Landing. This time it had no peace terms or bargains but threats.
"Stop marching or the Pretender's son will lose an ear." Lord Frey, obviously disgusted.
"After every crime he committed the fact that he waited this long to harm young King Aegon is surprising me more than the threat itself." Lord Darry said.
"Could this be a bluff? The usurper must know that if he harms the King, he will never be able to keep his life." Lord Frey said.
"He will not keep his life either way, Lord Frey. I have no intention of letting the Greens escape justice. The usurper knows that, he knows he has nothing left to lose." Cregan Stark said. "We will reply."
"And say what?" Jeyne Arryn asked, fearful for her young cousin.
"That any injury the usurper orders inflicted upon the young King will be visited upon his daughter ten times. If King Aegon loses an ear, the girl will lose both. If it's a finger, her both hands will be removed and if the usurper kills the young King, I will feed his every blood relation to Winter. My direwolf deserves a treat." Cregan Stark declared.
The silence that took over was deafening after that.
"Lord Stark, Jaehaera Targaryen is a child. She is not much older than the King." Lord Waynwood said, obviously disturbed but one of the very few who had the bravery to speak up.
"The girl is a threat. She is last of the Greens and we cannot allow her to wed and have sons who would cause another succession crisis. She must be dealt with, one way or another." Cregan Stark replied. His words and tone made many shiver.
"There are other ways." Corwyn Corbray objected. "Perhaps she could wed the King. It would unite the rea-"
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" Lady Jeyne yelled. "I WILL NOT ALLOW MY COUSIN'S LAST CHILD TO WED THE DAUGHTER OF HER MURDERER."
"Are you suggesting we reward the Greens with a royal match? To the king at that?" Lady Jessamyn Redfort demanded. "I wonder how long before other houses commit treason, usurpation and kinslaying to get a royal match, then." she said sarcastically.
"The Greens cannot be allowed to be near the crown, even through a female line." Lord Cley Cerwyn said.
"Not to mention the girl is said to be six-fingered and feeble minded. That's not the Queen the Seven Kingdoms need after this war." Lady Lyanna Mormont added. "If ordering the girl's death is too much for you Lord Corbray, she can be sent to the Faith to become a Septa or a Silent Sister."
After the Blacks responded to the Usurper's threats, they continued to march. They expected to take the city with fight, to see resistance in the Red Keep, only to realize the Usurper's allies weren't willing to die for him. When the Black armies took the Red Keep, they found the Usurper poisoned by one of his supporters Larys Strong and his mother locked up in her chambers along with her granddaughter.
Cregan Stark immediately took control, declared himself Hand of the King. He ordered every Green ally in the keep to be arrested. King Aegon and Princess Baela were immediately freed.
Corlys Velaryon, Queen Rhaenyra's former good-father due to her first marriage to Ser Laenor Velaryon, attempted to take control of the situation, only for his own granddaughter Princess Baela to reveal that he hadn't been a prisoner but a turncloak.
It was easily proven by documents as well. Corlys Velaryon showed Westeros how far he was willing to go for power, even betroth his granddaughter to the Usurper.
"The Greens killed your wife, your grandsons and you were willing to sell me to that monster for power. It seems you and Otto Hightower aren't that different, grandfather." Princess Baela was reported to have said and she ordered the legendary Sea Snake to be imprisoned in the Black Cells until his trial.
Once the order was restored at the Red Keep and King Aegon was safe, the Black Council gathered. Princess Baela, Lord Cregan Stark, Lady Jeyne Arryn, Lady Alysanne Blackwood, Lord Kermit Tully, Lord Corwyn Corbray, Lord Donnel Waynwood, Lord Lymond Mallister and Lady Jessamyn Redfort gathered in the Small Council chambers to decide their next course of action.
"Does anyone have any suggestions for King Aegon's Queen?" Jessamyn Redfort asked. "He is the last living child of our Queen and must have a secure succession."
"The King is too young for marriage. It is not a right priority now. We must ensure that Greens are appropriately punished first." Alysanne Blackwood said.
"Annul the marriage." Princess Baela said, making everyone look at her.
"What marriage, princess?" Cregan Stark asked.
"The marriage between Alicent Hightower and King Viserys." she replied.
"Princess, the King is long dead and so are their sons. It seems to be a moot point." Corwyn Corbray said.
"It's not, my lord. The succesion of the Iron Throne has never been clear, unfortunately. But mostly it had been male dominant. Alicent Hightower gave King Viserys three sons and I will not allow anyone, today or in the future to say that the Greens had the Andal law on their side." Princess Baela said.
The only way for Alicent Hightower's sons to lose any claim was making them bastards but beyond the narrative, Baela could privately admit her motives were also personal. For years, the Greens transformed the Red Keep into a hell for Muna Rhaenyra and her brothers with their slanders. They acted like they didn't plan to force her into a corner by supporting her marriage to her uncle. Her uncle's preferences were well-known and he had been unable to give her muna any children of his own seed. To have the heirs she needed, her muna had no choice but to turn to someone else. Maybe choosing Harwin Strong was a mistake but her uncle claimed Jace, Luke and Joffrey as his own, her grandfather accepted Luke as his heir and King Viserys declared questioning their parentage was treason. The men whose legacies her brothers would inherit didn't care for the circumstances of their birth, shattering their initial plans. Thus, the Greens decided to weaponize this knowledge through rumors. She would enjoy turning their own weapon against them.
"Your Highness, while the narrative is important. House Targaryen also prioritized the claims of chosen heirs above those who would be heir by law. Prince Baelon and King Viserys were chosen over Princess Rhaenys despite the law." Donnel Waynwood said.
"They were men, Lord Waynwood." Jeyne Arryn said. "The Princess is correct. We cannot allow the narrative Greens used to be seen lawful."
"The marriage was conducted by the High Septon, consummated and it produced four children. Usurpers, kinslayers and traitors, yes but if we decide that we can just declare the marriage void with the power of regency, we set a precedent." Kermit Tully said.
"We don't have to." Princess Baela said. "Lord Stark, if I am not mistaken a Northern marriage must be performed under the Old Gods to be seen as legitimate."
Cregan raised an eyebrow and smiled, seeing where the princess was going. "That is correct, Princess. Even the Manderlys must perform a second ceremony under the Old Gods for the marriage to be valid." Torrhen Stark, being the only King who bent the knee without a fight, had managed to negotiate a favourable deal so that North could retain its customs and traditions.
"A Targaryen marriage has a similar requirement. It must also be performed under the Fourteen Flames to be seen as legitimate, even the marriages with those who aren't Targaryens. Lady Jocelyn Baratheon wed my great-grandfather Prince Aemon both under the Seven and the Fourteen Flames. So did Princess Daela to Lord Rodrick Arryn."
"Do we know if there was such a ceremony for Alicent Hightower and King Viserys?" Leymond Mallister asked.
"We can easily ask the Hightower." Cregan Stark said.
"Would she even answer that question?" Corwyn Corbray said, as if Cregan's suggestion was stupid.
"Alicent Hightower's devotion to the Faith of the Seven is absolute. She even alienated many lords because of her zealousness. She believes them to be the absolute authority in the world. I doubt she will believe that we will dare to declare her marriage void after it was conducted under the Seven. And if she admits to the lack of Valyrian ceremony herself, she will be admitting her marriage was never valid with her own mouth." Cregan explained.
"We still should have the High Septon dissolve the marriage. There will be those in the Seven Kingdoms who won't accept this reasoning." Jeyne Arryn said.
Alicent Hightower was dragged before the Black Council and gave the confirmation they needed to declare her marriage void. Upon hearing that her children would go down in history as bastards of King Viserys and she would be knowns as his mistress, the former Queen screamed and tried to attack the Blacks.
It was during this moment that Lady Alysanne revealed what she had gleaned from the Keep's maids. "Lady Alicent, it has been said that you encouraged your bastard son to mutiliate the King. Do you understand the severity of such a crime?" she had asked. "Do you know the punishment?"
It was Princess Baela who revealed the former Green Queen her fate after Lady Alysanne's words. "Death."
Princess Baela ordered the guards to drag Alicent Hightower to a Black Cell. Later, once the council was adjourned, it was the king's eldest sister who executed the former Queen.
It was also during this council that it was decided House Hightower would cease to exist.
"House Hightower will cease to exist." Cregan Stark declared. "It was Otto and Alicent Hightower's greed that sparked this civil war, they cannot be allowed to live."
"It won't be hard. According Lord Beesbury, both Ormund and Horbert Hightower are among the dead. Ser Otto was executed by our late Queen and Gwayne Hightower died a few moons ago. All that's left of the house are woman and children." Leymond Mallister stated. "The women can be sent to become Silent Sisters and the boys to the Night's Watch once they are old enough."
"And their lands? What will happen to them?" Lady Jessamyn asked.
"House Beesbury." Princess Baela said. "Lyman Beesbury was murdured by the Greens for not breaking his oaths to Queen Rhaenyra. He was said to be murdured in this very chamber. His grandson Alan Beesbury never faltered in his loyalty, they should be rewarded."
"What about the Baratheons and the Lannisters?" Leymond Mallister asked.
"I recieved word from Lord Greyjoy. His sacking of Westerlands continues. I am temped to allow him free reign so long as he wants." Donnel Waynwood said. It was the least they deserved after inviting the Triarchy back to their shores, the same Triarchy that kidnapped and sold their people to slavery.
"If the realm is to return to peace and stability, Lord Greyjoy must stand down." Alysanne Blackwood said. "If Lannisters are to be punished, it must be done without persecuting the smallfolk. The fighting is done."
"Not yet. Lord Greyjoy's fleet keeps the Lannister forces busy. Until we work out a way to deal with them and the Baratheons, we shouldn't have him stand down." Kermit Tully said. Privately, he was also wondering how they could force him to stand down. If the Red Kraken refused their orders, it would reveal cracks within the Black alliance for the remaining Greens to feast upon. Ironborn way was reaping and raving and the only reason Dalton Greyjoy sided with the Blacks was the Oldtown, Arbor, Lannisport -the richest cities of Westeros- were all Green allies.
"We may not need to deal with the Baratheons." Leymond Mallister said, reminding his fellow Blacks the news they recieved three days after they had started marching on the capital.
"What do you mean, Lord Mallister?" Princess Baela asked, being the only Black who was unaware of the coup in Stormlands due to her imprisonment.
"Lady Cassandra, Borros Baratheon's eldest daughter and heiress presumptive, staged a coup against her father three days before the Queen's death. She imprisoned her father in his chambers and took control of the Stormlands. She withdrew support from the Greens even if she didn't declare for the rightful Queen." Lady Jeyne explained, summarizing Lord Tarth's letter.
"And the Stormlords allowed that?" Princess Baela asked, shocked. None in the chambers could blame the Princess. Most of their vassals had followed their liege's lead instead of honoring their vows after all.
"Borros Baratheon is an illiterate fool. After he made a marriage pact with Greens through Aemond Waters, Prince Lucerys was murdured. Later, the Triarchy, which caused Stormlands heavy losses during King Viserys's reign, became an ally to the Greens and Hightowers even attemped to make an alliance with Dorne, their long-time enemies. And yet none of this was enough to make Borros reconsider. His vassals probably grew tired of his stupidity. Lady Cassandra might have never been acknowledged as his heir like Queen Rhaenyra had been for King Viserys but she must have proven she had more sense and skill than her father if the Stormlords aren't making a fuss." Lady Jessamyn said.
"The Baratheons might not deserve to be punished as harshly as the Lannisters. Borros never showed open favor to the Greens before King Viserys's death. His wasn't a planned treason like the Lannisters." Corwyn Corbray said.
"What is your suggestion?" Lady Jeyne asked before Princess Baela could snap at him.
"We can allow House Baratheon to keep their positions on the condition that Lady Floris, the Baratheon girl promised to Aemond Waters, being sent to the King's Landing as a hostage and raise taxes for a period of time." Corwn Corbray said.
"They betrayed their rightful Queen, they don't deserve this leniency." Princess Baela objected.
"No, they don't." Alysanne Blackwood agreed. "But we need to think for the long term Princess. If Lady Cassandra has sense, so will she." She said, referring to the need to prove to the continent a woman could rule so that the Lords of the Realm are more used to the idea of a ruling Queen for there could be another female heir in the future. She doubted the men in the council chambers saw it that way. They were more worried about losing more men but their reluctance would be for the greater good.
"And will the Lannisters be shown the same mercy?" Princess Baela demanded.
Cregan Stark answered before Lady Alysanne. "No, Tyland Lannister was an ally to the Greens for years. He helped hide the treasury in their vault of Iron Bank and led to the events that drove Queen Rhaenyra from the city to her death. The Lannisters also actively lended every kind of support to the Greens during the war. They will at the very least lose their titles as Lord Paramounts and Wardens." He said, daring the others to disagree. If it were solely up to him, the Baratheons and Lannisters would be destroyed, reduced to warnings for oathbreakers in history books. Unfortunately, it wasn't solely his decision. Riverlords had been fighting for the Queen since the beginning of the war, Lady Jeyne Arryn was her cousin and she was the one who provided sanctuary to the Queen's children. Cregan had sent all the help he could while dealing with the threats beyond the wall but at the end, his efforts weren't alone.
"And which House will take their place? The West sided with the Greens, not a single house flew the Queen's banners." Kermit Tully said.
"Not every house sided with the Greens. The Westerlings remained neutral." Lady Jeyne said. Their lack of commitment to the Green cause was surprising considering Jason Lannister's wife was a Westerling and other female members of their house had also been married to Green allied houses.
"Because Lord Commander Westerling wasn't a Green ally." Princess Baela revealed. "When Otto Hightower gave him orders to kill the Queen and our family, he refused."
"Well, that's more commitment than any other Western house has shown." Donnel Waynwood said. "And better a neutral house than a traitorous one."
"We'll send a letter to Lord Greyjoy, the reaping will stop only when the Lannisters, all of them, are in his custody and brought to the capital, House Westerling will be acknowledged as the new Paramount House of the Westerlands and the Warden of the West. He can keep the gold but he will let the smallfolk go." Cregan declared. As for nobles... Well nobles actually held blame for their treason and deserved to be punished, unlike the smallfolk, who only wished to live in peace with a bed to sleep on and full belly. Cregan couldn't act as freely as he hoped but the Ironborn could. Dalton Greyjoy could choose their fate for all he cared. They also needed to make their orders flexible and favourable to the Red Kraken if they wanted him to follow them.
The Black Council was adjourned and Cregan Stark personally oversaw the trials of the traitors arrested in the Red Keep. Larys Strong, the Spy Master of the Usurper was the first to be put to sword. Corlys Velaryon was the only one given the option of taking the Black out of respect for his wife's sacrifice and his initial contributions to the Black cause.
Later that day, Queen Rhaenyra's son was officially crowned as King Aegon, the Second of His Name, King of the Andals, The Rhoynar and the First Men, the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. However, due to his young age, another Protector of the Realm needed to be found.
Lord Cregan Stark, who declared himself Hand of the King, was considered. But the Northern lord was needed back in his homeland to prepare for winter.
Lady Jeyne Arryn refused as she didn't wish to be away from the Vale for more than she had to, having dealt with the betrayal of her own heir very recently.
At the end, Lady Alysanne Blackwood recommended Princess Baela as the Protector of the Realm. There had been opposition to Princess Baela's appointment as Lady Protector but they were quickly reminded by Cregan Stark that they had fought for a Queen to rule and that there was no reason for a Targaryen Princess, who fought in the war and ensured the death of the Usurper's mount, not to help the governing of the Seven Kingdoms after she had proven herself more than some of the men who desired the position.
After a tense shouting match between those who supported the princess and didn't, Princess Baela -the Lady of Driftmark- was officially declared as Lady Protector and the members of the regency council were announced. It consisted of Princess Baela as Lady Protector, Lord Alan Beesbury as Hand of the King, Lord Corwyn Corbray who would also serve as Master of Laws, Ser Torrhen Manderly who took over the duties of the Master of Coin, Lord Leymond Mallister as Master of Ships, Lord Donnel Waynwood and Lady Alysanne Blackwood.
Afterwards, the fate of Greens were revealed.
The marriage between Alicent Hightower and King Viserys was declared void due to the fact that there had been no Valyrian ceremony to officiate it in the late King's fate. The High Septon also annulled their marriage in the Faith of the Seven on the grounds of the King's carnal knowledge of the Lady Alicent before their wedding and Lady Alicent's adultery with Ser Criston Cole. Afterwards, she had been executed by Princess Baela who wielded the Blackfyre.
Jaehaera Waters, the Usurper's last surviving child, would be sent to the Faith to become a Silent Sister.
The reign of Aegon Waters wouldn't be recognized.
Ser Criston Cole's service as a Kingsguard wouldn't be recognized due to his treason.
House Lannister would lose the Paramountcy of the Westerlands and Wardenship of the West and their positions would be given to House Westerling. Additionally, several members of their House would become wards of the Crown. Their taxes would also be raised by fifteen percent for the next two decades.
House Baratheon would keep its titles and Lady Cassandra would be recognized as the Lady Paramount of Stormlands but would wed a man of the Crown's choosing, as would her sisters. They would pay raised taxes as well and Lady Maris Baratheon would become a hostage of the Crown while Borros Baratheon would be sent to the Night's Watch. Initially, it was decided that Aemond Waters's betrothed Lady Floris would be taken as hostage but Lady Maris Baratheon volunteered to take her sister's place.
"Floris didn't ask to be chosen by the kinslayer but I taunted and provoked him. My words are the reason for the kinslayer's chase of Prince Lucerys and his subsequent death. She doesn't deserve to suffer my actions."
While many were moved by her sisterly devotion, more were incensed to learn her role in Prince Lucerys's death. Princess Baela was reported to have made Lady Maris's life in the Red Keep very difficult.
And yet despite the punishment, when the fate of the only other Paramount House who supported the usurpers was revealed, many were incredulous to see the leniency shown to the Baratheons. While the official reason -House Baratheon's lack of treasonous actions before King Viserys's death- did placate some, many suspected House Baratheon was spared, because of the need for more ruling ladies for Lords of Westeros to accept a Queen easier next time. After all, King Aegon had no wife or heir of his own at the time and no one knew if he would prefer to promote a daughter as heir over a son.
House Hightower would be stripped of all titles and lands, their remaining members would be sent to the Faith or the Night's Watch and their lands would be given to House Beesbury while Houses Tarly, Caswell, Rowan and Costayne would take over the management of the Citadel. While the four houses didn't like sharing this new power, it was made clear that this decision was made to avoid monopolizing the Citadel's power at the hands of one house and repeat the history.
It should also be noted that after years of male dominant rule in Westeros, both before and after the Conquest, the examplary leadership shown by Lady Jeyne Arryn, Princess Baela Targaryen, Lady Alysanne Blackwood and even Lady Regent of the Reach paved the way for future female monarchs to ascend without bloodshed.