For those who are unaware, King's Landing is situated at the mouth of the river Blackwater rush, which lies to the south of the city. In the books and show, Stannis sailed from the sea to the river, and hence the battle was named 'Battle of the Blackwater'.

In this story, Stannis is marching to the city instead of sailing to it due to lack of time. He has a larger army as all the Stormlords and vassals of Dragonstone are on his side, and he gets some unexpected help soon enough.

Don't complain if you find some variations from the books. This is just fanfiction.

Anyways, hope you like this chapter. I kinda rushed through it.

Chapter 38

Blackwater Rush

Tyrion hadn't slept at all for one and a half day. Often he urged his body to steal an hour or two of rest, but his big head didn't let him. It all had began 3 days ago, when his 'father's' letter had reached him. The real message was well hidden for all eyes except him and Cersei, and that was the reason why Tyrion didn't disclose the letter to her.

The dwarf was sitting on his chair in the Tower of the Hand, examining the letter. It had his father's seal, though it was clear that Jamie had written it, he could easily notice it for Jamie wanted him to. Tyrion had wondered why it was Jamie writing the letter instead of Lord Tywin; and a vague answer came to his mind. Jamie has somehow escaped from Riverrun, and father was not well, or better, was in a worse condition.

Tyrion had replied about his plans of using wildfire on Stannis's army, and about the ample garrison of King's Landing. A day later he had gotten Jamie reply, and that was what had been giving Tyrion worries. The plan Jamie was using would always be on the edge of failing, but they had no other option. Stannis Baratheon was marching at them with an army of 30,000. Tyrion had about 2500 untrained mercenaries and gold cloaks in the city walls, along with 500,000 highly discontent common folk. Outside his brother was marching to their aid, with an army of 17,000 men.

Tyrion took a swig from his wine cup, and got up from his chair. It was time to work. He walked out of his chamber and the Tower of the Hand, his squire Podrick following him.

"Let's take one more look of the city walls Pod," Tyrion spoke to him, "before we are rudely called to battle by the city bells."

"My lord, I don't understand," the boy asked, turning a bright shade of pink while doing so. "Why has Lord Tywin not reached the capital yet? The Lannister army should have reached here way before."

Tyrion snorted. "Nothing has happened to the Lannister army that would've stopped their march. As for why they haven't reached here yet, you will find out soon enough."

"When my lord?"

Tyrion groaned and closed his eyes. "You will find out the very moment they will reach the capital."

Jamie looked at his newly modified host, and couldn't help but smirk. He had sent out men to find horses for his army, and they had come back with hundreds. "That is all we could find m'lord," one of the Mountain's men had told him, "the people weren't willing to part with them, but they can always be pursued." The man grinned a wicked grin.

"What's your name," Kevan asked.

"Polliver, if it please m'lord."

"Good work Polliver," Kevan said, "you have proven yourself as a valuable man." Jamie gestured him to leave, and Polliver left with a pleased look on his face. They resumed their march after unmounted knights were given the horses to ride, and the remaining few beasts were given to some other soldiers who claimed to be good riders. They had delayed their march slightly, to allow Stannis to reach the city first. He didn't want the Lannister soldiers anywhere near the city while Tyrion played his 'magic trick'.

"There is no host outside the city to meet us your grace," Ser Imry Florent informed Stannis, "but apart from that King's Landing looks ready for a seige."

"Chosen to hide, have they," Stannis smiled his thin lipped smile while looking at the distant Mud Gate. "Lannister cowards. Very well." Stannis turned to his army of 35,000 men, his strength being greatly increased after the Florents joining his cause. "Brave men," he began, his voice echoing along the bank of the blackwater rush. "you all have done well to follow me, the one true king of Westeros. This city," he pointed his magic sword towards the capital, "will be the first chapter in the history, of how I took back what was rightfully mine. Forward!"

They crossed the ford bridging the banks of Blackwater rush, and that was when Ser Imry noticed a slight flaw in their plan. There wer only 2 fords on which the Kingsroad was laid, and were too narrow for the whole host of Stannis Baratheon to pass. Imry was told that the Lannister army in the Riverlands was taken care of by Stannis, but he didn't know how and when.

Stannis and Imry were in the front line, laden with iron plate armor and mounted on handsome destriers. He was glad that for once that the Onion knight was not with them, and for good reason. How would a man without fingers fare in the front lines of the army.

Behind him and Stannis were three more lines of cavalry and infantry intermingled, and then the ford across which was the rest of his host. Ser Imry glanced up towards the walls of King's Landing, and noticed archers stationed there, ready to rain fire once their foe comes in range.

Stannis blew his battle horn, followed by the horns of the other commenders; his sire Alester Florent, Lord Estermont, Lord Penrose and others. Imry Florent himself blew his own horn, and their horns were followed by loud booing and cheering of the Baratheon soldiers.

The Lannisters blew their trumpets. Da-da-Da-da-Da, it sounded, a sound more coy than fierce.

"Charge," came Stannis's shout, and the army moved towards the River gate, eager to win their king the crown he so deserved. Imry urged his horse to move, and it soon was galloping at its full speed. Archers fired, but arrows were useless against the plate armor of the front lines. Only a few of them found the chinks, but luckily Stannis and Imry remained unscathed. Their own archers fired, taking down many Lannister men on the walls.

The arrows were followed by pitch, but it was not enough to break their charge. The pots of pitch only hit one men in a hundred, while the rest just fell to the ground, useless.

"Fire," a hoarse voice came and Ser Imry looked up, drawn towards the voice. He saw large circular pot being flung from the walls on the Baratheon army. More burning pitch, he thought, and continued urging his horse forward. However, his assumption was proved wrong when the things hit the ground, and chaos ensued everywhere.

Green fire had came out of those pots, and had thrown the Baratheon in total disarray. Imry's horse panicked as the flames reached its legs and doubled over, sending him flying in the air.

Wildfire, Stannis knew it the moment he saw it, and cursed himself. He was warned that this substance might be used, but since there were only few alchemists were left in the Red Keep, he didn't bother about it. However, the amount that was rained upon them was much more than he had expected. His army's lines were broken, and men were busy extinguishing their burning body.

Damn you imp. Stannis examined his dead horse, and the green fire around him. He pulled out his horn and blew, its ponderous sound filling the air.

A part of his reserves followed, knights and men at arms all clad in iron plate. The ford was serving as a bottleneck in the favour of the Lannisters. "The Imp won't be able to use this trick again," he announced to the survivors of the wildfire, "come with me and take this city!"

"Loose," came the shout again, and another volley of arrows were fired. Tyrion watched the survivors of his wildfire regroup, and a large part of Stannis's reserve crossing the ford.

"Throw more wildfire," Joffrey shouted, his eyes wide with glee.

"No one will do such thing," Tyrion countered. He had used the substance with great care, and so everything had worked well. Wildfire had served its purpose, and using more of it would be harmful for both the sides, as there was a chance that the city may catch fire.

He heard a shout from behind, and saw flames, green flames raging behind him below the walls.

"Someone dropped a pot," came a shout. Damn you fools.

He turned his attention towards the battle, and saw Stannis's barely reformed lines of battle approaching the city.

Now. Tyrion gave the signal.

Stannis charged, now on a different horse, with his army following him. His men had brought two rams along with them, capable to destroy the river gate in only a short matter of time. Arrows were still coming at them, and Stannis saw greenish tinge behind the city walls and the cries of men.

Then all of a sudden, the river gate opened, and out came a flurry of men, charging at Stannis and the others at full speed. "Attack," Stannis shouted, and his men followed, but his unformed lines were not fit to assault charging cavalry. Stannis brandished his sword, and shouted, "this is your moment men. Show them how righteous men fight." He hoped that his words would send some inspiration to his men.

The clash happened soon enough, and it was going far better than Stannis had expected. Baratheon swords were easily cutting through mail and boiled leather, while the sellswords' shortswords and lances were not doing a huge damage to his army. His urged his men ahead, and they obeyed. He knew that in this battle pushing forward was important, as it allowed his reserves on the other side of the river to cross it and join the battle.

Stannis had reached the gate which was now closed. That was when he noticed that the men sent out to fight them were too few to match his host. What was the Imp's play here. He looked back towards the river, and saw a solid wall of fire along the bank, which was blocking the ford and his remaining army. Stannis cursed. Tyrion Lannister had used wildfire very cleverly.

About two fifth of his forces had crossed the river, and were now fighting the defenders of the city. Still too few, Stannis thought, they will be defeated even if a large part of my army is on the other side of the river.

The men were busy ramming the gates, and the rest were fighting the Lannister soldiers. Stannis brandished his sword, intimidating his foes before killing them. Some were brave enough to come at him, but they fell to Stannis's superior swordsmanship.

The doors were about to break, and the heated clash between his and Lannister men was still going on. That was when Stannis noticed a movement in the corner of his vision. He turned to look, and was taken aback aback by what he saw.

Numerous Lannister knights were approaching them from the flanks, swords and lances held high. "Brace," Stannis shouted, but there was no way they could do that. The Lannister defenders were keeping them busy. Stannis looked back at his reserves, and saw them trying to put out the fire by water. It won't work, Stannis thought, wildfire can't be quenched till it burns out.

The Lannister knights soon pounced at his disarrayed army, and Stannis counter attacked. He took down knight after knight, and saw his men being flanked by Lannisters from both sides. He desperately looked back at the reserves, and saw them creeping into the fight from between the now reduced flames, giving him some relief.

Stannis fought on, at times urging his men to be brave. He made his way through the battlefield, and soon came face to face with the none other than Tywin Lannister.

Impossible, Stannis held his breathe. Tywin removed his helmet, and it was then Stannis found out his true identity. He was not Lord Tywin, but was Ser Jamie wearing his father's armor. How did he get here. He was a captive of the Starks.

"I was hoping to meet you here in the battle," Jamie said, and slashed with his golden sword, but Stannis blocked the attack with his own sword, "I have a few debts to pay." Ser Jamie finished with fire in his eyes.

Stannis didn't budge. Lannisters were usurpers and traitors, and Tywin Lannister deserved his end. Jamie attacked again. Stannis countered, and attacked in return. Soon enough, both of them were locked into a duel.

Stannis realized why the Kingslayer was a celebrated swordsman, for his blows were swift and accurate. Stannis met his blows with his own blows, for he could not retreat.

Davos had made it into the battle field, and saw everything in chaos. He cut down a man coming at him, and moved across the battlefield, intent on killing as many Lannister as he can before he fell. He then saw Stannis fighting with none other than Jamie Lannister. How did he get here. He was a captive at Riverrun.

Davos could see clearly who was winning. Stannis was relentless though, preferring to die rather that retreat. Davos moved closer, and saw Stannis's sword flying from his hand. Jamie's sword descended to give the killing blow. Stannis tried to block with his other hand, but to have it hacked off at the wrist by the Kingslayer's sword.

Stannis grunted, and now Jamie prepared to take his head off. "NOO," Davos shouted and threw himself at Jamie, knocking him down from his horse.

Davos got up, and noticed that Ser Jamie's head had landed on a stone, knocking him out. He turned towards his king, and saw his king had fallen down from his horse, and had passed out from his pain. The men had noticed it too.

"THE KING IS DEAD," someone shouted. Men saw their king lying on the ground in a pool of blood, and that was when Stannis army broke and fell back. Davos looked towards his king, and saw the blood flowing out of the stump, wetting and darkening the sand.

He crouched down, and lifted him on his shoulder. He looked aroung desperately for the King's knights and friends, but found none. Davos then ran towards the river along with other men with whatever speed he could muster.

The ford through which the men were fleeing was still on fire, and it would have been unwise for a man carrying another unconscious man to cross it. Davos moved along a shore, and found an abandoned fishing boat at a distance. He flung Stannis on the boat, sat on it, and moved off the shore.

The river was swift, and Davos was weary. He tried to reach the other bank as soon as possible, but the flow was taking them downstream. He eventually crossed the Blackwater rush, but they were far away from their army. Davos tore at his jerkin beneath his armor, fashioned a bandadge out of it and bound it on Stannis's stump. He then lifted him up again, and ran towards the direction where the army was stationed.

"We won! We won!" The men cheered.

"All hail Lord Tywin! All hail the Halfman!"

But Tyrion was silent. He had held his breathe for too long, and was now letting the panic pass out of his body.

"You should be happy my lord," he heard his squire's voice, "we won."

"We were lucky," Tyrion replied, "that Stannis fought and lost to Ja…that knight. If Stannis had kept fighting on and had never crossed path with him, his reserves would have crossed the river and butchered us all soon enough. We were outnumbered. "

This victory is not mine,he thought, but my brother's.

"My lord," he heard a call from behind, and turned to see a man with a stricken look on his face. "The king, he was going to the Queen, but he slipped my lord." The man closed his eyes. "He slipped and fell in the fire."

Oh this just keeps getting better and better. Tyrion thought of Cersei, and Alayaya, the woman Cersei had mistaken for SHae.

SO, did you like it?

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