House of The Dragon-A God Amongst Men-Chapter 204: Blood in The Rivers II

(Third Person POV)

Drakken held the spine in his hand as it dangled down, everyone else watching this with pure shock. Everyone but Saera, who was simply smirking as she trembled with excitement.

"That is the power of my love...." Saera said as she blushed, "So great....nothing can rival him!!"

Drakken looked at the other son as he held the spine at the base, right below the skull, "So...." he said, "You wish to defy me."

The young man was staring at this with wide-eyes, "Y-You monster!!" He shouted, "The Gods will punish you! T-This will not-"

"Shut up." Drakken cut him off

Drakken grabbed the spine with his other hand and then gripped it tight, swiping his hand outwards. The spine then hardened completely as it straightened up, akin to a blade as Drakken looked at the young man.

In a swift motion, Drakken impaled the man with the point of the spine, running him through as if it were a lance.

"A-Aghh!" the man coughed up blood as he clutched Drakken's arm, "What....."

"To be killed with the spine of your own brother." Drakken looked right into his eyes, "You filthy little mongrel....blame your gods....blame everyone that was given a chance to convert. This is what happens when you oppose me."

Drakken pulled the spine out and watched as the man fell down to his stomach, bleeding out as he gasped for air.

He raised the spine, fashioned into a weapon, and pointed it at the young girls who were crying. His dragon eyes were glowing as he pierced them with his stare. They could feel nothing but terror in their bones, knowing that a great tragedy had befallen their House.

"Convert to the Trinity." Drakken said, "And your bodies will be spared. No men will ever touch you from this day on. You will be a constant reminder to the other River Houses; you will be eternal hostages."

The girls were weeping on their knees, "No..." one of them said, "This cannot be...."

Drakken stomped the young man on the back, crushing his spine as he let out a shout of pain.

"Aghh....." He let out

"No deals here." Drakken said, "Do not think I will offer to spare your brother in exchange for that. No deals, only options. Convert.....or die. Your brothers? Their fates are sealed, they will die. Their blood will stain the rivers red as every single Riverman and woman will feel fear in their being. Nothing will survive the bloodshed I will bring. House Drakkengard will not be looked down upon. The Trinity will be the pinnacle of everything."

Drakken then stabbed the young man through the back of his head with the spine, instantly killing him as a pool of blood began to form on the ground.

"Nooo!!!" the girls shouted

"War." Drakken continued, "Death. That is all that follows me. And there is not a goddamn thing anyone can do about it."

Saera walked over to stand in front of the girls, "Let these girls choose their fates." She said with a smirk, "As for this castle? Either burn it down or give it to House Blackwood, as a sign of your gratitude. House Bracken will be wiped out, like House Frey. What say you, Lord Blackwood?"

Lord Blackwood and his sons were watching this with grim faces, "I....." Lord Blackwood said, "I suppose....."

Drakken pulled the spine out of the dead young man's head, "I guess it is a worthy reward." He said, "If House Blackwood offers their sons and men to the Duskguard, this Seat is theirs."

"Yes." Saera said, "Afterwards, My Love, you shall fill the rivers with blood."

Suddenly, one of the young girls grabbed one of the soldiers' knife and lunged at Saera, aiming to stab her in the back.

"Die!!" She shouted

She swung the knife at Saera, but it did not touch the Princess's back. Saera simply looked back to see that the girl was stabbing against the air, struggling greatly to push the knife towards her.

"W-What?" the girl said as she tried

Drakken had his hand raised slightly, using his Telekinesis to stop the blade, "Saera..." He said seriously, "You're in a terrible position."

Saera reached for the girl's hand and pried the knife off it, "I know you will keep me safe." She said as she immediately swiped the blade at the girl's throat, "And this one should know her place."

The girl's throat was slit and the other ones shouted in horror, watching as the girl collapsed to her knees, clutching her bleeding throat.

Saera then tossed the knife to the side, "Do not ever attempt to raise a blade against me." She said with a scowl, "None of you!!"

The girls wept as their sister bled out to death, her entire body going limp as she lay face down on the ground.

Drakken then walked over to them and planted the spine and skull of their brother in front of them, "Ingrain this memory in your minds." He said seriously, "The day your entire world came down. Take these away."

"We need them for their brother to come out of hiding."

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[King's Landing]

"We should do something about this situation." Septon Barth said to Jaehaerys, "We need to rally our banners and march to the Riverlands. What Drakken is doing is a direct declaration of war!! He placed Riverrun under siege and has attacked Stone Hedge...!!"

Jaehaerys was deep in thought, trying to think of a move.

"We need to approach this carefully." Aemon said, "We cannot blindly march in there and attack. That is precisely what Drakken wants."

"What do you suggest, that we make a deal with him?" Barth asked, "Do you truly think the Great Houses will allow their bannermen to convert to the Trinity so easily? No! It will not happen!!"

"If that is what it takes, it is worth a shot." Aemon said

"The Storm Shrines have been attacked and destroyed." Jaehaerys said, "And I find it odd that Drakken has not acted. This is not good, there is another great conflict on the horizon. His Storm Beast will descend upon the land and start a tempest that will rip everything apart. He will target either the Reach or the Crownlands. All while keeping the Westerlands, The Vale, and The North at bay while he seizes the Riverlands."

"Something must be done!" Barth exclaimed

"There is nothing we can do." Jaehaerys said, "The Riverlords made their decision. The rift came to be due to their divided relationship. They have provoked him. The only thing we need to do is come together, united and strong."

"You want to start a war?" Aemon asked

"If we are to go to war against House Drakkengard, we will lose." Jaehaerys said, "What we need to do is do something that will force him to only stop at the Riverlands."

"Like what?" Barth asked

"That is what I am thinking of." Jaehaerys said with a serious frown, "This is a difficult task.....to diffuse a war with Drakken...and he won't accept daughters anymore...."

"We are in a terrible position."