Prince Daemon Stark
Winter had come for Daemon Stark, with a sharp knife and slit throats. His wife and daughter were dead, he had been the one to bury them in the ground, and no one else would have been given that honour. That they were dead was still a shock to him, both of them had seemed so alive and so vibrant when he had last seen them, walking out to go and pray in the godswood. That they were dead now and no longer there, that he would never hear his wife's beautiful voice and sweet talk or get to see his daughter grow, that stung, and it made his grief all the harder to bear when he saw his men saying goodbye to their wives and children. It made him angry as well and hunger for revenge. He knew the reason why they had died, Aegon Targaryen the dragon scum in the south had sent the assassin to kill his girls in order to provoke a conflict from his grandfather the Winter Dragon a man who Daemon was still on shaky terms with. Lucerys Blackfyre was the cause of all of this, and when the man had said something, made a jab at him after a sparring session Daemon had lost his cool and Lucerys Blackfyre had lost many teeth, and had ended up with a damaged rib, the man was cocky and over confident and his grandfather had just begun to see it.
Still he supposed that there was nothing he could do about Blackfyre, the man had his grandfather's protection for now and Daemon did not want to damage his already strained relationship with his grandfather by killing Lucerys, even if the cunt did deserve to die. No instead he was using his time as commander of the northern forces to vent out his anger and grief on the world. His grandfather was improving at least, he had finally seen Lucerys Blackfyre for what he truly was that day in the training yard, and had ordered that the man be sent to Last Hearth to recuperate for some time, after that incident Daemon had fully expected his grandfather to give him a bollocking for hurting his favourite grandson, but no, his grandfather had surprised him by admitting that Blackfyre was out of line and that if he ever said anything like that again Daemon's grandfather would kill him, himself. His grandfather had also offered his condolences, and this time when the war council was convened Daemon was included in all the discussions whilst Blackfyre was not. It seemed as if his grandfather truly was trying to make an effort now and Daemon appreciated that.
There was still a part of Daemon, a rather large part if he was being truthful to himself that hungered for his grandfather's approval, and so when his grandfather had ordered him to lead the bulk of the northern host south towards Moat Cailin to defend it from an impending attack from southerners Daemon had jumped at the chance. As such the battle of Moat Cailin had been a bloody affair, the southerners had marched from the riverlands in bulk some 15,000 men from the Riverlands had marched up through the Neck being bled dry by Lord Donnor Reed and the cranongmen those that survived had been beleaguered and angry, and as such they had fallen prey to the traps that Edwyle Stark had set them, Daemon had watched from the hill of the Olden Times as the southerners had been ravaged by the direwolves and the shadowcats that were under the High Steward's command and his own direwolf had taken part in the slaughter once the signal had been given and the southerners had come fleeing down towards the hill.
His sword had tasted much blood on that day, and it had made him feel as if some sort of justice was being given for the deaths of his wife and child, and for the deaths of every northmen in conflicts gone past. The southerners had all been slaughtered only Lord Mallister had been left alive, and Daemon had ordered that the man be made to watch as his other men were put to the sword or were tortured for information in front of him. Daemon would give the man credit where credit was due, he was a hard man, and did not balk for much of what he saw, though the minute Daemon had the man's son brought forth he began begging and pleading for mercy. Daemon had looked at him and had simply said. "My wife and daughter were innocent of the crimes my grandfather has committed. But they got no mercy and neither shall you nor your son." Mallister and his heir were tortured for every piece of information they had, and soon enough they were killed their entrails hung on the heart tree as an offering to the old gods for a successful campaign. Lucerys Blackfyre had witnessed Daemon questioning the prisoners and as such had said nothing but he had looked very scared, Daemon had been pleased with that, good he had thought, let the dragon boy be scared it would make his life much easier.
Though one southern host was defeated another had attacked the eastern coast and though Daemon had been desperate to help them, he knew that they could not risk the chance of the south sending more men to attack the Moat not now, and so he had sent word to Lord Dreadstark under his grandfather's approval and had asked him to help defend White Harbour, and from there Daemon and the remaining 12,000 men had marched south towards the Twins where Lord Walder Frey had met them. Daemon had heard much about Lord Walder from his grandmother and from various northern lords, they all said the man lived in awe of Daeron Stark and Daemon's own father Aegor Stark and that he would provide them with what aid he could. They had not been wrong Walder Frey had provided them with information and gold and had even given them some 400 men led by his bastard son Walder Rivers to aid them in their conquest of the Riverlands. As such they had been in the Twins for a week now letting themselves recuperate and regain their strength but the time for that had passed and so Daemon had summoned a war council.
The council met in the main war tent that Daemon used as his own accommodations for now, to lessen the stress on Lord Walder. His direwolf Mars sat at his feet asleep. The lords who were present in the council tent were battle hardened veterans and men he had grown up with. There was his aunt Elaena's husband Beron Umber the ever faithful Lord of Last Hearth, Daemon's sister Rhaenrya's husband Lord Laenor Mormont strong as an ox and cunning as a fox, Lords Cerwyn and Tallhart were present as well as were Lord Jon Royce and Daemon's cousin Rickard Stark, Blackfyre was also there as was Lords Ryswell and Dustin. Daemon cleared his throat and the murmuring stopped. "My lords, I thank you for coming here. As you know we have been here at the Twins for a week now, and whilst it might be nice to have some wenches and a soft bed for the time being, our waiting here will not win us this war. I would hear your thoughts on where we should march next."
As expected Lord Beron spoke first. "Well we know from Lord Weasel that Lord Tytos Lannister has amassed a host and is marching towards the Red Fork potentially meaning to march north and fight us here on the banks of the Green Fork. Whilst Prince Aelix Targaryen has been given men from the crownlands to assail us. Aelix is a green boy, Tytos Lannister and his westermen are the true threat, we must deal with them first."
Lucerys Blackfyre opened his mouth and Daemon could have groaned. "Lannister is a craven at the sight of our army he will dip his banners and add his strength to ours. No there will be no challenge there Aelix is a Targaryen and we must deal with the Targaryens, I say we march and fight Aelix's host."
"And risk being flanked in the rear by the westermen? Do you have water in your head boy? Lannister's host is by far bigger and more experienced, men like Lefford and Crakehall have fought more wars than you have seen winters boy. We must fight Lannister and then turn our attention on Aelix Targaryen." Lord Roger Ryswell said.
Blackfyre bristled then and said. "Lannister and his toadies will be a long time coming from the Tooth if you wish to fight them be my guest Lord Ryswell, I will meet and fight Aelix Targaryen on the field and give you his head as a present when we meet again shall I?"
"Boldly spoken my prince," Lord Laenor said in his soft voice. "But we know that Aelix Targaryen's host is not as great a threat to us as Lord Lannister's. I agree with Lord Umber and say that we should march west to meet and put an end to the Westermen once and for all."
"Did Lord Frey not say that Duncan Targaryen is amassing another host in the crownlands to deal with the Golden Company, as I do believe they are invading sometime soon? Perhaps Aelix Targaryen and his men will march south to aid his brother. What information do we have of Lord Tully?" Lord Dustin asked, calm as ever.
Daemon spoke then. "Lord Walder told me that the majority of the riverlands strength went north with Lord Mallister, as such they are all dead in the ground now. So whatever strength Riverrun has left to call will be of the minor houses. I would rather he not get the chance to add that strength to either of the two hosts that are marching towards us."
"So you would rather face a tamed lion than a false dragon is that the way of it Stark?" Lucerys said contemptuously. "Very well then since Lord Daeron has given you command we shall bow to your wishes, but next time we shall not be so lenient."
"Why thank you for the concession my prince." Damon said sarcastically. "Now I shall speak with Lord Walder and tell him where we shall be marching. Lord Umber you shall have the van, Lucerys you shall have the right, I shall have the left and Lord Dustin you shall have the reserve."
And so later that night Daemon spoke with Lord Walder Frey, and the man had a few choice words to say. "So you will fight the cowardly lion then eh boy? Heh a smart move, take the lion out and the dragons will scamper like the mice they truly are. Very well, my bastard Walder will show you where to wait for them, and we shall send out false reports to any scouts they send." Daemon and his 12,000 men rode out south the next morning with Walder Rivers and the 400 men Walder Frey had sent from the Twins riding with them, they arrived at the Blue Fork late two nights later, tired but eager to begin battle.
"The Lannisters followed a trail to the west of here my prince." Walder rivers said deferentially. "They will find the marshes hard to manoeuvre through and will likely stumble upon your host. Best be ready."
Three nights after that, the sound of hooves and voices could be heard from the far side of the fork, and sure enough lion banners could be seen, Daemon ordered his men saddled and ready and when he raised his sword into the air, the Lannisters were setting up camp. Daemon and his northmen fell on them with the howl of winter and the wind backing them and urging them on. The Battle of the Blue Fork was a massacre, Daemon swung his sword left and right, left and right and centre, cutting through men, tearing them to pieces fighting like a man possessed, none could stand before him. Lord Commander of the Winter's Guard Asphell Wull and Maron Greyjoy also of the grey cloaks were behind him the whole time like grey shadows.
The Lannister host was cut to shreds, their numbers were actually significantly less than what Daemon had been led to believe almost as if most of the Westerlords did not wish to answer the summons of their liege lord. An interesting development Daemon thought, but not one he could ponder for very long, as his attention was brought back to the fray and the battle raging on around him. Eventually most of the Lannister men were dead or surrendered, some fled and Daemon let them though afterwards he learnt Lord Lannister himself was a prisoner and that the man's brother Ser Edrick had been slain. The battle of the Blue Fork took place on the fifth day of the fifth month of the 249th year after Aegon's Landing, the Black Dragon and the Winter Dragons had spread their wings and the world heard them roar in the sound of Winter.
Prince Duncan the Small
Samaira and Jorelle Stark were dead, killed by the assassin his father had sent north to deal with the princesses of the north and force Daeron Stark's hand. Stark had remained silent though, as unmoving as the Wall, and as such Duncan's father had instead ordered Lord Mallister to move north and attack the north, that had failed but Duncan could not get the fact that his father, the man who was so kind and calm amongst the viper's pit of court had actually ordered a woman and child innocent of any crimes committed by the Starks themselves, to be killed. It shocked him and he had a hard time reconciling the man he saw before him to that same man. The two Stark women were dead, the north was in uproar and his father had simply said that it was a necessary evil that needed to be done.
The attack on Moat Cailin itself had failed, as far as their sources and reports coming from the north told them, the battle had been butchery. The northmen had clearly been expecting them and had had time to prepare. Lord Mallister's men 15,000 in total were all dead, slaughtered in the Neck or fighting against the walls of the Moat, or brought down by animals some said. Daemon Stark had gone into a rage for revenge and so had apparently tortured Mallister and his men for days until he had gotten the answers he had wanted and even then that had not been enough, Mallister and his men were now rotting in the ground. The strength of the riverlands gone and broken on the northern fortress. Stark had marched south and had spent time at the Twins, Walder Frey had been written to and simply said he was housing an old friend and nothing more, though when news of the result of the Blue Fork had reached them and the decimation of the Lannister forces there, Duncan's father had yelled and screamed and all hell had broken loose in court.
Duncan was only grateful that his own task of decimating the eastern coast of the north had been successful. His father had sent the royal fleet and some 10,000 men with him and instructed him to "Destroy White Harbour and lay plunder to all that is there in that barren wasteland." And so Duncan had gone north with the royal fleet, commanded by his uncle by marriage Lord Maegon Velaryon, his cousins, Ser Steffon Swann and Prince Lewyn Martell of the Kingsguard and they had come to anchor at Widow's Watch. The Flint's of Widow's Watch were all dead now, Duncan's men had seen to that. Butchering women and children were they stood as well as the men who put up a fight. From Widow's Watch they moved Ramsgate at the mouth of the Broken Branch, the castle and its lands had been deserted, but there was plunder there that Duncan had ordered taken back to the ships of the royal fleet that were not sailing to White Harbour to burn the ships of the northern fleet stationed there.
Actual fighting had met them between Ramsgate and White Harbour. Men led by Lord Rodwell Manderly and Lord Donnel Berstark, numbering some 6,000 men had faced them on the plains of southern delta. It had been carnage, Duncan's 10,000 men were not used ot winter but were more prepared for the fighting and as such the Battle of the Southern Delta as it was now known had swung in their favour after the death not of Lord Manderly but of Lord Donnel Stark the old man who was past eighty had died as he had lived according to one man they had taken prisoner with a sword in his hand. With Manderly and Berstark dead White Harbour itself was lightly defended and so Duncan had ordered his men to the city. What followed was pure and utter destruction and it still haunted Duncan all these moons later.
The gates of White Harbour had fallen open to their battering rams, and the rams of the army from the Vale that had come to aid them, led by Lord Jon Arryn, it numbered some 10,000 men and had routed the force of men on the Three Sisters before coming to White Harbour. White Harbour was plundered, its wealth looted and taken back to the ships that had burned the northern fleet, the screams of men dying still echoed in Duncan's mind sometimes at night. Those men who fought against the army were slaughtered and their women were raped their children killed as well. There was no honour in what happened in White Harbour and yet, when they actually came to taking New Castle they found the castle gates wide open, the new Lord of White Harbour, Domeric Manderly standing there beaten and bruised, the man accepted Duncan into his castle not with open arms but reluctant acceptance. The men had feasted long and hard and yet Duncan had not helped feeling that something was amiss, the Starks would respond to this and it would be harsh and heavy.
He had been proven right, two moons into their stay in White Harbour a host led by one Lord Torrhen Dreadstark arrived outside the gates of the city, the host numbered some 12,000 men. Men from House Hornwood, House Karstark, House Glover, the reserves of Winterfell and from the Mountain Clans. It seemed there was to be another battle and this time though they had greater numbers, the northmen actually knew the city better than Duncan and his men did. The fighting was fierce and Duncan himself nearly died once or twice during the battle that raged in the streets of White Harbour. The northmen fought savagely as if they had nothing to lose and on and on the battle had gone, until Duncan had seen that the way to the Harbour was still open the fleet was still there, waiting begging for them to come back. Duncan decided there and then that they had achieved what had needed to be done eastern part of the north was in ruins a great part of its naval strength destroyed, he ordered his men to retreat and so they did. Barely managing to escape with their lives.
He had returned to King's Landing if not to a hero's welcome than to a rather celebratory one. His father had told him that Lord Edric Baratheon had crushed a host of sellsword companies led by Ser Steffon Strickland that were fighting for the Blackfyres. The man was slain the Stormlands were secured, but there was danger afoot in the Reach, the northmen and the Ironborn on the west coast had gone raiding in the Reach and Highgarden itself faced threats from the Florents and the Costaynes and other rebels. And so Duncan's father had sent Aelix south to aid Lord Tyrell in defending the Reach from further threat.
Much still needed to be done, and that was why Duncan was now in the small council chamber where his father, seemingly old and tired had called another council meeting. The members of the small council apart from Ser Edrick who had died fighting in the riverlands were all present. Duncan noted that his father seemed exhausted as if this was all taking a toll on him more than all had first thought. His voice was barely above a whisper when he spoke. "You all know why you are here. I would hear more news about the war."
Lord Bolton spoke first. "Well, Daemon Stark and the northmen continue to sit on the banks of the Blue Fork, whilst some of his lords go raiding and pillaging through the riverlands. Riverrun remains unsure of what to do and the Westermen are licking their wounds. In the Reach, the Ironborn and the western northmen led by Lord Edrick Cassel continue to raid and plunder the coast, and though Lord Redwyne has mobilised his fleet they have yet to come into complete contact with them. Lord Tyrell met the host commanded by Lord Florent on the banks of the Mander and smashed them to pieces, Florent and most of his family are dead in the male line though a few cousins remain defending the castle. Tyrell continues his march to deal with Costayne and his allies now."
Duncan saw his father nod and then heard him ask. "And what of the Vale? Has there been word from Jon Arryn yet?"
Bolton shook his head. "No Your Grace. Lord Arryn remains silent and there has been no word from the Eyrie to confirm whether he lives or not. Nor have his ships been seen in Gulltown."
King Aegon sighed then and rubbed his forehead. "That is not good, not good at all. If Arryn is dead then that could see a crisis with regards to the succession there. Maester Justin write to them one more time, and if there is still no response from the Eyrie send word to Runestone. Lord Royce will need to raise the Valemen and march them through the Bloody Gate and towards the Riverlands. And write to Riverrun and instruct Lord Tully to stir and fight."
Duncan spoke then. "Is that wise Your Grace? Surely it would be more prudent to wait for Tytos Lannister to raise another host before asking Lord Tully to march out to his inevitable death."
His father looked at him then and said. "We cannot afford for Daemon Stark and the northmen to be joined by more of their countrymen, and we cannot allow the Golden Company or rebel lords to side with them. No we must weaken them further before we go for the big push. Send the ravens' maester Justin. As for what we shall be doing about the Golden Company, Lord Bolton has there been any word on that front?"
Duncan saw the man shift through his papers before he picked up one letter that was quite badly scuffed. "There has Your Grace. Lords Celtigar and Massey report seeing ships on the horizon on several occasions and though there have been some small fights between the bands that land, there has been no other word."
"It matters not," the king said. "Duncan shall lead the remainder of the crownlands host that is already present here and meet up with Lords Massey and Baratheon and march on the Golden Company and wait for them when they land."
And so it was that three weeks later Duncan found himself overlooking the place where the Blackwater flowed out into the Narrow Sea, with Ser Steffon Swann and Prince Lewyn Martell and Ser Gerold Hightower all present next to him as well as Lord Bolton and Duncan's goodbrother Lord Edric Baratheon. Behind them their army some 15,000 strong waited with baited breath as the enemy's ships came into sight. "I dislike this waiting." Duncan heard his goodbrother grumble. "Give me a good clean battle and I'll prefer it to this waiting."
"You might get your wish my lord," Duncan said. "Look their ships are coming to dock now. Lord Domeric sound the horn." Bolton blew the horn and Duncan drew his sword from its sheath and prepared himself for the battle that was to come. "Sound the drums." Duncan said and the drums sounded and then he yelled the charge and so the battle of Massey's Hook began.
The fighting was chaotic, the men who were getting off the ships had very little time to respond to what was happening to them, and they were cut down without much of a fight. This later for some time, as the company adjusted to the lights and the atmosphere, Duncan cut through what seemed like half the host before he finally met some resistance and even then it was brief. BY the time the actual fighting got interesting his sword was stained red with the blood of dozens of men and if he really thought about it perhaps even one woman.
He cut through another man and then another, and then another before he realised something was amiss. They bear the wrong sigil, where is the standard of the Golden Company or the black dragon of House Blackfyre. What is this flaming contraption? It was only after he plunged his sword through yet another man that he realised that the men were from Volantis, this had been a diversion where the golden company where he knew not, all he knew was that after his shoved his sword through a man who looked a lot like him he felt as time froze.
The battle of Massey's Hook was fought between an army commanded by Prince Duncan Targaryen, and a host from Volantis commanded by his cousin Prince Aenar Targaryen. Aenar Targaryen was slain by his cousin on the seventh day of the twelfth month of the 249th year After Aegon's Landing. The blood was personal now.