There was only a single jetty at Dyrge capable of docking a large ship which meant they had to work quickly to get the supplies off. Thankfully the cog they were using had two treadwheel cranes in the castles at either side so they were able to unload both off the loading ramps and with those. There was a rapid stream of workers and crewmen on the jetty waiting for the crates and barrels to come down and carrying them up the jetty and onto the dry land beyond, where yet more surveyors and dockhands were separating the goods and noting what they had.
Shireen looked up at the sky. Still morning, but she had hoped they would make more progress than this. Other ships were unloading by longboat and rowing to and fro, but that was a long process and would like as not take ten times longer to unload than by the jetty. But when you had nearly forty ships full of supplies you made the best of what you had. "Can we not move faster than this?" She asked.
"Sometimes things move only as they move," Richard told her, placing an armoured gauntlet on her shoulder. "Not everything can be rushed."
"My brother needs these supplies, we need to get them to him."
"They will come ashore as soon as they can, but the men are working as hard as they can."
Shireen frowned, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Your brother's men have this well in hand," Richard pointed out. "If you wished it, we could go ahead."
"I do wish it, as you well know, Richard," she smiled up at him. "I'm surprised to hear you offer it, my mother gave you explicit orders for my protection."
Richard shrugged. "I know you won't be dissuaded from seeing your brother. Besides, we have fifty men to guard you. More than enough to cut our way back to this place if the road turns perilous."
"Well, we can't go yet, not until these supplies are headed to where they need to be. I did not come to Crackclaw Point to be a passive interference in my brother's victory, I came to help."
"If that's so, then you'll have to wait."
She folded her arms tightly. "Then we'll wait."
It took another day and night to get the supplies unloaded, and then another to divide them up, arrange their escorts and get them moved towards their destinations at fortresses and front lines. Then Shireen and her escort mounted up and started towards Lyonel's last known position.
It wasn't as easy as Shireen was used to when traveling. Even when shipwrecked in the Stormlands, they at least knew where they were going, even if they didn't know where Storm's End was. But finding Lyonel on the front line was a journey that sent her from village to hamlet to town, tracing victories to find the victor. Eventually, they found him at the town of Girdlefall as the sun was dipping towards the western horizon.
They were met outside the town by a detachment of Lyonel's archers who barred the path, but opened it again when the lead riders of the escort parted and let her through. When the archers lay eyes on her, they parted before her when the knights announced her and let her through. She had spent little time with the archers, but she looked enough like Lyonel for them to know without question who she was.
She found Lyonel in the town square, sitting in front of a bustling crowd of people. Richard and the knights had to move the crowd aside to let her get through, and everyone looked over, confused at the commotion. Lyonel raised his hand and beckoned her over. "My sister, Princess Shireen joins us."
The crowd murmured. Shireen stepped ahead of her knights, slipping past Richard's attempt to hold her back. "Greetings everyone. Please, do not allow my appearance to distract you. Forgive me, Prince Lyonel, I did not realise I was interrupting your work. Please, continue." She moved around the square until she stood demurely behind Lyonel, in his shadow.
It was fascinating to watch as her brother listened to the people and answered their concerns. As she'd traveled to find him, she'd heard of these 'Commons Courts', where her brother went to the people. She wasn't sure what to make of them at first, but seeing how the people were responding to him she felt her doubts begin to fade.
Lyonel's court did not continue much longer. When the day grew dark, he called a halt, promising that the court would continue the next day. The people dispersed, apparently trusting his word, and Lyonel got up, turning to her. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."
"I know," she replied with a smile. "I thought we would meet in captured King's Landing. And if you had been more clear in your reports, I wouldn't have had to come to see what was happening in person."
He raised an eyebrow. "You could have sent good ser Richard here for that," he pointed out.
"Well, if I'm going to run around like a startled cat, gathering food and supplies at your beck and call, I'm going to make sure they are put to good use."
"A fair justification," he replied, hands raised to placate her. "But still. I don't like that you came here."
She pouted. "You don't want to see me?"
"Not in danger. This is not a safe place, Shireen."
"Well I'm with you, so I must be safe, right now. And if I stride too close to danger, ser Richard has mother's authority to drag me back to Dragonstone Kicking and screaming."
Lyonel looked questioningly at Richard. "I wouldn't have put it that way, my prince," her knight replied.
"Perhaps not exactly, but she was very clear," Shireen said.
Lyonel shook his head. "Of course she was." He looked up at the darkening sky. "Come on, let's get inside and continue this."
Lyonel led her to a vacant townhouse that had been turned over to him for the time of his stay. "This must be better than a campaign tent," Shireen commented.
"I indulged myself this once," Lyonel said. "The house is currently in an inheritance dispute. The family had two sons, both were sent to the war and died at King's Landing. Illness took the parents last year and now nephews and nieces are contesting it."
"Which way will it go?"
"I'll hear more arguments about it tomorrow and determine then."
"Can you afford to spend several days to determine a townhouse inheritance while we're in the middle of a war?"
"I can't afford not to. If I don't, we're no better than the Lannisters."
Shireen smiled. "I don't know why you ever thought you wouldn't be an incredible king," she leaned in and kissed his cheek softly. "Whoever my husband will be, I can go and live in their castle knowing the kingdoms are safe in your hands."
"Well, thank you for not putting any pressure on me." They laughed together. "You said you needed more of an update from me?"
"Yes," Shireen said, sitting down next to the fireplace. "We need a better picture of what you're doing. There are only so many supply runs we can make, we don't have an infinite supply of food in the Narrow Sea."
Lyonel started a fire and sat down next to her as the sparks began to flare. "Shall we begin?"
"No time like the present," Shireen said, sad that they were already turning to the business of war. "Lady Amalia sends her love, by the way," she added, hoping to delay the talk a little longer.
Lyonel froze for a moment, then turned to her slowly, hands extended towards the fire. "Her love?"
Shireen giggled. "That was exactly my reaction," she said. She had been boarding the ship when Amalia told her. She had turned, just as Lyonel had, and asked the same question.
Amalia had frozen in the moment as well. Shireen suspected she hadn't intended to say it. But soon Amalia's face unfroze and she shrugged in a way that was just a little too nonchalant. "Why not?" She had said finally. "Yes, my love."
"Why not?" Lyonel had asked.
"Are you disappointed, Lyonel?" She asked, teasingly.
"No," he said, too quickly.
She waited for him to look at her and raised her eyebrow. "Don't look at me like that," he huffed, looking back at the fire.
"Like what?" She asked innocently.
"Like you can see right through me."
"Do you deny it?"
"I… don't know," he replied.
"Lyonel." He didn't respond. "Lyonel!" He turned to her and she beckoned him down to her. He saw beside her and she wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"I know," he replied, resting his head on her shoulder. She reached up and stroked his hair. "If this is love, don't ever do it, Shireen, it's far too complicated."
She kissed his forehead. "I'm sorry. I came here to help, and I've only distracted you. Put it from your mind, Lyonel. Focus on what needs to be done. Matters of the heart can be dealt with once we win."
He nodded against her. "You're right." He pulled out of the hug. Shireen wanted to pull him back in, but couldn't after what she'd just said. "So, the war."
Shireen was woken the next morning by the sounds of hushed voices. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up. The townhouse was cold, pale blue fingers of light reached in through a flapping shutter. Early. She looked around. Where was Lyonel? She quickly got out of bed, dragging the covers around her to keep warm. She crept over to the door. Lyonel's bed was empty, his boots were gone from beside it. Had he left? There were voices coming from the next room, and one of them was definitely Lyonel's.
She pushed open the door and came through. Lyonel and one of his archers were talking quietly. They both turned to her. "Shireen, you're awake."
"And you're talking," Shireen replied with a tired smile. "What's going on?"
The archer looked cautiously between them, but Lyonel had no qualms. "We've discovered an opportunity to deal a harsh blow to the enemy. They're trying to rush some supplies into the next castle on our path of advance. But they've sent them ahead of the army, largely unprotected. We can't pass this opportunity up."
"So don't."
"But I pledged I would sit in the Commons Court today," Lyonel said, clearly torn. "These people are just starting to build trust in us. I can't abandon them now."
"If we don't win this war, your Commons Courts will become folk tales. Fine stories, but no good to anyone," Shireen pointed out. "But if it matters that much to you. I'll sit in your place."
"You?"
She stood tall. "Yes. Me. I stood in for father at Storm's End and dealt with traitors, lords and septons, as well as father himself. I have stood in for mother at Dragonstone dealing with merchants, myrmen and sailors. I can stand in for you here." This was her purpose to the Baratheon cause. She was the support arch, the buttress of Storm's End and Dragonstone. Her family could win the war. Her father's commanding mind, her brother's just leadership, her mother's diplomatic and administrative talents. If the wheel of fortune stopped with all of them at the top of their abilities, they would carry the whole world before them. Her purpose was to help them. She would take their excess burdens on her own shoulders so that they could focus on their immediate challenges. She would give her hand in marriage to bring them silver and swords. With her support, they could win the war and bring peace.
"Okay then," Lyonel said. "Just remember-" he began, but Shireen held up her hand.
"Lyonel, I can do this. You go and prepare for war, I'll go and get dressed to hold your court."
He closed his mouth and nodded. "I'll be back shortly," he said, before marching from the room.
