THE VIPER AND THE TIGER

JULIAN – WEST POINT

Reconstruction on the wall in Capri was already underway along with building a fort on the southwest end of the Expanse where the Golden Company had landed. The dead had been honored and buried. Meanwhile Julian had returned to West Point and summoned his banners. House Axel, The Romyns of Crakehall, House Crassus, Houses of the Iron Islands Harlaw, Greyjoy, Belventus (rulers of Hammerhorn), Decimar (Rulers of Old Wyk), Gannys (Rulers of Blacktyde), Drumm, and Luculiss of Great Wyke Island. Of the old Iron Born houses only Greyjoy, Harlaw, and Drumm still exist. Theon's troops are all made up of Romyn soldiers loyal to Theon so long as his orders don't contradict Lord Julian's.

Despite the attack by the Golden Company the military strength of House Romyn had not suffered much. Due mostly to the defenses of Capri. The battle of Blackwater had been decided and Stannis was soundly defeated. "I have sent a Raven to Prince Doran…" Julian says sitting at the head table with his Son, Uncle, and cousins. "…He has agreed that now is the time to strike…The King in the North still has over fifty thousand troops in the field…He won't stay long at Harrenhal…

So we will attack the Reach from the West…Our first targets are Old Oak and Red Lake…"

"Cousin…" Ceasar says speaking up, "I request permission to lead the attack on Old Oak…"

Julian looks at his Uncle who nods, "War is a young man's game…"

Julian smiles, "Speak for yourself old man…I am in my prime…" He looks at Ceasar, "Very well Cousin…No unnecessary risks…"

"Yes sir…"

"After we have taken Old Oak and Red Lake…The entire army will attack Golden Grove and from there to High Garden…"

"What of the fleet my Lord…" Theon asks.

"Lord Axel is in command of the fleet…Six hundred of our ships will meet up with Lord Paxter's ships and sail to Blackwater Bay…Theon you will lead the attacks on the Whispers, Rook's Rest, and Duskendale…Then join up with Lord Axel and help them blockade the bay…Allow no merchant ships to approach King's Landing and do sail past Rosby…"

"My Lord what of King Aegon?" Marcus Crassus asks.

"He is on his way to Eastwatch by the Sea…Then from there to Castle Black…If there is nothing else…Dismissed!"

Julian ends the meeting and spends as much time with his wife before marching to the Great Western Gate. "I should be going with you…" Jordan says to his father.

He smiles, "I said something similar to my father during Robert's Rebellion…"

"All the more reason I should be going with you…"

"Stay here and be a husband…Soon you will be a father…Watch over your mother until I return…"

"Right…"

Julian removes his sword Tiger's Breath from his belt, "My father gave me this sword when I was around your age…I now give it to you…"

"Give it to me before you breathe your last breath...I will feel better knowing you wield it on the battlefield…"

Father and son hug, then Julian mounts his horse and rides off. His army numbers fifty thousand strong. Ten of the Twenty thousand mounted spears ride ahead of the column, next are twenty thousand infantry, then ten thousand archers, the wagons carrying tents, medicine, gold to pay troops, Ravens, food, collapsible catapults, siege ladders, and towers are next; following the wagons are the other half of the heavy Calvary forces.

When they reach the gate the gate guards turn two massive wheels to extend the bridge across the twenty foot trench. Then the main gates are opened. The main bridge is wide enough to accommodate six lines of men. Julian has his forces marching in four lines. A mile from the main gate a scout rides up to Julian and his Uncle Octavian. The two men sit their horses while the army marches by. "My Lord!"

"What is it?"

"Lannister scouts…We spotted them riding hard for Cornfeild…Shall we ride them down…"

"No! Let them go…Do not engage any enemy scouts unless they attack first or gettoo close to our lines…"

The scout slams his fist across his chest, "Yes My Lord…"

Ceasar leads twenty-five thousand troops towards Old Oak while Julian leads his forces through the forest to Red Lake. While marching through the forest he sends hunters out to catch wild game to be added to his food supplies. Upon arriving at Red Lake Julian sets up camp and places his army strategically before the castle. As camp is being set up a thousand mounted spears gallop from the castle, but the attack is easily put down.

Once his catapults are up Julian orders them to fire at will. After a day of bombardment Lord Joseph Crane surrenders his castle. All his troops are killed and the castle is stripped bare. Julian also takes the livestock, gold and wine before moving on. By the time Julian's forces reach Goldengrove Ceasar has taken Old Oak and is now three days march from the castle.

Lord Mathis Rowan comes out to negotiate terms with two men, "I am loyal to House Tyrell…I always have been…" He says defending his actions, "…but Randyl Tarly is very powerful…he has the largest army in the Reach. What did you expect me to do with the Lannisters supporting him?"

"Fight!"

"Fight! And where was House Romyn when Randyl Tarly was solidifying his hold over the Reach?"

"Randyl Tarly is a traitor…Are you?"

"I may have bent the knee to the Lannister Bastard on the Iron Throne…But I did not give one soldier to their cause…House Rowan fights beside House Romyn and all enemies to King Aegon…"

Julian looks at his Uncle, "Trust must be earned…" Octavian says.

"How may I earn your trust and keep you from stealing my people's food?"

"How many men do you have?"

"Three thousand, but I can raise another three with conscripts…"

"You will lead the Vanguard assault on High Garden…Dickon Tarly is there…" His voice trails off and he smiles.

"My Lord?"

"On second thought you will send a Raven to Dickon Tarly…Tell him your castle is under siege…You broke the siege, but the enemy has a second force marching from Old Oak…If he doesn't believe the ruse you will lead the march on High Garden…"

Dickon leads four thousand of his five thousand troops up the river to Golden Grove. Plus he has two thousand sell swords. When he reaches Golden Tooth his men are ambushed. During the battle Octavian is gravely injured and Dickon Tarly is captured. "Rowan you traitor!" Dickon yells on his knees with his men.

"I am not the traitor…It is your father who betrayed us all…"

Julian is standing by listening, "Your men will march on towards Horn Hill and wait for my arrival…Kill these men…"

"Wait! My men are unarmed according to the rules of war…"

"Yes but I do not believe in taking prisoners…"

"I will take them my lord…" Rowan says speaking up.

He nods, "Keep them in your dungeons…They are your headache…Prepare Lord Dickon for transport…"

"To where?" He fearfully asks.

"Lord Paxter Redwyne…I promised him you so that he can trade his sister and family for your hide…"

"My Lord!" Ceasar runs up, "Cousin…It is my father he has badly wounded…"

Julian follows Ceasar to the tent where Octavian Romyn lies on a bed, Yara Greyjoy is present. "Your wife is going to kill me…"

He laughs, "Ceasar will protect you from her wrath…don't mourn for me…I am old Tiger and this is the death every warrior wishes…"

"Not me I want to die in my wife's arms…"

Octavian smiles, "Perhaps you are wiser than this old fool…" They stare at each other, "Your father would be proud of you…"

Julian turns away as Octavian looks at Ceasar, "You are the Lord of Crakehall now…"

"You were supposed to be at my wedding to Yara…"

She places her hand on his chest, "You were more of a father to me than Balon…"

"Give my son many children…"

"I will…"

The silent sisters prepare his body and then in the tradition of House Romyn they burn his body. Julian calls for three days of peace. Then he marches on High Garden. Then men defending the castle surrender and are placed in prison. Julian uses High Garden as a base to continue his conquest of the Reach. They pillage and raid villages, lay siege to castles and cut off the Reach's support of the Iron Throne.

PRINCE OBERYN

Like most Dornishmen Prince Oberyn is very arrogant and sure of himself. His brother had placed him in command of the army which numbered forty thousand strong. Oberyn had never studied the art of war or read the battle strategies of past Kings, Lords, Knights, or generals. To compensate for this his brother had sent Lord Anders Yronwood to be second in command and advise his brother.

The two men were blood enemies because Oberyn had bedded his wife before they consummated their marriage. House Yronwood had the second largest army in Dorne and was a rival of House Martell. That rivalry had lessoned somewhat with Prince Doran's rule. Even with the blood feud between Oberyn and Anders.

"My Prince…Lord Anders wishes to speak with you…" A soldier announces.

The Dornish army is encamped in the Prince's Way not far from the Tower of Joy; or what remains of the Tower of Joy. "Send him in…" He is lying on a bed with his paramour and lover Ellaria Sand.

Anders clears his throat, "A message from West Point...Lord Romyn wishes to begin the attack…"

Oberyn is naked and stands up, "What of Stannis?"

"Gone back to his Island Fortress…We are to move on Ashford…From there to the Grassy Vale…Then Bitterbridge and so on…I have taken the liberty of sounding the call to mobilize…"

He sighs, "Fine I shall be ready…" Oberyn does not like wearing armor he finds it to restricting. Ellaria helps him to dress. When he exits the tent his daughters the Sand Snakes are waiting. "Ah my daughters…"

"Where are going first father?" Obara asks.

Oberyn looks at Ellaria, "Where did he say we were going?"

She smiles, "Ashford…"

"Oh yes Ashford…"

While Julian Romyn marches on Red Lake and Ceasar Romyn marches on Old Oak the Banners of House Romyn march on Ashford. Upon arriving at the castle Anders sends a force of ten thousand men to attack the town near the castle. They breach the main castle with a scorpion. The javelin is tied to a chain and when the javelin strikes the gate the chain is pulled and gate torn down.

Once inside the castle it is a slaughter. The Ashford family is taken hostage and Lord Ashford was killed during the battle, Oberyn had killed Lord Ashford himself. After resting three days they march on the Grassy Vale. Rather than fight Lord Meadows surrenders. Because of the attack on Ashford the people of Fawton flee to King's Landing. Next they march on Bitterbridge. The siege is a bloody and costly one as Lord Merryweather of Long Table had bought his forces to the castle.

During the siege Obara and Sarella are killed. Oberyn withdraws from the siege to mourn his beautiful daughters. Obara had been roasted alive when a jar of flaming pitch exploded next to her. Sarella had been struck in the neck with an arrow. Anders calls for a withdrawal and marches around the castle towards Long Table hoping to lure the enemy out of the castle. His plan works and they are able to annihilate the enemy on the battlefield. Since Bitterbridge is a few days ride to King's Landing both Prince Oberyn and Anders decide to march towards High Garden not wanting to be flanked from behind.

"We lost over seven thousand men trying to take the castle…" Prince Oberyn says to Julian Romyn in the main hall at High Garden. "I also lost two of my daughters…"

"I feel your loss…My Uncle died of his wounds…" He sighs, "Anyway…we received a Raven from Cider Hall just before you arrived…Lord Fassoway surrenders…We also received a surrender from the Mullendores…The Reach is nearly ours…"

"What of Robb Stark…" Oberyn asks.

"The Starks and the Lannisters have come to terms…As we speak Tywin Lannister is getting ready to field his army…The King in the North is heading home…"

"So we go out to meet them or do we let them come to us?" Lord Anders asks.

"We rest our men fortify our position and let Tywin Lannister come to us." Julian says with a lot of satisfaction.