Chapter 122 -Moat Cailin (II)
🕑 Added 2025-02-19 06:42:43 +0000 UTC“Let's start letting the people know the power of steel and gunpowder.” - King Aenar I Targaryen, First of His Name.
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Eddard looked at the long war march and couldn't help but display a stunned expression. He had heard from Aenar that his soldiers would be arriving from Essos, but at the sight of the red and gold wave occupying his vision, the Lord of Winterfell couldn't help but widen his eyes.
The number of men before him was not small; on the contrary, it was larger than his own army, which numbered around thirty-five to forty thousand soldiers.
“I hope Aenar brought supplies for such a large number of men,” muttered Eddard. He raised his head and saw four dragons flying around the army. After taking one last look at the troops, he descended from the wall of Moat Cailin, ready to greet his nephew and all of House Targaryen.
At the gates, Eddard was accompanied by all his vassals as he watched the army of gold-masked soldiers approaching with steady steps.
As he looked closer, he realized that it was an extraordinary army. He could see and hear that the soldiers' steps were in perfect sync, as if they were a single entity. This showed admirable discipline, something that the soldiers of the North could never match.
Then Eddard spotted the members of House Targaryen. The Lord of Winterfell let out a sigh as he saw them approaching. If there was one thing he truly regretted, it was the fact that his actions had caused so much suffering to innocent people who had nothing to do with the Mad King's sins.
“Your Grace.” Eddard greeted Aenar first and then his eyes fell on the older woman with the long silver hair and lilac eyes. He took on a regretful expression and spoke in a softer tone:
“Queen Dowager Rhaella.”
Rhaella watched the mature man before her and couldn't help noticing how much Eddard Stark had changed since Harrenhal. The shy boy, unable to converse with a lady, had completely transformed into a man.
“I see you've learned how to talk to a woman without stuttering, Lord Stark.” She commented in an amused tone, joking with one of the people most responsible for the fall of House Targaryen.
Eddard's eyes widened when he heard Rhaella's joke.
“HAHAHAHAH!!!” The lords of the North burst into laughter at the queen's words. They looked at their liege lord and couldn't help but laugh even louder.
“Lord Stark, as a young man, really stuttered in front of a beautiful woman,” commented Greatjon, letting out a loud and powerful laugh.
“In the old days, Lord Stark looked like a wolf cub who didn't know how to bite yet,” added Maege in an amused tone.
Eddard, seeing his vassals laughing at him, was speechless, but cast a complex glance at Rhaella. The woman showed no animosity towards him, and that only made him feel even more ashamed.
He looked like a hypocrite, while Rhaella looked like someone of honor. Honestly, he would have preferred to be shouted at in anger, even slapped in the face, but when he saw the serene, peaceful look on her face, he knew that wouldn't happen.
Under everyone's surprised gaze, Eddard knelt down in front of the horse Rhaella was riding.
“I know that my words can never bring the dead back to life, but I still want to apologize. My actions have led both you and me to lose important people. Every time I remember the events of fourteen years ago, I feel unworthy to look you in the eye.” He spoke with a tone full of regret and pain.
The cheerful atmosphere was shattered by Eddard's words. Everyone looked at him, shocked.
Rhaella displayed a complex expression and, in an instant, got off her horse. Looking at the man kneeling before her, the Dowager Queen spoke with a weary tone:
“He killed your father and brother. You had every right to fight for revenge. I don't blame you for rebelling against my husband and brother. Aerys was mad, a hostage to fear and a grandiosity he never had.”
“Stand up, Lord Stark. We've all lost almost all of our family, we don't need to put the blame on each other. Perhaps, in another circumstance, we could have been a family, with Lyanna being Queen of the Seven Kingdoms and Aenar growing up as a true prince in the Red Keep, but fate didn't want it that way.”
“Then don't blame yourself. I'd do the same thing myself if I were in your shoes.”
Rhaella helped Eddard to his feet and spoke with a sincere tone. She had fourteen years to sink into hatred, but she hadn't. She knew that everything was the fault of Aerys and the other conspirators.
The more Rhaella showed understanding, the more Eddard felt ashamed, not daring to look the queen in the eye. However, without anyone knowing, he had made an important decision.
When the war was over, he would relinquish his titles and pass on the lordship of Winterfell to Robb. Then he would join the Night's Watch and serve the Order until they no longer needed him.
Aenar, who had heard everything up to that point, cast a calm glance at Eddard and let out a helpless sigh. Sometimes he wished he didn't know what would happen in the future. Still, if that man was at peace with his choice, Aenar would accept it.
“Let's go in, we have a war to plan.” Aenar spoke, making the atmosphere slightly more relaxed.
Everyone bowed to him and replied:
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Eddard looked at his nephew and realized that Aenar knew of his decision, which didn't surprise him. Not for the first time, he suspected that he could see into the future. Remembering the Dragon Dreams, a gift of House Targaryen, he knew that Aenar could indeed have glimpses of what was to come.
However, seeing his nephew's look of approval, Eddard understood that Aenar respected his choice and would accept his joining the Night's Watch.
At Aenar's words, everyone entered Moat Cailin and the real pre-war meeting began.
In the Great Hall of Moat Cailin, which had been rebuilt, a carved wooden table displayed a map of the Seven Kingdoms. Aenar was standing next to it, staring intently at the map in front of him.
He pointed directly at the Twins, who would be his next target.
“Our first target is the Twins. We're going to destroy the castle and kill all the Frey.”
As soon as Aenar uttered these words, the Northern lords who were not yet aware of the situation were shocked.
“Before you say anything, know that Walder Frey is conspiring with Tywin Lannister to kill us as soon as we enter his castle as guests.” Aenar spoke with a calm, cold tone, anticipating the questions.
“Damn Walder Frey! Damn Tywin Lannister!!!” Greatjon slammed his fist against the table and shouted, his gaze filled with fury. The Right of the Guest was a sacred law, so strong that even if the most hated of wildlings was staying in a Northern castle, no one would dare raise a voice against him.
The expressions of the others present were no better than Greatjon's. Knowing that they could be killed under the protection of the Right of the Guest was terrifying. It was as if there were no laws left to maintain order in Westeros.
“For that reason, we're going to destroy the Twins and House Frey. This trash can no longer exist.” Aenar declared coolly, causing many to look at him with admiration, especially the northerners, who saw his decision as a sign of strength and courage. After all, it wasn't every day that someone dared to destroy one of the most powerful castles in Westeros.
“What do you intend to do, Your Grace? Burn down the entire castle with your dragon?” Eddard asked in a calm tone. But behind his apparent calm, there was a silent fury about to explode. Like his liege lord, House Tully, he knew that the Freys were not worthy of trust or respect.
“No. Let's test my new siege weapons. They are capable of attacking castles and causing great damage to their structures.”
Aenar's words took everyone by surprise. Eyes widened and expressions of shock filled the hall.
A weapon capable of causing major damage to the structures of a castle? How could they not be surprised?
Aenar knew that trebuchets existed in that world, but for him, these siege weapons were inefficient. So he created something much simpler with the knowledge he had in his mind.
He brought into existence the greatest invention of the human race in ballistic terms.
Gunpowder.
Comments
Vrati
Those cannons will rip through army and dominate all battlefields. He doesn’t even need dragons to conquer Westeros. With cannons, siege warfare will become so easy and less time consuming that it is laughable. Now I wonder if Caraxes can withstand cannon ball.
Banana19
Damn! Gun powder? Does that he built those ball canons?
