Tenth Month of 236 A.L.: Prince's Pass
Ser Doran Martell
By gods it was hot, so very, very hot. Dorne was notorious for being swelteringly hot during the summer, and as such this summer was no exception, if anything Doran thought that perhaps this might have been the hottest summer he had ever lived through. The sand in the Prince's Pass seemed to be scorching as they walked around in their boots and other clothing. It made him wish for the cool air and breeze of the Water Gardens, and the laughter of the children, his own son Manfrey would have turned five sometime ago, and oh how he wished he could be back there to witness his son growing up. Of course, he could not for with Dorne still independent the boy on the Iron Throne had decided that to try and replicate the Young Dragon and conquer Dorne through force. The boy was learning the hard way that, that was not how things were done. The Redwyne Fleet had been smashed by the Iron Fleet, and then forced to retreat once more ships from the Iron Islands began destroying the Arbor and the Reach, their alliance secured with the betrothal of Princess Elia and Harlon Greyjoy. There had been skirmishes in the Boneway and the pass, between forces commanded by Doran and forces commanded by Lord Otto Tyrell and Ser Aegor Rivers, Tyrell was dead and his heir captured, Rivers had retreated but there would be more attacks coming of that Doran was sure.
"The Westerosi have just had their numbers bolstered. Northmen and Riverlanders have added their numbers to Baelon Blackfyre's ranks. Our scouts report that they mean to try and make another attempt and breaking through the defences." Ser Alric Dayne says.
"How many men do they now have?" Doran asks.
"Some 40,000. Many from the Riverlands and the Westerlands. Ser Loras Tyrell has taken men to the Stormlands to deal with the rebels there, and as such there are other problems happening in the Reach with the Ironborn raiding up and down their coast. The men from the Vale and the Crownlands sailed on the royal fleet and are causing trouble for Ser Alor but apart from that there is not much else." Ser Alric replies.
"Have we been able to identify where the Blackfyre boy is?" Doran asked.
Lord Elton Blackmont speaks then. "Well we now know that he is not with the host that is assaulting us here at the Pass. No the man is most likely with the royal fleet. Ser Aegor will most likely be the one to command the host that marches through once more."
"And we know this for a fact?" Doran asks. "This is not just another false trail put about by whoever it is that is working for the false king within our army?"
"Yes my prince." Lord Blackmont replies. "I do believe that this time, we have found enough proof to suggest that this is going to be the final push before anything else happens."
Doran nods. "Very well then. Lord Blackmont I want you to take the left of the host and lead whatever Westerosi you find on a merry chase through the passes and the mountains. Let them smash themselves on the mountains and the boulders. Ser Alric, you shall command the van, take the flank and break it against the roost and make sure to take prisoners if you can. I shall command the centre. And you Lord Yronwood, shall command the reserve and come behind me and reinforce me should I need any assistance." The men in question nod and then Doran asks. "Now has there been word from the coast? What has been happening there?"
Lord Yronwood speaks then. "There was word from Ser Alor. It appears that the Velaryon fleet has been beaten by the storms and Ghaston Grey itself. And as such it does appear as if the Blackfyre boy is marching men from the Marches and taking them by boat into the coastal areas. Soon enough we should have the man trapped."
Doran nods and then dismisses the council. Soon enough he is dressed in his orange armour, his helm atop his head, waiting and listening to the sounds of the men riding out to battle. When the horn sounds and a roar is heard, Doran draws his sword and raises it high into the air and then leads the charge. They meet the host of Riverlanders in a clash of steel on steel and the frenzy of battle. Doran swings his sword, left, right and centre, bringing it down on men left and right, cutting through them like light to the flies. Swinging, hacking and slashing, soon enough his sword is dripping with blood, his armour is caked in dirt and mud, and sweat pours off his brow. He pushes on swinging and hacking, swinging and hacking, cutting men down to size. He takes a few blows of his own, blows that leave his arms shaking and aching, and leave dents in his armour, blood trickling down from them. Still he pushes on.
He swings and hacks, swings and hacks, cutting down men left and right. Swinging and hacking, the roar of battle echoes around him, he's now fighting northmen. Their blows are more savage and he can feel his strength beginning to leave him, and yet still he pushes on. Swinging and hacking and cutting and blocking and feeling pain upon pain. Still; he pushes on swinging and hacking, he tears a man's head in two and then gets struck just above his heart and for a moment he fears that that is it. But then he spears the man in the chest and pushes on. He and his men have cut through the northmen now and he orders them to turn around and find new sources of battle, when he sees the white of the Kingsguard he pushes on and cuts through men. Swinging like a mad man to reach Bittersteel and perhaps end this war once and for all. He falls prey to his wounds before he can do such a thing, dragged down by a loss of blood and fatigue.
2nd Month of 237 A.L. Massey's Hook
Prince Aegon Targaryen
His sons were men grown now, Duncan twenty and Jaehaerys fourteen, Aelix had just turned eight, but he too would grow up one day. Duncan had wed Eleanor Rosby before they had set sail and as such the match whilst not what Aegon would have wanted had provided them with some allies in Westeros, mainly House Rosby and other crownlanders houses that had always preferred the red to the black dragon. Jaehaerys had wed a daughter of the Magister Serron, a girl named Serra and as such was quite in love with her if Rhae was to be believed, as for Aelix well the boy was squiring for his brother and as such was silent and quiet most of the time now. All in all Aegon was quite proud of how is boys were doing, he merely hoped that he could say the same for his daughter.
Their allies in Westeros were not as great as he had hoped they would be, it appeared the great houses were either too committed to the Blackfyre cause, or were facing their own inner problems to help their true rulers return. And as such Aegon had had to rely on the lords of the Crownlands to aid him, they had sent very little support to aid Baelon Blackfyre in Dorne, something that Aegon knew he had his daughter to thank for. And as such when he had landed at Massey's Hook, he had been greeted by Ser Adam Rosby, Lord Denys Darklyn, Lord Barros Celtigar and others. In all they had brought some 10,000 men with them, and whilst it was not enough to actually do anything significant, it was enough to cause worry. And so Aegon had sent them out in their hundreds to go about recruiting more men to the cause and to cause havoc on Blackfyre loyalists. The chaos in Dorne, had also attracted support from Lord Robar Baratheon who had finally managed to rid himself of Willas Tyrell, and had now openly declared for Aegon and marched with some 6,000 men to the Hook.
Sighing he drank some water and hoped to gods that the heat would end soon. "Well my lords. We've been here for some two weeks now, and still there has been no word on whether or Baelon Blackfyre is moving from Dorne to here. If our plan is to work he must needs move. So what has been keeping him?"
Lord Darklyn speaks then. "It would appear that the Dornish have been putting up a great deal more fight than we first thought Your Grace. After Ser Doran was killed, it appears his cousin Allem took up the charge and managed to break through the Blackfyre ranks and managed to capture Bittersteel. And since then it appears Baelon Blackfyre has been dithering over what to do. His lords have been giving him different advice and some of them have even begun fearing what will happen should the Ironborn turn their eyes towards their territories."
"So the man has been crippled by an inability to act. Perhaps we are finally seeing who it was who ran things for the Blackfyres." Lord Celtigar says. "After all was it not Haegon Blackfyre who led things during the last war we fought with the Blackfyres?"
"It changes nothing." Aegon says his voice like iron. "We must needs have Blackfyre brought towards Massey's Hook and we must have him taken away from the bulk of his host, otherwise the plan shall not work."
Lord Robar speaks then. "Well Your Grace, if I might voice a thought or two." He pauses and Aegon nods for him to continue. "There will be only one way to lure a green boy such as Baelon Blackfyre out into the open, and that is to send a force of men out to tempt him into doing such a thing. Otherwise we shall be left scratching our heads for the next several months."
Aegon looks at the man and then asks. "And who would you suggest for this job my lord?"
Lord Robar is silent for a moment and then says. "I would go and take this usurper on a merry little chase. The boy has cost me and my people much during his reign and I do believe now is the time to end it all and bring the hammer of justice down upon him."
Aegon is silent a moment and then says. "Well, if no one has any complaints about this then I do believe that Lord Robar and his men should be the ones to tempt Blackfyre out from wherever it is he is hiding." With that he dismisses the council meeting but keeps Lord Rosby and Duncan present. Once the lords have left he speaks up. "Did you take notes of the lords reactions Duncan?" When his son nods he asks. "And who do you think was the rat?"
"Darklyn seemed more loyal than his father had, but there was also a sense of over eagerness on his part. And there has been talk for some time that the man means to have his own daughter wed Viserys Blackfyre. I do believe that he is the man." Duncan says.
Aegon nods and then says. "Aye, the man was too eager by half to make it look like he had not thought about all potential plots and ploys he could work into this council. And that he was the one who suggested the plan in the first place, makes me think that he is truly wanting something bad to happen."
"But then are you going to stick to the plan, if you suspect that something might go very awry with it?" Lord Rosby asks.
Aegon shakes his head and says simply. "No, changes have been made and arrangements have also been made. Darklyn shall be shoved into the darkness the minute battle begins and then we can see where his allegiance truly lies."
"And what of Osgrey?" Duncan asks. "Will he be joining us?"
Aegon nods and says. "Aye with his strength, all of it."