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Preserved Lemon Crate
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- Summary
A cross between a lemon and a sweet orange, Meyer lemons boast a sweeter, fuller, more perfumed flavor than their tarter cousins. Our gift set includes a Meyer lemon tree, lemon sea salt, Lemon & Citron jam and a rubber-rimmed, steel-clamped Weck jar for making your own lemon preserves. Agricultural regulations prohibit shipments to Florida and Texas.
- Our potted Meyer lemon tree can be grown and harvested on a patio or in a sunny kitchen. (See More Info and Use & Care tabs for further details.)
- The salt is made from ground, dried lemon peels blended with pure Hawaiian sea salt. Use it on vegetables or for preserving fruit from the included Meyer lemon tree.
- Made with locally grown, seasonal fruit, the Lemon & Citron Jam offers a sweet-tart balance ideal for pairing with fresh cheeses. It is handcrafted in the French tradition, with small batches made in traditional copper kettles.
- A Weck jar is the ideal receptacle for making preserved lemons. The rubber-ringed, steel-clamped glass lids create an air-tight seal.
- Salt and jam are made by Lemon Bird, a California-based company specializing in artisanal preserves.
- Jar is made in Germany.
Crate includes:
- Meyer lemon tree
- Lemon Bird Sea Salt (2 oz.)
- Lemon Bird Lemon & Citron Jam (6 oz.)
- Weck jar (19.6-oz. cap.)
- Dimensions & More Info
Lemon Tree
- Zones 8–11.
- White flowers have a delicate tropical fragrance.
- Dwarf tree grows 4'–5' high.
- Suitable for container or ground planting.
- Requires bright light; a location that provides either morning sun or filtered light throughout the day is ideal.
- Fruits from spring to late summer.
- Fruit maturity: 2–3 years.
- Grown in California.
- Agricultural regulations prohibit shipment of citrus to AZ, FL, and TX.
- Use & Care
Meyer Lemon Tree Care
A sunny, frost- and wind-free location with southern exposure is best. (If in doubt, leave the tree in its plastic container and place it in the spot you have in mind. Water as needed, and after a week or two you should be able to tell whether or not it's happy.)
Reflected heat from sidewalks, walls, driveways, or other structures can help to create a warmer microclimate. Avoid planting citrus trees in lawns that get frequent, shallow sprinklings. Don't crowd your tree, for even though it is a dwarf, it will need room for its eight- to ten-foot ultimate diameter.
Citrus trees are famous for tolerating a wide variety of soils, including clay. However, good drainage is essential, as citrus trees can't survive standing water for long. To test your drainage, dig a hole 30" deep where you would like to place the tree. Fill with water to saturate the soil. The next day refill it with water. Your drainage is OK if the water level drops 2" in two hours. If the water does not drain well, plant your tree in a raised bed and then amend the soil as described in the following paragraph.
Soils rich in humus are best. For heavy or poor soils, we recommend digging a large hole and filling it back in, half with the best of the original soil, and half with a good-quality amendment mix. Plant the root ball high to allow it room to settle over time. Crown roots should remain visible just above the soil line.
If the plant is growing in a container, gently invert the container to remove the soil intact. Trees that are somewhat dry will usually release more easily from the pot for transplanting. Squeezing the sides of a plastic pot can help to loosen the soil and roots. If planting a bare-rooted mail order tree, shake loose the shavings the roots are packed in before planting. Add the shavings along with your other amendments to the prepared mix for the planting hole.
Take note of the abundant fibrous root system. Straighten out any circling roots and cut off any broken or dead roots before planting. Amend your planting hole as described above. Do not add fertilizer to the soil while backfilling your hole; however, you can apply some to the soil surface after planting. Be sure to tamp soil lightly as you go and water thoroughly after planting to eliminate any large air pockets. Stake the tree as needed until well-established. Green plant tie is a good choice for tying trees to stakes.
Citrus trees are best planted during the active growing season. In summer it is best to plant in the early morning hours when temperatures are cool to moderate. Try to keep the roots out of the sun as much as possible. Water thoroughly after transplanting. If desired, use a solution of Vitamin B-1 Rooting Tonic in the first few irrigations to help fine feeder roots recover more quickly.
Consistency is the key with citrus watering. As with so many plants, citrus trees like soil that is moist but never soggy. How often to water will vary, depending on soil porosity, tree size, and temperature. Allowing the top of the soil to dry slightly is okay. A simple moisture meter, available at garden supply stores, can be used to determine moisture down to about a 9" depth. Generally, when the meter indicates a root moisture level of about 50%, (center of dial) it is time to water.
A wilted tree that perks up within 24 hours after watering indicates the roots got too dry. Adjust watering schedule accordingly. A tree with yellow or cupped leaves, or leaves that don't look perky after watering can indicate excessive watering and soggy roots. In that case, water less frequently.
In the ground, citrus prefer less frequent, deep waterings to frequent, shallow sprinklings. Creating a watering basin around the drip-line of the tree can aid in deep watering. As the tree grows, be sure to expand the basin as needed to keep it as wide as the spread of the branches. Deeper watering promotes deeper root growth and strengthens your tree. Generally, once-a-week watering works well for in-ground plantings.
Citrus trees feed heavily on nitrogen. Your fertilizer should have more nitrogen (N) than phosphorous (P) or potassium (K). Use at least a 2-1-1 ratio. Miracid Soil Acidifier is a water-soluble product that works well and is a 3-1-1 ratio. In some regions, you may be able to find specialized citrus/avocado fertilizers. Buy a good brand and apply according to package directions.
Any good citrus formula will contain trace minerals like iron, zinc, and manganese. Many all-purpose products will work. Follow rates on the package carefully as fertilizers come in different strengths, release rates, and application schedules. We recommend that you fertilize more often than recommended with most slow release fertilizers. Foliar applications of trace minerals in the form of kelp or other soluble fertilizers can be effective. Yellowing leaves indicate lack of fertilizer or poor drainage.
Liberal use of mulches will conserve precious water and help inhibit weed growth. A 2–3 inch layer of redwood shavings, fir bark, compost, or other organic matter can be very helpful for water retention. To reflect heat and hasten fruit ripening, some people mulch with light colored gravel or crushed rock. "Living mulches" such as nitrogen fixing clovers can also be planted between trees in an orchard. To avoid root diseases, always keep grasses and other vegetation away from the root collar area. Keep all mulches at least six inches away from the base of the trunk.
Citrus may be pruned as desired to achieve the look you want. Pruning is fine any time of year, except in the winter for outdoor trees. Pinching back tips of new growth can help trees to maintain a round form, without impacting future fruit.
Citrus are self-pollinating, even indoors. Some people enjoy pollinating their trees and can do so by using a small soft brush or cotton swab to transfer pollen among the flowers.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
This item will be shipped directly from the manufacturer and is not eligible for rush shipping. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery.
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Return Policy
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If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
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Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
Rated 1 out of 5 by Mitelover from Free spider mites, too!! Ordered as a Christmas gift for my wife. Got here in time, looked great for a couple of days, and then the spider mites woke up... Now I have a stalk with two leaves (looking sicker every day) and a slammin' mite infestation... Can't say my wife is all that thrilled about her meyer lemon tree christmas present. Thanks Williams-Sonoma! And double thanks Four Winds Growers!!Date published: 2015-01-15


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Dance of the Dragons
- For the book, see A Dance with Dragons. For the song, see "The Dance of the Dragons".
The Dance of the Dragons was a civil war during Targaryen rule of the Seven Kingdoms. A war of succession between Aegon II and his half-sister Rhaenyra over their father Viserys I's throne, the war was fought from 129 AC to 131 AC. It saw the deaths of both rival monarchs, and the crowning of Rhaenyra's son, Aegon III.
In early 2013 it was announced that the anthology Dangerous Women, previously expected to include the fourth Dunk and Egg story, would instead include a novella by George R. R. Martin named The Princess and the Queen which he described as "(...) the true (mostly) story of the origins of the Dance of the Dragons."[1] The abridged version in The Princess and the Queen consists of 30,000 words, while the complete 80,000 word history of the civil war is planned for Fire and Blood.[2]
- 1 Background
- 2 The Dance of the Dragons
- 2.1 The Small Council meeting
- 2.2 Coronation of Aegon II
- 2.3 The Black Council
- 2.4 The Dance over Shipbreaker Bay
- 2.5 Blood and Cheese
- 2.6 The Battle of Rook's Rest
- 2.7 The Dragonseeds
- 2.8 Battle in the Gullet
- 2.9 The Battle on the Honeywine
- 2.10 Fall of King's Landing
- 2.11 Battle by the Lakeshore/The Fishfeed
- 2.12 The Red Kraken
- 2.13 The Butcher's Ball
- 2.14 The First Battle of Tumbleton
- 2.15 Dancing dragons at Dragonstone
- 2.16 Fall of Dragonstone
- 2.17 The Dance over Harrenhal
- 2.18 The Riots at King's Landing
- 2.19 The Second Battle of Tumbleton
- 2.20 Rhaenyra's retreat to Dragonstone
- 2.21 The Moon of the Three Kings
- 2.22 The Battle of the Kingsroad/The Muddy Mess
- 2.23 The End of the Dance
- 3 Aftermath
- 4 Consequences of the Dance
- 5 Family Tree of House Targaryen during the Dance
- 6 References and Notes
King Viserys I had three children by his first queen Aemma Arryn, but only one, Princess Rhaenyra, survived to adulthood. Lacking a son to succeed him, Viserys began to train Princess Rhaenyra to be his heir. Young Rhaenyra was included in discussions of the affairs of state, and was allowed to participate in meetings of the small council. Many of the nobles took note, and Rhaenyra soon acquired a clique of adherents and supporters. However, after his queen died, the king remarried in 106 AC, this time to Alicent Hightower and had four more children, including three sons, the eldest son named Aegon. Nonetheless, Viserys I strengthened Rhaenyra's place in the succession; he married her to Ser Laenor Velaryon - who himself had Targaryen blood through his mother, Princess Rhaenys. Rhaenyra gave birth to three sons during her marriage, although there were rumours that the father of these boys was not Ser Laenor, but Ser Harwin Strong.[3]
When Laenor Velaryon passed away Rhaenyra married anew, this time to her uncle, Prince Daemon Targaryen, younger brother to Viserys I Targaryen. Her sons by him were the future Aegon III (called Aegon the Younger in his youth, to distinguish him from his uncle, Aegon II, who on occasion was called Aegon the Elder) and Viserys II. Her father's intention that she should follow him on the Iron Throne was confirmed by proclamation and the will of Viserys I Targaryen. In 105 AC, hundreds of Lords and landed knights had done obeisance to the Princess Rhaenyra.[3]
In 111 AC, a great tourney was held at King's Landing on the fifth anniversary of the king's marriage to Queen Alicent. At the opening feast, the queen wore a green gown, whilst the Princess Rhaenyra dressed dramatically in Targaryen red and black. Note was taken, and thereafter it became the custom to refer to "greens" and "blacks" when talking of the queen's party and the party of the princess, respectively. In the tourney itself, the blacks had much the better of it when Ser Criston Cole, wearing Princess Rhaenyra's favor, unhorsed all of the Queen's champions, including two of her cousins and her youngest brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower.[1][3]
Rhaenyra and Alicents relationship had gone bad early in Alicent's marriage to Viserys, since both ladies had been trying to be the realm's first lady, and there could only be one. As a consequence of their bad relation, Alicent's sons did not take to Rhaenyra's sons. Ser Otto Hightower had also disliked Prince Daemon since the beginning of Viserys' reign, though the exact reasons are unknown.[3]
The Dance of the Dragons
The Small Council meeting
Upon the death of King Viserys I Targaryen, on the third day of the third month of 129 AC, Queen Alicent and Ser Criston Cole send out the Kingsguard to summon the small council members. During the gathering, the conversation quickly stirred towards Rhaenyra's coronation, but Ser Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, told those who had gathered that it would be a new king who would be crowned, whilst Lord Lyman Beesbury, the master of coin, insisted Rhaenyra should be crowned a queen.
Lord Beesbury argued in favour of Rhaenyra, but several other council members countered him. Ser Tyland Lannister argued that the oaths made to Rhaenyra in 105 AC had not been made by them, since it had been twenty-four years. Jasper Wylde mentioned that the Old King, Jaehaerys I Targaryen, twice chose a male heir over the female heir and her descendants, and Ser Otto reminded them all that Rhaenyra was married to Daemon, who would become the true ruler, should Rhaenyra gain the crown. Both Hightowers argued that not only they, but also Alicent's children would lose their lives should Rhaenyra become their queen. It would later be said that Prince Aegon II only reluctantly accepted the crown because his mother, brothers, sister and children would otherwise be killed by Rhaenyra.
Grand Maester Orwyle predicted a war, believing that Rhaenya would never be willing to give up her birthright, since she had dragons at her disposal. Lord Beesbury declared Rhaenyra had friends as well, and that he was not willing to sit there and listen to people plotting to steal Rhaenyra's crown. He rose to leave, but Ser Criston Cole forced him back into his seat and opened his throat. This made Lord Beesbury the first casualty of the Dance of the Dragons.
After Beesbury's death, the green council made their plans, vowing their loyalty to their new king, and arresting all those in King's Landing who could be loyal to Rhaenyra. To all those who might be loyal to Aegon, ravens were sent. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra remained on Dragonstone, unaware of what had happened.[1]
Coronation of Aegon II
Prince Aemond was sent to Storm's End to betroth himself to one of Lord Borros' daughters, so he might fight for Aegon II. By the time he left, the smell coming from Viserys I's room was all over Maegor's Holdfast, so seven days after Viserys had died, his death was announced to King's Landing and the Silent Sisters were sent for.
Aegon's coronation was prepared in short time. Ser Criston Cole placed the crown of Aegon the Conquerer on Aegon's head, while Alicent Hightower placed a crown upon the head of Aegon's Queen, his sister Helaena.
The night before Aegon's coronation, however, the first defection had taken place. Ser Steffon Darklyn had left the city, with, amongst other things, the crown Kings Viserys I and Jaehaerys I had worn.
On Dragonstone, Rhaenyra had learned about the death of her father and the betrayal of her siblings. Anger had made her go into labour, which lasted for three days and brought forth a still born, deformed girl, whom Rhaenyra named Visenya. Rhaenyra, in answer to Aegon's betrayal, swore revenge against the Greens.[1]
The Black Council
Rhaenyra made her own council at Dragonstone, the black council. Participants were, amongst others, Rhaenyra's husband Daemon, her three eldest sons Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey, Lord Corlys Velaryon, and his wife Princess Rhaenys.
Despite having more dragons, the blacks knew that would not be an advantage, since the greens possessed Vhagar, and from the nine dragons belonging to the blacks, only five were big enough for battle.
Believing to have allies in the riverlands who were only waiting for a place to gather, Prince Daemon decided to conquer Harrenhal as a base, using his dragon Caraxes, while Rhaenyra would remain on Dragonstone to recover her strength. House Velaryon closed off the Gullet, and Princess Rhaenys expressed hope of goading Aegon the Elder into a rash attack, believing him to be a green boy.
Princess Rhaenys was convinced that Storm's End would declare for Rhaenyra, since Lord Boremund, the deceased father of Lord Borros, had always been a supporter of Rhaenys herself. Though they believed the North to be too remote to play an important part in the war, the blacks decided to send messages to those lords as well. Jacaerys, Rhaenyra's heir, would bring messages to Jeyne Arryn, the Maiden of the Vale, the Starks of Winterfell, and the Manderlys of White Harbor. Lucerys, Rhaenyra's second son, would go to Storm's End, a safer, shorter journey, according to the blacks.
After these decisions, Rhaenyra was crowned queen, using the crown her father and great-grandfather had worn, thanks to Ser Steffon Darklyn, who had arrived from King's Landing. Prince Daemon, Rhaenyra's husband, was named Protector of the Realm, and Jacaerys was officially named Prince of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne. Declaring Otto Hightower and Queen Alicent traitors, Rhaenyra allowed for her half-siblings to be forgiven if they would bend the knee. Upon hearing about these developments, King Aegon II declared Rhaenyra and Daemon traitors as well.
Hoping for a peaceful end to the war, Grand Maester Orwyle was allowed to visit Dragonstone and speak with Rhaenyra. He offered Rhaenyra and her supporters generous terms, but Rhaenyra refused. Soon after, Lord Corlys's ships took sail to close off the Gullet, and Jacaerys and Lucerys left on their dragons with their messages, and Daemon left on Caraxes to the Trident.
Harrenhal fell quickly to Daemon. Ser Simon Strong, the elderly castellan, was captured. Daemon had a dozen valuable hostages (including Ser Simon and his grandsons). In the mean time, Jacaerys gained Lady Arryn and the Lords Manderly, Borrell and Sunderland, and Cregan Stark to Rhaenyra's cause,[1] with Cregan allying through the Pact of Ice and Fire.[4]
The Dance over Shipbreaker Bay
Lucerys flew to Storm's End, arriving before a gathering storm. When he arrived, however, he found Prince Aemond and his dragon Vhagar already present. Aemond tried to goad Lucerys into a fight, insulting him, calling him a Strong bastard, but Lucerys, having sworn to his mother not to fight, refused him, and instead delivered his message to Lord Borros. Lord Borros responded by asking which one of his daughters Luke would marry, should he do what Rhaenyra wanted him to do. Luke, already betrothed, told Lord Borros he could not marry any of the girls, upon which Lord Borros told Luke to leave.
Aemond drew his sword before Lucerys could go outside, and Lord Borros's men had to hold him back.
He came an envoy. I want no blood shed beneath my roof.
…is what Lord Borros said, growing uneasy. At that, Lucerys went outside, mounted his dragon Arrax, and left. Lord Borros then told Aemond that he could not tell Aemond what not to do when Aemond was no longer beneath his roof, upon which Borros's men moved aside and let Aemond out.
Outside the storm was raging. Though younger and faster, the storm was slowing Arrax down, leading to Vhagar catching up. The fight between the two dragons did not last long. Vhagar, being five times bigger, had the advantage, and Arrax fell broken. His head and neck would wash ashore three days later, along with the corpse of Prince Lucerys Velaryon.[1]
And with his death, the war of ravens and envoys and marriage pacts came to an end, and the war of fire and blood began in earnest.
Blood and Cheese
Rhaenyra collapsed when learning of Lucerys's death. Prince Daemon, at Harrenhal, send a raven to his wife.
An eye for an eye, a son for a son. Lucerys shall be avenged.
Daemon Targaryen had friends in the low places of King's Landing and at court, and followers amongst the gold cloaks. One of his friends enlisted the help of a former serjeant in the City Watch, known to history as Blood, and a rat-catcher from the Red Keep, known to history only as Cheese.
Cheese sneaked Blood into the Red Keep, using secret tunnels and hidden doors, bringing them into the Tower of the Hand. Blood killed Queen Alicent's bedmaid, whilst Cheese bound and gagged Alicent herself. Then they waited for Queen Helaena, who would visit her mother every evening with her three children. As Helaena and the children entered, Blood barred the door and killed the guardsmen accompanying Helaena. Cheese picked up Maelor.[1]
"Which one you want t' lose, Your Grace?"
Calling themselves debt collectors, they gave Helaena the choice of chosing which of her two sons would die. Haelena offered herself instead, but they refused and stated if she didn't choose Blood would rape her daughter. In the end, Helaena reluctantly chose Maelor, but Blood did the opposite and killed Prince Jaehaerys, six year of age. True to their word, they did not hurt anyone else, but fled with Prince Jaehaerys's head. After this event, Queen Helaena slowly went mad, staying in her chambers, no longer being able to look at her son Maelor, knowing she had named him to die. Dowager Queen Alicent took over the care of the remaining two children.[1]
The Battle of Rook's Rest
After the fall of Harrenhal, King Aegon II suffered defeats at the Burning Mill and Stone Hedge, making the young king realizing his situation was severe. Ravens returned from the Reach, and while House Hightower of Oldtown and the Arbor stood firmly behind Aegon, Lord Owen Costayne of Three Towers, Lord Mullendore of Uplands, Lord Alan Tarly of Horn Hill, Lord Thaddeus Rowan of Goldengrove and Lord Grimm of Greyshield all declared for Rhaenyra, as did the Vale, White Harbor, Winterfell, the Blackwoods and other riverlords, who were assembling at Harrenhal.
This, and the closing of the Gullet, made Aegon angry at his Hand, Otto Hightower. Ser Otto believed that Daemon, Rhaenyra's greatest pillar of support, was her greatest weakness. He reached out to one such foe, the Kingdom of the Three Daughters across the narrow sea, hoping to use them against the Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon.
Aegon II was running out of patience, however, and removed Otto as Hand. Ser Criston Cole was named in his stead, and decided actions were necessary.
It is not for you to plead for support from your lords, like a beggar pleading for alms. You are the lawful king of Westeros, and those who deny it are traitors. It is past time they learned the price of treason.
Larys Strong had a list of all those who had gathered on Dragonstone to attend Rhaenyra's coronation. Those lords living on islands could not be touched, but those on the main land could. Duskendale fell easily, and Lord Darklyn was beheaded. Ser Criston then turned his attention to Rook's Rest.
Lord Staunton closed his gates and defied his attackers, but could not protect his small folk. His provisions running low, he send a raven to Dragonstone, asking for help. The help that arrived was Princess Rhaenys on dragon Meleys. Unbeknownst to the blacks, however, Ser Criston had been expecting a dragon to appear. His men attacked the dragon with scorpions, longbows and crossbows, it only served to anger Meleys.
Next, Sunfyre and Vhagar appeared. Meleys had no chance against Vhagar and Sunfyre combined. The dragons fought a thousand feet above the ground. Meleys's jaws closed around Sunfyre's neck, and Vhagar fell upon them, causing all three dragons to crash into the ground. From the ashes, only Vhagar rose again. Sunfyre had one wing half torn from his body, whilst his rider, King Aegon II, suffered from several broken bones and severe burns. Princess Rhaenys was found completely burned next to the dead body of Meleys. After the battle, Prince Aemond and Ser Criston took Rook's Rest and put the garrison to death. The head of Meleys was brought back to King's Landing, inspiring fear amongst the small folk, causing thousands to flee the capitol until the gates were barred by Dowager Queen Alicent.
King Aegon II was brought back to King's Landing, where maesters attended to his wounds. He was severely wounded, sleeping nine hours out of every ten, under the influence of milk of the poppy. Sunfyre was too large to be moved, and due to his injuries unable to fly. The dragon thus remained at Rook's Rest, where guards were posted to keep him safe and feed him. With Aegon unable to rule, Prince Aemond assumed the style of Protector of the Realm.[1]
You must rule the realm now, until your brother is strong enough to take the crown again.
The Dragonseeds
It should have been you.
Lord Corlys Velaryon, upon learning of the death of his wife Rhaenys, threatened to leave Rhaenyra's side, until Prince Jacaerys named him Hand of the Queen. Together, grandfather and grandson planned an assault on King's Landing, sent Prince Joffrey to the Vale of Arryn with Lady Rhaena and three dragon eggs and Joffrey's dragon Tyraxes. Prince Aegon the Younger and Prince Viserys were sent to Pentos by ship, to be fostered with the Prince of Pentos, a friend of Prince Daemon's, until Rhaenyra had secured the throne.
With only Vhagar left to defend the city (Dreamfyre was at King's Landing as well, but could not fight due to her rider being unable), Jacaerys wanted to attack the capital with as many dragons as possible. With six riderless dragons present on Dragonstone, Jacaerys called out to the dragonseeds, vowing that any man who could master one of the dragons would be raised to knightship and gain wealth. Many men tried, and some women as well. Sixteen men died, amongst them Lord Commander Steffon Darklyn, and forty-eight were burned or maimed. Four people eventually succeeded: Vermithor was claimed by Hugh Hammer, Silverwing by Ulf the White, Seasmoke by Addam of Hull, and Sheepstealer by a girl named Nettles. Lord Corlys asked Rhaenyra to remove the taint of bastardy from Addam and his brother Alyn, making them true Velaryons, and named Addam heir to Driftmark.[1]
Battle in the Gullet
Meanwhile, ninety warships were sailing from the Stepstones chanced upon the Gay Abandon, carrying Prince Aegon the Younger and Prince Viserys. The escorting ships were sunk or taken, and Prince Aegon managed to escape by clinging to the neck of his dragon, Stormcloud. During the flight, Stormcloud was injured terribly. Prince Viserys, having only a dragon egg, had no such option, and was made a captive of admiral Sharako Lohar of Lys.
Prince Aegon's arrival on Dragonstone, with Stormcloud, spread the tale, and so Prince Jacaerys mounted Vermax and flew to the Lysene galleys, quickly followed by the four dragonseeds. The warships tried to flee, and all seemed lost for the Lyseni, until Vermax flew too low and crashed into the sea. Jacaerys leapt free, and managed to hold on to a piece of wreckage, until he was pierced by quarrels. The prince was swallowed by the sea.
The lysine ships, who had set sail originally with ninety, sailed back with only twenty-eight ships. They passed Dragonstone, but believed the island too strong to take. Instead, they sacked Spicetown and butchered men, women and children. High Tide, containing all the Sea Snake's treasures, was consumed by fire, one-third of his fleet brought down.[1]
The Battle on the Honeywine
A fortnight later, Lord Ormund Hightower found himself stuck between two armies: Lord Thaddeus Rowan and Tom Flowers, from Goldengrove and Bitterbridge, came down on him from the northeast, while Ser Alan Beesbury, Lord Alan Tarly and Lord Owen Costayne were cutting off the retreat route back to Oldtown. They closed around him, when Prince Daeron on his dragon joined the battle. Tom Flowers died, Lord Rowan fled, the Alans were captured, and Lord Costayne was dying. The victory lead to Lord Hightower knighting Prince Daeron, naming him Daeron the Daring.[1]
Fall of King's Landing
Tide turned for the blacks. Jacaerys's death seemed to give Rhaenyra strength. Filled with anger and hatred, she resolved to use her dragons.
Meanwhile, Lord Walys Mooton retook Rook's Rest, and attempted to kill Sunfyre, who still remained there, wounded. The dragon fought back, and burned three score men before the others fled. Lord Mooton himself died as well. When the survivors dared to return to the field again, the dead were still there, but Sunfyre had disappeared. There were no tracks, suggesting Sunfyre had taken wing again despite his wounds.
With the North assembling forces, Ser Criston saw danger, should these troops join up with Daemon at Harrenhal.[1]
The whore on Dragonstone is not the threat. No more than Rowan and these traitors in the Reach. The danger is my uncle. Once Daemon is dead, all these fools flying our sister's banners will run back to their castles and trouble us no more.
The host Prince Daemon had gathered at Harrenhal was still growing, and Prince Aemond believed him to be the real danger, not Rhaenyra. Aemond and Ser Criston rode forth from King's Landing with a host of four thousand and the dragon Vhagar. Daemon knew of their plans even before Aemond had left the capitol. He hastened south on Caraxes, staying well away from Criston's line of march.
When told that Aemond and Ser Criston Cole had left King's Landing, it is said that Prince Daemon laughed and said, "Past time," for he had long anticipated this moment. A murder of ravens took flight from the twisted towers of Harrenhal.
Expecting to find Daemon, instead Aemond and Criston found Harrenhal abandoned after a nineteen day march, and believed themselves victorious. The truth was very different. With Vhagar away from King's Landing, only Dreamfyre remained, and Helaena was in no condition to fly. Daemon and Caraxes had not fled, but joined up with Rhaenyra and Syrax above King's Landing, leaving the small folk below in terror. Corlys Velaryon's ships sailed into Blackwater Bay, and the only one left to defend the city was Dowager Queen Alicent. Grand Maester Orwyle, trying to dispatch ravens asking for help, was arrested before a single letter could be send. The riders bearing messages were arrested at the city gates, and the seven captains commanding the gates we killed or arrested, all by those gold cloaks still loyal to Prince Daemon. The city gates were opened for the men arriving with the Velaryon fleet.
King's Landing fell in less than a day.[1]
Then she bid her stepmother choose: yield, or burn.
All those from the green council who had been in King's Landing when the attacks began were arrested, save for Lord Larys Strong, who had disappeared, taking with him King Aegon II, Princess Jaehaera, Prince Maelor, and Ser Willis Fell and Rickard Thorne of the Kingsguard. The other green council members yielded, and Rhaenyra took her place on the Iron Throne.
Dowager Queen Alicent was spared, but her father, Ser Otto was beheaded, as was Jasper Wylde. Ser Tyland Lannister was given to the torturers, in the hopes of regaining some of the gold he had hidden.
While Rhaenyra's return to King's Landing was cheered and celebrated at first, the amount of heads on spikes and increasing taxes made the small folk dub her "King Maegor with teats". Despite this, Princes Joffrey and Aegon the Younger were called to King's Landing.[1]
And for a hundred years thereafter "Maegor's Teats" was a common curse amongst kingslanders.
Battle by the Lakeshore/The Fishfeed
Best make an end to these lions before the dragons come.
While the news of the fall of King's Landing reached Prince Aemond, fighting in the riverlands continued. A Lannister host was on the move, led by the old Lord Lefford. At the western shores of the Gods Eye, they came across Lord Roderick Dustin with his Winter Wolves, who had combined his forces with Lord Forrest Frey and Red Robb Rivers. From the south, Longleaf the Lionslayer and Lords Bigglestone, Chambers, and Perryn locked him in. Lords Garibald Grey, Jon Charlton and Benjicot Blackwood joined up with the northmen and other rivermen the following day, whilst Lord Lefford's ravens were all shot down. The day after, they began their battle, which would be called the bloodiest land battle of the Dance. Hundreds died that day in the Battle by the Lakeshore, also called the Fishfeed.
Prince Aemond and Ser Criston Cole at Harrenhal could no longer agree on a plan of action. They were running short of food. Criston wished to withdraw to the south, to join strength with Lord Hightower and Prince Daeron, while Aemond, enraged by losing King's Landing and the outcome of the Battle by the Lakeshore, wished to attack the capital. And so they parted ways, with Criston taking the army south, whilst Prince Aemond remained to ravage the riverlands, waiting until such a time when Rhaenyra would send out "a dragon or two" to stop him, so Vhagar could destroy them.[1]
The Red Kraken
After Lord Beesbury had been killed in the beginning of the war, Ser Tyland Lannister had been made master of coin, to take Beesbury's place. This left the office of master of ships vacant. The green council assumed that Dalton Greyjoy could be persauded to their allegiance by offering him the vacant council seat. Ironically, at the beginning of the war Aegon II had also thought his reign unassailable, given that he controlled the three largest and wealthiest cities in the realm (King's Landing, Oldtown, and Lannisport) and the previous royal treasury from Viserys I's reign.
Rhaenyra's black council offered Lord Dalton something more to his liking, however, and so House Greyjoy declared for Rhaenyra. Little was to be gained by sailing around Westeros to attack Rhaenyra's supporters in the Vale and the North, but the wealth of Oldtown and Lannisport (which Aegon II had prided himself on) was nearby, and a much more tempting target. With the Lannister armies destroyed at the Fishfeed and the green armies of the Reach marching east to Tumbleton, the coasts only had skeleton defenses. For two years, Dalton and his Ironborn raided and pillaged the coasts of the Westerlands and the Reach. Greyjoy captured Kayce and Fair Isle, and though the ironborn could not force entry into Casterly Rock, they sacked Lannisport.
The Butcher's Ball
Aemond burned Darry, Lord Harroway's Town, Lord's Mill, Blackbuckle, Buckle, Claypool, Swynford and Spiderwood. Ser Criston, going south, found everything in front of him dead: forests, villages, horses, men. His scouts found scenes where armored corpses sat beneath the trees, rotting away, a mockery of the fallen throwing a feast. Four days out of Harrenhal, attacks made Criston lose a few men every single time. Seeing multiple "corpse feasts" Criston and his men grew accustomed to the sight. At Crossed Elms, however, the corpses were no true corpses at all, and attacked Criston and his men when they were riding past. In his flight, Criston fell upon the Lords of the Trident, with Roderick Dustin leading. Cole challenged the leaders of the black host to single combat, but was refused. The battle was the most decisive in the Dance, and after Criston died, his remaining men broke and ran, and were killed by the hundreds in the rout. The massacre became known as the Butcher's Ball, and it marked the high point of Rhaenyra's fortunes.
Living in fear of Vhagar, Lord Manfryd Mooton had meanwhile invited Daemon and Nettles to take Maidenpool as their base. Aemond still terrorized the riverlands, striking at Stonyhead, the Mountains of the Moon, Sweetwillow and Sallydance, and many more. Each day Caraxes and Sheepstealer would take wing from Maidenpool, and each day they would return, with Vhagar unfound.
Piteous news soon reached Rhaenyra in King's Landing, which proved just as controversial as the death of Aegon's elder son Jaehaerys. While his daughter Jaehaera had safely arrived at Storm's End, his last son Maelor was discovered and stopped by a mob of pro-Rhaenyra supporters at Bitterbridge. The mob of men and women clamored over the three-year old boy, each trying to claim the reward, until little Maelor was torn to pieces. When the Hightower army worked its way up the Roseroad to Bitterbridge some time later, it razed the castle to the ground in revenge.
The First Battle of Tumbleton
Aemond still remained a threat in the riverlands, stricking unexpectedly. Yet the real threat was Prince Daeron and the great army of Lord Ormund Hightower. Slowly advancing on King's Landing, they were defeating Rhaenyra's loyalists wherever they went, as her armies fled before Tessarion. To defeat Aemond and Vhagar, Prince Daemon and Caraxes had left for the riverlands with the girl Nettles and her dragon Sheepstealer. To defeat Daeron and Tessarion, Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer flew to Tumbleton.
Rhaenyra´s forces at Tumbleton greatly outnumbered the Hightower army. People fleeing into the city for safety from Lord Hightower's army were secretly part of the army, and they infiltrated the ranks of defenders. In addition, Ser Ulf the White and Ser Hugh Hammer, since then known as the Two Betrayers, changed their allegiance. Though Lord Ormund and his cousin Ser Bryndon died in the First Battle of Tumbleton, killed by Roddy the Ruin as he himself was mortally injured, the Hightower army kept the advantage, as Vermithor and Silverwing joined Tessarion in the air, and loosened their flames upon Tumbleton unexpectedly. A savage sack followed.
Upon learning of the betrayels, Queen Rhaenyra ordered the city gates closed and barred. The Betrayels at Tumbleton made the black council question the loyalty of the other dragonseeds, Addam Velaryon and Nettles. Most of the black council urged Rhaenyra to arrest both, and only Lord Corlys Velaryon spoke in their defense, declaring Addam and his brother Alyn true Velaryons. His protests, though passionate, were in vain. Rhaenyra, already suspicious, ordered the arrest of Nettles, at Maidenpool with Prince Daemon, and Addam, currently guarding the dragons in the Dragonpit. Ser Luthor Largent went to arrest Addam, but upon his arrival at Rhaenys's Hill, saw Seasmoke take wing, with Addam on his back. Luthor arrested Corlys instead, since the old man did not deny helping his heir escape. Slowly, chaos started to arise again in King's Landing.
In Tumbleton, meanwhile, chaos reigned. Lord Hightower's army remained there. Ormund's sons remained in Oldtown and were still green boys. Though Prince Daeron had been knighted, he was still a boy, used to following commands. Ser Hobert, another Hightower cousin, presumed to take command. Prince Daeron commanded Ser Hobert to stop the savage sacking, but Hightower proved to be very ineffective. Ser Ulf and Hugh were worse. Ser Ulf drank heavy and fed women to his dragon, and became angry when he was named Lord of Bitterbridge, dreaming of Highgarden instead. Ser Hugh was worse, dreaming of a crown of his own.
In the Hightower army, no decision of a course of action could be made, and the army became smaller every day due to desertions.[1]
Dancing dragons at Dragonstone
Around the time of the First Battle of Tumbleton, the merchant cog Nessaria made a stop at Dragonstone for repairs and provisions, having been driven off course by a storm. They had passed the Dragonmont before arriving at Dragonstone's port, and there they had spotted two fighting dragons.
Inspired by the story from those of Volantis, local fisherman took their boats out for a look the next morning, and they reported having seen the burned and broken remains of a dead dragon. From the color of its scales and wings, they concluded the dead dragon was Grey Ghost, completely torn apart. Ser Robert Quince, Dragonstones castellan, named the Cannibal as the killer. Only later in the war would the truth surface.[1]
Fall of Dragonstone
Having smuggled Aegon, Jaehaera and Maelor out of King's Landing, Lord Larys dispatched Jaehaera and a Kingsguard to Lord Hightower, and Maelor and another Kingsguard to Storm's End, while he disguised King Aegon and smuggled him to Dragonstone, Rhaenyra's seat, the last place anyone would look for him. Aegon was kept hidden in disguise, and would have remained such, as Sunfyre had not found them. Unbeknownst to those in the castle, it had been Sunfyre who had fought and killed Grey Ghost, and not the Cannibal.
Rider and dragon went out flying again, regaining strength, while Aegon's loyal men had found people enough who were willing to betray Rhaenyra, due to mislike for her. Dragonstone had not been well defended, and it had fallen easily. There had only been one problem. Lady Baela, Prince Daemon's daughter, had managed to escape her attackers and mount her dragon, Moondancer. She met Aegon II and Sunfyre in the sky, unexpectedly, where the two dragons fought. Sunfyre blinded Moondancer with fire, but the younger dragon fought on. The dragons eventually fell on the earth. On the ground, Sunfyre won the battle. King Aegon had jumped off Sunfyre's back before the dragon hit the ground, but had broken both his legs. Baela had stayed strapped on Moondancer, and was burned and battered. She was taken captive, and King Aegon the Elder now held Dragonstone.[1]
The Dance over Harrenhal
Lord Manfryd Mooton found himself in a difficult situation, when the message from Rhaenyra arrived from King's Landing, telling Mooton to send her the head of Nettles. Nettles, during her time with Prince Daemon, was said to have become his lover, according to Rhaenyra, and was thus guilty of high treason. Prince Daemon was to not be harmed. The decision Lord Mooton had to make was a difficult one, for Nettles was a guest beneath his roof, and killing her would mean breaking the guest right, and facing Prince Daemons wroth. Refusing Rhaenyra, however, would mean being attainted a traitor. Maester Norren suggested that they had never read the letter, and later that night, went to inform Daemon of Rhaenyra´s command.
The Old King would never have asked this, of any man of honor.
The next day, Nettles mounted her dragon Sheepstealer, with tears on her cheeks. Daemon and Nettles spoke no word of farewell, but when Sheepstealer climbed the sky, Caraxes gave a scream. Nettles and her dragon disappeared that day, and were never seen again.
Prince Daemon told Lord Mooton to spread the word that he would fly for Harrenhal, so Aemond could come face him, alone. Once Daemon was gone, Lord Mooton took down Rhaenyra's banners, and raised the golden dragons of King Aegon II.[1]
"You were a fool to come alone."
"Were I not alone, you would not have come."
Prince Daemon took Harrenhal from the few who still remained there, and waited for thirteen days. On the fourteenth day, Vhagar appeared in the sky, and on her back rode Prince Aemond and his bedmaid, the pregnant seer Alys Rivers. Dropping Alys on the ground, Daemon and Aemond had one last conversation before both Targaryens mounted their dragons and climbed into the sky. Caraxes fell down upon Vhagar, starting the fight. Their fight ended as the two dragons, locked together, tumbled down towards the lake. According to the tales, this was when Prince Daemon leapt from one dragon to the other, Dark Sister in his hand. Aemond looked up in terror, but was chained to his saddle, and could not do anything when Daemon ripped off Aemond's helm and drove the sword through Aemond's blind eye. The dragons struck the lake half a heartbeat later.
Caraxes lived long enough to crawl back onto the land, beneath the walls of Harrenhal, where he died. Vhagar died in the water, and was found some years later, when the Dance was over, with Aemond's armored bones still chained to the saddle, and with Dark Sister still in his eye-socket. Daemon's remains, however, were never found, causing singers to tell that he survived to spend his last days with Nettles. It was the twenty-second day of the fifth moon of the year 130 AC.[1]
The Riots at King's Landing
In King's Landing, the Velaryon fleet, counting more than half the army that had sailed from Dragonstone, had abandoned Rhaenyra when they learned Lord Corlys was in the black cells. Those who remained could no longer be trusted.
That same day, Queen Helaena threw herself from her window in Maegor's Holdfast and died impaled upon the iron spikes that lined the dry moat below. The stories told of Helaena's death on the streets and in inns, by nightfall, were much darker. The people believed she had been murdered, as her sons before her. The rumours were believed very quickly. Tales tell that at the moment of Helaena's death, her dragon Dreamfyre rose with a roar, snapping two of her chains.
That night a riot rose in King's Landing. The chaos was big, and neither noble nor lowborn was spared. Sailors unable to return to their ships attacked the River Gate. Ser Luthor and his gold cloaks went to Cobbler's Square, to disperse the rioters, but after the first had fled, there were ten thousand more, and they believed Luthor to have killed Helaena: the mere sight of him angered them even more. The rioters were ten thousands where the gold cloaks were only five hundred, and so the gold lloaks were slaughtered, Ser Luthor amongst them.
A hedge knight, Ser Perkin the Flea, crowned his squire Trystane Truefyre, declaring him to be King Viserys I's bastard. Ser Perkin then began dubbing all those who would support Trystane knights, and so many fled to their cause. The next day, some order was restored to parts of King's Landing again, but in the rest of the city, chaos remained.
That night Rhaenyra learned about Maidenpool's betrayel and the escape of Nettles. Rhaenyra send ravens to Winterfell and the Eyrie, pleading for more aid, and named a new Lord Commander to her Queensguard, Ser Glendon Goode. Prince Joffrey Velaryon donned his armor and begged to fight, but he was forbidden.
The night came once more, and Ser Perkin and "King" Trystane were gaining strength. The King's Gate and the Lion Gate were opened by rioters, the gold cloaks at the King's Gate having fled, and those guarding the Lion Gate having joined the rioters. With Ser Perkin holding the River Gate, three out of seven gates were now open to enemies.
Bring him back, bring him back, he does not know. My son, my sweet, my son …
The people of King's Landing no longer believed Rhaenyra could protect them and a mob twice as big as the one of the night before formed in the city. A crazed prophet made the mob turn their attention to the Dragonpit and the entire mob moved towards Rhaenys's Hill to kill the dragons. By the time they reached the hill, their numbers had doubled. Rhaenyra was watching all this unfold from Maegor's Holdfast. Prince Joffrey pleaded, fearing Tyraxes, his own dragon, would be killed, but Rhaenyra would not listen, insisting the mob would burn. Joffrey, dissatisfied, went outside and mounted Syrax, Rhaenyra's she-dragon, the dragon that was not his own, to fly to the Pit. All attempts to get him back failed, as Syrax threw Joffrey off her back as arrows and spears flew up from below. Joffrey, not having used a saddle, fell from Syrax's back and crashed into the ground.
Seldom have so many men rushed so eagerly onto their funeral pyres, but a madness was upon them.
The battle in the Dragonpit began. Four dragons there were: Shrykos, who died first, slain by a woodsman who slamed his axe into her skull. Morghul was killed by the Burning Knight. Tyraxes went into his lair and roasted many before finally dying. And last Dreamfyre, who broke free of her remaining bonds, plunging into the mob with fire, tooth and claw. Dreamfyre slew more than the other three dragons combined, until a crossbow blinded one of her eyes. Dreamfyre then tried to leap free, and the weakened dome cracked under her force, only to crash down on both dragon and dragonslayers.
Syrax was still alive and free in the air, and descended on the survivors. Rhaenyra, watching from atop Maegor's Holdfast, would not dare let go of her last remaining son, Aegon the Younger, until she saw Syrax fall.
Rhaenyra's councilers agreed that the city was lost. Rhaenyra was persuaded to leave the next day, slipping through the Dragon Gate, starting the journey to Duskendale.[1]
The Second Battle of Tumbleton
News of unrest in King's Landing reached Tumbleton, making the Hightower army believe they should advance upon the city, but Ser Hobert Hightower doubted, and the Two Betrayers refused to join unless their demands were met.
With Aemond slain and Aegon II still missing, the greens found themselves without a leader and a king. Prince Daeron was now next in line for the throne and there were some who wanted to name him Prince of Dragonstone, or even king, but the Two Betrayers did not agree. Lord Hugh Hammer wanted to be crowned king, by the rights of conquest. He had the oldest and largest dragon alive, Vermithor, thrice as big as Tessarion, Daeron's dragon.
Offended by the arrogance of the Betrayers, the lords and knights of the Reach and Prince Daeron grew wroth. The Two Betrayers plotted together Hard Hugh Hammer's coronation, and indeed Hugh later wore a crown of black iron. When insulted, Hard Hugh's men came to blows with loyalists, and Lord Unwin Peake and Ser Hobert summoned eleven other lords and landed knights, who together became known as the Caltrops, as to discuss what to do about the dragonseeds. They agreed that disposing of Ulf the White would be easy, but that Hammer was dangerous, surrounded by men and women day and night. They decided Hammer had to die first.
With Prince Daeron's consent, the Caltrops carried out their plans. But the day the Caltrops planned to strike, the people at Tumbleton woke at night to find themselves under attack. The dragon attacking was Seasmoke, with Addam Velaryon on his back, and with an army of four thousand loyal to Rhaenyra behind them. The great host encamped at Tumbleton outnumbered their attackers, but due to their long stay, they had grown lax.
Ulf was asleep inside Tumbleton, his dragon outside the town. They tried to wake him, but he slept through the entire Second Battle of Tumbleton. Hard Hugh did respond, and rushed to the yard, screaming for a horse so he could go and mount his dragon, when Lord Jon Roxton, one of the Caltrops, met up with him. He offered Hammer his condolences, and when asked why, he told the new made King he had died in battle, before killing Hammer. He was shortly after killed himself by Hammer's men in revenge. Prince Daeron died in the battle as well, though no one knows exactly how. Three different accounts exist on his death.
Jon Roxton: Lord Hammer, my condolences.
Hugh Hammer: For what?
Jon Roxton: You died in the battle.
The three dragons encamped at Tumbleton were unchained, however, and all had been roused by the battle. Addam turned Seasmoke to meet Tessarion, and the two dragons danced around each other in the sky. Vermithor eventually rose into the sky as well, attacking everything he came across. And thus Addam turned Seasmoke towards him, to protect those men who were helping them, although he must have known Seasmoke could not beat Vermithor. The dragons were so locked together, neither could get free. Tessarion joined the fight, which ended with Vermithor ripping off the head of Seasmoke. Vermithor, due to his wounds, died next. Tessarion, after trice trying to fly, remained in pain, until Lord Benjicot Blackwood ordered her killed to end her suffering.
Though having won the battle, the rivermen had not been able to take the town. Tumbleton's walls were closed, and without a dragon or equipment, they could not start a siege, so the rivermen took all that they found useful and left. Only one dragon now remained at the city, Silverwing.
Eight of the thirteen Caltrops had died in the battle, and one would die the next day. Ser Hobert and Lord Unwin Peake remained, and both found Ulf the White, the last dragonrider, proclaiming himself their last hope. White now proposed to take the throne for him, since Prince Daeron was dead. And so Ser Hobert visited him the next day with two casks of wine, one red for himself, one golden arbor for White. Ulf, however, became suspicious of Ser Hobert, and insisted they drink the arbor gold together.
And so Ser Hobert drank deep, and asked for more. Having seen this, Ulf drank three cups, and died shortly after due to the poison mixed in the wine. Ser Hobert tried to retch, but for him it was too late as well, and he died within the hour.
Without a leader, and without a rider for Silverwing, the army started to fall apart. Lord Peake called defeat and retreated. King's Landing had been saved.[1]
Rhaenyra's retreat to Dragonstone
Yet Rhaenyra did not know about this. She had been refused entry at Rosby and was allowed to stay only one night at Stokeworth, half her gold cloaks deserted on the road, and attackers killed several of her knights. At Duskendale they were admitted, but not allowed to stay long. Refusing to part from her son Aegon, and without ships, Rhaenyra sold her crown to buy passage on a Braavosi ship. And so she returned to Dragonstone, where she knew were more dragon eggs, for she needed a new dragon.
At Dragonstone, Rhaenyra found her castellan, Robert Quince, slain. As Ser Alfred Broome, angered when he had not been named castellan, showed Robert's burned body, his men killed all of Rhaenyra's men, and imprisoned Rhaenyra, her ladies, and Aegon the Younger. Once inside the gates of the castle, Rhaenyra stood face to face with Aegon the Elder and Sunfyre.
Not long after Dragonstone had secretly fallen to Aegon II, ravens had arrived telling him about Rhaenyra's return to Dragonstone. This had given Aegon the opportunity to prepare for the arrival of his half-sister.
Mother, flee!
And so it was that Rhaenyra found her brother in her own seat. Aegon II wasted no time, and had Rhaenyra fed to his dragon, whilst Aegon the Younger looked on. With the chance that Rhaenyra's loyalists would continue the fight in her son's name, Aegon the Younger became a hostage. It was the twenty-second day of the tenth month of 130 AC.
On the ninth day of the twelfth month, Sunfyre the Golden died on Dragonstone. After this, Aegon started planning his return to King's Landing. Though Rhaenyra had died, her cause lived on. Aegon II would sit the throne again, but it would only lest another half of a year.[1]
The time for hiding is done. Let the ravens fly that the realm may know the pretender is dead, and their true king is coming home to reclaim his father's throne.
The Moon of the Three Kings
After Rhaenyra's forces abandoned King's Landing, chaos took control of the city for several weeks. The Shepherd had survived the destruction of the Dragonpit, and his mob ruled much of the city.[5]
Two pretender kings came to be in the city. The first was Trystane Truefyre, the squire of the hedge knight Ser Perkin the Flea, who claimed the boy was a bastard son of the late King Viserys I. Ser Perkin had previously already been gathering support for Trystane, and after Rhaenyra's flight, installed Trystane in the Red Keep.[5]
The second pretender king was a four year old boy named Gaemon Palehair, the son of a whore, who claimed the boy had been fathered by King Aegon II Targaryen. Given King Aegon's philandering ways, this was not seen as improbable, though the boy's mother would later admit that Gaemon had been the son of an oarsman from Lys when she was hanged. Gaemon ruled from atop of Visenya's Hill, from the House of Kisses, and gathered thousands of followers. He issued a series of edicts,[5] amongst them one declaring that females should be equal to males in matters of inheritance. According to Archmaester Gyldayn, Mushroom claims that these edicts were almost certainly the work of the paramour of Gaemon's mother Essie, a dornish whore named Sylvenna Sand.[6]
In the end, it was Lord Borros Baratheon and his stormlanders who seized King's Landing back. Trystane Truefyre was executed, though not before he received the boon of knighthood. Gaemon Palehair was arrested, and would survive the war. King Aegon II Targaryen arrived back at King's Landing, and installed himself in the Red Keep once more. Lord Corlys Velaryon, who had been arrested by Rhaenyra and left in the dungeons when she fled the city, was freed and named to Aegon's small council.
As King Aegon II's only remaining heir was his daughter Jaehaera, the widowed king agreed to marry a daughter of Lord Borros.
The Battle of the Kingsroad/The Muddy Mess
With King's Landing secured for King Aegon II, Lord Borros led his armies against the riverlanders who were approaching the city. These Lads were led by Lord Kermit Tully, Lord Benjicot Blackwood,[5][7] and Ben's aunt, Alysanne Blackwood.[7][8]
Lord Borros, upon learning this, grew more confident in his victory, but it was Ben Blackwood, thereafter known as Bloody Ben Blackwood, who broke his flank, and "Black Aly" who led the archers that brought down Borros's knights. Lord Borros fought on, and killed Lords Darry and Mallister, before he himself was killed by Kermit Tully.[7][9]
This left King's Landing with only meager defenses, with the Lads only a short distance away, while Lord Cregan Stark and his forces were marching south as well to reinforce them.
The End of the Dance
The black army of the Lads was now a day's march outside of King's Landing, and there were no significant green forces to stop them. Lord Cregan Stark was coming south, and other armies were coming from the Vale as well. Yet King Aegon II refused to surrender, even when Lord Corlys Velaryon, now master of ships on Aegon II's small council, advised him that the only remaining option was to surrender and join the Night's Watch. Instead, King Aegon II gave orders to have cut off the ear of his nephew, Aegon the Younger, and have it sent to the Lads as a warning - if his bloodline died, so would Rhaenyra's. Aegon climbed back into his litter, to be carried to his chamber, and was given a cup of wine along the way to ease his pain. When his escort arrived at his private chamber and lifted the litter's curtains, Aegon II was dead, with blood on his lips.[5] Who exactly poisoned the king remains unknown to history, though twenty-two men would later be arrested for this crime.[10]
The False Dawn
With King Aegon II dead, Aegon the Younger was crowned as King Aegon III Targaryen. Despite the hopes that the troubles were done - Aegon II's host had been defeated, the Velaryon fleet once more served the Iron Throne - the period that followed the war immediately was named "the False Dawn".[10]
The realm faced numerous problems. The cruel winter that had begun the year before on Maiden's Day of 130 AC would last until 135 AC. Much of the realm had been burned out by dragonfire - in particular, Aemond Targaryen's one-man war riding Vhagar, which had burned out most of the riverlands. Broken men and outlaws roamed the countryside in the hundreds and thousands, and public order had collapsed in many places. The ironborn, under the command of the Red Kraken - who had only nominally sided with the blacks as a pretext to attack wealthy green kingdoms - now refused to acknowledge the boy-king's commands to stop raiding.[10]
Lord Cregan Stark and his army of childless and homeless men, unwed men, and younger sons, had marched to King's Landing with the hopes of war, adventure and plunder, and for a glorious death. The sudden death of King Aegon II had robbed them of that chance, leaving Lord Cregan furious. He had wanted to punish Storm's End, Casterly Rock and Oldtown for having supported Aegon over Rhaenyra, but upon his arrival, Lord Corlys Velaryon had already send out ravens, suing for peace.[10]
Hour of the Wolf
Lord Cregan could not be dissuaded in punishing the betrayers and poisoners of King Aegon II. He found the poisoning fould murder, and had twenty-two men arrested in the name of Aegon III (Lord Larys Strong and Lord Corlys Velaryon amongst them). He then made the young King Aegon III name him Hand of the King.[10]
Lord Cregan reigned as Hand of the King for only a day, a day filled with trials and executions. Most of those accused chose to take the black - chief amongst them was Ser Perkin the Flea - yet two chose death (Ser Gyles Belgrave of the Kingsguard and Larys Strong the Clubfoot). The day after the executions, Lord Cregan resigned as Hand, and returned to the north, leaving many of his northmen behind in the south.[10]
The Regency
With the war over, a council of seven regents was established for the young Aegon III. They would continue to reign until 136 AC, the day when King Aegon III came of age. This regency period was still filled with many troubles as the realm struggled to rebuild from the war. Out of the seven original regents, only Grand Maester Munkun would serve the full term.[10]
During the regency, King Aegon III was married to the only remaining child of the late King Aegon II: Princess Jaehaera Targaryen. Jaehaera would die two years later however, and the king would remarry, this time to a cousin of Lord Alyn Velaryon: Lady Daenaera Velaryon. This second marriage would give the king five children.[10][11]
The Red Kraken, meanwhile, continued to raid the western coasts. With peace restored, the devastated westerlands and the Reach gradually built up enough strength to contest the ironborn. This private war between the Greyjoys and the lords of the western coasts dragged on for another three years during the heart of winter. Eventually, Dalton Greyjoy died on Fair Isle, when after he finished raping a girl in Lord Farman's own bedchamber, she opened his throat as he slept. Dalton had never taken a rock wife, and only had young sons by several salt wives, which led to a fight over the succession. A Lannister force, with the aid of Ser Leo Costayne, attacked the isles in 134 AC, exacting revenge. Entire villages were put to the sword, man, woman, and child. Most of the attacking host was lost, but those who returned home returned with plunder - and with one of Dalton's salt sons. Lady Johanna Lannister had the boy gelded and mutilated, and forced him to be her son's fool.[12]
Consequences of the Dance
In 171 AC, after the death of King Baelor I Targaryen, the succession of the throne was not crystal clear. Baelor had not appointed an heir, and thus, after his death, there were some, both of the smallfolk and lords, who felt that the Iron Throne should pass to the eldest of Baelor's sisters, Princess Daena Targaryen. However, the memories of Rhaenyra on the throne, and all the woes that had befallen Westeros during that time, were still fresh. Thus the Dance of the Dragons became part of the reason why Prince Viserys Targaryen, King Baelor's uncle, was chosen to ascend the throne over Daena.[13]
By chosing Viserys over Daena, since the Dance, women came after all men in Targaryen succession.[14]
The war is the subject of the song "The Dance of the Dragons", as well as The Dance of the Dragons, A True Telling, a somewhat inaccurate history by Grand Maester Munkun. Archmaester Gyldayn wrote a history of the war, The Princess and The Queen, or, The Blacks and The Greens.[1] Maester Yandel also discusses the Dance in The World of Ice and Fire.[15]
Family Tree of House Targaryen during the Dance
|Viserys I
[Note 1]
[Note 1]
[Note 1]
|Aegon II
|Viserys II
|Aegon III
References and Notes
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 The Princess and the Queen.
- ↑ Not A Blog: The Princess and the Queen
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Rogue Prince.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Lords of Winterfell.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 The World of Ice & Fire, Aegon II.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Queer Customs of the South.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The World of Ice & Fire, House Baratheon.
- ↑ Clarification [1]
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, House Tully.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 The World of Ice & Fire, Aegon III.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Appendix: Targaryen Lineage.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, The Red Kraken.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire, Viserys II.
- ↑ The World of Ice & Fire.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Stupid Hounding of Condi Rice
If Condoleezza Rice were as self-pitying and politically crass as Attorney General Eric Holder, she would be wondering aloud what it is about her race and gender that accounts for the hostility of her enemies.
Rice's recent speaking gigs on college campuses and her ascension to the board of the file-sharing company Dropbox have sparked protests calling for her to be disinvited, cashiered and generally isolated and shamed.
Story Continued Below
Condi Rice is not a natural lightning rod. She's such a disreputable figure that she's on the board of the Kennedy Center and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She's such a lightweight that she's a Stanford University professor. She's such a yahoo that she once accompanied Yo Yo Ma on the piano.
The mob nonetheless believes that her due punishment for serving the wrong administration in the wrong cause should require her banishment from the company of any person or institution who disagrees with her.
When the University of Minnesota invited her to give a lecture Thursday as part of a series marking the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, the herd of independent minds that is the school's faculty roused itself.
Roughly 200 of them demanded that the invitation be revoked, mostly for her association with George W. Bush's interrogation and detention policies, but also because she is unfit to be part of a civil-rights lecture series.
What would give anyone the idea that a woman who was the nation's first female African-American secretary of state, whose grandfather was the son of a sharecropper, who experienced Jim Crow firsthand during her childhood in Alabama, who was friends with one of the girls killed in the Birmingham Church bombing, whose parents instilled in her an ethic of striving despite the hatred around her would have anything relevant to say about civil rights?
The Minnesota professors say that it is in a "spirit of free expression" that they ask for the reversal of Rice's invitation. Because nothing says free expression like shutting down someone's lecture.
The faculty claim they would love to have Rice come to the school on some other occasion, although they don't stipulate what that would be. Presumably to sit in the dock at a mock war crimes trail, conducted by the best forensic talent that the departments of sociology and global studies and of gender, women and sexuality studies can muster.
The Rutgers faculty reacted in a similar vein to Rice's selection as the school's commencement speaker. It approved a resolution calling for undoing the decision that included a proviso explaining that "a Commencement speaker, who is entrusted with speaking to graduating students about the direction of their future lives, should embody moral authority and exemplary leadership."
If we indulge the conceit here that students determine the future of their lives based on what they hear at commencement speeches, does the Rutgers faculty think Rice will exhort graduating students to start "wars of choice" and do "extraordinary renditions"?


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The SAT college entrance exam is undergoing its first major change since 2005, reverting back to a 1600-point scale (down from the current 2400), making the essay portion optional and no longer penalizing students for wrong answers.
Check out the slideshow above for SAT scores of these famous celebrities, sports stars, politicians and others.
Interesting factoids:
– Scarlett Johansson, the reigning Esquire Magazine Sexiest Woman Alive, had a higher SAT score the former President Bill Clinton.Read Full Article
– Peyton Manning is known as one of the smartest quarterbacks to ever play football, but but he doesn't hold a candle to the Texans' starter Ryan Fitzpatrck.
– Bill Cosby could never have been a real Dr. Huxtable in real life: He bombed his college entrance exam.
– In a battle of smarts between 2000 presidential candidates, President George W. Bush had a huge SAT disadvantage versus Al Gore.


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Thom Hartmann: View from the left
Thom Hartmann may be the most popular progressive you've never heard of.
His nationally syndicated radio show draws 2.75 million listeners a week, he's a New York Times bestselling author and he hosts a nightly television show.
Story Continued Below
Talkers magazine ranks him as the ninth most important radio show host in the nation, having fought his way onto a list dominated by conservatives.
( PHOTOS: Best attacks on the media)
Yet, even in the political world, Hartmann is hardly a household name.
He — and his politics — are unconventional, to say the least. Hartmann labels himself a Democratic socialist and once had a show on Air America, but he gets invited to the Conservative Political Action Conference every year and has won the respect of some on the right.
The 62-year-old vegetarian who lives on a boat has a modest '60s-era goal: nothing short of creating "a better world" by getting his listeners more engaged in the political process. "Tag, you're it!" is the catchphrase he uses to end each show — a sign-off, he says, that aims to "encourage civic engagement."
It should be no surprise, then, that Hartmann describes himself and his wife, Louise, who serves as his executive producer, as "old leftover hippie activists."
"I've lived in Europe. I think that the countries that call themselves democratic socialist — Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland — have the most functional political and economic system," he told POLITICO in a recent interview. "So, somebody says, what's your political philosophy? I'd say Democratic socialism."
"But boy, the crap you take when you say socialist," he added. "Because people don't understand it. They think I'm talking about Soviet-style socialism, which I'm not."
Hartmann's biggest political concern today is "the corrupting influence of Big Money on politics."
"People don't get involved, then the predators take over," Hartmann said. "The only thing that is preventing the sociopaths, the predators, from consuming our government, is the civic engagement of the people, supporting politicians who are willing to push back against them."
The "most voracious of the predators," according to Hartmann, are "in business. They're pouring millions and in some cases billions of dollars into the political arena and they end up owning politicians. … It's not that money is the root of all evil, it's that the love of money is the root of all evil, it's the demonstration of that."
Hartmann also said he "could give a list of my, gee, I wish [President Barack] Obama had done more, but I don't think that he's the problem." What has stopped the president from accomplishing more, he says, is the "implacable Republican machine."
There is one politician in Washington whose beliefs line up squarely with Hartmann's — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
( PHOTOS: 13 people to watch in 2013)
And every Friday, the two team up for an hour of Hartmann's show that they've dubbed "Brunch With Bernie." Listeners from around the country call in to speak one on one with the independent senator, something Sanders said he has enjoyed doing since they started the feature several years ago.
"I'm a big fan of Thom's," Sanders told POLITICO. "I think there are many parts of the United States where progressive points of view are virtually not heard at all. It's all Rush Limbaugh or Rush Limbaugh wannabes. So the fact that we have gotten into many outlets all over the country, I enjoy that very much."


text:
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Italy 15-19 England, Six Nations
England rally to beat Italy
Graham Jenkins
February 11, 2012
England fly-half Charlie Hodgson slides over to score in Rome
© Getty Images
England made it two wins from two in this year's Six Nations with a 19-15 victory over Italy in a wintry Rome on Saturday.
The hosts looked on course for a major upset after tries from Giovanbattista Venditti and Tommaso Benvenuti carried them to a 12-6 lead at the break but England rallied strongly in the second half with a try from fly-half Charlie Hodgson and some assured kicking from centre Owen Farrell turning the game in the visitors' favour. Italy still had chances to notch an historic triumph but some poor kicking from replacement playmaker Tobias Botes saw those hopes evaporate in the freezing cold.
England gave the ball width early on despite the snowy conditions that had engulfed the Italian capital ahead of kick off. No.8 Phil Dowson and lock Tom Palmer spearheaded a lively opening only for handling errors to let them down. Italy, looking for their first victory over England, weathered that early storm and offered some invention of their own but mistakes also plagued their best efforts.
Both sides favoured the high ball in the opening exchanges but a lack of quality failed to prise a significant opening. Italy enjoyed more success with ball in hand when Luke McLean exploited some space down the flank but as was so often the case in their defeat to France last weekend, it proved to be a fruitless raid.
The aerial ping-pong returned midway through a largely uninspiring half and while it was not pretty, it eventually brought England a good attacking platform inside the Italian half. The scrum led to a lineout but as England threatened inside the 22, centre Brad Barritt could not hold onto a pass from Hodgson.
An uncharacteristic wild pass from Italy's Sergio Parisse handed England arguably their best opportunity of the opening period. Winger David Strettle put a boot on the loose ball only to be taken out by Italy's Kris Burton as he attempted to chase down his own kick. An advantage may have seen Dowson credited with a try but referee Jerome Garces' decision to blow early meant that England had to settle for three points courtesy of Farrell.
Italy suffered a huge blow just past the half hour with the loss of prop Martin Castrogiovanni to what looked like a rib injury with Lorenzo Cittadini entering the fray but he could not prevent England turning the screw at the next scrum. Farrell stepped up and doubled his tally with a superb long range effort.
Italy's response was swift with some good hands from Parisse and a chip through from Burton causing carnage in the England defence. A horrible ricochet off Ben Youngs then cannoned off fullback Ben Foden before htting his scrum-half again and the ball then fell kindly for Venditti who gathered it to score the simplest of tries.
Burton hooked the conversions but they didn't dwell on the setback. Shortly after the kick off, Foden was under pressure again and an ill-advised off load in the tackle was snaffled by Benvenuti who raced away to score under the posts. Burton added the conversion on the stroke of half-time to give his side a surprising six-point cushion.
Italy looked to press home their advantage following the re-start with their forwards driving deep only for Burton to rush a drop goal attempt. But he would atone a few minutes later by slotting his second penalty after Parisse had been taken out by England flanker Tom Croft. But crucially it would be the Italian playmaker's last contribution before being replaced by Botes.
Needing to strike back, England did just that with Hodgson producing his second crucial charge down in successive weeks having crossed in the victory over Scotland in his side's opener. This time Italy's Andrea Masi was the man punished for not clearing his lines with Hodgson gleefully scooping up the ball before crossing for the try that was converted by Farrell.
England then injected some fresh legs in the form of scrum-half Lee Dickson and No.8 Ben Morgan with the duo bringing some much-needed urgency to proceedings. The changes soon brought reward where it matters most with Farrell landing his latest effort to give the visitors the lead once more. And things could have got a whole lot better for England soon after had Barritt's pass found Croft out wide after another telling raid deep into Italian territory.
There was no let-up with a crunching tackle from captain Chris Robshaw on his Italian counterpart Parisse earning his side an attacking scrum and when prop Andrew Lo Cicero was penalised for losing his binding, Farrell wasted little time in knocking over the kick to give his side a little more breathing room.
Botes was not so clinical from the kicking tee after his back-row earned a penalty a minute or so later but his team-mates refused to be downcast and simply doubled their efforts. A penalty against England winger Chris Ashton with a little over five minutes remaining handed Botes another chance to turn up the heat but his shocking effort was never in danger of troubling the posts and England were able to close out the win.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Graham Jenkins is the Senior Editor of ESPNscrum and you can also follow him on Twitter.
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Dish wars: Satellite offers local channels
"I want my, I want my, I want my local TV" are not the lyrics Dire Straits sang so many years ago.
The irony of satellite TV has always been that you can get over 200 channels– and your MTV– but you can't catch any local news.
That just changed in Charlottesville. On August 26, Dish Network began offering local channels, and now viewers can tune into NBC 29, WHTJ Channel 41 for PBS, and the two new stations, WVAW for ABC and WCAV for CBS.
"We're really trying to roll them out as fast as possible," says Kelley Baca, Dish Network spokesperson. "We know it's an important part of watching TV to get local stations."
The other major satellite source, DirecTV, is taking another approach. "They've been doing it slowly but surely," says Greg, who's not allowed to provide his last name. He says the company has no plans at present to run local channels in this market, but is doing so in Richmond.
That's sort of a bummer for Neil Goldwein, who just moved to Barboursville and signed a one-year contract with DirecTV the end of July. "If I'd known that earlier, I might have made a different choice," he says.
With no cable available, Goldwein felt he had to go with DirecTV. The only other choice was rabbit ears, and– talk about your dire straits– "No one wants that option," he says.
Dish Network's advertising blitz, which includes full-page ads in the Daily Progress have sent the TV-news starved locals flocking into RadioShacks, which offer the service. "A big influx of people is coming in," says one employee of the electronics store.
For $29.99 a month, Dish Network offers over 60 channels. And unlike its competitor, "You don't have to sign up for a year," says Baca.
That's more salt in Goldwein's wound. Would he switch companies to get his local news fix when his contract with DirecTV is up?
"I might very well," he says.
Dish Network just started offering four local channels, the lack of which has been the bane of satellite-dish reception.


text:
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin resurfaced from a nearly two-month break from the spotlight in Hong Kong this week, where she delivered a 90-minute speech to investors about international financial markets, making sure to crack her usual dig at President Obama and the Democrats' economic policies.
The U.S. needs to "rise responsibly" and stop ignoring "areas of disagreement" in economic relations with Hong Kong, Palin said in the speech, which criticized Obama's relationship with China and the surrounding areas.
Democrats widely chastised Palin's move to bash Obama on her first trip to Asia, saying that her persistence the U.S. was ignoring Asian affairs is inaccurate -- and that her speech was less about advancing the vice presidential also-ran politically and more about boosting her financial portfolio.
Palin also said in the speech, for which she was paid a reported six figures, that she resigned from the governorship in July in part to pay legal bills that have exceeded $500,000.
Get more: The Associated Press