Land of the King
Chapter 37: Council of War
"Do you stand by your decision?" Aranarth asked
"I do," Prince Earendil answered.
"Why?" Aranarth asked, more calmly than the Prince expected. "What justifies not keeping your oath to your King?"
"Is he my King? That's the problem with all of you, Loyalist and Purist both. Both of you claim that your leader is the rightful king. To Dol Amroth, such dissension could only mean war. Why would I throw my men into the fire for either side? How can I tell my knights that they may not see their families again because two stupid princes could not resolve their differences?"
"Fear not my prince, your loyalty would be rewarded…"
"Argeleb said the same thing. Promised me that his eldest son would wed into my house, along with a whole host of other things. I turned him down. Why should I aid you? Especially when I rejected you once before?"
Aranarth had to answer carefully. Appeals to the Prince's political ambitions had not worked, Aranarth wasn't even sure he had any. The Grandmaster of the Knights of the Swan and the Prince of Dol Amroth remained unaffected.
"You will aid us, because honour demands you do so. Your ancestor was granted this fief and the prestigious title and honour of Prince bestowed to no other for his loyalty, in return he swore eternal loyalty and service to the House of Elendil for himself and all his descendants. Would you make him an oathbreaker? Betray all your oaths and vows as a knight?" Aranarth spat out.
Earendil sighed then, "There are too many. The Swan Knights number only two thousand and five hundred. Three times ten thousand are at the walls of the capital. You are not merely asking me and my men to ride to your father's aid Prince Aranarth, you are asking us to ride to our deaths. Deaths that would be in vain for we cannot lift the siege."
"So what? My father once taught me that as royalty, we are duty bound to give our lives for our people if need be. As knights of Arnor, you swore, we all swore to give our lives for our kingdom if the need arises. Our deaths will not be in vain, they will buy precious time for the defenders of the city."
"Then you will ride with us? Even if we ride to our doom?"
"Aye. How could I ask men to give their lives for me and mine if I would not do the same?"
One of the Swan Knights entered the room, bearing a message for Prince Earendil, interrupting their conversation. Earendil broke the seal and opened the message before smirking.
"Your grandfather and uncles are made of tougher stuff than any of us imagined! They are but five days from the city!"
"That, that's incredible. We had thought them at least another twelve days away!" Aranarth exclaimed.
The Prince let out a booming laugh then, "Very well then, never let it be said that the Swan Knights of Dol Amroth backed down from a fight!"
Aranarth felt hope flutter in his chest, "Then you will ride?"
"Yes, we will ride. Likely to our doom but we will ride. Our deaths will not be in vain. We will be able to buy enough time for Minas Anor to relieve the capital. By this time the day after tomorrow, we will have reminded all of Arnor of the valour of the Swan Knights of Dol Amroth!"
With a great charge, the Swan Knights of Dol Amroth had crashed into his army from the north.
Argeleb did not know how, but they had slipped through his scouts and outriders, leaving his flank completely unprepared for their attack.
At the same time, emboldened by their reinforcements, the defenders had sallied forth from the broken gates of the city.
Argeleb cursed his misfortune. He had been too lax, and now Arnor was doomed to a long and bloody civil war. He knew Arvedui, had trained him when he was a little boy. He was a stubborn brat who did not know when to give up.
He ignored the voice at the back of his mind reminding him that he was to blame for all of this. There was no longer any use in brooding over what could have been or what he should have done. He could only move forward towards his goal.
"Sound the retreat. Withdraw all our forces to Minas Ithil."
"Your Majesty?" his lieutenant asked, confused at why his king was commanding them to abandon their prize when they were on the verge of victory.
But Argeleb knew better. Perhaps it had always been a fool's hope to think he could take Annuminas in less than two weeks, but he had needed to try if he had wanted any chance of avoiding a long drawn out war.
The Swan Knights had already joined with the city garrison, the momentum of the battle had turned against him. Even should he somehow snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, he would not have the strength to take the city or hold it against Ondoher when he finally arrived.
He and the Purists had failed. Now they needed to withdraw and regroup before thinking of a new plan to win the war.
You may have won this battle Arvedui, but you have not the war yet.
To the amazement of all, the army of Minas Anor had arrived but three days after the battle had been won. Though they had come too late to take part in the fighting, for Argeleb's army had withdrawn unexpectedly, their arrival had brought a great sense of security to the people of Annúminas, lightening their troubled hearts.
In their push to save the capital, the army of Anórien had marched day and night almost wearing themselves out, but conserving just enough energy to fight. Hence many would be disappointed to find their agonizing march to be for naught.
In honour of their amazing feat, the entire army was feasted by the people of the city in thanks, and Arvedui himself had promised that there would be many an opportunity for the brave men of Anórien to prove their worth and win glory for themselves.
The Swan Knights, were hailed as heroes and the saviours of the city. Against all odds, their coming had turned the tides entirely and the Purists had fled before their fury. The people could be forgiven for forgetting that the Purist army had withdrawn, not fled, for so jubilant were they.
Yet while the people of the city and their saviours, the Swan Knights, celebrated, with even the Men of Minas Anor joining in even as they bemoaned their tardiness, there was no rest or feasting for the commanders of the armies.
An important council of war was called within a week of the siege's end. Held in the traditional meeting room of the Council of the Sceptre, the Lord Ondoher and his sons and nephew were in attendance, as were the captains of the Swan Knights, Prince Earendil and his sons, and many other lords and generals from around Malldolan who had come to join in the discussion. The King presided over the meeting, with his two sons on either side.
"Our next move Your Majesty, should be to march on Minas Ithil. Against our combined might, even the Tower of the Moon would falter," Lord Casterly declared.
Prince Earendil rebuked him, "That would be unwise. Argeleb's army is still at Minas Ithil. We would be throwing away lives for no real gain."
"What do you propose then, Prince Earendil?" Lord Casterly inquired.
"The Iron Fleet remains at large, so long as it and the Southern Fleet in Hyarmenna are at large, the Purists hold naval superiority over the Sunset Sea and they will slowly choke the life from Malldolan if nothing is done about it."
"Not necessarily, Malldolan can be resupplied and reinforced by way of Minas Anor and Cirith Ungol. The real danger I fear is in the possibility of Angren landing an invasion force behind our lines," Lord Pelendur of Emyn Arnen replied, he alone of all the lords of Ithilien had declared for Arvedui.
"How long would it take for ships from the Northern Fleet to cross from the Bay of Crabs to the Bay of Iron with the canal?", asked Lord Artamir, the elder of the sons of Ondoher.
"Around a month? Maybe longer. Assuming this fleet is coming from Osgiliath that is, but I do not think the Northern Fleet will be able to contend with the Iron Fleet, they were one of the finest fleets in the Royal Navy before their defection, and there is still the Southern Fleet to contend with as well," Lord Farman answered.
Lord Ondoher interjected then, "You have been looking very thoughtful Your Majesty, any thoughts?"
All eyes turned to the King.
"Which provinces have remained loyal?" Arvedui asked.
"For the most part, Ithilien, Calenardhon, Tircarnë, Hyarwinion, Tol Winion, and Angren have all joined the Purists Your Majesty. That leaves Malldolan, Anórien, Siriand, Nammatil, Morfalas and Raumdor loyal to the Crown. Technically, the territories of Vinyambar, Lys and the Stepstones have remained loyal nominally but being as removed as they are, few expect them to get involved."
"Moving ships over from Osgiliath has merit, but I fear it will serve little use beyond safeguarding our shores from the Iron Fleet. Neither is marching on Minas Ithil a wise decision, as Ithilien would be easily reinforced from Calenardhon. No we will react to the enemy's moves first, before making our decision."
"Would it not be better to be proactive rather than reactive Your Majesty?" Lord Casterly asked.
"Ordinarily yes, but not at this stage of the war. Look at the map. If we except Angren, the Purists are completely surrounded by Loyalists. Calenardhon and Tircarne face enemies on multiple sides. Should we have enough time to raise our armies, we would surely win once we press our advantage. The Purists know this, that is why they attempted to seize Annúminas before we could react.
Having failed at that, their next move is obvious, they will attempt to deprive us of our strategic advantage and then gain it for themselves. I expect that in a week's time, word will come of the Purists invading Raumdor, and a week after that, of Argeleb himself at the gates of Morlond."
All looked concerned at the king's prediction. And rightly so for it would be a genius strategy for the Purists to take. By invading Raumdor, the Purists could rid themselves of the encirclement and the two front war. Should Morlond fall, not only would the Loyalists be unable to support Raumdor, ensuring the loss of the province, the Purists could march north of the Blackwater as they pleased. From there they could slowly conquer their way west to Malldolan. At which point it would be the Loyalists who would be encircled, with Angren in the north, Minas Ithil to the south, the Purist armies to the east, and their backs to the Sunset Sea behind them, with nowhere to go. The war would surely be lost.
"Then we must make for Morlond with all haste Your Majesty!" Lord Casterly proclaimed.
"Indeed my lord, yet we must be cautious to ensure that Malldolan is well defended in our absence, lest the capital fall. Prince Earendil, Lord Pelendur, I trust that the defense of the capital would not be too difficult a task?"
"No Your Majesty, it will not be. No Purist will get within a hundred miles of the capital. My knights will see to it, I promise you that," Prince Earendil swore.
Lord Pelendur nodded, "In his haste to reach the capital, the usurper neglected to conquer the castles or settlements between here and Ithilien, leaving only a token force to guard them. It would not be hard for us to relieve those fortifications, and establish a defensible line along the Malldolan-Ithilien border."
"Emyn Arnen is in Ithilien is it not? Would it be safe?" the king queried.
"It is Your Majesty, but it is towards the northern end. It would not be overly difficult, that is assuming that the Purists do not attempt to break the stalemate with a massive assault."
"That possibility cannot be ignored, which is why my son, Anducar will remain in the capital as the regent. His gifts would ensure we have foreknowledge of any such attempt."
"No offense to His Highness, but that didn't help us much last time," Prince Earendil said.
"I was aware of their coming, we simply were not prepared. My sight is not perfect Your Excellency," Anducar retorted.
"So it is decided then? The bulk of the army will move to defend Morlond?" Lord Casterly inquired.
"Not quite my lord. As pointed out by Lord Pelendur, a substantial force would be necessary to defend Malldolan for the Purists would surely pounce on the opportunity should we leave the capital lightly defended. That is why I am planning to take only the giants and Lord Ondoher's army with me east, gathering up more troops as necessary from Siriand on the way," Arvedui answered.
"Are you sure the giants will come Your Majesty? It has been many years since they were called to war and they have not been the most well treated in the years since," Ondoher asked.
"The giants are loyal, and they will answer my call. There will be much lands bereft of lords when this war is over, perhaps they could be used to finally grant the giants the extra land they have long requested."
"If your prediction is true Your Majesty, then Argeleb would surely bring a great army to Morlond. One not gathered in haste like the army that laid siege to the capital was. The army could be even greater in size than that one was," Lord Casterly warned.
"We will simply need to prepare for the worst. Morlond cannot fall. The war depends on it," Arvedui declared.
"Argeleb failed to take Annuminas. And now both he and Arvedui are racing for the city of Morlond. Regardless of who wins at Morlond, the war is guaranteed to be long and bloody. With the money you have graciously given to support us, we can finance our campaign against the Arnorians. Every major House save House Dayne has joined us, and I expect they too will join our cause when they see our success against our oppressors. The Arnorians will be too occupied killing each other to bother about us and we will break free with ease. For the first time in over a thousand years, Dorne will be free, and most importantly it will be united," said Anders Yronwood, the Bloodroyal, King of Redmarch and Greenbelt, Lord of the Stone Way and Yronwood, Master of the Green Hills, and perhaps, soon to be King of the Dornish and High King of Dorne.
Anders Yronwood poured a cup of wine for his guest who graciously accepted the Dornish Red vintage.
"But I must confess my curiosity, why would you be so generous in aiding us? What does Valyria have to gain from Dornish Independence?" Anders asked.
His guest was almost inhumanly beautiful, with pale, flawless skin, amethyst eyes and flowing silver hair, neatly tied in a short ponytail.
"Everything, King Anders, "he said with a smirk. "Everything."
Author's Note: Okay a lot of things happened in this chapter and I think I will need a long explanation for it.
Firstly, Prince Earendil didn't at first refuse to help because he thought he would die, he refused because the way he saw it, his and his men's deaths would be in vain. However, with Minas Anor's army marching really fast (collectively pulling a Wingfoot), he decided that their deaths would mean something if they could buy time for Ondoher to reach the city. As it turned out, their sacrifice wasn't needed because Argeleb withdrew rather than fight.
Secondly, the war plan. If you look at the map,(Those on FF please refer to Chapter 37 of the story on either SB or AH) the Purists basically have the Reach and the Iron Islands, while the Loyalists have the Westerlands, Stormlands, Crownlands and Riverlands. Morlond (King's Landing) is the link maintaining the Loyalist's cohesion and encirclement of the Purists. If Argeleb takes it, he can break the encirclement and then mop up Raumdor and Siriand at his leisure (Siriand btw is technically part of the name of two distinct provinces but is often used as a collective term to refer to both). On the other hand, if the Loyalists can defend Morlond, they can move into Raumdor to liberate it and then invade Tircarne and Calenardhon. Therefore, it won't be an exaggeration to state that Morlond would help decide the war.
Reminder that roughly, Malldolan = Westerlands, Raumdor = Stormlands, Morfalas = Crownlands, and Calenardhon = Reach. For more details, please refer to the map in Sidestory: Appendix A for SB and the end of Chapter 20 for AH.
Lastly, Valyria has finally entered the main plot and they are scheming something with the Dornish. I wonder what they're up to…
