Hi,
The battle/struggle continues!
Chapter 92: The Battle of Casterly Rock
Few minutes later …
The Vaults underneath the Great Hall, near Ringfort (highest/top level) of Casterly Rock, Westerlands, Westeros
"This way Khaleesi," Jorah said, ushering Daenerys along the long corridors before descending down some stone stairs.
Daenerys glanced behind her as Jorah held onto her uninjured arm. Daario wasn't far behind and Grey Worm was issuing orders to the unsullied covering their retreat behind them. The ice shattering shrieks that reached her ears made it clear that the undead enemy had reached the inner complex of Casterly Rock, as they had, and that meant the Night King too was nearby.
"We're nearly there, just hold on Khaleesi," Jorah reassured.
Soon their party approached the large doors of the Casterly Rock underground vaults that laid at the end of the corridor. Jorah banged on the solid rock doors and shouted for entry.
"Open for Queen Daenerys!"
Jorah tried the golden painted handles but the doors didn't budge; they needed to be opened from inside.
Daenerys slumped against the wall as blood from her broken arm dripped onto the floor.
"Khaleesi," Jorah exclaimed as he caught her before she completely collapsed to the ground.
Wights started to appear at the other end of the corridor and the unsullied set up in a defensive position with their shields and spears at the ready.
Daario hammered at the vault doors, "Let us in now!"
The wights smashed into the shields of the unsullied and some started to crawl along the walls and the ceiling despite the best efforts of the unsullied.
Jorah gave Daenerys a loving look and wanted to speak but the stone doors suddenly began to withdraw to reveal Cersei.
"Hurry!" the blond woman shouted seeing the danger of the wrights coming closer and closer.
Jorah, with Daenerys in his arms rushed forward and was followed by Daario, Grey Worm and a few dozen unsullied before Cersei commanded that the vault door be sealed again.
Jorah placed Daenerys down on a bear rug and heard Daenerys mumbling his name, "I'm here."
Cersei appeared above him, "She needs a maester."
"I know," Jorah scanned the vault to see only servants, "but it doesn't look like you have one here."
"No, but you're a knight surely you can bind and clean the wound."
Both ignored the screams of the unsullied left outside the vault that pierced through the thick rock walls.
"I can," Jorah said, eyeing Cersei's long dress, "I'll need to use your dress."
"Go ahead," Cersei said, kneeling down and letting her red dress pool around her.
Jorah tore a strip off and started to bind Daenerys wound as the Dragon Queen observed what he was doing.
"Can the wights get in?" Daenerys asked in a weak voice as the banging of the wrights on the stone doors thudded around the vault.
Cersei looked at the paling Queen then to the large iron bar that went across the large doors, "No one has ever managed to bash through the vault doors but they have never had to withstand whatever those things are out there."
Daario appeared at Cersei's shoulder and said in a hushed tone, "Is there another way out of here?"
Cersei swept the vault with a subtle look; Grey Worm was corralling the remaining unsullied by the besieged doors while the servants were cowering as far as possible at the other end of the vault that was filled with piles of golden dragons and golden treasures.
"Yes, but I can't guarantee where it will lead will be safe."
"If the wights get past that door it definitely won't be safe here," Daario countered.
Jorah looked down at Daenerys who was clearly in pain but was following the conversation, "What should we do?"
"Explore the secret passage, we need to have an escape route if it comes to it."
Jorah inclined his head before turning to Daario, "Tend to her arm, Lady Cersei and I will explore the passageway and return."
Daario glanced at Daenerys before saying in a low tone, "What if you don't return?"
"Then protect her till your last breath," Jorah said resolutely.
"I will, Jorah the Andal."
Jorah nodded before helping Cersei to her feet, "Where is this secret passageway?"
Same time …
Walls of Casterly Rock (Low level), Behind the Lion's Mouth, Casterly Rock, Westerlands, Westeros
"Loose!" Tywin yelled before ordering the archers to retreat away from the wall's edge. He pulled an obsidian sword from his belt as his personal guard surrounded him and Tommen.
"They're here," Tommen stated more than asked as he too wielded a black sword.
"Stay close. I made a promise to your mother to keep you alive and I intend to do that for as long as I can breathe."
"I'm the King of the Seven Kingdoms shouldn't I be saying that to you, since you are one of my subjects," Tommen said.
If the situation wasn't what it was Tywin might have been bemused by Tommen's response but there was no room for light-hearted brevity when long since dead men were clawing their way towards you to slit your throats.
"You are my grandson," Tywin said as if that was a sufficient reply to the young King.
Tommen's response died in his throat as boney hands could be seen curling around the edge of the wall. In the next moment wights started emerging from the other side letting out terrifying wails as they began to charge at the living.
Tommen roared his best attempt at a battle cry as the wights surged at them. Many wights smashed into the firmly held metal shields of the Lannister men and under Tywin's commands they started to push back the tide of wights appearing from below the wall. Some undead simply bounced of the golden lion shields to hurtle back down to the ground. But once a red clad man was killed there was no one to replace him, unlike in the army of the dead.
Lord Royce and Artys yelled in unison as their Valyrian steel swords sliced through any wights that came near them. So far, the wights were not causing a significant problem a top the walls. The Vale Lord glanced at the Lannisters and noted their success too. Maybe this wasn't going to be as hard as he imagined.
At that exact moment a white walker climbed over the wall's battlements and Lord Royce couldn't stop the string of swear words that passed through his lips. He cautiously walked towards the tall ice man, noting that the creature was even taller than himself. The white walker locked eyes with him and it was obvious that they had chosen each other as opponents.
They exchanged parries and strikes as wights and men fought around them. The ice creature was fast and powerful but although Lord Royce wasn't a young man anymore, he still retained that skill of a melee tourney champion and expertly managed the white walker's fluid movement. That was until the creature split his sword in two.
Lord Royce gave the white walker a suffering look, "Fuck off!"
The white walker lunged and in rapid succession brought his two swords down again and again probing for that opening to add another to the army of the dead. And the white walker soon found it. The ice creature thrusted one sword at the Valemen's torso as the other occupied Honour's Edge.
Lord Royce knew he had been beat and waited for the pain to make itself known but something unexpected happened.
The point of the white walker's sword dug into the old Lord's armor and for a second it looked like it would pierce through but then the inscriptions on the old bronze armor glowed dimly and the sword that had struck it shattered.
Lord Royce took advantage of the confusion and rammed Honour's Edge into the body of the white walker.
He watched the creature crumple into ice shards in front of him. What just happened?
Lord Royce pushed the question aside and returned his attention along the length of the wall that was lit up by a row of torches mounted on the battlements. He saw Ser Mychel Redfort get run through by a white walker's spear but his death wasn't in vain as that same white walker shattered a second later with Ser Mychel's sword imbedded in its lower torso.
Lord Royce frantically looked around for Artys and with the King of the Iron Islands height it didn't take long to locate him. Artys was fighting back-to-back with King Tommen and they seemed to be coping well enough if the pile of bones at their feet was any indicator. Lord Royce's eyes shifted to see Tywin and a few red clad soldiers being surrounded and he begrudgingly made the decision to help the Old Lion.
"He better bloody appreciate this," he grumbled, barreling towards the dozen or so wights attacking the Lannister men.
Once they had been cut down with a few strokes of Honour's Edge, Lord Royce occupied the space next to the Lion Lord, "Seemed you were in need of assistance."
Lord Tywin just let out a growl of frustration and stabbed the nearest wight before facing Lord Royce again, "We won't last much longer."
The bodies at their feet supported this assessment and Lord Royce quickly grabbed a nearby torch and threw it down on the ground causing the air to thicken with smoke.
A yelp from Tommen alerted both men and they ran towards the sound to see that two wights were forcing Tommen closer and closer to the edge with continuous swipes of their rusty swords. Artys appeared behind the skeletons and swung Silver Fang through the air. The wights' bones clattered to the ground but not before Tommen had lost his balance and slipped.
"No!" Tywin shouted as Tommen's own weight dragged him over the rim of the damaged wall.
Artys dropped Silver Fang and threw himself at Tommen catching one of the blond boy's flailing hands before his entire body disappeared off the side. Artys placed his other hand on the surface of the wall, supporting their combined weight as his other clutched tightly around Tommen's wrist as he started to pull his fellow King up. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a wight start to make its way over to his prone body.
Tommen had seen what he had, "Let me go! Save yourself!"
Artys's mind hesitated, he was an honorable person, he didn't drop people to their deaths, and that pause of uncertainty sealed his fate and Tommen's as the wight bounded closer with a bloody blade at the ready.
Or it would've done if not for Lord Royce getting to them first and hurling the running wight off the wall, using its own momentum against it while Tywin helped Artys pull Tommen up over the edge of the wall.
When all four men were on their feet again and Artys had retrieved Silver Fang, they noticed how the balance of the fighting had turned in the wights favour. More than half of the Arryn and Lannister were now burning corpses or bleeding to death while the wights were still pilling over the battlements and there were even two white walkers still prowling along the wall.
Lord Royce exhaled but readied his sword as the two white walkers advanced on their position through the crowd of wights and men.
"Just in case I don't get another chance to say this," he said, slightly turning to Lord Tywin on his right, "I absolutely hate your guts."
"I'm not fond of you either," Tywin replied, keeping his eyes on the white walkers approaching them while raising his own sword.
"You just saved my life, I'm in your debt," Tommen said to Artys as the two Kings copied the defensive stances of their respective Lords.
Artys smiled but kept his eyes on the two ice creatures that had nearly reached them.
"For the Vale!" Lord Royce shouted at the top of his lungs as he prepared to swipe at the advancing white walkers, but something stopped the tall ice creatures in their tracks.
All the wights on the wall went still. They were still standing but their limbs were by their side and they weren't responding to the remaining survivors hacking through them.
The two white walkers noted the change and instead of engaging with the four nobles walked to the inner side of the wall and jumped off.
Artys ran over to that side and looked down into the city below to see where they had landed, "What in the Seven Hells?"
"Never mind," Lord Royce boomed, "Cut down the remaining wights before they wake up and help me burn the bodies."
Artys wrinkled his nose at the smell of burning flesh but did as Lord Royce commanded and started clearing the wall of any upright wights.
"You too" Lord Royce aimed at Tywin and Tommen but their attention wasn't on him it was on the sky.
Lord Royce lifted his head upwards to see Rhaegal and Viserion tangled with Drogon in the air with all dragons biting and clawing at each other as they tumbled through the sky to smash into a couple of buildings in the city. Both living dragons were able to take off again but Drogon was right behind them blasting the sky with blue fire.
Same time …
Docks (lowest level) facing the Sunset Sea, opposite end of Casterly Rock to the Lion's Mouth, Westerlands, Westeros
The waves of the Sunset Sea crashed against the ten wooden piers of Casterly Rock's open cave port. The large cavern was wide enough and tall enough for longships and cogs to pass into easily but the fact that there was a roof over head created a claustrophobic feeling for the near forty thousand Reachmen that fit in the lengthy underground port and the off-shooting tunnels that ran to all levels of the Rock. The entire cavern was lit up by hundreds of torches that were placed all around the tight formations of Tyrell soldiers.
Mace Tyrell fidgeted with the extravagantly decorated sword handle at his belt as he stood on the end of one of the piers and stared out into the choppy sea to see the faint outline of the Redwyne Fleet and Daenerys Stormborn's ships fighting the deteriorating stormy conditions.
It was obvious he was considering withdrawing to the ships but retreat was not an option in this battle.
Loras placed a hand on his father's shoulder and the older Tyrell flinched before turning around.
"Father, I know the coming battle will be hard but our men are prepared and so are we."
Mace cast his eye further down the cave and tried to comfort himself with the near endless lines of Reachmen stationed between him and the multiple tunnels entrance that led to the rest of Casterly Rock.
"Ser Loras is right," came a rough voice.
Loras spun to see Randal and Dickon Tarly making their way along the pier to join them.
"My Lord," the elder Tarly started, "the fighting overhead has begun and I believe that the Night King's forces will reach us soon. It may be prudent to signal to Lord Redwyne to attack now rather than later."
Loras nodded his head at the experienced general's suggestion and Mace gestured with his hand that he agreed. It didn't matter if they showed their hand now or later, they would either be dead or at war; and if they were at war burning Daenerys fleet was a good tactical decision and one the unaware floating Meereenese ships were ill prepared for.
Randal and Dickon Tarly bowed before walking back down the pier and grabbing a torch each. Loras and Mace watched as the Tarly men made their way down the pier opposite them and threw their torches into the large brazier that was at the end of the pier. It lit up instantly and the flames grew bold and bright. There was no way Lord Redwyne would miss this signal, especially when he knew to look for it.
"It's done Father," Loras said.
When he didn't get a reply, he turned back and what he saw had him jumping away in terror.
His father was facing him still but a wet dripping sword point was visible bursting out of his large chest where his heart should be. Mace's mouth was moving but no sound was coming out just a little dribble of blood that ran down his chin onto his finely green dyed tunic collar.
"Father!" Loras shouted as his senses returned to him. He rushed forward with his sword out and quickly kicked away the wight standing behind the Lord of Highgarden back into the watery depths.
"No! Father!" Loras screamed getting the attention of all the Reachmen behind him.
Mace gasped as more blood spluttered from his mouth and even more poured from his chest wound where the sword was still firmly lodged, it took only a few more seconds for the stocky man to go limp in his son's arms.
Loras forced himself to lower his father down onto the wooden planks and focus on the fight at hand. If there was one wight there would be more.
He whipped around and noticed the dozens upon dozens of wights emerging from the water and hauling themselves up onto the wooden walkways between him and the rest of his army.
Loras wasn't concerned with the number of wights in his way as grief and anger fueled his movements, he charged and gracefully started to cut a path through the wights back to his men as he heard the Tarly men on the other pier doing the same.
A few minutes later …
Stone Garden (Godswood), near the Ringfort at the top of Casterly Rock, Westerlands, Westeros
A cold wave spread around the Godswood and all those standing within felt its touch. Summer howled at the sudden change in temperature and nuzzled Bran's hand that was resting on the wooden armrest of the wheelchair.
Bran kept the majority of his focus on fighting the Night King's control over those wights standing beyond the walls of Casterly Rock but even he could feel the cold start to seep into his bones and roll over the Godswood. The mutterings of the Northmen surrounding him faded into silence as the sound of clashing swords and soul piercing screams started to reach them.
The Night King was nearby.
Bran heard the Hound and Jaime Lannister exchange some words of loud encouragement to the Northerners and felt Arya's anticipation above him but it was Benjen that spoke to him.
"It's nearly the end."
"Yes," Bran said, not bothering to lift his head to face his Uncle who stood just beside his wheelchair.
"Would you like me to place you by the Weirwood tree?" Benjen offered, knowing Bran might want to have one last glimpse of the past, at happier times.
"No, I have seen all I should have and more. It is time to face him."
Benjen knelt before Bran and demanded his attention, "Your father isn't here to say this so I must. He would've been proud of you. You aren't the Lord he imagined you to grow up to be, and you aren't the warrior that you wanted to be, but you are the Three-eyed Raven, the person the Realm needed you to become."
Bran gazed at his undead Uncle, "Thank you. My father thought of you often when you were at the Wall. He understood your decision but he missed you all the same."
Benjen rose, unhooking his morning stars from his belt, "I'll be reunited with him and Lyanna soon enough either way. Once the Night King falls there is no more room in this world for dead men."
At Bran's silence Benjen enflamed his morning stars and joined the Hound in barking orders at the Northmen who had now split into a group of archers and a group of swordsmen.
Bran stared at the closed wooden gate of the Godswood and could feel the Night King's presence behind it. He didn't share the men's' surprise when the metal hinged gate started to frost over and ice formed around it. Nor did he gasp out loud when frozen gate started to crack.
He knew what was coming. He had seen it already.
Author's Notes:
Dany makes it to the vaults but the wights are literally at the door so will they take Cersei's secreat escape route?
Artys continues his streak of being the most likable young noble and making friends easily xD
Lord Royce is wearing an ancient set of Bronze armor that dates back to the First Men so that is why he survived against the duel wielding white walkers. Not plot armor I swear!
Some of you probably thought the Iron Throne Alliance would wait till after the Long Night to betray Daenerys but no, they turn on her during ;P Loras is now the Lord of Highgarden and Warden of the South will he prove a better ruler than his father if he survives?
RIP
Mychel Redfort (Impaled on a white walker's spear)
This character is supposed to be a fairly decent swordsmen and I stand by my decision of him leaving the world having taken a white walker with him. Shame he couldn't avenge his father's beheading though.
Mace Tyrell (Stabbed through the back by a wight emerging from the waters behind him)
I just thought this death was so cool and was totally inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean Movie: Curse of the Black Pearl. I know wights can't swim but they don't need to breathe right? So surely, they can walk across the bottom of the sea bed (assuming their armor is heavy enough to keep them sunk like Jaime in Season 7) Anyway, not too many wights have made it to the Docks (since the NK has only recently advanced into the city) so the Tyrells are sitting all pretty right now minus their liege Lord … xD
Reviews:
Supremus85 – I can't reveal anything xD I have made a minor tweak to Barristan's death last chapter as per your PM. I agree, he deserves to die having taken out a white walker.
BlackWatcher1234 – The battle isn't over! But I would argue that the Arryn's actually have the greatest relative casualties right now since the Golden Company (Half the Arryn forces) were just wiped out.
Mister LaGuardia – Really!? Awesome, I feel like my battle scenes are my weakest pieces of writing so thank you!
NightlyRowenTree – What is a 'fluff fluff' and what is an 'I am legend thing'?
Ser Dorito of Aisle 13 – Every side takes some hard hits in this battle. Sorry I don't get the Star Wars reference, I'm a casual fan of that movie franchise.
Ksyushangel – I love google translator xD Well there is a lot of death incoming and I know I keep saying this but I don't want anyone to accuse me of not giving any warnings. All those at Casterly Rock really pose a viable threat to each other. I mean I think there are certain characters that deserve deaths related to the Long Night and there are those that it just doesn't feel right, to me at least.
Guest (commented 13/02/2021) – I know :(
Tohka123 – They really are, I have an extensive timeline drawn out with arrows going everywhere! Thanks, I have always found writing battles to be the hardest thing to do.
Shadow Wolf 15846 – Thanks! I struggle the most with battle scenes so I'm chuffed to bits that so many people are enjoying them.
BoreAmir – Hello! This was a really analytical review, thanks.
I can't answer most questions as I don't give out spoilers, sorry. Robb's reason for sleeping with Kenna was a mixture of desire and tactics because their trust in one another was/is eroding and both are trying to play the other. The Red Wedding is just something that is so easy to bash Robb over the head with in an argument. Kenna knows that the burning of the Vale is due to her going against Dany she acknowledged that in Chapter 85 when she is talking to Artys.
Officially Tywin has acknowledged Yohn & Jorge as his heirs. Unofficially Tyrion would be their regent and is true heir but whether Tyrion wants Casterly Rock outright in the future who knows. Yes the question of where the twins will be raised is an interesting one, assuming one or both survives. No Jaime hasn't told Tyrion about the Tysha set up.
As it stands if the NK and Dany are defeated it looks like Kenna would be right back to fighting against the Lannister and Tyrells but that conflict if it occurs is very far off. Innocents will probably have to die yes but I tend to kill a lot of characters so a lot of not so innocents will probably die as well … But the Realm is one massive mess of rivalries, blood feuds and destruction you are right.
Since the NK has reached the Godswood now we'll see if your prediction regarding Jaime is correct. Oberyn particularly has unfinished business but when has that ever stopped me from killing off characters ;)
No not at all, I think there are a lot of readers who are more interested in a King's Landing showdown that on the NK arc.
Next Up: The Night King enters the Godswood to end the hope of the living and bring eternal dusk. Can new heroes of dawn arise and stop him?
PS – The next chapter was one of my favorites to write (definitely in my top 3 of this entire story so far) and I cannot wait for your reactions! I'm SO EXCITED!
If you are enjoying this story please *Toss a coin to your writer, Oh valley of readers* and review, follow and favorite!
