Episode 5 - The Joust
- 7 Chapters
Chapter 1: Ascendance
A distant memory, the spring fever is not. It strikes again when least expected, laying low the line of Tyrell. As Lord Deonte & his daughter are taken quickly, a new line ascends Highgarden's halls, the line of Lord Eldon. Strong this line grows, as it grasps outward, reaching out to Tarly & Redwyne, with its branches extending to many more.
The Reach is the largest kingdom by population. But why should it not
be even grander? Unfathomable amounts of resources are directed
toward the Shield Islands at the mouth of the Mander. While Lord
Eldon elevates House Grimm above the other bannermen, granting
them new lands & titles as principle bannermen, grooming their
rise, he invests heavily in a deep port, with battlements & shipyards,
a true western shield for the Reach & a new vassal at Highgarden's
doorstep.
While the timber & stone travel to Greyshield, brides travel to Essos.
House Tyrell weds a daughter of Lady Redwyne to House Rogare of Lys.
Ser Anthon Rogare weds Selyse Redwyne at the palace of the magister,
all funded by Highgarden.
Chapter 2: The Black Bride
At Harrenhal, a secretive union is held as the Riverlords tire with other affairs. The Black Bride of Harrenhal weds Ser Darrin Vypren at the ruined keep beside the God's Eye. The ceremony is said to be strange & occult in nature, but rumors have a way of running rampant when it comes to the cursed castle.
One wonders, if they had climbed atop the largest remaining tower, if they would have seen troops marching south, or the lights of so many camps, so far away.
Chapter 3: Hunting Harlaws
Ser Killian watches the harbor of Sisterton as a merchant fleet departs. He himself sits at the helm of the most decorated fleet in the north, commanding its flagship with the younger brother of Lord Manderly himself. To his left, his cousin Sigmund gains his first experience at sea. The Dustin brothers lead a Galley to his right. Two Daughters of Driftmark lead his Vanguard. They all wait for the Flagship of this Essosi fleet. As it leaves for open waters, they strike.
A notorious Ironborn captain, the brother of Lord Harrald Harlaw leads this fleet. They sail in hard, since they don't know the man, they'd rather destroy a few extra ships, sink a little cargo, than let this Ironborn lord escape.
The battle is brief but brutal, with the Manderly fleet sinking around half the merchant ships before sailing off & away.
Chapter 4: Death upon the Vale
The young lord of Willow Wood walks across the harbor with his guard. He does not belong here at Gulltown. He is a guest of the city's Lord, here to ask for his daughters hand in marriage. It is not a public proposal, that much is true, but nonetheless he does not hide in the shadowy halls of a distant estate.
He believed it to be a good idea, his grandmother had said as much, but as he is beset upon in the open market, things change. From one moment to another, sailors attack his guard, the men are cut down quickly. Brigands of a famous merchant in town, cutthroats & villains. As he flees, his pursuers are intercepted by Knights of the Vale, members of the Arryn household. The fight is fierce as the Knights are outnumbered. Some reach Lord Ryger, but a struggle ensues again, as the men grab & tear at the boy, trying to subdue him.
As he is dragged away by the Knights of the Vale, the sailors catch up to them. One never considers a commoner to best a knight. But in an alleyway by the harbor, too tight to swing a sword, surrounded on all sides by men who's grandchildren may eat from a bounty earned, one shall never be so sure.
With ten dead knights & just as many guardsmen, Lord Rygers corpse is taken to the Grafton estate, so his bones may be delivered back to Willow Wood, for his grandmother to mourn over.
The merchant in question is caught fleeing, his silent affair now louder & more brazen than anticipated. At his trial he blames Lady Peggy Tully, begs for clemency but is condemned nonetheless. Lord Rossard Grafton executes the man at the scene of his crime. The smallfolk gather in droves. At the execution, Ser Geoffrey Morrigen stands with the Grafton family as Ser Rossard announces:
"Tully or Arryn, the spokes of this wheel are greased by villains. The young man needed not die, but he was perceived to have become an inconvenience. Not the safety of our streets, nor the laws of our crown, or the sanctity of our gods is worth its weight in iron to these lawless men of Riverrun & the Eyrie. Gulltown is not a fortress, divided by mountains & rivers from you, the people of the realm. It is a city, one of many, that holds the beating heart of the realm in its embrace. The crown will hold those responsible to the laws of gods & men alike. I will make sure of it."
Chapter 5: The Iron Price
Ser Tom Blackwood stands at the shore of the Cape of Eagles. His plan is perfect. He has negotiated the release of the young heir of Seagard for a large sum of coin & supply. What Harrald Harlaw does not know however, is that he has also positioned a Mallister Army at his back & hidden all around the rocky beach, led by the Lord of Seagard himself. He has also perched catapults atop several ridges & hills nearby, with fire-rafts waiting to be lit. He won't chase Harlaw away like the northeners did at Barrowton. He will sink their fleet & drown their men.
That is what he though of as he nearly killed
his horse fleeing south. It had all gone so well
in the beginning. He had begun negotiating,
even had seen the actual Hoster Mallister, still
alive. Then his trap sprung. Mallister men
flooded the shore, fighting the sailors,
catapults fired stones into the decks & rafts
began to float outward. He had not expected
them to spring a trap of their own. But then,
they were set upon, from the rear. Like a fish
out of water, they were attacked by Ironmen
racing downhill from inland.
Lord Harlaw held the shore. Meanwhile, a force thrice his strength had disembarked near the neck of the cape & marched westward to the shore. First they silenced the catapults, then the archers. Lastly, Ser Tom watched the "Old Dog" felled by Lord Greyjoy himself. He arrived at Seagard under siege & kept riding. South to Raventree, home to his niece & nephew. The news reached him there. Much of Seagard had been razed, the town burned, the castle stormed.
Somewhere near the Street of the Sisters, great wagons are loaded, tens of wagons, with care & attention, by men in dark cloaks, men with pale dragons upon their shields.
The wagons roll uneasy over the cobblestone as rain drowns their worried creaking.
Toward the Iron Gate they travel.
Chapter 6: Fleabottom
Even in their absence, the many bastards of Aegon the Unworthy still cast long shadows over Westeros. The Raven's Teeth are one of these shadows. When Bloodraven was spymaster for King Daeron II. he created for himself a group of skilled archers, strange sullen men with weirwood arrows, men chosen by him to do the strangers business. When Bloodraven died at the Redgrass Field, command was passed down to a younger son of Greenpond, a Ser Lucas Vypren.
Now it seems the Raven's have returned to their roost. 140 dangerous men camped outside the Iron Gate, the same men that slew Daemon I. Blackfyre & two of his sons, now parade through the capital as if recalled to duty.
Under the same rainy sky, northmen march in lockstep. Some dornishmen & even Goldcloaks are mixed amongst them, as they approach Fleabottom. The men of the Raven's Teeth are halted with two dozen wagons. Half of them come up empty, beds of straw, with the clear imprint of amphorae, clearly removed just newly.
As guardsmen open the remaining vessels, they view an iridescent green oil, a mesmerizing liquid, worth its weight in gold - Wildfire. Enough to level the Great Sept of Baelor & Fleabottom alike.
20 men are taken to the Red Keep, to be held responsible by the crown. The remaining Wildfire is returned to the Alchemists Guild, but the missing half still lays within the walls of the city, as the gates close that night.
Ser Arstan Florent
"Arstan Blackbeard"
Chapter 7: Fear & Loathing at Whitewalls
Dragons are born amidst fire & smoke. It is not known if this Egg was laid on Dragonstone, or in the capital. Or on any of the Targaryen princes' many voyages. But as Lord Butterwell's pages present the treasure to the gathered lords, they fail to supress their awe.
So with it perched atop the stands as this rounds contenders ride, Butterwell appears to be in particularly good spirits.
Ser Merwyn again proves himself worthy, as he unhorses Youngblood, greeted by protests & indignation amongst certain lords. Rowan & Reyne, Tarbeck & Corbray.
Ser Merlyn of Saltcliffe
"Knight of the Conch"
Ser Domeric Bolton
"Youngblood"
His baseborn brethren, the "Black Knight" disappoints however, as the man is said to have fled in the night, unable to handle the competition ahead.
Ser Akon of Bandlewood
"The Black Knight"
Ser Gwayne Caron
"Gwayne the Spare"
Who will ride against the ferocious second son of Nightsong? Lord Butterwell is to decide. But rumors already spread. A tumult, an uproar, as Knights demand it must be Prince Maron, the heir to Dorne, to put the Marcher Lord in his place.
Lady Atia is amongst the agitators, insisting that not only honor, but spectacle demands such a momentous duel. Overexcitement by a former victim of Ser Gwayne's natural talent.
Even Ser Gwayne himself is unsure, caught discussing the upcoming contests with Lady Baratheon in heated vigor.
Prince Maron Martell
"the Summer Heir"
Lady Atia Bracken
"Atia Stonemare"
Departures & arrivals also affect the attenting
Lords as both Florent & Waynwood leave at
the eve of the next joust, hearty goddbye's
spoken to Ser Godric Corbray.
As one patron leaves, another arrives, as Lord
Puparo Lannister arrives at Whitewalls with an unusually large guard.
It is said that the Lannister Lord inquired if his brother Marcus may take the place of the departed Black Knight, or any willing contender
for that matter.
Lord Wilhelm Waynwood
"Willy"
Lord Puparo Lannister
"Clubfoot"
The joust continues in an uproar of surprise. As the Martell Prince enters the field, to the protest of experienced men such as Ser Bodrick, Ser Gwayne readies his lance.
They begin to make their passes, but the Marcher Lord's demeanor is grim. Prince Maron's horse seems unsteady, agitated. The Prince is known as an exceptional rider & keeps the steed under control but Caron is hesitant. On several passes, he does not swerve or strike where a hit would have clearly defeated the Prince.
On their fifth pass, the dornish mount charges the tilt, almost vaulting toward Ser Caron. There is a moment of hesitation. The right strike could change the realms future, could place him before his brother, even unite the Marcher Lords. And as many a new found friend, many an ambitious lord holds their breath for a proper thrust, Ser Gwayne pulls on his reigns & drops his lance into the sand.
The Prince's steed still falls, injuring Maron on impact. But the worst is avoided. As he looks onto the crowd, Reyne & Massey, even Sourwine turn to leave in disapproval. Leaving behind an injury stricken Prince & a beautiful dornish horse foaming at the mouth.
Lady Victoria Baratheon
"Thorn"
Ser Veynar Velaryon
"Veynar Sourwine"
Many worry about the Prince's wellbeing as maesters flock to his side, but the next contender is in no mood to be delayed & so Butterwell decrees the joust to continue. Lady Victoria is sure to check her horse twice over after witnessing the clear tampering before.
But even with a proper mount, Lady Baratheon lacks a proper opponent. As the joust begins, the boy Velaryon rides hard & aggressively, aiming his lance too high, trying to hit her visor. As he breaks two lances at her collar, splinters coming dangerously close to entering her helm, her squire warns her that all his lances have snapped at the exact same point below the tip. Her attendants try raising the issue but are dismissed by Butterwell. As she looks down toward the field of tents, the Prince lying amongst them, she considers to concede.
Then the boy begins to rouse the lords. He spews about Prince Maron & how "the Princess won't want a cripple" after he's recovered. The same few names laughing each time. She watches Ser Caron approach her side, clearly coming to tell her to concede. He will remain of course, he will win. So boisterous & full of himself last night, now he comes to tell her to concede? To return to Storm's End, without glory or proof of conquest. She closes her visor before he can approach. She will lay this youth low & then she will tear down this entire conspiracy of traitors.
Songs will tell of Whitewalls. Of all that happened here. But little consolation is that to the ones that are yet to suffer.
Veynar Velaryon finally finds his position on her collar. The lance breaks just as it is supposed to, the force throwing her down with a thunder. Lady Victoria Baratheon views the open sky from her visor, feeling the warmth spread underneath her armor.
Onlookers run in muted shouts. A large splinter has burrowed itself upward, from beneath her jaw, up behind her eye. As her helm is removed the gruesome image draws gasps.
Veynar is heard saying "what a Thorn" as absolute chaos erupts. Ser Caron, Dayne, Lothston & several squires rush the other end.
The violence boils over as the crowd begins rushing onto the field. Butterwell's guards form line, Reyne, Bolton & Corbray amongst them. But so many run outward, toward the camps & tents, attendants & nobles alike, some trampled, some pulling back their guard to leave the tiltyard.
Ser Layn Lothston
"Layn the Fool"
Ser Bodrick Dayne
"Bodrick the Bold"
Ser Kermit Tully
As the chaos subsides & the attendants are scattered amongst their camps, some are turned away as they try to depart. Houses Martell & Lothston return to the meadow with news. The woods around Whitewalls have swelled with troops. Multiple camps dot the Landscape, forming a ring around the castle. Thousands of men, different banners, some even without, hundreds of Knights as well.
Lord Butterwell's messengers begin to scour the camps, flanked by guards. The Egg has disappeared in the chaos. The tourney grounds are to be canvased, each tent turned upside down.
Reyne, Rowan, Tarbeck & Bolton have been given leave to
depart. All others remain. The Martell camp provides
healing to its Prince while the Baratheon camp stands vigil
& prepares funeral rites amongst the fear. The Dayne's
remain close while the Caron's have pitched at a distance.
A rumor begins to spread, that House Stark, absent from
the tourney, has orchestrated the misfortunes of Lady
Victoria, aiming to remove her from a lucrative position at
court - a potential appointment to the King's Small Council.
A large camp holds many members of House Tully, while the Lothstons stay nearby. The force of House Lannister clusters around their Lord zealously.
Ser Loreon Reyne
"Stray Loreon"
Ser Aemon Tarbeck
"Aemon the Lovely"
Ser Xander Rowan
"Xander Brutefist"
Ser Domeric Bolton
"Youngblood"
Ser Griflet Massey
"Griflet the Pretty"
Ser Godric Corbray
"Godric the Valyrian"
Soon, two forces leave castle Whitewalls, around 500 men each, one consists of Rivermen, led by Ser Godric Corbray, the other seem to be Dornishmen, led by Ser Griflet Massey. They will travel through the camps, digging up the earth if they must, charged to find the missing Egg. Quickly, as the search begins, attendants start to disappearing within the castle. Butterwell assures the lords they are not captives. Justice will be served at Whitewalls. They must remain until it has. But the army surrounding them makes his words ring hollow.
The slumbering giant of Whitewalls has awoken. In blood & treachery, now all pay the price. May we leave this accursed place before another tragedy strikes.