Disclaimers: I do not own Game of Thrones, Shadow of Mordor, or A Song of Fire and Ice.
A/N: Alright characters five is here at last! Sorry for the wait and I hope ya can forgive me for this (Work and my other stories took up most of my time). Anyway, I like to address an issue I been having with this story. Certain people have been claiming that Talion is the Lannister "bitch". While I'll admit he mostly working for Tyrion, you have to see things from his view. Talion knows almost nothing about Westeros. He doesn't know about the Lannisters, the Starks, or even the Mad King. When Tyrion offered him the position as Captain of the Princeguard, all he saw was a chance to find out more about Westeros. Also, I think we can all agree that Tyrion is one of the few "good guys" in the story. I also like to thank everyone who has supported this story so far.
Please Review, Fav, or Follow if you want.
You should read my other story if you're a Fairy Tail fan: Romeo Conbolt: Fire Incarnate, basically Romeo gifted in learning different types of fire base magics
Chapter 5
First Clash
The Red Keep
"Someone is coming", Celebrimor informed Talion as he was studying the book in his room that he found in the Royal Library called "The Ancient Magic of Westeros" while everyone else slept in extremely early hours of the morning. The small compartment used to be a closet for the castle servants to store their supplies for cleaning the Royal bedrooms but due to the vicinity it had to Prince Tommen's chambers Tyrion had it change into Talion's personal quarters. Which was fine for him cause he never like the luxury life anyways and the room serve his purpose in keeping his "living" status a secret since it had no windows, only one way in, a nice enough bed and due to the structure of the hallway outside of it he could hear the echoing of the footsteps of the people coming thru. This way no one could spy or get the jump on him which, if the Queen's scolding personality was anything to go off of, was going to be happening sooner rather than later.
"I know Celebrimor and from the sound of it, it at least two people. But who would be up this early in the morning besides the guards that are posted outside the Royal Family chambers?" Talion asked as he drew both Urfael and Acharn and pointed the sword at the door while keeping the dagger in a ready to throw position. The only downside about the room is that it didn't have a lock on the door and Tyrion was employing ever single blacksmith in the city to help prepare for the siege so that wasn't getting fix anytime soon, if ever.
He has the elfish blade at head level and the elvish dagger ready in his other hand hoping to give whoever comes through that door the surprise of their life and if it is assassins, the end of theirs.
The doors fling open but Talion sees no one there…
"Down here", a voice rings out from below and soon Talion is locking eyes with Tyrion.
"Despite the fact that I have important news, I'm curious to know why you have your weapons drawn", The Hand of the King said.
"Footsteps at this time of night would cause anyone to be more alert", Talion explained.
"Huh, guess I'll take that ask a compliment for you thinking I was someone taller", Tyrion jested, "But more on that later for now I need you to make yourself ready for possible combat!"
"Is the army already here? Did they increases their marching?", Talion asks as he got up.
"No, they're not here yet, I'll explain as the three of us make our way toward the stables", Tyrion told him as the sell-sword tilt his head into the door-frame.
"Why didn't you open the door?", Talion asked.
"I figure a man like yourself who on the Queen's bad side might be a little edgy when people open the door at this hour, so I figure I let Tyrion do it since he had a far better chance than I of dodging whatever you might have thrown", Bronn chuckled.
"And to think I pay him to protect me", Tyrion complains as the trio make their way toward the courtyard.
"So why the urgency?", Talion asked cause he was just getting to the part about the Neck and the Forest Children in the book he was reading.
"Two ravens arrived a little awhile ago from House Rosby and House Stokeworth. Lord Gyles, seeing how they weren't going to last long against Stannis' army, fled with a thousand spear-men and should be here by first light", Tyrion explained.
"He abandons his lands without a fight?", Talion asked wondering why Tyrion would even consider taking aid from a man who abandoned his post.
"He left a few hundred men behind to keep Stannis' forces busy while the rest snuck out under cover of darkness. Now onto the second raven from House Stokeworth, it seems that Lady Tanda, her daughters, and Ser Byrch have manage to escape their castle's siege through a means of a secret passage and are on their way here now even as we speak", Tyrion informed Talion as the trio reach the stables.
"Oh let me guess", Bronn interrupted, "We're to make sure they get here, right? That's why you got us up at this Seven forsaken hour."
"Yes Bronn, they took no guards with them when they fled", Tyrion said, "So you two and another two dozen men are going to see that they arrived safely in King's Landing."
"Mind explaining to me how saving those three wenches and the one bloke benefits us in anyway whatsoever?", Bronn asked, "Cause like you just said they're not bringing any men with them."
"From what the letter said, as soon as Lady Tanda and her daughters are safe the remaining men who can escape from the castle along with those in the countryside will disappear into the nearby lands and launch a resistance against Stannis' forces while also provide us with information", Tyrion said.
"And you actually believe all that?", Bronn questioned.
"Seven hells, no!", Tyrion yelled, "Not even for a moment, but I not about to let one of the few remaining allies we have left get captured or worse. House Bar Emmon, House Sunglass, House Velaryon, House Massey and House Celtigar have all sworn themselves to Stannis. That over half of the major houses of the Crownlands. Only Rykker, Stokeworth, and Rosby remain and I don't plan on losing any of them so we're going to keep our allies close. House Rykker fled the siege of Duskendale before Stannis main force arrived at the city bringing with them three thousand men thus raising our forces to around elven thousand and House Rosby forces will put us at twelve thousand strong", Tyrion explained.
"Which won't mean shit to a force of over seventy thousand now, will it?", Bronn interjected, "I was never any good with numbers but they still outnumber us more than five to one."
"Well unless you have an idea that doesn't include turning King's Landing over to my good brother, I suggest you bring Lady Tanda, her daughters, and Ser Byrch, if you can, here safe and sound", Tyrion ordered, "We need to show the city and more importantly the rest of the Seven Kingdoms that Joffrey still has allies within the Crownlands and that they're not imitated by Stannis' army."
Bronn continues looking down at Tyrion with a disapproving look.
"Oh very well, I'll pay you extra for this Bronn!", Tyrion complained.
"Now that what I like to hear", Bronn said as he walked into the stable.
Talion was about to follow in after him when suddenly he was stopped by Tyrion.
"Ser Talion."
"Not a knight", Talion answers before sighing.
"Okay fine you're not a knight. But anyway there a bit of information I have about Lady Tanda and Lady Lollys and it concerns you. I figure you should know about this ahead of time."
House Tyrell main camp on the outskirts of Castle Stokeworth
"His Majesty's forces have captured Duskendale and Rosby, bringing them under our control and Castle Stokeworth is on the verge of falling as well", Ser Loras Tyrell reported to his father Mace Tyrell, who sat alongside his grandmother and sister inside the command tent, "We are to assume our march toward King's Landing in the morning after the men have all rested and the remaining pockets of resistance within these places have been put down."
"Oh, splendid! Absolutely splendid!", Mace Tyrell laughed as he wiggles happily in his chair like a child causing his mother to look over at him with a disappointing look in her eye.
"Mace dear, this would be a wonderful time for you to walk around the camp and make sure morale is good among the troops", she advised, "We want to make sure the men are in high spirits before the battle tomorrow."
Mace look dumbfounded for a moment before responding, "I was just about to go do that before you suggest it, mother! I believed it would rouse the men up for their commander to see how they're doing. Yes, I was planning on during that today anyway!"
With that the head of House Tyrell left the tent with his bodyguard detail leaving his daughter, son, and mother alone except for a few servants.
"Leave us", Olenna commanded. The servants bow and made their way out but not before she added, "And be on the lookout for when my son returns."
After everyone has left she looked toward Loras, "Be a dear and check around the outside of the tent, will you? Stannis no doubt has his own spies in our encampment just like we have ours in his."
Loras walked around the outside of the tent and saw that no one was around. Also, the guards that were posted were men that he knew personally and were among the most loyal of House Tyrell soldiers. Add to the fact that the command tent was build in the middle of the encampment with all the others tent ordered to be build at least a hundred feet from it in all directions, then it was all but assure that no one would be listening in on them.
"Grandmother Olenna takes no chances", Loras thought knowing full well his father would have never thought of this. Make no mistake, Loras and Margaery love their father dearly; seven hells, Loras would lay down his life for him, but everyone knew that Olenna Tyrell was the real power behind the seat of House Tyrell.
"We are safe to speak grandmother", Loras reports as he walks back into the tent.
"Good, now onto matters at hand. I suppose you're both wondering why we decided to throw our lot in with Stannis even though there is a very good chance that he's the one that sent the assassin that killed his brother Renly."
"It was him beyond a shadow of a doubt!", Loras screamed out in distraught, starling Margaery but only causing the Queen of Thorns to level him with a glare.
"It is very unbecoming of a knight to raise his voice at an elderly old lady. I suggest you keep your emotions in check, Loras."
This silences and shames the Knight of the Flowers, though he still felt sadden at the loss of his lover.
"Anyway it mostly because of Joffrey himself", Lady Olenna started.
"Please explain, grandmother", Margaery said.
"The boy is a monster, a new Mad King in the making if what my spies in King's Landing are saying is true. Seven hells, even if the rumors of his birth are unfounded the boy is still unfit to rule. There was a riot there not too long ago and the boy orders his guards onto his own people after someone threw a handful of dung on him. It only a matter of time before the people and eventually all of Westeros rises up against him and I will not have House Tyrell be a part of that, especially if it means marrying off my own granddaughter to him. Stannis is a little rough around the edges but we've dealt with his kind before", Olenna said.
"But grandmother, Stannis is already married and seem to be extremely loyal to his wife", Margaery says causing Olenna to chuckle.
"Oh my sweet angel, you may be able to turn men heads and make them wish they could break their vows but you still know very little about them. Every man has their limit when it comes to faithfulness to their wives. I hardly doubt that fire priestess goes into Stannis' tent to offer guidance and prayer", Lady Olenna tells her, "But you are right, he would never divorce his Florent's wife but that where you come in my dear grandson."
"What do you mean?", Loras asks clearly confuse.
Olenna rolls her eyes and sighs heavily, "You may not have inherited your father's strength in arms but you definitely inherited his wits or lack of thereof. I'm talking about his daughter of course."
"Shireen Baratheon?! She is but a child!", Loras protested.
"She also Stannis' only child and thus his only heir to the Iron Throne. Therefore, we must secure her before the other Houses move in", Olenna says, "It not like we can let Willis or Garlan have a go at her. One the heir to the house and the other already married."
"But...she's a child", Loras says again, "And her face."
"Yes she's a child who most likely dreams of a gallant knight coming to her on top a beautiful stallion and calling her the fairest maiden in all the Seven Kingdoms", Lady Olenna gushes out before faking a swoon, "Oh come now boy! This is your chance to be king within a few years. All you have to do is win the girl's heart, that's the easy part. I have to do all the work in getting Stannis' to approve of you. Besides the girl's greyscale isn't going to infect you."
"I will not stand idly by and try to gain the approval of a murderer!", Loras boomed once again starling Margaery, "He killed Renly and you expect me to win his favor?!"
Olenna, having enough of Loras' outburst level him with a cold glare that sends chills even down Margaery's spine. She has often seen her grandmother give her father this glare whenever he did something so stupid that not even his own mother could ignore it.
"Loras, darling, I feel for you, I really do. I too know the pain of losing a lover", Lady Olenna says as her glare soften, "I may not show it but losing your grandfather was hard on me."
This surprises both Margaery and Loras both as the Knight of the Flowers fumbled with his words.
"No...I mean… He was my king. I was swo-"
"Oh, enough Loras. Half the Reach, no, half the realm knew about your nightly habits with Renly. Seven Hells, did you honestly think your activities would escape my ears or my ailing eyes?!", Lady Olenna yelled.
Loras looks at Margaery and back at his grandmother, "Does that mean?"
"That I as well as Willas knew about you and Renly", a voice at the entrance of the tent suddenly spoke causing everyone to turn their heads to see a man similar to Loras in looks but was standing at least half a foot taller than him with broader shoulders and a full beard. He was in a full set of armor that was smeared with blood with a green shield bearing two golden roses and a bloody broadsword in his right hand. "Even mother and father are aware of this."
"Garlan, I thought you were leading the men in taking the castle", Lady Olenna spoke.
"A situation has occurred grandmother", Garlan reported, "It is possible that Lady Tanda, her daughters, and Ser Byrch are not even in the castle anymore."
"And what makes you say this?", The Queen of Thorns asked.
"The way the defenders were fighting. We broke through the front gate only to find a barricade set up blocking the entrance to the main hall. It took half an hour to break through but upon doing so we discovered that they set up a second barricade in the main hall itself that seem to be blocking a small hallway," Garlan informed them.
"Lady Tanda has always been a paranoid one", Lady Olenna commented as Garlan continued, "Always afraid that she would never have grandchildren and whatnot. But it seems her paranoia has paid off for once."
"Upon fighting our way through we discover that the small hallway led into a series of underground tunnels that go underneath the forest and come out to a clearing almost a mile from the castle. We discovered signs that a carriage was recently there", Garlan finished.
Lady Olenna's face adopted a calculating, emotionless look for a moment before speaking.
"Do any of Stannis' men know about this?", she asked.
"They do not. The main attacking force has been our own troops of the House Tyrell", Garlan answered.
"Good", she says before turning to Loras.
"Takes half a hundred men with you and head down the road leading to King's Landing. Bring Lady Tanda and her daughters back here alive", as she then turns toward Garlan.
"Go with him and see that he accomplishes this without fail", she ordered.
"As much as I would love to ride alongside my dear brother, I do not need his help in this small matter" Loras calmly protest.
"Yes you do", Lady Olenna corrected him, "Right now you are not in the right state of mind and not even the thrill of battle has calm your nerves to Renly's death to a degree that is acceptable for someone of House Tyrell. I will not have you "accidentally" taking your anger out on Lady Tanda and her daughters nor even Ser Byrch like you did with Ser Royce and Ser Cuy. I'm still trying to smooth things over with their families especially since Ser Royce was the second son of Yohn Royce of House Royce of The Vale. We don't need to give Lysa Arryn any more reason to take action against us seeing how Stannis is already sending men to their border to keep an eye on them."
"I would not besmirch my honor and attack defenseless women!", Loras bellowed in his defense causing Lady Olenna to laugh.
"Ha, honor! Only use by men when it is convenient for them and use as an excuse when things don't go the way they plan!", Lady Olenna says before looking at both Garlan and Loras.
"Hurry now and see that Lady Tanda does not reach King's Landing. We need to deprive King Joffrey of his allies if when are to gain Stannis' favor. That is the only reason I'm sending you Loras despite your tendency to act before thinking. You need to gain Stannis' attention and doing this will most certainly do that. Now go and try not to arouse suspension while gathering your men and departing. We can't have this leak to Stannis that we allow the head of House Stokeworth and her family to escape from right beneath our noses!"
With that, both Garlan and Loras Tyrell headed out.
It's a few minutes later that a messenger comes running into the tent with a message for Lady Olenna. As she reads the message, a smile creeps onto her face.
"Grandmother, is everything alright?", Margaery asked.
"Oh, everything fine dear. It would seem the Seven are on our side this day for the little expedition I funded a ten years ago has finally paid off and not a moment too soon."
Sometime later on the road between Castle Stokeworth and King's Landing
"Heh", Celebrimor chuckled softly.
"By the balls of Smaug, you still find this whole situation funny, don't you?", Talion mentally groaned as he, Bronn, and two dozen more men galloped through the night on the road leading to Castle Stokeworth. A few of them were carrying torches with them to allow them to see better in the dark.
"You humans never cease to amaze me with your instant infatuation. You merely save the human girl's life and now her mother is proposing a marriage between the two of you", Celebrimor pointed out, "And here you are leading an armed escort to see her safely to this kingdom's capital. This will only throw more wood on the fire for the girl's mother. As if you didn't have enough troubles with that Lithariel woman", Celebrimor laughed, a rare feat by Talion's standards.
"I'm only here cause Lady Lollys will keep Tommen entertain while I help with the siege, nothing more."
"Is that your only reason, ranger?", Celebrimbor asked.
"Yes. I lost the love of my life and my son almost a hundred years ago though to me it only seems like a few months ago. I don't ever see myself marrying again, but it would seem that some higher power doesn't care about what I think", Talion said while remembering sadly back to Ioreth and Dirhael.
Before Celebrimor could comment, Talion's thoughts are interrupted by Bronn asking a question.
"You said you were a ranger back in your land of Gondor, did ya?", the sell-sword asked.
"A captain of the rangers, yes", Talion answered while keeping his eyes on the road.
"From what you described, you were basically stationed at our equivalent of The Wall", Bronn continued.
From what Talion has read up on, heard in passing, and absorb from that one guy during the riots, the Wall use to be an honorable place where men from all across the realm would go. Now its mostly comprises of criminals who had to choose between that or actually receiving punishment for their crimes and noble sons who wouldn't inherit anything from their families.
"I heard about The Wall. So what are you trying to say Bronn?"
"I couldn't help but notice that whenever someone calls you Ser you get annoyed by it. Most men who aren't knights would be happier than a bloke with a sack of gold coins at a brothel in Dorne to be called such a title. So what's your story?", Bronn questioned.
"Bronn doesn't strike me as the type who would be concern about someone's past", Talion thought.
"It is not him who you should be concern about it. No doubt it is the hobbit, Tyrion, who is the one who wants to know about your past. He's only using the mercenary to find out about it in his stead", Celebrimor said, "Also it goes without question that the men behind you are listening in on this conversation. They hope to gain favor with the Queen by bringing her this information."
"Well, I haven't been very forthcoming about my past. I think Tommen know more about me than anyone else", Talion adds in.
But before Talion could question Bronn's motive, a loud horse's neigh pierces through the air. Talion and Bronn turn their attention to the forest to see a carriage bursting through the treeline as it frantically plowing through a clearing to the right of the road, it was displaying the banners of House Stokeworth.
"Why are they off the road?", one of the Lannister guards asked before a large group of cavalry came trampling out of the forest two hundred yards behind the carriage, the few of them carrying banners displaying the symbol of House Tyrell.
"And there your answer", Bronn grumbles, "Knew it was going too easy."
With that Talion, Bronn, and the two dozens Lannister horsemen rode straight ahead toward the oncoming carriage hoping to intercept it before the Tyrell cavalry did. Bronn and Talion were out in front ahead of the others when Bronn decided to say something.
"Watch your back in this night, Ser Captain."
"Excuse me?", the ranger asked, ignoring the Ser remark.
"No one would expect a thing if you were to die tonight. It's not like they can tell a Lannister sword wound from a Tyrell sword wound. Just a word of advice", Bronn told him, "The Imp may be The Hand of the King, but the Queen has her own loyal group of guards."
"It does make sense when you stop and think about it", Celebrimbor agreed.
"Which we don't have time to do", Talion remark as he unsheathed Urfael while keeping one hand on the rein.
He rides past the carriage without looking at it, but he could feel multiple sets of eyes on him as he rode by and he hears the cry, "Ser Talion!", from a voice that was unmistakable.
"I was hoping that this was all just some joke that Tyrion thought up, but its seem that it is not" Talion mentally groans.
The group forms around the carriage and take off toward the capital with all due haste with Bronn and Talion taking up the rear of the formation.
As they try to put some distance between them and the Tyrell, Bronn looks over his shoulder and curses, "Two of them are gaining on us. From the looks of their outfit and horses, they're scouts and-", as a bolt goes whizzing over Talion's head and catching one of the Lannister guards in front of him in the neck. The man falls off the horse and lands with a thump, but neither Talion nor Bronn spares him a glance, knowing he was dead even before he hit the ground.
"They have crossbows", Bronn finished.
"I'll deal with them, just make sure they reach the capital", Talion tells Bronn.
"Another word of advice: These Tyrell folks are big on honor and whatnot, even more so than you. I suggest you use that to your advantage", Bronn told Talion as he rears around and heads back toward the two firing scouts.
"Bloke going to get himself fucking kill one day with all of this heroism shit", Bronn said aloud as he spurs his horse on faster.
"You could just pick them off with Azkar", Celebrimbor suggested.
"Then I have to explain where the bow came from, along with the fact that I was replaced with an elvish specter. And besides you said the arrows takes time to replenish", Talion countered.
"Very well then."
Luckily for Talion, he develops a sixth sense for sensing incoming bolts while fighting his way through the legion of Mordor and this time, there were only two crossbowmen to worry about, but he had to hurry for the rest of the cavalry wasn't far behind.
He was only going to get one shot at this so he had to make it count. The two mounted crossbowmen fire off their bolts straight at Talion, who relying on pure instinct, puts Urfael up in front of him while leaning to the right. The first bolt collides with the elvish sword while he sees the second one going flying by his side.
"They were betting on at least one of those shots hitting me, if their expressions are anything to go by. I guess they weren't expecting me to block one and dodge the other", Talion thought as he rode toward them.
Indeed, they were caught off-guard cause by the time the crossbowmen were even halfway through reloading, Urfael took one head clean off before Talion reverse the path of the blade and left a deep gash in the side of the other. All this was done in one swift motion as Talion rode by down the middle of them.
"That's why I love crossbows, they take too long to reload", Talion thinks to himself as he turns around and makes his way back toward the formation.
Meanwhile back at the Tyrell cavalry…
"Are my eyes playing tricks on me, dear brother?", Garlan asked.
"I saw it too, Garlan. That man charged straight at our scouts while they were firing and slay them", Loras commented.
"Be careful around that one brother, it would seem that there some talent left in King's Landing", Garlan warned.
"He is just one man, brother. Nothing to be afraid of", Loras laughed while Garlan only shook his head.
Talion caught up with the escort group and was surprised to see that it has slowed down.
"What in Smaug's balls is going on here?! Why have you slow down?!", Talion yelled.
"Smaug's balls?" Bronn mumbles before saying, "Why don't you ask the coachman?"
"The roads are damaged and the bumps are not good for my Lady Tanda's back, so we have to take it easy on them", The coachman informed Talion.
"There are over four dozen enemy riders gaining on us and you're going slow because of her back?! Talion exploded on the coachman, "Do you understand what might happen if they catch us?!"
The coachman along with the occupants of the carriage and a few of the Lannister guards shrinks back from Talion in fear as Bronn rides alongside him.
"Hey Talion, I think this is pretty fucking stupid as well. Seven Hell, I didn't even want to come out and guard these cunts", he said as he took the torches out of the hand of a nearby Lannister.
"But we do have a job to do, I'm getting pay extra to do it and so to make things easier for us I'm going to burn the wooden bridge we're about to cross", he says calmly as the group crosses said bridge and he drops the torch on its surface.
Due to the long summer heat and the fact that Joffrey didn't authorize money to repair it, the bridge was barely holding up as it was and was almost completely dry up. This only allowed the flames to burn quicker, almost completely engulfing the bridge in a matter of seconds.
"Blast them! They have set the bridge aflame!", Loras cursed as they saw it go up in a fiery hell.
"We should turn back now. There no shame in retreating now cause we weren't expecting resistance. Even if we were to take the nearest bridge to cross, we wouldn't be able to catch them in time!", Garlan said.
"He's right, my lord!", a nearby knight riding alongside Loras agreed.
"NO!", Loras' voice boomed even over the sound of the thundering hoof-steps, "I will not return to the camp in failure! We will capture Lady Tanda and her family and bring them before Stannis! All troops press forward!"
Loras spurs his horse forward, as does almost everyone else.
"My Lord, if I may? Why do you not take command and stop him?", a trusty horseman who Garlan has known for years asked him, "With all due respect my lord, he's acting recklessly."
"I would if I could, but I was only sent to make sure he doesn't harm the Stokeworth, nothing else", Garlan answered as he sped up to catch up with his brother.
Loras' pace didn't falter even as he came upon the inferno bridge, thru sheer stubbornness and the fact he had one of the finest horses in Westeros thanks mostly to his brother Willas, who breeds them. He charges thru a gap in the flames, along with his brother, a couple of knights, and a good two dozen of their men. Unfortunately, the weight of the horses, along with the men armor and weapons were too much for the bridge to handle in its burning state. It collapses upon itself taking a good ten men and their horses with it, sending them plummeting into the river beyond. While the river wasn't deep, it was the drop along with the horses falling on top of them that ended the lives of these ten men of the Reach.
Garlan pulls his horse around and gives orders to the remaining men, "Take the bridge that further down the way and meets up with us!", he commands as the men take off and Garlan rejoins his brother.
"These cunts don't give up do they?", Bronn asks as he looks behind them to see the Tyrell closing in on them, "Looks like we're going to have to gets our blades bloody after all."
"Indeed so", Talion agreed as he looks behind him then back toward King's Landing which was coming up. It wasn't that far away, but with how slow the carriage was going, the Tyrells were going to catch up with them.
"I count around twenty-five of them chasing us and we got around about twenty-five men ourselves. I figure twenty of us can stand behind while the rest take the noble cunts toward the capital", Bronn suggested.
"Sounds good, let's go", As once again Talion wheels around to face the oncoming charge.
"Alright, lads! Get your swords out cause there work to be done!", Bronn orders as he picks out the men who would stay behind and keep the Tyrells at bay while the rest move on with the carriage, "No need for torches, the moon is coming out from behind the clouds."
Bronn brings his horse alongside Talion and whispers, "Remember what I say about watching your back. Especially now since we're about to be in a giant mess with the Reach folks", he tells him.
"I'm surprised you're so concerned about me Bronn", Talion admits, "I thought you couldn't care less."
"If you died that puts more responsibilities on my shoulders for the siege and I'm not getting pay nowhere near enough to carry those" Bronn admits as he draws his sword, "Now come then, there's work to be done."
With that Talion, Bronn, and the twenty Lannister's soldiers charge down the road back toward the House Tyrell's cavalry.
It all came to a head in an instant. One moment Talion was charging with Bronn the next thing he batting away a high blow from a sword and countering the wielder with a deep gash alongside his unarmored chest.
Being a ranger of Gondor, Talion was extremely skilled at fighting on top horseback. Before the fall of the Black Gates, cavalry was used by the rangers to their distinct advantage over the orcs who at the time haven't yet been able to tame the wild caragors. Fighting the orcs on the ground from on top of a mounted beast was easy. Fighting on equal footing with another person on top of a mounted beast, not so much as Talion had to quickly grab a hold of the reins that he instinctively let go of as he uses both hands to swing Urfael.
Unfortunately, he was a second too late and was sent sprawling toward the ground as another horse, Talion couldn't tell if it was Lannister or Tyrell, collided into him. Luckily the melee was spread out enough that Talion wasn't trampled on upon him hitting the ground and he recovered quickly and surveyed the skirmish.
"What we lack in numbers, we're making up for in ferocity", Talion thought before Celebrimbor yelled out, "Get down, ranger!"
Talion instantly hits the ground as the tip of a spear goes soaring over his head. He looks up to see a mounted man in full armor turning his horse around and pointing at him.
"You there ser! You don't have the look of the common rank and file and I saw your earlier display of skill against our mounted crossbowmen! What is your name?! I would like to know the name of my opponent before I face them in honorable combat!", the man boomed, "I am Ser Imry Florent, son of Ryam Florent of House Florent of Brightwater Keep, and I challenge you to one on one combat as is the honor of chivalry!"
He then tosses his spear away and dismounts off his horse and brandishes a shield with the symbols of a fox surrounded by a circle of blue flowers while readying his sword as well.
"And I am...", Talion stops to think for a moment, "Talion of Gondor! Captain of the Princeguard!", he says while thinking, "I can't believe I just said that."
"Have at ye then!", Ser Imry screams as he charges forward at Talion, his sword thrusting forward.
Talion merely sidesteps outside of Ser Imry's attacks and allows the blade to go past him as he readies Urfael. Bringing the blade down hard he aims for the gap in the armor where the arm-plate meet the shoulder-plate and takes Ser Imry's arm clean off in a single hit.
Ser Imry lets loose a string of curses as he clutches the bloody stump that used to be his arm, completely disregarding the fact that Talion has now drawn Acharn and in one swift motion shove it through the visor of the Florent man helmet. Blood pours out the helmet and onto the chest-plate of Ser Imry and he crumbles to the ground.
Talion barely has time to put Acharn away before the hairs on his neck go up and Celebrimbor is once again telling him to duck. This time, it was a blade that almost took his head as yet another armored foe attempted to face him. This one had three golden roses on a green shield.
"I am Ser Loras Tyrell, son of Mace Tyrell of House Tyrell of Highgarden! I am the renowned Knight of the Flowers, champion of countless tournaments across all of Westeros, and I challenge you, Ser Talion, to a duel!", The man yelled as he too dismounted but chose not to take up his shield.
"What is it with everyone throwing away their advantage of staying on top of a horse in this land?! Is this what Bronn meant by them being big on honor?!" Talion thought in annoyance as he prepares himself "And why does everyone keep assuming I'm a knight?!",
Garlan was across the small battlefield, having just slain three of the Lannister guards on his own when he spotted his brother about to take on the man from earlier.
"Be careful little brother. This isn't a tourney", he whispers before turning to engages another Lannister soldier.
Urfael sang as its swung through the air and collide with Loras' broadsword. The Knight of Flowers was shocked to find that it took all of his strength to withstand it as he is staggers back a little and barely parry a precise thrust to the visor in his helmet.
Talion spins and makes a slash toward the opponent's legs only for it to be blocked by the Tyrell swordsman.
"I am protected by some of the finest armor in the Seven Kingdoms, yet I feel the urge to block this man's blows. Why? Surely his sword cannot pierce through my armor, but yet I continue to counter his strikes as if I was fighting naked against him!", Loras thought as he swings his sword upward from the ground at Talion who easily deflects the attack with a single handed parry while pushing his open hand into Loras' helmet and with a heavy shove forcing him once again off balance. A strong kick to the chest sends him stumbling into the ground and he winds ups lying on his back. Talion moves in to finish him off only to be intercepted by another Tyrell horseman charging at him. Jumping quickly out of the way of the spear he draws Acharn and flings at the back of the man, catching him in the spine just as he was turning his horse around and sends him to the ground.
Though the encounter only took a few seconds, it was all the time that the Knight of Flowers needed to get back on his feet.
"How could I be knockdown by a mere swordsman who doesn't even have a coat of arms?!", he growled, his rage finally reaching its limit with everything that has happened to him lately, as he then torn his helmet off and threw it at Talion who had begun to resume his advance on the youngest son of Mace Tyrell.
Talion merely catches the helmet and process to throw it at the back of a Tyrell horseman who was trying to get the jump on Bronn who was too busy dealing with another soldier to notice him. The blow knocks the man out and he falls forward on top of his horse. Bronn finished off the one he was dealing with and turns around to see what the noise he heard was. He looks at the unconscious man on the horse and then toward Talion who merely nods before going back to Loras.
"Huh, guess I own him one then", Bronn thought as he drives his knife into the knocked out man head.
Loras is seething with rage as he wildly swings his sword at Talion who at this point is just dodging the blows while taunting.
"You're rash! Bullheaded! And completely reckless! I thought you possessed some degree of skill cause of your boast earlier but it seems that was all it was mere boasting!"
"Silence your tongue!", Loras screams as he brings his sword up and brings it down on top of Talion's head only for Talion to catch it in a block. Talion brings himself closer to Loras while still maintaining the block. Their faces are mere inches from one another when Talion speaks.
"This isn't a game boy, this is actual combat where life and death are only a mere heartbeat away from one another. You should have kept to your fancy tournaments and left war to the real men", as he pushes Loras back and strikes his sword with such force that it goes flying out of Loras' hand and embedding itself into the ground nearby, "I pray that you will this learn this lesson in the next life."
Talion readies Urfael for the deathblow while all Loras can do is look down at his own hands in shock while whispering the phrase, "Renly, I'm sorry. I couldn't get my revenge."
As the elvish blade draws closer to Loras unprotected head, the unmistakable sound of two swords clashing against one another is suddenly heard across the small battlefield as Garlan parry the blow away from his brother.
Talion jumps back to dodge the slash toward his face as the new challenger steps in front of Ser Loras.
"Are you going to give me another fancy introduction as well?", Talion asked as he brings Urfael up in front of him.
"My name is Garlan and that's all a dead man like you needs to know", the second son of Mace Tyrell said as Talion notices a burning fire in his eyes.
"Tread lightly, ranger. He is different from the other", Celebrimbor warned.
Garlan made the first move as he slashes horizontally for Talion unprotected right side only for Talion to easily block it but their swords only touch for a moment before Garlan brings his back to him and launches at Talion with a thrust that was aimed at his chest. Talion parries the sword and but is then shoulder-check by Garlan who continue moving forward despite the parry and collide his armored body into Talion sending soaring through the air for a moment before catching himself and landing on his feet.
"There's something new", Talion remarks as he presses his hand on his chest, "It seems this one has some skill and brains on him."
Garlan barrels forward onto Talion who catches his downward sword strike with Urfael and deflects the strike away from before spinning around and delivering an elbow strike to Garlan's head, right in the temple. The move staggers Garlan for a moment before Talion makes a thrust toward his head. Garlan recovers in time and using a skill he learn during his years of swordsmanship training steps inside of Talion's thrust and launches his own thrust at Talion's opposite shoulder.
Talion, surprise at the move Garlan just pull off, tries to lower his upper body in an attempt to miss the stab, but while he avoided the main brunt of the attack, the Tyrell's blade still slices the top of his shoulder, leaving a mild gash on it.
Talion spins out of Garlan's sword reach and presses his hand on his shoulder.
"That was pretty good. You almost got me", Talion admits, "You're definitely heads and shoulders among all the rest I faced in this strange land."
"I'll take that as a compliment from one warrior to another", Garlan says he launches a barrage of strikes against Talion, putting the Ghostwalker on the defensive.
As Talion counter a strike to his leg, Celebrimbor decided to take this moment to inform him, "Urfael's thirst is almost quenched."
"What are you talking about? Urfael only shines brightly after I have killed at least a good dozen of my foes and I only killed about three people with it", Talion argued while ducking to dodge a head strike.
"Or trade a number of blows with a skilled opponent. I felt it before while you were facing the Kingsguard, especially that Hound person. But you ended that match before Urfael's thirst for combat was filled", Celebrimbor added, "This is a new land ranger, and the ways of magic are different here. Now do not stall any longer and unleash the storm unto them."
"Alright then, let's finish this. It's too bad, though, this Garlan is the most fun I had since I got here."
"Oh my most humble apologies for ruining your fun, Lord Talion", Celebrimbor says in a sarcastic tone.
Urfael roars to life as it starts to engulf blueish bright flames that pierce through the night surroundings, breaking Loras out of his shock and causing all who witness its light stop what they were doing, including Bronn.
"Is his sword fooking glowing?! And is it on fooking fire?!", the sellsword asked himself caught off-guard by the turn of events, "Like the bloody red priests?!"
Garlan could only stand in awe as he witnesses first hand the brilliant fiery glow of Urfael, but Garlan was no fool likes lesser men who probably would have stood there watching the sword shine before being cut down by it as he raises his sword high among his head and bought it down on Talion.
Talion swings the brilliantly shining Urfael upward into Garlan sword and effortlessly slices the steel blade in two before bringing Urfael down on top of Garlan's head. Garlan quickly sidesteps out of the way and dodges the blade completely by only a fraction of a second and by half an inch as Urfael slices off the outer portion of his pauldron. As Garlan moves to the side he throws what remains of his sword at Talion hoping to inflict any sort of injury onto the ranger at this point. Talion bats the blade away and lunges toward Garlan, his sword in a thrust position, ready to end this duel.
But a crossbow bolt interrupted his attack as it sails close by over his head, forcing him to face the new threat. It would seem the men that Garlan told to take the next bridge over have finally arrived on the battlefield ready to help their companions. But just as Talion was ready to meet their charge, the sound of a horn echo throughout the surrounding area causing Talion to turn back toward the city only to see over a hundred Lannister soldiers charging out to meet them with Tyrion himself at the front, trying desperately to hang onto the horse he was strapped to by some strange device.
"RETREAT! BACK TO THE MAIN CAMP!" Garlan orders as he whistles for his horse and mounts it as soon as it reaches him while his brother Loras does the same and two galloped away back toward the bridge that their reinforcements cross. They are soon joined by their remaining men as they leave a dust cloud in their wake. Of the fifty-two men that started the pursuit, only thirty would make it back to Tyrell's main camp. As for the Talion's and Bronn's forces, only nine survived the small battle, not counting Bronn and Talion themselves.
As Talion's adrenaline starts to die down and Urfael's glow begins to fade, he continues watching the fleeing Tyrell retreat into the night for a moment before going to retrieve Acharn from the back of the man he threw it into earlier. As he bends down to pick it up, he and Celebrimbor are completely unaware of the spear being aim at Talion by one of the remaining Lannister's troops.
"The queen will reward me handsomely for this", the man chuckles darkly as he begins to propel the weapon forward only to be disrupted in his motion by a knife begin impaled into his throat. The spear continues to sail out of his hand and lands about a good ten feet away from Talion who turns around instinctively with both Urfael and Acharn at the ready. He sees the Lannister soldier body lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood with Bronn standing over him, pulling his knife out of the man's neck.
As he wipes the blood off on his leather armguard he looks at Talion and winks, "Now we're even, Ser Captain."
Meanwhile back to the retreating Tyrells
"This is bad, dear brother. I'm afraid we dug ourselves quite a hole to climb out of", Garlan said as he rode alongside his distraught younger brother.
"I know, you don't have to remind me. We fail in our mission to capture Lady Tanda and her family", Loras complained causing Garlan to look at him with a look of surprise.
"Has fever struck you and cause you to lose your wits?! Letting Lady Tanda escape is nothing compare to what we have to explain to father, grandmother, and most importantly Stannis himself!", Garlan yelled.
"What are you talking about?" Loras wondered.
"The man that was killed by that Ser Talion fellow before you face him was none other than Imry Florent of House Florent. Brother of Selyse Florent who is now known as Selyse Baratheon!"
"Oh sweet Seven Hells", Loras curses as his eyes go wide as he finally realizes what just happen, "That means-"
"Yes! That means we have to explain to King Stannis Baratheon why his good brother is dead!"
A/N: Thinks its goes without saying that Talion just put a target on his head. And what got Lady Olenna so happy? Also, how will Stannis react when news of Talion "burning sword" reaches his ears. Now I go to work on Ghost of the North. Please, Review, Follow, or Fav if you want.
Also, all the characters you see in this chapter that you don't recognize are in the book series, they're not made up. Also, Garlan the Gallant is said to train himself by fighting three to four swordsmen at a time to better prepare for a battle. And the deal with Loras is like what Oberyn Martell said in the book Sword of Storms, that Loras is not as good of a warrior as he is a tourney jouster.
Good Brother was another way of saying Brother-in-law back in those days, I believe.