Disclaimers: I don't own Game of Thrones or Shadow of Mordor.
A/N: Sorry for the long wait to update. I been working on my Fairy Tail and Ghost of The North stories. Now you'll see that I added for parts from the book into this chapter to mixed these up a little. I like to thank everyone who has supported this story so far. Review, Follow, or Fav if you want, doesn't matter to me. Now I must finish my Ghost of the North chapter. Also, I'll put this out now, this will be a REAL siege of King's Landing, This will not be a one-day thing. Not gonna lie that part disappointed me in the books and the show.
Chapter 4
Confidence
"So what are my duties as Captain of the Princesguard?", Talion asks Tyrion as they walk down the halls with Bronn by their side.
"Well beside the obvious task of protecting my dear nephew", Tyrion began to explain, "You will be task with assisting the Gold Cloaks and the Kingsguard, once they have woken up and been treated of course", he add with a small smile. The fact that he was able to get one over on Cersei in front of so many people is a memory that Tyrion will cherish for the rest of his life.
"I don't think they'll be too keen on cooperating with Mr. Captain here when they wake up", Bronn chide in.
"I don't care if they don't like it they'll do it regardless", Tyrion answered back, "Now where was I? Oh yes, you will also need to assist me in any other matter they may be crucial to the Prince's survival."
"So basically as long as the Prince's life may be at stake, you can use me however you wish? Is that what you're saying here?", Talion asks knowing full well from the beginning that the whole Princesguard thing was a ruse to a certain degree.
"I'm hurt, dear sir. Do you really believe that I would manipulate my beloved nephew's savior and now guardian to carry out my evil deeds?", Tyrion asks, "I mean you're going to be protecting my nephew, it just until you find more men to aid you it will just be you and the castle guards doing so,"
Talion looks at him for a second, silently judging him.
"He doesn't give off the same aura that the Queen was giving, and he look like he was indeed grateful for me bringing Tommen back to him", Talion tells Celebrimor.
"Do not be fool by his hobbit-like appearance Talion, this man may be the cleverest person we met so far in this land", Celebrimor warned.
"I have "heard" word of an army coming to lay siege to this city", Talion told Tyrion, "Is this true?"
Tyrion moves to look out a window before replying, "Not going to lie to you, Ser Talion. Our reliable spymaster has received word that while Renly was killed by an assassin, all of his men have gone over to his brother's Stannis side, even House Tyrell, the head house of the Reach. Even worse Stannis is using some of his men to block my father from being able to send reinforcement. The Lannister's army is basically fighting a war on three front, one to the north, one to the east, and one to the south."
"How many?", Talion asked, "How many men are in the approaching army? And stop calling me ser."
"Last count was at least ninety-thousand strong, with sixteen thousand cavalry, ten thousand archers, and close to, if not more, seventy thousand infantry", Tyrion answered.
"And we have…." Talion started to say.
"Barely eight thousand men who can wield a sword", Bronn chimed in, "So in other words, we're about to get fuck harder than a virgin at a Dorne brothel."
Talion and Tyrion both turn to look at Bronn who was simply looking back at them, "Well it the truth unless you two have some grand plan to turn this all around."
"Well we have dragon-fire, that's something", Tyrion remarked, "If we use it carefully we may be able to land a devastating first strike that they will not see coming."
"Unless this "first strike" of yours can kill over hundred thousand men, it about as good to us as that cunt on the throne", Bronn said as the trio made their way to the battlements.
Stannis's Camp
The army camp of Stannis Baratheon was alive with energy, as men and beast made preparation for war.
"I do not like it", Stannis remark as he pace inside his tent in the middle of the camp, "It just seem too easy."
"Your Majesty, what do you mean?", Davos questioned.
"The Reach houses, especially the Tyrell", Stannis answered, "I was expecting them to retreat back to their castles after Renly's death, not join my side."
"But this is a great opportunity for us, my king. With the Reach at your command, the Lannisters and the North, even combine, have less men than us."
"Fewer", Stannis corrected, "They have fewer men than us."
Davos shakes his head before continuing, "What I mean is that with you sending men to block the Lannisters' path and the Vale and Dorne remaining neutral, the road to King's Landing is open, ripe for the picking. At our current pace, we'll be there within ten days."
"I just do not like having men who allegiance flips so easily on my side that all", Stannis pointed out, "I want a close eye kept on the houses, most importantly the Tyrell and their Taryl dogs. They are up to something, I just know it."
Davos is about to leave when suddenly…
"Wait!", Stannis said.
"What is it, Your Grace?", Davos wondered.
"On second thought send the entire army of House Taryl to deal with the Lannister. I will not have the Tyrell's strongest allied house so close to me like a knife to my throat. I want to keep them as far away from one another as possible. On another note, I want the entire fleet, except for a small flotilla of ships to be sent to the Iron Islands. If Balon Greyjoy thinks he can rebel a second time he has got another thing coming. I do not except them to actually conquer them but they should keep them busy long enough for us to take the capital and joined them later to launch an invasion of the islands. Like you said, we have more than enough forces. We can take the capital by land alone, with the small flotilla blockade its port", Stannis ordered,
"Will that be all?", Davos questions.
"No, I also want ten thousand men each to be send to the borders of both the Vale and Dorne. They made be neutral for the moment, but I want them to stay like that at least until I am sitting on the Iron Throne, then I will deal with them along with the Greyjoys. Give the commanders specific instructions to not invade either region, only defend themselves until I say otherwise. I want this war ended as soon as possible and now that I have the manpower and resources to fight on multiple fronts I can", Stannis continue.
"Aye my king", Davos said, "But what about the North and the Riverlands?"
"They will be the last one I'll deal with. Robb Stark is honorable like his father. I'll try diplomacy with the boy and hopefully, make him give up his silly dreams of being the "King in the North". I am only doing this because of what Ned Stark did, but if he refuses, then I will force him into submission. I will take the Riverlands on my way to The Neck. Now go." Stannis finished.
Davos bow his head and leaves to carry out his King's orders. Stannis then draws his attention back to the map in the middle of his tent. As he looked upon the spot where King's Landing was as single thought crosses his mind…
"I will give them all one chance to submit. They will bend the knee or they will die."
King's Landing
It been a week since Talion became captain of the Princeguard, and frankly he was getting sick of it. Sure access to the Royal Library has come in handy in finding out information about Westeros, but unfortunately, nothing has turned up yet about any areas of magic except for perhaps The North or Essos to the east. But besides that one thing has annoyed him to no end…
"He plays with cats all day!", Talion thought to Celebrimor as he walked the halls of the Red Keep behind the young prince, "He has a ton of cats and he named them all including one after myself"
"You chose to save the boy", Celebrimor pointed out, "This is all on you."
"You were the one who was all for me becoming the prince's bodyguard if I remember correctly", Talion snapped back.
"I was merely taken advantage of the situation you put us in, nothing more", Celebrimor counter.
"And it not just the boy who the problem. Between his mother who sends heated glares my way every time she sees me and the Hound fellow who just gives me that crooked smile it beginning to get really annoying. I have to fake eating and sleeping so people won't get suspicious. I'm pretty sure the Queen has been poisoning my food a couple times, but thanks to the rune on Archarn that makes me immune to poison I'm fine", Talion thought remembering all the funny tasting food he been eating for the past few days.
"Hey Ser Talion", Tommen called out ahead of him.
"You can just call me Talion, I don't remember being knighted Prince Tommen", Talion responded getting tired of being called Ser by everyone.
"Okay Talion, think you could teach me those fancy swords trick of yours?", the prince asked causing Talion to arc an eyebrow.
"You want to learn the way of the sword?", Talion asks actually please that the prince is taking an interest in something else other than cats.
The current second-in-line for the throne suddenly looked a little nervous after Talion asked that, "Well… it just I felt completely helpless both those times you save my life and I figure I could learn to defend myself that all. My father was a great warrior and he tries to train me with the war-hammer but it proved too heavy for me to use, so after seeing you in action I figure the sword would be easier", Tommen explained, "And Joffrey would probably think twice before messing with me if I knew how to use a sword."
"So that what this is all about", Talion realized, "He tried of getting tormented by his brother."
"Prince Tommen, you're aware a large army will be here within three days to siege this city, correct?", Talion asked.
Tommen nods his head sadly.
"According to your uncle, I'll be helping him and Bronn defend the city walls", Talion stated then watch as Tommen face sadden.
"All great now I made the kid sad", Talion thought before changing his mind, "But I'll give you some pointers, later on, today after supper, and if this siege goes in our favor I'll train you more, okay?"
The young prince's face brighten up with that statement as he shakes his head vigorously, "Yes! That would be wonderful!"
"But first, we have to work on that confidence of yours. You need to be able to stand up for yourself. Your brother may be the king, but he still your brother. You shouldn't have to take grief from him", Talion said.
"Guess you're right about that", Tommen laugh nervously, "I guess playing with cats all day doesn't help with that."
Talion was about to say something when suddenly a wail coming from the throne room caught his attention. It seems to catch Tommen as well as he turns around to the direction the noise was coming from…
"That sounds like Lady Sansa's voice", he remarks, "What going on?" as he took off toward in that direction with Talion right behind him.
The Iron Throne
Talion and Prince Tommen arrive at the entrance to the throne room and greeted by a sight that Talion could hardly believe…
"Is he pointing a crossbow at that girl?" Talion thought as King Joffrey started to speak…
"You are here to answer for your brother's latest treason", the king said while aiming a crossbow straight at Lady Sansa who was on her knees begging for her life. Talion also took note that almost all of the Kingsguard was protecting the throne once again.
"Took them long enough to get out of the infirmary", Talion thought as a brief smile graces his lips.
"Your Grace, whatever my traitorous brother has done I had no part in", Sansa pleaded.
"So much for the saying blood is thicker than water", Talion thought as Joffrey called upon Lancel Lannister, a boy Talion only knew in passing, to tell everyone just what Sansa's brother did to earn for her to earn this type of treatment.
"Using a sort of veil magic that he no doubt learns from across the Narrow Sea or from your heretic Old Gods, your brother, The Traitorous King of the North fell upon Stafford Lannister with an army of wolves. They butchered thousands of good men", The squire to King Robert reported.
"Did the man forget to put sentries up? Did he even scout the area", Talion's voice rang out from the entrance as he and a nervous Prince Tommen walked in. As everyone turn to look at him he could the look of surprise on Lancel's face.
"I beg your pardon?" Lancel said.
"I ask if this Stafford fellow even bother to perform proper reconnaissance", Talion said, "I'm assuming this happen at night, correct?"
"It did", Lancel answered, "What does that have to do with any-"
"Then he just fell to simple ambush, which could have been prevented if he had taken the simplest of precautions, and that is proper recon of the area and if he would have posted an adequate number of sentries", Talion interrupted, "Trust me, I know a thing or two about ambushes."
"That is my blood you insult-", Lancel try to say before once again Talion cuts him off.
"A defeat is a defeat. War does not care what your family name is.", Talion said not evening spare the boy a glance as he said it while looking at the king.
"I will not be lecture by some filthy scum like you!", Lancel bellows as he grabs the hilt of his sword only to stop upon Talion turning his eyes toward him. The same eyes that made orcs run away in fear not too long ago. Thankfully for Lancel though, they were not glowing.
"You draw that sword lad", Talion threaten, "And I'll rip out that insulting tongue of yours out and shove it up your arse."
Lancel immediately backs up away from Talion, bumping into the people behind him, all the while shaking like a leaf.
Talion gives him one last glare before turning his attention at King Joffrey, or more precisely the crossbow he had pointed at Sansa.
"Your Majesty", Talion said as the words left a bitter taste in his mouth, "The battle occur hundreds if not thousands of miles away. Surely you cannot blame the girl for something her brother did way up north."
"Though after the hobbit explains to us the circumstances that cause her brother to rebel, even I can't blame him for rising up in arms", Celebrimor said, "The king had his father beheaded and then demanded that he come and swear allegiance to the crown."
As Joffrey thinks over the words that Talion said, the Ranger of Gordon notices the Hound was looking at him again with a look of bloodlust, "This guy lust for a fight could easily rival a uruk if not surpass it."
Then Joffrey spoke, "Killing you would send your brother message."
"As well as ensure any prisoners taken by him be shown no mercy", Talion mused as he notices Tommen looking frighten by this whole ordeal, "Really have to teach this kid to have some backbone."
"But mother insist that I keep you alive", as the King puts down the crossbow and tells Sansa to stand.
"Thank the gods he still sucking on his mother's tits", Talion thinks to himself.
"So we'll have to send him a message another way, Ser Meryn", he ordered as the Kingsguardman moves toward the still-frighten girl.
"Leave her face", Joffrey commanded, "I like her pretty."
And with that Ser Meryn delivers a vicious armored punch straight to Sasha's gut. The girl staggers back, but to Talion's surprise, she doesn't fall…
At least not until Ser Meryn hits her leg with the flat of his sword sending the sobbing Stark girl to the ground.
"I should do something. They're beating a helpless girl ",Talion thought as he resisted the urge to pull out Urfael.
"If you get involve in this, the king will not take kindly to it", Celebrimor warned, "At least if you're not ordered to do so by the prince or the hobbit."
"I know that, but this isn't right!", Talion countered.
"It seen my future queen is overdressed, unburden her if you will", Joffrey ordered as Talion could make out the beginning of a sadistic smile on his face as Ser Meryn rip Sansa's dress. The poor girl struggles to cover herself up while enduring the humiliation at the hands of her future husband.
As he looks over at Prince Tommen the boy was shaking with fright.
"It would seem the boy has seen this type of behavior before, or more so he been on the receiving end of it", Celebrimor pointed out.
"Prince Tommen", Talion whispers, "You can end this, just give the order."
The poor boy looks up at Talion with a look of fright, "But Joffrey wouldn't like that", the boy fretted.
"Since when do you care what he likes? He obviously doesn't care what you like", Talion stated, "A week ago you stood up to a mob of over fifty angry men to protect Lady Lollys, surely you can stand up to your brother."
"If we want your traitor brother to hear us, then we're going to have to speak louder!", Joffrey yelled as Ser Meryn raises his sword high.
"Tommen!", Talion whispers harshly addressing the boy without his title.
Before Ser Meryn can bring his sword down, a voice cuts through the tension…
"Ser Talion stop this madness!", Tyrion orders.
And in the blink of an eye, Archarn is pull out of its sheath and thrown straight into Ser Meryn's shoulder, impaled itself deep within it. As the man drops his sword and collapses to the ground, Tyrion walks in with Bronn at his side while continuing his rant…
"What kind of knight beats a helpless girl?", Tyrion asks but Meryn was in no position to respond as he tries desperately to pull the dagger out but was failing.
But Talion being the nice guy that he was decided to help him out and strolls over and easily pulls it out, though he did twist it a little before doing so. As the man's scream of pain fill the throne room…
"Ser Talion, make him be quiet please if you don't mind," Tyrion said.
"With pleasure", Talion said as he delivers a solid kick to face to knock the Kingsguard unconscious.
"Someone get the girl something to cover herself", Tyrion commanded to anyone who was listening in which Talion rips the white cloak off the unconscious Meryn and uses it to cover the girl.
"Ser Talion, please see Prince Tommen to his quarters, afterward meet me in my studies. New information has just arrived and we need to discuss it.", Tyrion said as he looks toward Joffrey who took a step back from the imp, "I need to educate my nephew, and I don't wish for my favorite nephew to witness it."
Talion walks over to the still shaking prince and leads him out of the room as Tyrion launches a barrage of insults at King Joffrey.
As the duo walk to Tommen's chambers…
"I could not do it", Tommen started to cry, "I could not stand up to Joffrey."
"There there lad, it nothing to be ashamed of", Talion assured, "It just something we have to work on during your swordsmanship training."
"But I'm so weak. How can I wield a sword to defend myself if I can't stand up to my brother", Tommen sobbed as tears started running down his face.
"Get some rest lad", Talion tells him as they enter Tommen chambers, "After I go see what your uncle wants, I'll come back and we'll begin our first day of training."
This brightens Tommen up a bit and the servants lead him into his inner chambers.
"Boy going to take some work that for sure", Talion mumbles to himself.
"Honestly, this is a waste of time ranger. You have more importantly things to do then teach a child the way of the sword", Celebrimor berated.
"I couldn't say no", Talion countered, "The way he asked me to teach him reminded of how my son Dirhael asked me all those years ago."
Tower of the Hand
"Are you sure of this?!", Talion yelled after Tyrion got done talking.
"Yes" Tyrion answered, "Stannis has sent more troops to fight my father's forces while sending most of his fleet to fight the Iron Islands. But more men have been raise to join his army so we are still looking at a force of at least seventy thousand strong coming our way. Evening as we speak Stannis' army has split up and is laying siege to Castle Stokeworth, Duskendale, and Rosby and I don't expect them to last long. We need not worry about Dragonstone though, Stannis only left a skeleton crew to maintained it. No doubt though the separate forces will join back up together to besiege King's Landing, and if our information is correct they will be here by noon tomorrow."
Talion was silence at this new bit of information.
"Now I was going to ask you to find more men to augment the Princeguard, but seeing how we're strap for time, you will have to suffice alongside the regular castle guards", Tyrion added, "But I'll will need you on the battlements tomorrow alongside Bronn and myself, Ser Talion."
"Fine, I'll be there, but you have to stop calling me Ser", Talion said as he looks out the windows while thinking about what tomorrow will bring.
A/N: So let see what happens tomorrow when Stannis arrives on the scene. I also know that scene in the throne room happens before the riots, but I couldn't resist. And to the best of mine knowledge, it really didn't have much of a profound affect on the story other than showing us that Joffrey feared Tyrion and that he's a coward. Sorry no fight scene this time, but that will come next chapter. Also just what is House Tyrell playing at by joining Stannis?
Chapter 5 Clash: Talion crosses swords with the men of the Reach.