1st Month of 240 A.C. Western Bank of the God's Eye.
Prince Duncan Targaryen
They had been at war for nearly a year now, the Blackfyres had invaded Westeros once more and this time, it seemed they had forsaken all measures of chivalry and honour that they supposedly stood for, when Maelys the Monstrous and his men sacked Dragonstone, killed Duncan's brother Jaehaerys and killed and raped his sister Shaera. Their deaths grieved Duncan and angered him at the same time. Whilst he understood that Jaehaerys could have posed a threat and he hated himself for thinking that of his younger brother, Shaera was sweet and kind and innocent, she could have survived. But no, they were both dead and Duncan could not help but feel partially responsible for their deaths, for it had been his actions in breaking his betrothal to Lord Lyonel's daughter that had caused the Laughing Storm to break ties with House Targaryen and bring the Blackfyres the great house support that they so badly wanted. Duncan's own actions had encouraged Jaehaerys and Shaera to do the same and now they had lost three of the great houses and war was running through Westeros.
The war council that he was at now was a bleak one, it seemed the lords and his own father King Aegon knew or at least sensed defeat was on the cards. His father spoke then. "We all know why we are here. The Blackfyres are threatening King's Landing now, and are looking poised to do what they have not been able to do since Redgrass. We cannot allow them the chance to get to King's Landing, for once they do then there will be all kinds of chaos and destruction. Lord Celtigar what news do you have on their numbers and movements?"
Lord Adros Celtigar the new hand of the king after Lord Gerold's death spoke then. "The men of the Stormlands are now fully behind the pretender, they have stopped their fighting with the Dornish lords, and have marched to join the pretender on the eastern bank. They number some 8,000 men. The Golden Company that fights under the command of Ser Aegor Rivers stands at 7,000 men and then there are the forces that Lord Oscar Tully has brought to the table, they stand at some 5,000 men. Thus putting the rebel host at 20,000 strong or there abouts. From what my scouts have been able to tell me, it appears that the pretender has given command of the left to Lord Lyonel Baratheon and the Stormlanders might very well be the ones charging over the banks of the river in a first wave assault. Other than that details are sketchy."
That was grim news indeed, the lords of the crownlands had only been able to muster 10,000 men and they were still waiting for news as to what the state of the forces Lord Jasper Arryn had mustered would be. The man was marching down from the River Road now, but whether he would be able to reach the battle in time was a pressing matter. Lord Jon Darry who had remained loyal through thick and thin spoke then. "It matters not Your Grace. Lord Lyonel Baratheon is known as all members of his house are known, he is a hot head who will likely wish to cover himself in glory and try and personally see to it that any insult he feels House Targaryen has dealt him is personally avenged. That will mean he will likely bring his own men into danger that could be used against him."
Duncan looked at his father and could tell that the king was troubled by the thought of fighting his former friend and yet he still asked. "And what methods would you suggest to achieve this Lord Jon?"
Darry was a proud man, strong and tall and he spoke with a confidence that Duncan did not feel. "We set our archers out on the northern bank of the stream, and have them prepare for when Baratheon leads the charge which he will. The minute the Baratheon banners are seen, we tell the archers to lose all hell on them. Baratheon will die and his heir might be captured in the process. The Stormlords will be in chaos."
Duncan had to admit the plan had some merit but still there was a nagging doubt, one which it seemed his father shared. "And what if Baratheon decides to give the main command to someone else? Lord Tarth for example. It would not surprise me, Lord Lyonel has cunning and he will suspect we might try something like this."
Lord Darry it seemed would not be cowed though and ploughed on. "Then if Baratheon changes command, if he is craven enough to do that, then we alter the plan. Have the archers aim for the left flank and have them aim until they see the Baratheon banner fall, and then have them move about until they are facing the right and proceed from there."
At this Duncan spoke his voice questioning. "And why would they go for the right? If you mean to suggest the pretender will be there then I suggest you look again. The man will be leading the main body of the assault."
At this Lord Celtigar looks at him and asks. "What makes you so sure of that my prince? Daemon Blackfyre, is the man these rebels have named as their king. What makes you so sure they would be willing to let him lead in such a difficult position?"
Duncan is silent a moment and then he says. "Because that is what Daemon Blackfyre would do. He is a born soldier, according to what we know, he will not accept any other role. He will fight and die by the sword, and if that is the case then he will be in the position that will get him the most danger."
His grandfather Lord Seth Blackwood spoke then. "Prince Duncan is right. There is no point in trying to act otherwise. The vanguard of the enemy host will be commanded by the pretender, and it is there that we must turn most of our attention. Baratheon can be dealt with later, this battle must be won quickly and smoothly, and it will be won in the van."
There were murmurs of agreement there and then his father asked. "Very well then my lords. Who do you suggest commands the vanguard then?"
There were many clamours of hope, lords seeking to win glory during this final battle, but eventually Lord Casper Bar Emmon spoke and his voice quietened all others. "I believe that Prince Duncan should lead the vanguard Your Grace. The Prince is a proven warrior and commander, and he knows better than anyone some of what the pretender will try and throw at us. It is high time we matched the rebels with our own skill and tactics."
To his surprise Lord Marshall Darklyn, no friend of his spoke up in agreement. "I too believe Prince Duncan should lead the vanguard. He is the future of House Targaryen Your Grace, it will do the men good to see him leading them in danger."
The other lords spoke up in agreement and eventually his father raised a hand for silence and then said. "So it is settled, Prince Duncan shall lead the vanguard. As to the left, that command I shall give to you Lord Darklyn, station your men on the left bank of the western stream of the God's Eye and ready your archers for the fall of the Baratheons. The right shall go to Lord Jasper Massey, bring your men into a spear formation and have them fan out once the van hits the walls. I shall command the reserve."
There were murmurs of agreement, and then the lords were dismissed but before Duncan got up and left his father spoke softly, so softly that he had to strain hear what was said. "Be careful out there son. Do not do anything too foolish, we cannot lose you now, not with your brother a prisoner." Duncan nods and then walks out of the tent.
Later when he is armoured and mounted, Ser Osric Royce and Ser Jonothor Darry of the Kingsguard next to him he counts to seven and says a quick prayer before nodding to Ser Osric, and once the horn is blow he draws his sword and rides out to battle. As he thought the three headed black dragon of the pretender is flapping on the other side of the ridge, the pretender is commanding the van, Duncan feels his tension sore, but then soon enough he loses himself in the flow of battle. Swinging his sword left, right and centre, he cuts through members of the Golden Company one after the other, cutting and swinging his sword, hacking, ducking and dodging, men fall around him and still he rides on.
On the battle went, Duncan cut through three men one after the other, taking nicks and cuts as he went, but ploughing through them nonetheless, for a moment he wondered if the Golden Company had lost whatever reputation it had earned all those years ago. And then he saw Ser Aegor Rivers, Bittersteel the man was called, old he was, but he was mighty fine with a sword. Duncan watched hypnotized as the man cut through one, then two, then three, then four of the men fighting under Duncan, as if they were nothing more than rag dolls. The old knight spotted him and roared cutting through more men to get to him, as he got nearer Duncan snapped out of his own reverie and began preparing for the fight to come. Only to see Ser Jonothor Darry step forward, the knight swung his sword and then Duncan moved on. When he turned round later, Bittersteel was gone and Ser Jonothor was dead.
Shaken Duncan pushes that thought from his mind and turns to find himself face to face with a man with a dragon's helm on his head and two of his own white knights surrounding him. The pretender and he are to face off once more, they do not waste time with pleasantries, and instead they instantly begin locking horns. The pretender wields Blackfyre, Duncan a sword found in the vaults of the Red Keep named Truth, they hack and slash at one another, sometimes drawing blood or denting the other's armour, but most times the sound of steel on steel is heard. Since, the last time they met, Duncan has gotten better, no longer a squire he knows how to read the movements of men, but this pretender is good, almost too good, he swings and feints and Duncan finds himself, often just managing to bring his sword up in time to block one blow after another. The times when he is not quick enough leave his armour dented and blood pouring from a dozen wounds.
The fighting continued, Duncan swung his sword again and again, sometimes connecting with the pretender's armour, other times only meeting the man's sword to see the sparks fly and to hear the screech of steel on steel. The pretender managed to get more luck onto him, cutting him deep and far, his armour was covered in dents and it was no longer blue but red, of that much Duncan could tell. The world was growing smaller and smaller, and still he managed to lift his sword and try and fight, until he couldn't any more, Truth clattered to the ground as Duncan began to slump in his saddle, and still the Blackfyre continued hacking away at him. One blow then another rained down on Duncan and he soon lost all feeling in his body, he began losing control of whether or not he wished to remain on his saddle, and then his head connected with the ground followed by his body. And then the world went black, Duncan Targaryen Prince of Dragonflies died slain by Daemon IV Blackfyre during the battle of the God's Eye.