I do not own any George R. R. Martin articles and or any aforementioned literary articles.
Gerold Lannister pov:
Sitting in my solar I could see all of Lannisport through the window, it started to make me think about what will happen when I pass, what will happen to house Lannister, what about my sons.
I have always worried for my son's especially my third born son Tytos, he is always too eager to please others doesn't know the difference between when being laughed at to someone laughing with you.
Tywald my heir, my eldest son is almost everything one could ask for in a son and heir, but he has no respect for the merit or ideas of others and he is stuck in the claws of the Reynes, he's already betrothed to Ellyn Reyne along with being squired under Robert Reyne.
I fear for House Lannister its enemies are biding their time until the day comes where I am no longer the head of House Lannister, already House Reyne is making their moves to control the west through my son and I helped them in it having my son betrothed to that manipulative shrew Ellyn Reyne, and squiring him to Robert Reyne.
Tion my second born, Tywald's twin brother is in the same state as his brother but instead he would never stand or move against his brother even if he knew his brother was wrong.
I don't have to worry about Jason my youngest for a while since he being only one name day old, hopefully he will turn out better than his brothers.
House Lannister needs true allies outside the Westerlands in case of a coup by houses within the Westerlands but it needs to be a house with actionable power but isn't a Paramount house, there are very few houses that fit that bill.
Hightower, Redwyne, Royce, and Frey seem to be the best choices they all have wealth, influence, and can field a substantial force.
The Hightowers and the Redwynes have the most to offer in men, gold, and influence but they aren't close enough for a quick response in an emergency and aren't focused on anything martial.
The Royces have many cadet branches to call upon along with allies, and a history of martial focus but has no mercantile connections.
The Freys can offer martial and mercantile help but they don't have the prestige compared to the other houses, the new lord Frey has been making waves, building roads, a sellsword company, building connections with the North and Riverlands, and a trade company.
My spies tell me that Walder Frey is off in the North making deals with the Starks and their bannerman, and that he has been doing some unusual things since becoming Lord Frey having his smallfolk equipped and trained one month every year along with his knights.
Establishing the Twins as a trade town called Agartha, building paved roads in his lands and the lands of House Mallister, building ranches and plantations suppling dyes, wine, textiles, meat, and leather to be probably sold by his trade company.
The strangest things he has done was marry a woman of House Reed, and recruiting boys from orphanages taken off to a fortified vineyard, my spies couldn't tell what was happening there.
I can't make a martial alliance with House Frey since it would be seen as an affront to House Tully making such alliance with their most powerful vassal.
I could offer to foster one of his daughters here at Casterly Rock, along with a trade deal with his trade company.
Pulling out some parchment to begin writing out the letter to Walder Frey, only putting the offer a fostering in letter to see if Lord Frey has the will or smarts to negotiate for more from me.
It is always best to keep my cards close to my chest, to keep your options open.
Myke Frey pov:
Essos, outside walls of Myr
Since coming to Essos to establish the Red Tridents we've had some jobs mostly providing protection for merchants, debt collection for trade cartels, and city banks.
I have trained them to the point where they are battle ready, but they haven't seen actual battle yet, but they will soon be blooded.
We were hired by the Magisters to fight a small khalasar, but we are working with the Brave Companions by the orders of the Magisters.
They are of the most ill repute I've ever come across in ability and reputation, from what I have seen of them they don't train in any way or have any martial ability beyond being an armed mob.
Today is the day the Red Tridents see their first battle, the plan for the Red Tridents is that we aren't going to wait for the Dothraki to come to us instead we plan to attack them in the night.
The Brave Companions from what I heard was that they planned on to meet the Dothraki in open combat against the walls of Myr.
Sneaking up on the Dothraki camp, the only light nearby was the torch of a Dothraki sentry at the outskirts of the camp.
Handing off my shield and spear to one of the men.
Crouching down I began to make my way to the sentry with my dirk drawn, sneaking up behind him stabbing the dagger into the side of his neck, shoving outward tearing the front of his throat out.
Picking up the torch from the ground, waving it in the air all of the men came out of the darkness.
Taking back my shield and spear, stabbing it into the ground and strapping on my shield.
"Break up into your centuries and follow your centurions order, you have your orders and you know the rules." I said quietly, walking to a tent setting it ablaze
The rules for the company were written by my nephew.
Soldiers do not harm enemies who surrender. They disarm them and turn them over to your superior.
Soldiers treat civilians humanely.
Never compromise the company in any shape or form
Must constantly clean your armor and weapons and pay for repairs when needed from your own pocket
Cannot leave abandoned children to their fate if they encountered them, must take them in until they of age or returned to their people
Foundlings are to be sent to the Garden to be trained and raised
Foundlings when they are age may stay or leave
Getting back to the action hand, routing the Dothraki khalasar outside of Myr.
Breaking off into groups of ten around the camp, soon the night was brightened by more fires, I could hear the shrill screams coming from somewhere in the camp.
A group of Dothraki and slaves came running out of the tent I set on fire earlier, the slaves ran out into the darkness while the Dothraki rushed us with their sickle swords drawn.
The biggest of them rushed me with his sickle held high above his head with both hands, holding my shield above my head struggling under his strikes, stabbing with my spear into his gut.
Yanking it from his stomach, the Dothraki had fallen to a knee with his sword at his side, lunging forward hitting him in the forehead with the edge of my shield.
Falling on to his back, grabbing my spear with both hands plunging it downward into his chest.
Placing a foot on the body, I wretched my spear from the corpse.
Looking around Dothraki corpses were strewn about on the ground, a Dothraki rider was charging towards me with his sword drawn.
Blocking his slash with my shield, I fell to the ground from the force of his blow, rolling away from the rider onto my back.
Standing up from the ground, the rider was circling around me preparing to make another run, charging forward I stabbed the horse in the side of it rib cage with my spear.
It fell to the ground nearly crushing the rider under its own weight, but the rider dismounted in time to not be crushed.
Not giving him time to attack I got into his guard with my sword drawn, knocking his sword out of his hand with my shield.
Slashing his throat open with my sword, he fell to his knees with a hand clutching at his throat.
Pushing him onto his back with my foot, stabbing him in the chest with my sword finishing him off.
Looking around my century had finished off their opponents, grabbing my spear from the dead horse.
"Form up, this battle is not over yet!" I yelled, sheathing my sword in its scabbard
We went off to help the other nearby centuries.
Time skip:
The battle had finished by the first lights of dawn, all there was left to do was loot the camp of anything of value in any sense.
I was sitting in the leader of the Dothraki's tent since it was well furnished, furs covering the ground, furniture, and a chest.
Walking to the chest I pried it open with my sword, it was full of gold, silver jewelry, various currency, horse idols made of precious stones, silver, gold, and the most surprising thing in the chest is a pair of valyrian steel daggers.
The daggers were mirror images of each other, the handles were made of some kind of precious stones, one was black while the other was white.
The guards were the same as the handles mirror images of each other, the black had a jagged silver guard while the white had the opposite a gold guard.
The blades were curved to points with double edged blades for each dagger.
Placing the daggers back into the chest covering them with the bags of currency and jewelry.
Someone knocked on the post of the tent, "Come in." I said, closing the lid of the chest
One of the centurions came in with his helmet at his and his other hand at his sword.
He was my second in command, Alaric Rivers was chosen by me and my nephew as my successor for leadership in the company when I am not here or when I am dead.
I know that him and my nephew have always been close since bringing Alaric into our house, I don't care that my nephew has relationships with both men and woman.
I remember when I first learned of their relationship, it happened when Walder was seventeen and Alaric was sixteen in a clearing in the woods near the eastern keep.
Flashback begins:
I hate it when Walder does this he disappears off somewhere when he should be in his lessons with me or maester Harran.
I've spent the last hour searching for him, and now I have learned that Alaric didn't show up for his duties.
Knowing Walder and Alaric are both missing from their duties then they are probably together they're most likely in the woods on the outskirts of the Eastern keep since I cannot find them in either keep.
There's a clearing in the woods that Walder would go to when he wanted to be left alone or when he went on one of his solo hunts.
I headed out with four other guards on horse back to woods, before dismounting and heading into the woods with two of the guards while the other two stayed with the horses.
The guards and I separated following different paths in different directions, usually it was difficult to follow Walder's tracks because when he wants to, he can move like a ghost through woods.
But it seems since he has Alaric and a pair of horses with him, he can't hide his tracks so well as he would do by himself.
Following the trail it led me to the clearing, looking out into the clearing I saw Alaric on top of Walder kissing him under a white oak tree.
Stepping away from the clearing so I was out of sight, "Walder, Alaric where are you!" I yelled, moving slowly back to the clearing
Walder And Alaric were standing looking startled.
"Uncle what are you doing here?" Walder asked, smiling nervously
"Walder, you skipped you lessons with Maester Harran, while you Alaric did not report to your duties." I said, sternly
I knew one could not decide who they love, if anyone says otherwise is a fool.
As made are way out of the woods we reconnected with the two guards the were searching.
Climbing onto my horse, "Alaric, Walder you two are going to walk back to the Twins." I said, beginning to leave
The guards followed along with Alaric's and Walder's horses.
"Why uncle?" Walder asked
"It will teach you and Alaric to not skip your duties and lessons." I said, not looking back at them
Flashback ends:
I plan on never telling them that I know about their relationship ever, I will take it to my grave.
I just hope Walder doesn't allow his second mind to do much thinking, Alaric brought me out of my thoughts and memories.
"Lord commander, we have collected all the treasure, horses, weapons, slaves, and the surviving Dothraki." He said, bowing to me
"Is that all centurion?" I asked, sitting back into the chair
"No, Lord commander there is a party in the distant coming this way and we have stripped and piled the dead on the outskirts of the camp." He said
"Centurion, we will be returning to Westeros, have this chest prepared for transport." I said, pointing behind me
"Yes, Lord commander." He said, bowing and leaving the tent
I sat there for a couple minutes, walking of the tent into the middle of the camp.
That tent is the most luxurious out of the others, but that is a lower bar since majority of the tents in the camp are nothing but ash.
Outside the tent the men had made piles of what ever treasure they found, along with piles for swords, bows, and whips.
There were two groups of people surrounded by guards, one group I assume are slaves while the other are the surviving Dothraki.
The group of slaves was made up of men, women, children, young, and old all of them wearing rags and collars, it looked to be close to four dozen of them.
The group of surviving Dothraki was made of young children, young women, and old women all of them wearing leather clothing.
I didn't see the horses that were gathered from the Dothraki.
"Where are the horses!" I yelled, walking to the middle of the yard
A random guard stepped forward, "Milord they are being gathered at the outskirts of the camp." He said, pointing towards Myr
Walking up to the prisoners, "Does anyone here speak common tongue or any other language?" I asked
"I speak southron and horse fucker." Someone said
It was a young girl with tanned skin and brown hair in the slave group, she looked to be around nine and ten name days old.
"What is your name?" I asked
"My name is Nedis, kneeler." She said with some bite but not enough to be offensive
Walking up to the group, "Oh, you're a wildling, you're a bit far from beyond the wall." I said, hand rested on the pummel of my sword
"A bunch of blue haired fuckers are behind that." She said, standing up from the ground
She must be talking about the tyroshi, they are aggressive in the lengths they will go to obtain slaves.
"Tell everyone they do as there told and they won't be harmed." I said, looking her in the eyes
She started to speak a sing song speech and then spoke a very guttural bark of speech.
Just as she finished speaking the party that Alaric told me about came into the center of camp.
It was a palanquin being carried by four slaves, with a dozen unsullied following behind them with two more slaves carrying a chest, when it stopped out came one the magisters who hired us.
The unsullied followed behind him as he walked to me.
"Welcome, magister Visemar." I said, spreading out my arms
He was thin, bald man with dornish tan skin and amethyst eyes, he was wearing long red and yellow silk robes.
"You did more than you were paid for, you were supposed to only fight them so they will bring down the tribute payment." He said, sound irritated
"If I did that then me and my men would've had been destroyed or had casualties instead of a few injured, you should be happy we brought the tribute down to nothing." I said, with my hands behind my back
"For that reason, the council has added bonus to your payment along with payment for the slaves and Dothraki." He said, waving his hand
The two slaves brought forward the chest.
Looking back at the two groups, my eyes met the girl from before Nedis, in her eyes I could see rage.
Turning back to the magister, "Magister thank you for the business, I would like to purchase some of the slaves from you and sell the Dothraki horses to you." I said
"I would be willing to purchase the horses, which slaves would you like to purchase?" He asked
Walking back to the groups, "I take all of the young boys and girls, including this one." I said, pointing at Nedis
"What would a Westerosi need all slaves for?" Visemar asked dryly
Walking back to him, "So you don't want to sell them." I said, stoned faced
I was trying to force his choice, maybe get him to lower the payment.
"I am willing to sell them to you, for two dozen slaves plus the Dothraki comes to 200 gold darics or 300 gold dragons." He said looking at the groups
"Someone go get my satchel from the carts!" I yelled
A couple seconds later one of the men came back with it, opening there was a black velvet bag full of diamonds.
Walder gifted it to me for emergencies or personal purchases.
"I'll give you twenty diamonds for them." I said, showing him the diamonds
"Deal, but you have to deal with the transport yourself." He said
"Ok, on to the horses." I said, walking to the leader's tent
He followed closely with his unsullied behind him.
Time skip:
We had worked out the deal; he bought the horses for a hundred golden darics and took the custody of the slaves.
We finished loading the loot, the slaves, and the Dothraki into separate carts to avoid unneeded messiness.
The Dothraki children fought to the point we had to knock them out with milk of the poppy.
"Lord commander, we have a problem." Alaric said, pointing at the couple of the men stopping a couple of the brave companions trying to get by
Walking over to them, "Who is the leader of your group." I said, with my hand behind my back resting on the handle of my dirk
A guy wearing a feathered cloak stepped forward.
"I am the leader, and you're the fuckers who took are money!" he yelled, spitting on my boot
His buddies behind him started to laugh.
Stepping forward, slashing his throat open he fell to the ground clutching his neck.
His friends tried to attack me or help him but my men killed them before they could step forward.
"Milord this might cause problems with the Brave companions." Alaric said, walking up to beside me
Wiping my blade clean on the feathered cloak, "Alaric I don't think they will be a problem, if he was the leader or some importance, he would've brought more of the company." I said, sheathing my dirk
"Leave the bodies where they are." I said, walking back to the cart
Once in Myr, we headed to the docks loading the slaves, Dothraki, bows, swords, and the chest I found in the leader's tent onto a carrack that provided its services to take me and the company to Maidenpool.
There were two dozen male and female slaves, along with ten Dothraki all of them are eight name days or younger
Sitting on the top deck, Nedis walked up to me in new clothes that I provided money for.
She was wearing brown riding leather pants, brown knee length waist cloak, tan tunic, and a sailors bag that I believe she didn't even pay for instead took it from a sailor on the docks.
She had also taken a spare hauberk, spear, one of the bows and some arrows looted from the Dothraki.
She had helped me tell the children that they are free, and are going across the sea to The Garden, not a single one of the ex-slave children or Dothraki children have cried a single tear even after being told they are being told they are being taken across the sea.
"Kneeler where are we going?" She asked
"We are heading to the Riverlands, then onto the Twins where my nephew might have use of you." I said, looking out at the horizon
"I kneel to no one southron!" She growled
"You most likely won't have to kneel before my nephew." I said, laughing as I walked away to my hammock