Game of Thrones: Viserys the Three-Headed Dragon.

Chapter 91 Choice
When it came to the fourth day after Viserys captured Dragonstone, Viserys, who had only two three-hundred-oared ships available, finally realized what it meant to be stretched to the limit.

His naval strength was not enough to blockade the entire throat sea area, and he could only do some simple blockade work near the Dragonstone dock. Moreover, simply expelling passing ships brought new problems: what if those ships wanted to continue to enter Blackwater Bay? What if there were merchant ships entering Blackwater Bay from the southern waters without passing through Dragonstone?
Stannis had been blockading the Throat for more than a month, and the Throat was originally a busy sea transportation route. On the fourth day, he found that the blockade had been lifted, and the number of merchant ships entering the Throat from the southern waters had reached more than a dozen.

It was impossible for Viserys to patrol back and forth over the throat all day long and drive away these merchant ships or control them to a certain area by himself. In fact, from the beginning, he allowed this situation to happen.

By the way, the two ships flying the Targaryen flag that blockaded the coast of Dragonstone have aroused the vigilance of the surrounding areas. When Grolal docked last night, he sent someone to the castle to tell Viserys that they found a fishing boat observing them from a distance at sea.

Viserys began to realize that if Stannis had fled back from King's Landing in defeat, he might not even be able to wait for Stannis's defeated troops to return to Dragonstone.

On that morning, smoke signals were observed in the sky dozens of miles away from Tidemark on Dragonstone, and Lord Gunther told Viserys that this was the westernmost watchtower of Tidemark. While trying to confirm the situation on Dragonstone, Viserys knew that the news of the change of ownership of Dragonstone had been noticed by the surrounding areas, and the only information he could guarantee that had not been leaked was that the Targaryens on Dragonstone had dragons.

But the fact that Dragonstone was captured so secretly and quickly would make people outside who didn't know the actual situation guess that the Targaryens were bringing a large army to crush the enemy with ease.

Considering that the next battle might not happen, Viserys began to gradually relax the martial law on the town below the mountain. The martial law that controlled the number of people traveling during the day in the town had been lifted, but the curfew was still strictly enforced and the port docks were still closed. Fortunately, Stannis prepared sufficient supplies when the martial law was imposed, otherwise the prices of some necessities would soar. For this reason, Viserys had to start the castle's commercial activities and recruit previously dismissed officials to work for him - in many cases, the lord of a place is the biggest businessman in the area.

As expected, these positions fell to the people who originally worked for Dragonstone Castle. Dragonstone was so small, and these were the only people who could start work immediately, so Viserys had to use them.

As for the test of Chaotou Fort, he could not divide his forces with only two naval fleets, and those who controlled the so-called "fleets" were not regular troops at all.

Viserys needs to think carefully about how to respond to the other party's temptation.

-

People often think of Stannis Baratheon as a man of pure iron, who neither understands nor forgives the weakness of others.

But in fact, he knows what is right, but most of the time he is unwilling to compromise his own principles for the so-called right thing.

While Viserys was worrying about his stretched naval forces, a fateful military meeting was taking place with Stannis, whom he was on guard against.

Stannis only called the most trusted people he could gather to this military meeting.

Stannis still had about two thousand land soldiers on board, several hundred pirates under Salladhor Saan, several hundred seamen in four galleys and a longship of fifty, and five hundred and fifty sailors.

Most of the soldiers belonged to the Florent family, under the command of Earl Alister.

But Stannis did not call Lord Alister to the meeting. Lord Alister was originally in charge of guarding the camp, but he fled without resistance when the Lannisters attacked him. He fled in a panic, leaving all his baggage behind, and has not dared to come to see the king since then.

Stannis summoned Baran Falling, a member of the royal noble family of the Falling family. He was Stannis's squire, and his father, Ser Gilbert Falling, was leading three hundred men to guard Storm's End for Stannis.

Roland Stormrage - Ser Roland commanded the rearguard after the disastrous defeat, allowing Stannis to retreat safely to Salladhor Saan's ship.

Andrew Esmond - He is Stannis's cousin, a knight of House Esmond in the Stormlands, and was once Stannis Baratheon's squire.

Lucus Zeitling the Younger - The Zeitling noble family of the crown has followed Stannis for many years. Earl Zeitling died in the Battle of the Blackwater. Lucus Zeitling the Younger is one of the very few people that Stannis believes is still loyal to him.

When everyone was gathered, Stannis announced the heavy news he had received: "Everyone, you are all my most trusted people. I have news that Dragonstone has been occupied by Targaryen. I don't know how many troops Targaryen has, but in just a few days, Dragonstone has been lost."

The statement was shocking, and all the participants were shocked.

Stannis asked: "Some people suggest that I retreat to Storm's End. What do you think?" Roland Storm is a knight from the Cullens, known as the "Bastard of Nightsong". He is a brave knight who faithfully believes in the Seven Gods: "Your Majesty, if this is true-"

Stannis asked bluntly, "Do you also think I should retreat to Storm's End?"

The king's loyal subjects were silent.

Stannis said, "I know that we suffered heavy losses at the gates of King's Landing. Without our fleet and cavalry, our soldiers are exhausted. The Targaryens have returned and have occupied Dragonstone. It would be difficult for us to accomplish anything there, and it would be tantamount to seeking death. Someone told me that Westeros must unite under the name of the only legitimate king. Going south will secure my throne. All the retreats now are for the day when I will unify the world in the future.

However, even Robert, the King of Baratheon, has always been called a 'usurper' in Westeros. If the Targaryens really come back, who is the 'only legitimate king'? And my queen and heir are on Dragonstone. If I abandon them, how can the so-called 'throne be stable'?
I know very well that once I go south, the lords of Dragonstone will immediately abandon me. The new Lord Sanglas sailed to Volantis after I arrested his brother. When I go south, Ser Tristan will leave with the people of Wonderhaven, including Bal Ammon, Velaryon, and Celtigar."

Andrew Estermont said: "The lords of the Stormlands will support your cause, Your Majesty. Renly's ghost is just a hoax, a plot of the Lannisters. You can return to the Stormlands to rest your army and summon your vassals to counterattack Dragonstone. The lords of the Stormlands who responded to Robert will respond to you because you are King Robert's legitimate heir."

Lukos Zitrin Jr. said, "The Zitrin family will follow you till death."

Baran Farring said: "Your Majesty, give me three hundred warriors and a ship, and I will go to Dragonstone for you to rescue the queen and princess!"

Stannis was silent for a moment. "Byran, I will take your words. Well, with your loyalty and support, I will need you in the future battles." Stannis's cheeks sank deeply, and a bleak smile passed across his lips. "Then, go to Lord Alister, and I will issue the order to march south."

-

Tidehead Castle is a dark and gloomy castle, located on a peninsula facing the tide, surrounded by cliffs. Sometimes when the tide is at its highest, it will rush to the edge of the castle wall. It is a castle that suffers from the tide and is always very damp, with salt stains under the dark walls.

During the Dance of the Dragons, when Corlys Velaryon succeeded as Lord of Tidehead, Driftmark prospered, and three fishing villages near Driftmark developed into the town of Hull. Corlys the Sea Serpent built a new castle, High Tide, to house the Driftwood Throne, replacing the damp and gloomy Driftmark. However, during the Dance of the Dragons, High Tide was burned down by the Greens in the Battle of the Maw. After that, the Velaryons of Driftmark declined, and the family castle was moved back to Driftmark.

This once prosperous family has lost its former glory. This time, the Earl of Tidemark supported Stannis with the strength of his family. All the ships and soldiers joined Stannis' army. At this moment, only the old people, women, children and the newly recruited young recruits were left in the castle. A six-year-old boy, Monterey Velaryon, is now the acting lord of the castle. He is like Bran and Rickon who stayed in Winterfell after Robb Stark went south in the original book. There is only an old maester, an old coach, a nanny, a stable boy and more than a dozen town guards in Hull Town available.

The six-year-old boy, unaware that his father had died in the Blackwater, was playing in the castle with a toy wooden boat.

At one point, the boy heard a strange sound of wind passing through the castle.

Then, noisy noises were heard outside the castle.

The boy went out curiously and saw the coach and the night watch boys in training in the castle yard looking up. The old maester found him with a candle and looked up as well.

In the dim starlight of the night, a black flag can be seen slowly floating down from the sky above the castle.

After a dozen breaths, the flag landed right on a clean piece of ground in the middle of the training ground.

The castle instructor went to inspect it, then folded the flag in shock, ran up the castle steps, and quietly unfolded a corner of the flag to the bachelor and the six-year-old acting lord on the castle floor.

That's the Targaryen banner.

The old coach said to the old scholar, "There are words on it."

The old maester held up the candle to read the words on it: "Dragonstone."

(End of this chapter)