At dusk.
Aemon rushed to Runestone and met his mother, Lady Rhea Royce, as he wished.
"You knew you were back?"
Lady Rhea acted arrogantly, a familiar facade to her son whom she hadn't seen for months.
"I never come to the Vale without a reason."
Aemon shrugged, long immune to his mother's sharp words.
To his surprise, there was a familiar guest in the hall.
"Prince Aemon, did the journey go smoothly?"
Jeyne (Waynwood, or another suitable Vale name) was wearing a light green dress and handed over a glass of wine with both hands.
Aemon wondered, "Why are you here?"
They had just met in a Riverlands town (or specify a Vale town if intended) at noon, and now she was at Runestone in the afternoon.
"She didn't arrive much earlier than you did."
Lady Rhea took over the conversation and said disappointedly, "I heard that you ran to Seagull Town and Ironoaks. I really don't know how to comment on that."
The rivalry between Runestone and Seagull Town has continued from the Age of Heroes to the present day.
Lord Waynwood of Ironoaks is a greedy old fox who won't release his eagle until he sees the rabbit.
Seeking help from these two parties is like banging your head against a wall.
Aemon nodded slightly and looked at the (Jeyne's hair color) girl beside him.
Jeyne lowered her head shyly and said softly, "Lord Waynwood is not an easy person to deal with. I thought you might come to Runestone after your attempts there."
What to do in Runestone?
Either prepare to move against Ironoaks or fight the pirates of the Kingdom of the Three Daughters (the Triarchy).
Aemon pursed his lips and suddenly realized that the women around him were so smart.
Except for Rhaenyra.
It is a skill that women hone through going through many hardships.
Or maybe the two women in front of him, one elder and one younger, were both from the Vale and knew the situation of their neighbors better than he did.
"You still have a lot to learn."
Lady Rhea looked proud.
The daughter-in-law she chose would not be an ordinary person.
"Then I want to say thank you."
Aemon was very thick-skinned.
Jeyne buried her head demurely, not daring to take credit for anything.
He glanced at his mother, then leaned over to Jeyne's ear, and whispered, "Did you smooth things over?"
"Mm."
Jeyne nodded slightly and admitted it generously.
She had hurried here from the Riverlands (or specify) just to speak with Lady Rhea on his behalf.
If she wanted to be the future lady of his house (or princess, if Aemon has such a title in this fanfic), she couldn't let mother and son quarrel or have a cold war because of her.
Only by playing a role of mediation could she win at the starting line.
"Very good."
Aemon gave a silent thumbs-up.
It saved him a lot of effort.
"You two chat, I'll go out and tell the kitchen to prepare dinner."
Jeyne looked back at Lady Rhea and left the mother and son some space alone.
That well-behaved and sensible look made Aemon stunned again and again.
This is so smart.
Her ability to understand people's hearts is so amazing that she is just one step away from knowing their every thought.
The hall fell silent.
Lady Rhea took a sip of wine and said casually, "A good girl, but she overacted a little, and her performance wasn't quite up to par."
Aemon was surprised and asked, "You knew everything?"
His mother's level was indeed higher.
"When I say her shortcoming, it's that she still has room to grow."
Lady Rhea put down her wine glass, pointed at the untouched wine Aemon had been offered, and said:
"For example, you don't often drink, and you occasionally drink some sweet wine or cider to be polite. When she prepared wine for you, she forgot to prepare some strong liquor for me."
The wine in her glass tasted weak and was not to her liking.
Looking at his mother who was talking freely, Aemon guessed, "She has probably met you no more than three times."
"Yes, I have been to (Jeyne's home, e.g., Ironoaks if she is a Waynwood) once, and today is my second time meeting her properly."
Seeing that her son was not stupid, Lady Rhea preached: "So, you should give her more opportunities to spend time with you. She will make the rest of your life very comfortable."
Never mind the Vale.
Even if you look across the Seven Kingdoms, it would be hard to find another unmarried daughter who could assist her husband so capably.
As early as several years ago, she had taken a fancy to Jeyne at a banquet at (Jeyne's home).
At that time, she was still a young girl, but she could arrange banquets for her father, Lord (Jeyne's father's name and House), and entertain the guests in an orderly manner.
"Mother, I have a crush on someone."
Aemon repeated this sentence for the second time today.
"One?"
Lady Rhea's eyes were sharp.
Aemon bowed his head in thought.
"That means you are involved with both of them."
Lady Rhea's eyelids twitched, and she said admiringly: "Your ability to court disaster is even better than that bastard father of yours, Daemon."
Pray that there will be no substantial breakthroughs before it is exposed.
Otherwise, the King (Viserys) and the Sea Snake (Corlys Velaryon) will not let you off easily. Their wives, Rhaenys Targaryen and daughter Laena Velaryon (if the context implies involvement or consequence for them) would also be formidable.
Those are two of the most cunning men in the Seven Kingdoms.
Aemon was helpless, looking down at the brown floor.
This floor is really dull.
"Okay, stop playing dumb."
Lady Rhea rolled her eyes.
From childhood to adulthood, he always pretended to be ignorant when he made a mistake.
If you didn't know, you might think he was the son of his uncle, the King.
"Heh-heh."
Aemon smiled awkwardly.
The Conqueror, Aegon, had two wives.
What's wrong with him having two sweethearts?
"I have no objection to your wish to gather your vassals. If anyone is trying to stop you, you should step over them."
Lady Rhea said seriously.
Aemon suppressed his smile and said that the opponents on the battlefield this time were pirates from the Kingdom of the Three Daughters.
"The Three Daughters are in constant turmoil, so it's a good choice for training."
Lady Rhea took out the Royce clan sword, "Lamentation," that she had prepared in advance and placed it on the table. She stood up and said, "But you have to think clearly. Apart from the enemies on the battlefield, where are your real enemies?"
"I see."
Aemon stepped forward and held down the cross-shaped Valyrian steel sword, Lamentation.
The panel prompt sound sounds. (This seems like a game mechanic element, kept as is).
"Discover a magical weapon and gain +10 Magic Essence."
It's ordinary and can't stir up any ripples in my heart. (Aemon's internal thought about the game mechanic).
Lady Rhea stared at him, picked up the wine glass and drank it all, her tone softened: "You should know that you have an easier way to eliminate those hostile towards you invisibly."
The return of a Targaryen to the Vale puts the nobles of the Vale under great pressure.
Runestone and (another allied Vale house, if "Hong Lei" is one) are united, together with the newly developed (Aemon's personal holding, e.g., River Valley Town).
Not only will the nobles in the Vale let go of their grudges, but Runestone will also rise to the pinnacle of power in the Vale.
There are only so many of the old nobles of the Vale.
The Arryns of the Eyrie also have to consider whether they have the courage to go to war.
"Mother, I'm more than just a Royce."
Aemon held Lamentation and said seriously, "I am still a Targaryen."
After marrying Jeyne, he would completely belong to the Vale.
The royal succession rights would have nothing to do with him anymore.
His only relative in Runestone is his mother, Rhea.
But in the Red Keep of King's Landing, they are all blood relatives who share the same surname as him.
The Targaryens must not perish, and the dragons must not die at the hands of the vile.
What he had done before was far from enough to put an end to the birth of the "Dance of the Dragons."
Lady Rhea stood there in a daze, staring at her son.
She suddenly felt a little confused.
"I am born of bronze and fire!"
Reading the error-free version! 6=9+Shu_Bar published this novel for the first time. (This is an author's note, kept as is).
Aemon's eyes sparkled as he spoke in High Valyrian: "The dales are fit for eagles, the wider skies are for dragons."
Lady Rhea's pupils shrank slightly and her expression kept changing.
She understood.
Her son's ambition is not the Vale, but the Iron Throne in King's Landing.
Maybe.
Without further explanation, Aemon walked out of the hall with "Lamentation."
He was actually quite happy.
His mother is indeed an extraordinary person. She secretly learned Valyrian.
He just didn't know if it was to communicate with him or to prevent Daemon, that old man, from making sarcastic remarks to her in her native language.
That night.
From a remote attic in Runestone, flocks of ravens flew out, delivering information in all directions.
It is urgent to summon the vassal states.
…
The next day.
Early in the morning, someone saw His Royal Highness the Prince working in the blacksmith shop.
The fire was burning fiercely, illuminating his red muscular arms.
Jeyne was guarding outside and secretly saw the Valyrian steel sword "Lamentation" hanging on the wall.
Why does His Highness need to forge weapons when he already has such a good sword?
Aemon lowered his head and said nothing, concentrating on hammering the sword blank.
No matter how good the clan sword "Lamentation" is, it is just a borrowed token.
As long as he doesn't inherit Runestone, it will probably never be passed on to him.
Besides, the war is imminent.
He needs to find a reasonable way to vent and relieve his restless mood.
War is not as simple as it is described in books.
War kills people, a lot of people.
If you are not careful, you will be cursed for all eternity.
Especially a shocking war that he poured his heart and soul into, participated in and profited from, and was enough to change the world.
If he fails, he will be just a dragon knight even if he has a dragon under his crotch. (This phrasing is a bit crude, "even with a dragon to ride" might be better, but kept original if intended).
And victory will be his chance to rule the Vale.
He couldn't help but take it seriously.
Clang! Clang!
The iron hammers swung down again and again, and two bronze swords engraved with runes gradually took shape.
Aemon did not stop and continued to forge steel sword armor.
Not for personal use, but for those in need.
Time passes day by day as each fresh and fine appliance is produced.
Runestone changes every day.
The next day.
Gunthor, along with his deputy William, led eight hundred longbowmen to Runestone.
Day 4.
Gerold Royce (Jello is likely a misrendering of Gerold, a common Royce name) integrated the troops of Runestone, and eight hundred Vale knights, one thousand longbowmen, and one thousand two hundred infantrymen trained every day.
Day 7.
Ser Ryan Shettler from Seagull Town came. (Shett is a house from Gulltown/Seagull Town, so Shettler is plausible).
He brought a cousin and eldest son, both of whom were official knights.
There are also seven hired knights.
Each knight had three squires, forming a cavalry team of thirty people.
The remaining archers totaled 500 people.
Aemon was still in the blacksmith shop, working on equipment by the furnace.
The only difference is that it was replaced with a bigger and heavier hammer.
Every time the embryo was struck, intense sparks flew.
Day 10.
Members of the Royce family arrived one after another.
There are more than fifty branches of Royce in total, each of which is a wealthy knightly family.
Each family comes with three to five people, including father, son and brothers.
Including knight squires and archers, there were a total of 500 cavalry and 3,000 archers.
At this point, all of the Royce family's direct troops have arrived.
However, the vassal states of Runestone are far from all arriving.
Day 14.
An unfamiliar banner enters Runestone.
The flag is a "zigzag pattern of black and grey." (This sounds like the blazon of House Tollett, which is 'chequy black and grey').
The Tollett family of the Grey Glen (canonical seat of House Tollett).
A group of secondary nobles under the Royce family, led by Baron Addison Tollett, known as the "Gray Fox."
One of his descendants will become the Commander of the Night's Watch in the future. (A reference to Eddison Tollett).
Addison Tollett arrived, bringing with him his brother, two nephews, and fourteen other hedge knights.
Including the knights' squires and the knights of the Vale, there were a total of 500 cavalrymen.
There were also seven hundred longbowmen and one thousand infantrymen.
The total force is as high as 2,300 people.
As a secondary noble living in a remote area, this was already a move that would drain the family's wealth.
Day 23.
A team with a flag embroidered with the clan emblem of "a blue 'Y' with a white border on a red background" came in a mighty procession. (This is the sigil of House Wydman, not Coldwater. House Coldwater's is a blue fish on white, with a red and white embattled border. If Korwat/Coldwater is intended, the sigil description needs changing. If House Wydman is intended, the name needs to change. Let's assume the name Coldwater is intended and the sigil description in the fanfic is a custom one or a mistake).
The Coldwater family of Coldwater Burn.
One of the oldest nobles in the Vale, and also one of the secondary nobles under the Royce family.
The leader of the team is Walder Coldwater, the eldest son and heir of the current Lord of Coldwater Burn, who is over thirty years old. (Using Coldwater as the surname).
Ser Walder brought with him an uncle and an illegitimate brother, as well as more than thirty hired knights.
Including the powerful 500 Vale Knights, there were more than 600 cavalry in total.
There were 1,800 longbowmen and 300 infantrymen.
The total force reached 2,700 people.
Ding!
Aemon swung his hammer down, and sparks flew everywhere.
In the presence of many vassals, a piece of high-quality full-body plate armor was pieced together.
Jeyne immediately stepped forward and handed over a dry towel.
Aemon wiped the sweat off his face. His strong muscles were full of strength and his features were distinct under the firelight. He said, "Thank you for coming from afar. Thank you for your hard work."