Michael Mertyns – Various Locations
For the first time since his youngest boy was cut down by some northern savage at the Trident Michael Mertyns Lord of Mistwood was smiling wide. The day he had been praying for since he saw his son's lifeless body was here and he would do whatever he needed to see Robb Stark brought down.
Michael still didn't understand how so many of his fellow Stormlords could just accept being ruled by the Starks, he had been disgusted when he saw men he had long respected bend and grovel at Starks feet. True he himself had bent his knee and pledged his loyalty but his words were nothing but a farce unlike the Swanns, Bucklers and many others who all had been more than happy being ruled over by a godless savage.
As if being forced to bend his knee to Robb Stark wasn't bad enough the man expected Michael to just accept his wild brother and that ugly girl as his liege lords an idea which had almost driven him mad with anger.
It was because of all this that he had been delighted when he heard about Aegon Targaryen and his arrival at the head of the Golden Company. Michael had called his levies and marched out without hesitation determined that he would avenge his lost son and see a worthy king upon the throne.
King Aegon had welcomed him with open arms and promised that for his loyalty to the rightful rulers of the Seven Kingdoms Michael and his family would be rewarded greatly when he sat the Iron Throne. Pleased with this Michael had ridden by the king's side as he laid waste to much of Cape Wrath for refusing to turn away from Stark.
"My lords despite the refusal of many of its lords Cape Wrath is now by and large under our control" King Aegon said smiling with delight looking around the large solar in Griffin's Roost.
"Not without loss though your grace; Lord Connington assured us that the lords of the Stormlands would bend without objection yet since we landed only Lord Mertyns has come to our aid the rest have fought and bled for Stark" Harry Strickland said angrily his eyes looking towards his fellow sellswords who all nodded in agreement.
Michael looked to Jon Connington and could see that the former exile's face had grown red with anger no doubt remembering that his own family had refused to submit to the king and had to be brought to heal with steel and blood.
Without allowing for Connington to speak the king glared at the commander of the Golden Company for several moments before speaking. "True we expected the Lords of the Stormlands to rally to my cause but that was before we learned that many of those Stormlords had kin travelling with Rickon Stark and Shireen Baratheon, the Stormlords no doubt fear for their family members but when our men secure Rickon Stark I am confident that our allies will muster"
Unconvinced Harry Strickland merely nodded before the king spoke up once more telling those gathered about forces mustering in Dorne who the king and Connington assured them was a sign that the Dornish would soon be joining their ranks.
"Your grace with Griffin's Roost secured we need to decide our next course of action. Our scouts report that Robb Stark is marching on Bronzegate where the northern Stormlords are gathering and also that forces are mustering in several places throughout the Reach" Jon Connington said his voice angry.
"Where would you suggest we strike Lord Connington?" the king asked his hand who spoke without delay saying how they should ride in full force north and kill the usurper quickly.
Despite his desire to see Robb Stark dead he spoke out against such a move. "Your grace moving north now would be suicide, Stark would bleed us dry in the Kingswood and even if we could beat his forces there he could retreat to Kings Landing and wait while reinforcements arrive from the Reach, Vale and Riverlands and we would be outnumbered, surrounded and crushed"
"What do you suggest my lord" the king asked his voice strong.
Michael looked to the map laid before him and remained quiet for several moments before responding "we should head west my king and strike the Reach. Crush the Reach lords one by one using our cavalry and elephants before they can join together and lords who were always loyal to your family will stir and turn against Tyrell giving us the men we will need to beat Stark and take the capital"
He watched as the king sat silent for several moments looking at the map of the south before finally speaking voicing his agreement with Michael's plan. Over the next number of days the king broke their host in three the first commanded by the king, the second commanded by Lord Connington with Michael as his second while a third host of men would remain int he Stormlands drawing Starks attention.
Following his suggestion the king would lead his forces north west aiming for Grassy Vale and Longtable while they lead their men west securing Summerhall, Ashford and hopefully Cider Hall.
Riding west a week after Griffin's Roost fell he said a prayer to the Seven that the lords of the Reach would remember where their true loyalties lay unlike his fellow Stormlords. Lords who once again proved their cowardice when they remained holed up in their keeps even after he and his men had taken control of the still half ruined Summerhall.
"Father Lord Ashford's scouts have spotted us and have attacked a number of my men" his son and heir Steffon said concerned.
"The traitors have shown where their loyalties lie and will suffer for it" he said smiling before nodding to Ser Alester Flowers a captain in the Golden Company who merely nodded and rushed forward to prepare their half dozen elephants.
"Lord Mertyns the elephants and a third of our cavalry will go in first, only when we see their lines break will we commit our full strength am I understood and remember any man who lays down their arms are to be spared" Connington said his voice angry as usual.
Without saying a word Michael merely nodded and thought once more of the success they had thus far experienced since entering the Reach. Their host had so far crossed through the lands owned by a half dozen knightly houses who had all seen sense and bent the knee joining their merger forces to the Targaryen cause. True he knew they only joined out of fear but more would join freely soon enough when the forces at Ashford were defeated.
Looking upon the scrambling forces surrounding Ashford now he couldn't help but smile with delight. He could spot perhaps two or three thousand men flying under a half dozen Reach banners who would all soon die for their treason.
Watching, his smile only widened when he saw the elephants crash into the poorly defensive line before the Golden Company cavalry began cutting down and scattering the men of the Reach.
"Men of the Mistwood with me" he said in a fierce cry when he saw Connington give the signal.
Riding forward Michael let out a fierce roar the moment he cut down a man wearing a Fossoway red apple upon his shield before letting his anger take him over fully.
Slashing and hacking, stabbing and slicing he remembered cutting down a half dozen men and boys who foolishly attempted to get in his way before cheers of victory erupted from every corner of the now blood soaked field.
Looking up from the Ashford soldier he had just decapitated he smiled when he saw the bulk of the Reach forces were fleeing like cowards to the west with his son Steffon and his men chasing after them.
His happiness soon turned to rage however as his eyes fell upon the sealed gates of Ashford and the sight of hundreds of Reach soldiers atop the castle walls raining down arrow after arrow while all the while the crowned Stark banner was raised.
Mace Tyrell – Various Locations
His entire life Mace had done everything he could think of to ensure that his family were safe and powerful but for all the plans he thought up and all the blood he spilt he himself never came out on top or was recognised for all he had done.
Despite his initial hesitation about supporting King Robb Mace had been nothing but loyal to his daughter's husband and thought that when his goodson finally sat the Iron Throne that he would be rewarded and praised for everything that he had done but to his annoyance Mace received nothing but a few words while others were praised and rewarded.
True his children had prospered greatly and he was truely happy for each and every one of them but Mace couldn't deny that he was envious and angry that he wasn't recognised further which no doubt only fuelled the whispers and laughter that he so often heard at his expense.
He pushed his anger aside however for the time being and turned his attention to the matter at hand; the king had sent word that a false dragon had landed in the Stormlands and had ordered Mace to muster his forces to aid in putting a stop to his would be usurper.
Looking from the letter to the four people all sat around him he could see his mother was about to speak but before she had the chance he spoke out loudly drawing every eye to him. "Maester I want ravens sent to every lord north of the Cockleswent with orders to muster their forces at Grassy Vale and Ashford to protect our borders while a host is mustered here to assist the king. I also want word sent to the Arbor and Oldtown to have ships ready to defend our shores and move north if need be"
With a look of shock on his face the aging maester nodded and rushed from the room to send the ravens leaving Mace alone with his wife, mother and uncle. "My lord should we send word to the capital to ask for Lord Tarly or Ser Garlan to return?" his uncle asked.
Despite Mace's own inclinations to rely on Randyll of Garlan in matters of war he knew that if he was to ever to receive the acknowledgement he craved he would need to prove that he wasn't the fool others thought he was. "No Randyll and Garlan both will be needed in the capital should the worst happen" he said his voice confident bringing a surprising nod from his mother.
In the weeks that followed men began arriving from the lands closest to Highgarden as well as from the lands to the south sworn to Horn Hill, Brightwater Keep and every minor and knightly house in between.
"My lord your lady mother has asked you come to her solar immediately" one of his distant cousins said out of breath one morning after breakfast.
Nodding to the boy Mace made his way to his mother's solar joining with Ser Samwell Tarly, Lord Appleton, his uncle Garth, Ser Arthur Leygood and a few others who all had been invited my Mace's mother.
Entering the room Mace for a brief moment had been angered by the fact that his mother was ordering his bannermen around without discussing it; his anger didn't last however before it was soon replaced with confusion and worry at the sight of muddy and bloody knight sitting next to his mother.
"Good you've all arrived there is an urgent matter we must discuss" his mother said before Mace had the chance to say a word before she looked to the unknown knight who told Mace and those gathered of the attack on Ashford and the scattering of the Reach forces.
"What of the false Dragon" Samwell Tarly asked when the knight finished speaking.
"Before Lord Fossoway ordered me south we were able to capture a number of the Golden Company who told us that the usurper had broken his host in two and he led his half further north to attack Grassy Vale and Longtable" the Fossoway knight said brining worried looks from Lord Appleton and couple others.
After that the room began arguing over what they needed to do now. Mace listened to it all in silence before eventually banging his fists hard into the table stunning the room into silence.
"Our lands have been attacked and our people slaughtered" Mace shouted angrily drawing every eye to him. "This cannot go unpunished, I shall lead our mounted forces north immediately and break the siege of Ashford"
The words were no more out of his mouth when he saw the looks of uncertainty spread among three or four of his bannermen. "My lord we have no more than three thousand mounted men at present is such a move wise? Should we not wait for the remainder of our forces to arrive before attacking" Ser Arthur Leygood asked his voice quiet and fearful.
"No! Lord Tyrell is correct we need to push the Golden Company back quickly before they gain too strong a footing" Samwell Tarly said fiercely to Mace's relief.
Nodding to the Iron Slayer Mace explained his plan with renewed confidence telling those gathered that the foot under Lord Appleton would remain at Highgarden until the rest of the lords of the Reach arrived. While Mace would send riders to Lord Fossoway to reform the scattered army and begin attacking the invaders wherever possible until Mace and the cavalry could arrive.
That had been four days ago now and Mace was currently sat atop his horse fully armoured a couple miles from Ashford awaiting the return of Samwell Tarly and his scouts.
Since leaving Highgarden Mace had given responsibility of his outriders and scouts to the Iron Slayer who despite his age was a skilled soldier and commander just like his father.
"My lord the road is clear; the bastard's dogs will not see our advance before it is too late. A rider from Lord Fossoway met us a few miles west with news of a clash between his forces and those of Ser Steffon Mertyns. Fossoway has killed or captured Mertyns entire host of men" Samwell said with a small grin upon his face.
Smiling wide at hearing that those responsible for attacking his lands were beginning to suffer Mace ordered his cavalry to quicken their already fast pace.
He and his men came within sight of the Golden Company camp shortly after sunrise. From his position he could see that the camp had finally seen their advance and were frantically trying to ready themselves as best they could.
Pushing aside the fear he felt whenever he was close to battle Mace drew his sword and held it high and shouted out as loud as he could "for Highgarden and King Robb!"
Kicking his horse forward Mace saw scores of pikes being raised along the enemy camp but to his delight they were few and far between and were too late to stop the three thousand mounted men which were barrelling towards them.
Slashing his sword left he knocked one of the weakly held pikes to the ground before riding over the half naked man in his way. Ignoring the scream and the sound of the man's body being crushed beneath him Mace roared in anger as he swung left and right, stabbing and slashing as he and his men cut a bloody path through the enemy camp.
It wasn't until he was half way through the camp did he come against real opposition. "Tyrell scum" he heard the Golden Company knight shout angrily as he began a flurry of attacks on Mace's shield shattering the wood to pieces before finally driving his sword deep into Mace's horses neck killing the beast in an instant.
Cursing loudly Mace jumped from the falling beast with speed he hadn't seen in years rolling in the mud soaked ground. Struggling to his feet Mace turned and saw the bastard knight standing over him with his sword drawn back.
Closing his eyes images of wife and children rushed through his mind as he waited for the end which to his relief never came. Opening his eyes after several moments he could see the same knight which had brought him down fighting the massive form of Samwell Tarly.
He watched in awe as the large man smashed his massive axe time and time again against the knight until he fell headless to the ground.
Regaining his footing Mace nodded his head in thanks before looking around the battle field pleased with what he was seeing; everywhere he looked he saw men of the Reach slaughtering the foreign invaders.
"Slayer take your men and secure their elephants" he said loudly when he saw a dozen or so men attempting to let loose the beasts.
Mounting the horse his ever loyal squire had brought before him Mace cleaned away the mud and sweat from his eyes before once again roaring out a charge to finish off the enemy soldiers.
A task he was pleased to say was easily accomplished especially when the forces of Ashford came flooding out and attacked the enemy from the rear in a bloody slaughter destroying their remaining defense bringing an almost ear shattering explosion of cheers and chants of victory.
Ignoring the wounds and the pain he felt Mace joined in with pride and delight as screams of 'Tyrell' began echoing throughout the battlefield.
Notes
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