GAME OF THRONES
SAMWELL TARLY
RANDYLL TARLY
Randyll Tarly is a man of honor, a man of war, a hard man. The Lord of Horn Hill, House Tarly owes its allegiance to House Tyrell. Randyl grew up a close firend to Mace Tyrell. Mace is the son of Luthor and Olenna Tyrell. But as the two got older they grew apart. The rift started because Randyll was so much better at archery, jousting, and swordsmanship. Eventually Randyll drifted away from him, but still kept close rlations with House Tyrell.
Randyll was also best friends with Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and admired him greatly. At the age of twenty and three Randyll married Melessa Florent. They were married for a year and Randyll did everything in his power to make her happy. Randyll is a military man at heart, but Melessa got through to him and helped him to appreciate other things in life. Things like poetry, art, and music.
A year after they married, war broke out and she became pregnant with their first child. Randyll answered the call and marched his army eight thousand strong to High Garden. To his surprise Mace put him in command of their forces. When word arived that Ashford came under attack from Robert Baratheon's forces, Randyll leads the army to ashford to fight Robert Baratheon and the Stormland armies.
Robert had already gained a reputation for defeating three armies in one day. Now he faced the Lord of Horn Hill. Randyll is a military genius and had placed his troops in such a manner that Robert attacks with his full forces. To the enemy it looks like a tactical error, but it was not and Randyll defeats Robert Baratheon.
After their victory Mace Tyrell claims the credit for defeating King Robert. Out of anger Randyll takes his eight thousand troops back to Horn Hill, while Mace marches on Storm's End. When he returns to his castle his wife is waiting with their son. "Thank the seven you're home."
They share a kiss and then Randyll holds his son. His very heavy son, "By the gods what have you been feeding this boy?"
"When he was born he weighed twelve and half pounds."
"Is the war over?"
"No I came home after being dishonored by the fool who dares call himself the Lord of the Reach." Randyll angrilly replies causing the baby to cry.
"Calm down Randyll. Now tell me...How did Mace Tyrell dishonor you?"
As they walk inside he tells her what happened. Part of him regrets leaving, but his anger got the better of him. As time passes reports come in from scouts and allies about the war. Mace Tyrell lays siege to Storm's End, a blunder and fool hearty move in Randyll's eyes. Stannis only has five thousand men at Storm's End.
Robert Baratheon claims victory at the Stepstones, though in truth Eddard Stark had sailed to the Stepstones on ships of the Vale to rescue him. Randyll stands at the hearth looking at his family's Valyrian sword Heart's Bane. "Forgive me my lord for disturbing you." His chief Steward says.
"Yes Wallace, what is it?"
"Lady Olenna Tyrell is here."
He sighs, "Bring her to my solar." He heads to the solar while Wallace goes to get Lady Olenna Tyrell. He remains standing at his desk until she arrives. The door opens and after she is seated he offers her wine and cheese. "So Lady Olenna...What may I do for you?"
"I heard that you withdrew your troops."
"Out of anger...Yes. Is that all you heard?"
"No My Lord. Sometimes my son can act like struting peacock, when he is actually a pigeon. You and my son were friends once and whether he will admit it or not he needs you. Make peace and I promise you that he will apologize for his arrogance."
"Vary well My Lady." A few days later a rider arrives with a message from Prince Rhaegar, asking him to join him on the trident. This time Randyll marches out of Horn Hill with six thousand men. When they arrive, he informs Rhaegar that Mace marched the rest of the Reach forces to Storm's End.
"Damn fool!" Rhaegar says.
Out numbered the loyalist forces charge the enemy on the Trident. During the battle Randyll kills thirty-five men. He retreats after he learns that Rhaegar had fallen in battle. After six miles Randyll and his men make camp. "My Lord!" A scout yells riding up. "Lannister forces are on the march."
Randyll shakes his head, "The old lion will attack the city."
"How can you be so sure My Lord?" Ser Reedon asks. Reedon is Randyl's Captain of the House Guard and a very good swordsman.
He looks at the man, "Because it is what I would do. I'd appear as a friend, get them to open the gates and then sack the city." Randyll looks at another scout, "Are any of the allied forces pursuing us?"
"No My Lord."
Randyll and his men finally make it back to Horn Hill. He immediately sures up the defenses of his Castle, his wife had offered the smallfolk on his land sanctuary behind the castle walls. When Randyll has done everything he could, he goes to see Maester Atkyns. "Maester."
"My Lord."
"I come to talk about my son. Can anything be done about his weight?"
"He is a baby My Lord."
"A fat baby...will he be a fat boy, youngster, a fat man?"
"With all we know about the human body there are things we still don't know. Take House Baratheon for instance...No matter who the males or the females of the family marry, the children come out black of hair and blue of eyes. Some traits are hereditary. Some like your son's weight lie dormant for years and resurface in certain children."
"I want everything done to insure he loses the weight."
"Yes My Lord."
He tries to get Melessa to cut down on how much she breastfeeds baby Samwell, which angers her and starts an argument. Eventually he apologizes and turns to praying to the gods that his son will lose the weight. After six months Melessa starts giving the baby solid food in addition to her breastfeeding him.
Randyll is in his solar when Maester Atkyns comes to see him with a message. "A Raven from King's Landing My Lord. Robert Baratheon has been declared King. Mace Tyrell has bent the knee."
He grunts, "Of course he has." Randyll takes the message. "And I am supposed to go to King's Landing and kiss Robert's ass. Tell Janson to get fifty men ready I ride for King's Landing in two days."
Two days later Randyll kisses his wife goodbye and mounts his horse. They ride out of the main gate and head to the rose road. They pass by High Garden, but keep riding, as Randyll has no wish to stay at the castle or deal with Mace Tyrell and his stupidity. He does stop at Bitterbridge Castle Home to House Caswell.
"Randyll!" He is greeted by Lorent Caswell Lord of House Caswell. The two men are good friends.
They hug, "Lorent...I am glad to see that you still live. I thought I would stop on my way to King's Landing."
"Ser Edgar see to Lord Randyll's men."
"Yes m'lord." The man replies with a salute.
"Come Randyll let us drink and talk of battles won, friends gone, and good times." The two men go to his solar. "I heard you had a son."
"You heard right. Samwell we named boy is fat. I am hoping he will grow out of it. Or lose weight."
"I'm sure he will."
They talk about the war, how Rhaegar would have made a great King and other things. The next day Randyll leaves with his men to continue on his journey. They make camp three times before reaching the King's wood. Twice before reaching the city of King's Landing itself. While in the woods, Randyll hunts and kills a stag as a gift to King Robert.
When they approach the Red Gate, they are greeted by Baratheon men guarding the gate. A hundred men on the ground and four hundred on the walls. The smell of smoke still lingers in the air. "Hold who approaches?" The guard captain asks.
"Lord Randyll Tarly of Horn Hill. I've come to swear my oath to the King."
"Davyd ride to the Keep and tell the King." The Captain commands, "You may enter my lord."
There are many people rebuilding from the damage made by the Lannister army when it sacked the city. Randyll shakes his head at the waste and all it was, is a waste. When they reach the Red Keep the King is waiting with his new Hand Jon Arryn. "Your Grace I have come to pledge my oath you."
"Randyll Tarly, the only man I have ever lost a battle to. Rise my Lord." Later court is held and before the nobles of King's Landing Randyll makes his oath. Afterwards he is invited to the King's solar to talk and drink.
"I heard Mace Tyrell claimed the vicory over me in that battle."
"You heard correct your grace."
"Well you should know Lord Tarly, that you have earned my respect."
Randyll takes a drink from his goblet, "I don't know if I can say the same of you your grace."
He laughs to Randyll's surprise, "Your reputation preceeds you. You are a man who speaks his mind."
"Answer me something your grace. Did Princess Elia and her children desserve to die like that?"
He sighs, stands up and goes to the open window, "I got an earfull from Jon Arryn and Eddard Stark..." He turns to face him, "...I'll not lie to you. I am a man of anger and sometimes I am governed by that anger. At the tourney of Harrenhal Lyanna told me that she did not wish to marry me."
"So she did go with him willingly. Who started the lie that he kidnapped and raped her."
"Pycelle did. Pycelle did on Tywin Lannister's orders."
"And you let Pycelle serve you?"
"My new wife asked for mercy on his behalf as a wedding present." He sits back down after finishing off his wine. He pours himself more wine. "As for Elia and her chldren...Let's just say that I regretted it afterwards. After Jon and Ned tore me a new one. The Mountain and Lorch asked for a trial by combat. That is how they got off."
"And were you aware that Rhaegar was trying to overthrow his father?"
"He said as much when he asked to parlay. But I let my anger and jealousy get the better of me. I charged the field and knew Jon, Ned, and Hoster would follow me into battle." He finishes off his drink. "Enough of this talk! I am King now and what's done is done."
Randyll stands up, "If you will excuse me your grace, I will go check on my men. Tomorrow I am leaving." He walks to the barracks to find the men drilling in the yard. Always be ready for battle and war is what Randyll teaches his men. It's what his father taught him and what he will pass on to his sons. He believes this in conjunction with his House words, which are; "First in Battle."
As he is walking back to his room in the Red Keep, Randyll spots Ser Barristan Selmy. "Ser Barristan! A word if you will."
They interlock arms, "Lord Tarly."
"I find it odd, you here serving the Stag."
"I was wounded on the battlefield, but nursed back to health on King Robert's orders. I felt that I owed him a debt for my life. Honor dictated that I offer my services as King's Guard. He made me Lord Commander."
"Is it true that Stark killed the Sword of the Morning, in single combat?"
"Apparently...Stark and eight others faced Sers Gerold, Oswell, and and Lord Reed lived to tell the tale."
"If that fool Mace had gone to the Trident and we had time to plan, Rhaegar would still be alive."
"I agree with you there."
The two men part ways and Randyll takes his meal alone in his room. Before going to bed he sends a raven to his wife letting her know that he had arrived safely and would leave the next morning.
