That night, the new king's first Small Council meeting was held in the Painted Table Chamber of Dragonstone, around the wooden table carved with a detailed map of Westeros. The participants were only the core few: Viserys Targaryen, Arthur Dayne, Jonothor Darry, Willem Darry, and Ashara Dayne, who was permitted to attend.
"Your Grace, the proclamation has been sent out," Willem Darry reported first. "But we cannot sit idly by. Robert Baratheon and his allies will never allow you to live and threaten his rule. Their fleets, especially those from the Stormlands and the Lannister family, have recently been gathering. Their target is certainly Dragonstone."
Jonothor Darry pointed at Dragonstone on the map, his expression solemn: "Dragonstone is easy to defend but not impossible to capture. Once blockaded, we will be isolated, our supplies cut off, and its fall will only be a matter of time. Moreover, Queen Rhaella is due to give birth soon and cannot endure such hardship."
Arthur Dayne said gravely, "We can fight to the death. The Kingsguard vow..."
"Fight to the death, and then what? The Targaryen line will end here." Viserys interrupted him, his finger lightly tapping the location of Dragonstone on the painted table before slowly moving east, crossing The Narrow Sea, and pointing toward that vast and unfamiliar continent, Essos.
He looked up, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "What we need now is survival, to accumulate strength. Robert's rebels are in high spirits, and we are powerless to resist them head-on. The far side of The Narrow Sea is our only choice. There are Free Cities there, vast lands, and a chance for us to grow strong again."
"Exile..." Ser Jon's voice was filled with bitterness. This word was immensely heavy for these proud knights.
"It is a strategic withdrawal," Viserys corrected, his tone decisive. "We must cross The Narrow Sea and go to Essos. There, we can seek allies, accumulate wealth, train armies, and wait for the right moment. I have a premonition that the dragons will return soon, but dragons need time to grow."
"And Dragonstone..." Ser Willem was somewhat reluctant.
"Dragonstone is the ancestral seat of the Targaryen rise, but the living are the future of the family." Viserys looked at him. "We need to take those who are willing to follow us, and all the resources we can carry. Those who do not wish to leave may stay. I will, in the name of the King, pardon all their future actions. Forced loyalty is meaningless."
This realistic and calm judgment ultimately convinced everyone. Once the initial fervor subsided, they had to admit that the young king's grasp of the situation was far more thorough than that of the knights whose heads were clouded by honor. This clarity, beyond his years, added a measure of respect for a true decision-maker in the eyes of Ser Arthur and the others when they looked at Viserys.
Over the next few days, Viserys made a series of deployments. He commanded Ser Willem Darry to secretly identify the most loyal and reliable parts of the existing fleet and garrison, especially the soldiers and sailors native to Dragonstone. The loyalty of these people to the Targaryen Family was practically ingrained. At the same time, he set aside the best and most robust warships and secretly gathered them in several hidden coves.
He knew that the devastating storm from the original story would arrive. That storm not only destroyed the Stormlands fleet attempting to attack Dragonstone but also severely crippled the Lannister naval forces. The remaining fleets from The Arbor and the Iron Fleet would not fight desperately for Robert, and the fleets of White Harbor and The Vale had little strength, consisting mostly of merchant ships. Therefore, he planned to use the storm as cover to leave when the enemy was at its weakest.
The preparations proceeded intensely and orderly. Loyal soldiers were secretly informed of the plan, and supplies were shipped in batches onto designated vessels. On the surface, Dragonstone remained heavily guarded, but internally, a massive, life-or-death relocation was underway.
Finally, Queen Rhaella's due date was approaching, and the preparations were mostly complete. Viserys decided to personally address all the soldiers.
Viserys did not stand on a platform; instead, he stood in front of the crowd. He still wore the dragon bone crown, his gaze calmly sweeping over faces that were either resolute or bewildered.
"Gentlemen," his voice clearly reached everyone's ears, devoid of passion, possessing only a quiet strength. "You all know who I am. And you know what we are facing."
"The blades of the rebels have already stained King's Landing red, and their fleets are coming toward Dragonstone. They want to completely wipe out the Targaryen name and destroy the last of the True Dragons."
A suppressed commotion arose in the crowd.
"I could order you, in the name of the King, to live or die with Dragonstone." He paused. "But I do not wish to do that. The Targaryen Family thanks you for your loyalty thus far. Every one of you has the right to choose survival."
He raised his voice: "I am going to Essos, across The Narrow Sea. This is not flight, but a measure to preserve our strength, so that one day, we can return in a much stronger position! Now, I give you a choice."
"Those willing to continue following me, willing to travel with me no matter how perilous the road ahead, please stand to my right. I will not forget your loyalty, and when we return to Westeros, you will all receive generous rewards."
"Those who wish to stay, or who have families they cannot leave behind, may stand to the left. I, Viserys Targaryen III, swear here in the name of the King that I will pardon any actions you may take in the future. You may surrender, you may go home; I will never view you as traitors. This is the choice you deserve."
Having spoken, he fell silent, merely watching the crowd quietly. People exchanged glances, most faces filled with struggle and hesitation.
The first to move was Arthur Dayne. He strode without hesitation to Viserys's right side, his hand resting on Dawn, his posture straight. He was followed immediately by Jonothor Darry and Ser Willem Darry; the two Darry family knights also stood firmly to the right.
Subsequently, some officers and soldiers native to Dragonstone also began to move. Most were silent, but their steps were firm as they headed to the right. Many of them had ancestors who had served the Targaryen Family. The remaining majority of soldiers, with guilt and pain on their faces, lowered their heads and slowly shuffled to the left.
When everyone was settled, Viserys silently took count. Approximately two thousand people chose to follow him. This included almost all the soldiers native to Dragonstone, most of the knights who held deep affection for the Targaryen Family, and a portion of those who had been impressed by the "divinity" and composure Viserys had recently displayed. This number, close to one-third of the existing forces, was better than he had expected. Looking at the dense, resolute crowd on the right, a surge of warmth rose in Viserys's heart. This was his foundation, the root of his future rule.
"Good," he said clearly, his eyes burning as he looked at his followers. "I promise you, you will absolutely not regret the choice you made today."
He turned to those on the left who chose to stay, his voice calm: "You are free to leave whenever you wish. Remember my words, you are free. May the Gods bless you."
Ser Willem Darry immediately began commanding the soldiers who wished to follow, assigning them to the twenty prepared ships. They were ready to depart at any moment.
Inside Dragonstone, the final arrangements were being made. Precious dragon bone and dragon eggs, along with the castle's treasures, were systematically packed and transported via small paths to the hidden flagship. As the core seat of the Dragon family, Dragonstone's wealth was no less than that of the King's Landing treasury..
After the brief commotion, Dragonstone fell into a state of calm once more. Everyone was ready, waiting only for the King's command. Viserys was also waiting, waiting for the massive storm that would appear in the original story.
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