Rebuilding and Retying The Realm

Aegon Had Arranged Betrothals With Various Families His Was Already Tied To, To Prevent Rebellion. Though Some Questioned It, The Most Vocal Of It Was A Man Who Went By The Moniker Targ Something. Nonetheless, The Pacts Were Sealed With Eventual Marriage, and Aegon Could Rest Easy For Now. Aegon Felt Tired, More Tired Than He'd Ever Been, He Felt Tired and Weak But Only When Wide Awake. Aegon Was Currently Watching The Cleanup Of The Harbor From His Rooms In The Red Keep Even As Dya Begged Him To Return To Bed With Her. "It Was Too Easy, This Rebellion, Ended Too Soon." Says Aegon As He Feels Dya Snuggle Up To Him. "Your Not Upset It Was Not A Prolonged Rebellion?" Asks Dya. "It Was Too Easy Dya! This Pretender, It's Like Someone Propped Him Up As A Distraction and Sucked The Wind From His Sails When The Battle Looked Lost." Says Aegon. "I'll Admit It Does Look Convenient, But Robert The Rebellious Is Dead, Who Else Would Have Reason To Prop Up A Figurehead Rebellion To Test Our Strength?" Asks Dya. "I Don't Know, and That's What Terrifies Me Dya." Says Aegon As He Wraps An Arm Around Dyanna.

Aegon Sat In The King's Tower In His Chair, As He Played Chess With Kevan Lannister. His Knight Was Poised To Take Out His Opponents Last Remaining Septon, But This Would Leave His Queen Open To Taking By Kevan's Rook. Instead Of Risk Loosing His Queen, Aegon Chooses To Take His Last Remaining Rook and Sacrifice It To Open Up A Means To Let His Queen Get Somewhere Safe Before It Is Opened To Attack. "You Didn't Want To Sacrifice Your Queen?" Asks Kevan. "Not A Choice I Want To Make Twice. Now, Onto The Matter Of The Red Hand, I Want You To Command Them, While Your Nephew Ser Jamie Leads Them Into Battle. The Bulk Of Our Red Hands Will Be Wearing Lannister Issue Equipment Tempered By Tyrell, Arryn, Targaryen, and Martell Design Elements. I've Compiled A Small List Of Men I Believe Would Be Good Commanders, I Want You To Recruit Them." Says Aegon. "Let Me See It." Says Kevan and Aegon Hands Him The Parchment.

"Ser Lyn Corbray, Ser Brynden Tully, Ser Loras Tyrell, Ser Jamie Lannister, Sandor Clegane, and Several Others." Says Kevan. "I Can Handle Corbray and Tyrell, The Rest Are Up To You." Says Aegon. "I Understand, But What Are The Red Hands?" Asks Kevan. "A Knightly Order Of Two Thousand Men Strong, With Horses and Foot Soldiers. Outside Of My Royal Kingsguard They Are To Be The Best Of The Best Of The Seven Kingdoms Of Westeros. I Have Lord Varys, Lord Manderly, and Lord Tyrion Devising An Honor Code For The Red Hands To Obey. They'll Bring It To You For Determination Of Suitability." Says Aegon. "I Understand Your Grace." Says Kevan. "I Want The Red Hands To Be Strong and Above Reproach Lord Kevan, I Need Them To Have Unquestioned Honor and Nobility, Which Is Why I'm Choosing You To Lead Them. From This Day Until Your Resignation, Dying Day, Or Otherwise Last Day, You Shall Be Kevan Lannister Grand Commander Of The Knights Of The Red Hand." Says Aegon, Handing Him A Badge Of Office Not Unlike The Hand Of The King Pin. The Key Difference Is It's A Closed Fist Of Red Steel Surrounded By A Circle Of Pale Steel.

Aegon Had Summoned Ser Lyn Corbray To Court. The Man Had Showed Up As Aegon and Ser Arthur Were Training Together. "Ser Lyn Corbray, Meet Ser Arthur Dayne, If You'll Allow Us To Finish Our Sparring Session, We'll Be Right With You." Says Aegon. "Yes, Of Course Your Grace, Please Take Your Time." Says Lyn. "My Thanks Ser, Now Then Ser Arthur, Let's Fight Anew." Says Aegon As He Draws Blackfyre and Fang Ripper and Prepares To Fight Ser Arthur Unrestrained. Aegon and Ser Arthur Fight With Skill and Passion, Their Swords Dancing Off The Other In Graceful But Forceful Movements, Aegon Forces Himself Not Enter The Trance Again, Because He Doesn't Wish To Kill His Greatest Kingsguard By Accident. Ser Barristan Was Getting To The Point That He Was Of As Much Use As Great-Uncle Lewyn, Bedridden. Either Way, Ser Arthur Was Thus The Best Of The Kingsguard Now.

Aegon Finally Manages To Lock His Kingsguard In A Head Scissor Lock Of His Swords After Kicking His Knee Backwards and Forcing Him To Go Down On His Other Knee. "I Yield." Says Ser Arthur. "Excellent, You Are Dismissed Ser Arthur." Says Aegon and Ser Arthur Leaves. Aegon Walks Over To The Benches and Picks Up Cloth From A Bucket Of Water and Cleans The Sweat From His Face. "Ser Lyn Corbray, We Should Speak." Says Aegon. Ser Lyn Follows Aegon Out. "I Asked You Here, Because I'm Putting Together A **** Of Knights, I Have A Shortlist Of Top Knights and Warriors To Join It, and Want You To Do Just That. You'll Be One Of The Commanders, You'll Be Answerable To The Grand Commander, and He In Turn Will Be Answerable To Me. But I Want You To Lead Our Vale and Stormlands Detachment Of Knights Of The Red Hand." Says Aegon. "What Is A Knight Of The Red Hand?" Asks Ser Lyn. "Outside Of My Royal Kingsguard, They Are The Best Of The Westerosi Swordsmen. They Fight With Ruthless and Calculating Skill, But Judge With Honor, They'll Number About Two Thousand Strong To Start With, and Eventually Be Raised Up To About Five Thousand and So On." Says Aegon.

"What Of The Benefits Of Being A Knight Of The Red Hand?" Asks Ser Lyn. "You Get Access To The Best Armor and Weapons, Finest Steeds, Royal Favor and Some Authority Of The Crown, But You Also Act As The Realms First Line Of Defence." Says Aegon. "Tempting, But What Do You Expect Us To Do In The Absence Of A Fight?" Asks Lyn. "Prepare For Whatever Fight Presents Itself. The Blackfyre War Ended Too Quickly, and I Fear A Far Greater Threat Yet Lurks Amongst Us, I Don't Know Who Or What Is Coming, But I Do Know It Is Coming and We Must Be Ready, You Must Be Ready." Says Aegon. "Who Else Will Be A Commander?" Asks Ser Lyn. "Ser Loras Tyrell Will Lead A Detachment Of Northmen and Reachers, Ser Blackfish Will Lead A **** Of Westermen and Rivermen, and So and So On." Says Aegon. "Now, Do You Accept My Offer?" Asks Aegon.