Chapter 7: Fall of kings landing

RECAP

Arthur looked at Viserys "enemy forces and fleets are at the shore of blackwater rush in front of mud gate, your grace" Viserys got numbed, he planned to take Lannisters and Tyrells stem and root out of westros, but instead, tides turned against him.

Slumber fell inside the chamber, every eye was rivet on Viserys. However, he was rather in his own trance, for the moment. Maybe he still wasn't willing to deem what just happened. But Arthur hauled him out of his reverie, "your, grace... we have to secure our defenses until our forces arrive,"

Viserys eyes wandered on Arthur unheedingly, his face was ashen, the lustre on his face that was there moment ago died out like snow in summer. But, he tried to get back his impassivity although doesn't matter how much he tries, there was a deadening fear that doesn't seem to leave him alone. "how long, till our forces arrive" he said with as much pretense he could,
Once again, Arthur turned to his question, " riverrun and vale forces will take time, but forces at duskendale will arrive soon enough, but still that won't be enough against enemy forces" now that was a matter of distress for all and sundry. Tully forces were still in Westerland. They surely wouldn't make it in time, though a portion of vale legions that was marching over Highgarden could presumably arrive in time, up to that time, holding the gates up would definitely be hard-won.

While other's faces were livid and dried, Ned was silent and calm, as his name suggests 'quiet wolf', he somehow kept his composure well enough, but he too wasn't exempt from fear completely.
"How many are there" Viserys voiced.
"Less than hundred thousand," varys said in low resonance.
" If they cross the waters, we won't be able to resist their bulk for a time until our forces arrive, your grace" Ned's voice was sharp but still had obvious grimace in it. His glare was on Viserys,
"We won't have to" Viserys voiced along with his simper, which pitched everyone's disarray as well curiosity.
"We might have lost our dragon, but still we have means to burn our enemies for their defiance...command pyromancers to ship wildfire at once" Viserys words were relief for others but one. Ned still couldn't forget how his father too was victimized by wildfire. He fought war, he wasn't a stranger to blood or death, but still burning thousands of men alive wasn't the old way. He wished there would have been another way, but it was requisite.
"I'll see to it. Your grace" Arthur vocalized in his usual inflection.
"Still we don't have enough of it. Your grace" varys uttered his words cautiously
" But it would surely be enough to wipe more than half of their army, and if gods are good, duskendale forces will arrive until then," Viserys answered clearly, he himself wasn't in top stipulate but as lord protector, he has to secure his people and over everything else, his family.

[Enemy camp (Backwater rush)]
"How long are we gonna wait, Tywin" Olenna's word as raucous as deliberate, hitting everyone's head. The scenario of the camp was rather Gothic for reference, as it was still dark, camp embodied seven people, not much as Tywin doesn't like herding of sheep. So only a few were graced in his war council; his elder brother Kevan Lannister, lord Quenten Banefort, his son Jaime, previously ser Gregor clegane too and at the moment Olenna Tyrell, Mace Tyrell along with Randyll Tarly.

This was over the head. Olenna was beyond pissed, if his mule of a son hadn't used his muck head, they would be at the high tables in king's landing, not there fighting a war for their lives. Now it was 'do or die', either way, their heads were at the peril of getting lopped.
"At first light, seize will begin," Tywin's tone rivaled that of Olenna, he too didn't give damn about so-called thorn queen, but currently he needed Tyrell's army and Redwyne's Fleet, and If they have to survive, then the only way was together. While tension was brewing up, others remained reticent.

"Only if my son didn't use his head, we would be on the other side of that wall, not here dreading for our life." Anger was gleaming from her voice. Mace just shrugged. He ratifies, that he made his life's biggest mistake by siding with Lannisters without conferring his mother. Tywin assured him, that they would have three strongest kingdoms at their hand, and with Ned Stark, their captive, north would remain at bay. Same for vale and Riverland, but in the end, they don't even have stormland with them, Stannis unambiguously spurned their proffer. It was rather evident if Arryn and Tully forces do not arrive prior the seize was won, they are done for.

"Well that, Lord Tyrell would have thought before, now we all are in this together, and it's our only chance, so if you don't wish to die alongside your whole family, we better stand and fight together, lady Olenna" Tywin said in his usual tone though still rougher,
"But We still have a big problem" Randyll Tarly vocalized, abruptly interrupting the stiffness betwixt Tywin and Olenna. As soon as words were out, everyone's gaze veered toward him.
"It's no secret, king's landing holds caches of wildfire, "lord Tarly voiced in a calm but still tightness was there. His words forced even Tywin to think twice about it.

"I served as hand of the king, long enough to know, they don't have quantity," Tywin said looking at others,

But this time Jaime exerted his thoughts, "but still, that's enough to derail our whole plan," Tywin's eyes wandered to Jaime. He knew his son was a prodigal child, but at the age of 16, his skills with swords were admirable. He wanted him to learn from experience, and surely he'd do that just fine.
"I know, but we don't have any other choice" Tywin replied, giving a look to everyone inside there.
"Well, we do," Randyll interjected. He had something in his mind. He discerned grave stares set on him and decided to sate their curiosity.
"I propose, Trident Formation" Randyll words made dent in everyone's head and thoughts and that in turn impelled perplexed look on their faces.
"Trident formation, it's never been used in real battle before, just in scripts and no one even has unintact information about it, Lord Tarly "Kevan broke the lock silence. Randyll gave him a piercing look, and that was no surprise, Lords of Westerland and reach never had tolerance for each other. However, Tywin and others choose to remain tacit.

"As you said, it's never been used before so no one knows much about it that's why even Targaryens won't know how to breach it," Randyll said with a smirk at Kevan while turning to Tywin. Everyone was waiting for Tywin's retort, obviously Olenna being a lady didn't have much knowledge about warfare and Mace being muck headed in that fare too, so only remained who had a good head for war were Randyll and Tywin.

Tywin only uttered a single word gazing at Randyll, "Explain"

Randyll nodded and turned towards the table and began adjusting the pieces representing their forces on the table. Soon others too hemmed in the table. He adjusted the big blocks representing walls and mud gate of king's landing. And then turned to adjustment of their forces. In the end, their forces were segmented into six legions, three companies were settled in the vanguard as three spears of the trident, while followed by remaining three companies in rear furthermore, each company fashioned in the trigonous form.
As soon as Randyll was done, he began the exegesis of ancient scripts, that he got his hand on through citadel " our forces will be partitioned, in six companies, three will lead the vanguard, while other companies will trace their rear, also each company will be in trigonous formation, so direct attack won't work, furthermore, middle vanguard will lead the adjacent vanguards with significant distance... so if they choose to foment wildfire on our leading vanguard, and then their remaining stock on other two vans, our other three companies will still make it to the shores, to crush the gates with enough strength... and as fleet would be in trigonous formation, so most probably end line of vanguards would survive too." Randyll took a pause. Others were still in deep thoughts. However, soon a voice rose,

"what if they mobilize wildfire on middle line rather than van" Olenna raised her voice.

"Well even if that happens, only vanguard units will suffer most while front line of the van and middle and end line of the rear would surely manage to survive wildfire, in any case, more than half of our troops will make it to the gates of kings landing" Randyll replied candidly.
Tywin waited for few moments, but he knew its best deal, they got, so at last, he turned to Randyll, "I don't think we have a choice here, Lord Tarly" Tywin concurred in his own fashion.

[Mud gate (kings landing)]
The city was in pandemonium. Commoners were horrified. They were causing fracas all around the city that readily embellished the more immediate problem. Already shortage of troops was a dire problem. Less than 2000 gold cloaks were garrisoned in the city. Oil, bolts, spikes were being readied. It's rather obvious that things would get worse for sure. Ser Malcolm Branfield has been charged with the safety of city gates, instead of ser Janos slynt. Malcolm also received command to rig wildfire. It was an eminent card in this battle.

At the same time, Viserys was in his niece chamber. He wished to see them, even if that was the last time. Rhaenys was scared, but he promised her that he won't let anything befall them at any cost. After spending some time, he walked out the chamber just to come across Ser Arthur,
"I was coming to you" Viserys voice had rather a standard tone. Arthur just nodded with a perplexed look, beckoning him to continue.
"If it comes to that hopeless situation, I want you to take them out of here, keep them safe. I trust no one but you, just keep them safe," Viserys words had a melancholiac tone. He knew things could turn either way, but in any case, his family should remain safe.
Arthur just nodded, Viserys don't have to ask him for that, he was already sworn to protect king and his family, but even more, he swore it to someone else too. He came there, only to take them with him to safe ground. They won't be able to leave the city, but still, he had many contrivances in his arsenal. So he just walked into the chamber to prepare for worst.

[Mud Gate (kings landing)]
As expected, at first light, the enemy fleet began their advancement, they had prepared as much as they could but still, doesn't seem to be enough, and Malcolm was standing over the moat of the mud gate. Bolts, oil, spikes were all set alongside wildfire that had been inlayed according to plan. Archers were settled at higher grounds. Others were tasked with throwing rocks.

Enemy fleets could be seen at a considerable distance, but rather than bulk, only few came into view, everyone was baffled by the sight, but soon enough things got evident, enemy fleet was in rather trio-formation.

Soon enough entire fleet was in view, more than a hundred warships, presumably carrying tens of thousands of soldiers. Sweat beads were leaping on his forehead. He didn't know if that was fear or distress but whatever that was, that was definitely severe. At that moment, he fully apprehended, that situation was beyond daunted but he discerned gazes on him from his men, so he aligned his back, and readied himself for command.

However, the much bigger problem was limited quantity of wildfire and enemy fleet's novel formation. He wondered who was commanding the enemy fleet, keeping more than a hundred ships in such a censorious formation wasn't a jest. But now he didn't know what they should do, if they strike front, the rear would be safe, and if they strike middle, then frontline of vanguard and end line of rear would remain safe. 'So either way, we are fucked...tight'. Nevertheless, he had to command, so he finally decided to go for the middle, that way they would get time, to weaken the vanguard forces, since rear forces would be restricted for some time due to hellfire, and then if gods were good, reinforcement might arrive to save the day.

The fleet was moving forward. Vanguard had already crossed the median line, so finally wildfire was shot, ships containing wildfire sailed toward the enemy fleet, passing betwixt the vanguards. As it reached the target position, Malcolm gave out the command to set fire.

"Loose" as soon as words were out, Flaming arrow flew out, and in less than five seconds, tens of ships blurted in hellfire, green flames, men screeching, scorching in an inferno. However, the danger was still over their head, wildfire only managed to annihilate, little more than quarter of enemy forces.
Soon Enemy's remaining vanguard landed and began the 'battle of Blackwater rush'.

Archers firing Arrows, rocks smashing heads, oil scorching men, enemy soldiers trying to climb the wall, ladders being runed, Bodies getting piled up. From an overview, about six to seven thousand soldiers survived out of Vanguard ships. Still, the fight was at a tolerable level, for about an hour, the fight continued, and they managed to hold the defense while cutting enemy numbers in half. However, since the effect of wildfire faded, the rear fleet sailed forward.

The enemy bulk force was almost at their shores, while there was no sign of reinforcement, and if they don't make it in time, there won't be any battle, just a slaughter, tens of thousands of men against less than two thousand. Butchery was sure at that point.
As soon as remaining enemy forces made it to the river gate, commonly mud gate, battle got turned rather one-sided, more than 50 thousand men, with not even enough space to hold such a heavy force on the shore of mud gate, seize weapons were mobilized, few enemy soldiers also made it above the walls, Malcolm was fighting against the enemy soldiers those who made it over the moat, throwing them back to the shore, but their number was far greater to be handled.

Mud gate being the weakest gate didn't took much ramming, and in less than an hour, Mud gate fell. Enemy line entered the city-like a Dothraki horde, butchering every man, women even children. As walls got breached Malcolm moved toward the keep, there was no hope for the city, but maybe there was for few. So he ran as fast as towards the keep.

[Street of sisters (kings landing)]

At the same time, ser Arthur and ser Willem were on their way to the flee bottom along with Rhaenys, Jon, and Daenerys. Flea Bottom was the poorest slum district in the city, located on the eastern side of Rhaenys Hill. It was a maze-like warren of narrow streets, ramshackle buildings, and dark alleys. Survival on the streets of Flea Bottom was tough and hard. The district was full of tanneries (which make the air stink), cheap brothels, low-class inns, alehouses, and pot-shops serving meager stews. Many of its inhabitants subsist primarily on a meager, slow-cooked stew containing the meat of questionable origins known as a 'Bowls of brown'.
But slum does not extend all the way up to the eastern side of Rhaenys Hill, rather (proceeding downwards from the summit) it begins below the Street of Flour, which is the location of many bakeries. The worst sections are at the absolute bottom of the hill, where human waste flows down the pipes from both Rhaenys Hill and Aegon's High Hill into the gutters, which often overflow when it rains. The feces flows down from the pipes on Aegon's Hill down Tanner's Row, down to Gin Alley, at the absolute bottom of the hill and the very worst part of Flea Bottom. And these very conditions make it the best place to hide and survive. As soon as things get clear, he would take them out of city, but he still wasn't sure where, if he makes it to the north, still there's no guarantee that they won't sell them out to Lannisters at highest bid, and with their overlord captive, they might very well kneel, sooner or later. Maybe he should take them to dorne or free cities.

[Throne Room (Red Keep)]
Viserys and other high lords were in the throne room. Viserys was sitting on the throne. Abruptly, there came a knock on the door, guard slid the small metal window, just to get the sight of ser Malcolm. Guards turned towards Viserys, silently requesting approval as Viserys gave his consent, Doors were opened.

As Malcolm walked toward Viserys, he was covered in grime and blood, his sword bathed in blood, halted in front of the iron throne.

Every eye in the room was on him, he looked to other lords, but then shifting his glare to Viserys "your grace. City watch has fallen." Malcolm's words were like acid on the skin.

Viserys just gave him a bob, as words have died already, 'why waste time when actions speak louder than words.' He already had his sword in his hand, and same goes for everyone else in there; ser delen, ser lewyn, Ser Oswell, Ser Gerold, Ser Barristan, ned stark, Hoster Tully, even Jon arryn clenching sword in his hand.

Malcolm wanted to ask him about Jon, but he didn't. It was rather pellucid since Jon wasn't there so, surely he had been taken to safety beforehand. Finally, He too joined the throng, waiting for last blow and getting ready to take as many as he could with him.
Well, that didn't took long, loud bash on the door pierced everyone's thought, surely time had come, everyone bared their swords and readied, Viserys too stepped down, unsheathing his sword. Ramming of door prolonged for quite long, but as it's said 'in the end, it doesn't even matter', finally doors were smashed open, and standing in their Armour with swords, 'none other than fucking Traitors.' Tywin, mace, Randyll along with their men standing behind them, glaring with their insolent smile.

And at last, Viserys mind finally averred 'king's landing has indeed fallen.'

Trident formation image link- Y-cpkkyKYHxIzpSOUfgJw6wkoMbR1ObR9TzCHWOBM_pWtRaOGcNEF27_ilAx2L9OddxAIKjz0LbcqdFDyev1anJCUeTlnYzc2DVY9jDPd3q1w2jnA667UuFYxjt67KYm8eBDFnVTNbYUnLtf-c4BGVBnN9OLrSIHLdjLZIU-e8lDEvQ2saYxB17EiTQHObpqRbX0-ZpcES2z78tQYJSAPbjJ7VpVP6C5yANgNWIUmRXNPZ5-_i76JhoOSv1RXD-trAynT-dBJfCfjHqyX50JrLaVyHZGcBTrlSTizUz6VgR3Td9e2PcxQ4CmSSzLp04yDm7mMyPn9OgYI7H40YADr82_xzctelGlISAODJ9u0Rz0wTiNrwzNZ0DbYX4U1lHk_kpkVzLc5a8yLepBmBx6zenpvn7O4m3RdpeBwOl4fXjjGbaXpSFfZDBkTZrmYBysow9QstV5LcM-PAKZ3Govlbt8L9L8lcq-0Ou1ck5v2jcREUDG2BDHLx2Z9NwdDQWAcBylqkd0kjMDXz6GJesU1G3Wqs-fVQK26QVkk0hov2HfB-M4uGRQE9zz3ixxKcIuQ-ZWXrxNoqjMO0VEwqBQ5XZYsg3V5ys_cVaQ0A=w944-h452-no

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