It's been a while I know! My final assignment at university was due in Wednesday so I had to focus on that, but now I'm free until the beginning of May so I should start updating more regularly. I'm back home for Easter too, meaning the next couple of weeks I'll have nothing to do other than work and write.
I own nothing other than my OC's. The characters that you recognise either belong to George RR Martin and HBO, who won't return my generous emails.
The weeks since Elaenor had been born seemed to have flown by. News was sparse on the war front, with Blackhaven being sieged from the South and the River forces blockading the High Road, it gave Durran time to spend with his daughter. The Princess had had a crib made of the finest steel painted black and gold, as the House colours on her blanket. Daenerys was currently placing her down in the crib, having just fed her.
Durran was gazing down at her, as Elaenor stared up at him with her blue eyes, holding a soft toy lion given by Cersei that had once been Myrcella's. He watched as her eyes slowly closed, as the baby fell asleep.
Dany sidled up to him, and Durran reached out and hugged her into his chest. "I can't stop just looking at her when she sleeps." Dany whispered.
"Me either." Durran chuckled softly. "How did we create something so precious?"
Smiling, Dany melted further into his embrace. "We let love dictate our lives, rather than our families hate. That has to have helped."
The door opened quietly, and Jaime Lannister walked in. Dany immediately walked away to brush her hair away from the Kingsguard knight, but Durran walked over to greet him.
"She's still not comfortable with me then?" Jaime asked.
Durran rolled his eyes. "Do you blame her?"
Jaime shook his head. "I suppose not. A raven came for you, Your Grace. From the Riverlands."
Intrigued, Durran took the rolled-up parchment and broke the seal, unfurling it to read. "The loyalists lost the battle but burnt the ships… met up with Lord Edmure and request… they can't be serious?"
"Your Grace?" Jaime asked.
Laughing, Durran said. "They request the Queen aid them in taking the Bloody Gate with the Dragons. They request a Dragon."
"It's a smart plan actually." Jaime acknowledged. "It's impassable by land, but from the air, melting the gates…"
"I shall ask the Queen, but it's only been weeks since the birth…" Durran said. "Thank you, Ser Jaime."
Bowing his head, Jaime left the room, and Durran went over to Dany once more. Standing behind her, he let her brush her hair vigorously. "I'm sorry." She said eventually.
"For what?" Durran asked.
"I just can't… not with him." She sighed. "I know what my Father was, but I just can't look at him without feeling such rage within me."
Durran understood. "I get that." He said. "He is a part of my family though, however twisted his relationship with my Mother is. Being Kingsguard as well…"
"I know." Dany interrupted. "What did he want?" Durran showed her the message, and after reading it Dany just sighed.
"You've given birth not long ago, you can say no. I can travel up to the Saltpans by ship with a small force…" Durran began, but Dany interrupted.
"No, it's ok." She said. "I can be there and back in a day on Rhaellar so long as we leave early. Cersei can look after Elle."
Durran had to double take as soon as she said that. "You'd trust Mother with our baby? Alone?"
Dany chuckled and lightly hit his arm. "Funnily enough yes. We didn't get on eye to eye at first and I was sure she was trying to have me killed at one point, but since Elle was born she's been good to me, kind even. She cares about family above all else and that's clear to see."
Durran nodded. "If you are sure. I'm coming with you."
Dany nodded. "You know your High Valyrian, right?"
"Of course I do, I've been in love with you for years. I had to learn." Durran said, rolling his eyes.
Chuckling again, Dany said. "Then I'll leave Dārys up there with strict instructions to listen to you. Hopefully that will work. He's the biggest, and likely the most useful in a war."
Still sceptical, Durran added. "Will that work? I have Valyrian blood somewhere I know, but if he fails to listen to me…"
Dany stood and turned to face him. Placing her hands on his chest she said. "The blood magic used to hatch them… I can't explain it properly but whatever Lady Melisandre did, they're a lot calmer and obedient than the stories make out."
Thinking, Durran nodded his head. "Fine. We best prepare then, I want this mess in the Vale over with as soon as possible. The true threat still lies southwards."
Durran and Ser Arys watched as Dany flew away on Rhaellar, the goodbye still in his mind. He hated the fact that he had to go back to war again, but for his daughter to be safe, he knew he had to crush any form of rebellion that faced him.
He looked around at the gathered forces around him and focused. The Vale Lords were still looking up in awe as Dany grew smaller in the sky, but Edmure Tully looked worried to see Dārys behind Durran, settling onto the ground tucking into a couple of goats.
"He won't hurt anybody, Lord Edmure." Durran promised. "Not yet anyway."
"He killed my friend." Edmure said strongly, and Durran sighed sadly.
"A different war. Old enemies are new allies Edmure." The Blackfish said.
"They're really real." Lord Belmore said in awe.
Durran almost smiled. "Aye, My Lords. Shall we convene to the command tent? Update me on the way."
"Your Grace." Lord Royce nodded, taking command. "We lost 8,000 men in the battle and retreat, Baelish is holed up at the Gates of the Moon with his army, and Lord Arryn and Lady Lysa are in the Eyrie. The Bloody Gate has been lost to Baelish once more."
"So, to defeat him, we need to create history and be the first to take the Bloody Gate." Durran surmised. "Great."
"It is possible, Your Grace." Ser Morton Waynwood said. "With the dragon…"
Nodding, Durran agreed. "He will do his part, as we shall do ours. Is there no other way around the gate?"
The Blackfish shook his head. "Not currently, the only ways are over the mountains, and the snows are heaviest there. Passing will be impossible."
Durran thought. "Very well. We have around 15,000 men then, correct?"
Edmure nodded. "A bit less, but yes."
"Then we must go in a show of force. We march today, My Lords. Ser Brynden, you were the Commander of the Bloody Gate for almost 15 years, you will command the van. Stop out of range of the fortress and use a show of force. I want shields and swords being banged together, I want them to fear an attack." Durran explained. Lord Randyll had suggested the tactic before he left King's Landing. "Then Dārys shall swoop down and incinerate the gate."
The Blackfish nodded. "May I recommend Lord Royce and Ser Morton both lead a force of 50 men each to deal with the archers on the ridges."
Durran nodded. "See it done. We must break through the gate as quickly as we can. The Vale must be liberated swiftly, and this is exactly how we do it…"
When Dany arrived back at King's Landing, the first thing she did was to check on Elaenor. The baby was sleeping, and after a brief talk with Cersei, she was left alone. She made her way to the balcony of their room, and looked out towards the city. Staring out at the fields beyond the city, she could imagine them being filled with men baring her own banner that followed her brother, assaulting her city.
Her thoughts wandered again to the Red Woman, and as soon as they had, a knock was heard at the door, and the woman in question appeared.
"How do you do that?" She asked.
"Do what, Your Grace?" Melisandre asked innocently.
Dany chuckled. "Appear when I think of you."
Melisandre just stared out to the city. "R'hllor works in mysterious ways, Your Grace. I cannot possibly know his intentions, I can only try and decipher them."
Dany's body froze briefly. "And what do you believe his intentions for my brother, Viserys?"
Melisandre turned and took the Queen's hands in her own. "The Lord of Light has a plan for us all, Your Grace. You are Azor Ahai, that much is known."
"But what about Viserys?" Dany asked impatiently.
Melisandre considered her response. "I believe that he is your Nissa Nissa."
"What?" Dany asked.
Melisandre sat down. "The story of Azor Ahai is an important one for my order. He was the chosen hero to fight against the darkness, and he laboured for thirty days and thirty nights to create a hero's sword. When he went to temper it in water however, it broke. So, he tried again but for fifty days and nights this time, only for the blade to shatter again. After this, he knew what he was missing, so laboured for a hundred days and a hundred nights, and once the blade was almost finished he asked his wife, Nissa Nissa, to bare her breast. As she did so, he drove the sword into her heart, as her soul combined with the blade. And Lightbringer was born."
Dany had gone pale in the face. "I must kill my brother."
"He must die." Melisandre nodded. "By your hand or not, you must allow him to die for you to be reborn as Azor Ahai."
"There must be another way." Dany said quietly. "You have power, can't you help…"
"I can only use my power with the blood or the seed of Kings." Melisandre said. "Unless King Durran gives himself to me, and to God, then I cannot help."
Dany shook her head. "He has been raised in the light of the Seven, he will not convert."
"Then I must apologise, I can do no more than preach." Melisandre said. "If you'll excuse me." And with that, she was gone, leaving Dany even more worried.
The noise had been deafening for hours. Shields and swords clanging together, with drums and war horns sounding also. Durran stood next to Ser Edmure rows back from Ser Brynden at the front. Armoured with full black plate, he couldn't have been more defended.
Suddenly, the noise seemed to die down from the front. Confused, Durran tried to see what was happening, but the narrow nature of the High Road this far into the Vale meant that they could only fit men in rows of three, and visibility was poor.
About ten minutes after that, with Durran getting increasingly agitated, the men in front of him began to part slightly, and Ser Eustace Hunter appeared.
"What's happening?" Durran asked.
"Lords Royce and Ser Morton have taken the ridges, Your Grace." He told them. "But Baelish himself is at the gate. He wants a parlay."
Durran was confused. "Why? He has nothing to offer me but his life."
Edmure turned. "You should hear him out anyway, Your Grace. It is expected."
Nodding, Durran agreed. "Very well. Ser Edmure, you shall join me."
Making his way to the front and dodging the occasional body that littered the ground, Durran seethed at the sight of the smirking Lord Baelish stood on the gates ramparts.
"Your Grace!" He called down. "Such an honour for you to come all this way!"
"You're a damned traitor, Baelish!" Durran called back up. "Why? I treated you with nothing but respect and you stab me in the back?"
"You did, and I thank you for Harrenhal. It made marrying my Lady very easy. But our goals no longer align." Baelish told him. "King Viserys has been most gracious, confirming me as the Lord Protector of the Vale as well as Lord Paramount of the Trident, due to the traitors of House Tully betraying his Father."
"The Mad King betrayed us all when he burnt his Warden of the North alive while his heir watched!" Edmure shouted up. "My Father had no choice."
"Your Father was an ambitious fool that craved power." Baelish called down.
"You're just bitter he banished you, Littlefinger." Edmure shouted. Littlefinger's face grew angry at the nickname.
"You mocked me for years with that name, Lord Edmure. For your sister's sake, I ask you to reconsider." He spoke icily.
"And for my sister's sake, stand down now." Edmure called. "Stand down and surrender, and we won't destroy you."
"The Bloody Gate has never fallen!" Baelish grinned.
"The Bloody gate has never faced me." Durran called. "Say your farewells, Lord Baelish. You won't live to see another day."
With that, Durran turned back to join the Blackfish at the head of the army. Nodding at his general, the Blackfish held out a nocked arrow for a knight to set afire, and Ser Brynden aimed towards the gate, loosing. The arrow flew high above the ridge, and dropped to the ground just before the portcullis, clattering into the stone. Durran could hear the laughter coming from the Gates, but watched on as his plan came into play.
Dozens of dead goats fell from the ridges surrounding the Bloody Gate, clattering into the stone with a bloody mess. Arrows began flying both towards and from the gates ramparts, as archers fell from both sides. Screams began, as dying men realised their fates.
"When is it coming?" Edmure asked impatiently.
"Soon." Durran urged. "The smell of blood will attract…"
A roar came from the skies, as a ball of fire made way to show the huge, black figure of Dārys. He landed with a thud in front of the gate, and began roasting the carcasses of the mountain goats. Arrows bounced off of his hide, as the dragon took no notice of anything other than his food.
Durran stepped forwards, as the arrows stopped flying as the men of both sides looked on in a mix of awe and horror. The King was nervous, but his trust in his wife's words was greater.
"Ok Dany, you better be right." He whispered to himself. Growing stronger, he stood tall, pointing at the gate and bellowed in the Valyrian that Dany had taught him. "Dārys! Dracarys!"
The Dragon cocked his head sideways, and for a moment Durran was worried that the Dragon would fire upon him. Ser Arys went to grab him to place him behind the Kingsguard knight when the beast then stretched his wings and took off, hovering in the air ten feet above the ground, and with a roar, he breathed deadly fire upon the gate.
Screams intensified, as the stone at the centre of the fire blasts started glowing with heat. The gate itself began to look like wax when Dārys focused his fire on the portcullis, melting and deforming rapidly.
He heard nervous shuffling behind him, and whispers of Harrenhal, but Durran remained focused on the fortress in front of him. The portcullis creaked and cracked as parts of it collapsed. With a large enough hole appearing in the gate, cheers went up from the loyalists, as Durran grinned.
"Dārys! Stop! Go and eat!" He called loudly. He had to call the same thing multiple times until the dragon heard him. Dārys turned and glared at the Baratheon, but grabbed as many burning men as he could and flew up onto the ridge. "I fucking love dragons." He chuckled, as he gave the order to attack the gate.
Withdrawing Stormbringer, he led the charge himself. Making his way through the gate, he was a bit disappointed to see that any surviving forces were fleeing. Letting his men form up behind him, the loyalist forces began making their way towards the nearby Gates of the Moon.
They had only been walking for an hour however when in front of them was a force of about 5,000 men. Gripping his sword tighter, Durran led the charge. With Lord Edmure beside him, he crashed into the opening line of Littlefinger's men, and found himself felling two men with a single swing from the off, opening a chest and belly as he went. Swirling Stormbringer around, blood spattered everywhere, as his rage finally revealed itself.
The road was tight, and it was difficult to get truly into the flow of battle. Durran's strength prevailed however, as more often than not in his charge to reach the Gates of the Moon he just barrelled people over, letting the charge of the battle take care of most of his foes. His vision narrowed when he saw a man with shoulder length, brown hair swinging a glistening Valyrian Steel sword around, slicing cleanly through Tully soldiers. The surcoat told him exactly who he was about to face. Ser Lyn Corbray.
He thrust his sword through the neck of a Valeman, and twisted around to slice through the stomach of another. Glancing up, he noticed Corbray had spotted him, and was swinging Lady Forlorn around skilfully, inviting the challenge. Walking up to the knight, he flexed his fingers over the hilt of Stormbringer.
"Surrender, Ser Lyn." He urged.
"And miss the chance of killing a King?" Lyn laughed. "My Lady shall soon kiss you, Your Grace. It shall be your last kiss."
Laughing, Durran replied. "Best kiss her yourself, Ser Lyn. Kisses from Ladies must be strange for you."
Durran grinned at his opponent's fury at that comment, and watched his movements, as Lyn Corbray went in for the attack. Durran brought his great sword up to parry, before swinging to Corbray's left, only to be blocked and to be put back on the defensive. Corbray was the better swordsman that's for sure, and Durran had to concentrate to survive.
He soon missed his parry, and pain flashed through his leg as Lady Forlorn sliced his thigh. Getting to one knee he had to quickly shift Stormbringer into a single hand, and block the onslaught of hacks coming towards his body.
"Dārys, help." He whispered, not expecting anything however. Roaring, he caught the blade in his gauntlet, noticing the metal dent as the Valyrian Steel edge attempted to pierce through. Getting to his feet, he used all of his might to backhand the Corbray heir with his spare hand. Lyn Corbray went flailing towards the floor, and sat up in horror as the screech of the dragon was heard.
"Impossible." Corbray whispered, but Durran had had enough. He used the distraction to take a running start, jumped into the air and plunged his sword through the chest of Lyn Corbray. Looking on as the knight shuddered, blood spilling from his mouth before he moved no more. Looking around, he was horrified.
Dārys looked to have taken a spear to the leg, and in his fury, had set half of the road on fire. Hundreds of men burned from both sides, Screams were deafening, and the blaze was blinding. Durran winced, holding his arm above his eyes. "Dārys stop!" He roared. The dragon heard him, and looked towards the Baratheon coolly, before another arrow bounced off his hide and he resumed his onslaught. "No!" Durran called, when his leg gave way once more, and he found himself back on one knee, before falling to the floor completely.
He didn't know how much time had eventually passed, but the next thing he knew he was being dragged away by Edmure Tully, who's red hair had been partially scorched and covered in ash. "Come now, Your Grace. We're almost at the Gates of the Moon."
"The battle…" Durran asked weakly. "Dārys…"
"We won the battle, with heavy losses." Edmure said, straining to keep Durran's weight. "The Dragon has flown off, we didn't bother to know where."
Nodding weakly, he allowed Edmure to put him on a stretcher, and fell to sleep.
Durran awoke in a hastily made tent. Looking around at his surroundings, he was initially panicked, until the strong hands of Ser Arys held him down.
"Calm, Your Grace. We're ok." He urged. "You're safe outside the Gates of the Moon. We're besieging it."
"How long have I been out?" Durran asked weakly.
"10 hours, but soundly through the night. It's almost dawn." Ser Arys said. Durran looked down and saw that his armour had been taken off, and he was in the yellow, Baratheon leather armour. Swinging his legs off of the hammock, he gripped his thigh. The pain was lighter, and he felt a bandage. "You were seen to as soon as Lord Edmure made contact with us. I am so sorry for losing you, Your Grace. I was not doing my duty to you."
"Enough of that, Ser." Durran waved off. "It was battle, people get lost in battle. We both survived, that is what's important." He went to stand up, and stumbled, causing the Kingsguard to offer his support. Ser Arys reached for a stick.
"It's not ideal, but Lord Edmure has offered the men of the Gates of the Moon terms. Hand over Baelish and surrender, and they will all live. If not, then the dragon will roast the castle."
"Where is the dragon?" Durran asked, moving around gingerly with his new walking stick.
"Perched on the mountain." Ser Arys explained. "The men… they are scared of it."
Durran sighed. "Rightly so. I should never have pretended I could control him. It was reckless and thousands burned because of my error."
"People die in war, Your Grace. We won the battles, that's what will be remembered."
"That's not what I shall remember though." Durran told Ser Arys. Silently, he found his sword and strapped it to his back, before limping out of the tent into the siege camp. Snow was falling softly onto the ground, as Durran began to experience the beginnings of his first true winter.
He noticed a small gathering by the castle entrance, and with Ser Arys he made his way over there. The men made way for him, and Durran was surprised to see three men in chains, on their knees before Edmure and the new Lord Hunter.
Making himself known, he walked up to Edmure. "What's this?"
"The garrison agreed to our terms. These are the more powerful leaders of the rebellion in the Vale." He explained. "Littlefinger, Lord Grafton and Lord Corbray."
The sight of Lord Lyonel Corbray brought a flashback of Lyn's dead body to Durran's mind, but he shook it off quickly. A tap on the shoulder came from Ser Arys, who handed him Lady Forlorn. Durran turned to the kneeling Lord.
"Lord Corbray. This sword is now yours. For the sake of your House, pledge your allegiance back to House Baratheon of King's Landing and rise." Durran said.
"I heard you killed Lyn." Corbray spat.
"I did. He fought well." Durran said.
"Not well enough." Corbray sighed. "But I will never kneel to the boy that killed my brother. Take my head boy if you will, but you shall not have my allegiance."
Sighing, Durran handed Lady Forlorn back to Ser Arys. "Very well." He said strongly, nodding to a Tully man to take the Lord away. Lord Lyonel didn't try and break free, having resigned himself to his fate. Durran stepped over to the next man. "Ser Harlan."
"Your Grace." Harlan Hunter looked up. "I was coerced…"
He was silenced by a fist to the face from his brother, Lord Eustace. "You don't get to say that! Not after Father and Gilwood!"
"Lord Eustace." Durran said, raising his voice. "Stand down."
"Your Grace…" He began, but Durran gave him a look that quickly silenced him.
Durran turned back to the captured Hunter brother. "Your brother is correct. You killed your Father and your brother. You are a murderer, you are a kinslayer. You will die today for your crimes. Take him away." Lord Eustace had two of his men take Harlan away, and skulked off angrily after them. Finally, Durran turned to Baelish, the man looking down at the ground. "Now what to do with you."
"You can use me." Baelish said.
"Use you?" Durran laughed, wincing slightly at the pain in his leg. "No, Lord Baelish. Never again. You betrayed me, you set the Vale against one another for your own personal gain. You were foolish to do so My Lord and your crimes will be punished justly." A roar came from the mountain above them, and Durran looked up to see Dārys jumping away from the mountain, and flying down to meet them. Durran grinned, looking back at Baelish. "You've angered the Dragon, Lord Baelish. I believe I should leave your fate in his hands."
Durran stepped back, urging everyone else to do the same, leaving Baelish alone by the Gates of the Moon entrance. Baelish shakily stood up, just as Dārys landed on the stone path with a thud.
"Your Grace…" Baelish began. "Your Grace… please!"
"Dārys, will you listen to me now?" Durran asked the dragon, reaching his hand up to stroke the Dragon's head. Dārys looked at him, before seemingly nodding. Chuckling, Durran pointed at Baelish. "Dinner."
The Dragon turned to face Baelish, snarling terrifyingly. Durran watched on as the Lord of Harrenhal trembled in terror, a liquid darkening his breeches. The man tried to run, but Dārys was far too quick. Pouncing, he wrapped his jaws around Baelish's torso, and with a loud tearing sound, the man's side became separated from his body. Blood spilled everywhere as the remainder of the man dropped to the ground suddenly, and Dārys, after chewing the part that he had already ripped off, roasted the remains alive before continuing his feast.
Durran turned away heading back to his tent, and he was joined by Ser Arys and Edmure Tully. "It won't bring back my Uncle, or Lord Royce, or any of the men we lost yesterday, but I cannot say I am sad to see Littlefinger die." Edmure said.
Durran stopped at the naming of their losses, but carried on quickly. "This isn't over yet. Your sister is still up in the Eyrie with Lord Robin. We need to make our way up there."
Ser Arys shook his head. "In this weather, Your Grace, it will be near on impossible to make our way up there."
Durran grinned, and looked back at the feasting Dārys. "It will be impossible for men aye, but not for a dragon."
So, there we are, the Vale is almost reconquered and Baelish is dead! The Vale storyline will be completed next chapter, as the war in the South and the North intensifies. I'm sorry to kill off many of the characters I have in this chapter, but in a war in the narrow nature of the High Road, casualties would be high.
I'm also going to give a shameless plug to my other stories, The Young Wolf's Redemption and Aegon's Conquest, I'd massively appreciate if you could go and show them stories as much love as you do this one.
Let me know what you think please! 11 more reviews till 400 so I truly believe we can do it this time!
Reviews:
kira444: It's slow for me, I remember back when I first started managing to do a chapter a day!
trollzor69: Honestly, I forgot about Bronn, but he would have likely left to find some work over in Essos in this scenario.
Riverdog: Well she won't, but Dārys doesn't need an excuse to burn everything!
Nipplegunz: People did in the lore, but that's what happens when disbelief over dragons is mixed with ambition.
Dangermandeetz: Just a decision I made early on, a daughter though will possibly make him a lot more protective than a son might initially, and it's easier to change the character slightly in that sense.
Boramir: She's up to a little bit, but certainly not for fighting. I used the Robin being Baelish's son in another story so I decided against it here, but I hope you liked the Vale plot though! Garlan is off to Fawnton now.
Trevor the Enchanter: He's not really the primary antagonist, but he's an antagonist, like Joffrey, the Night King, and numerous characters are in the show. That's why I've made the changes too, in show canon he would never have been able to convince the Golden Company to follow him, but having fought with them for over a decade he's gained their trust and learnt to be a leader from them.