When he was well enough to travel again, the Northern rear guard finally moved to reconnect with the main royal host. As they marched down the Boneway they saw banners flying from captured towerhouse, towns, and keeps. Other settlements and castles he saw were under siege.
His father said, "Most of the towns and major castles on the Boneway are under siege, a few were captured, such as Wyl, Bonetown, and several other minor towns and holdfasts. King Daeron has likely already laid siege to Yronwood castle and its supporting town. I have also received word that we are to receive several hundred more Northmen including some of my mother's kin from the Norreys of the Mountains. Mainly second sons to be sure".
Jon said, "More Northmen are always appreciated. Especially for when we assault the major Dornish castles and towns. I have been reading that Yronwood is the largest castle in Dorne and the second strongest in Dorne, though that is due to Sunspear having less hospitable hinterlands".
His father said, "Aye, Yronwood was the seat of the most powerful Dornish house prior to the arrival of the Rhoynar. Skyreach and Starfall are near as strong while being smaller due to their location on high rocky hills and mountains. Yronwood lays on a strong hill as well but it is less rugged than the Red Mountains proper. Yronwood's walls are tall and strong with even scorpions located inside many of the towers and bastions that can hold magonels to launch pots of burning pitch at siege towers and rams. It's essentially the Dreadfort of Dorne".
Jon hummed in acknowledgement, if Castle Yronwood was truly as strong a castle as the Dreadfort than it meant a long siege, as even with the entire North behind House Stark it took King Harlon Stark two years to take the castle by siege. Jon wondered what it would mean for the campaign as a whole. Daeron was heavily relying on the full might of Westeros to be able to by sheer numbers put a castle under siege and keep the main army advancing. The forces that took the Boneway were supposed to leave just enough men to keep castles and towns under a secure siege or take them in an assault. Then after securing the Boneway, were to split. One host marching along the coast and another marching down the banks of the Greenblood to divide Dorne and link up the Royal fleet and lords of the Narrow Sea. While the forces heading down the Prince's Pass were to send hosts towards Starfall, Hellhot and link up with another wing of the host going through the Boneway to march on Vaith. The Ironborn were to reave up and down the coast of Dorne and up their rivers causing chaos. The royal fleet were to take Plankytown and push up the Greenblood to link with the host coming from the Boneway and then lay siege upon Sunspear itself at the conclusion of the campaign. The Fleet of the Arbor was to keep sellswords from Essos coming to reinforce Dorne and the Lannister and Arryn fleet were to aid in the supply of the armies, along with taking any coastal islands.
A voice broke his thoughts, "the campaign will be slowed, but his grace anticipated such events. Though due to lives you saved in the Battle of the Boneway, so progress on the minor castles and towns are ahead of schedule".
Jon looked up and saw Beron riding toward him with a smile.
Jon said, "It's nice to see you again Beron".
Beron replied, "Aye, it is good to see you too, but at least grant a fellow knight his style".
Jon smiled at his friend's achievement but japed, "If true, then knighthood has certainly fallen on hard times".
Beron laughed and replied, "Said the Old Gods worshiping bastard".
Laughing they clasped their forearms, and released to ride side by side. Beron gave the required greeting to Jon's father. His father returned the greeting, but stayed silent. Jon knew Beron grieved for their friend as well, but this was war and when another comrade comes back from dead, hale and hearty, then one must celebrate that fortune and thank the gods.
Beron said, "I am happy to see you alive and well".
Jon replied, "I as well, what news do you bring from the front"?
Beron said, "The siege of Yronwood is well underway. The castle and town are cut off from any aid or resupply, though his grace and the other lords are cursing the Dornish for felling so many trees or burning the homes of their own smallfolk. Wood is in short supply so no work has been done on siege engines and much of the camp has no palisades or stakes to defend it. We rely on ditches and mounds of earth to protect the camp. We can't even begin work on sapping given the lack of wood for the frame of the tunnel. I hear he has sent Lord Farring and the Knights of Brunehollow and Hollard Keep, along with 3,000 infantry and 300 heavy and light cavalry to take Iron Harbor, we'll need to bring in wood from the Rainwood along with other supplies and besides Iron Harbor is the biggest port in Dorne save the Plankeytown. House Yronwood and their bannermen have been harassing us mainly with sorties of mainly light cavalry both from their hinterlands and the castle itself. As far as we can tell, most of the infantry and archers were in the host at the Boneway, as were most of their knights. The remaining garrison is greybeard and young boys given the barest of training with spear, bow, or crossbow. An assault of the wall with men-at-arms or knights sould easily sweep them away, but nearly all of Yronwood's light cavalry remained in the keep, with the same being true for their bannermen. We are at an impasse, but still taking more losses than we should, if truth be told".
His father said, "House Yronwood made as sound a plan as can be, they know it is unlikely for aid to come from their liege, nor can they hold off an assault for long. Delaying our ability to assault the walls allows House Yronwood to make their own terms as they figured that with such a large host, that we would be keen on never staying in a single location for too long otherwise we would eat and drink the land into oblivion".
Jon said, "True, hopefully we can take the castle quickly and with minimal loss to our forces".
Beron said, "Aye. No point in taking heavy losses when we still need to march on Sunspear".
The march to the siege lines of Yronwood went uneventfully from there on. With his father, Beron, and himself being directed to Daeron's tent once they arrived and had passed off the task of organizing the camps to the senior officers and lords.
Just before they were allowed into the pavilion, a shout was heard from the royal pavilion, "DAMN THAT IRON BITCH TO THE SEVEN HELLS!"
Jon and Beron recognized that voice immediately, it was Daeron's voice. Something had woken the dragon.
They entered the pavilion and a herald announced them to assembled lords and Daeron. They bent the knee and gave their required greetings.
Daeron said, "You may rise, good ser".
Father replied, "Thank you, your grace. If we can be of service, all you need to do is speak the command".
Daeron said. "I apologize for my rudeness, but now is not the time for courtesy. You are my future Warden of the North and I have need of your counsel. The widow of the late Lord Yronwood has refused any terms of surrender that I have offered, despite the fact that I have her last living son as my prisoner. Claiming that I did not hold the castle's rightful ruler as her elder daughter was still within the castle. Damned bitch is willing to see everyone of her sons die for her daughter's rights. Damn my ancestors and the other 40 families for not destroying every last remnant of the Rhoynar's nobility and their damned culture. What kind of woman would sacrifice her last son, just to keep her daughter in power"?
His father said, "I do not know, your grace. The Dornish are mad, afterall. I was told by Ser Beron that she has been sending sorties out to harass our lines"?
Daeron replied with a nod, staying silent as to take in every bit of information.
His father continued, "I would advise we lay a trap for them. Continue to engage their skirmishers, but give ground, make them feel overconfident, and then we use our overwhelming numbers to surround their skirmishers and make a sortie towards whatever gate or sallyport that they opened. I will admit it may take some time as we have to make them feel more overconfident before they will be foolish enough to overcommit and fall prey to the encirclement'.
Daeron said, "That sounds as good of a plan as we can hope with how few trees or wood we possess for siege engines. My lords, I announce that this war council has come to a close. Lord Stark, I will have my stewards show you to the site I have designated for your Northmen. There is easy access to water and fodder, along with a line of latrines and other necessities for camp.
Author's Note: Sorry for the short chapter, but there is going to be a fairly decent chunk of time in between this chapter and next, in the story. Sieges do take a long time.