Familiarity ||| Jacaerys Velaryon

thirty

A massacre. That's what it was.

When Meleys, Vermax, and Cannibal descended upon the thousands of soldiers Aegon led to their deaths. They learned how it felt to die by dragonfire.

Agonizing.

As they planned, the dragons took out the scorpions and crossbows first. Taking turns drawing attacks so the other two dragons could dive low and spit fire at the weapons.

When the majority of the weapons were gone, the soldiers knew they were doomed. There was nothing to contest the dragons as they killed row by row of men who'd expected to win.

And with the dragons decimating the forces, Lord Staunton finally opened his gates and sent his men out to the battle. They had the advantage, even if it wasn't in numbers.

There was only one thing those soldiers could do to save their lives. They'd been abandoned by their prince, their king was dead or incapacitated, and their commander kept urging them forward.

They turned on him. Ser Criston Cole who urged them to keep fighting for their King, for the crown. The crown that fled and the King whose plan failed miserably.

When thousands were dead, no longer would those men stand it. They turned on Criston Cole, apprehending him. And before the dragons could make another pass, could burn more of their men, they began waving white flags.

Calling their surrender. Begging for mercy from the Targaryen flame.

Alyssa dared to feel relieved. Dared to breathe and relax her rigid stance, sitting back in the saddle.

The dragons didn't immediately land. Instead, they circled together in the sky, watching as Lord Staunton's garrison rounded up the soldiers and forced them to kneel.

Jace hovered next to Alyssa as they watched the surrender from above. "Are you alright?"

She nodded immediately, still not able to feel the extent of the burn Aegon gifted her. She was too giddy, too relieved and hyped on adrenaline from their battle.

They only landed, however, when Lord Staunton had Criston Cole kneeling on the ground before him. The commander of the army.

Alyssa, Jace, and Rhaenys were careful as they landed their respective dragons. Each chose a place of open field to land their dragons, keeping them close but not too close. There was a chance the remaining soldiers, though few, would try something.

Both Alyssa and Rhaenys let Jace take the lead. Perhaps they were both older. But he was the heir and acted as his mother's regent on that battlefield.

Lord Staunton was an older man, his armour didn't quite look right on a man his age. But he was extremely relieved for the help and took Jace, Alyssa, and Rhaenys' hands in turn.

"Thank you, my prince. Without your help here today, we surely should have perished. We will forever be in Her Grace's debt."

Jace nodded and then turned his attention to an injured and disgruntled Criston Cole. The Kingmaker they called him.

Together, with both his grandmother and his betrothed at his back, Jace stood before Criston Cole.