Interesting parallel, I mostly based this off the fact the books often mention that the ''bowels'' of Casterly Rock are dotted with huge minesfats and tunnels, but it makes sense it has historical precedent.
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Chapter 32: The Pyres of Lannisport (Vickon Greyjoy, Vaemond)
11th Moon, 8025
City of Lannisport, the Westerlands
The Lord of Pyke sat upon his destrier and watched the Iron Kraken collide once more with the heavy gates of Lannisport, the men pushing the battering ram forward under constant fire from crossbows, stones, and boiling oil.
Vickon Greyjoy watched as one his Ironborn in the breaching party was taken by flames, wildly waving his arms and screaming, steam coming from his head as the black tar set fire to his fur armor.
The red priestess, mounted by his side, uttered some words under her breath quietly, watching the burning man slowly go still, her crimson robes blowing in the wind.
‘’What was that….some sort of spell?’’ Vickon grunted at the priestess of R'hllor.
‘’No my lord, only a prayer….that man should consider himself fortunate….not every soul is blessed with the purifying flames of death..’’ She replied.
Vickon nodded as he continued to watch the breaching party pound on the heavy gates of the city. Some years prior he had taken her captive from a Lysene galley in the Shivering Sea, her red robes and pale gray eyes making her stand out among the prisoners.
Vickon had been prepared to throw her overboard with the other survivors to appease his men's wish to sacrifice to the Drowned God, he had no use for fanatics, but as she had been led to the side of the ship, she had scratched and clawed, begged and demanded an audience with the captain.
The Lord of Pyke, intrigued, had allowed them to bring her to his cabin as the other unfortunate survivors were tossed overboard. As he expected, she bargained for her life with her flesh, which the Ironborn captain had no qualms about, he could always throw her overboard after they were done.
Instead, she insisted that she be given a chance to show her power, and stubbornly persisted that Vickon set the captured galley alight in the middle of the sea. Vickon had laughed at that, but after more showcasing of her other more base skills, he had finally relented, though not without a warning that if he was not impressed that she would join her former companions at the bottom of the sea.
Vickon had given the order for the ship to be set aflame, not expecting much to come of the whole affair, but he had been wrong. He had seen shapes in the flame, dancing from bridge to mast, images within the tendrils.
He saw his youngest son in the flames, Germund, fighting an unseen enemy before falling to the ground, his lifesblood leaving him. He saw a host of Ironborn attacking a city of Gold, a lion banner burning in the flames, and finally he had glimpsed himself, kneeling as a man placed a crown upon his head.
He had been intrigued of course, but had warned the priestess that if this was some sort of trick he would punish her most painfully.
But when he arrived back in Pyke months later, he received word that his youngest son Germund had been slain in a skirmish, fighting as a mercenary in the many feuds and wars that frequently assailed the islands.
Over the next few years, he gradually put more stock into the Red Priestesses counsel, though at her own behest their intimate encounters stopped, she was a red priestess after all, not a common salt wife.
Eventually Vickon had allowed her to anoint him in the name of R'hllor, he made no attempt to convert his other followers, who, while understandably perturbed and angry of their lieges conversion eventually accepted it, though there had been some trouble with the Blacktydes, who had to be convinced through the ax. Vickon was further helped by the fact that from time to time, he was known to still sacrifice the odd prisoner to the Drowned god, though whether the priestess knew or didn't know of this deception she kept hidden.
Another resounding thud came from the Iron Kraken ram as it hit the heavy gates, this time shaking and pushing inwards slightly.
Vickon gave a smile, he would have preferred to be at the front with his men, but he had developed gout in his feet in his old age, though when the gates were opened he would join the assault on horseback, a most uncommon position for an Ironborn warrior but he meant to take advantage of every battle he had left.
‘’This is the city of gold I saw in the fires…..’’ Vickon said, images of piles of golden coins and bars coursing through his mind.
‘’The Lord of Light does not lie my Lord…..he has given this victory to you as gift for your conversion…but just as our Lord gives, he also demands…he must be given a great sacrifice, you know of what I speak.’’ The priestess said, her pale gray eyes studying him.
Vickon nodded ‘’Aye….he shall have his due, but it was the men of the Iron Islands that will win this victory…..and I still have not been given the crown I saw in the flames….the Lord of Light is running out of time.’’
She touched his shoulder, clad in boiled leather and seal fur ‘’Patience….my King.’’
He felt the heat from her fingers even through his armor and nodded.
Suddenly, the gates of Lannisport swung open with a final decisive crack from the battering ram, and the Ironborn began to swarm in.
Vickon pulled his ax from its belt, a magnificent weapon with a golden hilt with onyx runes, its axehead made of hardened silver, while one of his men handed him a heavy shield, freshly painted in black and gold.
He waved the ax over his head and spurred his horse forward to join the assault, his personal retinue, also mounted by necessity of their lieges speed followed him towards the breach.
The city of Lannisport was the second largest city in Westeros, behind only Oldtown, though the capital in Kings Landing was rapidly gaining on that claim. To take the city they would have two tasks, first the keep of Lanns Hall, situated within the city walls, and the seat of Lady Sarya of Lannisport would need to be stormed, the city streets would also need to be cleared of the guardsmen.
Vickon meant to leave the former task to Denys Drumm, the lord of Pyke would find himself of little use storming a castle with a gouty leg.
He would content himself to deal with the city watch of Lannisport who would no doubt be protecting the city streets. Even in the Iron Islands the city watch was known to be one of the most disciplined and effective foot levies in the Seven Kingdoms.
Vickons scouts reported the city watch was undermanned to less than half its original strength however, numbering less than a thousand men as many of them were used as common foot soldiers as the war grew more desperate for the Lannisters, while others had fled when nearby Casterly Rock was put under siege.
1000 or 10,000 it makes no difference Vickon thought as he thundered through the breached gates of the city, riding over corpses of kin and foe alike. He saw that Denys Drumm had already set to scaling the small keep of Lanns Hall with wooden ladders and was making good progress.
Fighting was well underway in the city streets by the time Vickon and his retinue arrived, his Ironborn fighting the city watch of Lannisport, wearing their distinctive heavy boiled armor and red cloaks, small units of them forming shield walls and attempting to hold whatever strategic points they could, narrow streets, city circles, and even buildings, with a particularly fierce melee taking place in the cities tavern.
Vickon rode forward through the cobbled streets, making his way towards a melee in one of the town squares, where a unit of the city watch were holding a circle around a well, spears and shields desperately working to push the Ironborn back.
He saw an old man running with a few bolts of cloth through the streets, making for shelter, so desperate was he to make for shelter he did not notice Vickons ax flashing down at his spotted pink scalp, and soon he noticed even less.
Continuing on towards the fight, one of his retinue tumbled from the saddle, a Lannisport guardsman behind the circle putting a quarrel in the center of his head.
Vickon roared and collided with the shield wall in a clash of horse and shield.
Hacking and slashing his ax, he forced his way deep into the melee, his retinue and other Ironborn following him into the breach. A dismounted Ironborn axeman at his side shouted a war cry to the Drowned god, which was quickly silenced by a mace to the nose.
The maceman tried his luck with Vickon, but the old Ironborn patiently knocked away two strikes with his ax and another with his shield before 2 quick hacks to the man's neck ended the melee.
The small unit of city watchmen was quickly overwhelmed once their shield wall broke and quickly laid down their weapons, some being butchered by the more zealous Ironborn in their bloodlust while others were being forced to lead the Ironborn to gold and silver.
The city watch of Lannisport may have been efficient in dealing with drunken brawls and tavern riots, but undermanned as they were, they had no chance against the Ironborn assault, and after only two hours of fighting most of the city was theirs. While scattered fighting continued in some districts, the assault was beginning to transition to the looting phase as Vickon ordered his reavers to plunder the countless silver and gold shops, along with the jewlers, the Ironborn would no doubt gain a fortune from capturing such a large city.
Vickon looked up towards Lanns Hall, and saw that his men had gained the keep, and had set the Lannister banners alight, much like the vision he had seen in the flames.
The victory had been remarkably decisive, Vickon had expected to lose near 1000 men, but the reality was that the assault only cost them just over 400 men, much of the cities populace had fled the city when nearby Casterly Rock, which was visible from the city was placed under siege, and taken with them much wealth, but taking the second largest city in Westeros with the lost of 400 men was an admirable feat, and the spoils put those taken from Sunspear years earlier to shame.
While his men looted the vast city, Vickon and his captains drank and feasted in one of the taverns, the bodies of several dead watchmen and Ironborn still littering the floor.
Denys Drumm had taken a wound in storming Lanns Hall, but seemed hale enough to Vickon, quietly drinking with the best of them while Eerl Stonetree amused himself by playing at finger dancing with a few unfortunate captives, the practice of throwing an ax at an opponent who had to catch or dodge it, though Eerl thought it amusing to have his captives blindfolded, much to the merriment of the other Ironborn who shouted advice to the terrified captives.
A throwing ax took one of the captives in the forehead with a meaty thunk.
‘’Well I suppose he caught it….in a way.’’ One of the reavers quipped earning a raucous response of laughter.
The mood in the room suddenly seemed to shift, and grow hotter as the tavern doors swung open.
Vickon turned and saw the red priestess striding inside, the other Ironborn gave disapproving glances, but she paid them no mind.
‘’It is almost sunset my lord….and just as the Lord of Light has given you and your men a great victory…you must reciprocate….it is time for the nightfire.’’ The red priestess said.
‘’We don't serve your god woman…..its the Drowned God that gave us victory today, and to him we will sacrifice too.’’ Eerl Stonetree drawled, pulling his ax from the dead captive.
‘’Perhaps you don't, but your Lord does.’’ The Red Priestess said, her gray eyes trained calmly on the young Lord of Harlaw.
‘’The drowned god will have his due you can be sure of that Eerl, but you will mind your tongue in my priestess presence or i'll have it off.’’ Vickon said, causing Eerl to spit on the ground but in the end he relented.
‘’There is but one god.’’ The red priestess cautioned and Vickon waved a hand in acknowledgement.
He then turned to one of his Huscarls ‘’Bring the prisoners to the town square.’’
He finished his drink in silence before he made his way to the town center, the daylight giving way to a sunset of red and gold over the Sunset Sea and the town of Lannisport, almost making the town peaceful, if one could ignore the dead bodies littering the street and the cries in the distance.
The assembly for the night fire was small, while Vickon had agreed to take the Red God as his own but his own people were not so eager to abandon their ways, nonetheless the Red Priestess had a small number of followers she could rely on.
The spectators to the nightfires were outnumbered by the almost 100 surviving members of the Lannisport City Watch, as well as a few dozen peasants mixed in for good measure. They were bound hand and foot to a large pyre of timber logs, wooden doors and whatever else the red woman's followers had found that would burn.
Vickon made his way to the red woman's side, upon seeing his approach she nodded greeting ‘’It is time my King.’’
Vickon gave a curt nod and the priestess lit a torch with nothing but her hands, muttering a prayer as she ran her hand over it as the torch took flame, causing a whisper between the few Ironborn in attendance who had witnessed it.
‘’Lord of Light…..accept these offerings into your Kingdoms….they that have lived in darkness shall die in light….cleanse them lord.’’ She chanted, her voice quiet and loud at the same time as she approached the pyre, red robe dancing in the wind.
Her followers echoed her chant.
Cries for mercy sounded from the Pyre, but Vickon ignored them, at the war's beginning he had landed near Lannisport, but Loren Lannister had driven him off, leaving some 6000 of Vickons Ironborn dead, captured or wounded, he meant to have his revenge today.
The screams from the pyre as the Red Woman set the flaming torch of the pyre were immediate and would chill the heart of even the most grizzled warrior, but the Lord of Pyke simply smiled as the red woman went on about light and darkness, his defeat at Lannisport was avenged.
Screams of fear soon turned to screams and coughs of pain, and even some of the most veteran Ironborn abandoned the ceremony to go and drink, but Vickon stayed for the entirety, listening as the screams of the burning men echoed into the orange skies of the Sunset Sea until they were at last drowned out by the waves.
While the burning of the City Watch would constitute the most renowned atrocity in Lannisport, the pillaging of Lannisport would go on for several more days before the Ironborn finally left the city with the wealth of the city with them. Maesters would be in agreement years later that the sacking of Lannisport would be the most brutal and savage event in the entire war.
1st Moon, 8026
Drox Castle
The two men knelt at Vaemonds feet, their swords lightly pushing down on the ground of the tent, Corlys Velaryon stood at the Kings side studying the young pair.
‘’Rise my friends.’’ Vaemond said, gesturing them up.
The two complied, sheathing their swords and facing the King. They both were quite young, with it being clear none of them were older than Vaemonds 24 years, despite the similarity in age, they couldn't have made for a more different pair.
The first man who looked to be the older one made the more impressive figure. He had short cropped golden hair, a goatee and wore his mustache in a rather vain way that reminded Vaemond of the late Ser Gawen Corbray, word of whose passing had recently reached his siege camp outside Drox Castle.
He wore a suit of mail with an orange surcoat centering 3 black lightning bolts. On his neck he wore a silver anvil, no doubt to honor the Smith. Most peculiarly however, the young reachmen wore a heavy belt made of several different types of metal chains, silver, brass and platinum shimmering in the tent's candle light.
It was to him that Vaemond turned first, gesturing him forward.
‘’I've been told much of you already in truth, but I'll allow you to make your introductions yourself.’’ Vaemond said with a small smile, running a hand on his neck, which while healed and scarred, still troubled him from time to time.
The young man puffed out his chest at that ‘’Ser Androw Leygood your Grace….steward of the Citadel and kinsman to Lord Leygood….my sword is yours.’’
‘’The citadel hmm….the Kingsguard is in need of warriors lad, not quill dippers.’’ Corlys Velaryon, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard said, arms crossed.
Ser Androw reddened at that ‘’I am an anointed knight Ser…..my time studying at the citadel has not lessened my skill at arms in the least.’’
Vaemond raised a hand for calm ‘’The Lord Commander meant no offense, of course we know you are a capable knight, we would not have sent for you if it were otherwise….I am however interested in how a knight such as yourself ended up at the citadel, as its steward nonetheless.’’
Ser Androw nodded ‘’My father was very old when he birthed me, my two brothers were two decades my senior and had several children of their own when I was born, it became clear that my future was not at Leygood Keep. Upon my 16th name day I journeyed to Oldtown to become a novice there.’’
‘’I see by your belt of chains you excelled there.’’ Vaemond said, nodding to the young knight's belt of multi-metal chains, each of which signified proficiency in a specific subject.
Ser Androw nodded ‘’I forged two links of silver in medicine and healing, should you take a wound on the battlefield I could see to your wounds in the midst of battle, I forged links of platinum, steel and brass as well. Take me into your Kingsguard and you will never want a translator. I studied metallurgy and time as well….my final two years Archmaester Gawen saw my potential and named me steward of the Citadel at the age of 19. I was responsible for feeding hundreds of novices, upkeep of dozens of study keeps and admittance of new students.’’
Vaemond nodded, extremely impressed with the young knight, but Corlys Velaryon was not yet satisfied.
‘’Impressive feats…..but you have not mentioned how you earned your knighthood, you say you are a good sword, seems to me between all this pen pushing you wouldn't have much time for training, much less earning your spurs.’’ Corlys said bluntly.
‘’I was trained at arms since I was a boy, both as a squire and page as befits my house.’’ Ser Androw said defensively.
‘’And your knighthood?’ Corlys persisted.
‘’I served as Archmaester Gawens sworn sword when he ventured into the city, as a member of the citadel I was not permitted to carry steel, but the Archmaester was set upon by vagabonds in one of the cities wharfside docks, I set them to flight with a staff and was knighted soon after by a warrior's son who witnessed by bravery.’’
‘’A staff is not a sword boy.’’ Corlys grunted.
‘’It is not…but I am a skilled swordsman as well….I found time to train with Lord Hightowers retinue two days each week as well….will you be needing a demonstration Ser.’’ The young Knight said curtly.
Vaemond shook his head ‘’From what I've heard, your talents are more than deserving of the White Cloak Ser Androw….that will be all for now, take this time to reflect on your coming decision…a Kingsguard serves for life.’’
Ser Androw nodded, bowed and withdrew from the tent.
Vaemond then turned his attention to the second young knight, an admittedly unpleasant task as the knight was without a doubt one of the ugliest men Vaemond had ever laid eyes on.
The center of his lip was turned upwards in a cleft lip all the way up to what remained of his nose, an attractive feature made much worse by the fact half of his face was afflicted by greyscale. His skin was dry, gray and hard as stone on the left side of his face, and the disease had taken much of his nose…in short the man was not pleasant to look upon.
Ser Bryen Royce may not have been attractive, but he was powerfully built in the Royce manner, much like his sister Demerei Royce, who was married to Matarys and was the King's own sister-by-law.
‘’I need no introduction from you Ser Bryen.’’ Vaemond said, he had met him once before, albeit when he was just a boy at his brother Matarys’s wedding to Demerei Royce. In fact it had been Demerei who had suggested that her brother be appointed to the Kingsguard in the raven that had brought the ill news of the deaths of 3 of Vaemonds Kingsguard.
‘’I may not have the illustrious introduction of my predecessor…but I was serving as my fathers master-at-arms in Runestone while Ser Androw was shuffling around with staff and timeglasses.’’ The young knight said.
‘’You do not approve of Ser Androw?’’ Vaemond asked with a frown.
Ser Bryen shrugged, but Corlys Velaryon gave a sharp laugh.
‘’Vaemond…the boy might be talented and sharp as a whip….but I could have oiled my armor and sharpened my blade in the time it took the lad to tell his tale of his ability….no doubt his other soon to be brothers will feel the same…dont hold it against our knight of Runestone.’’ Corlys said, causing Ser Bryen to give a curt nod of agreement.
‘’Nevertheless you will need to serve alongside him.’’ Vaemond said before continuing ‘’You hold an important role at your fathers court…why do you aspire to take the white.’’
‘’I'm good at fighting and better at killing….it seems you have a need of such men in this war.’’ The young Valeman said curtly.
Vaemond nodded ‘’It would also serve to remove some expectations and put to bed some rumors about you.’’
The King studied Ser Bryens face for any anger or sign of emotion in the blunt point, but Ser Bryen only stared.
A cold man our Ser Bryen Vaemond thought, thought that was not necessarily a bad thing, the Kingsguard could be strengthened by such a man.
‘’That will be all for now Ser Bryen, I would of course offer you a White Cloak…not only for your ability but our houses are bound by blood, take this time to consider your choice…as I said, the Kingsguard serves for life….should you wish to proceed you and Ser Androw shall take your vows at dusk in front of your Lord Commander and myself.’’
Ser Bryen nodded and withdrew.
‘’There's some of Ser Gawen in that one.’’ Corlys Velaryon said after he had left.
Vaemond nodded ‘’The Kingsguard needs good fighters, and he's the best knight to represent the Vale, only his family stood with the crown.’’
‘’We still need two more.’’ Corlys cautioned.
The King nodded. It had been a terrible loss the Kinsguard had been dealt with losing 3 of its members, not only for losing such capable men, but also in the fact that it left the Kingsguard with just 3 men, Corlys and Ser Harold Langward and Ser Roland Crakehall. To add two young able knights was a start however, though two sports still remained, that vacated by Ser Gregor Goode of the Riverlands and that from the Rogue Merman Ser Warrick.
In truth Vaemond had almost forgotten the Kingsguard had originally been formed with seven members, he had not even been born when Ser Warrick Manderly betrayed his vows and fled to Essos, but when the war ended he meant to finally strip the treasonous sellsword, if he was still alive, of his white cloak and name a successor, in large part due to Corlys’s constant reminders, the Kingsgard should never have been in a position to become so depleted in the first place.
Vaemond did not have long to relax from the meeting of his two soon-to-be Kingsguard, as he heard his camp heralds announcing the arrival of a retinue of riders, which Vaemond was expecting.
‘’Lord Serret has arrived your Grace.’’ Ser Roland Crakehall said, opening the tent.
Vaemond nodded ‘’Send him in.’’
Lord Marq Serret, Lord of Silverhill was a pale man with a fleshy belly and a long neck and a thin face, his hair a mop of brown stringy hair, he wore a beige tunic with the peacock of his house formed with garnets.
‘’Welcome Lord Serret….be seated.’’ Vaemond said, gesturing to a seat by a small table, which had been set with wine.
Three days prior, he had received a raven from Silverhill with Lord Serretts offer of surrender and intent to swear his lands back into the crown's authority.
Vaemond was scarcely surprised when he received the raven, in truth he had expected Loren Lannisters vassals to begin deserting their lord as the war was now firmly going against the Lions of the Rock.
Casterly Rock, besieged from land by Dornish and Reach levies and by sea from 100 Redwyne galleys would fall within a few weeks. Lannisport had fallen as well some time prior to Vickon Greyjoy and Riverspring, castle of House Sarwyck had been stormed by Boros Baratheons Stormlanders. To make matters worse, the host of Theo Tyrell had caught a small Westerlander force of some 5000 men at Peckledon and routed them. Vaemond did not know what madness possessed Loren Lannister to send such a small force south but he was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Riverspring and House Sarwyk were vassals to House Serrett of Silverhill and Lord Serret no doubt sensed his own castle was next to face the loyalists wrath and decided he was better off jumping ship while he still could.
The meeting went by rather quickly, with Vaemond not forcing any conditions or punishments on the Lord of Silverhill, merely welcoming him back into the King's peace; the southern Westerlands had suffered enough in the war.
Lord Serrett to his credit did his best to turn the situation to his advantage, being so bold at one point to casually mention he would be willing to serve as Lord Paramount of the Westerlands once the war was over, but Vaemond bluntly made it clear that while Lord Serrett was welcome back into the King's Peace, he could not expect any sort of reward other than leniency since he had joined his forces to the crown in the waning days of the war at no risk to his own standing.
Lord Serrett departed soon after, and Vaemond won a few precious moments of respite, but his peace was shattered when Corlys Velaryon entered the tent, raven scroll in hand, a grim look on his face.
Vaemond steeled himself with a sip of wine and nodded wordlessly for the Lord Commander and his most trusted commander to give the tidings.
‘’We have word from Byford your Grace….a raven, Loren Lannister and a large host have outmaneuvered us, stealing a march through the northern mountains, the raven says there may be more than twenty thousand, heading east.’’ Corlys Velaryon said.
‘’He abandons Casterly Rock.’’ Roland Crakehall said with surprise, many of those in Vaemonds war council had expected the decisive battle of the war to come when Loren Lannister attempted to relieve the siege of his capitol, which would have to be soon.
Vaemond paled at once and made his way to the map in the center of the tent, his eyes focusing on Byford in the Crownlands.
‘’He's after a bigger prize.’’ Vaemond said grimly, if Loren Lannister was marching east, and abandoning all hope of relieving Casterly Rock there was only one location he could have his eyes on.
‘’Kings Landing.’’ Ser Harold Langward said suddenly, with realization.
‘’The battle at Peckledon was no gift horse….he sacrificed those men to distract the Tyrells, who had orders to stop any march east…..there's no significant host in between Byford and Kings Landing….if he assaults the city…’’ Vaemond said, silently cursing himself for a fool, he had not thought it likely Loren Lannister would abandon his capital to march east and even less likely Loren Lannister would be able to outmaneuver his hosts in able to do so, but he had done both.
‘’We will send a raven….Nyel, Laena and Matarys’s family will have ample time to evacuate.’’ Ser Harold Langward said reassuringly.
Vaemond nodded ‘’True enough my family will be able to escape, but the Lannisters have several days time on us, if they storm the city…..and the North should hear that the capitol has fallen….’’
‘’We could have forty thousand angry northmen marching south.’’ Corlys finished grimly.
‘’Send a letter to my sister to evacuate my daughter and nephew from the city, as well as herself….tell her to make it known to Rhaegar Tully that his gold cloaks MUST hold the city until I arrive….King's Landing cannot fall.’’
‘’It will be done.’’ Corlys nodded.
Loren Lannister has played us for fools Vaemond thought as he looked at the map, praying that he would not arrive too late.
City of Lannisport, the Westerlands
The Lord of Pyke sat upon his destrier and watched the Iron Kraken collide once more with the heavy gates of Lannisport, the men pushing the battering ram forward under constant fire from crossbows, stones, and boiling oil.
Vickon Greyjoy watched as one his Ironborn in the breaching party was taken by flames, wildly waving his arms and screaming, steam coming from his head as the black tar set fire to his fur armor.
The red priestess, mounted by his side, uttered some words under her breath quietly, watching the burning man slowly go still, her crimson robes blowing in the wind.
‘’What was that….some sort of spell?’’ Vickon grunted at the priestess of R'hllor.
‘’No my lord, only a prayer….that man should consider himself fortunate….not every soul is blessed with the purifying flames of death..’’ She replied.
Vickon nodded as he continued to watch the breaching party pound on the heavy gates of the city. Some years prior he had taken her captive from a Lysene galley in the Shivering Sea, her red robes and pale gray eyes making her stand out among the prisoners.
Vickon had been prepared to throw her overboard with the other survivors to appease his men's wish to sacrifice to the Drowned God, he had no use for fanatics, but as she had been led to the side of the ship, she had scratched and clawed, begged and demanded an audience with the captain.
The Lord of Pyke, intrigued, had allowed them to bring her to his cabin as the other unfortunate survivors were tossed overboard. As he expected, she bargained for her life with her flesh, which the Ironborn captain had no qualms about, he could always throw her overboard after they were done.
Instead, she insisted that she be given a chance to show her power, and stubbornly persisted that Vickon set the captured galley alight in the middle of the sea. Vickon had laughed at that, but after more showcasing of her other more base skills, he had finally relented, though not without a warning that if he was not impressed that she would join her former companions at the bottom of the sea.
Vickon had given the order for the ship to be set aflame, not expecting much to come of the whole affair, but he had been wrong. He had seen shapes in the flame, dancing from bridge to mast, images within the tendrils.
He saw his youngest son in the flames, Germund, fighting an unseen enemy before falling to the ground, his lifesblood leaving him. He saw a host of Ironborn attacking a city of Gold, a lion banner burning in the flames, and finally he had glimpsed himself, kneeling as a man placed a crown upon his head.
He had been intrigued of course, but had warned the priestess that if this was some sort of trick he would punish her most painfully.
But when he arrived back in Pyke months later, he received word that his youngest son Germund had been slain in a skirmish, fighting as a mercenary in the many feuds and wars that frequently assailed the islands.
Over the next few years, he gradually put more stock into the Red Priestesses counsel, though at her own behest their intimate encounters stopped, she was a red priestess after all, not a common salt wife.
Eventually Vickon had allowed her to anoint him in the name of R'hllor, he made no attempt to convert his other followers, who, while understandably perturbed and angry of their lieges conversion eventually accepted it, though there had been some trouble with the Blacktydes, who had to be convinced through the ax. Vickon was further helped by the fact that from time to time, he was known to still sacrifice the odd prisoner to the Drowned god, though whether the priestess knew or didn't know of this deception she kept hidden.
Another resounding thud came from the Iron Kraken ram as it hit the heavy gates, this time shaking and pushing inwards slightly.
Vickon gave a smile, he would have preferred to be at the front with his men, but he had developed gout in his feet in his old age, though when the gates were opened he would join the assault on horseback, a most uncommon position for an Ironborn warrior but he meant to take advantage of every battle he had left.
‘’This is the city of gold I saw in the fires…..’’ Vickon said, images of piles of golden coins and bars coursing through his mind.
‘’The Lord of Light does not lie my Lord…..he has given this victory to you as gift for your conversion…but just as our Lord gives, he also demands…he must be given a great sacrifice, you know of what I speak.’’ The priestess said, her pale gray eyes studying him.
Vickon nodded ‘’Aye….he shall have his due, but it was the men of the Iron Islands that will win this victory…..and I still have not been given the crown I saw in the flames….the Lord of Light is running out of time.’’
She touched his shoulder, clad in boiled leather and seal fur ‘’Patience….my King.’’
He felt the heat from her fingers even through his armor and nodded.
Suddenly, the gates of Lannisport swung open with a final decisive crack from the battering ram, and the Ironborn began to swarm in.
Vickon pulled his ax from its belt, a magnificent weapon with a golden hilt with onyx runes, its axehead made of hardened silver, while one of his men handed him a heavy shield, freshly painted in black and gold.
He waved the ax over his head and spurred his horse forward to join the assault, his personal retinue, also mounted by necessity of their lieges speed followed him towards the breach.
The city of Lannisport was the second largest city in Westeros, behind only Oldtown, though the capital in Kings Landing was rapidly gaining on that claim. To take the city they would have two tasks, first the keep of Lanns Hall, situated within the city walls, and the seat of Lady Sarya of Lannisport would need to be stormed, the city streets would also need to be cleared of the guardsmen.
Vickon meant to leave the former task to Denys Drumm, the lord of Pyke would find himself of little use storming a castle with a gouty leg.
He would content himself to deal with the city watch of Lannisport who would no doubt be protecting the city streets. Even in the Iron Islands the city watch was known to be one of the most disciplined and effective foot levies in the Seven Kingdoms.
Vickons scouts reported the city watch was undermanned to less than half its original strength however, numbering less than a thousand men as many of them were used as common foot soldiers as the war grew more desperate for the Lannisters, while others had fled when nearby Casterly Rock was put under siege.
1000 or 10,000 it makes no difference Vickon thought as he thundered through the breached gates of the city, riding over corpses of kin and foe alike. He saw that Denys Drumm had already set to scaling the small keep of Lanns Hall with wooden ladders and was making good progress.
Fighting was well underway in the city streets by the time Vickon and his retinue arrived, his Ironborn fighting the city watch of Lannisport, wearing their distinctive heavy boiled armor and red cloaks, small units of them forming shield walls and attempting to hold whatever strategic points they could, narrow streets, city circles, and even buildings, with a particularly fierce melee taking place in the cities tavern.
Vickon rode forward through the cobbled streets, making his way towards a melee in one of the town squares, where a unit of the city watch were holding a circle around a well, spears and shields desperately working to push the Ironborn back.
He saw an old man running with a few bolts of cloth through the streets, making for shelter, so desperate was he to make for shelter he did not notice Vickons ax flashing down at his spotted pink scalp, and soon he noticed even less.
Continuing on towards the fight, one of his retinue tumbled from the saddle, a Lannisport guardsman behind the circle putting a quarrel in the center of his head.
Vickon roared and collided with the shield wall in a clash of horse and shield.
Hacking and slashing his ax, he forced his way deep into the melee, his retinue and other Ironborn following him into the breach. A dismounted Ironborn axeman at his side shouted a war cry to the Drowned god, which was quickly silenced by a mace to the nose.
The maceman tried his luck with Vickon, but the old Ironborn patiently knocked away two strikes with his ax and another with his shield before 2 quick hacks to the man's neck ended the melee.
The small unit of city watchmen was quickly overwhelmed once their shield wall broke and quickly laid down their weapons, some being butchered by the more zealous Ironborn in their bloodlust while others were being forced to lead the Ironborn to gold and silver.
The city watch of Lannisport may have been efficient in dealing with drunken brawls and tavern riots, but undermanned as they were, they had no chance against the Ironborn assault, and after only two hours of fighting most of the city was theirs. While scattered fighting continued in some districts, the assault was beginning to transition to the looting phase as Vickon ordered his reavers to plunder the countless silver and gold shops, along with the jewlers, the Ironborn would no doubt gain a fortune from capturing such a large city.
Vickon looked up towards Lanns Hall, and saw that his men had gained the keep, and had set the Lannister banners alight, much like the vision he had seen in the flames.
The victory had been remarkably decisive, Vickon had expected to lose near 1000 men, but the reality was that the assault only cost them just over 400 men, much of the cities populace had fled the city when nearby Casterly Rock, which was visible from the city was placed under siege, and taken with them much wealth, but taking the second largest city in Westeros with the lost of 400 men was an admirable feat, and the spoils put those taken from Sunspear years earlier to shame.
While his men looted the vast city, Vickon and his captains drank and feasted in one of the taverns, the bodies of several dead watchmen and Ironborn still littering the floor.
Denys Drumm had taken a wound in storming Lanns Hall, but seemed hale enough to Vickon, quietly drinking with the best of them while Eerl Stonetree amused himself by playing at finger dancing with a few unfortunate captives, the practice of throwing an ax at an opponent who had to catch or dodge it, though Eerl thought it amusing to have his captives blindfolded, much to the merriment of the other Ironborn who shouted advice to the terrified captives.
A throwing ax took one of the captives in the forehead with a meaty thunk.
‘’Well I suppose he caught it….in a way.’’ One of the reavers quipped earning a raucous response of laughter.
The mood in the room suddenly seemed to shift, and grow hotter as the tavern doors swung open.
Vickon turned and saw the red priestess striding inside, the other Ironborn gave disapproving glances, but she paid them no mind.
‘’It is almost sunset my lord….and just as the Lord of Light has given you and your men a great victory…you must reciprocate….it is time for the nightfire.’’ The red priestess said.
‘’We don't serve your god woman…..its the Drowned God that gave us victory today, and to him we will sacrifice too.’’ Eerl Stonetree drawled, pulling his ax from the dead captive.
‘’Perhaps you don't, but your Lord does.’’ The Red Priestess said, her gray eyes trained calmly on the young Lord of Harlaw.
‘’The drowned god will have his due you can be sure of that Eerl, but you will mind your tongue in my priestess presence or i'll have it off.’’ Vickon said, causing Eerl to spit on the ground but in the end he relented.
‘’There is but one god.’’ The red priestess cautioned and Vickon waved a hand in acknowledgement.
He then turned to one of his Huscarls ‘’Bring the prisoners to the town square.’’
He finished his drink in silence before he made his way to the town center, the daylight giving way to a sunset of red and gold over the Sunset Sea and the town of Lannisport, almost making the town peaceful, if one could ignore the dead bodies littering the street and the cries in the distance.
The assembly for the night fire was small, while Vickon had agreed to take the Red God as his own but his own people were not so eager to abandon their ways, nonetheless the Red Priestess had a small number of followers she could rely on.
The spectators to the nightfires were outnumbered by the almost 100 surviving members of the Lannisport City Watch, as well as a few dozen peasants mixed in for good measure. They were bound hand and foot to a large pyre of timber logs, wooden doors and whatever else the red woman's followers had found that would burn.
Vickon made his way to the red woman's side, upon seeing his approach she nodded greeting ‘’It is time my King.’’
Vickon gave a curt nod and the priestess lit a torch with nothing but her hands, muttering a prayer as she ran her hand over it as the torch took flame, causing a whisper between the few Ironborn in attendance who had witnessed it.
‘’Lord of Light…..accept these offerings into your Kingdoms….they that have lived in darkness shall die in light….cleanse them lord.’’ She chanted, her voice quiet and loud at the same time as she approached the pyre, red robe dancing in the wind.
Her followers echoed her chant.
Cries for mercy sounded from the Pyre, but Vickon ignored them, at the war's beginning he had landed near Lannisport, but Loren Lannister had driven him off, leaving some 6000 of Vickons Ironborn dead, captured or wounded, he meant to have his revenge today.
The screams from the pyre as the Red Woman set the flaming torch of the pyre were immediate and would chill the heart of even the most grizzled warrior, but the Lord of Pyke simply smiled as the red woman went on about light and darkness, his defeat at Lannisport was avenged.
Screams of fear soon turned to screams and coughs of pain, and even some of the most veteran Ironborn abandoned the ceremony to go and drink, but Vickon stayed for the entirety, listening as the screams of the burning men echoed into the orange skies of the Sunset Sea until they were at last drowned out by the waves.
While the burning of the City Watch would constitute the most renowned atrocity in Lannisport, the pillaging of Lannisport would go on for several more days before the Ironborn finally left the city with the wealth of the city with them. Maesters would be in agreement years later that the sacking of Lannisport would be the most brutal and savage event in the entire war.
1st Moon, 8026
Drox Castle
The two men knelt at Vaemonds feet, their swords lightly pushing down on the ground of the tent, Corlys Velaryon stood at the Kings side studying the young pair.
‘’Rise my friends.’’ Vaemond said, gesturing them up.
The two complied, sheathing their swords and facing the King. They both were quite young, with it being clear none of them were older than Vaemonds 24 years, despite the similarity in age, they couldn't have made for a more different pair.
The first man who looked to be the older one made the more impressive figure. He had short cropped golden hair, a goatee and wore his mustache in a rather vain way that reminded Vaemond of the late Ser Gawen Corbray, word of whose passing had recently reached his siege camp outside Drox Castle.
He wore a suit of mail with an orange surcoat centering 3 black lightning bolts. On his neck he wore a silver anvil, no doubt to honor the Smith. Most peculiarly however, the young reachmen wore a heavy belt made of several different types of metal chains, silver, brass and platinum shimmering in the tent's candle light.
It was to him that Vaemond turned first, gesturing him forward.
‘’I've been told much of you already in truth, but I'll allow you to make your introductions yourself.’’ Vaemond said with a small smile, running a hand on his neck, which while healed and scarred, still troubled him from time to time.
The young man puffed out his chest at that ‘’Ser Androw Leygood your Grace….steward of the Citadel and kinsman to Lord Leygood….my sword is yours.’’
‘’The citadel hmm….the Kingsguard is in need of warriors lad, not quill dippers.’’ Corlys Velaryon, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard said, arms crossed.
Ser Androw reddened at that ‘’I am an anointed knight Ser…..my time studying at the citadel has not lessened my skill at arms in the least.’’
Vaemond raised a hand for calm ‘’The Lord Commander meant no offense, of course we know you are a capable knight, we would not have sent for you if it were otherwise….I am however interested in how a knight such as yourself ended up at the citadel, as its steward nonetheless.’’
Ser Androw nodded ‘’My father was very old when he birthed me, my two brothers were two decades my senior and had several children of their own when I was born, it became clear that my future was not at Leygood Keep. Upon my 16th name day I journeyed to Oldtown to become a novice there.’’
‘’I see by your belt of chains you excelled there.’’ Vaemond said, nodding to the young knight's belt of multi-metal chains, each of which signified proficiency in a specific subject.
Ser Androw nodded ‘’I forged two links of silver in medicine and healing, should you take a wound on the battlefield I could see to your wounds in the midst of battle, I forged links of platinum, steel and brass as well. Take me into your Kingsguard and you will never want a translator. I studied metallurgy and time as well….my final two years Archmaester Gawen saw my potential and named me steward of the Citadel at the age of 19. I was responsible for feeding hundreds of novices, upkeep of dozens of study keeps and admittance of new students.’’
Vaemond nodded, extremely impressed with the young knight, but Corlys Velaryon was not yet satisfied.
‘’Impressive feats…..but you have not mentioned how you earned your knighthood, you say you are a good sword, seems to me between all this pen pushing you wouldn't have much time for training, much less earning your spurs.’’ Corlys said bluntly.
‘’I was trained at arms since I was a boy, both as a squire and page as befits my house.’’ Ser Androw said defensively.
‘’And your knighthood?’ Corlys persisted.
‘’I served as Archmaester Gawens sworn sword when he ventured into the city, as a member of the citadel I was not permitted to carry steel, but the Archmaester was set upon by vagabonds in one of the cities wharfside docks, I set them to flight with a staff and was knighted soon after by a warrior's son who witnessed by bravery.’’
‘’A staff is not a sword boy.’’ Corlys grunted.
‘’It is not…but I am a skilled swordsman as well….I found time to train with Lord Hightowers retinue two days each week as well….will you be needing a demonstration Ser.’’ The young Knight said curtly.
Vaemond shook his head ‘’From what I've heard, your talents are more than deserving of the White Cloak Ser Androw….that will be all for now, take this time to reflect on your coming decision…a Kingsguard serves for life.’’
Ser Androw nodded, bowed and withdrew from the tent.
Vaemond then turned his attention to the second young knight, an admittedly unpleasant task as the knight was without a doubt one of the ugliest men Vaemond had ever laid eyes on.
The center of his lip was turned upwards in a cleft lip all the way up to what remained of his nose, an attractive feature made much worse by the fact half of his face was afflicted by greyscale. His skin was dry, gray and hard as stone on the left side of his face, and the disease had taken much of his nose…in short the man was not pleasant to look upon.
Ser Bryen Royce may not have been attractive, but he was powerfully built in the Royce manner, much like his sister Demerei Royce, who was married to Matarys and was the King's own sister-by-law.
‘’I need no introduction from you Ser Bryen.’’ Vaemond said, he had met him once before, albeit when he was just a boy at his brother Matarys’s wedding to Demerei Royce. In fact it had been Demerei who had suggested that her brother be appointed to the Kingsguard in the raven that had brought the ill news of the deaths of 3 of Vaemonds Kingsguard.
‘’I may not have the illustrious introduction of my predecessor…but I was serving as my fathers master-at-arms in Runestone while Ser Androw was shuffling around with staff and timeglasses.’’ The young knight said.
‘’You do not approve of Ser Androw?’’ Vaemond asked with a frown.
Ser Bryen shrugged, but Corlys Velaryon gave a sharp laugh.
‘’Vaemond…the boy might be talented and sharp as a whip….but I could have oiled my armor and sharpened my blade in the time it took the lad to tell his tale of his ability….no doubt his other soon to be brothers will feel the same…dont hold it against our knight of Runestone.’’ Corlys said, causing Ser Bryen to give a curt nod of agreement.
‘’Nevertheless you will need to serve alongside him.’’ Vaemond said before continuing ‘’You hold an important role at your fathers court…why do you aspire to take the white.’’
‘’I'm good at fighting and better at killing….it seems you have a need of such men in this war.’’ The young Valeman said curtly.
Vaemond nodded ‘’It would also serve to remove some expectations and put to bed some rumors about you.’’
The King studied Ser Bryens face for any anger or sign of emotion in the blunt point, but Ser Bryen only stared.
A cold man our Ser Bryen Vaemond thought, thought that was not necessarily a bad thing, the Kingsguard could be strengthened by such a man.
‘’That will be all for now Ser Bryen, I would of course offer you a White Cloak…not only for your ability but our houses are bound by blood, take this time to consider your choice…as I said, the Kingsguard serves for life….should you wish to proceed you and Ser Androw shall take your vows at dusk in front of your Lord Commander and myself.’’
Ser Bryen nodded and withdrew.
‘’There's some of Ser Gawen in that one.’’ Corlys Velaryon said after he had left.
Vaemond nodded ‘’The Kingsguard needs good fighters, and he's the best knight to represent the Vale, only his family stood with the crown.’’
‘’We still need two more.’’ Corlys cautioned.
The King nodded. It had been a terrible loss the Kinsguard had been dealt with losing 3 of its members, not only for losing such capable men, but also in the fact that it left the Kingsguard with just 3 men, Corlys and Ser Harold Langward and Ser Roland Crakehall. To add two young able knights was a start however, though two sports still remained, that vacated by Ser Gregor Goode of the Riverlands and that from the Rogue Merman Ser Warrick.
In truth Vaemond had almost forgotten the Kingsguard had originally been formed with seven members, he had not even been born when Ser Warrick Manderly betrayed his vows and fled to Essos, but when the war ended he meant to finally strip the treasonous sellsword, if he was still alive, of his white cloak and name a successor, in large part due to Corlys’s constant reminders, the Kingsgard should never have been in a position to become so depleted in the first place.
Vaemond did not have long to relax from the meeting of his two soon-to-be Kingsguard, as he heard his camp heralds announcing the arrival of a retinue of riders, which Vaemond was expecting.
‘’Lord Serret has arrived your Grace.’’ Ser Roland Crakehall said, opening the tent.
Vaemond nodded ‘’Send him in.’’
Lord Marq Serret, Lord of Silverhill was a pale man with a fleshy belly and a long neck and a thin face, his hair a mop of brown stringy hair, he wore a beige tunic with the peacock of his house formed with garnets.
‘’Welcome Lord Serret….be seated.’’ Vaemond said, gesturing to a seat by a small table, which had been set with wine.
Three days prior, he had received a raven from Silverhill with Lord Serretts offer of surrender and intent to swear his lands back into the crown's authority.
Vaemond was scarcely surprised when he received the raven, in truth he had expected Loren Lannisters vassals to begin deserting their lord as the war was now firmly going against the Lions of the Rock.
Casterly Rock, besieged from land by Dornish and Reach levies and by sea from 100 Redwyne galleys would fall within a few weeks. Lannisport had fallen as well some time prior to Vickon Greyjoy and Riverspring, castle of House Sarwyck had been stormed by Boros Baratheons Stormlanders. To make matters worse, the host of Theo Tyrell had caught a small Westerlander force of some 5000 men at Peckledon and routed them. Vaemond did not know what madness possessed Loren Lannister to send such a small force south but he was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Riverspring and House Sarwyk were vassals to House Serrett of Silverhill and Lord Serret no doubt sensed his own castle was next to face the loyalists wrath and decided he was better off jumping ship while he still could.
The meeting went by rather quickly, with Vaemond not forcing any conditions or punishments on the Lord of Silverhill, merely welcoming him back into the King's peace; the southern Westerlands had suffered enough in the war.
Lord Serrett to his credit did his best to turn the situation to his advantage, being so bold at one point to casually mention he would be willing to serve as Lord Paramount of the Westerlands once the war was over, but Vaemond bluntly made it clear that while Lord Serrett was welcome back into the King's Peace, he could not expect any sort of reward other than leniency since he had joined his forces to the crown in the waning days of the war at no risk to his own standing.
Lord Serrett departed soon after, and Vaemond won a few precious moments of respite, but his peace was shattered when Corlys Velaryon entered the tent, raven scroll in hand, a grim look on his face.
Vaemond steeled himself with a sip of wine and nodded wordlessly for the Lord Commander and his most trusted commander to give the tidings.
‘’We have word from Byford your Grace….a raven, Loren Lannister and a large host have outmaneuvered us, stealing a march through the northern mountains, the raven says there may be more than twenty thousand, heading east.’’ Corlys Velaryon said.
‘’He abandons Casterly Rock.’’ Roland Crakehall said with surprise, many of those in Vaemonds war council had expected the decisive battle of the war to come when Loren Lannister attempted to relieve the siege of his capitol, which would have to be soon.
Vaemond paled at once and made his way to the map in the center of the tent, his eyes focusing on Byford in the Crownlands.
‘’He's after a bigger prize.’’ Vaemond said grimly, if Loren Lannister was marching east, and abandoning all hope of relieving Casterly Rock there was only one location he could have his eyes on.
‘’Kings Landing.’’ Ser Harold Langward said suddenly, with realization.
‘’The battle at Peckledon was no gift horse….he sacrificed those men to distract the Tyrells, who had orders to stop any march east…..there's no significant host in between Byford and Kings Landing….if he assaults the city…’’ Vaemond said, silently cursing himself for a fool, he had not thought it likely Loren Lannister would abandon his capital to march east and even less likely Loren Lannister would be able to outmaneuver his hosts in able to do so, but he had done both.
‘’We will send a raven….Nyel, Laena and Matarys’s family will have ample time to evacuate.’’ Ser Harold Langward said reassuringly.
Vaemond nodded ‘’True enough my family will be able to escape, but the Lannisters have several days time on us, if they storm the city…..and the North should hear that the capitol has fallen….’’
‘’We could have forty thousand angry northmen marching south.’’ Corlys finished grimly.
‘’Send a letter to my sister to evacuate my daughter and nephew from the city, as well as herself….tell her to make it known to Rhaegar Tully that his gold cloaks MUST hold the city until I arrive….King's Landing cannot fall.’’
‘’It will be done.’’ Corlys nodded.
Loren Lannister has played us for fools Vaemond thought as he looked at the map, praying that he would not arrive too late.
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The courses of war rarely flow in one direction, but like tides ebb and flow. Thank you for the update.
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I didn't see the attack on King's Landing coming!
Also, a Greyjoy has a Red Priestess now? This is going to be a disaster.
Also, a Greyjoy has a Red Priestess now? This is going to be a disaster.
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Will Vickon be able to maintain the loyalty of the Drowned God's followers? I doubt it, but it will be an interesting situation to watch.
Loren Lannister really made a fool of the loyalists, but at what cost? It looks like a desperate attempt to get Vaemond's favorable peace terms more than anything else, even more so since he sacrificed thousands of men for this attack.
Loren Lannister really made a fool of the loyalists, but at what cost? It looks like a desperate attempt to get Vaemond's favorable peace terms more than anything else, even more so since he sacrificed thousands of men for this attack.
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Even with the rebels on the back heel, there will be a little more ebb and flow, a wolf is most dangerous when cornered
Luckily Vickon Greyjoy is pretty old so he cant destabilize the realm too much, but it was surprising to see him converted all the same.
Vickons vassals have a begrudging respect for Vickon even with his conversion in large part due to his long reign, but there has always been trouble between the Ironborn, they fight against eachother constantly and id say thats the one place where Houses are least stable, I believe in where im at in the story House Harlaw and maybe House Blacktyde have gone extinct.
Desperate perfectly sums up the Lannister attack west, but desperation will breed desperation in this case as the next chapter will show.
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A grisly episode, but one the Lannisters brought on themselves through their treason, to the suffering of their people.
It makes sense to either relieve one’s own capital or to take that of your opponent. I trust Vaemond can assemble a force large enough to contest this rebel strike, but as you say an assault and sacking of the capital would be nasty. We look forward to a great reckoning.
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Getting the manpower wont be the problem for Vaemond, with the Tyrells he has more than enough suppourt, getting there in time however....
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Chapter 33: The First Flight (Nyel)
2nd Moon, 8026
Courtyard of the Aegonfort, Kings Landing
Kings Landing was in an uproar. Nyel could not say how the populace found out, but somehow the city had caught wind of the approaching force just hours after she had received a raven from Vaemond in the west.
The gold cloaks….it must have been Nyel thought to herself. When she had received word of the approaching Lannister host, she had ordered several gold cloak officers to the Aegonfort to order them to discreetly begin preparing defenses.
She knew she could not keep the news from the city for long, but at the very least she had hoped for a few days of peace, perhaps time enough to hear Vae had somehow caught up to them, but there had been no such luck, no doubt some drunken Gold Cloak officer had muttered it to some tavern whore while in his cups.
It was not lost on Nyel that the defense of the City fell to her and her alone. Rhaegar Tully, commander of the Gold Cloaks was a skilled commander and leader of men, but he had fallen victim to the same bloody flux that had ravaged the White Sword Tower of the Kingsguard.
There were other good men within the City Watch, but Nyel did not have time to appoint a new leader of the Gold Cloaks, and while Vae had left her with several thousand defenders within the city, not only the garrison but also the cities levies, he had taken the knights most suited to command with him west.
The city will stand or fall by my decisions Nyel thought, the knot in her stomach tightening. She was not afraid of the Lannisters, despite never seeing combat, she had always had a bold temperament, but at times she struggled with self doubt, and the idea that she alone was responsible for the defense of the city incited some of these doubts.
She let her hand fall to her hip and onto the hilt of Dark Sister, her mothers Valyrian Steel sword to calm her nerves.
I am the blood of the Dragon She thought to herself, the feeling of closeness to her mother causing the knot in her stomach to dissipate.
A small hand clutched her own, and she looked down to see little Laena, her daughter looking up at her with bright purple eyes.
‘’What is it?’’ Nyel said, forcing herself to smile, running a hand gently through her little daughter's silver and gold hair.
‘’If the rebels take the city….will they break the castle father is building for us…the red keep?’’ Laena asked matter of factly.
Nyel looked up to the high hill in the center of the city where the monstrosity that was the Red Keep was being built. It was a truly gargantuan task, but the castle was coming along well, its massive red brick walls covered in scaffolding and surrounded by wooden cranes.
As one might expect, construction had ground to a halt when news of the approaching rebel army had reached the city, and the construction site, normally busy and noisy from work, which could be heard all the way from the Aegonfort was eerily silent.
Nyel turned back to Laena, still forcing herself to smile ‘’If they take the city I expect they would try Laena, but don't worry….your father will catch them before they even get close to us.’’
That was a lie of course, the Lannister army had a good deal of time over her brothers army in the southern Westerlands, the Lannisters would reach the walls of King's Landing before he would catch them , but Nyel saw little harm in the lie, her daughter would not be here when the time came.
Laena looked poised to ask another question, but Nyel brushed her cheek softly.
‘’That's enough talk of rebels dear…are you finished packing?’’ Nyel asked gently.
‘’Yes mama.’’ The little girl answered dutifully.
‘’Then go and find your Uncle for me, I must speak with him.’’ Nyel replied and Laena nodded and ran off.
Nyel glanced at the city walls. It was clear that Kings Landing would have to withstand some form of siege. Due to the advanced warning the Gold Cloaks had stocked both the city and the Aegonfort with ample provisions and wagons were arriving from Hayford and Rosby from the north every day now. The City Walls had been improved several times since the city's founding nearly 30 years ago and, while not matching the other great cities of the Kingdom, were more than adequate.
The city can withstand a siege that is clear Nyel thought to herself.
But the looming question at the back of Nyels mind was if the city could withstand an assault. If Loren Lannister decided to siege the city, that would give time for Vae to arrive with his army, but if Loren decided to storm the walls with some 20000 men….
Nyel forced the thought from her mind, at least for the moment, there would be plenty of time for such thoughts later.
She turned and saw Matarys approaching, wearing a black doublet that was clearly too tight and strained against his stomach, his face was beet red and sweaty under the hot sun, behind him was Demerei Royce, holding little Jaekar in her arms, Laena trailing close behind.
Nyel took her brother's hand and led him to the center of the courtyard.
‘’I'm sending you on a ship to Dragonstone Matarys…. And im sending Laena with you…Demerei and Jaekar will go as well….Kings Landing will be under siege soon but the children cannot be here when it comes.’’ Nyel said.
‘’And what about you?’’ Matarys asked with shock.
Nyel was quiet for a moment before responding ‘’I will be remaining here Matarys….to hold the city…..Rhaegar Tully is dead….there is no one else.’’
‘’That's not true….you have me, I won't leave you….you're my sister….what kind of brother would I be if I ran off and abandoned you….it is unthinkable.’’ Matarys said with emotion.
‘’Laena and Jaekar cannot remain here….you know this….a city under siege is no place for children…they must go to Dragonstone.’’ Nyel said gently.
Still her brother persisted ‘’My wife Demerei is more than capable of taking them to Dragonstone and watching over them, I won't leave you here.’’
‘’You know I think of your wife as a sister Matarys, but she is not a Targaryen….the city will come under siege that much is clear, and…and there is the chance I will not make it…and even if I do there will be a great battle when Vae arrives..and we both know how he fights on the front…if something should happen to us…to both of us…you will be the only adult Targaryen left in our family, Laena and Jaekar are the future of our house….they will need you by their sides.’’ Nyel said.
‘’Don't say such things Nyel….you won't fall…I know it….don't even think it…neither you or Vaemond.’’ Matarys said, his voice distraught, and rising to the level it often did when he grew frantic.
Suddenly Laena, who had been eavesdropping, ran to her uncle's side and took his hand.
‘’We have to go uncle…if the rebels capture us they can use us to hurt my father.’’ The little girl said.
Even in the midst of this difficult situation Nyel had to admire her little daughter's understanding, for a girl so young she possessed a remarkable intellect and understanding of the world.
Matarys looked at her uncertainty.
‘’Demerei would you….’’ Nyel said with a nod to her daughter and her sister in law gently sheparded Laena away from the two so they could continue privately.
‘’Matarys…..I can't force you to go, if you wish to stay the choice is yours….but as your sister I am asking you…..to keep my daughter safe….it's what Vaemond would want you to do.’’ Nyel said, clasping her brother's hands.
She knew she had him then, Matarys was nothing if not dutiful to his older brother and Nyel knew he idolized and revered his brother.
Matarys nodded slowly, a tear forming in his eye ‘’I swear it Nyel….I shall keep them safe….you have my word…I will keep them safe.’’
‘’I know you will little brother.’’ Nyel said, kissing him softly on the cheek.
Two days later, Matarys, Laena, Jaekar and Demerei Royce sailed on a small galley towards the Targaryens ancestral seat of Dragonstone, Laena had been confused at first as to why her mother wasn't coming with them, but she did not cry and seemed to understand Nyels explanation that as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, she could not abandon the capitol.
As Nyel watched the Black and Red sails of the galley fade into the distance, she remembered the tale her mother had told her half a dozen times, of her return from Essos with her newborn daughter, of the reuniting of their family at this very port over 2 decades ago.
I will see her again Nyel told herself, thinking of Laena and, yearning for a memory she couldn't even remember and wondering if her father had stood at this very port watching her mother leave all those years ago.
25th of 2nd Moon
Council Chamber of the Aegonfort
The council chamber of the Aegonfort was eerily empty. The foremost chair at the end of the table remained empty as Nyel had made no effort to claim it. She had been raised with a courtly education and knew that some men would bristle at the thought of a meeting being led by a woman, even their Queen, so she decided to seat herself to the left of her brother's seat, she did not want to create any unnecessary drama, they had enough trouble without the prospect of petty quarrels.
There were only 2 other individuals in the council chamber, both men.
The first was familiar to her, Nestor Royce’s hair had gone gray since he took the position of Marshal of the realm 8 years prior, but the Lord of Runestone still looked to be a powerful man with huge shoulders and a drooping gray mustache, though his eyes suggested a certain kindness to the man.
The second man had been unknown to her prior to his arrival. Tanton Sunderland was the overlord of the Three Sisters, and son of the late Marla Sunderland, who had named herself Queen in a failed rebellion at the beginning of her fathers conquest.
He was a hairy man with a dense mop of golden hair and a bristly beard to match. His choice of garb, heavy chainmail with the surcoat of his house suggested the man was a warrior, though his paunch visible from under the surcoat suggested that not all his battles were fought in the battlefield but also at the dinner table.
They had arrived just four days after the galley with Nyels family had departed for Dragonstone and were a welcome sight.
They had come with some 50 galleys and 1400 men, a combined force of Sistermen and surviving levies from Runestone. The small force had captured 2 small island castles along the coast of the Vale, but when they received a Raven from Vaemond informing them of the Lannister force approaching Kings Landing, they immediately set sail to reinforce the capitol.
Nyel was content to let the other two take the lead in the council meeting, she had been educated in courtly procedure as a young girl, not warfare and both of these men were experienced warriors.
‘’I think we best begin.’’ Lord Tanton said, earning a nod from the Lord of Runestone.
Nestor Royce cleared his throat ‘’My Queen, with the Lannister host fast approaching I would ask you at least consider joining my daughter and your family on Dragonstone, you would be safe there as the rebels have no strength at sea…..if you remain I cannot guarantee your safety however….I fear siege trebuchets bear little distinction between defenders and noncombatants.’’
‘’My brother named you Lord Marshal, if you think that is the best course of wisdom I shall of course bow to your counsel…..I should however like to hear your plan for the cities defense before I depart’’ Nyel said, she had no qualms about leaving, it was not pride that kept her in Kings Landing but the knowledge that there was no one else to lead the cities defense, with the arrival of Lords Royce and Sunderland however, that burden was no longer hers to bear.
‘’Of course my queen.’’ Lord Royce said courteously.
‘’What news of the enemy?’’ Lord Sunderland asked, pouring himself a flagon of wine.
‘’They will be here within the week I fear….our scouts report they have split in 2 armies, into two forces of some 8500 men…..the first is at least two days ahead of the second, which is guarding their rear.’’ Nestor Royce said.
‘’I was under the impression they had a host of over 20,000 men.’’ Nyel exclaimed with surprise.
‘’The original report your brother received was false and taken before Loren Lannister played his trick, he sacrificed some 2500 men to distract the Tyrells at Peckledon and open a lane for his advance.’’ Nestor Royce replied.
Seeing Nyels pleased expression, Lord Royce gave an apologetic look ‘’I fear we cannot be too relieved my Queen, 17000 men is still a significant amount, and the city is in real danger.’’ he said not unkindly.
‘’What of our own defenses…..our manpower?’’ Nyel asked.
‘’The gold cloaks have been levying men within the city to man the walls, many men have an obligation as they have borrowed grain from the crown, I believe at last count we had some 3200 peasant levies manning the walls, though chiefly they are under equipped and poorly trained.’’ Lord Royce said before continuing.
‘’In addition we have some 3300 Gold Cloaks in fighting condition, the main part of our true strength however comes from the 1400 men myself and Lord Sunderland brought as well as the 1600 levies your brother left to defend the city, comprised of some 900 dismounted men at arms, 50 knights and near 300 mounted searjents.’’ Royce concluded.
Nyel was encouraged by the count ‘’Is it enough.’’
Lord Tanton ran a hand through his coarse yellow beard ‘’It may be….but in order to repel an assault of some 17,000 men, which would likely hit all 7 gates at once would spread our true soldiers thin and put much responsibility on the peasant conscripts….all the Lannisters would have to do is take one of the 7 gates to create a breach, I spoke with your Maester and he found the strength to tell me that the Kings Gate is especially vulnerable.’’
Grandmaster Arlans presence on the council was especially missed in times such as this as the man had played an integral part in aiding in the construction of the cities 7 gates and fortified walls, possessing an astute understanding of architecture, but Arlan, now almost 70 years old had taken to his sickbed recently and Nyel feared he may never recover.
‘’Could we not conscript more peasants to man the walls?’’ Nyel asked, Kings Landing had grown much in recent years and was home to well over a hundred thousand people.
Nestor Royce ran a hand through his mustache ‘’We could my lady, but I fear it would likely do more harm than good, those on the walls now are the best of them, chiefly volunteers and those with some training on how to garrison the walls due to their obligations….we could add more but they would be unwilling conscripts and I fear peasant soldiers are unreliable at best, if the levies forced into service began to flee the walls it may dishearten their bolder companions and so a trickle will become a flood, leading to a great slaughter…what we really need is more men at arms but I fear we cannot count on reinforcements until your brother arrives from the west.’’
Nyel studied the map in front of her, looking at the 2 golden lion statues upon the map, spaced apart and each representing 8500 men.
‘’I am untrained in the art of tactics my lords…but if what you say is true and both these armies are separated by more than a day's march then perhaps we could avoid a siege all together.’’ Nyel said.
Lord Sunderland took her meaning at once, standing and studying the map ‘’Untrained in tactics you may be my Queen but the idea is sound…..their forces are spread out, if we were to destroy the first force and set them to rout….a siege may be avoided as the second host would likely abandon the plan to take the city with half their strength dispersed.’’
Nestor Royce frowned ‘’I fear it would be a poor idea to abandon the walls…..it is true the first force is isolated, but they would still have the numbers on us, and they will have the quality on us, Loren Lannister will have a hardened contingent of Knights and Men at Arms in the vanguard, castle trained and drilled while our own force would be at least half comprised of Gold Cloaks….we would have no advantage in such a engagement I fear.’’
A silence entered the hall before Nyel suddenly spoke before fully thinking ‘’We have Dragons.’’
‘’Dragons?’’ Lord Sunderland said, raising his eyebrows.
‘’Well…a single dragon.’’ Nyel corrected herself, suddenly feeling unsure of her idea.
The largest of the Targaryen dragons were not available to them, her mothers dragon Vhagar prowled and hunted around the Crownlands, while her aunts dragon Meraxes had flown in the direction of the narrow sea after her rider's death,and no word had been heard since.
Matarys’s small dragon Aelesar had followed her brothers galley to Dragonstone and was too small to be of much use in war, while Vaemonds dragon Moondancer had accompanied her brother west, though Vae thought it was still too early to deploy it in combat.
That left only Narrah, Nyels dragon, who she had hatched on Dragonstone as a girl. Narrah was the oldest of the three younger Targaryen dragons and the biggest of them, measuring around 15 feet in length.
Nyel was an experienced rider, flying much in her youth, though her joyrides had lessened significantly with the birth of her daughter Laena and the war.
‘’Is your dragon big enough your Grace….forgive me for my bluntness but your parents Dragons were effective in the conquest in large part due to their size, I have seen your dragon flying over the city often and it must be said it is only a fourth the size of your mothers dragon and half that again compared to your fathers dragon’’ Nestor Royce said courteously.
‘’Narrah is large enough to fly, as to her significance in combat that remains unknown.’’ Nyel said, as usual referring to her dragon as a she, even though it was a well known fact dragons were genderless beasts.
‘’Be that as it may, it is well known that one cannot merely set a dragon upon their enemies from a great distance, it must be ridden your grace….true enough your Narrah could prove to be an advantage in a battle your Grace, but in order to be deployed you would have to participate in the battle personally.’’ Lord Tanton Sunderland said to her, with a searching look.
‘’It may be the only way to avoid a siege, even if we are defeated, perhaps our attack will give them pause.’’ Nyel said.
‘’Your dragon could destroy their siege engines….reports say they have built them ahead of time, which suggests an assault of the city is imminent, they know your brother is on their heels.’’ Lord Tanton mused.
‘’Have you gone mad…this is the queen of the seven Kingdoms not a trebuchet, no advantage is worth risking her life…if she comes to any harm it would be our fault.’’ Lord Royce said, his normally calm demeanor replaced with a quick outburst.
‘’You are right Nestor….she is the Queen of the seven Kingdoms, a Targaryen and daughter of Aegon the Conqueror at that….if she feels the risk is necessary then who are we to keep her from the front lines..’’ The Sistermen responded.
Nestor Royce calmed ‘’I of course would not presume to command you your Grace…the decision is yours.’’
Nyel was aware that both lords were looking to her for an answer.
She nodded slowly ‘’If we can destroy their siege weapons and force them to build new ones we can delay an assault, giving my brother time to engage them in a decisive battle….but if there is to be any chance of that my dragon is needed….I will join the attack.’’
Nestor Royce bowed his head ‘’It shall be as you say your Grace.’’
Three days later Lords Sunderland, Royce and Queen Nyel would depart the city with a host of some 6300 men to attempt to delay or defeat the first Lannister host.
5 Days Later
Outskirts of Kings Landing
Nyel began the decisive morning of battle by vomiting in her tent.
She knelt over the wash bucket in the corner of her tent and retched, holding her stomach.
Not now She thought to herself, but her body was indifferent to her pleas and she retched again.
It was not nervousness that afflicted Nyel, she knew herself well enough to know that much.
Though she had not received much of a martial education from her mother, she did inherit her mothers bold temperament and ability to remain calm under duress, and in the days leading up to the battle her anxiousness had been focused more on the battle's result than her impending participation in the battle.
She knew herself well enough to know that it was not nervousness, but pregnancy.
Some time after her brother Vaemond had been wounded in the storming of Greenfield, and only a few weeks prior, he had flown to King's Landing on the back of Moondancer on a whim, without any guards. He spent two days in the capitol, meeting his new nephew Jaekar and reuniting with Matarys, whom he had not seen in almost two years, before returning back west to join his host in sieging another castle.
She had some cause to suspect she was pregnant, but she had only hoped she was late, but now she had the truth…she remembered the early morning sicknesses very well from the births of Aelyx and Laena.
She could not go to Grandmaester Arlan to confirm and drink a poultice for relief, and she had not brought her maids with her on campaign, not wanting to risk their lives, she was alone.
When the nausea had passed, she rose and paced the room slowly, considering her options. Nyel did not fear for her own life in the coming battle, but it was not lost on her that it was not just her own life at stake now.
I cannot leave Nyel thought to herself, the Lannister army was close and they would not be able to break camp and retreat back to the city in time, without her and her dragon the battle was surely lost and the siege weapons would remain intact.
We must be brave little one Nyel thought to herself, placing a hand on her belly before slowly making her way to the corner of the tent and donning her mothers light black leather armor, resplendent with red rubies and a silver belt, too flashy for Nyels taste but she felt close to her mother wearing her armor, following this she buckled on her mothers Valyrian Steel sword Dark Sister, she would have little cause to use it on Dragonback…or so she hoped, but she did not feel wholly equipped without some sort of weapon.
The clamor outside the tent showed that it was time, units were forming into their positions, and last minute inspections were being conducted.
Nyel pushed open the tent, raising a hand over her eyes to cover the unpleasant glare from the sun, soldiers and gold cloaks bowed respectfully as she passed and Nyel hoped she didn't look as sickly and unkempt as she felt.
Nestor Royce was mounted and armored in his bronze plate and rode to meet her.
‘’Lord Royce.’’ Nyel said, greeting him
The Lord of Runestone bowed his head, ‘’My Queen, the rebels will be here within the hour, perhaps two….you do not have to do this…say the word and I will send my best riders to escort you back to the city.’’
‘’I appreciate your kindness Lord Royce but I will not run…I will take you up on that escort however, it is time I found Narrah.’’ Nyel replied.
With her escort formed, Nyel pushed the horse hard, feeling the wind on her face, and for a while her nausea was forgotten, there was no way to prepare for riding a dragon into combat but the ride refreshed her considerably.
She found Narrah where she had expected she would be, by the river two miles outside the war camp feasting on the deer which were plentiful as a small forest bordered the river, and judging by the large pile of burned skeletons her current meal was not the first course.
She approached the red dragon and Narrah turned to greet her. Nyel ran a hand down one of her bone white horns, a coloring which continued in a straight line from head to tail down her red scales, Narrah, always an affectionate dragon, nuzzled her face softly, and Nyel took comfort in the familiar rough scales.
Her escort stood back and watched astonished as Nyel attached a heavy leather riding harness to Narrahs back as the Dragon returned to its feast, unbothered.
‘’I thank you for your escort.’’ Nyel said to her guards before climbing onto the saddle and urging Narrah to flight. It took a few tries as Narrah did not want to leave behind her kill but eventually they were airborne.
Few things filled Nyel with such joy as the initial burst of wind and adrenaline that came from flying, but the sight in front of her reminded the Queen that today was not a joyride but instead a day of death.
From the sky she was able to see the approaching rebel host, marching towards her own army, the gold cloth cloaks and painted helmets of the city watch, who constituted around half of their forces glinting in the sun, she saw Nestor Royces banner flying on the left flank, while Lord Sunderlands was positioned on the right.
She gave another glance at the Lannister force, which even to Nyels untrained eye clearly had more light cavalry and heavy horse. She saw many smaller banners flying but the most prominent one was one she recognized, a black and white boar on brown, the sigil of Lord Sumner Crakehall, the father of Roland Crakehall who served on her brothers Kingsguard.
His banner flew in the reserve, behind his two flanks and consisting of a much smaller force than the other flanks, but behind his lines she saw the siege engines that had been constructed ahead of time, engines which would no doubt be used to launch an assault on King's Landing's 7 gates, she was pleased to see the mangonels, trebuchets, and scaling ladders were made of wood, and not even covered in wet pelts or other material, they would burn easily, and there were no traces of scorpions either.
As she got closer to the field, she heard shouts of alarm down below from the Lannisters as their forces spotted the small red dragon with the white horns and stripe, a promising sign as their scouts had clearly not spotted Narrah in the vicinity, she hoped that the appearance of her dragon, small or no, would cause no small amount of hesitation and fear within their ranks.
As she flew closer to the impending battle, a cacophony of trumpets and horns were heard down below as Lord Royce and Lord Sunderland sent their light horse forward in a charge towards the Lannister lines, who began to form their men at arms in 2 lines to meet them.
This had been part of their plan, Lords Royce and Sunderland had hoped that taking the initiative and offensive with a cavalry charge, the rebels wouldn't have time to form lines of archers which could endanger Nyel, nevertheless she knew she didn't have long, her two commanders were experienced men but a good deal of their light cavalry consisted of mounted gold cloaks, suited more for crowd control than pitched battle.
Nyel urged Narrah over the fighting, keeping high in the air between the two flanks, heading straight for Sumner Crakehalls reserves.
She was vaguely aware of the sounds of arrows and quarrels whistling through the air, but she blocked it from her mind, Narrah too, despite never being exposed to combat before, seemed to inherently know how to best avoid the arrows as they plummeted down towards the enemy reserves and siege engines, her own men at arms joining the attack below.
Nyel ducked downwards on her saddle grabbing hold of Narrahs neck to make herself as small a target as possible as a crossbow bolt whistled just inches above her, she didn't even need to give the command as Narrah bathed a bold column of men-at arms with throwing spears with flame as they stepped forward from their ranks, Narrahs fire almost as red as the crimson banners of the Lannisters. The unfortunate soldiers dropped their spears and screamed as they burned.
Seeing her own men were close behind and joining the fray, Nyel urged Narrah up with her spurred boots, out of range of the approaching arrows.
As her own men battled below, she commanded Narrah past the fighting towards the rear where the siege engines stood, many of them attached by ropes and harnesses to large packhorses.
Narrah made another dive and upon Nyels kick of spurred boots, loosed a burst of flame at a wooden Mangonel, it took two more passes to fully set it alight as Narrah was a small dragon and her fire was significantly weaker than her predecessors, but once the Mangonel was set alight the fire began to spread while a bald quartermaster attempting to douse the dragonflame with a little bucket of water soon found himself aflame as well.
A throwing spear sailed harmlessly to her right as they dove again and Narrah let out a scorching burst of flame on a row of several small trebuchets and catapults, this time it only took one pass to set them alight as the hemp rope was very dry.
Seeing the guards assigned to the siege engines begin forming an organized line to shoot crossbows, Nyel ordered Narrah upwards again.
Sparing a glance to the other areas of the battle, she saw Nestor Royces calvary were pulling back from their charge and his infantry was in full retreat as the rebels ordered their flank to pursue them, Lord Sunderlands calvary fought valiantly on, but it was clear he would not be able to keep up the attack much longer either.
Seeing most of the siege weapons were burning, Nyel urged Narrah back to help her own men, who had caused the small reserve force much difficulty and were pushing them back towards the flames.
The sight of Narrah returning was enough to make many of the wiser rebels flee immediately, though a band of half a dozen had to be taught a harsh lesson with Dragonfire.
Returning to the skies, Nyel saw that Lord Sunderland calvary had been repulsed and his flank was joining Lord Royces men in fleeing the battle, her center flank had set Sumner Crakehalls reserves running, and Narrah had burned their siege engines, but if they remained much longer they would be trapped between the rebels side flanks.
She urged Narrah up to the skies and shouted Dracarys, the Valyrian command which prompted dragons to breathe fire on command, Narrah obeyed, albeit with some confusion and a plume of fire torched the sky.
Her soldiers below, seeing the signal began their retreat, with Westerman knights and light cavalry in hot pursuit of all 3 lines.
Nyel stayed behind, though the air was rapidly filling with more and more arrows gradually getting closer as the rebels were able to form firing lines, but Nyel ignored them, she would do her part.
She urged Narrah to set the flatlands aflame, hoping that the obstacle would impede at least some of the pursuing knights.
Finally, even Nyel was forced to admit staying any longer would be foolish as an arrow embedded itself in the leather riding saddle near her legs.
She urged Narrah up one final time, flying high into the sky and out of range of the arrow fires…flying in the direction of Kings Landing, below her she could hear shouts and screams of the rearguard assigned to hold back the rebel heavy cavalry pursuers and allow the greater part of the force to retreat back to King's Landing.
It was a bloody sortie, Nyel had gotten the sense of that even from Dragonback, and by the time her commanders were able to do an inspection of their remaining forces who had limped back to the capitol, it became even more apparent that destroying the rebel siege engines had come at a heavy cost.
Some 1200 men were dead, while another 1200 were heavily wounded or captured by the rebel heavy knights that had pursued them following their retreat, among the dead were many gold cloaks, who despite not being trained for pitched battle had fought bravely in defense of their city.
The rebel casualties had been much lower, with Lord Sunderland estimating they had taken no more than 600 dead and wounded, but the primary objective of the battle had been achieved…the siege weapons had been destroyed and the rebel force would have to delay at least a few days to build new ones and regroup after their losses.
Nyel could only hope they had bought themselves enough time for her brother Vaemond to arrive from the west, for if the rebels had time to build new siege engines, the heavy sacrifice would be for naught.
Courtyard of the Aegonfort, Kings Landing
Kings Landing was in an uproar. Nyel could not say how the populace found out, but somehow the city had caught wind of the approaching force just hours after she had received a raven from Vaemond in the west.
The gold cloaks….it must have been Nyel thought to herself. When she had received word of the approaching Lannister host, she had ordered several gold cloak officers to the Aegonfort to order them to discreetly begin preparing defenses.
She knew she could not keep the news from the city for long, but at the very least she had hoped for a few days of peace, perhaps time enough to hear Vae had somehow caught up to them, but there had been no such luck, no doubt some drunken Gold Cloak officer had muttered it to some tavern whore while in his cups.
It was not lost on Nyel that the defense of the City fell to her and her alone. Rhaegar Tully, commander of the Gold Cloaks was a skilled commander and leader of men, but he had fallen victim to the same bloody flux that had ravaged the White Sword Tower of the Kingsguard.
There were other good men within the City Watch, but Nyel did not have time to appoint a new leader of the Gold Cloaks, and while Vae had left her with several thousand defenders within the city, not only the garrison but also the cities levies, he had taken the knights most suited to command with him west.
The city will stand or fall by my decisions Nyel thought, the knot in her stomach tightening. She was not afraid of the Lannisters, despite never seeing combat, she had always had a bold temperament, but at times she struggled with self doubt, and the idea that she alone was responsible for the defense of the city incited some of these doubts.
She let her hand fall to her hip and onto the hilt of Dark Sister, her mothers Valyrian Steel sword to calm her nerves.
I am the blood of the Dragon She thought to herself, the feeling of closeness to her mother causing the knot in her stomach to dissipate.
A small hand clutched her own, and she looked down to see little Laena, her daughter looking up at her with bright purple eyes.
‘’What is it?’’ Nyel said, forcing herself to smile, running a hand gently through her little daughter's silver and gold hair.
‘’If the rebels take the city….will they break the castle father is building for us…the red keep?’’ Laena asked matter of factly.
Nyel looked up to the high hill in the center of the city where the monstrosity that was the Red Keep was being built. It was a truly gargantuan task, but the castle was coming along well, its massive red brick walls covered in scaffolding and surrounded by wooden cranes.
As one might expect, construction had ground to a halt when news of the approaching rebel army had reached the city, and the construction site, normally busy and noisy from work, which could be heard all the way from the Aegonfort was eerily silent.
Nyel turned back to Laena, still forcing herself to smile ‘’If they take the city I expect they would try Laena, but don't worry….your father will catch them before they even get close to us.’’
That was a lie of course, the Lannister army had a good deal of time over her brothers army in the southern Westerlands, the Lannisters would reach the walls of King's Landing before he would catch them , but Nyel saw little harm in the lie, her daughter would not be here when the time came.
Laena looked poised to ask another question, but Nyel brushed her cheek softly.
‘’That's enough talk of rebels dear…are you finished packing?’’ Nyel asked gently.
‘’Yes mama.’’ The little girl answered dutifully.
‘’Then go and find your Uncle for me, I must speak with him.’’ Nyel replied and Laena nodded and ran off.
Nyel glanced at the city walls. It was clear that Kings Landing would have to withstand some form of siege. Due to the advanced warning the Gold Cloaks had stocked both the city and the Aegonfort with ample provisions and wagons were arriving from Hayford and Rosby from the north every day now. The City Walls had been improved several times since the city's founding nearly 30 years ago and, while not matching the other great cities of the Kingdom, were more than adequate.
The city can withstand a siege that is clear Nyel thought to herself.
But the looming question at the back of Nyels mind was if the city could withstand an assault. If Loren Lannister decided to siege the city, that would give time for Vae to arrive with his army, but if Loren decided to storm the walls with some 20000 men….
Nyel forced the thought from her mind, at least for the moment, there would be plenty of time for such thoughts later.
She turned and saw Matarys approaching, wearing a black doublet that was clearly too tight and strained against his stomach, his face was beet red and sweaty under the hot sun, behind him was Demerei Royce, holding little Jaekar in her arms, Laena trailing close behind.
Nyel took her brother's hand and led him to the center of the courtyard.
‘’I'm sending you on a ship to Dragonstone Matarys…. And im sending Laena with you…Demerei and Jaekar will go as well….Kings Landing will be under siege soon but the children cannot be here when it comes.’’ Nyel said.
‘’And what about you?’’ Matarys asked with shock.
Nyel was quiet for a moment before responding ‘’I will be remaining here Matarys….to hold the city…..Rhaegar Tully is dead….there is no one else.’’
‘’That's not true….you have me, I won't leave you….you're my sister….what kind of brother would I be if I ran off and abandoned you….it is unthinkable.’’ Matarys said with emotion.
‘’Laena and Jaekar cannot remain here….you know this….a city under siege is no place for children…they must go to Dragonstone.’’ Nyel said gently.
Still her brother persisted ‘’My wife Demerei is more than capable of taking them to Dragonstone and watching over them, I won't leave you here.’’
‘’You know I think of your wife as a sister Matarys, but she is not a Targaryen….the city will come under siege that much is clear, and…and there is the chance I will not make it…and even if I do there will be a great battle when Vae arrives..and we both know how he fights on the front…if something should happen to us…to both of us…you will be the only adult Targaryen left in our family, Laena and Jaekar are the future of our house….they will need you by their sides.’’ Nyel said.
‘’Don't say such things Nyel….you won't fall…I know it….don't even think it…neither you or Vaemond.’’ Matarys said, his voice distraught, and rising to the level it often did when he grew frantic.
Suddenly Laena, who had been eavesdropping, ran to her uncle's side and took his hand.
‘’We have to go uncle…if the rebels capture us they can use us to hurt my father.’’ The little girl said.
Even in the midst of this difficult situation Nyel had to admire her little daughter's understanding, for a girl so young she possessed a remarkable intellect and understanding of the world.
Matarys looked at her uncertainty.
‘’Demerei would you….’’ Nyel said with a nod to her daughter and her sister in law gently sheparded Laena away from the two so they could continue privately.
‘’Matarys…..I can't force you to go, if you wish to stay the choice is yours….but as your sister I am asking you…..to keep my daughter safe….it's what Vaemond would want you to do.’’ Nyel said, clasping her brother's hands.
She knew she had him then, Matarys was nothing if not dutiful to his older brother and Nyel knew he idolized and revered his brother.
Matarys nodded slowly, a tear forming in his eye ‘’I swear it Nyel….I shall keep them safe….you have my word…I will keep them safe.’’
‘’I know you will little brother.’’ Nyel said, kissing him softly on the cheek.
Two days later, Matarys, Laena, Jaekar and Demerei Royce sailed on a small galley towards the Targaryens ancestral seat of Dragonstone, Laena had been confused at first as to why her mother wasn't coming with them, but she did not cry and seemed to understand Nyels explanation that as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, she could not abandon the capitol.
As Nyel watched the Black and Red sails of the galley fade into the distance, she remembered the tale her mother had told her half a dozen times, of her return from Essos with her newborn daughter, of the reuniting of their family at this very port over 2 decades ago.
I will see her again Nyel told herself, thinking of Laena and, yearning for a memory she couldn't even remember and wondering if her father had stood at this very port watching her mother leave all those years ago.
25th of 2nd Moon
Council Chamber of the Aegonfort
The council chamber of the Aegonfort was eerily empty. The foremost chair at the end of the table remained empty as Nyel had made no effort to claim it. She had been raised with a courtly education and knew that some men would bristle at the thought of a meeting being led by a woman, even their Queen, so she decided to seat herself to the left of her brother's seat, she did not want to create any unnecessary drama, they had enough trouble without the prospect of petty quarrels.
There were only 2 other individuals in the council chamber, both men.
The first was familiar to her, Nestor Royce’s hair had gone gray since he took the position of Marshal of the realm 8 years prior, but the Lord of Runestone still looked to be a powerful man with huge shoulders and a drooping gray mustache, though his eyes suggested a certain kindness to the man.
The second man had been unknown to her prior to his arrival. Tanton Sunderland was the overlord of the Three Sisters, and son of the late Marla Sunderland, who had named herself Queen in a failed rebellion at the beginning of her fathers conquest.
He was a hairy man with a dense mop of golden hair and a bristly beard to match. His choice of garb, heavy chainmail with the surcoat of his house suggested the man was a warrior, though his paunch visible from under the surcoat suggested that not all his battles were fought in the battlefield but also at the dinner table.
They had arrived just four days after the galley with Nyels family had departed for Dragonstone and were a welcome sight.
They had come with some 50 galleys and 1400 men, a combined force of Sistermen and surviving levies from Runestone. The small force had captured 2 small island castles along the coast of the Vale, but when they received a Raven from Vaemond informing them of the Lannister force approaching Kings Landing, they immediately set sail to reinforce the capitol.
Nyel was content to let the other two take the lead in the council meeting, she had been educated in courtly procedure as a young girl, not warfare and both of these men were experienced warriors.
‘’I think we best begin.’’ Lord Tanton said, earning a nod from the Lord of Runestone.
Nestor Royce cleared his throat ‘’My Queen, with the Lannister host fast approaching I would ask you at least consider joining my daughter and your family on Dragonstone, you would be safe there as the rebels have no strength at sea…..if you remain I cannot guarantee your safety however….I fear siege trebuchets bear little distinction between defenders and noncombatants.’’
‘’My brother named you Lord Marshal, if you think that is the best course of wisdom I shall of course bow to your counsel…..I should however like to hear your plan for the cities defense before I depart’’ Nyel said, she had no qualms about leaving, it was not pride that kept her in Kings Landing but the knowledge that there was no one else to lead the cities defense, with the arrival of Lords Royce and Sunderland however, that burden was no longer hers to bear.
‘’Of course my queen.’’ Lord Royce said courteously.
‘’What news of the enemy?’’ Lord Sunderland asked, pouring himself a flagon of wine.
‘’They will be here within the week I fear….our scouts report they have split in 2 armies, into two forces of some 8500 men…..the first is at least two days ahead of the second, which is guarding their rear.’’ Nestor Royce said.
‘’I was under the impression they had a host of over 20,000 men.’’ Nyel exclaimed with surprise.
‘’The original report your brother received was false and taken before Loren Lannister played his trick, he sacrificed some 2500 men to distract the Tyrells at Peckledon and open a lane for his advance.’’ Nestor Royce replied.
Seeing Nyels pleased expression, Lord Royce gave an apologetic look ‘’I fear we cannot be too relieved my Queen, 17000 men is still a significant amount, and the city is in real danger.’’ he said not unkindly.
‘’What of our own defenses…..our manpower?’’ Nyel asked.
‘’The gold cloaks have been levying men within the city to man the walls, many men have an obligation as they have borrowed grain from the crown, I believe at last count we had some 3200 peasant levies manning the walls, though chiefly they are under equipped and poorly trained.’’ Lord Royce said before continuing.
‘’In addition we have some 3300 Gold Cloaks in fighting condition, the main part of our true strength however comes from the 1400 men myself and Lord Sunderland brought as well as the 1600 levies your brother left to defend the city, comprised of some 900 dismounted men at arms, 50 knights and near 300 mounted searjents.’’ Royce concluded.
Nyel was encouraged by the count ‘’Is it enough.’’
Lord Tanton ran a hand through his coarse yellow beard ‘’It may be….but in order to repel an assault of some 17,000 men, which would likely hit all 7 gates at once would spread our true soldiers thin and put much responsibility on the peasant conscripts….all the Lannisters would have to do is take one of the 7 gates to create a breach, I spoke with your Maester and he found the strength to tell me that the Kings Gate is especially vulnerable.’’
Grandmaster Arlans presence on the council was especially missed in times such as this as the man had played an integral part in aiding in the construction of the cities 7 gates and fortified walls, possessing an astute understanding of architecture, but Arlan, now almost 70 years old had taken to his sickbed recently and Nyel feared he may never recover.
‘’Could we not conscript more peasants to man the walls?’’ Nyel asked, Kings Landing had grown much in recent years and was home to well over a hundred thousand people.
Nestor Royce ran a hand through his mustache ‘’We could my lady, but I fear it would likely do more harm than good, those on the walls now are the best of them, chiefly volunteers and those with some training on how to garrison the walls due to their obligations….we could add more but they would be unwilling conscripts and I fear peasant soldiers are unreliable at best, if the levies forced into service began to flee the walls it may dishearten their bolder companions and so a trickle will become a flood, leading to a great slaughter…what we really need is more men at arms but I fear we cannot count on reinforcements until your brother arrives from the west.’’
Nyel studied the map in front of her, looking at the 2 golden lion statues upon the map, spaced apart and each representing 8500 men.
‘’I am untrained in the art of tactics my lords…but if what you say is true and both these armies are separated by more than a day's march then perhaps we could avoid a siege all together.’’ Nyel said.
Lord Sunderland took her meaning at once, standing and studying the map ‘’Untrained in tactics you may be my Queen but the idea is sound…..their forces are spread out, if we were to destroy the first force and set them to rout….a siege may be avoided as the second host would likely abandon the plan to take the city with half their strength dispersed.’’
Nestor Royce frowned ‘’I fear it would be a poor idea to abandon the walls…..it is true the first force is isolated, but they would still have the numbers on us, and they will have the quality on us, Loren Lannister will have a hardened contingent of Knights and Men at Arms in the vanguard, castle trained and drilled while our own force would be at least half comprised of Gold Cloaks….we would have no advantage in such a engagement I fear.’’
A silence entered the hall before Nyel suddenly spoke before fully thinking ‘’We have Dragons.’’
‘’Dragons?’’ Lord Sunderland said, raising his eyebrows.
‘’Well…a single dragon.’’ Nyel corrected herself, suddenly feeling unsure of her idea.
The largest of the Targaryen dragons were not available to them, her mothers dragon Vhagar prowled and hunted around the Crownlands, while her aunts dragon Meraxes had flown in the direction of the narrow sea after her rider's death,and no word had been heard since.
Matarys’s small dragon Aelesar had followed her brothers galley to Dragonstone and was too small to be of much use in war, while Vaemonds dragon Moondancer had accompanied her brother west, though Vae thought it was still too early to deploy it in combat.
That left only Narrah, Nyels dragon, who she had hatched on Dragonstone as a girl. Narrah was the oldest of the three younger Targaryen dragons and the biggest of them, measuring around 15 feet in length.
Nyel was an experienced rider, flying much in her youth, though her joyrides had lessened significantly with the birth of her daughter Laena and the war.
‘’Is your dragon big enough your Grace….forgive me for my bluntness but your parents Dragons were effective in the conquest in large part due to their size, I have seen your dragon flying over the city often and it must be said it is only a fourth the size of your mothers dragon and half that again compared to your fathers dragon’’ Nestor Royce said courteously.
‘’Narrah is large enough to fly, as to her significance in combat that remains unknown.’’ Nyel said, as usual referring to her dragon as a she, even though it was a well known fact dragons were genderless beasts.
‘’Be that as it may, it is well known that one cannot merely set a dragon upon their enemies from a great distance, it must be ridden your grace….true enough your Narrah could prove to be an advantage in a battle your Grace, but in order to be deployed you would have to participate in the battle personally.’’ Lord Tanton Sunderland said to her, with a searching look.
‘’It may be the only way to avoid a siege, even if we are defeated, perhaps our attack will give them pause.’’ Nyel said.
‘’Your dragon could destroy their siege engines….reports say they have built them ahead of time, which suggests an assault of the city is imminent, they know your brother is on their heels.’’ Lord Tanton mused.
‘’Have you gone mad…this is the queen of the seven Kingdoms not a trebuchet, no advantage is worth risking her life…if she comes to any harm it would be our fault.’’ Lord Royce said, his normally calm demeanor replaced with a quick outburst.
‘’You are right Nestor….she is the Queen of the seven Kingdoms, a Targaryen and daughter of Aegon the Conqueror at that….if she feels the risk is necessary then who are we to keep her from the front lines..’’ The Sistermen responded.
Nestor Royce calmed ‘’I of course would not presume to command you your Grace…the decision is yours.’’
Nyel was aware that both lords were looking to her for an answer.
She nodded slowly ‘’If we can destroy their siege weapons and force them to build new ones we can delay an assault, giving my brother time to engage them in a decisive battle….but if there is to be any chance of that my dragon is needed….I will join the attack.’’
Nestor Royce bowed his head ‘’It shall be as you say your Grace.’’
Three days later Lords Sunderland, Royce and Queen Nyel would depart the city with a host of some 6300 men to attempt to delay or defeat the first Lannister host.
5 Days Later
Outskirts of Kings Landing
Nyel began the decisive morning of battle by vomiting in her tent.
She knelt over the wash bucket in the corner of her tent and retched, holding her stomach.
Not now She thought to herself, but her body was indifferent to her pleas and she retched again.
It was not nervousness that afflicted Nyel, she knew herself well enough to know that much.
Though she had not received much of a martial education from her mother, she did inherit her mothers bold temperament and ability to remain calm under duress, and in the days leading up to the battle her anxiousness had been focused more on the battle's result than her impending participation in the battle.
She knew herself well enough to know that it was not nervousness, but pregnancy.
Some time after her brother Vaemond had been wounded in the storming of Greenfield, and only a few weeks prior, he had flown to King's Landing on the back of Moondancer on a whim, without any guards. He spent two days in the capitol, meeting his new nephew Jaekar and reuniting with Matarys, whom he had not seen in almost two years, before returning back west to join his host in sieging another castle.
She had some cause to suspect she was pregnant, but she had only hoped she was late, but now she had the truth…she remembered the early morning sicknesses very well from the births of Aelyx and Laena.
She could not go to Grandmaester Arlan to confirm and drink a poultice for relief, and she had not brought her maids with her on campaign, not wanting to risk their lives, she was alone.
When the nausea had passed, she rose and paced the room slowly, considering her options. Nyel did not fear for her own life in the coming battle, but it was not lost on her that it was not just her own life at stake now.
I cannot leave Nyel thought to herself, the Lannister army was close and they would not be able to break camp and retreat back to the city in time, without her and her dragon the battle was surely lost and the siege weapons would remain intact.
We must be brave little one Nyel thought to herself, placing a hand on her belly before slowly making her way to the corner of the tent and donning her mothers light black leather armor, resplendent with red rubies and a silver belt, too flashy for Nyels taste but she felt close to her mother wearing her armor, following this she buckled on her mothers Valyrian Steel sword Dark Sister, she would have little cause to use it on Dragonback…or so she hoped, but she did not feel wholly equipped without some sort of weapon.
The clamor outside the tent showed that it was time, units were forming into their positions, and last minute inspections were being conducted.
Nyel pushed open the tent, raising a hand over her eyes to cover the unpleasant glare from the sun, soldiers and gold cloaks bowed respectfully as she passed and Nyel hoped she didn't look as sickly and unkempt as she felt.
Nestor Royce was mounted and armored in his bronze plate and rode to meet her.
‘’Lord Royce.’’ Nyel said, greeting him
The Lord of Runestone bowed his head, ‘’My Queen, the rebels will be here within the hour, perhaps two….you do not have to do this…say the word and I will send my best riders to escort you back to the city.’’
‘’I appreciate your kindness Lord Royce but I will not run…I will take you up on that escort however, it is time I found Narrah.’’ Nyel replied.
With her escort formed, Nyel pushed the horse hard, feeling the wind on her face, and for a while her nausea was forgotten, there was no way to prepare for riding a dragon into combat but the ride refreshed her considerably.
She found Narrah where she had expected she would be, by the river two miles outside the war camp feasting on the deer which were plentiful as a small forest bordered the river, and judging by the large pile of burned skeletons her current meal was not the first course.
She approached the red dragon and Narrah turned to greet her. Nyel ran a hand down one of her bone white horns, a coloring which continued in a straight line from head to tail down her red scales, Narrah, always an affectionate dragon, nuzzled her face softly, and Nyel took comfort in the familiar rough scales.
Her escort stood back and watched astonished as Nyel attached a heavy leather riding harness to Narrahs back as the Dragon returned to its feast, unbothered.
‘’I thank you for your escort.’’ Nyel said to her guards before climbing onto the saddle and urging Narrah to flight. It took a few tries as Narrah did not want to leave behind her kill but eventually they were airborne.
Few things filled Nyel with such joy as the initial burst of wind and adrenaline that came from flying, but the sight in front of her reminded the Queen that today was not a joyride but instead a day of death.
From the sky she was able to see the approaching rebel host, marching towards her own army, the gold cloth cloaks and painted helmets of the city watch, who constituted around half of their forces glinting in the sun, she saw Nestor Royces banner flying on the left flank, while Lord Sunderlands was positioned on the right.
She gave another glance at the Lannister force, which even to Nyels untrained eye clearly had more light cavalry and heavy horse. She saw many smaller banners flying but the most prominent one was one she recognized, a black and white boar on brown, the sigil of Lord Sumner Crakehall, the father of Roland Crakehall who served on her brothers Kingsguard.
His banner flew in the reserve, behind his two flanks and consisting of a much smaller force than the other flanks, but behind his lines she saw the siege engines that had been constructed ahead of time, engines which would no doubt be used to launch an assault on King's Landing's 7 gates, she was pleased to see the mangonels, trebuchets, and scaling ladders were made of wood, and not even covered in wet pelts or other material, they would burn easily, and there were no traces of scorpions either.
As she got closer to the field, she heard shouts of alarm down below from the Lannisters as their forces spotted the small red dragon with the white horns and stripe, a promising sign as their scouts had clearly not spotted Narrah in the vicinity, she hoped that the appearance of her dragon, small or no, would cause no small amount of hesitation and fear within their ranks.
As she flew closer to the impending battle, a cacophony of trumpets and horns were heard down below as Lord Royce and Lord Sunderland sent their light horse forward in a charge towards the Lannister lines, who began to form their men at arms in 2 lines to meet them.
This had been part of their plan, Lords Royce and Sunderland had hoped that taking the initiative and offensive with a cavalry charge, the rebels wouldn't have time to form lines of archers which could endanger Nyel, nevertheless she knew she didn't have long, her two commanders were experienced men but a good deal of their light cavalry consisted of mounted gold cloaks, suited more for crowd control than pitched battle.
Nyel urged Narrah over the fighting, keeping high in the air between the two flanks, heading straight for Sumner Crakehalls reserves.
She was vaguely aware of the sounds of arrows and quarrels whistling through the air, but she blocked it from her mind, Narrah too, despite never being exposed to combat before, seemed to inherently know how to best avoid the arrows as they plummeted down towards the enemy reserves and siege engines, her own men at arms joining the attack below.
Nyel ducked downwards on her saddle grabbing hold of Narrahs neck to make herself as small a target as possible as a crossbow bolt whistled just inches above her, she didn't even need to give the command as Narrah bathed a bold column of men-at arms with throwing spears with flame as they stepped forward from their ranks, Narrahs fire almost as red as the crimson banners of the Lannisters. The unfortunate soldiers dropped their spears and screamed as they burned.
Seeing her own men were close behind and joining the fray, Nyel urged Narrah up with her spurred boots, out of range of the approaching arrows.
As her own men battled below, she commanded Narrah past the fighting towards the rear where the siege engines stood, many of them attached by ropes and harnesses to large packhorses.
Narrah made another dive and upon Nyels kick of spurred boots, loosed a burst of flame at a wooden Mangonel, it took two more passes to fully set it alight as Narrah was a small dragon and her fire was significantly weaker than her predecessors, but once the Mangonel was set alight the fire began to spread while a bald quartermaster attempting to douse the dragonflame with a little bucket of water soon found himself aflame as well.
A throwing spear sailed harmlessly to her right as they dove again and Narrah let out a scorching burst of flame on a row of several small trebuchets and catapults, this time it only took one pass to set them alight as the hemp rope was very dry.
Seeing the guards assigned to the siege engines begin forming an organized line to shoot crossbows, Nyel ordered Narrah upwards again.
Sparing a glance to the other areas of the battle, she saw Nestor Royces calvary were pulling back from their charge and his infantry was in full retreat as the rebels ordered their flank to pursue them, Lord Sunderlands calvary fought valiantly on, but it was clear he would not be able to keep up the attack much longer either.
Seeing most of the siege weapons were burning, Nyel urged Narrah back to help her own men, who had caused the small reserve force much difficulty and were pushing them back towards the flames.
The sight of Narrah returning was enough to make many of the wiser rebels flee immediately, though a band of half a dozen had to be taught a harsh lesson with Dragonfire.
Returning to the skies, Nyel saw that Lord Sunderland calvary had been repulsed and his flank was joining Lord Royces men in fleeing the battle, her center flank had set Sumner Crakehalls reserves running, and Narrah had burned their siege engines, but if they remained much longer they would be trapped between the rebels side flanks.
She urged Narrah up to the skies and shouted Dracarys, the Valyrian command which prompted dragons to breathe fire on command, Narrah obeyed, albeit with some confusion and a plume of fire torched the sky.
Her soldiers below, seeing the signal began their retreat, with Westerman knights and light cavalry in hot pursuit of all 3 lines.
Nyel stayed behind, though the air was rapidly filling with more and more arrows gradually getting closer as the rebels were able to form firing lines, but Nyel ignored them, she would do her part.
She urged Narrah to set the flatlands aflame, hoping that the obstacle would impede at least some of the pursuing knights.
Finally, even Nyel was forced to admit staying any longer would be foolish as an arrow embedded itself in the leather riding saddle near her legs.
She urged Narrah up one final time, flying high into the sky and out of range of the arrow fires…flying in the direction of Kings Landing, below her she could hear shouts and screams of the rearguard assigned to hold back the rebel heavy cavalry pursuers and allow the greater part of the force to retreat back to King's Landing.
It was a bloody sortie, Nyel had gotten the sense of that even from Dragonback, and by the time her commanders were able to do an inspection of their remaining forces who had limped back to the capitol, it became even more apparent that destroying the rebel siege engines had come at a heavy cost.
Some 1200 men were dead, while another 1200 were heavily wounded or captured by the rebel heavy knights that had pursued them following their retreat, among the dead were many gold cloaks, who despite not being trained for pitched battle had fought bravely in defense of their city.
The rebel casualties had been much lower, with Lord Sunderland estimating they had taken no more than 600 dead and wounded, but the primary objective of the battle had been achieved…the siege weapons had been destroyed and the rebel force would have to delay at least a few days to build new ones and regroup after their losses.
Nyel could only hope they had bought themselves enough time for her brother Vaemond to arrive from the west, for if the rebels had time to build new siege engines, the heavy sacrifice would be for naught.
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Wow, Narrah's impact on the battle was less than I expected. Big win for the Lannisters, but maybe Nyel managed to delay the siege in time for Vaemond to return.
If Nyel had allowed Matarys to stay and accompany her into battle, perhaps it would have been different. But she thought it was right to protect Laena and the other children, and we can't blame her for that.
If Nyel had allowed Matarys to stay and accompany her into battle, perhaps it would have been different. But she thought it was right to protect Laena and the other children, and we can't blame her for that.
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Why is Queen Nyel called 'the Feeble'? Time is a very precious commodity as is the wee bairn that Nyel is carrying. Thank you for the update.
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It looks like King's Landing might soon fall.
Entrusting the defense of the city from the royal family to a woman known as the Feeble might've been unwise, especially considering that she was pregnant.
Entrusting the defense of the city from the royal family to a woman known as the Feeble might've been unwise, especially considering that she was pregnant.
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Narrah is unfortunately still very small, just big enough to ride in combat, its role in the war is not over however. The next chapter will deal with the effects of the delaying action and whether it was enough to save the city.
Matarys's dragon Aelesar is not big enough to ride into combat yet, and Matarys is no warrior (yet) as a future chapter will showcase.
I dont really now how/why she got that nickname, she doenst have any ''weak'' traits so im assuming she picked it up while having an illness or something, in any case ive chosen to just ignore it.
So it seems.
I wouldnt give her nickname that much consideration, but certainly a big defeat numbers wise, time will tell if the delaying action was enough or if Kings Landing will fall.
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It stupid but what in character traits would it take to try and conquer beyond the wall? lunatic and greedy? Lunatic and imbecile? Something else. Ck2 let’s you do some really nonsensical thing.
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I would probably say insane plus zealous and brave. The way I perceive the insane trait is basically the characters traits but to an extreme level (Matarys and kind). The justification would probably be an insanely zealous ruler would want to convert the ''barbarians beyond the wall'' seeing how they are relatively close to the Kingdoms and would be seen as more savage than the old god followers.
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Chapter 34: The Battle of Kings Landing/What Comes After (Vaemond, Corlys Velaryon)
Third Moon, 8026
Outskirts of Kings Landing
Vaemond made his way up the large hill, the breeze heavy on his face as he ascended to the top, his Kingsguard close behind him.
The bodies of their own dead had since been removed, but the Lannister watchmen had been given no such courtesy, their bloodied bodies strewn about the hill, one of them lay face first on the ground next to the unlit pyre, an extinguished torch held tight in his pale hands.
‘’That one got close.’’ Vaemond mused.
‘’Close dont win no races as my mum used to say.’’ One of Vaemonds grizzled scouts that had been apart of the assault party said, nodding to the arrow in the man's back.
The lands around Kings Landing were not especially hilly, and were mostly flat, but nevertheless there were some small hills dotting the landscape that gave a good view to the west, with this one being the biggest. From here many offshoots of the Great Fork river could be seen glittering in the distance to the west, along with much of the plains of the Blackwater rush. The Lannisters had been aware of these hills and stationed several small scouting parties to warn of any enemy advance.
It was because of this viewpoint to the west that Vaemond had ordered these vantage lookout posts assaulted and silenced, if he was to advance from the west he wanted the Lannisters blind, at least for a little while, thus far it seemed to be successful as none of the signal fires had been lit and the majority of his force was now marching at speed across the flatlands.
Vaemond was not so fool as to think he could remain undetected for much longer, his men would likely make it past these hills undetected, but past them Loren Lannister was like to have roving bands of outriders and Vaemond could not hope to silence them all, nevertheless the few hours of unnoticed march through the Blackwater Rush could make all the difference in limiting the preparation his enemies had time for.
‘’Ser Harold…the far-eye if you would.’’ Vaemond said, making his way to the edge of the hill.
Ser Harold Langward nodded and returned with the Myrish Eye, a type of looking glass that would give its viewer sight miles into the distance. It had been a gift from Grandmaester Arlan before he had left, with the old man stating the lens crafters of Myr were the finest in not only the Free Cities but the entire world.
From the hill he could make out the city of Kings Landing, though it was too far away to make out individual people, he could still see structures, small as they were in the distance.
‘’They are building siege engines.’’ Vaemond observed, he could barely make them out but beyond the walls of the city were trebuchets and siege towers, clustered outside the walls like little trees.
‘’Your sister did well destroying them, but Loren Lannister has no doubt brought many experienced engineers with him, they will have enough to storm the walls any day now.’’ Corlys Velaryon responded, they had gotten word that Nyel had destroyed the greater part of the rebels siege engines but all involved knew it had gained the city only a temporary reprieve as opposed to permanent safety.
He turned his attention to the sea far in the distance, glimmering under the sun, but even with the myrish glass it was still much too far to make out any individual details, much less any ships.
They must have made it in Vaemond assured himself before turning back to Corlys.
‘’There's a lot riding on this plan of yours Corlys.’’ Vaemond said, lowering the myrish glass.
Corlys nodded and stroked his beard, which was as white as his Kingsguard enameled armor.
‘’It will work, Vaemond…..the plan is a good one, and I selected the captains of the force personally….they know their instructions.’’ Corlys said, the old Lord Commander seemingly unconcerned.
‘’I don't doubt that….but we have no way of confirming they even made it.’’ Vaemond continued.
Corlys chuckled at that, and removed a mailed gauntlet, holding his hand in front of him.
‘’It's a spring wind, Vaemond…..the seas will be calm….they made it.’’ Corlys said.
‘’Id take a raven of confirmation over your old sailors' tricks any day.’’ Vaemond said begrudgingly but pressed the issue no further, Corlys Velaryon had been raised at Driftmark as a boy in the Narrow Sea, if there was one thing he knew it was the sea, and he could expect no raven from the city as if it were to be shot down it could spoil any chance of the plan working.
A quick word from Ser Androw Leygood also lessened Vaemonds concerns lightly, he had earned a link in studying Time and Seasons and the citadel and he said it was unlikely that the Narrow Sea would be beset by any major storm this early in the year, especially on a journey so short.
We shall find out soon enough Vaemond thought to himself as they made their way down the hill to join the main column, continuing their march to King's Landing.
Four Hours Later
Fields outside Kings Landing
The Lannisters had well and truly been taken by surprise. To be sure the presence of nearly 20,000 men, some 9,000 Crownlanders and 10,000 Reachmen could not be hidden for long, especially as they approached Kings Landing, but their silencing of the rebel scouts on the hills had allowed their march from the Great Fork river to remain undetected long enough so that when the Lannister freeriders had eventually spotted them, they had no time to prepare any meaningful defenses.
They had more than ample time to prepare battle lines however, and they were arranged in three massive lines outside of the city of Kings Landing, so many men that Vaemond could scarce make out where the rebel flanks ended.
The city stood well behind them, and the unfinished red keep shone in the afternoon sun upon its high hill, and further beyond he could make out a timber tower of the much smaller Aegonfort, where Nyel was. It was so maddeningly close he could almost reach out and touch it, so close but for the fact that 17,000 rebels stood between him and his sister.
‘’This will be a proper battle.’’ Ser Androw Leygood said, his belt of metal links glittering in the sun.
‘’Aye…a battle songs are sung of….the place where your father first landed and began his conquest will be where we won the victory to preserve his realm…there's some poetic justice in that.’’ Ser Harold Langward replied with a nod to the younger man.
His Kingsguard had been chattering amongst themselves for a good while, Vaemond was no stranger as to the reason why, a bit of banter before a battle helped calm the nerves, and despite Ser Androw Leygood and Ser Byren Royces undisputed bravery, he knew they were in need of some distraction, he was all to aware of the nerves that came on the eve of one's first battle from his campaign on Sunstone all those years ago.
Ser Roland Crakehall, the big Kingsguard was in stark contrast to his sworn brothers however, sitting his horse silently, his hand fidgeting with an amulet to the warrior. A quick look at the rebel battle lines made the reason for his attitude plain enough.
Vaemond had made the decision to lead and fight in the center flank, the place where a King's leadership was needed most. On the opposite side of their battle lines flew dozens of Westerlander banners, but one stood higher and grander than the rest, a black and white brindled boar on brown, the sigil of House Crakehall. The rebel center was commanded by Sumner Crakehall, a formidable warrior and Rolands father; his two younger brothers Damion and Maynard would also no doubt be on the opposing side.
Vaemond urged his warhorse towards Roland, and placed a hand on the big man's shoulder.
‘’If you would rather fight on the left with Corlys….I could scarce hold it against you….I won't ask you to fight your own kin.’’ Vaemond said.
Roland looked up with surprise, seemingly shaken from his thoughts before he shook his head ‘’The warrior would not be so cruel as to place my family in my path.’’
‘’You cannot be sure of that Roland…it has happened before…I need to know I can rely on you’’ Vaemond pressed.
Roland paused at that, his hand gripping his longaxe tied to the side of his horse, after a moment of hesitation his face grew determined ‘’You can rely on my Vaemond…..the kinslayer is abhorred by the gods, but if my father or brother are foolish enough to threaten you on the field of battle I will stop them…..my brothers have my size and strength but none are my equal in battle….I can stop them without killing them.’’
Vaemond nodded with relief, the Crakehalls were renowned for their strength at arms and skill in battle, if he was unlucky enough to come face to face with any of the three, especially Rolands two brothers, his big Kingsguard was the only one of his sworn shields with a realistic chance of stopping them.
‘’With luck it won't come to that.’’ Vaemond said, giving Roland a reassuring pat on the back before riding to the front of the battle line, after enough battles a man could sense when the battle was approaching, and he knew the rebels would make their move soon.
Corlys Velaryon would lead the left flank, he was one of the finest generals in the realm and Vaemond knew the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard would be of more use to him commanding a flank than fighting by his side. Corlys would have a difficult task as he would be facing the battle lines commanded by Loren Lannister, a man renowned for his quick wit, but the lord of Casterly Rock was not the only man with a sharp battle mind.
His plan will work Vaemond reassured himself, Corlys had never once failed either him or his father in his decades of service and the King had absolute trust in the man's ability.
The situation on the right was less certain. After Neilyn Reddunes death in the first battle of the war, Vaemond found himself with a severe lack of experienced battle commanders and turned to Cameron Massey, the Lord of Stonedance and overlord of Massey's Hook. Despite the fact that the man was one year older than the King, he had far less battle experience, he made up for it in bravery however and Vaemond was confident in his ability to do his part on the right flank against Lord Lefford of the Golden Tooth, whos own sire had been killed earlier in the war and Nunn's Deep.
Vaemond sensed a change in the air from across the field, the rebel commanders had finished their battle speeches and the rebel center was forming a formation of light cavalry and free riders, the time for battle had come.
The King had not been idle while the two sides massed for battle and raised a black gauntlet in the air, signaling for his archers to come forward and for his freeriders and light horse to form on their sides.
The rebel light horse began to thunder forward across the field, no doubt led by Lord Crakehall himself along with his sons, overall it looked to number near 1000 men, similar to Vaemonds own numbers.
Vaemonds archers had formed three lines of some one hundred men each and had knocked their arrows, each line would fire one after the other, much like how Corlys had employed his archers at the battle of Edgerton.
Drawing Blackfyre from its sheath, Vaemond raised it above his head and brought it down in a fast arc, while the serjeant of the first line gave the command to fire.
Unfortunately the wind was not on their side as a strong breeze was coming in from Blackwater bay, nevertheless some arrows struck their targets, and Vaemond could hear the screams from horses and men alike as they were hit with arrows or trapped under horses.
They managed two more volleys before Vaemond shouted the order for the archers to stand down and retreat behind the infantry, Vaemonds light cavalry, just under 1000 men began to form up in preparation to meet the rebels own light horse, Vaemond would leave his knights in reserve as he had done in every engagement of the war.
As they formed the wedge to meet the fast approaching rebels, Vaemond was reminded of the similarities to the first engagement of the war at Edgerton and his frantic cavalry charge, but unlike that fight this time he would not be outnumbered…this time the fighting would be even.
The time for words had passed, Vaemond gave a curt nod to a hornman mounted beside him, who signaled the countercharge.
The King would lead from the front as always, despite the close call on the walls of Greenfield, his resolve to lead where the fighting was thickest had not waned, he would lead the counter attack.
One more fight He thought to himself as they rode forward, one more fight and all of this would be behind them, one more fight and he would be reunited with Nyel and his daughter.
He didn't have long to dwell on this prospect however as the two sides rapidly closed in on one another, their war cries, screams, curses and shouts of fear blending into a giant roar, beside the King, Ser Androw Leygood raised the white standard of the Kingsguard above his head, fluttering in the wind.
The sound of two thousand horses coming together in a crash of steel and flesh was like no sound Vaemond had ever heard, and he hoped would never hear again, as men beside and in front of him were impaled, slashed or knocked from their horses only to be trampled below.
On his right, Ser Harold Langward slammed a shield into a Crakehall Freerider, sending him crashing off his horse and being dragged by his horse across the killing ground.
Vaemonds first opponent was a lancer in mail and boiled leather, wearing a surcoat of a blue hare on an orange field, the man, having missed his opportunity to use his lance found it cumbersome to use in such tight confines, but nevertheless thrust his lance past the Kings shield.
Vaemond, waiting patiently hacked the fire hardened lance point from the pole and followed up with a slash from Blackfyre at the mans chest, sending links of chain mail flying in all directions, and the man slumping into his saddle with a groan, clutching his bruised and cut stomach, Vaemond left him there, a wounded foe was a defeated foe.
Visible in the melee were several bright red shields painted with a white rose, which Vaemond recognized as being the banner of the Maidens Men, a company of Volantene and Westerosi mercenaries Loren Lannister had brought in from Essos to augment his own forces.
One such mercenary hurled a spear towards the King, and Vaemond saw Ser Androw Leygood collapse as the javelin hit him square in the chest of his heavy white enameled armor, sending him to the ground in a heap, his white Kingsguard banner enveloping him like a blanket on the ground, Vaemond quickly lost sight of him in the melee, and he could only hope his new Kingsguard had survived the hit, and would all the chaos that came with being dismounted.
A volantene with long black hair and olive skin rode at the King, lance lowered and Vaemond fumbled for his shield, waiting for the heavy blow, but there was no need as Ser Harold Langward impaled the man straight through the gut with a timely thrust with his longsword, nodding at the King.
Clear of the immediate fighting, Vaemond gave a look to his right and saw that Cameron Massey’s light cavalry had been caught up and were fighting a bloody engagement with Leffords men-at-arms, he tried to look to the left to see how Corlys was doing but in a battle of this size it was hard to see past the mass of men, or where one flank ended and another began.
He returned to the fighting, this time facing a rider wearing a surcoat of purple with 6 white bells.
The King briefly remembered that House Belmore of the Vale had come into some lands in the Westerlands some years ago, but his ponderance of minor politics in the Westerlands was put on hold as the rider spurred his horse at him, ax raised high in the air.
Vaemond gave a roar and rode to meet him, raising his heavy shield as the man's ax slammed into the metal with a clanging thud, the Belmore man kept up the attack and Vaemond was forced to block another strike with his shield, sending a tremor down his arms.
Vaemond, instead of attempting to block the next strike with his tired shield arm, leaned into the man as he raised his ax with a plated shoulder, stunning him and giving him time to bring Blackfyre upwards, cutting the man's leg and landing below his chin with a sickening crunch, the man gave a choked gasp and slumped from his horse to die among rebel and loyalist alike.
Vaemond urged his horse to a halt as the fighting continued in front of him, giving his tired arm a small reprieve, it was then that he heard the horn.
The Left Flank
The spear darted clumsily towards the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, slow enough for Corlys to grab the wooden shaft and wrench it downwards, the peasant freerider opened his mouth to shout but Corlys’s longsword took him in the side of the neck, ending his protests.
With the immediate threat finished, he paused and took stock of the situation. Loren Lannister had sent his freeriders forward in a charge while Corlys was in the midst of forming his own men at arms in a shield wall, and the suddenness of the charge had meant that his own unprepared men had been pushed backwards by their mounted opponents.
In a normal battle Corlys would have responded by ordering his own cavalry to attack from the flanks and envelop their opponents, but he resisted the temptation…he needed the cavalry far away from Lorens advancing infantry which was well behind the melee.
Corlys slammed his shield into another approaching freerider, knocking him to the ground. He supposed he should have fought dismounted alongside his men as being one of the only mounted men made him a clear target but Corlys was a knight and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, his place was ahorse.
The Lord Commander fended off a slash from a rusty sword with his own blade with a clash of steel before pushing the sword down into the man's neck.
A quick glance past the fighting showed that the time was now, Loren Lannister had sent his infantry and knights forward at an advance to join the melee between Corlys’s men-at-arms and the rebel freeriders, their backs turned to the city.
Turning around he raised his bloodied longsword and waved it in the air three times, the signal for the hornmen.
He had assembled an entire line of over a dozen men with large horns behind the battle lines to sound the signal, and the sound of their horns carried over the battlefield in a deafening chorus, causing many men to stop fighting in surprise, an uneasy tenuous truce hanging over the left flank as rebel and loyalist alike stopped to see the cause of the commotion.
Then the Heavy Iron Gate of the Gods swung open and three thousand men, both mounted knights and dismounted men-at-arms swarmed through the gate, their battle cry a deafening roar with the promise of death on their lips.
Corlys gave a grim smile as he watched the force thunder out of the Gate of the Gods, as he knew they would. It had been the Lord Commander's own plan to send some three thousand men north to the port of Maidenpool while the better part of their host, mostly 10,000 Reachmen marched directly to the city.
The winds were in our favor Corlys thought as the mounted knights charging from the city took Loren Lannisters exposed and surprised archers in the rear before turning their attention to the men-at-arms and knights, who were trying frantically to wheel their horses around against a force that had all the momentum. The 3000 men had been transported under the cover of darkness from Maidenpool to the docks of Kings Landing on the Royal Fleet's 50 galleys from Dragonstone.
Loren Lannisters freeriders had pulled away from the melee, and stood like deer in headlights, not sure whether to fight the foes in front of them, or the ones behind them.
The Lord Commander made the choice for them as he ordered his men at arms to counter charge Loren Lannisters calvary, trapping them between the slaughter behind them and Corlys’s angry men-at-arms.
Everything was going according to plan until Corlys heard shouts from behind him, and men pointing up at the sky.
A red crimson shape emerged in the skies above the city walls, a small dragon with horns white as bone gave a loud shriek that could be heard from all over the field, flying towards the battle, as the dragon got closer Corlys could make out a silver haired woman in its saddle.
The Queen The Lord Commander thought to himself with a start , though he could not help but smile, he had known Nyel since she was a little girl and was not surprised by her bravery.
My cousin sired two warriors it would seem Corlys thought to himself before urging his destrier forward to join the fight.
If the emergence of 3000 men charging from the gates into the enemy rear had demoralized the rebels, the emergence of a dragon, small one or not, truly shattered them and the battle quickly turned into a rout.
Corlys would smash Loren Lannisters left flank between his infantry and the sallying force from the city, while King Vaemond would throw back Crakehalls light cavalry into full retreat. The fighting on the right went on for a while longer as Cameron Massey’s infantry was embroiled in a brutal slog with their foes, but Queen Nyel gave the rebel right flank a taste of dragonfire and soon the rebel right joined in the frantic retreat.
The battle of King's Landing was a decisive victory for the Targaryens and their Tyrell allies and Loren Lannisters desperate attack towards the capitol had ended with disaster. Loren Lannister lost near a third of his host in the battle, with some 5200 men being killed, captured, or heavily wounded, mostly on the Lord Paramount of the Westerlands own flank as he was caught between Corlys Velaryons infantry and the sallying force, just barely escaping the battle.
The Targaryens' own losses were much lighter with some 1500 Crownlanders and Tyrell men being killed or heavily wounded in defense of the city, while Ser Androw Leygood of the Kingsguard would be found after the battle, heavily bruised but otherwise unscathed.
The smallfolk of the city would dub the fight ‘’the battle of the street of steel’’ for as the sallying force made their way down the streets of the capitol to the gate, smiths formed a line in the streets and distributed their wares to the cities brave defenders free of charge. King Vaemond would be hailed as the savior of the city, though the King would insist to his dying day that Kings Landing was saved due to his sister Nyels destruction of the Siege Engines and Lord Commander Corlys’s hidden force.
Four Months Later
Council Chambers of the Aegonfort
The war was over.
Four months had passed since the battle at King's Landing and things had only gotten worse for the Lannisters since then.
Shortly after the battle, the combined Dornish and Arbor force would finally force Casterly Rock into capitulation, and Loren Lannister's son and daughter, along with several nieces and nephews would be captured.
Shortly after, Lords Sumner Crakehall, and Lorent Lefford would lead 10,000 survivors of the battle at Kings Landing west in a last ditch effort to retake Casterly Rock, but they would be met by a similarly sized force of Stormlanders led by Boros Baratheon, the King's cousin, accompanied by 3000 hardened Tully levies.
The last significant host of the Westerlands would be crushed outside of Drox Castle which would be stormed in the coming days, and Lord Lorent Lefford of the Golden Tooth, whose own father had been killed at the Battle of Nunn's Deep, would be slain in the battle along with 2500 of his men.
Loren Lannister, for all his mistakes in the war was anything but a fool, and knew that with Casterly Rock fallen, his hosts scattered or destroyed and his vassals in the south capitulating or bending the knee there was no hope for victory and so after almost three years of bloody war that had left tens of thousands dead and much of the southern Westerlands ravaged, Loren Lannister surrendered, and was currently being confined within a tower cell within the Aegonfort, along with Lord Darklyn of Duskendale, Ronnel Arryn, Lord Paramount of the Vale had also been moved from Riverrun to the capitol.
The war may have been over but the work in restoring the realm had just begun for the King, thousands were dead, the southern flatlands of the Westerlands had been pillaged, the fate of the treasonous rebels had to be determined and the lords that remained loyal to the crown must be rewarded.
All these thoughts and more were swimming amongst Vaemonds mind as he took his seat at the wooden council chamber in the Aegonfort, where Vickon Greyjoy, Samwell Tully, Deria Martell, Boros Baratheon and Deria Martell awaited him, along with Matarys and Nyel.
The first order of business was to determine what was to be done with Loren Lannister, Rolland Darklyn and Ronnel Arryn.
Vickon Greyjoy was not hesitant to share his thoughts on the matter ‘’Their heads should already be on spikes……but not before taking Loren Lannisters hands and feet, I for one want to know if he really does shit gold before the end.’’
Boros Baratheon, comfortably reclined in his chair gave a bored nod of approval ‘’I concur.’’
Vaemond was not amused ‘’I value your contributions to the war Lord Greyjoy….but do not presume to ever mention such barbarity in my presence again…..whatever enmity you have against the Lannisters you more than paid it at Lannisport with your massacre….an act that went far beyond what was necessary.’’
‘’I of course do not advocate for such measures…but it is clear Loren Lannister must be punished, thousands of my people were killed fighting in the Westerlands….you would be hard pressed to find any of my people, from knight to fisherman who has not been touched by the death this war has brought.’’ Samwell Tully interjected, who despite being known as ‘’the Hotspur’’ cut a calm figure.
Deria Martell nodded slowly, the death of her son had clearly hit her hard and dark circles under her eyes were present.
‘’Loren Lannister, though a traitor is my own father in law and grandfather to my son Aumary, whatever his crimes he is the lord of a great house, not some brigand that can be strung up to the nearest tree…as great lords we are afforded certain privileges.’’ Theo Tyrell, who had been silent for much of the meeting replied.
Vaemond nodded slowly, studying the faces of his loyal Lord Paramounts.
They will not like this Vaemond thought to himself, looking at Samwell Tully, Boros Baratheon, and Deria Martell.
The King cleared his throat and rose to his feet ‘’My lords…..I thank you for your council….but I have made up my mind, Loren Lannister and Rolland Darklyn shall be stripped of all lands and titles….and will be sent to the Night's Watch to take the black.’’
His words caused an uproar as he had expected.
Boros Baratheon looked at his cousin coldly ‘’I never cared much for my father but he died fighting these rebels, as did Derias' son…and you mean for them to keep their heads after everything they are responsible for.’’
‘’There has been enough death cousin…..killing two old men won't bring back our dead…..I will not usher in the beginning of the peace with more killing.’’ Vaemond responded.
‘’My lord….my brother speaks truly, Lords Darklyn and Lannister are nobly born…and with their birth comes certain rights, to kill them would be poorly done, traitors or no.’’ Nyel said in a calming tone.
‘’Your decision to spare Loren Lannister notwithstanding, the Lannisters as a whole should pay for their treason, fines, loss of power, there is a saying that the Lannisters always pay their debts and you can be sure they will not forget this.’’ Samwell Tully cautioned.
In truth Vaemond had been considering removing the Lannisters as Lord Paramounts of the Westerlands and naming Robert Farman the new Warden of the West, but after the Lord of Fair Isles death during the war there were no other lords that had proven to be deserving of the honor, Lord Serrett had bent the knee of course but that had been done out of personal preservation and with no risk.
The King shook his head ‘’I will not fear the Lannisters, Loren's son and heir Damon is a witless fat fool, and craven if half of what I have heard….not the type of man to cause trouble…..and I will not destabilize the West by naming a new lord paramount when our efforts should be spent rebuilding the southern flatlands.’’
‘’It appears that we have determined what is to be done with Lannister and Darklyn, but I have heard no mention of Ronnel Arryn….he is just as much a traitor as the rest of them.’’ Deria Martell pointed out.
Vaemond looked towards Matarys.
‘’I have….formally petitioned my brother to spare Lord Arryn…I grew up under his roof and it would deeply grieve me to see him harshly punished….he is a good man.’’ Matarys responded.
Vaemond was inclined to agree, the previous day, Matarys had come into his chambers nearly on the verge of tears to beg for mercy for his old friend and Vaemond had agreed to speak with Lord Arryn.
The two had conversed for well over an hour in his tower cell, and Vaemond had come away from the meeting feeling almost sorry for the Lord of the Vale, who clearly had been misled and strongarmed by his warmongering vassals, what's more the man clearly had regret for his decision and Vaemond thought a year in captivity in Riverrun was more than sufficient punishment for the man, who the King had already begun to form a rather bizarre friendship with in their short meeting.
‘’Lord Arryn will be given a full pardon and welcomed back into the crown's peace….furthermore I have decided that he shall serve as Master of Coin.’’ Vaemond said.
Unlike with Loren Lannister, the Kings leniency towards House Arryn was not poorly received, in truth the Vale, despite raising 10s of thousands of men had made virtually no impact in the war, with their only military contribution being a small expeditionary force participating in the rebel victory at Peckledon and the destruction of Nestor Royces levies, though there were disturbing reports of a massacre of Nestor Royces smallfolk at the hand of some rebels.
‘’My lords, with the fate of Lords Lannister, Darklyn, and Arryn settled, it is time for your loyalty to be rewarded…..Lady Deria….you have suffered more as a result of this war than anyone present, I cannot give you back your son or repay the debt your family has paid…..but I will honor his sacrifice by naming you Princess of Dorne, and give your descendents the right to style themselves as prince and princess, I have made preparations for the crown that was once yours and your grandmothers to be returned to you as well.’’ Vaemond said.
‘’You honor my family, your Grace.’’ Deria said, a sad smile drawn on her tired face.
‘’In addition you shall be given a gift of some 270 gold dragons, and I swear that the Dornish shall always have a place in my court….my Kingsguard is in need of new knights and your lands shall be honored with a representative.’’ Vaemond continued.
Vaemond rewarded his cousin Boros Baratheon with a gift exceeding 500 gold dragons, he had won much glory in the southern Westerlands by storming castles and defeating Lord Leffords host, and in recognition of that the King offered the young lord the position of Marshal of the realm since Nestor Royce planned to retire after his uninspiring campaign, though Boros refused and stated his place was in Storms End, not training garrison levies.
Theo Tyrell, whose entrance into the war had well and truly changed the momentum, was given a position on the small council and the promise that in the future, House Tyrell and the Crown would be bonded through marriage.
Vaemond then turned to Samwell Tully ‘’My lord, no realm has suffered half so much as your own….and I have found your council today to be both wise and fair….I would name you Hand of the King.’’
‘’
‘’There is much work to be done….and it will be no easy task to rebuild the realm…but I accept, as is my duty.’’ Lord Tully said solemnly.
Vaemond then turned to Vickon Greyjoy ‘’Lord Greyjoy…..I am not blind to the losses the Iron Islands suffered during the beginning of the war….in honor of their sacrifice I am prepared to offer you 750 gold dragons as well as the right to style yourself as King of the Isles and don the driftwood crown.’’
‘’Your Grace….it is true the Ironborn suffered grievous losses against Loren Lannister, but their actions at Lannisport…’’ The new hand of the King Samwell Tully began but Vaemond raised his hands.
‘’Do not believe for a moment this means I approve of your butchery at Lannisport Lord Greyjoy….I mean for this to be the last time in my reign that your warriors are employed against my Kingdom….but two times my family has called upon your lands and both times they have answered…..I hope you make good use of the gold before you descend into whatever fiery hell you believe in….and make certain there is no confusion amongst your vassals as to the order of things… that despite your crown you are apart of the Kingdoms’’ The King said with ill veiled contempt.
Lord Greyjoy gave a nasty grin at that ‘’Aye….the natural order of things…you make no complaint about my men during the war but as soon as your crown is secure you greenlanders return to viewing us with contempt….I shall suffer your hate for a crown though….aye…a crown and gold.’’
Vaemond found himself with nothing to say to that and waved a hand in a brusque dismissal, the meeting was over.
In the coming days other minor appointments would be made.
Ser Lucas Blackwood, a riverman who had served with distinction at the defeat at Nunns Deep was made Commander of Kings Landing and the gold cloaks, while the stormlander Jon Penrose, Lord of Parchments, who had been Orys Baratheons right hand general and distinguished himself in the war by slaying Ser Daven Swyft in single combat was made Marshal of the realm.
The realm had achieved an uneasy peace, for how long only the gods could say, but as is often the case, peacetime is often the most fertile field for the seeds of war to be sown, and the only thing that could destroy the House of the Dragon was itself.
Outskirts of Kings Landing
Vaemond made his way up the large hill, the breeze heavy on his face as he ascended to the top, his Kingsguard close behind him.
The bodies of their own dead had since been removed, but the Lannister watchmen had been given no such courtesy, their bloodied bodies strewn about the hill, one of them lay face first on the ground next to the unlit pyre, an extinguished torch held tight in his pale hands.
‘’That one got close.’’ Vaemond mused.
‘’Close dont win no races as my mum used to say.’’ One of Vaemonds grizzled scouts that had been apart of the assault party said, nodding to the arrow in the man's back.
The lands around Kings Landing were not especially hilly, and were mostly flat, but nevertheless there were some small hills dotting the landscape that gave a good view to the west, with this one being the biggest. From here many offshoots of the Great Fork river could be seen glittering in the distance to the west, along with much of the plains of the Blackwater rush. The Lannisters had been aware of these hills and stationed several small scouting parties to warn of any enemy advance.
It was because of this viewpoint to the west that Vaemond had ordered these vantage lookout posts assaulted and silenced, if he was to advance from the west he wanted the Lannisters blind, at least for a little while, thus far it seemed to be successful as none of the signal fires had been lit and the majority of his force was now marching at speed across the flatlands.
Vaemond was not so fool as to think he could remain undetected for much longer, his men would likely make it past these hills undetected, but past them Loren Lannister was like to have roving bands of outriders and Vaemond could not hope to silence them all, nevertheless the few hours of unnoticed march through the Blackwater Rush could make all the difference in limiting the preparation his enemies had time for.
‘’Ser Harold…the far-eye if you would.’’ Vaemond said, making his way to the edge of the hill.
Ser Harold Langward nodded and returned with the Myrish Eye, a type of looking glass that would give its viewer sight miles into the distance. It had been a gift from Grandmaester Arlan before he had left, with the old man stating the lens crafters of Myr were the finest in not only the Free Cities but the entire world.
From the hill he could make out the city of Kings Landing, though it was too far away to make out individual people, he could still see structures, small as they were in the distance.
‘’They are building siege engines.’’ Vaemond observed, he could barely make them out but beyond the walls of the city were trebuchets and siege towers, clustered outside the walls like little trees.
‘’Your sister did well destroying them, but Loren Lannister has no doubt brought many experienced engineers with him, they will have enough to storm the walls any day now.’’ Corlys Velaryon responded, they had gotten word that Nyel had destroyed the greater part of the rebels siege engines but all involved knew it had gained the city only a temporary reprieve as opposed to permanent safety.
He turned his attention to the sea far in the distance, glimmering under the sun, but even with the myrish glass it was still much too far to make out any individual details, much less any ships.
They must have made it in Vaemond assured himself before turning back to Corlys.
‘’There's a lot riding on this plan of yours Corlys.’’ Vaemond said, lowering the myrish glass.
Corlys nodded and stroked his beard, which was as white as his Kingsguard enameled armor.
‘’It will work, Vaemond…..the plan is a good one, and I selected the captains of the force personally….they know their instructions.’’ Corlys said, the old Lord Commander seemingly unconcerned.
‘’I don't doubt that….but we have no way of confirming they even made it.’’ Vaemond continued.
Corlys chuckled at that, and removed a mailed gauntlet, holding his hand in front of him.
‘’It's a spring wind, Vaemond…..the seas will be calm….they made it.’’ Corlys said.
‘’Id take a raven of confirmation over your old sailors' tricks any day.’’ Vaemond said begrudgingly but pressed the issue no further, Corlys Velaryon had been raised at Driftmark as a boy in the Narrow Sea, if there was one thing he knew it was the sea, and he could expect no raven from the city as if it were to be shot down it could spoil any chance of the plan working.
A quick word from Ser Androw Leygood also lessened Vaemonds concerns lightly, he had earned a link in studying Time and Seasons and the citadel and he said it was unlikely that the Narrow Sea would be beset by any major storm this early in the year, especially on a journey so short.
We shall find out soon enough Vaemond thought to himself as they made their way down the hill to join the main column, continuing their march to King's Landing.
Four Hours Later
Fields outside Kings Landing
The Lannisters had well and truly been taken by surprise. To be sure the presence of nearly 20,000 men, some 9,000 Crownlanders and 10,000 Reachmen could not be hidden for long, especially as they approached Kings Landing, but their silencing of the rebel scouts on the hills had allowed their march from the Great Fork river to remain undetected long enough so that when the Lannister freeriders had eventually spotted them, they had no time to prepare any meaningful defenses.
They had more than ample time to prepare battle lines however, and they were arranged in three massive lines outside of the city of Kings Landing, so many men that Vaemond could scarce make out where the rebel flanks ended.
The city stood well behind them, and the unfinished red keep shone in the afternoon sun upon its high hill, and further beyond he could make out a timber tower of the much smaller Aegonfort, where Nyel was. It was so maddeningly close he could almost reach out and touch it, so close but for the fact that 17,000 rebels stood between him and his sister.
‘’This will be a proper battle.’’ Ser Androw Leygood said, his belt of metal links glittering in the sun.
‘’Aye…a battle songs are sung of….the place where your father first landed and began his conquest will be where we won the victory to preserve his realm…there's some poetic justice in that.’’ Ser Harold Langward replied with a nod to the younger man.
His Kingsguard had been chattering amongst themselves for a good while, Vaemond was no stranger as to the reason why, a bit of banter before a battle helped calm the nerves, and despite Ser Androw Leygood and Ser Byren Royces undisputed bravery, he knew they were in need of some distraction, he was all to aware of the nerves that came on the eve of one's first battle from his campaign on Sunstone all those years ago.
Ser Roland Crakehall, the big Kingsguard was in stark contrast to his sworn brothers however, sitting his horse silently, his hand fidgeting with an amulet to the warrior. A quick look at the rebel battle lines made the reason for his attitude plain enough.
Vaemond had made the decision to lead and fight in the center flank, the place where a King's leadership was needed most. On the opposite side of their battle lines flew dozens of Westerlander banners, but one stood higher and grander than the rest, a black and white brindled boar on brown, the sigil of House Crakehall. The rebel center was commanded by Sumner Crakehall, a formidable warrior and Rolands father; his two younger brothers Damion and Maynard would also no doubt be on the opposing side.
Vaemond urged his warhorse towards Roland, and placed a hand on the big man's shoulder.
‘’If you would rather fight on the left with Corlys….I could scarce hold it against you….I won't ask you to fight your own kin.’’ Vaemond said.
Roland looked up with surprise, seemingly shaken from his thoughts before he shook his head ‘’The warrior would not be so cruel as to place my family in my path.’’
‘’You cannot be sure of that Roland…it has happened before…I need to know I can rely on you’’ Vaemond pressed.
Roland paused at that, his hand gripping his longaxe tied to the side of his horse, after a moment of hesitation his face grew determined ‘’You can rely on my Vaemond…..the kinslayer is abhorred by the gods, but if my father or brother are foolish enough to threaten you on the field of battle I will stop them…..my brothers have my size and strength but none are my equal in battle….I can stop them without killing them.’’
Vaemond nodded with relief, the Crakehalls were renowned for their strength at arms and skill in battle, if he was unlucky enough to come face to face with any of the three, especially Rolands two brothers, his big Kingsguard was the only one of his sworn shields with a realistic chance of stopping them.
‘’With luck it won't come to that.’’ Vaemond said, giving Roland a reassuring pat on the back before riding to the front of the battle line, after enough battles a man could sense when the battle was approaching, and he knew the rebels would make their move soon.
Corlys Velaryon would lead the left flank, he was one of the finest generals in the realm and Vaemond knew the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard would be of more use to him commanding a flank than fighting by his side. Corlys would have a difficult task as he would be facing the battle lines commanded by Loren Lannister, a man renowned for his quick wit, but the lord of Casterly Rock was not the only man with a sharp battle mind.
His plan will work Vaemond reassured himself, Corlys had never once failed either him or his father in his decades of service and the King had absolute trust in the man's ability.
The situation on the right was less certain. After Neilyn Reddunes death in the first battle of the war, Vaemond found himself with a severe lack of experienced battle commanders and turned to Cameron Massey, the Lord of Stonedance and overlord of Massey's Hook. Despite the fact that the man was one year older than the King, he had far less battle experience, he made up for it in bravery however and Vaemond was confident in his ability to do his part on the right flank against Lord Lefford of the Golden Tooth, whos own sire had been killed earlier in the war and Nunn's Deep.
Vaemond sensed a change in the air from across the field, the rebel commanders had finished their battle speeches and the rebel center was forming a formation of light cavalry and free riders, the time for battle had come.
The King had not been idle while the two sides massed for battle and raised a black gauntlet in the air, signaling for his archers to come forward and for his freeriders and light horse to form on their sides.
The rebel light horse began to thunder forward across the field, no doubt led by Lord Crakehall himself along with his sons, overall it looked to number near 1000 men, similar to Vaemonds own numbers.
Vaemonds archers had formed three lines of some one hundred men each and had knocked their arrows, each line would fire one after the other, much like how Corlys had employed his archers at the battle of Edgerton.
Drawing Blackfyre from its sheath, Vaemond raised it above his head and brought it down in a fast arc, while the serjeant of the first line gave the command to fire.
Unfortunately the wind was not on their side as a strong breeze was coming in from Blackwater bay, nevertheless some arrows struck their targets, and Vaemond could hear the screams from horses and men alike as they were hit with arrows or trapped under horses.
They managed two more volleys before Vaemond shouted the order for the archers to stand down and retreat behind the infantry, Vaemonds light cavalry, just under 1000 men began to form up in preparation to meet the rebels own light horse, Vaemond would leave his knights in reserve as he had done in every engagement of the war.
As they formed the wedge to meet the fast approaching rebels, Vaemond was reminded of the similarities to the first engagement of the war at Edgerton and his frantic cavalry charge, but unlike that fight this time he would not be outnumbered…this time the fighting would be even.
The time for words had passed, Vaemond gave a curt nod to a hornman mounted beside him, who signaled the countercharge.
The King would lead from the front as always, despite the close call on the walls of Greenfield, his resolve to lead where the fighting was thickest had not waned, he would lead the counter attack.
One more fight He thought to himself as they rode forward, one more fight and all of this would be behind them, one more fight and he would be reunited with Nyel and his daughter.
He didn't have long to dwell on this prospect however as the two sides rapidly closed in on one another, their war cries, screams, curses and shouts of fear blending into a giant roar, beside the King, Ser Androw Leygood raised the white standard of the Kingsguard above his head, fluttering in the wind.
The sound of two thousand horses coming together in a crash of steel and flesh was like no sound Vaemond had ever heard, and he hoped would never hear again, as men beside and in front of him were impaled, slashed or knocked from their horses only to be trampled below.
On his right, Ser Harold Langward slammed a shield into a Crakehall Freerider, sending him crashing off his horse and being dragged by his horse across the killing ground.
Vaemonds first opponent was a lancer in mail and boiled leather, wearing a surcoat of a blue hare on an orange field, the man, having missed his opportunity to use his lance found it cumbersome to use in such tight confines, but nevertheless thrust his lance past the Kings shield.
Vaemond, waiting patiently hacked the fire hardened lance point from the pole and followed up with a slash from Blackfyre at the mans chest, sending links of chain mail flying in all directions, and the man slumping into his saddle with a groan, clutching his bruised and cut stomach, Vaemond left him there, a wounded foe was a defeated foe.
Visible in the melee were several bright red shields painted with a white rose, which Vaemond recognized as being the banner of the Maidens Men, a company of Volantene and Westerosi mercenaries Loren Lannister had brought in from Essos to augment his own forces.
One such mercenary hurled a spear towards the King, and Vaemond saw Ser Androw Leygood collapse as the javelin hit him square in the chest of his heavy white enameled armor, sending him to the ground in a heap, his white Kingsguard banner enveloping him like a blanket on the ground, Vaemond quickly lost sight of him in the melee, and he could only hope his new Kingsguard had survived the hit, and would all the chaos that came with being dismounted.
A volantene with long black hair and olive skin rode at the King, lance lowered and Vaemond fumbled for his shield, waiting for the heavy blow, but there was no need as Ser Harold Langward impaled the man straight through the gut with a timely thrust with his longsword, nodding at the King.
Clear of the immediate fighting, Vaemond gave a look to his right and saw that Cameron Massey’s light cavalry had been caught up and were fighting a bloody engagement with Leffords men-at-arms, he tried to look to the left to see how Corlys was doing but in a battle of this size it was hard to see past the mass of men, or where one flank ended and another began.
He returned to the fighting, this time facing a rider wearing a surcoat of purple with 6 white bells.
The King briefly remembered that House Belmore of the Vale had come into some lands in the Westerlands some years ago, but his ponderance of minor politics in the Westerlands was put on hold as the rider spurred his horse at him, ax raised high in the air.
Vaemond gave a roar and rode to meet him, raising his heavy shield as the man's ax slammed into the metal with a clanging thud, the Belmore man kept up the attack and Vaemond was forced to block another strike with his shield, sending a tremor down his arms.
Vaemond, instead of attempting to block the next strike with his tired shield arm, leaned into the man as he raised his ax with a plated shoulder, stunning him and giving him time to bring Blackfyre upwards, cutting the man's leg and landing below his chin with a sickening crunch, the man gave a choked gasp and slumped from his horse to die among rebel and loyalist alike.
Vaemond urged his horse to a halt as the fighting continued in front of him, giving his tired arm a small reprieve, it was then that he heard the horn.
The Left Flank
The spear darted clumsily towards the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, slow enough for Corlys to grab the wooden shaft and wrench it downwards, the peasant freerider opened his mouth to shout but Corlys’s longsword took him in the side of the neck, ending his protests.
With the immediate threat finished, he paused and took stock of the situation. Loren Lannister had sent his freeriders forward in a charge while Corlys was in the midst of forming his own men at arms in a shield wall, and the suddenness of the charge had meant that his own unprepared men had been pushed backwards by their mounted opponents.
In a normal battle Corlys would have responded by ordering his own cavalry to attack from the flanks and envelop their opponents, but he resisted the temptation…he needed the cavalry far away from Lorens advancing infantry which was well behind the melee.
Corlys slammed his shield into another approaching freerider, knocking him to the ground. He supposed he should have fought dismounted alongside his men as being one of the only mounted men made him a clear target but Corlys was a knight and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, his place was ahorse.
The Lord Commander fended off a slash from a rusty sword with his own blade with a clash of steel before pushing the sword down into the man's neck.
A quick glance past the fighting showed that the time was now, Loren Lannister had sent his infantry and knights forward at an advance to join the melee between Corlys’s men-at-arms and the rebel freeriders, their backs turned to the city.
Turning around he raised his bloodied longsword and waved it in the air three times, the signal for the hornmen.
He had assembled an entire line of over a dozen men with large horns behind the battle lines to sound the signal, and the sound of their horns carried over the battlefield in a deafening chorus, causing many men to stop fighting in surprise, an uneasy tenuous truce hanging over the left flank as rebel and loyalist alike stopped to see the cause of the commotion.
Then the Heavy Iron Gate of the Gods swung open and three thousand men, both mounted knights and dismounted men-at-arms swarmed through the gate, their battle cry a deafening roar with the promise of death on their lips.
Corlys gave a grim smile as he watched the force thunder out of the Gate of the Gods, as he knew they would. It had been the Lord Commander's own plan to send some three thousand men north to the port of Maidenpool while the better part of their host, mostly 10,000 Reachmen marched directly to the city.
The winds were in our favor Corlys thought as the mounted knights charging from the city took Loren Lannisters exposed and surprised archers in the rear before turning their attention to the men-at-arms and knights, who were trying frantically to wheel their horses around against a force that had all the momentum. The 3000 men had been transported under the cover of darkness from Maidenpool to the docks of Kings Landing on the Royal Fleet's 50 galleys from Dragonstone.
Loren Lannisters freeriders had pulled away from the melee, and stood like deer in headlights, not sure whether to fight the foes in front of them, or the ones behind them.
The Lord Commander made the choice for them as he ordered his men at arms to counter charge Loren Lannisters calvary, trapping them between the slaughter behind them and Corlys’s angry men-at-arms.
Everything was going according to plan until Corlys heard shouts from behind him, and men pointing up at the sky.
A red crimson shape emerged in the skies above the city walls, a small dragon with horns white as bone gave a loud shriek that could be heard from all over the field, flying towards the battle, as the dragon got closer Corlys could make out a silver haired woman in its saddle.
The Queen The Lord Commander thought to himself with a start , though he could not help but smile, he had known Nyel since she was a little girl and was not surprised by her bravery.
My cousin sired two warriors it would seem Corlys thought to himself before urging his destrier forward to join the fight.
If the emergence of 3000 men charging from the gates into the enemy rear had demoralized the rebels, the emergence of a dragon, small one or not, truly shattered them and the battle quickly turned into a rout.
Corlys would smash Loren Lannisters left flank between his infantry and the sallying force from the city, while King Vaemond would throw back Crakehalls light cavalry into full retreat. The fighting on the right went on for a while longer as Cameron Massey’s infantry was embroiled in a brutal slog with their foes, but Queen Nyel gave the rebel right flank a taste of dragonfire and soon the rebel right joined in the frantic retreat.
The battle of King's Landing was a decisive victory for the Targaryens and their Tyrell allies and Loren Lannisters desperate attack towards the capitol had ended with disaster. Loren Lannister lost near a third of his host in the battle, with some 5200 men being killed, captured, or heavily wounded, mostly on the Lord Paramount of the Westerlands own flank as he was caught between Corlys Velaryons infantry and the sallying force, just barely escaping the battle.
The Targaryens' own losses were much lighter with some 1500 Crownlanders and Tyrell men being killed or heavily wounded in defense of the city, while Ser Androw Leygood of the Kingsguard would be found after the battle, heavily bruised but otherwise unscathed.
The smallfolk of the city would dub the fight ‘’the battle of the street of steel’’ for as the sallying force made their way down the streets of the capitol to the gate, smiths formed a line in the streets and distributed their wares to the cities brave defenders free of charge. King Vaemond would be hailed as the savior of the city, though the King would insist to his dying day that Kings Landing was saved due to his sister Nyels destruction of the Siege Engines and Lord Commander Corlys’s hidden force.
Four Months Later
Council Chambers of the Aegonfort
The war was over.
Four months had passed since the battle at King's Landing and things had only gotten worse for the Lannisters since then.
Shortly after the battle, the combined Dornish and Arbor force would finally force Casterly Rock into capitulation, and Loren Lannister's son and daughter, along with several nieces and nephews would be captured.
Shortly after, Lords Sumner Crakehall, and Lorent Lefford would lead 10,000 survivors of the battle at Kings Landing west in a last ditch effort to retake Casterly Rock, but they would be met by a similarly sized force of Stormlanders led by Boros Baratheon, the King's cousin, accompanied by 3000 hardened Tully levies.
The last significant host of the Westerlands would be crushed outside of Drox Castle which would be stormed in the coming days, and Lord Lorent Lefford of the Golden Tooth, whose own father had been killed at the Battle of Nunn's Deep, would be slain in the battle along with 2500 of his men.
Loren Lannister, for all his mistakes in the war was anything but a fool, and knew that with Casterly Rock fallen, his hosts scattered or destroyed and his vassals in the south capitulating or bending the knee there was no hope for victory and so after almost three years of bloody war that had left tens of thousands dead and much of the southern Westerlands ravaged, Loren Lannister surrendered, and was currently being confined within a tower cell within the Aegonfort, along with Lord Darklyn of Duskendale, Ronnel Arryn, Lord Paramount of the Vale had also been moved from Riverrun to the capitol.
The war may have been over but the work in restoring the realm had just begun for the King, thousands were dead, the southern flatlands of the Westerlands had been pillaged, the fate of the treasonous rebels had to be determined and the lords that remained loyal to the crown must be rewarded.
All these thoughts and more were swimming amongst Vaemonds mind as he took his seat at the wooden council chamber in the Aegonfort, where Vickon Greyjoy, Samwell Tully, Deria Martell, Boros Baratheon and Deria Martell awaited him, along with Matarys and Nyel.
The first order of business was to determine what was to be done with Loren Lannister, Rolland Darklyn and Ronnel Arryn.
Vickon Greyjoy was not hesitant to share his thoughts on the matter ‘’Their heads should already be on spikes……but not before taking Loren Lannisters hands and feet, I for one want to know if he really does shit gold before the end.’’
Boros Baratheon, comfortably reclined in his chair gave a bored nod of approval ‘’I concur.’’
Vaemond was not amused ‘’I value your contributions to the war Lord Greyjoy….but do not presume to ever mention such barbarity in my presence again…..whatever enmity you have against the Lannisters you more than paid it at Lannisport with your massacre….an act that went far beyond what was necessary.’’
‘’I of course do not advocate for such measures…but it is clear Loren Lannister must be punished, thousands of my people were killed fighting in the Westerlands….you would be hard pressed to find any of my people, from knight to fisherman who has not been touched by the death this war has brought.’’ Samwell Tully interjected, who despite being known as ‘’the Hotspur’’ cut a calm figure.
Deria Martell nodded slowly, the death of her son had clearly hit her hard and dark circles under her eyes were present.
‘’Loren Lannister, though a traitor is my own father in law and grandfather to my son Aumary, whatever his crimes he is the lord of a great house, not some brigand that can be strung up to the nearest tree…as great lords we are afforded certain privileges.’’ Theo Tyrell, who had been silent for much of the meeting replied.
Vaemond nodded slowly, studying the faces of his loyal Lord Paramounts.
They will not like this Vaemond thought to himself, looking at Samwell Tully, Boros Baratheon, and Deria Martell.
The King cleared his throat and rose to his feet ‘’My lords…..I thank you for your council….but I have made up my mind, Loren Lannister and Rolland Darklyn shall be stripped of all lands and titles….and will be sent to the Night's Watch to take the black.’’
His words caused an uproar as he had expected.
Boros Baratheon looked at his cousin coldly ‘’I never cared much for my father but he died fighting these rebels, as did Derias' son…and you mean for them to keep their heads after everything they are responsible for.’’
‘’There has been enough death cousin…..killing two old men won't bring back our dead…..I will not usher in the beginning of the peace with more killing.’’ Vaemond responded.
‘’My lord….my brother speaks truly, Lords Darklyn and Lannister are nobly born…and with their birth comes certain rights, to kill them would be poorly done, traitors or no.’’ Nyel said in a calming tone.
‘’Your decision to spare Loren Lannister notwithstanding, the Lannisters as a whole should pay for their treason, fines, loss of power, there is a saying that the Lannisters always pay their debts and you can be sure they will not forget this.’’ Samwell Tully cautioned.
In truth Vaemond had been considering removing the Lannisters as Lord Paramounts of the Westerlands and naming Robert Farman the new Warden of the West, but after the Lord of Fair Isles death during the war there were no other lords that had proven to be deserving of the honor, Lord Serrett had bent the knee of course but that had been done out of personal preservation and with no risk.
The King shook his head ‘’I will not fear the Lannisters, Loren's son and heir Damon is a witless fat fool, and craven if half of what I have heard….not the type of man to cause trouble…..and I will not destabilize the West by naming a new lord paramount when our efforts should be spent rebuilding the southern flatlands.’’
‘’It appears that we have determined what is to be done with Lannister and Darklyn, but I have heard no mention of Ronnel Arryn….he is just as much a traitor as the rest of them.’’ Deria Martell pointed out.
Vaemond looked towards Matarys.
‘’I have….formally petitioned my brother to spare Lord Arryn…I grew up under his roof and it would deeply grieve me to see him harshly punished….he is a good man.’’ Matarys responded.
Vaemond was inclined to agree, the previous day, Matarys had come into his chambers nearly on the verge of tears to beg for mercy for his old friend and Vaemond had agreed to speak with Lord Arryn.
The two had conversed for well over an hour in his tower cell, and Vaemond had come away from the meeting feeling almost sorry for the Lord of the Vale, who clearly had been misled and strongarmed by his warmongering vassals, what's more the man clearly had regret for his decision and Vaemond thought a year in captivity in Riverrun was more than sufficient punishment for the man, who the King had already begun to form a rather bizarre friendship with in their short meeting.
‘’Lord Arryn will be given a full pardon and welcomed back into the crown's peace….furthermore I have decided that he shall serve as Master of Coin.’’ Vaemond said.
Unlike with Loren Lannister, the Kings leniency towards House Arryn was not poorly received, in truth the Vale, despite raising 10s of thousands of men had made virtually no impact in the war, with their only military contribution being a small expeditionary force participating in the rebel victory at Peckledon and the destruction of Nestor Royces levies, though there were disturbing reports of a massacre of Nestor Royces smallfolk at the hand of some rebels.
‘’My lords, with the fate of Lords Lannister, Darklyn, and Arryn settled, it is time for your loyalty to be rewarded…..Lady Deria….you have suffered more as a result of this war than anyone present, I cannot give you back your son or repay the debt your family has paid…..but I will honor his sacrifice by naming you Princess of Dorne, and give your descendents the right to style themselves as prince and princess, I have made preparations for the crown that was once yours and your grandmothers to be returned to you as well.’’ Vaemond said.
‘’You honor my family, your Grace.’’ Deria said, a sad smile drawn on her tired face.
‘’In addition you shall be given a gift of some 270 gold dragons, and I swear that the Dornish shall always have a place in my court….my Kingsguard is in need of new knights and your lands shall be honored with a representative.’’ Vaemond continued.
Vaemond rewarded his cousin Boros Baratheon with a gift exceeding 500 gold dragons, he had won much glory in the southern Westerlands by storming castles and defeating Lord Leffords host, and in recognition of that the King offered the young lord the position of Marshal of the realm since Nestor Royce planned to retire after his uninspiring campaign, though Boros refused and stated his place was in Storms End, not training garrison levies.
Theo Tyrell, whose entrance into the war had well and truly changed the momentum, was given a position on the small council and the promise that in the future, House Tyrell and the Crown would be bonded through marriage.
Vaemond then turned to Samwell Tully ‘’My lord, no realm has suffered half so much as your own….and I have found your council today to be both wise and fair….I would name you Hand of the King.’’
‘’
‘’There is much work to be done….and it will be no easy task to rebuild the realm…but I accept, as is my duty.’’ Lord Tully said solemnly.
Vaemond then turned to Vickon Greyjoy ‘’Lord Greyjoy…..I am not blind to the losses the Iron Islands suffered during the beginning of the war….in honor of their sacrifice I am prepared to offer you 750 gold dragons as well as the right to style yourself as King of the Isles and don the driftwood crown.’’
‘’Your Grace….it is true the Ironborn suffered grievous losses against Loren Lannister, but their actions at Lannisport…’’ The new hand of the King Samwell Tully began but Vaemond raised his hands.
‘’Do not believe for a moment this means I approve of your butchery at Lannisport Lord Greyjoy….I mean for this to be the last time in my reign that your warriors are employed against my Kingdom….but two times my family has called upon your lands and both times they have answered…..I hope you make good use of the gold before you descend into whatever fiery hell you believe in….and make certain there is no confusion amongst your vassals as to the order of things… that despite your crown you are apart of the Kingdoms’’ The King said with ill veiled contempt.
Lord Greyjoy gave a nasty grin at that ‘’Aye….the natural order of things…you make no complaint about my men during the war but as soon as your crown is secure you greenlanders return to viewing us with contempt….I shall suffer your hate for a crown though….aye…a crown and gold.’’
Vaemond found himself with nothing to say to that and waved a hand in a brusque dismissal, the meeting was over.
In the coming days other minor appointments would be made.
Ser Lucas Blackwood, a riverman who had served with distinction at the defeat at Nunns Deep was made Commander of Kings Landing and the gold cloaks, while the stormlander Jon Penrose, Lord of Parchments, who had been Orys Baratheons right hand general and distinguished himself in the war by slaying Ser Daven Swyft in single combat was made Marshal of the realm.
The realm had achieved an uneasy peace, for how long only the gods could say, but as is often the case, peacetime is often the most fertile field for the seeds of war to be sown, and the only thing that could destroy the House of the Dragon was itself.
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I don't know if it was a good idea for Vaemond to let the ironborn consider themselves kings. We'll see in the future.
Vaemond proved to be a fair king, strong, but merciful to those who challenged him. Now he must rebuild his kingdom. Will he be the Jaehaerys of this timeline?
Vaemond proved to be a fair king, strong, but merciful to those who challenged him. Now he must rebuild his kingdom. Will he be the Jaehaerys of this timeline?
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That should keep the loyalty of the Iron Islands and Dorne for a while.
That battle was decisive, and hopefully this inaugurates a new era of peace.
The irony of Loren Lannister, who betrayed his liege and caused thousands of deaths, being known as "the Just" is... certainly present.
That battle was decisive, and hopefully this inaugurates a new era of peace.
The irony of Loren Lannister, who betrayed his liege and caused thousands of deaths, being known as "the Just" is... certainly present.
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Great job, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat (did war score exceed -90). The heir is so promising, tragedy must be awaiting her. Her stewardship potential already exceeds her parents and uncle combined (last episode). The queen has placed being a hero in the rear and is well on the way to being a legend. Thank you for the update.
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Finally caught up! Great battle scenes and the suspense of uncertainty. I fear for little Laena though, she's a genius heir with great potential and that invites all kinds of trouble.
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