Chapter Twenty-Four
Auhtor's Reply:
IAmOutofIdeas: The inner territories of Rivendell are heavily dosed. The outer part however is sparingly not due to Delianah banking on their loyalty that the Three Houses owes her for getting rid of the Turkey Infestation.
….
The God's Eye, an entire map of the Riverlands crafted on a large table acting like the Marauder's Map. It is one of Rivendell's main secrets and designed personally by Delianah in order to observe the comings and goings around her domain. It is placed at the Main House in the side of the Meeting Hall. The War Room it is called containing everything that might be needed for planning and preparation of logistics at the worst of the worst. Normally it is never used and would have been gathering dust if not for the Green Men assigned here to keep it maintained.
Right now however the War Room is full and filled with activity as the threat to Rivendell and it's territories are shown on the map. Currently present on the War Room is of course Delianah, the Lady of Rivendell, Draco or Dragon Shit with his senior captains of the Black Guard, Julius head of the Bounty Hunting Guild, Ser John, the representative of the Knights sworn at Harrenhal, Lady Amelia, the new elevated Castellan of Rivendell, Marcus, the new Elder of the Green Men and acting also as head of the Messenger Corps, and finally Captain Appo of the still unnamed Bastard Heavy Cavalry finishing the last touches of their training.
"So, we are facing three armies all around us and we just lost our Lord Castellan," says Draco looking at the painted table where three large immense dots are moving.
Delianah just wordlessly nods. Once can clearly see at the table the large amounts of red color are moving. Unlike the original Marauder's Map, the God's Eye is heavily inspired by Muggle Futuristic Satellite tracking. Instead of showing names, it has settings and can be zoomed in and out in an area to specifically show terrain more clearly. It also has a peacetime and wartime option which the latter is being applied currently.
"I will kill them all! I swear by the Old gods! I will kill them all!" growls Amelia making Delianah mentally sigh. The young woman has not taken well the death of her uncle. No surprises there, the Green Men after all are closely knit after living on the Godseye for so long in isolation. Thankfully she has finally finished with the shock and mourning phase and is currently hungry for blood.
One that Delianah plans to give her as much as she can.
The death of Viktor caught everyone by surprise including her. Delianah of course mentally cursed herself. She has always expected that the declaration of Rivendell to the Old Gods would be met with outrage and no small amount of disapproval. However she has let her guard down. Years of continuing success and victories ever since she walked this new world have made Delianah less cautious and vigilant that she opt to be.
There's also the fact that her character is also heavily influenced by the culture of her previous life. Back at the twenty-first century, arguments about religion tend to be not that serious of a case with the worst being the odd brawl on the streets with a lot of lingering resentment. Here, everything can be taken in an offence. Grudges and battles have been made during the centuries just because someone farted wrongly in a lord's house where he shouldn't have. Is it really a surprise that they go against her with armies because she declares different from their usual norm of beliefs?
This world has seen the merchant side of her, it has also seen the kind, and the leader part of her. What it does not see yet though is the Auror, the bane of Dark Lords part of her. The one that is cold, calculating and without mercy to those who would dare to even think of hurting her or her family.
"The army from the Reach and the Vale is the largest and the closest of all and provide the greatest danger in numbers alone," hums Draco looking at the map down South East where the coalition of forces being led by Randyll Tarly is approaching.
"Fifteen thousand men, most of them knights," Ser John says darkly. To his credit, the sworn knight of Harrenhal, now Rivendell does not show the slight amount of fear or panic. "It would also include the levies of the traitors, assuming the people would follow them,"
"Most of them won't," answers Amelia still glaring at the moving group. "Majority of the smallfolk that now call the Outer territories of Rivendell are from Essos and are loyal to the Lady Delianah. Only those of the most devout would follow them. Maybe, two thousand levies at best will be added,"
"That's seventeen thousand men all in all, and that's not counting the armies from the Crownlands and the Riverlands coming from the South and the Northwest. How many men can the Black Guard muster Lord Draco?" Ser John asks looking at the silent soldier standing like a statue.
"If we include the trainees, ten thousand at best; how many are coming from the other two sides of Rivendell?" the Black Guard General asks.
"From the Riverlands, I don't know, five thousand maybe? Six? Damned Brackens rallied the houses," growls the Knight. "Another seven thousand are from the Crownlands. Not surprising, it is the closest to King's Landing and the one where the Septons have the highest influence other than the Reach,"
"So we have what? Twenty-Eight thousand men converging from us on all three sides? Where did they even get the finances to arm and feed them?" grumbles Julius.
"You will be surprised by how unreasonable religion and belief can change a man," mutters Delianah darkly. "It doesn't matter where they get their funding at the moment. What we need to do now is to discuss what shall we do now? We have at most maybe fifteen thousand soldiers and that's with the levies included," Delianah mentally grimaced. It leaves a bad taste at her mouth to send a farmer wielding a pitchfork against heavily armored knights. As a Lady of this land however it is expected of her and she needs every bit of numbers advantage.
"I suggest we engage the forces from the Reach first," points out Amelia at the large group currently moving steadily deeper into the outer villages of Rivendell. "Out of all the forces heading our way, they have the largest and that's not to mention its Randyll Tarly, the renowned tactician leading them. "It would be wise for us to put them out of commission as soon as possible,"
"I agree with the Lady Amelia," says Draco leaning on the Godseye map. "If we put together everyone, we are closest to number against the forces of the Reach. Also they are traipsing their merry way against on the outer territories and probably razing or pillaging everything that they can lay their hands on. Years of work burning or destroyed by the people there,"
'The general order of evacuation had been given beforehand. Majority of the smallfolk had retreated to the larger homesteads. With the Forts abandoned there due to the pullout of the Blackguard patrols, they would not waste time besieging each and every homestead but instead would be marching here," points out Marcus.
"Do you think Fort Granger and Fort Ronald will hold while we deal with the Reachmen?" asks Captain Appo, eyes focusing on the two forts that would be the backbone against the invading Crownlands and Riverland forces.
"Of course they will hold, our Lady commissioned them to be built for this very same reason. Have faith Captain for our Lady knows all, sees all,"
"Uhm sure Lord Marcus," the Bastard Captain replies totally not reflecting the confidence shown by the Green Man.
Delianah herself struggles to put down the urge to smack her own face with her palm. Lord Marcus is a lot younger compared to Lord Viktor with double the zealotry and none of the guile. He is like a blunted hammer that is completely well meaning but tends to be destructive if not handled and aimed properly. He seems to take it as a personal offence that some of the other leaders and citizens of Rivendell are not looking at Delianah in the same Messianic awe that the Green Men looks at her.
Still….Delianah glares at the large army of the Reach marching confidently on the road. Seventeen thousand men is a lot and if she faced them head on as they are now, it would be disastrous even if they win. Casualties will be at an all time high even with the famed discipline of the former Unsullied. They would also be facing against Randyll Tarly, a man who can make battlefield decisions wisely. Someone according to Westerosi history is not to be taken lightly. Their army also needs to survive to face another thirteen thousand from both the Crownlands and the Riverlands.
"Magic is might," she whispers to herself mentally. She's got a lot of it and she's not afraid to use them…..in a discreet way.
"My lords and my lady," Delianah stands tall in front of them catching all of their attention. "I believe that it is time to show these invaders why our Faith in the Old gods is true and theirs are not,"
….
Westerlands, Casterly Rock
"THOSE IDIOTS!" Lord Kevan Lannister in front of him has to duck the porcelain jar that goes flying over his head to smash into the wall into a hundred pieces.
"Is it that bad brother?" the younger Lannister asks looking at his older brother who is huffing and puffing like an enraged gorilla, his face red.
For a split second, Tywin chooses not to answer his younger brother for being so dull as to not see the danger, but in the end chooses not to. Kevan after all is one of his most trusted and he needs to be made aware lest he fell also for the foolishness that is currently marching towards Rivendell.
"Worse than I thought," he answers with a growl that is almost as dangerous as the sigil of his house. "The High Septon has declared a "Pagan insurrection" and have called for loyal defenders of the Realm to his Inquisitors charged with the commanding of the "holy army" to burn Rivendell to ashes,"
"Inquisitor…..Inquisitor…..Inquisitor…., wait! Isn't that fat Septon barging into the main hall yesterday calling himself an Inquisitor?"
"Yes," says Tywin sitting comfortably on his chair once more.
Long story short, one of the so-called Inquisitors of the Faith have marched into Casterly Rock as if he owns the place and literally demands that Tywin obey the command of the gods and summon his levies to aid the holy army on salting the lands of Rivendell clean. Oh, the fat moron also demanded from him that he finance the entire bloody campaign himself. Said Inquisitor is currently enjoying the tender touch of Ser Gregor Clegane and Tywin's interrogators as to the plans of the Faith. Suffice it to say that Tywin isn't pleased with the results he gets.
"So why is it bad Tywin?" continues his brother. "We've already dealt with the Inquisitor,"
"The problem is Kevan is that the Faith should never be given power," Tywin growls. "There's a good reason why the Targaryens for all their power demands that the Faith Militant be disbanded. Religion in controlled doses is good, but put swords on the hands of fanatics and you get unreasonable men willing to burn everything down,"
"I don't still see how it is bad," says Kevan.
Tywin mentally rolls his eyes at his brother. It seems cleverness has skipped a lot of souls at his family. "Look at it this way little brother. If these Inquisitors can march around my own home as if they own it without fear or remorse even with no success on their names; imagine how unreasonable they can be once they have something on their name and belt. Not all lords after all can hang one and get away from it like I can,"
"Oh,"
"Yes, oh," Tywin grunts finally satisfied that his brother also connected the dots.
"So what do you plan to do Tywin?"
"What I plan?" Tywin takes a drink from the cup of wine at his table before leaning back on his chair.
"I am going to nip this problem in the bud and show them why I am known as the King Without the Crown,"
…
The North, Winterfell, Godswood
Eddard Stark sighs as he closes rolls the letter handed to him.
"So, what do we do?" Howland Reed asks beside him.
The short man have traveled here personally with fifteen retainers carrying the letter of "recruitment" by an Inquisitor stupid enough to try and brave the bogs of the Swamps defending the passage North. Apparently he believes that the Seven would protect him from the dangerous lizard lions that calls the Swamps their homes. The Crannogmen had found him screaming his lungs out with no eyes and with a torn arm and leg as three lizard lions ate him alive. After salvaging what they could after the lizard lions had their fill, they found the letter currently being rolled by Ned.
"It has barely been a year my friend and now another war?" Ned mumbles more to himself than with Howland who wordlessly sits beside him.
"It could have been us they've been declaring war too you know," points out the Crannogman.
"Without Moat Cailin or the natural defense of the swamps then yes, it would have been us," agrees Ned.
"The question though Ned is what do we plan to do with this piece of information," Howland Reed says. He is one of the few that tends to not call Ned his title due to their shared experiences and secrets. "There has never been a war about belief ever since the Andals arrived at Westeros and took down the Weirwood trees down South,"
"Are you suggesting that we aid the Lady Delianah of Rivendell Howland?" asks Ned looking at the Crannogman who only nods silently before saying:
"It would be a wise course of action Ned. Not only do the lands of Rivendell feed the entirety of the North after all but they do so fairly. This is the first winter no matter how short that Greywater Watch has seen a galleon at our storage at the end of winter after those supplies of Rice and Meat you have rotated at the North Ned. If the North lose Rivendell, we lose our main food supply that would not drain us all of our funds,"
"We'd be going against Tully forces though," points out Ned. "Cat would not be happy that we'd be going against the forces of her family. Plus the North is still recovering from the harsh winter and the last thing on my bannermen's heads right now is going to war. Plus even if we decide to, the moment we finished mustering the levies, Rivendell would be in ruins,"
"I never said that the entirety of the North be involved Ned. I suggest that we send a force large enough to put a dent on the Southeners but at the same time small enough. They must have access also to the Eastern part of the sea where they can travel via the longboats that Rivendell oh so gladly gifted to the Manderlys,"
Ned mulls about it. Now that Howland points it out, it does hold merit. It does helps the North on the long run and it would also improve Rivendell-North relations. It's a bonus since the Faith of the Old gods would also be appeased. Thankfully Ned does know of a certain strong House in the North that needs prestige badly for its newly elevated underage lord and also has access to the sea.
"I think I've just got the answer for your suggestion Howland," Ned smiles feeling satisfied of a solution for the problem down South.
….
Riverlands, Riverrun
Edmure unhappily nurses the drink off his goblet. Currently he feels nothing more than the most hated person at Riverrun. His father had once more collapsed after shouting at him angrily for "giving" the command of their vassals to the Inquisitor that visited here. What is he supposed to do? It's not as if he can go against the very will of the gods.
He can still remember the outrage on these very halls when the River lords started another infighting when the newly dubbed Rivendell declared publicly for the old gods. One side who benefits a lot from the trade and supply of the Lady Delianah like the Blackwoods has no issue with her choice of faith. The Septons and Septas after all can be quite cutthroat when demanding for donations. The other side with the Brackens on the lead shouted for Delinah's head for heresy! Of course they are the first to raise up arms when the Inquisitor demands that the Faith be defended.
Now there they all are with a lot of the Riverlands armed forces marching off to his sister's lands with every intent of burning her at the stake. As Edmure sits alone at his empty halls drinking wine, the weight of the lordship he is inheriting weigh heavily on his shoulders with doubt eating him from the inside.
"She is supposed to be a bastard that I hate. So why does sitting here doing nothing makes me feel as if I'm committing kinslaying?"
…..
Rivendell, the Topmost Part of the White Tower(Imagine the empty Space of a White Isengard where Gandalf was imprisoned by Saruman)
Myrcella never has been afraid of heights after living at the Red Keep for so long. Here right now though at the top of the White Tower of Rivendell, the highest structure atop the hill where Rivendell is perched, Myrcella is not ashamed to admit that she is deathly afraid of the height where she is in right now, especially since the edges has no railings of whatsoever kind. Judging with Rhaenys, Yasmina and Amelia keeping close to the center of the pentagram shape of the tower as much as possible, the others also agree with her concerns of falling off the edge.
They are the only ones after all invited here as witnesses by Delianah as she "connects with the gods". Myrcella of course knows the trouble that is slowly approaching Rivendell. Delianah has offered that she return to the Red Keep which she fervently refused. The last thing that she wants is to leave Rhae-Rhae, Delianah and the people that she has come to care for here. She also knows that if she returns to that viper pit, she would never leave and would forever be on the tender mercies of her brother's cruelty.
Thus she stays here and stands as she watches Delinah stand at the very edge of the cliff overlooking the lands SouthEast. The moon shines brightly at the sky bathing the entire land in a glow of silver and white. Delianah herself gleams in her matching white shirt and pants, her black hair standing out on the ethereal sight.
Myrcella watches silently as Delianah cuts her palm with a knife, crimson blood flowing in the air literally. Others might have screamed in terror at the unnatural scene but Myrcella says nothing as she watches with amazement something supernatural happening as more and more blood flows in the air before circling around Delianah's wounded palm like beads of water.
The arm that connects with the palm raises up, direction towards the Reach where the majority of the army is coming.
"My home is threatened!
Hear my plea! Hear oh gods of old!
Heed my call! Darkness has come!
Protect us! Man the Boundaries! Do your duty to the Mistress of the End!
Piertotum Locoloto!"
For a split second, Myrcella does not feel anything as the blood disappears into thin air simply. It seems that the very air remained silent. She is about to ask what is going on when everything changes.
A terrible scream follows, not the scream of terror but one of anger and madness reaching past the soul and spirit and awakening the very fear of any living being deep inside. Below she can see the residents of Hold's Hamlet clutching their ears as the scream continues like a banshee wail. It goes on and on and on for the entirety of almost ten minutes before slowly fading into silence.
"Wh-what is that?" Myrcella gasps from where she has fallen into her knees even as small tracks of blood from her ears oozed.
Delianah only kneels towards her with a different light of coldness to her eyes that Myrcella has never seen before.
"That Princess is the Old gods answering my call and giving our Reachers an unsuspecting surprise,"
….
Author's Review: Hope ya like this. Thanks.