Episode 4 - Spring again
- 3 Chapters
Chapter 1: The Tourney Begins
The castle of Whitewalls comes alive with the bustle of activity as the tourney begins.
Amongst the crowd, many noble houses support their champions. Many wonder who the heir to Dorne supports as Prince Maron Martell entertains Stormlanders & Dornishmen in his camp, welcoming both Dayne's & Baratheon's.
Knights of renown & new contenders ride each day, interrupted by festivities & revelry. As the lists narrow, the final prize for the champion draws ever closer.
Ser Layn Lothston
"Layn the Fool"
Ser Merlyn of Saltcliffe
"Knight of the Conch"
Layn the Fool is unhorsed by a knight of low birth, a sailor they say, from Saltcliffe in the Iron Isles. The man plays the villain, reviled by many of the attendants, be it Rivermen or otherwise.
The struggle is fierce, breaking 3 lances before a victor emerges.
Ser Domeric Bolton
"Youngblood"
Ser Aemon Tarbeck
"Aemon the Lovely"
Next, Youngblood Bolton easily unhorses a Tarbeck spare, a boy of 17, still a senior to the Lord of the Dreadfort.
Lady Victoria Baratheon
"Thorn"
Ser Xander Rowan
"Xander Brutefist"
The Stormlords dominate the tourney grounds as both the daughter of Riverrun & the old Brute of Goldengrove are unhorsed, one after the other.
Antlered helms & banners of gold are hard to avoid for days.
Ser Gwayne Caron
"Gwayne the Spare"
Lady Atia Bracken
"Atia Stonemare"
Ser Griflet Massey
"Griflet the Pretty"
Ser Veynar Velaryon
"Veynar Sourwine"
The young Sourwine celebrates in poor taste after unhorsing Ser Griflet.
The boy is offended further when the heir to High Hermitage remains quiet after unhorsing Blackbeard on the same day of competition.
Ser Arstan Florent
"Arstan Blackbeard"
Ser Bodrick Dayne
"Bodrick the Bold"
Ser John the Fiddler
"The Mystery Knight"
Ser Loreon Reyne
"Stray Loreon"
Base-born contenders continue distinguishing themselves, as Ser John the Fiddler unhorses the youngest son of Castamere with barely any effort. The stray lion even presenting respects to the man by kneeling after being humbled.
In contrast, the heir to Heart's Home curses vile blood & fire as the lowborn Black Knight unhorses him after multiple passes.
Ser Akon of Bandlewood
"The Black Knight"
Ser Godric Corbray
"Godric the Valyrian"
With the riders worthy of the Champions title now in sight, Lord Butterwell announces that his grand prize will be visible for all to see during the next round of competition. So that the Knights might "ride under the eyes of the dragon" & prove worthy of its approval. So the old Lord proclaims.
Upcoming contests...
Chapter 2: No Bounds
If love knows no bounds, why should peace? Or prosperity?
On the isle of Tarth, on the eastern shore of the Stormlands, House Tarth, one of the Storm's End's principal vassals weds their heir Glendyn to the heiress of House Allyrion of Godsgrace, one of the vassals closest to Sunspear.
In the famed halls of Castamere, the most powerful vassal of House Lannister, Lord Reyne, weds his daughter Cyrelle to Ser Dommen, the heir to Pinkmaiden & one of the closest vassals to House Tully.
So be it Dornishmen or Stormlanders, Rivermen or Westermen, they celebrate matrimony that glues the realm together.
Chapter 3: Bonds of Strife
Where a pair weds in peace, another may wed in strife. As the Warden of the North brings his son & his brother to the Deadfort for matrimony - to take brides for Winterfell, news of further attacks frighten the crowds. House Harlaw has struck Barrowton. But they have been repelled after a brutal battle, the foe expecting a simple garrison instead of such numerical superiority.
Soon the two Bolton sisters are wed, their brother furious as word reaches him down south. The brides are to remain in their home - battles are to be won, dangers to be repelled. None may rest easy now.
