Arthur
"Who would pass the Bloody Gate?" asked the booming voice of Ser Hendry Hersy, the Knight of the Bloody Gate. Hendry was a tall and barrel-chested man on his early fifties with a bushy black beard and balding head.
"Ser Arthur Arryn, captain of the Gulltown chapter of the Warrior's Sons, and with him seventy-six knights of the order, as well some two hundred volunteers who have joined us to fight for the cause of King Lucifer Justman in Riverlands," Arthur responded with a formal tone.
Ser Hendry gave an approving nod, and so the gates were opened for them. On the other side the Knight of the Gate approached Arthur while the hundreds of mounted men poured through.
"Another war in Riverlands, aye?" he spoke with an attentive gaze in his green eyes. "You think this Lucifer Justman truly has a chance in overthrowing the rule of the Storm King?"
"It's hard to say," Arthur admitted with a sigh. "Regardless, it is my duty as a Warrior's Son to support his cause."
For a moment Hendry remained silent, just eyeing at the men riding past them. "My nephew, Addam Hersy, died in the last war," he spoke up again with a solemn tone on his deep voice. "It was… hard for my brother to accept the loss of his only son. In fact, I think he still struggles to cope with it."
"I understand," Arthur said with a humble tone. "Many good men were lost to that war."
"I see many young men marching with you, Ser Arthur," Hendry said calmly, putting a hand on the old knight's shoulder. "Try to bring as many of them back home alive as you can."
"I will try," Arthur responded with a deep sigh. "By the Seven, I will try."
The ride down the high road was burdensome and bleak, and not made at all easier by the heavy rains that pestered them from the fourth day onward. However, at least they were numerous enough that no clansmen marauders dared to bother them. During the eight day the sun began to shine again, and during the ninth they made their way past the foothills of the Mountains of the Moon and to the forested borderlands of the Riverlands. Few hours past noon they were approached by half-a-dozen riders clad in blue tabards with three red martlets on a white bend. House Grell, Arthur recalled after having thought about it for a moment.
"You the Warrior's Sons from the Vale?" asked the young man with long auburn hair, who was leading the Grell soldiers.
"Aye, we are!" Ser Eddard Egen yelled an answer before Arthur could. "And who are you, boy?"
The redhead looked taken aback by Eddard's tone, but answered nonetheless. "I am Ser Jon Nutt, here by the command of Lord Grell to escort you to Harroway."
"Good afternoon, Ser Jon," Arthur spoke up with a calm and polite tone. "I am Ser Arthur Arryn, captain of these Warrior's Sons. We've come to aid King Lucifer in his cause."
Jon Nutt nodded to Arthur's words. "His Grace is waiting for you in Harroway. There is to be a royal wedding in three days."
That evening they arrived at the old inn at the crossroads, where Arthur enjoyed a few horns of ale together with Eddard Egen, Gareth Grafton, Osbert Shett and Jon Nutt.
"Lord Charlton garrisons Castle Darry, holding Lord Darry and his family hostage," Jon explained in-between sipping his ale. "Saltpans have also surrender to Lord Harroway's men. Practically speaking, we control everything east and south of Goodbrook. Except for the Trident Hall, of course, that's still held by Lord Robert Blackwood."
"So, that's where we'll strike first?" Gareth asked eagerly, and Jon nodded to him. "After the wedding, yes," he confirmed.
"Taking Trident Hall won't be easy, especially if Lord Robert has been preparing for our attack," Arthur pointed out.
The Nutt knight gave him an unconcerned glance. "I have a feeling that Lord Harroway will find a way," he stated nonchalantly.
"Lord Harroway is to lead the assault, then?" Arthur asked sternly.
"Together with King Lucifer and Captain Hill," Jon answered. Arthur nodded tensely. He knew Lord Osmund Harroway to be a decent man, but he knew nothing of King Lucifer, and he had always considered Ser Harrold Hill to be a needlessly brash and cruel man. Perhaps he has been tempered by age.
They arrived at Harroway an hour after the noon next day. The modestly sized town at the southern bank of the Trident was protected from south, west and east by twenty feet tall wooden walls. Some parts of the walls had been rebuilt since the last war, where Darklyn forces had breached them and sacked the town. Right now, outside those walls was camped an army sworn to King Lucifer Justman. Aside from the banners of the Warrior's Sons and House Harroway, Arthur spotted the colors of Smallwood, Vance of Atranta, Keath, Blanetree, Ryger, Haigh, Grell, Piper and Lolliston. At quick glance, he estimated their numbers to be well over seven thousand.
Riding through the muddy streets of Harroway with his lieutenants and Ser Jon Nutt, Arthur could still notice some signs of the sacking. Here and there could be seen ruined houses, which had stood abandoned and derelict for the past sixteen years. The town was clearly less populated than it had been before the last war, and the people that were on its streets looked tense and fearful at the sight of soldiers, especially the older folk. And who could blame them, Arthur thought grimly.
At the center of the town stood the Harroway Tower, a bulky stone roundtower surrounded by a twelve feet tall curtain wall of stone. Arthur thought it was a rather modest seat for a house as prestigious as the Harroways, but then again, in his experience the river lords in general cared less about flaunting their wealth than those of the Vale.
In the courtyard they were welcomed by a sturdy knight of the Warrior's Sons, with a bald head, scarred face, a shadow of a beard on his strong jaw, and dark blue-grey eyes. "Captain Hill," Ser Jon Nutt greeted the man with a respectful nod, and only then Arthur recognized him as Ser Harrold Hill. Years have not been kind to him, he thought. Not that I have much room to speak.
"Ser Arthur Arryn," Harrold greeted him with a tense but respectful tone, offering his hand. Arthur shook the man's hand and gave him a polite nod.
"I was wondering if you'd still lead your men personally," Harrold said calmly, studying Arthur with his eyes. "No offense, brother, but you're getting old."
Arthur chuckled slightly at the man's words. "You don't look quite as young anymore either, Ser Harrold," he replied nonchalantly. "You've even lost your luscious locks of hair."
"I prefer to keep my head shaven these days, makes things simpler," Harrold responded with a thin smirk. "Anyway, there is to be a war council within an hour. You should come." Having said that, the bald knight turned his eyes to the six lieutenants Arthur had brought with him. "There's no room for all of your men, but you may bring two with you if you wish," he stated and took his leave.
Arthur turned towards his lieutenants. The first choice was clear. "Ned," he said without hesitating. Ser Eddard Egen was the man he trusted most in this world, his dearest friend and closest advisor. However, the second choice was harder. Ser Perros Hawick was a riverman, and perhaps the most eager of all his lieutenants to serve King Lucifer. Ser Lambert Stone on the other hand was a shrewd man with a keen military mind, someone certainly well suited for a war council. And then there were Ser Gareth Grafton and Ser Osbert Shett, the youngest of his lieutenants – the future of the Gulltown chapter.
"Ser Gareth," Arthur finally decided, and a surprised but pleased expression took over the young Grafton knight's face. "I'm honored, Captain," he said with a grateful tone.
"You will be there to watch and learn," Arthur said strictly, before turning to the remaining four lieutenants. "Rest of you, return to the camp."
The war council was held in a large room on the fourth story of the tower, with several narrow but tall latticework windows opening a view towards the river north of the town, as well as the farmlands and woods beyond it. The room was already crowded with people when Arthur, Eddard and Gareth made their entrance. The men had gathered around a long table, though none had yet taken their seat. They're waiting for the King.
"Ser Arthur, welcome," a calm and polite voice spoke, and Arthur shifted his attention to the man approaching him. He was a slender man on his mid-forties, with a narrow cleanshaven face, short dark brown hair and sullen blue eyes. He was wearing a rather simple attire of a dark grey tunic, black wool breeches and worn leather boots, the only real indication of his noble status being the golden brooch depicting a trident pinned on his chest. Some fine lines had appeared on his face that hadn't been there when Arthur had last seen him sixteen years ago, but he still recognized those sad eyes to be Osmund Harroway's.
"It's been a long time, Lord Harroway," Arthur responded politely, to which Osmund nodded.
"Indeed, I wasn't even a lord when we last saw each other," he responded with a thin smile. However, that smile faded quickly, no doubt because of the painful memories from the last war surfacing. Osmund had lost a father, uncle, aunt, two brothers and a sister to that war.
"I've been told your daughter is to marry King Lucifer," Arthur quickly changed the topic.
"She is," Osmund confirmed tensely. It wasn't hard to see the thought troubled the lord. "Myrcella is a proper and good young woman. She will do her duty, as we all must."
Arthur narrowed his eyes and looked at Osmund for a moment, before nodding slowly.
"We've yet to meet King Lucifer," Eddard Egen calmly joined the conversation. "I take it he is a good man?"
Osmund nodded, considering his words for a moment. "His Grace is young, and still unexperienced as a king," he said with a small sigh. "He needs guidance, but he has already proven himself a pious and determined young man. He will be the king of Faith that these lands deserve, but first we must win this war for him."
"Indeed," Arthur agreed quietly.
"Excuse me, sers, I should go check if His Grace is ready," Osmund Harroway spoke tensely, and with a small nod he took his leave.
Looking around the room, it was clear to Arthur that the atmosphere amongst these men sworn to King Lucifer's cause was tense. There were no smiles, no laughter to be heard, only quiet mutterings and stern faces. And no wonder, this was after all a collection of men who had either been defeated in the last war or changed sides since then.
Making his way closer to the long table with Ned and Gareth, Arthur took his place next to a haggard looking man on his late thirties, with greasy slicked back dark hair, close-cropped salt and pepper beard, small green eyes and dark bags under them. He was dressed in a simple brown wool doublet, a bright yellow cloak donned over it and fastened with a silver clasp in the shape of a seven-pointed star. Next to the man stood a slightly crouched old man, dressed in white robes that Arthur recognized as belonging to a septon. The old septon had a mostly bald head, with some white hair remaining on the sides, and a wrinkled and pasty white cleanshaven face. All in all, Arthur deduced that this man was even older than himself. However, the look on the septon's blue eyes was surprisingly sharp for his advanced age.
"You must be Ser Arthur Arryn of Gulltown," the man in yellow cloak spoke up, his voice polite if a bit uneasy. "I am Lord Tommard Smallwood, the Lord of Acorn Hall. This here is Septon Lewis, my dear friend and wise advisor." The septon nodded at Arthur with a kindly smile.
"Your father fought for Lord Roderick Blackwood, did he not?" Arthur asked with a raised eyebrow.
"And I fought beside my father," Tommard was quick to confirm with a subtle gulp. "I saw him fall in the Battle of Six Kings, trampled to death after being knocked off his mount by a knight of the Warrior's Sons." Tommard's lips formed a thin and joyless smirk. "That sight never left me. To this day it haunts my dreams. Septon Lewis tells me it is the gods reminding me of where the path of sin leads. You see, my father was not a godly man. No, he was a drunkard and a whoremonger, and he spat on the Faith. He was my father, and I loved him, but I've known for a long time that I must choose a different path."
"Which is why you've chosen to support King Lucifer's cause," Arthur deduced calmly, and Tommard nodded. "I wish there was another way," he said grimly. "But if another war is required to undo the sins of the past, then I have no choice but to fight on the side of the Faith."
"I understand," Arthur muttered with a sympathetic tone. He wanted to say something more, but before he could the door of the room was opened once again, and in walked King Lucifer Justman, escorted by Ser Harrold Hill and Lord Osmund Harroway. The young king was a fair-haired and comely lad with blue eyes, reminding Arthur somewhat of his grandnephew King Oswell back in Vale. His Grace was dressed in lavish silks and velvets in white, blue and gold, and on his head rested a crown of silver and gold. With a haughty expression on his boyish face and with determined steps King Lucifer took his place at the head of the table. The lords and knights in the room all bowed for the King, before also taking their seats.
"Mylords, I would like to welcome the newcomers, who have joined our host since the last war council," Lucifer spoke up, his voice tense. "Lord Lucas Grell," he continued, looking at a sturdy man on his late fifties with a light brown hair and bushy greying beard, who at once stood up as the King spoke his name.
"Your Grace," he said with a deep bow. "It is an honor to finally meet you in person. Together with Lord Charlton and Lord Haigh we have worked tirelessly these past few months in securing the regions north of here for your rule."
"And I've heard you were even successful in capturing Darry," King Lucifer said with a thin smile on his face. "For that you have my utmost gratitude. Once we've taken Trident Hall, I would like to discuss further with you, Charlton and Haigh about suitable rewards for your valiant service."
"I am deeply honored, Your Grace," Lord Grell said with another bow, and after King Lucifer gave him an approving nod he sat down again. Then the King turned his gaze to Arthur. "Ser Arthur Arryn of the Vale," he spoke with what looked to be a genuinely delighted smile.
Arthur stood up and bowed for the King, as did Ned and Gareth. "Your Grace, I have arrived here from Gulltown to support your cause in overthrowing the Storm King's illegitimate rule over Riverlands. It would be an honor to serve you in pursuing that goal."
"The honor is all mine," Lucifer responded smoothly. "You have a reputation as being the very ideal of a Warrior's Son, Ser Arthur, which was why I knew you would answer my call. I was holding out hope that perhaps King Oswell would join you as well, but alas."
"King Oswell has told me he is open to making an alliance with you in the future, Your Grace," Arthur said carefully. "However, for now he considers marching against the Storm King too risky of an endeavor. That said, hundreds of knights, squires and freeriders from the Vale followed me here as volunteers."
"I see," King Lucifer said calmly, lightly tapping his fingers on the table, the smile on his face having grown slightly smaller. "If King Oswell requires proof that I am a worthy ally to him, he will have it soon enough when I take the Trident Hall."
"It's one thing to take a castle, Your Grace, and another entirely to hold it," Gareth suddenly spoke up with a nonchalant tone, and Arthur shot the young knight with a meaningful glare.
"What my young lieutenant, Ser Gareth Grafton, is trying to say, Your Grace, is that the Storm King will surely retaliate," Arthur spoke with a conciliatory tone.
"Of course he will," Ser Harrold Hill sternly spoke up. "No one in this room thinks the war ahead of us will be easy. Yet it is our duty to return Riverlands under a rightful king and the Faith of the Seven, is it not?"
Arthur let out a small sigh and nodded. "It is our duty, yes," he agreed. "However, I cannot help but be concerned about all the death and suffering this war will surely bring. And if we fail, if it is all in vain… I cannot see that being the will of the Seven."
"Which is why the Seven will guide King Lucifer to victory," Septon Lewis spoke up, a soft smile on his wrinkled face. "It is His Grace's purpose in life to bring the light of the Seven back to this land, so says even the High Septon, the Shepherd of the Faithful."
"And our purpose is to protect and guide His Grace on that path," Ser Harrold stated solemnly. Realizing there was no use in arguing this any further, Arthur simply nodded to Harrold's words and sat down.
"Ser Arthur's concern is warranted, of course," Osmund Harroway spoke up, sharply eyeing the men around the table. "However, I firmly believe this is the best moment to strike we've had since the last war was lost, and we cannot afford to hesitate now, or we may never again have an opportunity like this. The Storm King and his allies are not be underestimated, that is true, but they are not as strong as they believe themselves to be, and they'll come to learn that soon enough."
The discussion then moved on to the upcoming attack on Trident Hall, as King Lucifer announced they would begin their march on the day following the wedding. Five thousand men would march on Trident Hall, while a smaller host of two thousand would remain to defend Harroway. After a few minutes of debate, it was decided that Lord Lucas Grell, Ser Harry Lolliston and Lord Ronnel Ryger would remain in charge of the garrison remaining in Harroway.
After a good night of rest, the next day brought with it the grand royal wedding. The sun was shining from a clear blue sky as Ser Arthur and his lieutenants entered the town's largest sept, each of them clad in their silver armors and rainbow cloaks. King Lucifer stood between the shrines of the Mother and the Father, holding in his hands an ivory velvet cloak.
The ceremony began with a choir of holy sisters singing a lengthy song about the balance between the Father's judgement and the Mother's mercy. It was a song Arthur had heard countless times in the past, but he had to admit that these holy sisters performed it particularly beautifully. When the song was over, the septon spoke a short prayer for the King and for the Riverlands. Then, finally, the doors were opened, and Lord Osmund Harroway entered the sept, escorting by the hand his seventeen-year-old daughter Myrcella. She was by all means a pretty sight in her silky white wedding dress and orange maiden's cloak donned over it, with a short and lean figure, round rosy cheeks, timid blue-green eyes and curly light brown hair.
Having escorted her daughter between the shrines of the Mother and the Father, Lord Harroway stood aside as the septon began his prayers. First, he spoke a prayer to House Harroway and Myrcella. Then he spoke another prayer for King Lucifer, and finally for the union that was about to be made. Seven vows were spoken by Lucifer and Myrcella, the septon invocated seven blessings on them, and they exchanged seven promises with each other. A marriage song was sung, after which the septon challenged anyone present to speak against the marriage, which of course no one did. Lord Harroway then removed the orange maiden's cloak from his daughter's shoulders, and King Lucifer replaced it with his white cloak, which Arthur now noticed had the golden scales of House Justman embroidered on it.
"With this kiss I pledge my love," the groom and bride ceremoniously spoke in unison, though Lucifer's voice clearly overpowered that of Myrcella's. The people in the sept all cheered and applauded as the bride and groom kissed, but to Arthur's eyes it looked like a very uncomfortable kiss. They are complete strangers to each other.
"In the name of the Seven I declare you man and wife," the septon intoned. "To be one flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever!"
Another song was sung, after which King Lucifer crowned Queen Myrcella with a thin silver circlet adorned with seven sapphires. Then the King walked at the shrine of the Warrior, where Ser Harrold Hill kneeled before him and offered him his sword. Lucifer took the sword and theatrically raised it towards the ceiling, and its blade glimmered magically on the light coming in from the colorful stained-glass windows.
"The gods are with us!" the young king bellowed fervently. "They have shined their light upon us today, and with this blade I shall return their blessing over this land! For victory, for glory, for the gods!"