Meanwhile, south of the Neck, Aegon I Targaryen sat his uneasy throne, his crown of Valyrian steel feeling heavier with every passing moon. His consolidation of the five kingdoms was complete, but his dominion was anything but absolute.
The independent North and the unbowed Dorne were twin thorns in his side, and the latter had just cost him dearly.
Aegon's fury was a raging fire, fueled by the memory of the Dornish War. It was at the battle of Hellholt that disaster struck: his sister-wife Rhaenys and her great dragon Meraxes were killed by a crossbow bolt to the eye.
The loss had been devastating, and his response, alongside Visenya, had been brutal. They had unleashed their remaining dragons, raining fire upon Dorne, reducing their foes to a pitiful, desperate state of ruin and famine—a conquest by annihilation, not allegiance.
Then came the infuriating news from the South. No sooner had Aegon and Visenya departed than Alaric Stark arrived for "trade negotiations." Upon seeing the devastation, Alaric had openly defied the Targaryen crown's victory.
Utilizing his magical powers—the abilities of Hashirama Senju—he had transformed scorched earth into fruitful land, raising massive fruit trees overnight and alleviating the starvation of the common Dornish folk.
This act earned the Dornish smallfolk's deep, lasting gratitude, further strengthening the unwritten alliance between the North and Dorne.
Aegon was incandescent with rage. The audacity of Alaric to nullify his brutal victory with a simple act of charity and magic was an unbearable insult.
His first, impulsive thought was to take Balerion and burn every structure in the North, starting with Winterfell.
But the cold, hard truth of the magical contract Alaric had forced him to sign at Moat Cailin slammed into his fury, calming him with chilling finality. He or his wives could never attack the North.
The magic Alaric commanded was unlike anything known in Westeros, and Aegon, having already lost one-third of his dragon power, dared not risk violating the magical oath.
The North was an impenetrable mountain, protected by a piece of parchment and a power greater than dragons.
Frustrated, Aegon channeled his ambition into the next generation. He was training his sons, Aenys and Maegor, with a chilling dedication, hoping they would be the ones to avenge him and subdue the North.
Visenya, always the colder, more ruthless intellect, had performed blood rituals—drawing on dark Valyrian traditions—to enhance her sons' inherent abilities. The results were promising and terrifying:
Aenys, the elder, showed a natural talent for magical studies, suggesting he might master the lost arts needed to counter Alaric's power.
Maegor, the younger, was a formidable blend, excelling in both magical and martial talent, a dark reflection of Alaric's own unique combination of strength and knowledge.
They were shaping up to be powerful, dangerously capable heirs, prepared to inherit a throne defined by its feud with the North.
As a final contingency, Aegon clung to a desperate plan. When he was older, after relinquishing his crown to one of his powerful sons, he intended to mount Balerion the Black Dread and fly into the ruins of Valyria.
He would seek any surviving lost knowledge—ancient scrolls, bloodline spells, or dragon secrets—that could further increase the power of House Targaryen.
It was a path likely to end in his death amidst the smoking ruins, but to Aegon, his personal risk was irrelevant; he was willing to sacrifice his life for the future dominance of the dragonlords.