Prince Duncan the Small
Winter was over, summer was here and war had greeted Prince Duncan Targaryen once more like an old friend. This time though he was not leading men against a northern host, or even rebel lords within Westeros it but rather he was leading a host south, to retake Dorne. Had he still been a green boy Duncan had no doubt that his head would have been full of songs and how he would have thought he would imitate his ancestor Daeron the young dragon in taking Dorne for his family. He was not that boy anymore, and his head was not filled with songs, he had seen all too well the grimness of war and the death and destruction that would follow this campaign, and though a part of him still squirmed at the thought of it all the rest of him was used to it now and was resigned to it.
He understood the reason for this war, so long as Dorne remained independent and unfettered they were likely to continue to cause problems for Duncan and his family for years to come, and that was something that could not happen. It could not be allowed to stand, Dorne as an independent kingdom did have the chance of becoming even more powerful than the north was at this moment, most likely because they had contacts in Essos that not even the Targaryens had, and they held the Stepstones for now at least. No, if Duncan wanted his family to grow up in a safe and worry free environment Dorne needed to be brought back into the fold. He knew that had his father been capable of leading the armies, he would have done so but as of late King Aegon had been struck by fever and so Duncan led the armies.
As he wiped his brow, he thought back over the past six years, peace had come to Westeros just as first spring and then summer had. The northerners had withdrawn to their barren wasteland, without the main Blackfyre line there to bolster any further invasion attempts on their part, still Duncan's father had done all he could to ensure there would be no retribution for the war, and so defensive measure had been put into place, and King Aegon had done his best to appease his lords all of whom were disgruntled. Their hold on the throne was now weaker than ever, this war had shown once more just how tenuous the Targaryens truly were, Duncan knew that, and he knew just was would cause the lords to refuse these thoughts in the future. Trade had resumed and the royal coffers were filling up once more with gold and taxes, and the lords seemed happier than they had done at the end of the war.
That was good Duncan thought wryly, at least one part of the kingdom was happy. The family had been torn asunder following the ending of the war. Aelix had died and his wife had gone to the silent sisters, Summerhall was vacant and though there had been rumours that Summerhall was to be given to the Martells, thankfully his father had shown some sense and had kept it as a summer palace once more. That was where Duncan's mother Queen Rhae had retreated to following yet another heated argument with the king, Duncan had seen his mother once before he had left for war, she was very pale and frail, a shadow of the woman she had once been, death was calling for her and yet she fought on.
Jaehaerys too looked as if he would soon die, his health had only gotten worse with the sudden changes in season and he spent a great deal of time either in Dragonsville the seat their father had given him, a manor house more like or in King's Landing. Jaehaerys son Aerys was serving as Duncan's squire, the boy was a good lad, if not overtly skilled at arms he was a smart lad and had the potential to be a good prince. Duncan knew that Jaehaerys and their father had been talking about possible matches for Aerys and Rhaella and as such were thinking of binding the two of them together, Duncan thought that a terrible idea, no matter what some prophecy said, they needed to tie together the lords and the throne and they needed Aerys and Rhaella to do that.
Duncan's own children with Jenny were just about seven and six respectively. A boy and a girl, Aemon and Daenys. Aemon was a fierce boy, strong and wilful, all those who saw him thought he reminded them of Duncan himself as a young lad, and Daenys was just like Jenny, sweet and quite though Duncan already knew she had a fierce wit somewhere there and would be one to reckon with when she became a lady grown. He missed his children, truly he did, that was the one thing he had realised since becoming a husband and a father, he truly missed his children and regretted not being able to spend more time with them now. He simply hoped that wood's witch that Jenny had brought with her to court did not gain too much influence, he did not believe in half the things that old crone prattled on about, though Jenny and his father seemed to take stock of what she said.
He shook his head and then looked at the map spread out before him. The war with Dorne had gotten off to a shaky start; Duncan's father had sent word to Lord Luthor Tyrell and asked him to call his banners to begin the invasion of Dorne. Tyrell no doubt acting on the advice of that harridan of a wife of his had called his banners and then with a force mounting some 20,000 men had struck out for Dorne. The fool had walked right into a trap and at Vulture's Roost the Tyrell host under his command was butchered against the walls of the Roost and the spears and arrows of the Dornishmen guarding it. Tyrell led some 2,000 survivors back to Ashford; the rest had been slain or captured. News had reached King's Landing of the defeat and Duncan's father had called the banners of the crownlands, summoned the Stormlords and had taken men from the Riverlands. Together they numbered some 25,000 men and under Duncan's command they had marched from King's Landing and joined with Lord Tyrell's remaining host which was supplanted by an extra 20,000 swords led by Lord Tyrek Tarly.
Tarly was much smarter than his oaf of an overlord having fought in two previous wars compared to Tyrell's one. And so with him Duncan planned their entry into Dorne. This time round they sent a probing force of some 6,000 men led by one Ser Quentyn Tyrell to attack the Roost, and the ploy worked the defenders had grown lax and as such though the men under Tyrell died, so to did the guardians on the Roost. This gave them a window to enter Dorne through the pass, and so they did, from there Duncan split the host up. The left was placed under Tyrell's command, the right under Duncan's goodbrother's command Lord Edric Baratheon, the centre under Lord Tarly's command and the van Duncan took. The left was sent to subdue the Tower between the Roost and Kingsgrave which they managed to do successfully. The right was sent to join with the left and then take Kingsgrave which happened though with some struggle. Duncan joined the two hosts with his own and the centre and from there they marched to face the host led by Lords Blackmont and Fowler.
They met the Blackmont and Fowler host on the lands that had once belonged to House Dayne. In the battle of Stars they had met in a crash of steel, armour and horse. It had been a bloody affair lasting from morning till the next day fight without end. At the end of it all Duncan had lost 12,000 men the Dornish their entire host some 9,000 men. Clearly they were being bled dry, and though Duncan had gotten Ser Dontos Blackmont the son of a Blackmont and a Fowler and thus heir to both castles to bend the knee there was still some suspicion in his mind that there was something going on here, he had though Gyles Stark would be here but he was not.
The lords with him had been happy, very happy, they had though things were going good and would only get much better from here. They were only summer children though, the true realties of fighting in Dorne became much more apparent soon enough. On the outskirts of Sandstone, in what was now known as the battle of sands, they met a host led by Lords Uller and Allyrion and so the host had fought Duncan's tired and battered host and the result had been a draw Allyrion was slain though Uller remained and had retreated into the mountains. Lord Tyrell had begged for the honour to chase after him and Duncan in his tiredness had agreed to go through with it. They had heard nothing from Tyrell since then, and it had been three moons.
"Your Grace?" Ser Gerold Hightower's voice took him out of his reverie.
"Yes Ser what is it?" Duncan asked.
"Lords Baratheon, Tarly and Dondarrion wish to speak with you about the upcoming battle." Ser Gerold said.
Duncan sighed and wiped his brow once more. "Very well see them in." Ser Gerold bowed and then shortly after Duncan's goodbrother Lord Edric a tall and broad man, Lord Tarly thin and lithe and Lord Dondarrion a big brute walked in. "My lords," Duncan said. "Please be seated." Once they were all sat down, Duncan took the map from the table and rolled it up. "Now what word from our scouts?"
Lord Edric spoke then. "Nothing has been heard or seen from Lord Tyrell since he set out my prince. Other than that the Dornish host remains where it was camped on the outskirts of the Vaith River. None of the scouts know who the commander is, but their numbers seem to be around 9,000."
Duncan sighed. "So they hold slightly less men then we do. Has there been any word from the north? Do we know if Lord Lannister is coming with the reinforcements?"
Lord Tarly shook his head then. "Not that we are aware of my prince. It is entirely possible that these vipers have shot down whatever ravens were sent and therefore no one north of the pass knows of the predicament we are in."
Duncan sighed then and said. "Be that as it may, I want another two ravens sent out one for King's Landing and one for Highgarden. Olenna Redwyne might already be a harridan but she will know her duty and will call more men should we ask for them. Otherwise we shall be overwhelmed. We must march for Yronwood if we want to get Dorne to bend."
"What do you suggest my prince?" Lord Tarly asked.
Duncan sighed once more. "We must lead the Dornishmen away from the Vaith, and we must not make them think we would be as obvious as to head towards Yronwood. Lord Dondarrion I want you to lead the right towards the host at the Vaith and then veer towards Yronwood castle. Lords Baratheon and Tarly I want you come in at that point and crush whatever forces chase after Lord Dondarrion's host. I shall lead the remaining men and attack whatever men do not chase after you."
Lords Tarly and Dondarrion nodded the faithful soldiers they were, as expected only Duncan's goodbrother voiced any objections. "My prince, how can you be sure that the Dornishmen will give chase to Lord Dondarrion and will not simply sniff out a plot? How can you be sure they will not turn round when they realise you are not amongst the hosts fighting them and smash you from behind?"
Duncan smiled wryly then and said. "Because if I am right, then Gyles Stark will be commanding their host, and he will want to fight me. He will remain behind to see if I do the same, and that will be his downfall."
And so they set out from where they were camped, 15,000 men, Stormlords, Crownlords, riverlords and some Dornishmen who claimed to be loyal to Loreza Martell. They marched and three days later they were fighting the Dornish host camped at the base of the Vaith. The host that was ready for their arrival as if they had expected it. Duncan watched from the side with Ser Gerold and Ser Gwayne at his side waiting for the trap to be set, when it was he drew Dark Sister and led the charge into the reserve of the Dornish host. The fighting was sudden and quick. Duncan hacked and slashed his way through the men who came in his way hacking and slashing, hacking and slashing, cutting and ducking, dodging he winced as some of the enemies blows hit him but on he went, he persevered and on and on he fought.
Many Dornishmen lay dead at his feet when he came across the man he had been looking for. Gyles Stark the hero of the Dornish rebellion, was sat atop a blood red sand steed decked in red armour a sword glinting in the sun, bathed in red, as Duncan's was. Duncan cut through his guards and met the man in a clash of steel. "So you have come to die have you kinslayer?" Stark asked. Duncan grunted and their fight continued. Steel clashed, blows were exchanged, again and again they fought clashing steel on steel, denting the other's weapon, and still they thought.
Duncan drew first blood, cutting through Stark's defences and denting his armour so bad above his arm that blood showed through. Stark got him back many times over though, hacking away at Duncan until he felt tired and that's when the blows came one after the other, one after the other, pummelling him into submission. He was cut and bloody, his armour was sticking to his body, weighing him down and somehow that gave him more strength and he fought on pushing Stark back and giving as good as he got, cutting and denting the man's armour several times, before Stark retaliated and Duncan's sword and his arm came flying off.
He barely had anytime to scream from the pain than he felt Stark's sword at his throat. He looked at Stark through his armour and said. "Do it then boy, do it and see what it brings you."
He was not sure where Ser Gerold and Ser Gwayne were likely caught up in the fighting, but he knew what would happen should Stark actually kill him. Stark sneered at him and snarled. "Oh with pleasure my prince of bones." There was nothing fancy about Prince Duncan's death, Stark simply shoved his sword through the prince's neck and then pulled it out again. Prince Duncan Targaryen died as he had lived on the battlefield fighting for what he loved and believed in, he died at the battle of the Vaith on the fourth day of the seventh month of the 257th year after Aegon's Landing.
Princess Loreza Martell
King's Landing was a completely different place compared to Sunspear, it was much colder, and there was so much more intrigue and gossip here than there ever had been in Sunspear. Loreza found that although she did miss Sunspear and though she did dream of getting her home back from those traitorous Yronwoods, she did quite prefer King's Landing, simply because it was so much more interesting and the people within the court of King Aegon were so much more lively and interesting than those that had served at her own court back in Sunspear. She was not sure if that made her a bad person or whether such a thing was normal, she knew for one thing though, she could not speak of this to anyone, not her husband Ser Derryk Caron nor even her brother Prince Lewyn Martell. Derryck was still a mystery to her, he had these northern ideas of chivalry and honour and was usually a very closed of person, and Lewyn was sworn to the king.
Her only comforts from her doubts were her son Doran, who continued to grow and prosper every day, he had turned ten just a few moons ago, and was now squiring for Ser Duncan the tall Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Her other comfort was the friendship she had developed with Lady Joanna Lannister from the Rock, Joanna was a sweet woman with a charming attitude towards life and an undeniable wit, though she was a few years younger to Loreza, she did not mind the company. It kept her mind off the people she had lost in Dorne when she had had to flee as if she was some sort of vagabond who had done wrong.
The king had kept to his promise and a force of men under his son Prince Duncan the Small had ridden out to reclaim her homeland from the Yronwoods and their allies. News had at first been short, when news of Lord Tyrell's first failed attempt to break through the Roost had reached court, Loreza had laughed at the man's foolishness and the king had raged. His son had done a much better job of it all, and as such they had broken through the roost and then had defeated more of the lords that had sworn themselves to that snake Yronwood. Loreza had hoped that perhaps she might see her homeland soon, but it seemed that dream was fast dying. Lord Tyrell had been sent northward by Prince Duncan, and had not been heard from since then, some thought he was dead, others thought he had gone rogue, none knew what had happened.
There had been no word from Prince Duncan either until a messenger bearing the livery of House Allyrion had arrived in King's Landing, beaten and tired with a box with him. The box had contained Prince Duncan's head, the man had been killed by Lord Gyles Stark, revenge for the deaths of his father and countless others during another war. The king had gone into despair at the death of his heir, and Loreza had feared that the war would be called off. But it had not, King Aegon had instead ordered Lewyn to lead a new set of men, to prove his loyalty and to take back what should be the iron throne's. Lewyn had left with more men from the riverlands, and men from the Vale and the fighting had resumed.
Thad had been three moons ago, and during that period there had been no news and then one day Loreza had been summoned to the council chambers, and Loreza had seen her brother there, dressed in the white of the Kingsguard, covered with blood and mud and other dirt. She had listened as he had told them the tale of the battles he had fought and the betrayals he had faced, some of the lords had turned on him and his men for gold and other promises form Yronwood. Lewyn had been lucky to escape with his life, he and Jon Arryn had lead the retreat not through the pass but using barges to sail from the outskirts of the Wyl toward the Dornish Marches and from there they had ridden hard. Loreza's husband had come with them and he had been a changed man, he was even more withdrawn and when he had returned he had taken to visiting her chambers on rare occasions, usually after he had been drinking.
Before the war, Loreza had given him two stillborn sons named Mors and Olyvar, and she had feared she was barren, but whilst he was away at war Elia was born. Her beautiful daughter was everything to her, she focused on her children especially Elia, her beautiful frail daughter who the grand maester had said would not live long. Loreza did not believe him and that Elia was now a year old only made her feel relief and satisfaction. She was with child once more, this time she hoped it would be a boy, someone who could protect Elia when Doran would rule.
The king had not forgotten her though, and he had summoned her to court one day sometime after the war with Dorne had been ended. He had looked old and haggard, his wife had returned to court from Summerhall, and she was sat by his side for the first time since Loreza had been at court, and the king had said. "Princess Loreza, I made a promise to you that for so long as I drew breath your right to Dorne would be remembered and I would do all I could to make sure you got what was rightfully yours back. This first attempt has failed, and there has been much bloodshed. I cannot in good faith ask my men to march south once more, not now. Now we need peace, and as such I hope you can accept that." Loreza had voiced her acceptance. The king had gone on. "That does not mean that I have forgotten you or yours no, Summerhall the summer palace of my family is vacant now. I give you Summerhall and all its lands and incomes, and name you overlord of the marches, Princess of Summerhall. Prince Doran shall be named Prince of the marches when your day comes. I also name Ser Edric Dayne Lord of Blackhaven following the deaths of House Dondarrion."
And so Loreza and her family had arrived at their new home, the lords of the marches, Lords Caron, Dayne, Cafferen, Grandison, Swann and Selmy had all acknowledged her as their princess, and though there was some tension with Storm's End, Loreza worked hard to make sure that her lords respected her. The first thing she had done was to institute the laws that Dorne had followed since Nymeria's invasion, Loreza decreed with the king's approval that all first born children from this day forward be they girls or boys would inherit their father's lordship and incomes in the marches. She did give her lords a bone though, she allowed that any children born before the decree could be chosen by their parents, and as such the majority of the lords decided to keep their firstborn sons as their heirs. Apart from Lord Edric Dayne, who had been but nine when they had arrived in King's Landing, seventeen now he had wed Melissa Dondarrion and had had twins by her, twins he had named Allem and Allyria. Allyria was born first and so she was named heir by Edric.
Loreza also spent a fair bit of time strengthening the defences of the marches as well to prevent any further raiding from occurring, these included a watch tower being built which her husband named the Tower of Joy, it stood on the border between the marches and Dorne, and would serve as a watch tower. She also spent much time talking with Lord Edric Baratheon and together they established a system of patrols for the marches and the Rainwood to ensure no bandits or trouble could come and reach them.
A knock on the door took her from her thoughts, she called for whoever it was to come in and found herself face to face with maester Gerold, the man had served at Summerhall since King Aegon had been a child apparently and was loyal to the castle but whether he was loyal to her or to the king was yet to be seen. "Princess, there are guests who wish to speak with you. If you are feeling up to the task?"
Loreza nodded. "Show them in. And find my husband as well if you would be so good maester." The man nodded and then scampered out and soon enough the guests entered and Loreza gasped. "Alric, Olyvar, Nymeria how did you get here?"
Her friends, Alric Gargalen, Olyvar Allyrion and Nymeria Santagar she had thought dead during the war, but here they stood smiling at her and bowing before her, it was Alric bold as ever who spoke first. "My princess, it is an honour. One I thought never to have again. We have come to pledge ourselves to you and to your family."
She was still stunned and yet she stammered out. "But your families have sworn themselves to Yronwood. How did you manage to get here, with the patrols I have running through the marches?"
Olyvar gave her a sly smile then and said. "Ah, Loreza sweet innocent Loreza, there are ways one can get past guards without giving themselves away."
She was about to speak when the door opened and her husband walked in, Derryck was a big man, with a mop of brown hair and a temper though he hid it well. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"He barked.
"Derryck, these are my friends. Alric Gargalen, Olyvar Allyrion and Nymeria Santagar, friends this is my husband Ser Derryck Caron." Loreza said.
The men stared at each other sizing each other no doubt though Nymeria dipped into a curtsey and said. "My lord a pleasure, for all of us."
Derryck was unmoving though. "I ask again what you are doing here in the Marches. And how did you get past the patrols we have?"
Alric spoke then a bite to his tone. "We were just about to explain ourselves before you came in my lord. Now if you would be so kind, we would like to explain."
Her husband gritted his teeth but merely nodded. Olyvar took the tale up. "After the war, we saw just what methods Berros Yronwood would go to making sure he kept what he stole from you and House Martell Loreza. Those who did not fight hard enough were whipped and the smallfolk were burned to death or were raped by his men. Gyles Stark was the worst, the man went on a rampage after he killed Prince Duncan. Things have gotten out of control in Dorne with the Yronwoods in control. It is as if they have forgotten what it means to be human and not kings."
Nymeria spoke then. "We have come to present a plan to you, and to pledge the allegiances of our houses to your cause my princess."
"Go on," Loreza said.
"Houses Allyrion, Santagar and Gargalen will give you their swords and spears should you decide to march south for Dorne again. We know the Lemonwoods and the Fowlers will also do so, the new lord of Skyreach is easy to manipulate. There is unrest in Dorne as well following the war, the smallfolk pine for your return as do the lords and ladies. Yronwood's treatment of the Ullers is especially making many think twice. When you call for us we shall be ready and Dorne shall be yours." Olyvar Allyrion said.
Derryck snorted then. "Bold words boy, but how do we know you speak the truth? Your houses have still sworn allegiance to Yronwood and none of you did for Stark when you had the chance. How do we know you will not double cross us as Prince Duncan was double crossed?"
Alric Gargalen smiled then and said. "Because we have already put plans into motion my lord. We just need our princess's approval."