(Third Person POV)
[Near Ashford]
"What is the meaning of this?" Baelon asked Drakken as he stood in front of Balerion, "Drakken, why are you here?"
Drakken stood several meters away from him, looking at the Prince with a slight smirk on his face, "What?" He asked, "Did you a favor. The Hightowers and the other Reachmen were forced back by little old me."
In the distance, Baelon could see the Hightower army slowly marching back the way they had come from, which surprised him. On the field, there was the aftereffect of a battle, the Duskguard were slowly walking around and finishing up men who were on the ground.
Drakken had intercepted the army and instantly crushed the front forces, forcing the Hightowers to think twice about their next move. Drakken gave them a warning, saying that he would target the Seats in the Reach should they not retreat. They made the right choice, opting to retreat just before Baelon had gotten there.
Baelon had flown to intercept them in order to push them back, trying to avoid any bloodshed if necessary, but he didn't think he would come across Drakken and the Duskguard at all.
"So those whom I burned...." Baelon said, "You had sent Maegor with your Duskguard?"
Drakken shrugged, "Well yes."
Next to Drakken, his sons were watching the field, "That was quick...." Riktor said, "But a bit disappointing. Father, you said it would be more exciting."
"Ah, well...." Drakken said, "I thought it would be."
"Then why do this?" Riktor asked him
Drakken crossed his arms, "There's a reason for everything."
"Enlighten us, Drakken." Baelon said, "Why instigate a conflict between the Faith and House Targaryen when you will intervene yourself?"
"You are not that bright, eh?" Drakken chuckled, "To show the realm that House Targaryen is truly under the Trinity."
Baelon narrowed his eyes, "That...."
"Why else would that happen?" Drakken asked as he looked at Baelon, "The King and Queen knelt down and declared me their god, prompting the Septon to rally forces that will fight for the Fight, showing everyone else that they are willing to fight for what they believe is right. However, they never stood a chance. And by crushing the revolt, it shows that the Trinity is above them. This will send a message to everyone else. Anyone who tries to rise up against the Trinity will be crushed."
"I don't think there is a chance for the worship of the Seven to die down, even if the Trinity is on top." Baelon asked, "What is the whole point of this? You really aren't making sense."
Drakken placed his hands behind his back, "Have you ever boiled water in a tightly closed jar?" He asked, "The amount of pressure created due to the steam and heat produces is quite dangerous. Opening the jar will cause a fierce explosion of boiling water and steam, harming that who opens it. And if you leave the jar closed, eventually....it will shatter, inflicting even more damage by adding the shards of glass."
"What?" Baelon asked
"These conflicts....." Drakken said, "The Realm is the Jar, the conflicts between religion is the boiling water, and I am the one who is shutting the lid."
"You want a serious war to break out." Baelon asked, "Is that what your analogy refers to?"
"Yes." Drakken said, "But that War is nowhere near ready to complete. By occasionally starting conflicts and immediately ending them, tension will build up, and fear will begin to be instilled in everyone. Time and time again, people will eventually learn that it is hopeless to try and resist. And you might ask yourself, why not end things now? The time.....is not right."
Baelon narrowed his eyes, "When is the time going to be right?"
Drakken smirked, "When my children are grown." He said with a menacing tone, "Only then will the Great War start. And you think these conflicts are bad? The Great War will plunge the entire world into nothing but flames of chaos, and there is nothing anyone could do. All of this.....is to keep things interesting.....while my power builds up and my children are properly grown. When these two become older, they will lead my armies....and they will destroy everything in their path."
"Not even you stand a chance."
********************
[Near the Kingswood, The Following Day]
"Father." Baelon walked towards Jaehaerys, "I hear the fighting has ceased."
There was a brief camp that was erected outside of the Kingswood, used for The Crown's forces when marching in and out of the Crownlands. Baelon had landed Balerion several hundred meters away from the camp as Vermithor was on the opposite side. The King was at the camp, as he was called over by Aemon, who was about to return from his time in the Stormlands.
Jaehaerys was standing next to a tent, "Yes." He said, "Your brother has forced House Baratheon to surrender. He has executed Orryn himself as payment for their treason. That was the right call."
Baelon reached him, "Yes." He said, "I had spoken to Drakken. He stopped the Hightower army and forced them back. I have a bad feeling about that, though.....it is as if something was being planned....."
"Drakken likes to scheme constantly." Jaehaerys said, "Always coming up with plans within plans."
"Any signs of Vaegon?" Baelon asked
"No." Jaehaerys said, "From what Aemon wrote, he has found no traces of him. I fear the worst.....he will take several hundred men and will scour the entire region if he needs to."
Baelon looked down, "You don't think..." He said, "That Drakken...."
Jaehaerys closed his eyes, "The thought has crossed my mind." He said, "But....if Drakken had him, he would tell us. He is the type of man to goad us about such a thing."
There was shouting in the distance, which immediately alarmed the King and his son.
"What?" Baelon said, "What now?"
"Your Grace!" a soldier shouted, "My Prince! There is Duskguard Knights outside the camp, they have melted and burning armor...."
"What?!" Jaehaerys exclaimed, "Do they intend to fight us?"
"Burning armor?" Baelon frowned, "Wait, Maegor and his men?!"
"Maegor?" The King looked at him
The soldier ran over to them, "It appears that they don't intend to fight." He said as he reached them, panting, "They demand to see you!"
As he said this, Jaehaerys saw as Maegor burst into the scene while holding his sword and a bloodied sack. Behind him, several Duskguard knights walked slowly, their armor burning as smoke filled the air.
This was an unsettling scene, which caused everyone present to merely stare in pure awe.
"Where is the fucking little runt, Jaehaerys?!" He bellowed
Jaehaerys widened his eyes in shock, seeing the state that Maegor was in. Most of his body was charred, as part of his face.
"Maegor...." He said, anxiety filling his body, "What...."
Maegor noticed him, "There you are!!!"
Baelon drew his sword, "Maegor....!" He said, "Are you here to fight?!"
"Bah, quiet down!" He said as he planted his sword on the ground, "It is over!"
He pulled out Barth's head from the bloodied sack and tossed it over to Jaehaerys's feet.
The King was taken aback by this, seeing his former Hand and old friend's head rolled into his feet.
"Barth....." He said with a grim face, "Why did it come to this?"
Maegor was panting slightly, "The Faith will no longer be an issue, Jaehaerys." he said with a scowl, "Their main figure is dead. If another one takes his place, it would take a great deal of convincing to rally armies to try and revolt. They don't understand, Jaehaerys.....the might of the House of The Dragon."
Baelon looked at him, "You are a madman." He said, "You-"
"If it were not for me, you would not be alive, boy!!!" Maegor bellowed, "Ask your Father, I am the reason your House is still in power! You ought to be grateful for that. The very city you live in, I built it!"
"Enough, Maegor." Jaehaerys said, "You were dead a long time yet the mark you left on the Realm is quite noticeable. Drakken brought you back to strike fear into our hearts, that is all."
"And that.....I will do." Maegor said, "I-"
"Oof." A voice said, "You don't look too good."
Maegor turned to see Drakken standing a few feet away, giving him a smirk, "Drakken...." He said, "You...."
All of the Duskguard Knights got on one knee, some were trying their best not to make a noise, pushing their groans and grunts down.
"Seems you killed the Septon." Drakken looked at the head, "Shame, I wanted to be the one who did it....."
Maegor got to one knee, grimacing in pain, "L-Lord Drakken...." He said, "I have fulfilled your request..."
"Barely." Drakken said, "Seems you took a heavy blow. I am a bit disappointed. I expected a dominating performance. But the big guy was not supposed to delve into Ammaria's territory, quite the brave move Baelon did."
Maegor looked at him, "G-Give me another chance...." He said, "To prove myself...."
Drakken extended his arm and black tendrils shot at him, "Mhm." He said, "Don't worry, I have an assignment for you."
The tendrils injected into Maegor's body and within a few seconds, his wounds were instantly repaired as well as his armor.
"Ah...." He said as he let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you....."
Drakken did the same for his Duskguard Knights, healing their wounds and repairing their armors. Within a few seconds, they were all completely restored and rejuvenated.
Drakken cracked his neck as his tendrils retracted back into himself, "I suppose this marks the end." He said, "You lot can go back home now."
"I'm about to do a few things."