For those of you that follow my first story, Black Wolf Rises. I've planned out the first 2 chapters of the next series for where I personally want to take it. Obviously as filming goes on and we begin to have an idea on how true the leaks are then I may have to edit them. Let's just say Chapter 69 of Black Wolf Rises as it stands is going to be EPIC!
Enough of that though, and back onto Durran's story as he looks Northwards to King's Landing. As always I own nothing but Durran and the other OC's in this world.
Cersei would be a fool to say she wasn't worried. Durran's message had been for her as well she knew, Lancel would have told him everything. She sat in the Small Council chamber wringing her hands together, nervous. Jaime was still captured as far as she knew, and she knew that he was the only one that would be able to calm her down. Shaking her head, she tried to pay attention to the meeting.
"Lord Tywin has sent word, My Lord." Varys was telling Tyrion. "He's coming to King's Landing as swiftly as he can."
Tyrion nodded. "Good news, though what about Stark in the West?"
"Moving Northwards to deal with the Ironborn." Varys told him. "His Riverland forces are remaining in the West, but so far his Northmen haven't been seen since heading North at an Inn just east of Riverrun. I'm waiting on a report from Fairmarket with their troop movements."
"Very good." Tyrion said. "What of the South?"
Varys was nervous here. "They've left Wendwater to head to the coast, where the mouth of the Wendwater is. Lord Randyll has gone to re-join the main host. The fleet is sailing towards them."
"How many men?" Cersei asked.
"Just under 65,000 taking their losses and garrisons into account." Varys told them. The room fell silent.
"How do we beat them? We don't have enough ships." Cersei asked.
"Father has his troops well trained, and doesn't have the Rush to deal with. He'll make it." Tyrion said. "We'll be ok, Sister."
"Your false promises mean nothing." Cersei spat. "Durran is sailing here with double the men if we include Father's host, two great commanders and vengeance in his heart." She said, emotion creeping in to her voice.
"Leave us." Tyrion said, and Varys and an uncharacteristically quiet Littlefinger both fled the room as quickly as they could. "He won't hurt you."
"You don't know that." Cersei cried. "You saw what he did to Lancel…"
"He won't, harm you." Tyrion repeated insistently. "Even after everything, you are his Mother and he can never stop loving you."
"He already has." Cersei said, a tear falling from her eye.
Tyrion sighed, and poured himself some wine. "I remember, one of the last times I was here before Jon Arryn died. Durran must only have been about ten, and I saw him in the training yard hacking away at one of those straw dummies men like to hit. He seemed furious beyond belief." Tyrion told her smiling at the memory. "I asked him what the matter was and do you want to know what he said?" Cersei just nodded weakly. "He said 'Uncle Tyrion, why does my Father shame my Mother so? It was her nameday yesterday and he didn't come to say even a hello to her, instead he laughed with a servant.'"
"He said that?" Cersei smiled. She remembered the day well. Her children had all joined her for a large lunch in her chambers and Durran had left to go and drag his Father, before returning with a secret rage.
"He did." Tyrion nodded. "He may know your secret, he may be trying to take the throne by force but look at what else he has done. He refused to say anything, he killed Lancel yes, but privately so you weren't implicated. He cares about you so much even if he's angry."
"He's a good boy really." Cersei smiled. "I just worry for him. I worry for him if he and Joffrey meet again. He's better, and if he becomes a kinslayer because of me…"
Tyrion began to stand. "I'll do my bit to keep them both alive sister. You can hate me for reasons beyond my control, but your children are my kin, and I shall protect them all until the day I die." He told her, before leaving the room, letting Cersei to ponder on all that he said.
Tywin Lannister was finishing the last of his letters documenting his orders for Harrenhal when Arya entered the room. She began to tidy up some of the cups left behind from his last council meeting. Silently, she was fuming. Jaqen H'ghar had again refused to kill Tywin for her.
"Only give Ser Gregor one cup of wine a night." Tywin told her. "I don't want him to be drunk at all, do you understand me girl?"
"Yes, My Lord." Arya said, walking behind his seat to place the empty cups on the other table.
"I would take you with me, but a war camp is no place for one so young." Tywin admitted. "You've served well here."
"Thank you, My Lord." Arya said. She looked over his shoulder as she was stacking the cups, and saw he was writing a letter stating troop plans for if Robb Stark was advancing on Harrenhal instead of heading Northwards. Eyes wide, she knew that was another letter she needed to keep. Tywin returned to scratching the quill on to paper, before looking up again.
"What's Barrowton like?" He asked.
Arya's eyes widened. She'd never actually been to Barrowton, and her Father had always avoided it so never spoke about it. "It's homely, My Lord." She said.
"Hah, a rock can be homely." He scoffed. "I don't know much about the individual castles of the North, explain more." Arya began to panic, her eyes darted around for ideas when she noticed Tywin staring directly at her. "Unless you lied about that too."
"No, My Lord. Barrowton is a large wooden keep on top of a hill." She said, trying to remember as much as possible. "Lady Barbrey never really gave us a tour." She added.
"Who are you?" Tywin asked. "You can read, you're in disguise, you're lying about where you're from…" He began. Arya knew she had to move quickly. The knife she had hidden in her sleeve dropped to her hand and she lashed out at Tywin, who after initial shock blocked the swing and backhanded Arya to a few feet away on the floor. She panted, scrambling back as Tywin began to slowly advance on her. "You're the Stark girl, aren't you?" He deduced.
Arya was terrified, and with all her might threw the knife in her hand as hard as she could before closing her eyes preparing for the worst. She heard a squelch, and then a grunt, and then a thud. Opening her eyes, she saw Tywin had dropped to his knees as the knife stuck out of his chest, where his heart was.
"Killed… killed by a child." He gasped, almost laughing.
Arya got to her feet and advanced on Tywin, confidence gained from her throw. "No, My Lord." She said. She grabbed the knife and withdrew it, watching as blood poured from the open wound. Tywin tried grabbing her, but his grip was weak as his life left him. She leaned in, and whispered in his ear. "Killed by a Stark."
She drew the knife slowly across Tywin's neck, and stood back. Tywin's hands came to grasp his neck, but his life was ebbing away fast, and Arya watched on as his grip weakened even more, and his legs gave out, making Tywin hit the floor unmoving.
Making sure the door was closed she immediately got to thinking. Taking the knife, she drew it painfully across her chest, making the cut deep enough to draw blood. Gasping, she threw the weapon down by Tywin's body, and made her way to the table she had put the cups on.
"HELP! MURDER! HE KILLED HIM!" She screamed loudly. "HELP!"
A few moments later two men and Kevan Lannister came bursting into the room, took one look at Tywin and gasped. One of the guards ran over to Arya and held her up. "What happened girl? Did you kill him?" They screamed.
"Lannister… white in his hair…" She gasped. Her eyes were closing, and the last thing she remembered was hearing Kevan Lannister.
"Get her to the Maester!"
The wind was favourable. It was the dead of night, and Stannis was in command of the Royal Fleet. Stood atop the deck of the Fury, he looked out ahead and could make out the outlines of the rest of the fleet. At the front, sailed Sceptre. Stannis had decided that Durran's flagship needed to be the one that was seen first as a symbol to the people of King's Landing. Ser Davos had been given command of that ship, and Stannis knew that the man would serve him well.
The men were nervy, he could sense that. Every so often the sound of more throwing up appeared, but Stannis tried to block that out, instead focusing ahead where he was waiting to see the torchlight of the Red Keep.
It took a long time, but the drums on the Baratheon fleet began sounding out loudly, and soon enough the lights of the torches could be seen in the distance. Watching on, he waited for the inevitable sound of arrow fire and screaming that indicated the enemy fleet appearing.
Nothing came, and Stannis watched on in suspense. A moment later however, and the world exploded.
Wildfire. The bright green substance erupted from the front of the fleet. A loud ringing filled his ears as Stannis was knocked off of his feet by the explosion. He watched on in horror as the flames grew higher, and the screaming soon filled the air.
"Stefan…" He whispered. His son had been assisting Ser Davos. Shaking his head in rage, he tried to compose himself. "Make to land."
"My Lord…"
"The trick is played, we still have the numbers." Stannis argued.
"The wildfire… the archers…" One of his men argued emotionally. "Hundreds will die."
Stannis turned to look at the man. "Thousands will die, but we will seat the rightful King on the Throne. Make to land." He ordered.
Tyrion watched on as the fleet in front of him burned. Joffrey was delighted, he had recognised Durran's ship as the first one to explode.
"He's dead! He's dead!" Joffrey kept repeating, ecstatic.
"We don't know that for sure." Tyrion snapped.
"That was his ship!" Joffrey argued, before voices from over the bay began to sound. Tyrion looked out to see hundreds of longboats making for the shore.
"It's not over yet." He remarked.
"There's too many of them!" Joffrey said, wide eyed and frightened. Tyrion looked to count as many as he could.
"There's not enough." He noted. Joffrey looked at him quizzically. "We had reports of over 60,000 men, that's not enough."
"Well where are the others!" Joffrey asked.
"I don't know." Tyrion said, clenching his teeth. He turned to an archer behind him. "Rain fire on them." He ordered, and the man obliged, preparing the archers defending the walls. Tyrion turned to the scarred face of Sandor Clegane next. "Hound, form a welcome party for any Baratheon troop that manages to touch solid ground. Don't let them to the gate." Clegane nodded. "Pod."
"Yes, My Lord?" The squire asked.
"The men at the Iron Gate aren't needed there, bring them here as quick as you can." He ordered. Podrick nodded and sprinted away. Tyrion looked back out to the beach and watched as dozens of Baratheon soldiers fell to the ground, arrows in various parts of their bodies. Enough made it to the walls though to cause him worry. Just as he was about to issue a command, an errand boy ran up to him.
"Your Grace! Your Grace! My Lord!" He cried.
"What is it?" Joffrey asked.
"I've come from the King's Gate! We're under attack!"
"What?" Tyrion asked. "By who? What did we miss?"
"Durran Baratheon!"
The plan had been to attack from opposite sides of the city. An attack by sea that was leaked to the defenders by Varys, and an attack by land kept hidden, in order to stretch the defences. Durran had waited as long as he could from a safe distance, atop a horse with Renly, Loras and Randyll Tarly waiting for the right moment to attack the three western gates of the city. The explosion had thrown him off however, and it was only the stern attitude of Tarly that held it together.
A messenger came riding from the North at that moment. Tarly had wanted somebody that had eyes on the attack to let them know when the walls had been reached. "They're on the beach Your Grace." He cried.
Durran turned to Randyll Tarly. "Lord Tarly, the Gate of the Gods. Go." He commanded. Tarly nodded, and rode to meet his forces. "Uncle Renly, the King's Gate."
"Victory shall be yours soon, Your Grace." Renly bowed his head, before riding off southwards to reach his troops.
Durran turned to Ser Loras. "Are you ready?"
"Always." Loras grinned, lowering the visor of his helmet. Durran brought out his shortsword, and swung it downwards, indicating the attack to begin.
Tyrion had just reached the Lion Gate in the centre of the wall and was horrified. Tens of thousands of men were bearing down at the city from the West, heading to all three gates. They had the bare minimum of archers at the walls. Remembering to have words with Varys once he got out of this mess, he was grateful he had planned ages ago for a ground attack from the Reach. He turned to the captain. "Use only flaming arrows." He shouted over. "If they reach 500 yards of the walls, stick to unlit ones!"
"Why?" The captain shouted back, but he needn't have.
A second explosion knocked Durran off of his horse. Tyrion had carefully laced the surrounding grass with the weakest wildfire he possibly could have, but it still packed a punch. Horrified, Durran watched as around 6,000 men erupted in flames in front of him. The screams were unbearable. Ser Loras was lost, he knew. And he was grateful that he had held back to wait for the second wave.
Thinking, he knew he couldn't go for the Lions Gate, so he turned around to his remaining men. "WITH ME! WE ATTACK THE OLD GATE!" He roared. Cheers came from his men, and they turned around to circle the city, attacking it from a new point in the North while cheering for their King, to let the attackers know he still lived.
It must have been at least half an hour since the second wildfire explosion and the walls were holding. Tyrion himself had to kill a couple of Reachmen that had made it onto the walls, but they were holding, waiting for Tywin to arrive from Harrenhal.
Joffrey was beside Tyrion, hacking any man that dared attack his walls, and Tyrion had to admit that the boy was relishing battle. A roar from the South however ruined his mood.
The King's Gate had fallen. Men were pouring through into the city screaming their war cries as they went. Tyrion turned to Ser Mandon Moore.
"Get the King inside the Red Keep now!" He cried. Joffrey began to complain, but eventually was persuaded, and was escorted by Meryn Trant as well. Sighing, Tyrion looked behind him at the city.
It had fallen at the Old Gate too. Flames were erupting from near the Dragonpit. Sighing, Tyrion knew the battle was lost. Swearing to himself he wouldn't go down without a fight, he gripped his axe stronger, and took a company of soldiers towards the Gate of the Gods.
Durran had made it onto the walls. Luckily the soldiers from the Old Gate had all moved towards the Gate of the Gods, so breaching the walls had been simpler than it should have been. Rushing towards where the fighting was, he ran through as many Lannister guards and Gold Cloaks as he possibly could with Stormbringer. The greatsword ran red with blood.
His men were charging through the city below, and Durran quickly made his way to the battlements above the Gate of the Gods. Briefly, he looked out at the Wildfire that was still burning on the fields to the West. It was the furthest gate from the Red Keep, and that's where he found himself face to face with his half man uncle.
"Tyrion! Surrender now!" Durran screamed over the noise of battle. He dodged a sword coming his way, and hacked the legs off of his attacker. "Please!"
Tyrion was thinking about it, when men of all loyalty began running towards them. Durran looked beyond and saw a large, green explosion, as the walls between the Lion Gate and where they were stood splintered.
Durran could see the wall crumbling. He was stuck in place and couldn't move himself. Screaming, he held his hand out for his Uncle who was almost 300 yards away when that part of the wall collapse, and his Uncle fell from sight.
Closing his eyes and expecting the end, something barged into him, and Durran felt arms wrap around him as he fell. He landed moments later and pain erupted in his back, as he landed on somebody. Rolling off, he tried to stand up, only to fall. Getting up finally, he looked at the man who had saved his life wearing Tarly armour.
"What's your name, soldier." He asked weakly. The Tarly boy was in a bad way, His legs were mangled and blood was seeping from his mouth.
"Dic… Dickon Tarly." He wheezed. Durran closed his eyes in mournful recognition. He quickly placed his sword on the boy's shoulders, passing from one to the other.
"Ser Dickon. I owe you my life." Durran said. He thought he saw a smile on the Tarly's face, before his eyes closed and Dickon Tarly breathed no more.
Durran stayed there for an age, not knowing what to do and barely able to move because of the pain is back was in. He felt an arm around his shoulder.
"Durran. Come on." Renly said, angry tears staining his eyes. "We're almost through the Red Keep."
Hours and countless deaths after the beginning of the attack, the Red Keep had been secured and plain Baratheon banners flew from the Capital. The rooms were being searched, but Durran, Renly, Stannis and Durran's Kingsguard were the only ones entering the Throne Room. Inside they saw four members of the Kingsguard stood in front of the Throne, and Durran's remaining family.
"Durran!" Tommen exclaimed, trying to run down the steps from next to the throne, but Cersei held him close, staring at Durran.
"Joffrey." Durran exclaimed. "Surrender now."
"And why would I do that?" Joffrey sneered, standing up and taking out his sword.
"Joffrey, please…" Cersei began, but Joffrey smacked her roughly in the face. Durran growled and gripped Stormbringer tighter.
"Five on five." Renly said, in the least jovial tone he'd ever used.
"Joffrey is mine." Durran growled, and more swords were drawn. Durran held his up, and charged.
He met Joffrey with a clash of steel, but the greatsword began to be a disadvantage for him. Joffrey was quick, and it took all of Durran's training to keep parrying the blows. A parry left gave him an opportunity to lunge, but Joffrey blocked it and swung his sword at Durran's head, the flat of it impacting with Durran's helmet. Durran heard a scream from behind them, but picked himself up and roared into an attack. He swung his sword so hard it crashed into Joffrey's own, snapping the blade almost at the hilt. Durran kicked out at his half-brother, pushing the bastard to the floor.
Panting, he looked around. Barristan had easily finished off Ser Meryn, and was helping a badly injured Ser Arys with Ser Mandon Moore. Stannis had taken a gash on his arm from Ser Osmund Kettleblack, but his sword now lay deep within the new Kingsguard's neck. Renly had used all of his rage to hack Boros Blount into three separate pieces. A sharp sting in his side brought his attention back, and Joffrey had reached up and pushed his broken sword into Durran's side with venom. Screaming, Durran dropped back, only to see Stannis whip out a knife and thrust it into the eye of Joffrey. Time stood still, as Durran watched his brother fall back in shock, and fall to the floor, unmoving. Gasping, Durran drew the fragment of sword out, allowing Renly and Ser Barristan to tie a cloth around him to pressurise the wound.
Cersei had been watching in horror, but as soon as Stannis put the dagger in her eldest's eye she flew into a rage. She ran at the man with all the fury she could muster, and began scratching at his face. She caught his eye and Stannis howled in pain, thankful for Ser Barristan who used all his strength to grab Cersei and hold her still, picking her up to remove her from the room kicking and screaming.
Renly went to see to his Brother, quickly trying everything to stop the bleeding without a Maester, but Durran only had eyes for his little Brother. Tommen was hiding beside the Throne, terrified. Durran limped up the steps, wincing at the pain he was in, and he sat down before the Throne, leaning on the uncomfortable chair.
"Tommen, it's ok." He gasped. "It's ok."
"Mother… Joffrey…" He began.
"Joffrey was cruel, and tried to kill me." Durran told him. "Mother will be fine I promise."
"Are you back forever now?" Tommen asked.
"I'll never leave you again." Durran promised, and Tommen rushed into his arms, letting Durran hold him as tightly as possible. He picked up his little brother, cursing every step and set off for his room so they both could rest.
A raven was sent immediately to Dragonstone, and Maester Cressen didn't feel an ounce of guilt at waking Daenerys up. Knocking on the door, he waited a moment before it opened, to reveal Dany finishing covering her body with a robe.
"Maester? It's the middle of the night, what is it?" She asked sleepily. Cressen noticed Rhaellar perching on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Grace." Cressen said. "But a raven came."
"You woke me up for a raven?" Dany asked grumpily.
"From King's Landing." Cressen said excitedly. Dany's eyes bolted open, and she speedily took the raven scroll and looked at the seal. It was the simple stag of Baratheon. Excitedly she tore the seal open and read the scroll. Squealing in delight, she gave the old Maester the fiercest hug he had ever received.
"They won!" She exclaimed. "They won! They've taken the Red Keep and Joffrey is dead!"
Cressen beamed. "What would you have me do now, Your Grace?"
Dany grinned. "I want a ship ready to sail immediately." She told the Maester. "The King needs his Queen."
The Throne waited until the next day. The prisoners had been given cells in the dungeons, and Durran slept surprisingly well considering Tommen woke up twice with nightmares. A seeming army of Maesters harassed him the next morning, and once he was declared fit, Durran put on his finest black Baratheon clothes and his crown and went down to the Throne Room.
The room was packed. He looked around to see all the survivors from the battle gathered in the room. He looked around to see countless Stormlords and Reach Lords. He stopped by Randyll Tarly and offered his condolences, shook hands with Renly and made a quick jest about Stannis' new blind eye. Finally, he rose the steps towards the Iron Throne regally, turned towards the crowd and sat down.
"I give you Durran, of House Baratheon! First of his Name. King of the Andals and the First Men! Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm!" Renly shouted. "Long may he reign!"
"Long may he reign!"
Lots happening here then! I made the call of presuming that Tyrion would expect a ground attack and prepared diluted Wildfire along the field so it wouldn't spontaneously burn, a long shot but ah well it's my story. Varys' report made him think that the only real problem would be by sea.
The bad karma of killing an envoy strikes here in many forms. Stefan being on the Sceptre, Tyrion and Loras' deaths, the extra wildfire, and Stannis' eye among the major ones. Just imagine how awesome Stannis looks now though with a blind eye.
I know the Arya bit is likely to be a bit unbelievable, but we all know her aim is good from the very first episode, and a bit of luck is always handy in Thrones. Just ask Ramsey who managed to beat armoured, seasoned warriors in just trousers. Basically, her plan she made on the spot was kill Tywin, and make it look like she was attacked too so she could frame Jaqen.
Loved writing the different sides of Cersei, the vulnerable side worrying about her son, and the mother in a fury side after Joffrey died. She's really a wonderful character.
I wrote the last two scenes while listening to 'The First of His Name' from the Season 4 soundtrack, it fits exceptionally well in my eyes.
Lastly, to show how long parts of this has been planned, that bit where Durran enters the Throne Room with Stannis and Renly either side of him is the reason for the title. The Baratheon family united. United in Fury.
As always please let me know what you think. Thank you to all the reviewers out there, I hope you all still enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it!
Next Chapter: Durran has a long awaited chat with his Mother.
Reviews:
Boramir: Remember he's still technically just a kid. A kid that found out his Mother cheated on his Father with not just her brother, but her cousin too in order to kill his Father. It may have seemed short sighted but he would rather have had a private trial/execution to keep that quiet than to drag that out in the open for all to hear. It's Joffrey's envoy too, he won't care who lives and dies. As for your plan on King's Landing, I like it a lot, but I decided to go a different direction.
jgs237: Faster, I reckon they'll be the size of Series 5 by Chapter 16. As for Viserys, I'm saying nothing on him.
Shini Kurogane: I completely forgot about Rhaelle, thank you! I doubt I'll give him a Dragon though, I'll have to see. The show didn't include Jaehaerys though, so Durran I think would be Dany's third cousin, as she's the grandchild of Aegon V, Durran's great-great uncle.
BLACK-OP1: I didn't really want to kill her, but Renly needed land and there was no other way to take a castle from a 10-year-old girl permanently. He's done himself justice so far, a Renly that wasn't Lord of the Stormlands to me would be less arrogant and actually follow a Stannis that was there his whole life.
Fantasymaker76: The Walkers are in the story.
Guest (Robb): He is King, as I said in Chapter 7. That will be a factor later on in the story.
EyesLikeLiquidFire: Just a natural reaction for babies I think, she's not pregnant. Messengers are usually sacred yes, but in this case the man who he had heard was the cause of his Father's death waltzed into his camp. He's already at war with Joffrey, so there's nothing worse that can happen.