Errol IV

Storm's End, 298 AC

Ever since the letter of the self-proclaimed "real Aegon VI" had arrived, life had changed dramatically for the inhabitants of Storm's End. Ravens came and left at a constant rhytm, men spent most of their days training for battle, and provisions were stocked in case things took a turn for the worst and a siege began.

It wasn't a happy time, and Errol dreaded every single minute of it. However, at least he could be glad of the fact that his inner voice had been silent for a while now. He was growing increasingly tired of that nagging idiot inside of his own head.

Lord Robert, by now fully healed from his hunting wounds, had already called all his banners. As soon as everything was ready, his host would march toward Cape Wrath. The local lords didn't have enough strength to annihilate the invaders, whose numbers were larger than everyone had thought at first. The best they could do, was hold them long enough for reinforcements to arrive. Lord Stannis had already assembled a host of his own to face the enemy troops. As he wrote to his brother, he had no intention of letting an imposter take his home. Everyone hoped for the best as they waited for news about the battle. Then a ship with refugees and news from Stag's Den arrived, and the mood changed.

Lord Stannis had fallen, and Stag's Den with him.

Lord Robert didn't take the news well, as one could well expect. Neither did Lady Argella and Lady Cassana, or Ser Renly. And neither Maester Cressen, to whom Lord Stannis had been like a son. Errol had met Stannis Baratheon only once since his arrival to Storm's End, but it had been such a brief encounter that he still didn't have an opinion on him. He could only share the others' grief by giving sympathetic words and lending a friendly ear when they needed someone to talk to. He had always been a good listener.

Among the refugees, were Lord Stannis' wife and children. Lord Robert personally came to greet them as soon as they entered his halls.

"Lysa..." he said, hugging his goodsister. Lady Lysa was a thin and delicate woman, and she looked even more fragile between her goodbrother's massive arms. Her children followed her closely. Errol couldn't help but notice their weary appearance and red eyes, and felt sorry for them.

"Robert." Lady Lysa just said, before bursting into tears. "Gods, I...he..." she sobbed. "Why..."

"Hush, Lysa, you are safe now." Lord Robert stroke her auburn air. "And don't worry about anything. You will all stay here with us as long as it's needed. And I swear..." he said, looking straight into her eyes. "I shall crush those vermin that killed your husband. I shall make them crawl back to the cesspit they came from, and I shall give them no mercy!" Then he added, a little louder: "My brother shall be avenged!"

The following days, Lord Robert began to spend even more time in the training yard with his soldiers. He seemed to be in a state of constant, barely restrained rage, and he put so much effort in what he did that Errol had to always stand ready nearby to tend to the soldiers' wounds. He knew that this was Lord Robert's way of coping with the grief over his brother's death. Cressen had told him that he had done the same after his father's death, five years before Errol's arrival.

Errol hoped to never find himself on the receiving end of Lord Robert's fury, and almost felt a pang of pity for the invaders.

Finally, a few days later, arrived the moment that everybody had been waiting for.

The host was ready.

Lord Robert wasted no time. He donned his armor, including an helmet with some realistic-looking antlers, and only a warhammer as a weapon. When he saw it, Errol wondered how in seven hells he was able to lift such a huge thing.

Before leaving, Lord Robert spent some time with his family, and confirmed his brother Ser Renly as temporary castellan. With Ser Eddard still in the North helping with the search for his missing niece, someone had to fill that role. Errol had always thought the younger Baratheon to be too frivolous, what with his easy smile and his love for tourneys. However, so far he had proven that he could also be quite serious when he put himself to it.

And then, the Lord of Storm's End departed with his men. Errol watched them from a window. What an impressive sight they made! The soldiers with their weapons and horses, and the black and yellow banners proudly flapping in the wind.

He prayed they would all come back victorious.

AN: Hope you liked it. See you in two weeks for the new POV character!