Jon Cuy I – Old Oak
Jon Cuy second born son of Lord Reece Cuy stood on the deck of the warship 'Wave Cutter' next to his father. His father had lost part of his left ear taking Southshield which seemed to please him; "sign of a decent fight" is what he kept saying.
Jon had been sent to foster at the Pillar when he ten, his father hoping that he would befriend his future liege lord Rickard which had worked, Jon considered Rickard to be his closest friend and thought Rickard felt the same.
Jon's older brother had been left at Winterfell in charge of the Cuy men that were to march south with Ned Stark. Jon was pleased with this as it would mean his father got the chance to see him in battle and get the chance to prove himself to not only his father but the other northern lords.
Taking Southshield had been relatively easy Lord Serry had only left a token force there to guard his people which was a huge mistake. Fighting beside his father and fellow northmen the garrison of 200 didn't stand a chance, more than half of them were killed while their losses were minimal. Jon killed two men that day and would have killed more if there was any left.
His father had even congratulated him declaring him a Cuy man in front of their men. They had celebrated that night Jon even lying with a women from the town for the first time.
That was nearly a week ago now and he felt that that was only going to be the start of the campaign in the south and there was going to be much more victory ahead.
"Stop your dreaming son we have a castle to take and fights to win" joked his father.
He was right they were just off the western coast of the Reach and were planning on taking Old Oak ancestral seat of house Oakheart a castle ten times larger than Cuy castle in the north.
Old Oak was more than ten miles inland so they would have to travel overland for several hours in darkness through rough terrain but it would be worth it for the plan Rickard had thought of was smart and would keep their losses to a minimum.
Just as the sun was rising they came into sight of the Castle and the surrounding town. With over 1000 men left to guard their ships they had roughly 4000 men with them which was more than enough if the Shield Islands were anything to go by.
Rickard had tasked Jon and his father with taking the castle from the inside with 500 men while Rickard would take the rest of the men and secure the town and draw the castles attention while they attack from the rear.
Jon heard the horns signalling the attack had begun on the town and not long after he heard the sounds of battle, the clashing of steal and the screams of the dying.
A scout returned saying the plan was working that most of the guards that were near the rear of the castle had moved to the gate to reinforce for an impending attack.
"Good we will show these southerners what men of the north can do!" his father said. Looking at the men gathered his fathered told to have 100 archers in place below walls of the castle and kill any guard they see, while the rest of the men scaled the walls.
Receiving the word from his father the men all moved towards the castle, the archers taking their positions killing any man that could see to cover their approach. The ropes were thrown over and Jon was the first to climb and the first to reach the battlements.
Finding his footing he drew his sword and looked around two men bearing the arms of house Oakheart were approaching but before getting the chance to fight they were felled by the archers below, cursing he along with a few of others sprinted inside the first tower knowing there would be men to fight there.
Entering the tower he was confronted with two more men at arms, he surprised the first one with a quick slash to the neck and while he bleed to death on the floor Jon turned his attention to the other the bigger one of the two.
This was the fight he was looking for since landing in the Reach. His opponent was a skilled fighter for every hit Jon landed he received one in kind. Fighting in such close quarters had proved to be the man's downfall.
Jon was able to direct the man over to where his friend had just been killed which caused him to stumble momentarily, this however was all Jon needed to find a weak spot in the man's armour which Jon drove his sword into causing the man to cough up blood before falling down in a heap on the ground.
Looking around the tower he saw his men had also been successful in their own fights, the ground was littered with the bodies of fallen Oakheart men while there only seemed to be handful of northmen.
"Clear every room in the tower and bring me any hostages" Jon ordered his men. He himself took two men and cleared the first room he came across.
Within a few minutes the tower was cleared and Jon had escaped with only a few scrapes. Leaving the tower with the bulk of his men he spotted his father in the yard fighting three men at once with a smile on his face.
Jon then saw that the gate had still not been opened and was being guarded by a large number of enemy soldiers, his father had been held up it appeared.
Taking his men and the men being led by one of lord Fishers sons he wasn't sure which one he gave orders to secure the gate.
Charging forward he brought his sword down with all his strength on the first man he came to taking his arm clean off at the elbow. His screams echoing before Jon stabbed him in the chest.
He felt a pain in his back the like of which he had never felt and looked around to see an arrow sticking out and saw a crossbowman attempting to reload.
Fighting through the pain he cut and slashed before finally trusting his sword handle deep into the man.
Feeling dizzy now from loss of blood he steadied himself before moving and saw that his men had managed to kill those men guarding the now open gate and that droves of northmen were swarming in killing all those who opposed them.
Jon smiled then before passing out with blood loss.
He woke in a large room with his father at his bed side, "Did we win father?" Jon asked his voice weak.
Turning his father laughed and said "Aye we won thanks to you getting the gate opened in time we would have been outnumbered otherwise".
His father told him how that there was near 1000 men that had made up the garrison holding Old Oak more the double what they thought would be there. And the men that had climbed over with them would have severally outnumbered if Jon hadn't gotten the gates open.
"So he's awake is he bout time I thought he was going to sleep through the rest of the war" Jon turned to see his friend and lord Rickard in the doorway with a smile on his face.
"Aye I'm awake I couldn't let you have all the fun now could I" Jon jokingly responded.
They talked for a few more minutes his father and Rickard telling them that they lost over 400 men taking the town and castle and that the Oakheart men had lost nearly double that.
That evening a feast was held to celebrate their victory and Jon was introduced to Lady Arwyn Oakheart a tiny woman with her she had her 3 children the youngest of which Arys was looking at Jon's friend Rickard with awe and fear.
Jon couldn't blame the boy from what Jon had heard Rickard had killed dozens of men between taking the town and the castle. Jon had heard that his friend was being called the warrior reincarnate and had earned the respect of all his Lords and men.
Jon was brought out of his thoughts when he noticed many of those in the hall were looking at him.
His father all but dragged him off his seat and pushed him to his knees in front of Rickard who looked at him in the most serious way he had ever seen.
All Jon could see was his friends black eyes glaring at him, Jon was afraid he had done something to upset or anger his friend before he could ask Rickard began speaking loud and to all in the hall.
"Jon Cuy those of us in this room owe or lives to you for what you did today opening that gate saved countless lives and ensured our victory"
Jon looked on in amazement as his friend and Lord took out his sword and placed it on his shoulders and spoke even louder than he had previously.
"I Rickard Frost heir to the Pillar and the Western Shore to dub you Jon Cuy; Ser Jon the Gatebreaker, defender and saviour of all who stand before you. Rise now Ser Jon"
Jon rose and turned to see every man in the hall standing and shouting "Ser Jon"