Hello to you all.
Chapter 6: The Battle of Old Wyk, and the Lannisport Tourney
Barristan
This battle reminded him of the Stepstones, fighting against Maelys the Monstrous at Bloodstone and vanquishing him.
Barristan raised his shield, deflecting an arrow and closing the distance on the reaver and slashing him from neck to sternum.
Jaehaerys parried a spear, using his father's dagger and stabbing the valyrian steel into the enemy's neck before throwing it at another's back. Barristan took note of the lack of Drumm soldiers on the shore, and less so leading up the hill as they advanced past the beachhead.
More arrows rained down, "Shields!" he yelled out and covered himself and Jaehaerys.
A line of reavers charged them and he followed his Prince, together with the men cutting down one man after the other. They seized the choke point and let out a cry of victory, the men of House Drumm retreated back to their walled keep.
Inside the castle, Lord Drumm was angered by the cowardice of his men, when asked what happened his man said the green lander leading the enemy was ferocious and fought like the warriors of old and that the force felt like a wave crashing on a hull.
Back at the beachhead, a small camp was set up and the small catapults on the ships Lord Redwyne borrowed him were being brought to land.
Jaehaerys went over their losses, 30 men died but for every man they lost, the Drumm's lost more in a total of 160 men, and from that confiscated were 300 arrows, forty bows, and numerous spears and swords.
Barristan was itching to fight further, "In the hour we will begin the siege, tell everyone to rest up and pray to their gods if they must... I doubt half of us will be seeing tomorrow." Barristan saw Duncan go and relay this message to the others and the Prince sighed.
"You led well, Jaehaerys, I dare say you gave the men higher morale than what was expected." He said to his charge, and Jaehaerys nodded appreciating the kind words towards his person.
"Thanks... And thank you, back there I almost got feathered." He laughed with the Prince, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder and the rattle of his armor sounded out.
"It is my duty, as the Kingsguard, I am charged with defending the Royal Family, all of the Royal Family."
The hour commenced the assault, the trebuchets launching pitch and oil inside and out on the walls of the castle and this went on for hours.
Duncan rode on a horse from the nearby stables, calling out the cowards to come and due or surrender, a man shot an arrow out but the young captain and knight blocked it with his shield.
Inside, Dunstan Drumm was sick and tired of waiting, calling for a parlay, and opening his gates when the enemy stopped pummeling his home with fire and stone and pitch.
Both were equal in strength, both ready to fight and Barristan followed Duncan and Jaehaerys to meet Dunstan and his right hand, a warrior named Andrik the Unsmiling.
"By the Drowned God, another Dragon lands itself on my home." Dunstan insulted Jaehaerys.
"Did you come to surrender or have you come to talk us to death?" Jaehaerys asked Dunstan, Lord Drumm grunted insultingly in response.
"I'm Ironborn, abomination! I will never surrender... But let us settle this in the old way, you or one of your men against one of my best." He stepped forth, looking at his Prince.
"Allow me, Jaehaerys, I can best any man he puts forward." He whispered and Jaehaerys thought about it for a second then nodded.
"Fine, Lord Drumm, upon my victory your men will stand down and you will bend the knee to Robert Baratheon." Drumm agreed and chose Andrik to battle for House Drumm.
Barristan gripped his sword and shield firmly, swinging his sword left and right. Andrik stood not far, unsmiling and gripping his ax.
The duel commenced a second later, Andrik charged and swung his ax downward savagely, then swerved it left and right. He blocked with sword and shield, Barristan thought that the man fought fiercely and it reminded him of how Maelys once fought.
He grunted and thrust forth, Andrik grabbed his sword with a mailed hand and he rose his shield and bashed him back to get loose before going on the offense and Andrik clashed his ax and attempted to shove him off his feet to no avail as his plate weighed the warrior down.
The end came when Andrik came at him, swatted his shield out, and did away with his ax, and then swung his sword cutting the warrior's exposed neck. He then drove his blade through Andrik's right eye through his open-faced helm.
Barristan heard cheers from their side of the field, Dunstan Drumm sneered and unsheathed a blade unlike any he had seen.
The sword's steel was pure red in color, the grey crossguard crescenting up like a pair of fangs. It was a short sword, one-handed. Barristan thought it was a wonderful-looking weapon, not belonging to a reaver like the Ironborn.
"Will you renege on the pact?" He questioned and kept his sword and shield ready.
There was a long silent moment before a spear struck Dunstan's back, the killer revealing himself and bearing the sigil of House Ironmaker.
Jaehaerys and the army advanced quickly but as they closed the distance to those of House Drumm, the reverse threw down their weapons and raised their arms up to surrender.
None from House Drumm remained, Dunstan was the last apart from a pair of mistresses, one carrying a bastard babe.
He leaned down and picked the weapon up, investigating the fineness. "A fine sword." He heard from behind him, Jaehaerys smiled and Barristan was going to hand him the sword but the Prince shook his head. "Keep it if you wish, Ser."
"It's a Kingly weapon, here." Jaehaerys sighed and took it, "It's Valyrian Steel, let it be my gift to you or you may give it to Aegon when he is older." He said and Jaehaerys nodded and grabbed the scabbard and sheathed it.
The Targaryen Banner replaced the Drumm hand for a fortnight, and Jaehaerys gathered riches and took food from the island keeps.
On the fifteenth day, word came of the fall of Pyke and Balon bent the knee as he had done years before to Robert.
They rejoined the fleets after victory was accomplished, sailing back to Lannisport where Robert Baratheon declared a tourney to celebrate the feats and Jaehaerys thanked Lord Redwyne for his aid though the Prince asked to keep it between them.
Upon reaching Lannisport, Jaime Lannister approached Jaehaerys pavilion and the young Knight smiled.
"What is your business, Turncloak?" Jaime the Turncloak, the man who tarnished his white cloak to serve another King other than his own.
Jaime's friendly smile soon soured, the Knight scowled and held his head up high. "The King demands Jaehaerys presence." He sighed and wondered what Robert wants now.
He followed the Prince into the royal pavilion, Lords, and Ladies sitting and discussing amongst one another but they all quieted once they saw Jaehaerys Targaryen enter, and strapped on his waist was the prize sword of House Drumm.
All of Robert's Kingsguard stood ready, their hands on their swords. It doesn't help that ten or so Lannister soldiers also occupy the tent which is why he insisted on being at Jaehaerys side.
Robert sat with Eddard Stark, Jon Arryn, and Tywin standing beside the King.
"Jaehaerys the Conquerer!" The Usurper said in mockery, "How was the small island I charged you with taking, hmm? Did it fill you with pride? Or perhaps honor?" Barristan admired Jaehaerys restraint, despite the boy's jaw tensing every so often. "My man on from one of my ships that went with you said you sacked the keeps on the island, taking treasures and House Drumm's ancestral sword."
"A sword once belong to House Reyne, a bit suspicious to keep it, no?" Tywin butted in and asked Jaehaerys.
Taking a deep breath, Barristan heard the Prince speak, "If the treasure is what you want, then you'll have it. The sword too, if you wish, your grace." Eddard stared at Jaehaerys with sympathy as Robert got to his feet, pushing the woman he had on his lap off.
"Keep it, I don't much care... But," Robert's tone turned serious, "This rebellion Balon tried to get away with, it's reminded me how much I don't trust you to be obedient." Barristan narrowed his eyes at Robert.
"I swore my House to you, send you more tribute than any House and yet I am untrusted?" Jaehaerys started to lose his temper, the dragon rising to breathe flame. "I don't know how else am I to prove that I won't raise a hand to your grace."
The room got so quiet, so tense, and Barristan almost reached for his sword to defend his Prince.
Tywin scoffed, "See, your grace? He won't ever be loyal unless there is an assurance."
"Aye, you may have been right." Robert said and turned back to Jaehaerys, "Jaehaerys of the House Targaryen, acting Lord of Dragonstone. I, Robert of the House Baratheon and the first of my name hereby command for your nephew, Aegon of the House Targaryen to be handed over to Tywin's custody to ensure he becomes a loyal servant of the Realm."
Barristan saw for the first time his Prince buckle and show vulnerability, sputtering his words in response to the Usurper's decree and demand.
"Please, you can't do this- " Jaehaerys tried to reason and for fear of Aegon's longevity, Tywin is sure to neglect or ensure the Crown Prince perishes in some form.
"I am the King! Not you, Dragonspawn!" Robert's voice boomed, and the man gripped his hammer and to his own shock, Barristan stood in front of Jaehaerys and put a hand on his sword which got a reaction from Robert's seven guards. "I like you, Ser Barristan, if not for me you'd be dead so you sheathe that fucking steel or suffer the consequences."
"Barristan... Stand down... " Jaehaerys rose his head, tears of anger and rage stinging his eyes and rolling down his cheeks then falling to the ground. "Very well, if Aegon should go to one of your loyal men... Then place him with Eddard Stark."
Eddard, taking the moment turned to his friend, "You charged me with Theon Greyjoy, your grace, I would also take Aegon as well." Tywin interjected but the idea must have seemed a fine one to the King.
"Bugger it, then." Robert cursed and cleared his throat, "Jaehaerys, your nephew will travel North. Ned will sail with you, now go and leave me in peace and quiet."
Leaving the pavilion, Barristan tilted his head to the Prince, "You did good, my Prince. Eddard Stark is an honorable man, Aegon will be well looked after." Far better than ending up in some terrible fate being under the eye of the thrice spurned Tywin Lannister.
Jaehaerys shook his head no, "I didn't, Ser... If we even make a move, Eddard Stark won't waste a moment to behead my nephew... The cause is lost, now." Jaehaerys walked off and his head down in shame and defeat.
AN: A sad and bitter end to the chapter, how will Jaehaerys and his family get back what was stolen from them, now? We shall find out as we continue on. So, until next time I shall see you all in the next update as we get an Aegon pov.