(Collab with [@EricRP] and [@NecroKnight]) [b]Storm's End[/b] [b]The Gathering Storm[/b] The next morning came, the clouds having not abated and covering the land in a grey murk. Rain still drizzled on the stone dome of Storm's End. Eventually all the visiting nobles gathered in the hall once more. The mood was quiet and somber, and all were on edge. Rhaenys entered the hall with a frown, taking a seat with thoughts as foreboding as the sky outside. They had managed to make a commitment from Houses Toyne and Lonmouth to commit their troops and those of the lesser lords and landed knights sworn to them. Their families would all be sent to Dragonstone by way of Tarth, but the troops would help fortify the Sapphire Isle itself. The Evenstar was the greatest ally they had made, and his fleets and armies would be a huge boon. He controlled a significant portion of the Stormlands' naval strength, and with Tarth in their corner, they could control the sea passages on the eastern shores. The lords would most like attend Rhaenyra at Dragonstone as well, the Evenstar leaving the Tarth garrison to one of the younger Tarth scions. But it was still far less then Rhaenys had hoped for. She had wished for all of the ships that Borros could command. The full might of his strong, vast army. Instead she would only get at best a third of the ships and a small fraction of the men. Unless her cousin finally came to his senses and joined them. A proposition that had seemed certain but now was a coinflip. She sat down with Daemon, and with the other lords they had rallied to their cause. A handful, in the large hall. The Princess leaned in to her cousin, "With Borros' armies, we could have blocked the Dornish from crossing, should Aegon rouse them into action. We could have forced pressure on King's Landing. Now, they'll have an open path if Borros denies us." Rhaenys looked around at the lords and knights who had come to their side, as few as they were, "I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. I swear that your loyalty will be remembered and repaid in full." They all nodded, the Evenstar smiling slightly at her. Across from them Aemond walked in, with an assured smile on his face. He hailed both of them with a cocksure nod and took his place by the side of his potential bride to be. He seemed not to have a care in the world. In truth he was just as unsure as Rhaenys. He had the admiration of his daughter. The support of many of his strongest bannermen. But Borros would do what Borros wanted to do. Not even a Dragon could compel the Storm. The Lord of Storm's End soon walked in, striding confidently into the hall. He sat down, took a drink and regarded everyone with a friendly smile. His voice boomed throughout the hall, "I thank our royal guests for being the picture of courtesy and grace for the duration of their stay here. You have been fine companions, and it was a pleasure to see my dear cousin again and make the acquantince of such fine princes." Rhaenys noted that Borros did not refer to Daemon as a king. How did that bode? Even she didn't know. "These are troubling times, when a brother and a sister are at each other's throats. If I had my way, we'd all drink together and sally forth to do battle with our real enemies. That is my wish. But the time comes when a man must choose, and that time has come for me." He looked at Rhaenys, "Cousin, I value your friendship and I swear to never raise arms against you by the love my father held for you. Daemon, you are a hell of an entertaining man. I regret we did not fight by each other's side." "But I have chosen the Green. Aegon's offer is quite generous. And my daughter is enamored with the One-Eye Prince there. If I don't take this deal, I'd either have to contend with a bastard in my daughter's belly or a dead royal brother, and wouldn't that be a problem?" He smirked. Rhaenys lowered her head for a moment in defeat, her heart dropping. Betrayed. With a smile on the traitor's face. Aemond on the other, hand, couldn't look more pleased. Borros continued, "You will both have peaceful leave from Storm's End, and any Stormlander who wishes to join you may go in peace. I hope to convince the Greens to parley with you in peace." He snapped his fingers and several servants came bearing small chests, "Gifts in jewelry, coin, and other assorted treasures. Some choice wine. Silks for the princesses, daggers for the young princes. To let your Queen know that there are no hard feelings. In addition, my father's flagship, is being sailed to Tarth. You can take possession of it there and have it sent on to Dragonstone. I have my own ship, but perhaps my father can continue to aid you in some small way." Rhaenys stood and bowed her head, forcing a smile to her face, "I regret that you chose King Aegon, cousin, but I thank you for your gifts and well wishes. You have been a gracious host. I share your hopes that this can all end bloodlessly and pray we can meet again as friends." She sat down, hoping Daemon wouldn't react too badly. [i]The fucking fool has wasted our time...[/i] Daemon seethed. The temptation to have Dark Sister slither from her scabbard and hack his way out was intense. Two envoys had been sent to Borros Baratheon to the Greens' one. Blood had counted for naught and his gifts were scant compensation for a decision that, Daemon feared, tipped the scales decidedy against his wife. The night had gone well enough since he last sat in the hall; after the Evenstar pledged his support, Penrose had followed which gave them control of both banks of the Straits of Tarth. He hadn't yet broken the news to Rhaenys but now it would seem but meagre consolation in the wake of Borros' declaration. His throat tightened like a vice and his face felt like it was boiling, but he managed a porcelain smile of feigned courtesy and nodded to Lord Borros. "I regret your decision almost as much as I fear you will come to. I can only hope to persuade Queen Rhaenyra to be merciful come the end." He knew he ought to show more courtesy but even these poorly veiled threats were bile in his mouth. "I thank you for your [i]hospitality[/i], but Rhaenys and I have long leagues ahead of us which shall no doubt feel longer soured by such disappointment." He gestured to Rhaenys and rose as though to make an exit. He spotted Helia Caron but she wasn't looking his way. They'd found all the friends here that they would, he knew. By now, Rhaenyra would have reached the Eyrie and if she'd fared as badly as he and their former mother-in-law had here then this 'War' was lost before it had even begun. Rhaenys smiled sadly at Borros and bowed her head to leave. The lords who had declared for them rose and left as well, the Evenstar and the Knight of Skulls, walking out with Lord Toyne and Lord Penrose and all their retinues. The vast majortiy of the Storm Lords stayed seated and watched them all depart. The Princess hadn't felt such disappointment in some time. The Evenstar gestured for some of his men to take the gifts, clearly intending to have them delivered to Dragonstone when he came himself. Aemond rose from his chair and called out to Daemon and Rhaenys, "Give my sister, my regards Uncle. I wish you safe travels and hope we can meet again soon." He still seethed at the insult Daemon had paid him the day before, despite the victory Borros had given him. He wanted to call Daemon for a duel, but knew it would be foolish. No, Aegon would know he was victorious here. Some bannermen may have gone over, but what of it? They wouldn't hold out for long. He stood and watched a man he once admired, a man he had wanted to be, walk out an enemy. He absently touched his sapphire eye and felt a surprising well of emotions spring up. To give the lad credit, he could have goaded his uncle. Perhaps his kindly farewell hid a mote of sarcasm but Daemon merely regarded him briefly and said "I shall." He resigned himself to the knowledge the next time, if ever, he and Aemond met again there'd be no political positioning. He hated what Alicent and her brood had done but of the lot of them, Aemond was the one he recognised himself in. He looked at the sapphire gleaming in his eye-socket and recalled the day he'd filched it from a Tyroshi captain's purse after gutting him on his own deck. When Aemond had been injured, Daemon had made the lad a gift of it though knew the memory counted for nothing now. "Your young lady's comely enough. See that you treat her well." It was an odd parting remark but all he could muster in his state of bitter dismay. Rhaenys bid farewell to the lords who had gone with them, wishing them well and her desire to see them at court in Dragonstone soon. Penrose was a fine surprise. He was one of the principal bannermen, with his coastal ships he could help blockade the Straits of Tarth, and the bannermen he commanded could fortify the Parchments. If nothing else, they had a positional advantage. She saddled and hopped onto Meleys. Best to leave before the storm returned in full force. She called out to Daemon, with a regretful look on her face, "I'm sorry Daemon, I failed you and Rhaenyra. I only hope my failure does not cost our Queen too dearly." They began to lift off and bank towards Dragonstone and the long journey ahead, "Do you have any ideas on what our next move is? Once we return?" The rains had mercifully abated but the wind howled with the despair the pair of envoys felt. Below, Penrose and the Evenstar were in deep discussion, no doubt plotting ways to thwart their liege lord at the first turn; Lord Toyne and the Knight of Skulls had already disappeared to the stables to mount up for their long rides ahead of yet longer journeys to meet them again on Dragonstone. It annoyed him to hear Rhaenys talk of failure. "I'll none of that talk! Borros did what he was always minded to do. You know better than most he isn't one to be talked round by any man, woman or the Father himself!" He had to shout above the gusts and the steady thrum of dragonwings. "Our coming here has secured a handful of Stormlords we couldn't have hoped to secure had we not left Dragonstone. Next, we report back to your husband and we see what tidings the others have." He scanned the castle grounds to see where Vhagar was being kept. He hadn't seen the huge beast on their arrival but he'd scarce been able to see the end of his own nose in that abysmal squall. He reasoned Aemond had her garrisoned beyond the South wall somewhere. He'd half a mind to attack whilst Aemond celebrated inside but even Daemon had limits to the depths of his dishonour. Rhaenys would doubtless chide him gravely and he didn't want it said he killed the greatest Dragon yet living with a deplorable craven's trick. Wheeling Caraxes about, he leaned forward and gave the dragon the wind. Rhaenys nodded, taking heart in the small victory, "You speak truly Daemon. With the support we have, we can stop any fleets coming from the south almost cold. If Pentos and Braavos align with us, we can stop all crossings. With the seas and skies in our control, it matters little how many men Aegon can march." It was true, with the Straits of Tarth under their control, the Green fleets and the Triarchy fleets would be hard pressed to advance. Especially if Corlys did as Rhaenys suspected and sent some more ships to help. They still had a chance. But like her husband, Rhaenys hoped it wouldn't need to come to that. She followed Caraxes and the two dragons headed home, hopefully to better news. Helia Caron with the majority of her bannermen - the many others looked both relieved and one or two of them, slightly saddened. Likely meaning they couldn't come after her - if she had gone with the Blacks after all. Needless to say, she kept her allegiance a secret for the most part - Helia had sent a few of her own with them to Dragonstone. As precaution, namely cause she liked to keep all of her options open. For now though, she was forced to bend knee and follow the Greens to wherever it might lead them. She just hoped that Borros Baratheon didn't plan on leading them straight into some of the fighting. Or if he did, then get himself killed atleast. Aemond nodded at Helia, making eye contact with her and the Lords Dondarrion and Swann. With the Marchers and most of the high lords in their corner, the Stormlands were effectively theirs. If Aegon succeeded in Dorne, most of the South would be with them. Now all Daeron needed to do was tie up the Vale and the war would be theirs before it was even won. Lord Borros drank and said, "We'll hold off the wedding until this business with your sister is concluded. But I'll come with my daughter and my bannermen to attend the King in the Red Keep, and to assume my seat on the Small Council. I'll start calling the banners as well. Fly home, One-Eye and tell the Gold King that I'm with him. As long as he holds up his end of the deal. I denied my own blood for his sake. He better make good on his promises. Lest the storm turn on him as well." His expression became serious, his previous jovialty gone. The Prince managed to keep from gritting his teeth and said, "I will leave later today, I wouldn't want my uncle to ambush me on my way home, but I will tell him of your loyalty. By the will of the gods, I hope to call you father soon, my lord. By your leave." He bowed to Borros and kissed his fiance's hand before departing. He left the hall and watched Caraxes and Meleys fly off into the stormy horizon. If it had been one of them alone, perhaps he would have attacked. But he would have had no chance against both, even with Vhagar. Aemond watched the two dragons go, wondering what would happen the next time he met his uncle. Whether they'd clash with words or blades.