Difference between revisions of "Dance of the Dragons"

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| battles =  
 
| battles =  
 
| location = [[Westeros]]
 
| location = [[Westeros]]
| result = [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]]'s ascension to the throne.
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| result = *Deaths of both claimants, [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]] and [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]]<br>*[[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]]'s ascension to the throne<br>*Marriage of [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]] to [[Jaehaera Targaryen]]
 
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| combatant1 = [[House Targaryen]] ([[the blacks]]).
 
| combatant1 = [[House Targaryen]] ([[the blacks]]).
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In {{date|111}}, a great tourney was held at [[King’s Landing]] on the fifth anniversary of the king’s marriage to Queen Alicent. At the opening feast, the queen wore a green gown, whilst the [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Princess Rhaenyra]] dressed dramatically in Targaryen red and black. Note was taken, and thereafter it became the custom to refer to “[[The greens|greens]]” and “[[The blacks|blacks]]” when talking of the queen’s party and the party of the princess, respectively. In the tourney itself, the blacks had much the better of it when Ser [[Criston Cole]], wearing Princess Rhaenyra’s favor, unhorsed all of the Queen’s champions, including two of her cousins and her youngest brother, Ser [[Gwayne Hightower]]. <ref name="PQ">''[[The Princess and the Queen]]''</ref>
 
In {{date|111}}, a great tourney was held at [[King’s Landing]] on the fifth anniversary of the king’s marriage to Queen Alicent. At the opening feast, the queen wore a green gown, whilst the [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Princess Rhaenyra]] dressed dramatically in Targaryen red and black. Note was taken, and thereafter it became the custom to refer to “[[The greens|greens]]” and “[[The blacks|blacks]]” when talking of the queen’s party and the party of the princess, respectively. In the tourney itself, the blacks had much the better of it when Ser [[Criston Cole]], wearing Princess Rhaenyra’s favor, unhorsed all of the Queen’s champions, including two of her cousins and her youngest brother, Ser [[Gwayne Hightower]]. <ref name="PQ">''[[The Princess and the Queen]]''</ref>
  
==Preliminary activities==
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==The Dance of the Dragons==
Upon Viserys' death in {{Date|129}}, the Lord Commander of the [[Kingsguard]], Ser [[Criston Cole]], later called "the Kingmaker", defied the king's will, and crowned Prince Aegon as Aegon II. Ser Criston's motivations for doing so are unclear, but it was reputed that he and Rhaenyra were lovers, and their affair ended badly, adding a personal dimension to the conflict. He may simply have wished to uphold [[Andal]] tradition. In any event, many of the lords of the realm were aware of Viserys' wish to have Rhaenyra succeed him as Westeros's first [[w:queen regnant|queen regnant]], and threw their support behind the Princess. Doubtless, many of them were also the same supporters who has spent years currying favor with the presumptive future queen. Among Rhaenyra's staunchest supporters were her first husband's family, [[House Velaryon]] of [[Driftmark]]. Rhaenyra disputed Aegon's claim, resulting in a bloody civil war. The realm was split in half. Even the Kingsguard chose sides, exemplified when the brothers Ser [[Arryk]] and Ser [[Erryk]] killed each other.<ref>[http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1164/ Kingsguard in the Dance of Dragons]</ref> {{Ref|aGoT|8}} Targaryen fought Targaryen and dragon fought dragon, with many lesser branches of House Targaryen and most of the Targaryen dragons being killed in the war, among them Rhaenyra's three eldest sons, who all died fighting.<ref name="PQ">''[[The Princess and the Queen]]''</ref>
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===The Small Council meeting===
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Upon the death of King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], on the third day of the third month of {{Date|129}}, Queen [[Alicent Hightower|Alicent]] and Ser [[Criston Cole]] send out the [[Kingsguard]] to summon the [[Small Council]] members. During the gathering, the conversation quickly stirred towards [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra’s]] coronation, but Ser [[Otto Hightower]], the [[Hand of the King]], told those who had gathered that it would be a new King who would be crowned, whilst Lord [[Lyman Beesbury]], the [[Master of Coin]], insisted Rhaenyra should be crowned a queen.  
  
In the war, armies marched and met in savage battle, much of the slaughter took place on water, and in the air, as dragon fought dragon with tooth and claw and flame. It was also marked by stealth, murder, and betrayal.<ref name="PQ">''[[The Princess and the Queen]]''</ref>
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Lord Beesbury argued in favour of Rhaenyra, but several other council members countered him. Ser [[Tyland Lannister]] argued that the oaths made to Rhaenyra in {{Date|105}} had not been made by them, since it had been twenty-four years. [[Jasper Wylde|Ironrod]] mentioned that the [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Old King]] twice chose a male heir over [[Rhaenys Targaryen (The Queen Who Never Was)|the female heir]], and Ser [[Otto Hightower|Otto]] reminded them all that Rhaenyra was married to [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]], who would become the true ruler, should Rhaenyra gain the crown. Both Hightowers argued that not only they, but also Alicent’s children would lose their lives should Rhaenyra become their Queen. It would later be said that Prince [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]] only reluctantly accepted the crown because his mother, brothers, sister and children would otherwise be killed by [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]].
  
[[Master of Coin]] [[Lyman Beesbury]] was noted as the first casualty of the war. He was killed by Criston after speaking for Rhaenyra at the small council meeting discussing succession after King Viserys I's death.<ref name="PQ">''[[The Princess and the Queen]]''</ref>
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Grand Maester [[Orwyle]] predicted a war, believing that [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenya]] would never be willing to give up her birth right, since she had dragons at her disposal. Lord [[Lyman Beesbury|Beesbury] declared Rhaenyra had friends as well, and that he was not willing to sit there and listen to people plotting to steal Rhaenyra’s crown. He rose to leave, but Ser [[Criston Cole]] forced him back into his seat and opened his throat. This made Lord Beesbury the first casualty of the Dance of the Dragons.
  
Aegon II sent [[Grand Maester]] [[Orwyle]] to plead for peace with generous terms, which Rhaenyra refused.
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After Beesbury’s death, the green council made their plans, vowing their loyalty to their new King, and arresting all those in King's Landing who could be loyal to Rhaenyra. To all those who might be loyal to Aegon, ravens were send. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra remained on [[Dragonstone]], unaware of what had happened.
  
[[Daemon Targaryen (husband of Rhaenyra)|Daemon Targaryen]] [[Fall of Harrenhal (Dance of the Dragons)|seized]] the castle of [[Harrenhal]] as a toehold in the mainland while the rest of the blacks held [[Dragonstone]]. [[House Velaryon]]'s fleet, commanded by the [[Corlys Velaryon |Sea Snake]], blocked off [[Blackwater Bay]].
 
  
==War==
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===Coronation of Aegon II===
'''Dance over Shipbreaker Bay'''<br>
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Prince [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] was send out to [[Storm's End]], to betroth himself to one of Lord [[Borros Baratheon|Borros’]] daughters, so he might fight for [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]]. By the time he left, the smell coming from [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys’]] room was all over [[Maegor's Holdfast]], so seven days after Viserys had died, his death was announced to the [[King's Landing|city]] and the [[Silent Sisters]] were sent for.
[[Lucerys Velaryon]] and his dragon [[Arrax]] were killed at Storm's End by [[Aemond Targaryen]] and [[Vhagar]]. In retribution, Daemon sent two thugs named [[Blood (the butcher)|Blood]] and [[Cheese (the rat-catcher)|Cheese]] to kill Prince [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon II)|Jaehaerys Targaryen]]. The war turned bloody from this point onward.
 
  
'''[[Battle of Burning Mill]] and [[Battle of Stone Hedge]]'''<br>
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Aegon’s coronation was prepared in short time. Ser [[Criston Cole]] placed the crown of [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conquerer]] on Aegon’s head, while [[Alicent Hightower]] placed a crown upon the head of Aegon’s Queen,  his sister [[Helaena Targaryen|Helaena]].
Following the murder of Prince Jaehaerys, the Greens suffered two defeats at [[Burning Mill]] and [[Stone Hedge]].
 
  
'''[[Sack of Duskendale]] and [[Battle of Rook's Rest]]'''<br>
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The night before Aegon’s  coronation, however, the first defection had taken place. Ser [[Steffon Darklyn]] had left the city, with, amongst other things, the crown Kings [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys I]] and [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|Jaehaerys I]] had worn.
Aegon named [[Criston Cole]], the Commander of his [[Kingsguard]], as his new [[Hand of the King|Hand]] because of [[Otto Hightower]]'s delays. They sacked [[Duskendale]] and set a trap at [[Rook's Rest]]. Cole fought against [[Rhaenys Targaryen]] and her dragon, [[Meleys]], until Aegon's dragons arrived. Rhaenys and her Meleys were slain. Aegon was severely wounded and Prince Aemond took over as [[regent]] while he recovered for the year.
 
  
'''The Search for Dragonseed'''<br>
+
On [[Dragonstone]], [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] had learned about the death of her father and the betrayal of her siblings. Anger had made her go into labour, which lasted for three days and brought forth a still born, deformed girl, whom Rhaenyra named [[Visenya Targaryen (daughter of Rhaenyra)|Visenya]]. Rhaenyra, in answer to Aegon’s betrayel, swore revenge against the Greens.
When planning the attack on King's Landing, Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon]] decided that they would need more dragons and so the search for new riders in the [[dragonseed]]s began.  
 
  
'''[[Battle in the Gullet]]'''<br>
 
[[Jacaerys Velaryon]] gathered four dragonriders from the seeds on [[Dragonstone]]. An alliance with the [[Essos]]i [[Kingdom of the Three Daughters]], set up by Aegon II's first Hand, became cemented. Their admiral, [[Sharako Lohar]] of [[Lys]], took a combined fleet of ninety warships from the [[Stepstones]]. Jace met them with his dragons.
 
  
The result was the bloodiest sea battles in history. [[The blacks]]' blockade was broken, but only twenty-eight Triarchy ships survived. The [[Velaryon]] fleet lost almost a third of its strength. Jaecarys and his dragon, [[Vermax]], were slain. [[Driftmark]] was burned. Jace marked the second son of Queen Rhaenyra after Luke to die in the Dance.
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===The Black Council===
 +
Rhaenyra made her own council, called the Black Council. Participants were, amongst others, Rhaenyra’s husband [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]], her three eldest sons [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]], [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]] and [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]], Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]], and his wife Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (The Queen Who Never Was)|Rhaenys]].
  
'''[[Battle on the Honeywine]]'''<br>
+
Despite having more dragons, the Blacks knew that wouldn’t be an advantage, since the Greens possessed [[Vhagar]], and from the nine dragons belonging to the Backs, only five were big enough for battle.
[[Ormund Hightower]] was flanked and outnumbered in the Reach. Ormund's squire, [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron Targaryen]], arrived on his dragon, [[Tessarion]], and won the battle. Ormund knighted Daeron for saving him. This was a bitter defeat for the blacks.
 
  
'''[[Liberation of Rook's Rest]]'''<br>
+
Believing to have allies in the [[Riverlands]] who were only waiting for a place to gather, Prince [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] decided to conquer [[Harrenhal]] as a base, using his dragon [[Caraxes]], while [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] would remain on [[Dragonstone]] to recover her strength. [[House Velaryon]] closed off the [[Gullet]], and Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (The Queen Who Never Was)|Rhaenys]] expressed hope of goading [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon  the Elder]] into a rash attack, believing him to be a green boy.
Aemond and Cole gathered their forces to march on Harrenhal. Prince Daemon learned of it from his spies in the city and sent word to the Blacks. Lord [[Walys Mooton]] joined forces with [[House Crabb]], [[House Brune of Brownhollow|House Brune]], and [[House Celtigar]] and marched to Rook's Rest, taking the castle by surprise. The Blacks also tried to slay Sunfyre but failed. Lord Mooton perished and the dragon fled.
 
  
'''[[Fall of King's Landing|Conquest of the Capital]]'''<br>
+
Princess Rhaenys was convinced that Storm's End would declare for Rhaenyra, since Lord [[Boremund Baratheon|Boremund]], the deceased father of Lord [[Borros Baratheon|Borros]], had always been a supporter of Rhaenys herself. Though they believed the [[North]] to be too remote to play an important part in the war, the Blacks decided to send messages to those lords as well. [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]], Rhaenyra’s heir, would bring messages to the [[Jeyne Arryn|Maiden of the Vale]], the [[House Stark|Starks]] of [[Winterfell] and the [[House Manderly|Manderly’s]] of [[White Harbor]]. [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]], Rhaenyra’s second son, would go to [[Storm's End]], a safer, shorter journey, according to the Blacks.  
With the the capital largely defenseless, Daemon took flight to King's Landing along with his wife. The Queen Dowager tried to send riders to bring back Aemond and ravens to loyal lords, but her efforts were quickly stopped. The [[City Watch of King's Landing|City Watch]] was loyal to Daemon, who had once been their leader, slew Aegon's loyalist commanders and opened the gates to the black forces who arrived by Velaryon ships. The city was firmly in Rhaenyra's hands, but Aegon II had escaped.
 
  
'''[[Battle by the Lakeshore]]/the Fishfeed'''<br>
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After these decisions, Rhaenyra was crowned a Queen, using the crown her father and great-grandfather had worn, thanks to Ser [[Steffon Darklyn]], who had arrived from [[King's Landing]]. Prince Daemon, Rhaenyra’s husband, was named Protector of the Realm, and Jacaerys was officially named Prince of Dragonstone, and heir to the [[Iron Throne]]. Declaring [[Otto Hightower]] and Queen [[Alicent Hightower|Alicent]] traitors, Rhaenyra allowed for her half-siblings to be forgiven if they would bend the knee. Upon hearing about these developments, King [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]] declared [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] and [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] traitors as well.
[[House Lannister|Lannister]] forces marched east to back up the greens, but had slowed due to the infirmity of Lord [[House Lefford|Lefford]]. They were surrounded by northmen and rivermen from three sides and forced into the waters of the [[Gods Eye]]. The Lannister forces were slaughtered, but the casualties were high on the black side as well, with 2,000 dying on both sides.
 
  
'''[[Fall of Dragonstone]]'''<br>
+
Hoping for a peaceful end to the war, Grand Maester [[Orwyle]] was allowed to visit [[Dragonstone]] and speak with Rhaenyra. The terms he brought with him, allowed Rhaenyra and all their supporters generous terms. Rhaenyra refused. Soon after, Lord [[Corlys Velaryon|Corlys’]] ships took sail to close off the [[Gullet]], and [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jace]] and [[Lucerys Velaryon|Luke]] left on their dragons with their messages, and [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] left on [[Caraxes]] to the [[Trident]].
Disguised as one of the [[smallfolk]] Aegon II hid on [[Dragonstone]] after Rhaenyra initially took the capital for several months. Aegon was able to take the island in less than an hour by turning several embittered men over to his side. [[Moondancer]] died during the Fall and [[Baela Targaryen]] was injured and burned.
 
  
'''[[Battle at the stony ridge]]'''<br>
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[[Harrenhal]] fell quickly to Daemon. Ser [[Simon Strong]], the elderly castellan, was captured. Daemon had a dozen valuable hostages (including Ser Simon and his grandsons). In the mean time, [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jace]] allied Lady [[Jeyne Arryn|Arryn]], and the Lords [[House Manderly|Manderly]], [[House Borrell|Borrell]] and [[House Sunderland|Sunderland]], and [[Cregan Stark]] to Rhaenyra’s cause.
Guerrilla tactics harried the Kingmaker's march from Harrenhal towards King's Landing. By the time they reached the village of [[Crossed Elms]] their numbers and morale was low. When they reached a stony ridge south of the [[Gods Eye]] they were met with nearly 7,000 blacks. Cole only had 3,600 men and no dragons, as Aemond had left on Vhagar to burn the [[Riverlands]]. Cole was slain early in the battle, and his men fled quickly.
 
  
'''The Treasons of Tumbleton/[[First Battle of Tumbleton]]'''<br>
 
Queen Rhaenyra had 9,000 men defending the town of [[Tumbleton]] in the northeast of [[the Reach]]. [[Silverwing]] and [[Vermithor]] arrived to relieve them. Together they faced a larger army lead by [[Ormund Hightower]] and his scout Daeron on [[Tessarion|the Blue Queen]]. Hightower's army infiltrated the city disguised as refugees.
 
 
The commander of the blacks' [[northmen]], Lord [[Roderick Dustin]], died while slaying Hightower, whose army seemed defeated. The dragonseed, [[Hugh Hammer]] and [[Ulf the White|Ulf White]], switched sides from blacks to greens and set Tumbleton to the flames. No quarter was given, even when Lord [[House Footly|Footly]]'s men surrendered. They became known as the [[Two Betrayers]].
 
  
With the Two Betrayers on their minds, many voices in the [[black council]] questioned [[Addam Velaryon]]’s loyalty. Only Lord Corlys spoke in defence of the [[dragonseed]], remarking that Ser Addam and his brother [[Alyn Velaryon (Alyn of Hull)|Alyn]] were “true heirs” and worthy of [[Driftmark]].
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===The Dance over Shipbreaker Bay===
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[[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]] had meanwhile flown to [[Storm's End]], arriving before a gathering storm. When he arrived, however, he found Prince [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] and his dragon [[Vhagar]] already present. Aemond tried to goad Lucerys into a fight, insulting him, calling him a [[House Strong|Strong]] bastard, but Lucerys, having sworn to his mother not to fight, refused him, and instead delivered his message to Lord [[Borros Baratheon|Borros]]. Lord Borros responded by asking which one of his daughters Luke would marry, should he do what [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] wanted him to do. Luke, already betrothed, told Lord Borros he could not marry any of the girls, upon which Lord Borros told Luke to leave.
  
The Hand’s impassioned protests were in vain and Queen Rhaenyra, suspecting a turncloak, commanded Ser [[Luthor Largent]] to arrest Addam Velaryon in the [[Dragonpit]]. Addam, who had been forewarned, managed to make his escape flying away with [[Seasmoke]], fleeing before he could be put to the question. By ordering the arrest of Addam, the queen lost not only a dragon but her Queen’s Hand as well.  Corlys was beaten and imprisoned for warning Addam.
+
[[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] drew his sword before [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys]] could go outside, and Lord [[Borros Baratheon|Borros’]] men had to hold him back.
  
When it became known that Lord Corlys was languishing in a dungeon under the Red Keep, the army that had sailed from [[Dragonstone]] to seize the [[Iron Throne]] began to abandon Rhaenyra’s cause by the hundreds. The ones that remained could not be trusted. Rhaenyra had lost her fleet.
 
  
'''[[Dance over Harrenhal]]'''<br>
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{{Quote|He came an envoy. I want no blood shed beneath my roof.}}
Daemon challenged [[Aemond Targaryen]], waiting for thirteen days at [[Harrenhal]] until Aemond stopped burning the [[Riverlands]] to come face him. The fight ended in the death of both riders and both dragons over the [[God's Eye]].
 
  
'''[[Riot of King's Landing (the Dance of the Dragons)|Riots at King's Landing]]'''<br>
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…is what Lord Borros said, growing uneasy. At that, Lucerys went outside, mounted [[Arrax|his dragon]], and left. Lord Borros then told Aemond that he could not tell Aemond what not to do when Aemond was no longer beneath his roof, upon which Borros’ men moved aside and let Aemond out.
Unable to leave the capital, the smallfolk of King's Landing panicked at the impending threat of dragon fire burning the city. With no other means of escape, they turned to the taverns. When Helaena died, rumors that she'd been murdered spread. That was the spark to ignite the riots. 500 Gold Cloaks faced 10,000 smallfolk. The riot roamed across Cobbler's Square and [[Flea Bottom]], claiming many lives of both the gold cloaks and smallfolk, including [[Luthor Largent]] and [[Lorent Marbrand]]. It lasted for a full night and half a day and left many areas of the city in control of peasant-kings and knights. But the next night the riots began again in larger numbers. They opened the gates of the city.
 
  
'''[[Storming of the Dragonpit]]'''<br>
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Outside the storm was raging. Though younger and faster, the storm was slowing [[Arrax]] down, leading to [[Vhagar]] catching up. The fight between the two dragons did not last long. [[Vhagar]], being five times bigger, had the advantage, and [[Arrax]] fell broken. His head and neck would wash ashore three days later, along with the corpse of Prince [[Lucerys Velaryon]].
As the riots continued, a crazed prophet called [[Shepherd (one-handed prophet)|the Shepherd]] convinced the mobs that all dragons should die. Rhaenyra did not believe the mobs presented a threat to the dragons, but her son [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]] thought otherwise and died trying to save them. The dragons [[Shrykos]], [[Morghul]], [[Tyraxes]], and [[Dreamfyre]] were killed by the mob, unable to fly away from their chains or the barred bronze gates of the pit. Dreamfyre's final escape attempt collapsed the building. [[Syrax]], who was kept near the Keep, fought the mob but fell too.
 
  
'''[[Second Battle of Tumbleton]]'''<br>
 
Addam rode Seasmoke to Tumbleton with a host of 4,000 men in order to prove [[bastard]]s are not turncloaks by nature. He fought against the [[Two Betrayers]] and the Hightower army, who had been taken by surprise in the night. [[Hugh Hammer|Hard Hugh]] was betrayed and slain by [[Jon Roxton|Bold Jon]] because Hugh aimed to take the crown for himself. Jon was killed in turn by Hugh's men. Daeron died when his tent was set on fire. Seasmoke, Addam, Tessarion, and Vermithor died in the battle. The green army was defeated and their prince killed along with three dragons, but the blacks were unable to retake Tumbleton.
 
  
After the battle [[Hobert Hightower]] and [[Ulf the White|Ulf White]] drank poisoned wine and died.
+
{{Quote|And with his death, the war of ravens and envoys and marriage pacts came to an end, and the war of fire and blood began in earnest.}}
  
Rhaenyra escaped to Dragonstone where she thought it was safe. Unbeknownst to her, however, the island had fallen to King Aegon II. She was captured and put to death as a traitor. Aegon had her eaten by his dragon, [[Sunfyre]], as her own son, also named [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]], watched. However, her followers carried on under the banner of her son, calling him Aegon III. The bloody conflict ended half a year later in {{Date|131}} with the death of Aegon II and the ascension of his nephew Aegon III to the throne, presumably because he had no children of his own and/or some compromise between the supporters of the two factions.
 
  
==End==
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===[[Blood (the butcher)|Blood]] and [[Cheese (the rat-catcher)|Cheese]]===
 +
[[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] collapsed when learning of [[Lucerys Velaryon|Lucerys’]] death. Prince [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]], at [[Harrenhal]], send a raven to his wife.
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{{Quote|An eye for an eye, a son for a son. Lucerys shall be avenged.}}
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[[Daemon Targaryen]] had friends in the low places of [[King's Landing]] and at court, and followers amongst the gold cloaks. One of his friends enlisted the help of a former serjeant in the [[City Watch of King's Landing|City Watch]], known to history as [[Blood (the butcher)|Blood]], and a rat-catcher from the [[Red Keep]], known to history only as [[Cheese (the rat-catcher)|Cheese]].
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[[Cheese (the rat-catcher)|Cheese]] sneaked [[Blood (the butcher)|Blood]] into the [[Red Keep]], using secret tunnels and hidden doors, bringing them into the [[Tower of the Hand]]. Blood killed Queen Alicents bedmaid, whilst Cheese bound and gagged [[Alicent Hightower|Alicent]] herself. Then they waited for Queen [[Helaena Targaryen|Helaena]], who would visit her mother every evening with her three children. As Helaena and the children entered, Blood barred the door and killed the guardsmen accompanying Helaena. Cheese picked up [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]].
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{{Quote|”Which one you want t’ lose, Your Grace?”}}
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Calling themselves debt collectors, they gave [[Helaena Targaryen|Helaena]] the choice of chosing which of her two sons would die.  In the end, Helaena chose [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]], but [[Blood (the butcher)|Blood]] did the opposite and killed Prince [[Jaehaerys Targaryen (son of Aegon III)|Jaehaerys]], six year of age. True to their word, they did not hurt anyone else, but fled with Prince Jaehaerys’ head. After this event, Queen Helaena slowly went mad, staying in her chambers, no longer being able to look at her son Maelor, knowing she had named him to die. Dowager Queen [[Alicent Hightower|Alicent]] took over the care of the remaining two children.
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===The [[Battle of Rook's Rest]]===
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After the fall of Harrenhal, King [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]] suffered defeats at the [[Burning Mill]] and [[Stone Hedge]], making the young king realizing his situation was severe. Ravens returned from the [[Reach]], and while [[House Hightower]] of [[Oldtown]] and the [[Arbor]] stood firmly behind Aegon, [[Owen Costayne|Lord Costayne]] of [[Three Towers]], [[House Mullendore|Lord Mullendore]] of [[Uplands]], Lord [[Alan Tarly]] of [[Horn Hill]], [[House Rowan|Lord Rowan]] of [[Goldengrove]] and [[House Grimm|Lord Grimm]] of [[Greyshield]]  all declared for [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]], as did the [[Vale]], [[White Harbor]], [[Winterfell]], the [[House Blackwood|Blackwoods]] and other riverlords, who were assembling at [[Harrenhal]].
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This, and the closing of the [[Gullet]] that kept going, made [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]] angry at his [[Otto Hightower|Hand]]. Ser Otto believed that [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]], Rhaenyra’s greatest pillar of support, was her greatest weakness. He reached out to one such foe, the [[Kingdom of the Three Daughters]] across the [[Narrow Sea]], hoping to use them against the [[Corlys Velaryon|Sea Snake]].
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Aegon II was running out of patience, however, and fired Otto as Hand. Ser [[Criston Cole|Criston]] was named in his stead, and decided actions were necessary.
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{{Quote| It is not for you to plead for support from your lords, like a beggar pleading for alms.  You are the lawful king of Westeros, and those who deny it are traitors. It is past time they learned the price of treason.}}
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[[Larys Strong]] had a list of all those who had gathered on [[Dragonstone]] to attend Rhaenyra’s coronation. Those lords living on islands could not be touched, but those on the main land could. [[Duskendale]] fell easily, and Lord Darklyn was beheaded. Ser Criston then turned his attention to [[Rook's Rest]].
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[[Lord Staunton]] closed his gates and defied his attackers, but could not protect his small folk. His provisions running low, he send a raven to [[Dragonstone]], asking for help. The help that arrived was Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (The Queen Who Never Was)|Rhaenys]] on dragon [[Meleys]]. Unbeknownst to [[the blacks]], however, Ser Criston had been expecting a dragon to appear. His men attacked the dragon with scorpions, longbows and crossbows, it only served to anger Meleys.
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 +
Next, [[Sunfyre]] and [[Vhagar]] appeared. [[Meleys]] had no chance against [[Vhagar]] and [[Sunfyre]] combined. The dragons fought a thousand feet above the ground. Meleys’ jaws closed around Sunfyre’s neck, and Vahgar fell upon them, causing all three dragons to crash into the ground. From the ashes, only [[Vhagar]] rose again. [[Sunfyre]] had one wing half torn from his body, whilst his rider, King [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]], suffered from several broken bones and severe burns. Princess [[Rhaenys Targaryen (The Queen Who Never Was)|Rhaenys]]  was found completely burned next to the dead body of [[Meleys]]. After the battle, Prince [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] and Ser Criston took [[Rook's Rest]] and put the garrison to death. The head of [[Meleys]] was brought back to [[King's Landing]], inspiring fear amongst the small folk, causing thousands to flee the capitol until the gates were barred by Dowager Queen [[Alicent Hightower|Alicent]].
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 +
King [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]] was brought back to [[King's Landing]], where maesters attended to his wounds. He was severely wounded, sleeping nine hours out of every ten, under the influence of milk of the poppy. [[Sunfyre]] was too large to be moved, and due to his injuries unable to fly. The dragon thus remained at [[Rook's Rest]], where guards were posted to keep him safe and feed him. With Aegon unable to rule, Prince [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] assumed the style of Protector of the Realm.
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 +
{{Quote|You must rule the realm now, until your brother is strong enough to take the crown again.}}
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 +
 
 +
===The Dragonseeds===
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 +
{{Quote|It should have been you.}}
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 +
Lord [[Corlys Velaryon|Corlys]], upon learning of the death of his [[Rhaenys Targaryen (The Queen Who Never Was)|wife]]], threatened to leave Rhaenyra’s side, until Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]] named him [[Hand of the Queen]]. Together, grandfather and grandson planned an assault on [[King's Landing]], send Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]] to the [[Vale]] with Lady [[Rhaena Targaryen (Rhaena of Pentos)|Rhaena]] and three dragons eggs and Joffrey’s dragon [[Tyraxes]]. Prince [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]] and Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys]] were sent to [[Pentos]] by [[Gay Abandon|ship]], to be fostered with the Prince of Pentos, a friend of Prince Daemons, until Rhaenyra had secured the throne.
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 +
With only [[Vhagar]] left to defend the city ([[Dreamfyre]] was at [[King's Landing]] as well, but could not fight due to her rider being unable), [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]] wanted to attack the capitol with as many dragons as possible. With six riderless dragons present on [[Dragonstone]], Jacaerys called out to the dragonseeds, vowing that any man who could master one of the dragons would be raised to knightship and gain wealth. Many men tried, and some women as well. Sixteen men died, amongst them Lord Commander [[Steffon Darklyn]], and forty-eight were burned of maimed. Four people eventually succeeded: [[Vermithor]] was claimed by [[Hugh Hammer]], [[Silverwing]] by [[Ulf the White]], [[Seasmoke]] by [[Addam Velaryon|Addam of Hull]], and [[Sheepstealer]] by a girl named [[Nettles]]. Lord [[Corlys Velaryon|Corlys]] asked Rhaenyra to remove the taint of bastardy from Addam and his brother [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn]], making them true Velaryons, and named Addam heir to [[Driftmark]].
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 +
Meanwhile, ninety warships were sailing from the [[Stepstones]] chanced upon the [[Gay Abandon]], carrying Prince [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]] and Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys]]. The escorting ships were sunk or taken, and Prince Aegon managed to escape by clinging to the neck of his dragon, [[Stormcloud]]. During the flight, [[Stormcloud]] was injured terribly. Prince Viserys, having only a dragon egg, had no such option, and was made a captive of admiral [[Sharako Lohar]] of [[Lys]].
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Prince [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon’s]] arrival on [[Dragonstone]], with [[Stormcloud]], spread the tale, and so Prince [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]] mounted [[Vermax]] and flew to the Lysene galleys, quickly followed by the four dragonseeds. The warships tried to flee, and all seemed lost for the Lyseni, until [[Vermax]] flew too low and crashed into the sea. [[Jacaerys Velaryon|Jacaerys]] leapt free, and managed to hold on to a piece of wreckage, until he was pierced by quarrels. The prince was swallowed by the sea.
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 +
The lysine ships, who had set sail originally with ninety, sailed back with only twenty-eight ships. They passed [[Dragonstone]], but believed the island too strong to take. Instead, they sacked [[Spicetown]] and butchered men, women and children. [[High Tide]], containing all the [[Corlys Velaryon|Sea Snakes]] treasures, was consumed by fire, one third of his fleet brought down.
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 +
===The Battle on the Honeywine===
 +
A fortnight later, Lord [[Ormund Hightower]] found himself stuck between two armies: Lord [[Thaddeus Rowan]] and [[Tom Flowers]], from [[Goldengrove]] and [[Bitterbridge]], came down on him from the northeast, while Ser [[Alan  Beesbury]], Lord [[Alan Tarly]] and Lord [[Owen Costayne]] were cutting off the retreat route back to [[Oldtown]]. They closed around him, when Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron]] on his dragon joined the battle. [[Tom Flowers]] died, Lord [[Thaddeus Rowan|Rowan]] fled, the Alans were captured, and Lord [[Owen Costayne|Costayne]] was dying. The victory lead to Lord Hightower knighting Prince Daeron, naming him Daeron the Daring.
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 +
 
 +
===[[Fall of King's Landing]]===
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Tide turned for [[the blacks]]. Jace’s death seemd to give[[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] strength. Filled with anger and hatred, she resolved to use her dragons.
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 +
Meanwhile  Lord [[Walys Mooton|Mooton]] retook [[Rook's Rest]], and attempted to kill [[Sunfyre]], who still remained there, wounded. The dragon fought back, and burned three score men before the others fled. Lord Mooton himself died as well. When the survivors dared to return to the field again, the dead were still there, but Sunfyre had disappeared. There were no tracks, suggesting Sunfyre had taken wing again despite his wounds.
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 +
With the [[North]] assembling forces, Ser [[Criston Cole|Criston]] saw danger, should these troops join up with [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] at [[Harrenhal]].
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 +
{{Quote|The whore on Dragonstone is not the threat. No more than Rowan and these traitors in the Reach. The danger is my uncle. Once Daemon is dead, all these fools flying our sister’s banners will run back to their castles and trouble us no more.}}
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 +
The host Prince [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]]  had gathered at [[Harrenhal]] was still growing, and Prince [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] believed him to be the real danger, not Rhaenyra. Aemond and Ser [[Criston Cole|Criston]] rode forth from [[King's Landing]] with a host of four thousand and the dragon [[Vhagar]]. Daemon knew of their plans even before Aemond had left the capitol. He hastened south on [[Caraxes]], staying well away from Criston’s line of march.
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 +
{{Quote|When told that Aemond and Ser Criston Cole had left King's Landing, it is said that Prince Daemon laughed and said, “Past time,” for he had long anticipated this moment. A murder of ravens took flight from the twisted towers of Harrenhal.}}
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Expecting to find Daemon, instead  Aemond and Criston would find [[Harrenhal]] abandoned after a nineteen day march, and would believe themselves victorious. The truth was very different. With [[Vhagar]] away from [[King’s Landing]], only [[Dreamfyre]] remained, and [[Helaena Targaryen|Helaena]] was in no condition to fly. [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] and [[Caraxes]] had not fled, but joined up with [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] and [[Syrax]] above [[King's Landing]], leaving the small folk below in terror. [[Corlys Velaryon|The Sea Snake]]s ships sailed into [[Blackwater Bay]], and the only one left to defend the city was Dowager Queen [[Alicent Hightower|Alicent]]. Grand Maester [[Orwyle]], trying to dispatch ravens asking for help, was arrested before a single letter could be send. The riders bearing messages were arrested at the city gates, and the seven captains commanding the gates we killed or arrested, all by those gold cloaks still loyal to Prince [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]]. The city gates were opened for the men arriving with the Velaryon fleet.
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 +
[[King's Landing]] fell in less than a day.
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{{Quote|Then she bid her stepmother choose: yield, or burn.}}
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 +
All those from the green council who had been in [[King's Landing]] when the attacks began were arrested, safe for Lord [[Larys Strong]], who had disappeared, taking with him King [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]], Princess [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]], Prince [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]], and Ser [[Willis Fell]] and [[Rickard Thorne]] of the [[Kingsguard]]. The other green council members yielded, and [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] took her place on the [[Iron Throne]].
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 +
Dowager Queen Alicent would be spared, but her father, Ser [[Otto Hightower|Otto]] was beheaded, as was [[Jasper Wylde|Ironrod]]. Ser [[Tyland Lannister]] would be given to the torturers, in the hopes of regaining some of the gold he had hidden.
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 +
While Rhaenyra’s return to [[King's Landing]] was cheered and celebrated at first, the amount of head on the spikes and increasing taxes made the small folk dub her '''“King Maegor with teats”'''. Despite this, Princes [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]] and [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]] were called to King’s Landing.
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{{Quote|And for a hundred years thereafter “Maegor’s Teats” was a common curse amongst kingslanders.}}
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 +
===[[Battle by the Lakeshore]]/The Fishfeed===
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{{Quote| Best make an end to these lions before the dragons come.}}
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While the news of the [[fall of King's Landing]] reached Prince [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]], fighting in the Riverlands continued. A Lannister host was on the move, lead by the old [[House Lannister|Lord Lefford]]. At the western shores of the [[Gods Eye]], they came across [[Roderick Dustin|Roddy the Ruin]] with his [[Winter Wolves]], who had combined his forces with Lord [[Forrest Frey]] and [[Robb Rivers|Red Robb Rivers]]. From the south, [[Longleaf|Longleaf the Lionslayer]], Lords [[House Bigglestone|Bigglestone]], [[House Chambers|Chambers]] and [[House Perryn|Perryn]] locked him in. Lords [[Garibald Grey]], [[Jon Charlton]] and [[Benjicot Blackwood]] joined up with the army from the [[North|north]] and [[Riverlands|riverlands]] the following day, whilst Lord Leffords ravens were all shot down. The day after, they began their battle, which would be called the bloodiest land battle of the Dance. Hundreds died that day.
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Prince [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] and Ser [[Criston Cole]] at [[Harrenhal]] could no longer agree on a plan of action. They were running short of food. Criston wished to withdraw to the south, to join strength with Lord [[Ormund Hightower|Hightower]] and Prince [[Daeron Targaryen|Daeron]], while [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]], enraged by losing [[King's Landing]] and the outcome of the [[Battle by the Lakeshore]], wished to attack the capitol. And so they parted ways, with Criston taking the army south, whilst Prince Aemond remained to ravage the Riverlands, waiting until such a time when [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] would send out “a dragon or two” to stop him, so [[Vhagar]] could destroy them.
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 +
===The Feasting Corpses/The [[Battle at the stony ridge]]===
 +
Aemond burned [[Darry]], [[Lord Harroway's Town]], [[Lord's Mill]], [[Blackbuckle]], [[Buckle]], [[Claypool]], [[Swynford]] and [[Spiderwood]]. Ser [[Criston Cole|Criston]], going south, found everything in front of him dead: forests, villages, horses, men. His scouts found scenes where armored corpses sat beneath the trees, rotting away, a mockery of the fallen throwing a feast. Four days out of [[Harrenhal]], attacks made Criston lose a few men every single time. Seeing multiple “corpse feasts”  Criston and his men grew accustomed to the sight. At [[Crossed Elms]], however, the corpses were no true corpses at all, and attacked Criston and his men when they were riding past. In his flight, Criston fell upon the Lords of the Trident, with [[Roderick Dustin]] leading. Criston died and his army broke and ran.
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Living in fear of [[Vhagar]], Lord [[Manfryd Mooton|Mooton]] had meanwhile invited [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] and [[Nettles]] to take [[Maidenpool]] as their base. [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] still terrorized the [[Riverlands]], stricking at [[Stonyhead]], the [[Mountains of the Moon]], [[Sweetwillow]] and [[Sallydance]], and many more. Each day [[Caraxes]] and [[Sheepstealer]] would take wing from Maidenpool, and each day they would return, with Vhagar unfound.
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===The [[First Battle of Tumbleton]]===
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[[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] still remained a threat in the [[Riverlands]], stricking unexpectedly. Yet the real threat was Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron]] and the great army of Lord [[Ormund Hightower]]. Slowly advancing on [[King's Landing]], they were defeating the [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Queens]] loyalists wherever they went, as Rhaenyra’s armies fled before [[Tessarion]]. To defeat Aemond and [[Vhagar]], Prince Daemon and [[Caraxes]] had left for the [[Riverlands]] with the girl [[Nettles]] and her dragon [[Sheepstealer]]. To defeat Daeron and Tessarion, [[Ulf the White]] and [[Hugh Hammer]] flew to [[Tumbleton]].
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Rhaenyra´s forces at Tumbleton greatly outnumbered the Hightower army. People fleeing into the city for safety from Lord Hightowers army, were secretly part of the army, and infiltrated the ranks of defenders. In addition, Ser Ulf the White and Ser Hugh Hammer, since then known as the [[Two Betrayers]], changed their allegiance. Though Lord Ormund and his cousin Ser [[Bryndon Hightower|Bryndon]] died in the battle, killed by [[Roderick Dustin|Roddy the Ruin]] as he himself was mortally injured, the Hightower army kept the advantage, as [[Vermithor]] and [[Silverwing]] joined [[Tessarion]] in the air, and loosened their flames upon [[Tumbleton]] unexpectedly. A savage sack followed.
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Upon learning of the betrayels, Queen [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] ordered the [[King's Landing|city]] gates closed and barred. The Betrayels at Tumbleton made the Black Council question the loyalty of the other dragonseeds, [[Addam Velaryon]] and [[Nettles]]. Most of the Black Council urged Rhaenyra to arrest both, and only Lord [[Corlys Velaryon|Corlys]] spoke in their defense, declaring Addam and his brother [[Alyn Velaryon|Alyn]] true Velaryons. His protests, though passionate, were in vain. Rhaenyra, already suspicious, ordered the arrest of Nettles, at [[Maidenpool]] with Prince [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]], and Addam, currently guarding the dragons in the [[Dragonpit]]. Ser [[Luthor Largent]] went to arrest Addam, but upon his arrival at [[Rhaenys's Hill]], saw [[Seasmoke]] take wing, with Ser Addam on his back. Ser Luthor arrested Lord Corlys instead, since the old man did not deny helping his heir escape. Slowly, chaos started to arise again in King's Landing.
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In [[Tumbleton]], meanwhile, chaos reigned. Lord Hightowers army remained there. Ormunds sons remained in [[Oldtown]] and were still green boys. Though Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron]] had been knighted, he was still a boy, used to following commands. Ser [[Hobert Hightower|Hobert]], another Hightower cousin, presumed to take command. Prince Daeron commanded Ser Hobert to stop the savage sacking, but Hightower proved to be very ineffective. Ser [[Ulf the White|Ulf]] and [[Hugh Hammer|Hugh]] were worse. Ser Ulf drank heavy and fed women to his dragon, and became angry when he was named Lord of [[Bitterbridge]], dreaming of [[Highgarden]] instead. Ser Hugh was worse, dreaming of a crown of his own.
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In the Hightower army, no decision of a course of action could be made, and the army became smaller every day due to desertions.
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===Dancing Dragons at Dragonstone===
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Around the time of the [[First Battle of Tumbleton]], the merchant cog [[Nessaria]] made a stop at [[Dragonstone]] for repairs and provisions, having been driven off course by a storm. They had passed the [[Dragonmont]] before arriving at [[Dragonstone]]´s port, and there they had spotted two fighting dragons.
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Inspired by the story from those of [[Old Volantis]], local fisherman took their boats out for a look the next morning, and they reported having seen the burned and broken remains of a dead dragon. From the color of its scales and wings, they concluded the dead dragon was [[Grey Ghost]], completely torn apart . Ser [[Robert Quince]], Dragonstones castellan, named the [[Cannibal]] as the killer. Only later in the war would the truth surface.
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===[[Fall of Dragonstone]]===
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Having smuggled [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]], [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]] and [[Maelor Targaryen|Maelor]] out of [[King's Landing]], Lord [[Larys Strong|Larys]] dispatched Jaehaera and a Kingsguard to Lord [[Ormund Hightower|Hightower]], and Maelor and another Kingsguard to [[Storm's End]], while he disguised King Aegon and smuggled him to [[Dragonstone]], [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra’s]] seat, the last place anyone would look for him. Aegon was kept hidden in disguise, and would have remained such, as [[Sunfyre]] had not found them. Unbeknownst to those in the castle, it had been Sunfyre who had fought and killed [[Grey Ghost]], and not the [[Cannibal]].
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Rider and dragon went out flying again, regaining strength, while Aegons loyal men had found people enough who were willing to betray Rhaenyra, due to mislike for her. Dragonstone had not been well defended, and it had fallen easily. There had only been one problem. Lady [[Baela Targaryen|Baela]], Prince [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon’s]] daughter, had managed to escape her attackers and mount her [[Moondancer|dragon]]. She met [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]] and [[Sunfyre]] in the sky, unexpectedly, where the two dragons fought. Sunfyre blinded Moondancer with fire, but the younger dragon fought on. The dragons eventually fell on the earth. On the ground, Sunfyre won the battle. King Aegon had jumped off Sunfyre’s back before the dragon hit the ground, but had broken both his legs. Baela had stayed strapped on Moondancer, and was burned and battered. She was taken captive, and King Aegon the Elder now held [[Dragonstone]].
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===The [[Dance over  Harrenhal]]===
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Lord [[Manfryd Mooton]] found himself in a difficult situation, when the message from [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] arrived from [[King's Landing]], telling Mooton to send her the head of [[Nettles]]. Nettles, during her time with Prince [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]], was said to have become his lover, according to Rhaenyra, and was thus guilty of high treason. Prince Daemon was to not be harmed. The decision Lord Mooton had to make was a difficult one, for Nettles was a guest beneath his roof, and killing her would mean breaking the [[guest right]], and facing Prince Daemons wroth. Refusing Rhaenyra, however, would mean being attainted a traitor.  The [[Norren|maester]] suggested that they had never rread the letter, and later that night, went to inform Daemon of Rhaenyra´s command.
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{{Quote|[[Jaehaerys I Targaryen|The Old King]] would never have asked this, of any man of honor.}}
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The next day, Nettles mounted her dragon [[Sheepstealer]], with tears on her cheeks. Daemon and Nettles spoke no word of farewell, but when Sheepstealer climbed the sky, [[Caraxes]] gave a scream. Nettles and her dragon disappeared that day, and were never seen again.
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Prince Daemon told Lord Mooton to spread the word that he would fly for [[Harrenhal]], so [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] could come face him, alone. Once Daemon was gone, Lord Mooton took down Rhaenyra’s banners, and raised the golden dragons of King [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]].
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{{Quote|”You were a fool to come alone.”<br> “Were I not alone, you would not have come.”}}
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Prince Daemon took Harrenhal from the few who still remained there, and waited for thirteen days. On the fourteenth day, [[Vhagar]] appeared in the sky, and on her back rode Prince [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] and his bedmaid, the pregnant seer [[Alys Rivers]]. Dropping Alys on the ground, Daemon and Aemond had one last conversation before both Targaryens mounted their dragons and climbed into the sky. Caraxes fell down upon Vhagar, starting the fight. Their fight ended as the two dragons, locked together, tumbled down towards the lake. According to the tales, this was when Prince Daemon leapt from one dragon to the other, [[Dark Sister]] in his hand. Aemond looked up in terror, but was chained to his saddle, and could not do anything when Daemon ripped off Aemonds helm and drove the sword through Aemonds blind eye. The dragons struck the lake half a heartbeat later.
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[[Caraxes]] lived long enough to crawl back onto the land, beneath the walls of [[Harrenhal]], where he died. [[Vhagar]] died in the water, and was found some years later, when the Dance was over, with Aemond’s armored bones still chained to the saddle, and with [[Dark Sister]] still in his eye-socket.
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There’s no doubt that Prince [[Daemon Targaryen|Daemon]] died that day, as he could not possibly have survived the impact. His remains, however, were never found, causing singers to tell that he survived to spend his last days with [[Nettles]]. It was the twenty-second day of the fifth moon of the year {{Date|130}}.
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===The [[Riot of King's Landing (the Dance of the Dragons)|Riots at King's Landing]]===
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In [[King's Landing]], the [[House Velaryon|Velaryon]] fleet, counting more than half the army that had sailed from [[Dragonstone]], had abandoned [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] when they learned Lord [[Corlys Velaryon|Corlys]] was in the Black Cells. Those who remained could no longer be trusted.
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That same day, Queen [[Helaena Targaryen|Helaena]] threw herself from her window in [[Maegor's Holdfast]] and died impaled upon the iron spikes that lined the dry moat below. The stories told of Helaena’s death on the streets and in inns, by nightfall, were much darker. The people believed she had been murdered, as her sons before her. The rumours were believed very quickly. Tales tell that at the moment of Helaena’s death, her dragon [[Dreamfyre]] rose with  a roar, snapping two of her chains.
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That night a [[Riot of King's Landing (the Dance of the Dragons)|riot]] rose in [[King's Landing]]. The chaos was big, and neither noble nor lowborn was spared. Sailors unable to return to their ships attacked the [[River Gate]]. Ser [[Luthor Largent|Luthor]] and his [[Gold Cloaks]] went to [[Cobbler's Square]], to disperse the rioters, but after the first had fled, there were ten thousand more, and they believed Luthor to have killed Helaena: the mere sight of him angered them even more. The rioters were ten thousands where the gold cloaks were only five hundred, and so the Gold Cloaks were slaughtered, Ser Luthor amongst them.
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A hedge knight, Ser [[Perkin the Flea]], crowned his squire [[Trystane (squire)|Trystane]], declaring him to be King [[Viserys I Targaryen|Viserys’]] bastard. Ser Perkin then began dubbing all those who would support Trystane knights, and so many fled to their cause.
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The next day, some order was restored to parts of [[King's Landing]] again, but in the rest of the city, chaos remained.
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That night [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] learned about [[Maidenpool]]s betrayel, and [[Nettles]] escape. Rhaenyra send ravens to [[Winterfell]] and the [[Eyrie]], pleading for more aid, and named a new Lord Commander to her [[Queensguard]], Ser [[Glendon Goode]]. Prince [[Joffrey Velaryon|Joffrey]] donned his armor and begged to fight, but he was forbidden.
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The night came once more, and Ser Perkin and “King” Trystane were gaining strength. The [[King's Gate]] and the [[Lion Gate]] were opened by rioters, the [[Gold Cloaks]] at the [[King's Gate]] having fled, and those guarding the [[Lion Gate]] having joined the rioters. With Ser Perkin holding the [[River Gate]], three out of seven gates were now open to enemies.
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{{Quote|Bring him back, bring him back, he does not know. My son, my sweet, my son …}}
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The people of [[King's Landing]] no longer believed [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] could protect them and a mob twice as big as the one of the night before formed in the city. A crazed prophet made the mob turn their attention to the [[Dragon Pit]] and the entire mob moved towards [[Rhaenys's Hill]] to kill the dragons. By the time they reached the hill, their numbers had doubled. Rhaenyra was watching all this unfold from [[Maegor's Holdfast]]. Prince Joffrey pleaded, fearing [[Tyraxes]], his own dragon, would be killed, but Rhaenyra would not listen, insisting the mob would burn. Joffrey, dissatisfied, went outside and mounted [[Syrax]], Rhaenyra’s she-dragon, the dragon that was not his own, to fly to the Pit. All attempts to get him back failed, as Syrax threw Joffrey off her back as arrows and spears flew up from below. Joffrey, not having used a saddle, fell from Syrax’ back and crashed into the ground.
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{{Quote|Seldom have so many men rushed so eagerly onto their funeral pyres, but a madness was upon them.}}
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The battle in the Dragonpit began. Four dragons there were: [[Shrykos]], who died first, slain by a [[Hobb the Hewer|woodsman]] who slamed his axe into her skull. [[Morghul]] was killed by the [[Burning Knight]]. [[Tyraxes]] went into his lair and roasted many before finally dying. And last [[Dreamfyre]], who broke free of her remaining bonds, plunging into the mob with fire, tooth and claw. Dreamfyre slew more than the other three dragons combined, until a crossbow blinded one of her eyes. Dreamfyre then tried to leap free, and the weakened dome cracked under her force, only to crash down on both dragon and dragonslayers.
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[[Syrax]] was still alive and free in the air, and descended on the survivors.  Rhaenyra, watching from atop [[Maegor's Holdfast]], would not dare let go of her last remaining son, [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]]… until she saw Syrax fall.
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Rhaenyra’s councilers agreed that the city was lost. Rhaenyra was persuaded to leave the next day, slipping through the [[Dragon Gate]], starting the journey to [[Duskendale]].
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===The [[Second Battle of Tumbleton]]===
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News of unrest in [[King's Landing]] reached [[Tumbleton]], making the Hightower army believe they should advance upon the city, but Ser [[Hobert Hightower|Hobert]] doubted, and the [[Two Betrayers]] refused to join unless their demands were met.
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With [[Aemond Targaryen|Aemond]] slain and [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]] still missing, [[the Greens]] found themselves without a leader and a king. Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron]] was now next in line for the throne and there were some who wanted to name him Prince of Dragonstone, or even King, but the [[Two Betrayers]] did not agree. Lord [[Hugh Hammer]] wanted to be crowned king, by the rights of conquest. He had the[[Vermithor|oldest and largest dragon alive]], trice as big as [[Tessarion]], Daeron’s dragon.
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Offended by the arrogance of the Betrayers, the lords and knights of the [[Reach]], and Prince [[Daeron Targaryen (son of Viserys I)|Daeron]], grew wroth. The [[Two Betrayers]] plotted together Hammers coronation, and indeed [[Hugh Hammer|Hard Hugh]] later wore a crown of black iron. When insulted, Hard Hugh’s men came to blows with loyalists, and Lord [[Unwin Peake|Peake]] and Ser [[Hobert Hightower|Hobert]] summoned eleven other lords and landed knights, who together became known as the [[Caltrops]], as to discuss what to do about the dragonseeds. They agreed that disposing of [[Ulf the White]] would be easy, but that Hammer was dangerous, surrounded by men and women day and night.  They decided Hammer had to die first.
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With Prince Daerons consent, the [[Caltrops]] carried out their plans. But the day the Caltrops planned to strike, the people at [[Tumbleton]] woke at night to find themselves under attack. The dragon attacking was [[Seasmoke]], with [[Addam Velaryon]] on his back, and with an army of four thousand loyal to [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] behind them. The great host encamped at [[Tumbleton]] outnumbered their attackers, but due to their long stay, they had grown lax.
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Ulf was asleep inside [[Tumbleton]], his dragon outside the town. They tried to wake him, but he slept through [[Second Battle of Tumbleton|the entire battle]]. [[Hugh Hammer|Hard Hugh]] did respond, and rushed to the yard, screaming for a horse so he could go and mount his dragon, when Lord [[Jon Roxton]], one of the [[Caltrops]],  met up with him. He offered Hammer his condolences, and when asked why, he told the new made King he had died in battle, before killing Hammer. He was shortly after killed himself by Hammers men in revenge. Prince Daeron died in the battle as well, though no one knows exactly how. Three different accounts exist on his death.
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{{Quote|Lord Hammer, my condolences.<br>For what?<br>You died in the battle.}}
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The three dragons encamped at [[Tumbleton]] were unchained, however, and all had been roused by the battle. [[Addam Velaryon|Addam]] turned [[Seasmoke]] to meet [[Tessarion]], and the two dragons danced around each other in the sky. [[Vermithor]] eventually rose into the sky as well, attacking everything he came across. And thus Addam turned Seasmoke towards him, to protect those men who were helping them, although he must have known Seasmoke could not beat Vermithor. The dragons were so locked together, neither could get free. Tessarion joined the fight, which ended with Vermithor ripping off the head of Seasmoke. Vermithor, due to his wounds, died next. Tessarion, after trice trying to fly, remained in pain, until Lord Blackwood ordered her killed to end her suffering.
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Though having won the battle, the [[Rivermen]] had not been able to take the town. Tumbletowns walls were closed, and without a dragon or equipment, they could not start a siege, so the rivermen took all that they found useful and left. Only one dragon now remained at the city: [[Silverwing]].
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Eight of the thirteen Caltrops had died in the battle, and one would die the next day. Ser [[Hobert Hightower|Hobert]] and Lord [[Unwin Peake|Peake]] remained, and both found [[Ulf the White]], the last dragonrider, proclaiming himself their last hope. White now proposed to take the throne for him, since Prince Daeron was dead.  And so Ser Hobert visited him the next day with two casks of wine, one red for himself, one golden arbor for White. Ulf, however, became suspicious of Ser Hobert, and insisted they drank the arbor gold together.
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And so Ser Hobert drank deep, and asked for more. Having seen this, Ulf drank three cups, and died shortly after due to the poison mixed in the wine. Ser Hobert tried to retch, but for him it was too late as well, and he died within the hour.
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Without a leader, and without a rider for [[Silverwing]], the army started to fall apart. And so [[Unwin Peake|Lord Peake]] called defeat, and retreated. [[King's Landing]] had been saved.
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===[[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra’s]] retreat to [[Dragonstone]]===
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Yet [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] did not know about this. She had been refused entry at [[Rosby]] and was allowed to stay only one night at [[Stokeworth]], half her [[Gold Cloaks]] deserted on the road, and attackers killed several of her knights. At [[Duskendale]] they were admitted, but not allowed to stay long. Refusing to part from [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon]], and without ships, Rhaenyra sold her crown to buy passage on a Braavosi ship. And so she returned to [[Dragonstone]], where she knew were more dragon eggs, for she needed a new dragon.
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At Dragonstone, Rhaenyra found her [[Robert Quince|castellan]] slain. As Ser [[Alfred Broome|Alfred]], angered when he had not been named castellan, showed Ser Roberts burned body, his men killed all of Rhaenyra’s men, and imprisoned [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]], her ladies, and [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]]. Once inside the gates of the castle, Rhaenyra stood face to face with [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]] and [[Sunfyre]].
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Not long after Dragonstone had secretly fallen to Aegon II, ravens had arrived telling him about Rhaenyra’s return to Dragonstone. This had given Aegon the opportunity to prepare for the arrival of his half-sister.
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{{Quote|Mother, flee!}}
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And so it was the [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Queen]] found her brother in her own seat. [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]] wasted no time, and had Rhaenyra fed to his [[Sunfyre|dragon]], whilst [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon the Younger]] looked on. With the chance that Rhaenyra’s loyalists would continue the fight in her sons name, Aegon the Younger became a hostage. It was the twenty-second day of the tenth month of {{Date|130}}.
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On the ninth day of the twelfth month, Sunfyre the Golden died on Dragonstone. After this, Aegon started planning his return to [[King's Landing]]. Though [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] had died, her cause lived on. [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon]] would sit the throne again, but it would only lest another half of a year.
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{{Quote|The time for hiding is done,” King Aegon II declared. “Let the ravens fly that the realm may know the pretender is dead, and their true king is coming home to reclaim his father’s throne.}}
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==Aftermath==
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The Dance ended with the death of [[Aegon II Targaryen|Aegon II]], and the ascension of [[Aegon III Targaryen|Aegon III]]. The two lines of [[House Targaryen]] were brought together by wedding King Aegon III to Princess [[Jaehaera Targaryen|Jaehaera]], the only surviving child of Aegon II and [[Helaena Targaryen|Helaena]].  Their marriage would end childless.
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King Aegon III, due to his young age when coming into his crown, suffered through the Regent Wars for the first part of his reign, where regent after regent helped rule the kingdom. Ending the Regent Wars, King Aegon III, possibly after reaching manhood, named his brother, Prince [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys]], as his Hand for the remainder of his reign.<ref>[[A World of Ice and Fire]]</ref>
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The Dance of the Dragons would also be the last time the dragons lived in health. With so many dragons having died in the war, only a handful remained. The reign of King Aegon III would become known as the time the last dragon was born, lived and died, a stunted thing.
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Since the Dance, House Targaryen has practiced a highly modified version of agnatic primogeniture, placing female claimants in the line of succession behind all possible male ones, even collateral relations. (See also [[Daena Targaryen]], [[Daeron II]]).  The war is the subject of the song "[[The Dance of the Dragons (song)|The Dance of the Dragons]]", as well as [[The Dance of the Dragons, A True Telling|a somewhat inaccurate history]] by [[Grand Maester]] [[Munkun]]. [[Archmaester]] [[Gyldayn]] wrote a history of it called ''The Princess and the Queen or the Blacks and the Greens''.
 
Since the Dance, House Targaryen has practiced a highly modified version of agnatic primogeniture, placing female claimants in the line of succession behind all possible male ones, even collateral relations. (See also [[Daena Targaryen]], [[Daeron II]]).  The war is the subject of the song "[[The Dance of the Dragons (song)|The Dance of the Dragons]]", as well as [[The Dance of the Dragons, A True Telling|a somewhat inaccurate history]] by [[Grand Maester]] [[Munkun]]. [[Archmaester]] [[Gyldayn]] wrote a history of it called ''The Princess and the Queen or the Blacks and the Greens''.
  

Revision as of 12:16, 14 May 2014

For the book, see A Dance with Dragons. For the song, see The Dance of the Dragons (song).
Dance of the Dragons
War of succession
Date 129-131 AC
Location Westeros
Result
Belligerents
House Targaryen (the blacks).House Targaryen (the greens).
Notable commanders
Queen Rhaenyra I King Aegon II
  • Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower
  • Ser Otto Hightower, Hand of the King
  • Lord Commander Criston Cole, Hand of the King
  • Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen, Protector of the Realm
  • Lord Ormund Hightower, Voice of Oldtown
  • The Dance of the Dragons was a civil war during Targaryen rule. A war of succession between Aegon II and his half-sister Rhaenyra over their father Viserys I's throne, the war was fought from 129 AC to 131 AC. It saw the deaths of both rival monarchs, and the crowning of Rhaenyra's son, Aegon III.

    In early 2013 it was announced that the anthology Dangerous Women, previously expected to include the fourth Dunk and Egg story, would instead include a novella by George R. R. Martin named The Princess and the Queen which he described as "(...) the true (mostly) story of the origins of the Dance of the Dragons."[1] The abridged version in The Princess and the Queen consists of 30,000 words, while the complete 80,000 word history of the civil war is planned for Fire and Blood.[2]

    Background

    King Viserys I had three children by his first queen Aemma Arryn, but only one, Princess Rhaenyra, survived to adulthood. Lacking a son to succeed him, Viserys began to train Princess Rhaenyra to be his heir. Young Rhaenyra was included in discussions of the affairs of state, and was allowed to participate in meetings of the small council. Many of the nobles took note, and Rhaenyra soon acquired a clique of adherents and supporters. However, after his queen died, the king remarried in 106 AC, this time to Alicent Hightower and had four more children, including three sons, the eldest son named Aegon. Nonetheless, Rhaenyra's strengthened her place in the succession; she married Ser Laenor Velaryon - who himself had Targaryen blood - in her first marriage. She gave birth to three sons during her marriage, although there are rumours that the father of these boys was not Ser Laenor, but Rhaenyra's lover Ser Harwin Strong.

    When Laenor Velaryon passed away Rhaenyra married anew, this time her own uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen, younger brother to Viserys I. Her sons by him are the future Aegon III (called Aegon the Younger in his youth, to distinguish him from his uncle, Aegon II, who on occasion was called Aegon the Elder) and Viserys II. Her father's intention that she should follow him on the Iron Throne was confirmed by proclamation and the will of Viserys I. In 105 AC, hundreds of Lords and landed knights had done obeisance to the Princess Rhaenyra.

    In 111 AC, a great tourney was held at King’s Landing on the fifth anniversary of the king’s marriage to Queen Alicent. At the opening feast, the queen wore a green gown, whilst the Princess Rhaenyra dressed dramatically in Targaryen red and black. Note was taken, and thereafter it became the custom to refer to “greens” and “blacks” when talking of the queen’s party and the party of the princess, respectively. In the tourney itself, the blacks had much the better of it when Ser Criston Cole, wearing Princess Rhaenyra’s favor, unhorsed all of the Queen’s champions, including two of her cousins and her youngest brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower. [1]

    The Dance of the Dragons

    The Small Council meeting

    Upon the death of King Viserys I Targaryen, on the third day of the third month of 129 AC, Queen Alicent and Ser Criston Cole send out the Kingsguard to summon the Small Council members. During the gathering, the conversation quickly stirred towards Rhaenyra’s coronation, but Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, told those who had gathered that it would be a new King who would be crowned, whilst Lord Lyman Beesbury, the Master of Coin, insisted Rhaenyra should be crowned a queen.

    Lord Beesbury argued in favour of Rhaenyra, but several other council members countered him. Ser Tyland Lannister argued that the oaths made to Rhaenyra in 105 AC had not been made by them, since it had been twenty-four years. Ironrod mentioned that the Old King twice chose a male heir over the female heir, and Ser Otto reminded them all that Rhaenyra was married to Daemon, who would become the true ruler, should Rhaenyra gain the crown. Both Hightowers argued that not only they, but also Alicent’s children would lose their lives should Rhaenyra become their Queen. It would later be said that Prince Aegon only reluctantly accepted the crown because his mother, brothers, sister and children would otherwise be killed by Rhaenyra.

    Grand Maester Orwyle predicted a war, believing that Rhaenya would never be willing to give up her birth right, since she had dragons at her disposal. Lord [[Lyman Beesbury|Beesbury] declared Rhaenyra had friends as well, and that he was not willing to sit there and listen to people plotting to steal Rhaenyra’s crown. He rose to leave, but Ser Criston Cole forced him back into his seat and opened his throat. This made Lord Beesbury the first casualty of the Dance of the Dragons.

    After Beesbury’s death, the green council made their plans, vowing their loyalty to their new King, and arresting all those in King's Landing who could be loyal to Rhaenyra. To all those who might be loyal to Aegon, ravens were send. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra remained on Dragonstone, unaware of what had happened.


    Coronation of Aegon II

    Prince Aemond was send out to Storm's End, to betroth himself to one of Lord Borros’ daughters, so he might fight for Aegon. By the time he left, the smell coming from Viserys’ room was all over Maegor's Holdfast, so seven days after Viserys had died, his death was announced to the city and the Silent Sisters were sent for.

    Aegon’s coronation was prepared in short time. Ser Criston Cole placed the crown of Aegon the Conquerer on Aegon’s head, while Alicent Hightower placed a crown upon the head of Aegon’s Queen, his sister Helaena.

    The night before Aegon’s coronation, however, the first defection had taken place. Ser Steffon Darklyn had left the city, with, amongst other things, the crown Kings Viserys I and Jaehaerys I had worn.

    On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra had learned about the death of her father and the betrayal of her siblings. Anger had made her go into labour, which lasted for three days and brought forth a still born, deformed girl, whom Rhaenyra named Visenya. Rhaenyra, in answer to Aegon’s betrayel, swore revenge against the Greens.


    The Black Council

    Rhaenyra made her own council, called the Black Council. Participants were, amongst others, Rhaenyra’s husband Daemon, her three eldest sons Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey, Lord Corlys Velaryon, and his wife Princess Rhaenys.

    Despite having more dragons, the Blacks knew that wouldn’t be an advantage, since the Greens possessed Vhagar, and from the nine dragons belonging to the Backs, only five were big enough for battle.

    Believing to have allies in the Riverlands who were only waiting for a place to gather, Prince Daemon decided to conquer Harrenhal as a base, using his dragon Caraxes, while Rhaenyra would remain on Dragonstone to recover her strength. House Velaryon closed off the Gullet, and Princess Rhaenys expressed hope of goading Aegon the Elder into a rash attack, believing him to be a green boy.

    Princess Rhaenys was convinced that Storm's End would declare for Rhaenyra, since Lord Boremund, the deceased father of Lord Borros, had always been a supporter of Rhaenys herself. Though they believed the North to be too remote to play an important part in the war, the Blacks decided to send messages to those lords as well. Jacaerys, Rhaenyra’s heir, would bring messages to the Maiden of the Vale, the Starks of [[Winterfell] and the Manderly’s of White Harbor. Lucerys, Rhaenyra’s second son, would go to Storm's End, a safer, shorter journey, according to the Blacks.

    After these decisions, Rhaenyra was crowned a Queen, using the crown her father and great-grandfather had worn, thanks to Ser Steffon Darklyn, who had arrived from King's Landing. Prince Daemon, Rhaenyra’s husband, was named Protector of the Realm, and Jacaerys was officially named Prince of Dragonstone, and heir to the Iron Throne. Declaring Otto Hightower and Queen Alicent traitors, Rhaenyra allowed for her half-siblings to be forgiven if they would bend the knee. Upon hearing about these developments, King Aegon II declared Rhaenyra and Daemon traitors as well.

    Hoping for a peaceful end to the war, Grand Maester Orwyle was allowed to visit Dragonstone and speak with Rhaenyra. The terms he brought with him, allowed Rhaenyra and all their supporters generous terms. Rhaenyra refused. Soon after, Lord Corlys’ ships took sail to close off the Gullet, and Jace and Luke left on their dragons with their messages, and Daemon left on Caraxes to the Trident.

    Harrenhal fell quickly to Daemon. Ser Simon Strong, the elderly castellan, was captured. Daemon had a dozen valuable hostages (including Ser Simon and his grandsons). In the mean time, Jace allied Lady Arryn, and the Lords Manderly, Borrell and Sunderland, and Cregan Stark to Rhaenyra’s cause.


    The Dance over Shipbreaker Bay

    Lucerys had meanwhile flown to Storm's End, arriving before a gathering storm. When he arrived, however, he found Prince Aemond and his dragon Vhagar already present. Aemond tried to goad Lucerys into a fight, insulting him, calling him a Strong bastard, but Lucerys, having sworn to his mother not to fight, refused him, and instead delivered his message to Lord Borros. Lord Borros responded by asking which one of his daughters Luke would marry, should he do what Rhaenyra wanted him to do. Luke, already betrothed, told Lord Borros he could not marry any of the girls, upon which Lord Borros told Luke to leave.

    Aemond drew his sword before Lucerys could go outside, and Lord Borros’ men had to hold him back.


    He came an envoy. I want no blood shed beneath my roof.

    …is what Lord Borros said, growing uneasy. At that, Lucerys went outside, mounted his dragon, and left. Lord Borros then told Aemond that he could not tell Aemond what not to do when Aemond was no longer beneath his roof, upon which Borros’ men moved aside and let Aemond out.

    Outside the storm was raging. Though younger and faster, the storm was slowing Arrax down, leading to Vhagar catching up. The fight between the two dragons did not last long. Vhagar, being five times bigger, had the advantage, and Arrax fell broken. His head and neck would wash ashore three days later, along with the corpse of Prince Lucerys Velaryon.


    And with his death, the war of ravens and envoys and marriage pacts came to an end, and the war of fire and blood began in earnest.


    Blood and Cheese

    Rhaenyra collapsed when learning of Lucerys’ death. Prince Daemon, at Harrenhal, send a raven to his wife.


    An eye for an eye, a son for a son. Lucerys shall be avenged.

    Daemon Targaryen had friends in the low places of King's Landing and at court, and followers amongst the gold cloaks. One of his friends enlisted the help of a former serjeant in the City Watch, known to history as Blood, and a rat-catcher from the Red Keep, known to history only as Cheese.

    Cheese sneaked Blood into the Red Keep, using secret tunnels and hidden doors, bringing them into the Tower of the Hand. Blood killed Queen Alicents bedmaid, whilst Cheese bound and gagged Alicent herself. Then they waited for Queen Helaena, who would visit her mother every evening with her three children. As Helaena and the children entered, Blood barred the door and killed the guardsmen accompanying Helaena. Cheese picked up Maelor.


    ”Which one you want t’ lose, Your Grace?”


    Calling themselves debt collectors, they gave Helaena the choice of chosing which of her two sons would die. In the end, Helaena chose Maelor, but Blood did the opposite and killed Prince Jaehaerys, six year of age. True to their word, they did not hurt anyone else, but fled with Prince Jaehaerys’ head. After this event, Queen Helaena slowly went mad, staying in her chambers, no longer being able to look at her son Maelor, knowing she had named him to die. Dowager Queen Alicent took over the care of the remaining two children.


    The Battle of Rook's Rest

    After the fall of Harrenhal, King Aegon II suffered defeats at the Burning Mill and Stone Hedge, making the young king realizing his situation was severe. Ravens returned from the Reach, and while House Hightower of Oldtown and the Arbor stood firmly behind Aegon, Lord Costayne of Three Towers, Lord Mullendore of Uplands, Lord Alan Tarly of Horn Hill, Lord Rowan of Goldengrove and Lord Grimm of Greyshield all declared for Rhaenyra, as did the Vale, White Harbor, Winterfell, the Blackwoods and other riverlords, who were assembling at Harrenhal.

    This, and the closing of the Gullet that kept going, made Aegon angry at his Hand. Ser Otto believed that Daemon, Rhaenyra’s greatest pillar of support, was her greatest weakness. He reached out to one such foe, the Kingdom of the Three Daughters across the Narrow Sea, hoping to use them against the Sea Snake.

    Aegon II was running out of patience, however, and fired Otto as Hand. Ser Criston was named in his stead, and decided actions were necessary.


    It is not for you to plead for support from your lords, like a beggar pleading for alms. You are the lawful king of Westeros, and those who deny it are traitors. It is past time they learned the price of treason.

    Larys Strong had a list of all those who had gathered on Dragonstone to attend Rhaenyra’s coronation. Those lords living on islands could not be touched, but those on the main land could. Duskendale fell easily, and Lord Darklyn was beheaded. Ser Criston then turned his attention to Rook's Rest.

    Lord Staunton closed his gates and defied his attackers, but could not protect his small folk. His provisions running low, he send a raven to Dragonstone, asking for help. The help that arrived was Princess Rhaenys on dragon Meleys. Unbeknownst to the blacks, however, Ser Criston had been expecting a dragon to appear. His men attacked the dragon with scorpions, longbows and crossbows, it only served to anger Meleys.

    Next, Sunfyre and Vhagar appeared. Meleys had no chance against Vhagar and Sunfyre combined. The dragons fought a thousand feet above the ground. Meleys’ jaws closed around Sunfyre’s neck, and Vahgar fell upon them, causing all three dragons to crash into the ground. From the ashes, only Vhagar rose again. Sunfyre had one wing half torn from his body, whilst his rider, King Aegon II, suffered from several broken bones and severe burns. Princess Rhaenys was found completely burned next to the dead body of Meleys. After the battle, Prince Aemond and Ser Criston took Rook's Rest and put the garrison to death. The head of Meleys was brought back to King's Landing, inspiring fear amongst the small folk, causing thousands to flee the capitol until the gates were barred by Dowager Queen Alicent.

    King Aegon II was brought back to King's Landing, where maesters attended to his wounds. He was severely wounded, sleeping nine hours out of every ten, under the influence of milk of the poppy. Sunfyre was too large to be moved, and due to his injuries unable to fly. The dragon thus remained at Rook's Rest, where guards were posted to keep him safe and feed him. With Aegon unable to rule, Prince Aemond assumed the style of Protector of the Realm.


    You must rule the realm now, until your brother is strong enough to take the crown again.


    The Dragonseeds

    It should have been you.

    Lord Corlys, upon learning of the death of his wife], threatened to leave Rhaenyra’s side, until Prince Jacaerys named him Hand of the Queen. Together, grandfather and grandson planned an assault on King's Landing, send Prince Joffrey to the Vale with Lady Rhaena and three dragons eggs and Joffrey’s dragon Tyraxes. Prince Aegon the Younger and Prince Viserys were sent to Pentos by ship, to be fostered with the Prince of Pentos, a friend of Prince Daemons, until Rhaenyra had secured the throne.

    With only Vhagar left to defend the city (Dreamfyre was at King's Landing as well, but could not fight due to her rider being unable), Jacaerys wanted to attack the capitol with as many dragons as possible. With six riderless dragons present on Dragonstone, Jacaerys called out to the dragonseeds, vowing that any man who could master one of the dragons would be raised to knightship and gain wealth. Many men tried, and some women as well. Sixteen men died, amongst them Lord Commander Steffon Darklyn, and forty-eight were burned of maimed. Four people eventually succeeded: Vermithor was claimed by Hugh Hammer, Silverwing by Ulf the White, Seasmoke by Addam of Hull, and Sheepstealer by a girl named Nettles. Lord Corlys asked Rhaenyra to remove the taint of bastardy from Addam and his brother Alyn, making them true Velaryons, and named Addam heir to Driftmark.

    Meanwhile, ninety warships were sailing from the Stepstones chanced upon the Gay Abandon, carrying Prince Aegon the Younger and Prince Viserys. The escorting ships were sunk or taken, and Prince Aegon managed to escape by clinging to the neck of his dragon, Stormcloud. During the flight, Stormcloud was injured terribly. Prince Viserys, having only a dragon egg, had no such option, and was made a captive of admiral Sharako Lohar of Lys.

    Prince Aegon’s arrival on Dragonstone, with Stormcloud, spread the tale, and so Prince Jacaerys mounted Vermax and flew to the Lysene galleys, quickly followed by the four dragonseeds. The warships tried to flee, and all seemed lost for the Lyseni, until Vermax flew too low and crashed into the sea. Jacaerys leapt free, and managed to hold on to a piece of wreckage, until he was pierced by quarrels. The prince was swallowed by the sea.

    The lysine ships, who had set sail originally with ninety, sailed back with only twenty-eight ships. They passed Dragonstone, but believed the island too strong to take. Instead, they sacked Spicetown and butchered men, women and children. High Tide, containing all the Sea Snakes treasures, was consumed by fire, one third of his fleet brought down.


    The Battle on the Honeywine

    A fortnight later, Lord Ormund Hightower found himself stuck between two armies: Lord Thaddeus Rowan and Tom Flowers, from Goldengrove and Bitterbridge, came down on him from the northeast, while Ser Alan Beesbury, Lord Alan Tarly and Lord Owen Costayne were cutting off the retreat route back to Oldtown. They closed around him, when Prince Daeron on his dragon joined the battle. Tom Flowers died, Lord Rowan fled, the Alans were captured, and Lord Costayne was dying. The victory lead to Lord Hightower knighting Prince Daeron, naming him Daeron the Daring.


    Fall of King's Landing

    Tide turned for the blacks. Jace’s death seemd to giveRhaenyra strength. Filled with anger and hatred, she resolved to use her dragons.

    Meanwhile Lord Mooton retook Rook's Rest, and attempted to kill Sunfyre, who still remained there, wounded. The dragon fought back, and burned three score men before the others fled. Lord Mooton himself died as well. When the survivors dared to return to the field again, the dead were still there, but Sunfyre had disappeared. There were no tracks, suggesting Sunfyre had taken wing again despite his wounds.

    With the North assembling forces, Ser Criston saw danger, should these troops join up with Daemon at Harrenhal.


    The whore on Dragonstone is not the threat. No more than Rowan and these traitors in the Reach. The danger is my uncle. Once Daemon is dead, all these fools flying our sister’s banners will run back to their castles and trouble us no more.

    The host Prince Daemon had gathered at Harrenhal was still growing, and Prince Aemond believed him to be the real danger, not Rhaenyra. Aemond and Ser Criston rode forth from King's Landing with a host of four thousand and the dragon Vhagar. Daemon knew of their plans even before Aemond had left the capitol. He hastened south on Caraxes, staying well away from Criston’s line of march.


    When told that Aemond and Ser Criston Cole had left King's Landing, it is said that Prince Daemon laughed and said, “Past time,” for he had long anticipated this moment. A murder of ravens took flight from the twisted towers of Harrenhal.


    Expecting to find Daemon, instead Aemond and Criston would find Harrenhal abandoned after a nineteen day march, and would believe themselves victorious. The truth was very different. With Vhagar away from King’s Landing, only Dreamfyre remained, and Helaena was in no condition to fly. Daemon and Caraxes had not fled, but joined up with Rhaenyra and Syrax above King's Landing, leaving the small folk below in terror. The Sea Snakes ships sailed into Blackwater Bay, and the only one left to defend the city was Dowager Queen Alicent. Grand Maester Orwyle, trying to dispatch ravens asking for help, was arrested before a single letter could be send. The riders bearing messages were arrested at the city gates, and the seven captains commanding the gates we killed or arrested, all by those gold cloaks still loyal to Prince Daemon. The city gates were opened for the men arriving with the Velaryon fleet.

    King's Landing fell in less than a day.


    Then she bid her stepmother choose: yield, or burn.

    All those from the green council who had been in King's Landing when the attacks began were arrested, safe for Lord Larys Strong, who had disappeared, taking with him King Aegon II, Princess Jaehaera, Prince Maelor, and Ser Willis Fell and Rickard Thorne of the Kingsguard. The other green council members yielded, and Rhaenyra took her place on the Iron Throne.

    Dowager Queen Alicent would be spared, but her father, Ser Otto was beheaded, as was Ironrod. Ser Tyland Lannister would be given to the torturers, in the hopes of regaining some of the gold he had hidden.

    While Rhaenyra’s return to King's Landing was cheered and celebrated at first, the amount of head on the spikes and increasing taxes made the small folk dub her “King Maegor with teats”. Despite this, Princes Joffrey and Aegon the Younger were called to King’s Landing.


    And for a hundred years thereafter “Maegor’s Teats” was a common curse amongst kingslanders.


    Battle by the Lakeshore/The Fishfeed

    Best make an end to these lions before the dragons come.

    While the news of the fall of King's Landing reached Prince Aemond, fighting in the Riverlands continued. A Lannister host was on the move, lead by the old Lord Lefford. At the western shores of the Gods Eye, they came across Roddy the Ruin with his Winter Wolves, who had combined his forces with Lord Forrest Frey and Red Robb Rivers. From the south, Longleaf the Lionslayer, Lords Bigglestone, Chambers and Perryn locked him in. Lords Garibald Grey, Jon Charlton and Benjicot Blackwood joined up with the army from the north and riverlands the following day, whilst Lord Leffords ravens were all shot down. The day after, they began their battle, which would be called the bloodiest land battle of the Dance. Hundreds died that day.

    Prince Aemond and Ser Criston Cole at Harrenhal could no longer agree on a plan of action. They were running short of food. Criston wished to withdraw to the south, to join strength with Lord Hightower and Prince Daeron, while Aemond, enraged by losing King's Landing and the outcome of the Battle by the Lakeshore, wished to attack the capitol. And so they parted ways, with Criston taking the army south, whilst Prince Aemond remained to ravage the Riverlands, waiting until such a time when Rhaenyra would send out “a dragon or two” to stop him, so Vhagar could destroy them.


    The Feasting Corpses/The Battle at the stony ridge

    Aemond burned Darry, Lord Harroway's Town, Lord's Mill, Blackbuckle, Buckle, Claypool, Swynford and Spiderwood. Ser Criston, going south, found everything in front of him dead: forests, villages, horses, men. His scouts found scenes where armored corpses sat beneath the trees, rotting away, a mockery of the fallen throwing a feast. Four days out of Harrenhal, attacks made Criston lose a few men every single time. Seeing multiple “corpse feasts” Criston and his men grew accustomed to the sight. At Crossed Elms, however, the corpses were no true corpses at all, and attacked Criston and his men when they were riding past. In his flight, Criston fell upon the Lords of the Trident, with Roderick Dustin leading. Criston died and his army broke and ran.

    Living in fear of Vhagar, Lord Mooton had meanwhile invited Daemon and Nettles to take Maidenpool as their base. Aemond still terrorized the Riverlands, stricking at Stonyhead, the Mountains of the Moon, Sweetwillow and Sallydance, and many more. Each day Caraxes and Sheepstealer would take wing from Maidenpool, and each day they would return, with Vhagar unfound.


    The First Battle of Tumbleton

    Aemond still remained a threat in the Riverlands, stricking unexpectedly. Yet the real threat was Prince Daeron and the great army of Lord Ormund Hightower. Slowly advancing on King's Landing, they were defeating the Queens loyalists wherever they went, as Rhaenyra’s armies fled before Tessarion. To defeat Aemond and Vhagar, Prince Daemon and Caraxes had left for the Riverlands with the girl Nettles and her dragon Sheepstealer. To defeat Daeron and Tessarion, Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer flew to Tumbleton.

    Rhaenyra´s forces at Tumbleton greatly outnumbered the Hightower army. People fleeing into the city for safety from Lord Hightowers army, were secretly part of the army, and infiltrated the ranks of defenders. In addition, Ser Ulf the White and Ser Hugh Hammer, since then known as the Two Betrayers, changed their allegiance. Though Lord Ormund and his cousin Ser Bryndon died in the battle, killed by Roddy the Ruin as he himself was mortally injured, the Hightower army kept the advantage, as Vermithor and Silverwing joined Tessarion in the air, and loosened their flames upon Tumbleton unexpectedly. A savage sack followed.

    Upon learning of the betrayels, Queen Rhaenyra ordered the city gates closed and barred. The Betrayels at Tumbleton made the Black Council question the loyalty of the other dragonseeds, Addam Velaryon and Nettles. Most of the Black Council urged Rhaenyra to arrest both, and only Lord Corlys spoke in their defense, declaring Addam and his brother Alyn true Velaryons. His protests, though passionate, were in vain. Rhaenyra, already suspicious, ordered the arrest of Nettles, at Maidenpool with Prince Daemon, and Addam, currently guarding the dragons in the Dragonpit. Ser Luthor Largent went to arrest Addam, but upon his arrival at Rhaenys's Hill, saw Seasmoke take wing, with Ser Addam on his back. Ser Luthor arrested Lord Corlys instead, since the old man did not deny helping his heir escape. Slowly, chaos started to arise again in King's Landing.

    In Tumbleton, meanwhile, chaos reigned. Lord Hightowers army remained there. Ormunds sons remained in Oldtown and were still green boys. Though Prince Daeron had been knighted, he was still a boy, used to following commands. Ser Hobert, another Hightower cousin, presumed to take command. Prince Daeron commanded Ser Hobert to stop the savage sacking, but Hightower proved to be very ineffective. Ser Ulf and Hugh were worse. Ser Ulf drank heavy and fed women to his dragon, and became angry when he was named Lord of Bitterbridge, dreaming of Highgarden instead. Ser Hugh was worse, dreaming of a crown of his own.

    In the Hightower army, no decision of a course of action could be made, and the army became smaller every day due to desertions.


    Dancing Dragons at Dragonstone

    Around the time of the First Battle of Tumbleton, the merchant cog Nessaria made a stop at Dragonstone for repairs and provisions, having been driven off course by a storm. They had passed the Dragonmont before arriving at Dragonstone´s port, and there they had spotted two fighting dragons.

    Inspired by the story from those of Old Volantis, local fisherman took their boats out for a look the next morning, and they reported having seen the burned and broken remains of a dead dragon. From the color of its scales and wings, they concluded the dead dragon was Grey Ghost, completely torn apart . Ser Robert Quince, Dragonstones castellan, named the Cannibal as the killer. Only later in the war would the truth surface.


    Fall of Dragonstone

    Having smuggled Aegon, Jaehaera and Maelor out of King's Landing, Lord Larys dispatched Jaehaera and a Kingsguard to Lord Hightower, and Maelor and another Kingsguard to Storm's End, while he disguised King Aegon and smuggled him to Dragonstone, Rhaenyra’s seat, the last place anyone would look for him. Aegon was kept hidden in disguise, and would have remained such, as Sunfyre had not found them. Unbeknownst to those in the castle, it had been Sunfyre who had fought and killed Grey Ghost, and not the Cannibal.

    Rider and dragon went out flying again, regaining strength, while Aegons loyal men had found people enough who were willing to betray Rhaenyra, due to mislike for her. Dragonstone had not been well defended, and it had fallen easily. There had only been one problem. Lady Baela, Prince Daemon’s daughter, had managed to escape her attackers and mount her dragon. She met Aegon II and Sunfyre in the sky, unexpectedly, where the two dragons fought. Sunfyre blinded Moondancer with fire, but the younger dragon fought on. The dragons eventually fell on the earth. On the ground, Sunfyre won the battle. King Aegon had jumped off Sunfyre’s back before the dragon hit the ground, but had broken both his legs. Baela had stayed strapped on Moondancer, and was burned and battered. She was taken captive, and King Aegon the Elder now held Dragonstone.


    The Dance over Harrenhal

    Lord Manfryd Mooton found himself in a difficult situation, when the message from Rhaenyra arrived from King's Landing, telling Mooton to send her the head of Nettles. Nettles, during her time with Prince Daemon, was said to have become his lover, according to Rhaenyra, and was thus guilty of high treason. Prince Daemon was to not be harmed. The decision Lord Mooton had to make was a difficult one, for Nettles was a guest beneath his roof, and killing her would mean breaking the guest right, and facing Prince Daemons wroth. Refusing Rhaenyra, however, would mean being attainted a traitor. The maester suggested that they had never rread the letter, and later that night, went to inform Daemon of Rhaenyra´s command.


    The Old King would never have asked this, of any man of honor.

    The next day, Nettles mounted her dragon Sheepstealer, with tears on her cheeks. Daemon and Nettles spoke no word of farewell, but when Sheepstealer climbed the sky, Caraxes gave a scream. Nettles and her dragon disappeared that day, and were never seen again.

    Prince Daemon told Lord Mooton to spread the word that he would fly for Harrenhal, so Aemond could come face him, alone. Once Daemon was gone, Lord Mooton took down Rhaenyra’s banners, and raised the golden dragons of King Aegon II.


    ”You were a fool to come alone.”
    “Were I not alone, you would not have come.”

    Prince Daemon took Harrenhal from the few who still remained there, and waited for thirteen days. On the fourteenth day, Vhagar appeared in the sky, and on her back rode Prince Aemond and his bedmaid, the pregnant seer Alys Rivers. Dropping Alys on the ground, Daemon and Aemond had one last conversation before both Targaryens mounted their dragons and climbed into the sky. Caraxes fell down upon Vhagar, starting the fight. Their fight ended as the two dragons, locked together, tumbled down towards the lake. According to the tales, this was when Prince Daemon leapt from one dragon to the other, Dark Sister in his hand. Aemond looked up in terror, but was chained to his saddle, and could not do anything when Daemon ripped off Aemonds helm and drove the sword through Aemonds blind eye. The dragons struck the lake half a heartbeat later.

    Caraxes lived long enough to crawl back onto the land, beneath the walls of Harrenhal, where he died. Vhagar died in the water, and was found some years later, when the Dance was over, with Aemond’s armored bones still chained to the saddle, and with Dark Sister still in his eye-socket.

    There’s no doubt that Prince Daemon died that day, as he could not possibly have survived the impact. His remains, however, were never found, causing singers to tell that he survived to spend his last days with Nettles. It was the twenty-second day of the fifth moon of the year 130 AC.


    The Riots at King's Landing

    In King's Landing, the Velaryon fleet, counting more than half the army that had sailed from Dragonstone, had abandoned Rhaenyra when they learned Lord Corlys was in the Black Cells. Those who remained could no longer be trusted.

    That same day, Queen Helaena threw herself from her window in Maegor's Holdfast and died impaled upon the iron spikes that lined the dry moat below. The stories told of Helaena’s death on the streets and in inns, by nightfall, were much darker. The people believed she had been murdered, as her sons before her. The rumours were believed very quickly. Tales tell that at the moment of Helaena’s death, her dragon Dreamfyre rose with a roar, snapping two of her chains.

    That night a riot rose in King's Landing. The chaos was big, and neither noble nor lowborn was spared. Sailors unable to return to their ships attacked the River Gate. Ser Luthor and his Gold Cloaks went to Cobbler's Square, to disperse the rioters, but after the first had fled, there were ten thousand more, and they believed Luthor to have killed Helaena: the mere sight of him angered them even more. The rioters were ten thousands where the gold cloaks were only five hundred, and so the Gold Cloaks were slaughtered, Ser Luthor amongst them.

    A hedge knight, Ser Perkin the Flea, crowned his squire Trystane, declaring him to be King Viserys’ bastard. Ser Perkin then began dubbing all those who would support Trystane knights, and so many fled to their cause.

    The next day, some order was restored to parts of King's Landing again, but in the rest of the city, chaos remained.

    That night Rhaenyra learned about Maidenpools betrayel, and Nettles escape. Rhaenyra send ravens to Winterfell and the Eyrie, pleading for more aid, and named a new Lord Commander to her Queensguard, Ser Glendon Goode. Prince Joffrey donned his armor and begged to fight, but he was forbidden.

    The night came once more, and Ser Perkin and “King” Trystane were gaining strength. The King's Gate and the Lion Gate were opened by rioters, the Gold Cloaks at the King's Gate having fled, and those guarding the Lion Gate having joined the rioters. With Ser Perkin holding the River Gate, three out of seven gates were now open to enemies.


    Bring him back, bring him back, he does not know. My son, my sweet, my son …

    The people of King's Landing no longer believed Rhaenyra could protect them and a mob twice as big as the one of the night before formed in the city. A crazed prophet made the mob turn their attention to the Dragon Pit and the entire mob moved towards Rhaenys's Hill to kill the dragons. By the time they reached the hill, their numbers had doubled. Rhaenyra was watching all this unfold from Maegor's Holdfast. Prince Joffrey pleaded, fearing Tyraxes, his own dragon, would be killed, but Rhaenyra would not listen, insisting the mob would burn. Joffrey, dissatisfied, went outside and mounted Syrax, Rhaenyra’s she-dragon, the dragon that was not his own, to fly to the Pit. All attempts to get him back failed, as Syrax threw Joffrey off her back as arrows and spears flew up from below. Joffrey, not having used a saddle, fell from Syrax’ back and crashed into the ground.


    Seldom have so many men rushed so eagerly onto their funeral pyres, but a madness was upon them.

    The battle in the Dragonpit began. Four dragons there were: Shrykos, who died first, slain by a woodsman who slamed his axe into her skull. Morghul was killed by the Burning Knight. Tyraxes went into his lair and roasted many before finally dying. And last Dreamfyre, who broke free of her remaining bonds, plunging into the mob with fire, tooth and claw. Dreamfyre slew more than the other three dragons combined, until a crossbow blinded one of her eyes. Dreamfyre then tried to leap free, and the weakened dome cracked under her force, only to crash down on both dragon and dragonslayers.

    Syrax was still alive and free in the air, and descended on the survivors. Rhaenyra, watching from atop Maegor's Holdfast, would not dare let go of her last remaining son, Aegon the Younger… until she saw Syrax fall.

    Rhaenyra’s councilers agreed that the city was lost. Rhaenyra was persuaded to leave the next day, slipping through the Dragon Gate, starting the journey to Duskendale.


    The Second Battle of Tumbleton

    News of unrest in King's Landing reached Tumbleton, making the Hightower army believe they should advance upon the city, but Ser Hobert doubted, and the Two Betrayers refused to join unless their demands were met.

    With Aemond slain and Aegon still missing, the Greens found themselves without a leader and a king. Prince Daeron was now next in line for the throne and there were some who wanted to name him Prince of Dragonstone, or even King, but the Two Betrayers did not agree. Lord Hugh Hammer wanted to be crowned king, by the rights of conquest. He had theoldest and largest dragon alive, trice as big as Tessarion, Daeron’s dragon.

    Offended by the arrogance of the Betrayers, the lords and knights of the Reach, and Prince Daeron, grew wroth. The Two Betrayers plotted together Hammers coronation, and indeed Hard Hugh later wore a crown of black iron. When insulted, Hard Hugh’s men came to blows with loyalists, and Lord Peake and Ser Hobert summoned eleven other lords and landed knights, who together became known as the Caltrops, as to discuss what to do about the dragonseeds. They agreed that disposing of Ulf the White would be easy, but that Hammer was dangerous, surrounded by men and women day and night. They decided Hammer had to die first.

    With Prince Daerons consent, the Caltrops carried out their plans. But the day the Caltrops planned to strike, the people at Tumbleton woke at night to find themselves under attack. The dragon attacking was Seasmoke, with Addam Velaryon on his back, and with an army of four thousand loyal to Rhaenyra behind them. The great host encamped at Tumbleton outnumbered their attackers, but due to their long stay, they had grown lax.

    Ulf was asleep inside Tumbleton, his dragon outside the town. They tried to wake him, but he slept through the entire battle. Hard Hugh did respond, and rushed to the yard, screaming for a horse so he could go and mount his dragon, when Lord Jon Roxton, one of the Caltrops, met up with him. He offered Hammer his condolences, and when asked why, he told the new made King he had died in battle, before killing Hammer. He was shortly after killed himself by Hammers men in revenge. Prince Daeron died in the battle as well, though no one knows exactly how. Three different accounts exist on his death.


    Lord Hammer, my condolences.
    For what?
    You died in the battle.

    The three dragons encamped at Tumbleton were unchained, however, and all had been roused by the battle. Addam turned Seasmoke to meet Tessarion, and the two dragons danced around each other in the sky. Vermithor eventually rose into the sky as well, attacking everything he came across. And thus Addam turned Seasmoke towards him, to protect those men who were helping them, although he must have known Seasmoke could not beat Vermithor. The dragons were so locked together, neither could get free. Tessarion joined the fight, which ended with Vermithor ripping off the head of Seasmoke. Vermithor, due to his wounds, died next. Tessarion, after trice trying to fly, remained in pain, until Lord Blackwood ordered her killed to end her suffering.

    Though having won the battle, the Rivermen had not been able to take the town. Tumbletowns walls were closed, and without a dragon or equipment, they could not start a siege, so the rivermen took all that they found useful and left. Only one dragon now remained at the city: Silverwing.

    Eight of the thirteen Caltrops had died in the battle, and one would die the next day. Ser Hobert and Lord Peake remained, and both found Ulf the White, the last dragonrider, proclaiming himself their last hope. White now proposed to take the throne for him, since Prince Daeron was dead. And so Ser Hobert visited him the next day with two casks of wine, one red for himself, one golden arbor for White. Ulf, however, became suspicious of Ser Hobert, and insisted they drank the arbor gold together.

    And so Ser Hobert drank deep, and asked for more. Having seen this, Ulf drank three cups, and died shortly after due to the poison mixed in the wine. Ser Hobert tried to retch, but for him it was too late as well, and he died within the hour.

    Without a leader, and without a rider for Silverwing, the army started to fall apart. And so Lord Peake called defeat, and retreated. King's Landing had been saved.


    Rhaenyra’s retreat to Dragonstone

    Yet Rhaenyra did not know about this. She had been refused entry at Rosby and was allowed to stay only one night at Stokeworth, half her Gold Cloaks deserted on the road, and attackers killed several of her knights. At Duskendale they were admitted, but not allowed to stay long. Refusing to part from Aegon, and without ships, Rhaenyra sold her crown to buy passage on a Braavosi ship. And so she returned to Dragonstone, where she knew were more dragon eggs, for she needed a new dragon.

    At Dragonstone, Rhaenyra found her castellan slain. As Ser Alfred, angered when he had not been named castellan, showed Ser Roberts burned body, his men killed all of Rhaenyra’s men, and imprisoned Rhaenyra, her ladies, and Aegon the Younger. Once inside the gates of the castle, Rhaenyra stood face to face with Aegon II and Sunfyre.

    Not long after Dragonstone had secretly fallen to Aegon II, ravens had arrived telling him about Rhaenyra’s return to Dragonstone. This had given Aegon the opportunity to prepare for the arrival of his half-sister.


    Mother, flee!

    And so it was the Queen found her brother in her own seat. Aegon wasted no time, and had Rhaenyra fed to his dragon, whilst Aegon the Younger looked on. With the chance that Rhaenyra’s loyalists would continue the fight in her sons name, Aegon the Younger became a hostage. It was the twenty-second day of the tenth month of 130 AC.

    On the ninth day of the twelfth month, Sunfyre the Golden died on Dragonstone. After this, Aegon started planning his return to King's Landing. Though Rhaenyra had died, her cause lived on. Aegon would sit the throne again, but it would only lest another half of a year.


    The time for hiding is done,” King Aegon II declared. “Let the ravens fly that the realm may know the pretender is dead, and their true king is coming home to reclaim his father’s throne.

    Aftermath

    The Dance ended with the death of Aegon II, and the ascension of Aegon III. The two lines of House Targaryen were brought together by wedding King Aegon III to Princess Jaehaera, the only surviving child of Aegon II and Helaena. Their marriage would end childless.

    King Aegon III, due to his young age when coming into his crown, suffered through the Regent Wars for the first part of his reign, where regent after regent helped rule the kingdom. Ending the Regent Wars, King Aegon III, possibly after reaching manhood, named his brother, Prince Viserys, as his Hand for the remainder of his reign.[3]

    The Dance of the Dragons would also be the last time the dragons lived in health. With so many dragons having died in the war, only a handful remained. The reign of King Aegon III would become known as the time the last dragon was born, lived and died, a stunted thing.

    Since the Dance, House Targaryen has practiced a highly modified version of agnatic primogeniture, placing female claimants in the line of succession behind all possible male ones, even collateral relations. (See also Daena Targaryen, Daeron II). The war is the subject of the song "The Dance of the Dragons", as well as a somewhat inaccurate history by Grand Maester Munkun. Archmaester Gyldayn wrote a history of it called The Princess and the Queen or the Blacks and the Greens.

    Books and Scrolls about the Dance of the Dragons

    References and Notes