Aegon
283 A.C
Stormlands
Aegon lifted his hand to call a halt to the marching army, he supposed armies might be the better word. Robert Baratheon called his banners to assemble in Summerhall the ruined castle of Aegon's ancestors that once tried to hatch dragons. To recapture what was once lost, but never to be regained again, foolishness to look to the past was a waste of time. The future is what mattered his ancestors claim is all he took from the past anything else was not needed. His father liked to tell him otherwise and Aegon took what wisdom the past offered and then left it buried. Their Army made camp on eastern side of the castle, an old half dilapidated fort.
Two stone towers remained the walls crumbled on all sides and several breaches made it shite to hold. But it was on a hill overlooking the open field to the west. To their back at the east was the Kingswood, an army would have march around them to even try to attack their rear. Outriders to the north and South kept any such notions. The South had the Dornish Red Mountains and a perfect view of any Dornish forces that might try them. They could if need be pick up and leave before any army dared meet them, as it so happened three armies would do as much. Robert despite Aegon thinking him a simple fool pleased by hitting things was quite the strategist. When the loyalist Lords came to Summerhall they would attack the first army that befell them. Keeping them off balance and unable to unite into a bigger threat.
"Gods what a day for war eh?" Robert rather casually approached Aegon without so much as 'your grace.'
"I've been fighting in Essos all my life; any day is good for war Lord Baratheon." Aegon quipped to the Stormlord.
"That must be the life! Good men, song and skulls to bash! I bet you and your brother got a tale for every battle you fought." Robert leaned back on his saddle, his horse in a yellow surcoat blew air and try to bite Aegons own horse. The horses almost mirrored their riders, Aegon didn't hate Robert nor was he that fond of him. He was a great warrior to be true but beyond that the man spoke only of fighting, fucking and, drinking. His cousin and him could talk and measure their cocks for days, but Aegon tried to keep his conversations with Lord Baratheon as short and civil as he could. Despite the man's constant efforts to forgo propriety and rank.
"Aye, I suppose he told you most of them," Aegon said dismissively.
Lost on Robert he threw a casual smack to his pauldron with a smirk. "He tells me you took a knife from a whore when you were pulling him out half naked and drunk from a Pentoshi brothel."
"Ah, he told you that one, did he? She plunged it into my side before my men came in and got us out." Aegon cracked a small smile, not his proudest or fondest of memories but his cousin had all but cut his own fingers off in apology.
"He did! If I had it my way I'd join you in that Sellsword band of yours. Gods those must have been some battles." Robert looked reminiscent, as if he had fought the battles himself. Robert wouldn't really fit in all that well. He wanted to leave Westeros everyone in the Golden Company just wanted to go back. Aegon entertained the thought to tell him the Golden Company would be no more after this. He would reward his loyal men, return what was lost and win the people his Targaryen counterparts mistreated. But he decided against it in the end, a man can dream after all.
"So, what about that wife of yours? I didn't get to see much wanted to leave as quick as I did." Robert shrugged off the previous conversation for a worst topic than his previous battles.
"My Queen Catelyn Blackfyre is a lovely woman, she will make a good queen and good wife." Aegon's reply was stiff and he turned his horse to move away from Robert.
The Baratheon Lord took it as an invitation, he rode next to Aegon, "She is a fine woman indeed, hard to think Ned's brother was almost her husband… fucking Targaryens." Robert's fury seemed to rise at the mere mention of his counterpart's name. Aegon himself held no hatred, he simply saw them as an obstacle to his overall goal. To claim what is his to forge ahead into a future worth the blood spilt.
"Yes, I assume Lord Brandon was a good man, as was Lord Rickard. From what I hear plenty of men lost their life when Lord Stark's brother was captured." Aegon tried switching the topic from his recent marriage to something else. He still felt odd about his marriage, originally Catelyn was to marry Brandon Starks brother to Eddard Stark. His father had other plans and instead married him to House Tully, the prospect of Queenship was all that Hoster Tully needed to agree. His second daughter marrying Ser Denys Arryn was just to sweeten the deal and seal a great alliance. Top it all off he also got a squire in the process of young Edmure Tully eager for glory short on brains at times. Also as what appeared to be Aegon's curse he liked to whoremonger, Like Velarion, Robert and now his squire. The gods had a queer sense of humor when it came to find him companions.
"I didn't know the man, but Ned loved him dearly. As any brother would love one another," Robert paused at the mention of brothers. "But it matters not, what matters now is to deliver justice for his lost for all crimes committed by the Mad King." Robert crushed the air with his fist his frame almost shook with fury.
"Your Grace! An army approaches from the West!" A rider shouted when he was within earshot. He came up short on the hill near them.
"What banners?" Robert put himself just ahead of Aegon, the outrider was one of his bannermen.
"A moon over green battlements Milord," the man dipped his head in respect.
"Lord Fell, the fool I never thought he would do this, we should assemble the army Your Grace," Robert finally addressed him properly and bowed his head respectfully.
"Yes, if we move quickly we can position ourselves on the hills the mountains to our right." Aegon turned his horse to face Robert.
"Then we shall meet Lord Fell on the field!" Robert turned his horse rode away to prepare. Aegon himself moved to assemble the Golden Company, with him was a partial force the company split between himself and his cousin Velarion. He took three thousand footmen, a good portion spearmen companies, and crossbow companies. Then he took a hundred knights, plus two hundred of their "special" Calvary. The flat open field was perfect, though even at the edge of the Stormlands Aegon hoped the weather remain fair and the ground remain dry and solid. Fighting in the muck and muddy ground was less than ideal. Worst when men died on it, the unlucky wounded who didn't get their wounds cleaned right away would die slow painful deaths. While their army assembled Aegon walked the ruined castle to find the remains of a small sept. he prayed for fair weather and for the lives that would be lost. He was as religious as a king should be, yet this was done out of heartfelt intention than to win over the Stormlords.
They assembled their fighting force on the morning of the next day. Robert left his levies to the rear, a rather honorable move. Marching out was four thousand footmen, some company of swordsmen, two longbow companies, some pikemen companies and spearmen companies. His vanguard consisted of some four hundred knights, Robert himself at their head. His footmen commanded by Beric Dundarrion of Blackheaven. Beric's father as with many other Lords commanded the companies, but Beric was given the honor to lead the whole of the footmen. Tristan Rivers commanded the Golden Company Footmen, while Balaq Black commanded the crossbowmen. Though he knew he prefer the bow, Aegon would have no other man command his missile infantry. With their armies settled Aegon and Robert beat Lord Fells men to the high ground. Their army lined up on the hill peeking over the horizon, the march made sure to last for the sun to be at their back. Their footmen lined up peeking over the hill spears and pikes stretching across the grasslands. The field below was flat and preferable for riding, To the north their cavalry guarded their right flank. The south was guarded by a hundred Stormland knights with Lord Ralph Buckler at their head.
Lord Fell lined his army similarly he commanded a force of two thousand strong, and two hundred knights. His forces mostly consisted of levies, and his trained men-at-arms made up the center of the formation. The knights split into two groups to guard the right and left flanks. While Robert and Aegon held the superior numbers in horses, Aegon made sure his special cavalry remained behind the hills for cover. They would engage the Fell Van and the special calvary would smash their center, for a decisive victory. Their armies were ready, Lord Fell did not seem ready to back down the time to move was now. Aegon donned his helm and drew Blackfyre, he used the sword moving it in a circle and then brought it down.
"Infantry march!" The command was given Beric led the march down as their combined arms in perfect formation moved against Lord Fell. From the hills, their forces must look like water spilling free from a cup that runneth over on wine. A horn blew to signal the cavalry advance and slowly they trotted forward as well. His special cavalry led by Franklyn Flowers, when Aegon gave the signal he would come down on the center. As expected if a bit messy, the levies of Lord Fell parted into a loose formation, his archers stepped up longbowmen at least two companies of a hundred men each. They knocked their arrows as commanded, and drew the bows.
When they angled their shots Beric gave the order. "Shields up!" trained and discipline the Golden Company raised their shields, their arrows flew from their bows with a dull 'thwang.' Like hard rain it fell on his men. The arrows finding very few marks, as some men fell down screaming. The Golden Company like clockwork tighten their formation to plug the gaps from any fallen soldier. The Fell longbowmen readies another volley, As they did so Aegon noticed their rear the Crossbowmen had made it to the hill. As instructed a horn sounded to signal their stop, as the company came to a halt another hail of arrows battered them dropping another score of men.
"Infantry halt!" Beric gave the command all the while holding his shield u up. They were only forty meters from Lord Fell's line. Over the Hill Black Balaq knocked bolts into their crossbows.
"Knock! Aim! Loose!" the commands followed through and the quarrels flew from their instruments. The levies with crude shields tried in vain to form a shield wall. But Crossbows were much faster than a longbow. The first volley devastated the line men fell screaming as steel met flesh in a chorus of carnage. From his vantage Aegon saw a bolt go clean through a man's eye, the time was now and Beric knew the opportunity!
"Infantry with me! Charge!" He lifted his sword and several horns blared. With a hearty yell, the companies moved as fast as their equipment would let them. the first line was met by the swordsman companies. Steel and flesh met in a display of death. Steel shone in the bright day, as the ill-equipped Levies met against discipline soldiers. The horn sounded again and Aegon resisted the urge to groan, Robert signaled the cavalry charge. Aegon would have preferred to let the enemy make the first move but Robert was eager if nothing else.
Aegon sheathed Blackfyre and grabbed a lance given to him by his squire. "Stick close, don't lose me and if you see anyone going for my flank give them a new hole to shit out of off." Aegon learned simple men like simple words, so he minced nothing fancy with the heir of Riverrun.
"Yes, my king!" Edmure was practically vibrating in his saddle.
Aegon raised his lance and roared at the top of his lungs, "With me beneath the gold, the bitter steel!" Aegon charged to the sounds of the Golden Company battlecry and steel clashing. His knights thundered across the field their horses neighing, knights shouting and the ground dug up by the hooves of their mounts. Lord Fell's Calvary reacted as expected and charged back. As they neared the knights lowered their lances for the clash. At the last possible second Aegon forced Edmure to his back, Aegon met the first knight his lance jamming into the mail shirt of his first kill. The lance pierced the mail leather and gambeson underneath before the lance snapped. The horses and men ran into each other, men flung from their saddles, some knocked other men from their saddles in their landings. The sound of horse screams drowned out the battle. Men yelled bloody murder as they clashed and men flew to the ground got trampled beneath hooves and heavy steel. The riders slowed down and the melee began, swords were drawn, others swung maces against the plate clad Golden Company knights. One of his men had his head smashed by a mace, the helm dented under the force and he fell horse on top of him. His body quickly disappeared under another and then horses trampled over them. Aegon drew Blackfyre the Valyrian steel sword caught the sun to almost shine as he swung the blade and cut down foe after foe.
Blackfyre cut down the sword bit into a man's shoulder, his mail shirt rings flung free as he cut a bloody path down and pulled the sword back out. Edmure met a man in plate and proved impressive skills to riposte the knights attack and drive his sword into his exposed neck. "With me men!" Aegon called out to rally his knights, they pushed forward Edmure to his right and another knight covered his left. Aegon hacked a bloody swath through the knights each kill had their blood splatter his black armor. A dark sheen of red began covering him his surcoat the only thing hiding the blood stains. The levies despite being barely trained held their center against Beric ongoing assault. His spearmen company formed a tight shield wall and through the gaps their spears thrust forward stabbing into gambeson and flesh. The screams of deaths became a background chorus befitting the song of war.
The sun slowly rose to mid-day after hours of fighting. Lord Fells right flank began to give way as his spearmen company pushed forward. Balaq meanwhile divided the crossbowmen to each individual flank to get a better angle and avoid the sun's glare.
"Infantry part!" Beric Dundarrions' command was shouted through the companies. The Center of their formation collapse the sides folded shields raised and the slower men caught by the now advancing Fell men. They thought this was a break after all, despite the obvious wall of shields and spears that once accosted them. The levies did not think Argon's army collapsed the center on purpose, three incredibly loud horn blares filled the air. From the hill, the special cavalry thundered across the massive beast began stomping towards the Fell center. Despite their size the beast are quite fast enough to make headway against their foes.
"By the gods, what are those?" Edmure pulled his horse back half distracted by the display.
"Elephants, native to Essos and my hidden card for this battle," Aegon swung his sword down cutting down another knight before he fell back to Edmure his men advanced and circled him to protect their king. The elephants massive in size stomped the field like no horse could. Their huge trunks swung and they blew through their trunks a sound similar to war horns. The lead elephant armored in a mail coat held Fanklyn Flowers shouted some profanities or other atop the castle on the elephant's back. A wooden box of sorts with makeshift mantlets with arrow slits. Four archers atop each plus the rider made the Golden Company's war elephants walking fortresses. The levies in vain tried raising their spears, the armored trunk just swept aside the spears like harmless branches on a tree before barreling into the Fell line. Men were tossed like wheat blown into the air. The unlucky sobs got impaled by the huge sharpened ivory tusk of the elephants before they were flung off them as the elephant shook its head.
"Flee the battle is lost!" Aegon heard the call but no retreat horn was sounded. The effect of his war elephants was all the same. Lord Fells forces broke all sense of formation was lost and his army began a full-on route. After the battle settled the dirty work started, Aegon ordered to strip the dead of anything useful. As he made the rounds he found Robert Baratheon, he had met Lord Fell in single combat and slew him which cause the route in his side of the field. Lord Fell's son who his men called Silveraxe was taken captive. Aegon as was expected gave Edmure praise for his valor in combat and ordered him to return to camp to tell the reserves to begin preparations to march out here and meet them.
Short after Lord Fell's defeat, Aegon had outriders dispatched to see where the routed army was fleeing to. Just less than two hours away Lord Craffen with an army of three thousand was marching to fight them as they spoke. Their looting and moving of bodies and wounded had to be cut short, so when Lord Craffen lined up his army again at the western side of the field. Aegon in similar formation met Lord Craffen. Even as they bared down on this new Lord word reached them of another Lord marching on their position as they spoke, Aegon with a fresh lance in hand sighed.
"It's going to be one of those bloody days." The Blackfyre king donned his helm and the battle began anew with the sounds of horns signaling the bloodbath anew.
Okay chapter two! I hope I improved please tell me if this is better than the last, I added more details and most certainly gave a clearer description of the field they fought on. I thought this might help with battle cohesion To answer some questions from previous comments now.
Ladyres: Lyanna didn't want to marry Robert because she believed he would cheat on her, so she runs away with a married man. Glass houses eh lads? But more to the point I believe Lyanna would have done fine as Robert's wife and Lady of Storms End. Robert is bull headed but so is her, in the end if anyone thinks Lyanna would let herself be walked over or have her husband whore around. You got another thing coming, I believe Robert would change for Lyanna and she herself would have a part to play in that. Robert wasn't a monster or an evil man. So let's not get those fanfiction views of him cloud cannon Robert.
Kaze: I never said quietly, like I said she told Robert her bastard lives or she doesn't marry him. If you think Ned would allow Robert to force his sister into marriage you're crazy. Anywho, I have other strong opinions on what Ned would do with a living Lyanna who confessed to running away with Rhaegar. But a two shot already exist on how I feel about that and a four-chapter story exist about how I think Lyanna would be if she hadn't run with Rhaegar. "The Realm Would Bleed." Look it up great little piece on how Lyanna would have married Robert. Also as I told the guy above, they actually would have made a decent couple once they saw they had some things in common.
