Seventh Month of 282 A.C. Kingswood
Lord Steffon Baratheon
This was it, the final battle, the battle that would determine who sat the Iron Throne at the end of it all. For one whole year they had been fighting, battles great and small and throughout them all there had been only one defeat during a skirmish with remaining royalist forces after the Stoney Sept. other than that all was going according to plan and with a raven arriving to announce that both Ladies Catelyn and Lysa had given birth to healthy boys things were looking good. From their scouts Steffon knew his cousin had finally seen sense and after naming Lord Chelstead as hand of the king had sent said hand as well as Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Jonothor Darry to gather the remains of the battered royalist host, Steffon had anticipated the sending of Selmy, and so had sent Robert out beforehand to deal the death kneel to that host. Selmy was dead and that portion of the royalist host was broken. The enemy had only some 30,000 men now, Prince Rhaegar having finally appeared from wherever he had been hiding.
Now though there was no time for thinking over too much about that. The fighting had begun, and Steffon in charge of the centre was determined to end this battle as soon as possible. The crashing of swords and the grunting of men fighting one another brought him back to the battle and the action. Swinging his sword, he cut down men, left, right and centre, breaking them against the trees he remembered from his youth. Swinging, hacking and cutting, breaking them down to size. His sword was getting redder and redder as the battle progressed and still more men were coming. Swinging his sword, cutting, ducking, blocking, feinting on and on it went, swinging, hacking, cutting. The battle raged on and Steffon Baratheon killed more and more men as the day went by.
The fighting raged on, Steffon and his men were pumped up and ready for this battle. They were hardened by half a dozen battles the royalists were not. And this showed in their lax approach, swings went awry, defensive manoeuvres were carried out with little to no patience. On and on it went, the trees began falling as the bodies began growing higher and higher. Blood stained his sword and his armour, his horse and he himself were panting heavily and the battle raged on. A swing, a block, a hack, a cut, this was the dance Steffon knew well, memories of the Stepstones came back to haunt him as he remembered his father's eyes as they went white after Maelys the Monstrous had cut him down.
It is whilst the sinking sensation grips him that some blasted idiot from the crownlands swings their hammer with such force as to knock him from his horse, the impact momentarily stuns him and in that moment the bastard swings his hammer once, and then twice knocking the wind out of Steffon. He manages to push the man's third swing back with what feels like all of his strength. The man falls back and Steffon staggers back up spitting blood out of his mouth, he begins moving towards the man, swinging his sword and connecting, once, twice, thrice, and then on the fourth time his sword pierces the man's neck guard and as he pulls his sword out, blood comes spurting out.
Shaking his head to clear the darkness from his head, he walks round the wood and sees the damage being done to the place of his youth. Something about it drives him onward, and soon enough he is back into the thick of the action. Swinging his sword, hacking and slashing like a mad man, cutting, ducking and dodging, doing everything his body will allow him to do to stay alive. He is dripping in sweat and blood and mud, and still he pushes on. Tiredness begins to fill his every movement and yet he keeps on fighting, swinging his sword, cutting through the throngs of enemy bodies that come passing by. Swinging, and hacking, and swinging and hacking. The pain continues to grow as does the tiredness and yet still he keeps going.
Somehow he manages to stagger through the mass of bodies alive and dead, and keep his head and his wits about him. His armour is covered in blood and dirt, and he is sweating something mighty, and yet still he continues. His sword is raised once, then twice and then thrice, cutting through the throngs as it so often does, and he feels something within him get weaker and weaker. Eventually a clearing comes into sight and he remembers their plan. One of his guards from Storm's End who somehow managed to remain by his side for the duration of the battle shoves an enemy soldier from his horse and allows Steffon time to get on it. Once he is on it, Steffon roars. "To the outside, out of the woods. Let the arrows be loosed." And with that he spurs his horse on and rides towards the clearing killing any who stand in his path.
As soon as they have made the clearing Steffon waits for a moment, a moment more and then asks. "Where is Robert?"
Ser Errold Fell says. "He was fighting Prince Rhaegar last I saw Your Grace."
Steffon feels something clench inside of him but his goodbrother Ser Lomas says. "He will be fine Steffon. He knows the plan. Besides their army is likely broken by now."
Sure enough some five minutes later Robert comes riding out roaring his triumph his hammer covered in blood, Lord Eddard and Lord Hoster beside him. "He's dead father, the dragonspawn is dead." Robert booms.
Steffon nods and asks. "Where are Lord Arryn and the Valemen?"
There is a long silence which is broken by Lord Eddard. "Lord Arryn died, killed by someone from the Dornish army. Elbert is leading the archers in firing the arrows." Sure enough, the blaze of the Kingswood begins after Lord Stark has finished speaking. The screams of the men trapped in the Kingswood will haunt Steffon for the rest of his days as will the sight of the wood up in flames.
Much later, after the flames have died down, and the army has settled into a camp and siege mode. Steffon calls a council and Ser Elbert, now Lord Elbert speaks first. "We brought one of Aerys Kingsguard with us. Prince Lewyn Martell, he surrendered once he realised that Prince Rhaegar was dead."
Steffon looks at the famed Dornish knight and asks. "Is this true Prince Lewyn?"
The man looks pained but still says. "Yes lord Steffon. With Prince Rhaegar dead I see no reason to continue fighting for a dynasty that has caused my family nothing but pain."
"So you would abandon your niece and great niece for this reason?" Steffon asks.
"I would do my duty to them and ensure they can be kept safe from the mad man that sits the throne. Two of my sworn brothers are dead, one remains in King's Landing a green boy. And the other three I know not where they are." Prince Lewyn says somewhat despondently. "I do not wish to keep fighting for a lost cause."
Steffon looks at the man, and then Roose Bolton speaks his voice calm. "How do we know the man speaks the truth? For all we know this could be a lie and more men could be coming right now."
The Dornish knight is far too tired to say anything so Bolton goes on. "I suggest we kill him Your Grace. And have done with it."
Steffon is silent for a moment and then turns to Robert and asks. "What of you Robert, what would you have done with Prince Lewyn?"
His son looks taken aback by the question but responds nonetheless. "He fought bravely today father. He killed Lyn Corbray and several other well respected knights. I say we keep him alive, as he could be useful in ensuring Dorne's loyalty."
Steffon nods and then looks at the Dornish prince. "Very well then. I shall have my maester attend to you Prince Lewyn, and you shall do your vows first."
The Dornish prince gets down on one knee grimacing as he does so and says loudly for all present to hear. "I Prince Lewyn Nymeros Martell, do hereby forswear any allegiance to King Aerys Targaryen and the Targaryen royal family. I do hereby swear my allegiance to King Steffon Baratheon, and his family from this day to my last."
"Rise Prince Lewyn. My Lord Commander, and now go and see to your wounds." Steffon says once the man has left, he asks. "What other news is there?"
Lord Elbert speaks. "The flames of the Kingswood eradicated whatever men had not already bent the knee of died during the battle Your Grace. There is no royal army left to speak of."
"What of those who surrendered?" Steffon asks.
"They are being held in a prison camp further along the barge waiting your orders." Lord Elbert says.
"Very well, keep them there until the city has been taken. Has there been news from Storm's End?" Steffon asks.
"Not yet no Your Grace. All we know is that Mace Tyrell and Prince Stannis discussed something or the other. What they discussed and what came of it we do not yet know." Lord Grandison says.
Steffon nods sighing. "We shall have to wait and see then I guess. Now what do we know about the defences of King's Landing?" after a year of fighting the city looms only some mile in the distance.
It is Lord Eddard who speaks. "Some 5,000 men who make up the City Watch is all that is left to hold King's Landing Your Grace. The Dornish retreated once they learnt of Rhaegar's death and have retired across the Blackwater Rush. The Riverlords and the vale lords who remained true to the Targaryens died during the burning of the Kingswood or fled. The city watch is all that stands before us and the throne."
Steffon nods. "But as this is Aerys we are discussing, there are some things that must be taken into consideration. Did we per chance capture Lord Chelstead?"
"No Your Grace. The man died in battle." Lord Hoster says. "Why might I ask?"
"Because as his hand, Chelstead would know of any schemes that Aerys is planning or plotting. We must ensure that Princess Elia and Princess Rhaenys are safe before we try and storm the red keep. That is where Prince Lewyn shall come into play. As well as whatever Dornishmen are left in the strands of the Rush." Steffon says.
"But what of the Tyrells and the Lannisters?" Lord Elbert asks. "Would they not take this time to come marching towards the capital as well? After all the Tyrells might seek to put Prince Viserys on the throne and use him as a means of power. Certainly Lord Tywin would try something like that."
Steffon sighs and says. "A valid concern my lord. But one that I do not think Aerys will worry about. He will be more concerned about ensuring that Viserys and Rhaella get off to Dragonstone."
"So what do we do?" Robert asks.
"We march for King's Landing and we begin to attack it. No matter the cost we shall have the city and we shall have it soon." Steffon says.
There is some murmuring at that, and then one of his squires comes up and says. "Your Grace, there is a messenger from Storm's End he says he has something urgent to speak with you about."
Steffon looks at Robert and says to his squire. "Show him in."
The messenger bears the Tyrell coat of arms and is panting and huffing as he speaks. "I have come bearing a message of fealty from the Tyrells Your Grace." The man says getting down on one knee. "In the name of Lord Mace Tyrell and the Lords of the Reach, I ask that you accept this offer of fealty. The lords of the Reach do hereby foreswear any loyalty to the Targaryen dynasty and pledge their undying loyalty and hostages to the Baratheon dynasty."
Steffon is slightly taken aback by this and he says. "Rise good ser. Now tell me what happened at Storm's End?"
"My lord of Tyrell and Prince Stannis began discussing terms after it became clear neither side was going to relent on anything other than their duty. And as such I am now here after a long discussion of terms and treaties. Lord Tyrell's men shall be coming soon enough to aid in the taking of King's Landing." The man says.