Zhorvak: It comes at great personal cost, but it was the right thing to do.

branphilips/one original: If Catelyn was shit at ruling, Ned wouldn't have trusted her with Winterfell when he went South. Catelyn is also the only person in the realm that knows the North and will have Rickon's best interests at heart.

osterreicher: Still, there are 3 dragons alive, that's already something.

Phillip: Dany's position is really bad. She doesn't know Winter is injured and from her own POV Drogon is screwed and Rhaegal is crippled.

BBryant: No, just lord.

MalSer: Thanks!


Interlude

Greenstone-Estermont International Airport, Principality of Dorne, 1036 AC

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Greenstone-Estermont Airport, it is currently noon local time, the outside temperature is seven-and-twenty degrees and the weather is sunny with some sparse clouds. We thank you for having flown with Dornish Airlines and hope to see you again soon."

Gerold took one last look outside of the window, before packing up his bags and joining the line of eager holiday-goers waiting to join the line off of the plane.

It had been a smooth 3-hour long flight from Oldtown, and the weather could not have been better. He had a breathtaking view of the Red Mountains up to the Lakes of Heroes along Summerhall, the Rainwood National Park, then the Estermont Archipelago, with an overfly of the Dornish submarine base as a final welcome.

Gerold was impatient. Ever since his parents moved to Greenstone, two years ago, he had always wanted to visit this island. After all, he'd never been. Born and raised in Sunsgarden, near Sunspear, then having moved to Meteor Port for High School, and finally gone to Oldtown for his medical studies, he'd never seen Greenstone, not even on a vacation.

But it was there that his parents decided to retire, and it was thus that he found himself in the 'unbowed archipelago', a speck of Dornish dust off of the United Kingdom of Westeros.

Gerold put on his backpack and left the plane, following the crowd into the terminal.

Most of them were Honeywiner or Reacher holidaygoers, looking to bask in the sun and look at the beautiful reefs of Estermont. Some, like him, were just Dornishmen trying to go home for the Spring recess.

His sister would not arrive until later that week. A medical student too, she preferred to stay at Prince Quentyn University, in Sunspear. Just as prestigious as the Citadel, the oldest institution in the world, but closer to home. Gerold was always the most adventurous, though, and he was even considering to move to White Harbor or Seagard, in the North, for an eventual Masters afterwards.

The mysteries of the North did call him…

But Gerold was also an avid history buff, and, for that, Greenstone was one of the best places to go, along with Summerhall, of course.

He had visited the palace of heroes, during the winter, when the tourist season had died down. He'd gone from the High Lakes to the Great Palace, seen Azor Ahai Peak and the Valley of the Crowned, King Aemon's Rest and the Great Crypt…he wished he'd started interesting himself in Dornish history sooner.

Of course, the Dornish cursus in Middle and High School did give him an overview, from the founding of Starfall till the coming of Princess Nymeria, from the Dragon's Wroth to the Dornish Wars, from the Unification to the Lionslayer's ascension, from the era of broken promises to the War of Independence, and from the Reacher Revolutions to today.

This had all been taught to him, but he cared little.

That was until he moved to Oldtown, and his friend group revived his interest for history, by taking him to the Hightower Museum, or the many galleries and War museums in the city, as well as the old castles or the memorials to those destroyed during the Reacher Revolutions.

That's when he started gaining back an interest in Dornish history, specifically the Second Age of Heroes, or, for the Dornish, the First Dornish Golden Age.

Gerold anxiously looked at his Estermont guide.

He had planned to go see the brand-new War and Navy Museum in the fortress of Greenstone, which closed at Six, before going home to his parents, who lived on the outskirts of the city. Luckily, he did not have to wait long, and found himself outside the airport in no time. The bus then dropped him off on Princess Nymeria Quay, in the center of Greenstone, in no less than half an hour.

From there, Gerold walked a few minutes along to Prince Quentyn Square.

Princess Nymeria Quay, Prince Quentyn Square…the Dornish really only knew how to christen their places with three names. Princess Nymeria, the founder of the Principality of Dorne, Prince Quentyn, who ushered the first golden age and made Dorne into the great power it is known as today, and Princess Aliandra, who ushered in the second golden age and led Dorne to independence.

From Prince Quentyn Square, he could see the large star-shaped castle which commanded the entrance to the port of Greenstone, with the submarine base on the other side, and the civilian port reaching far on the inside, lined up with yachts and sailboats.

Four flags floated near the castle entrance: that of Dorne, of course, alongside the flag of the Province of Estermont, the city of Greenstone, and the Westerosi Union.

There, he did not have to wait long to get a ticket allowing him entry into the castle and war museum. A quick show of his Citadel card got him the student discount, and he quickly entered the main courtyard of the castle, a gigantic open-air area, with the flag of Dorne prominently towering over everything else.

On the ground, carved into the limestone, was a large map of Greenstone, with the armories of Dorne and the ominous words right under them: 'Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken'.

Gerold continued to walk to the museum entrance, where he found who he was looking for. A man, not older than eight-and-twenty, tall, with a black beard and short hair.

Maron, a friend from middle school, had moved to Greenstone for his girlfriend, who found a job there which suited her. As for Maron, he followed her, and, as a History student, soon managed to be hired as a tour guide for Greenstone's Tourism Office.

Now, he showed the great places of Greenstone to the public, from Nature sanctuaries, to the War graves, all the way to the great summer residences of the Dornish royalty.

Today, though, he was off, but he did agree to give Gerold a small tour of the War and Naval Museum.

After reminiscing over old memories, Maron led Gerold into the galleries.

The first ones detailed Greenstone before Dorne. The constant fighting against the Slaver raids, and their incorporation into the Kingdom of the Storm, their privileged links with Dorne, notably the Tor and Ghost Hill, and the history of Greenstone during Targaryen rule.

Then came the Dornish period.

The first painting was a great one, leading into the "Dornish Hall". A painting of the fall of Greenstone, in 301 AC.

One could see the old castle of Greenstone, struck with Martell banners, in ruins, before the sea, where a massive armada of ships was present.

In the foreground, a man with a turtle-engraved armor was kneeling, handing the keys of Greenstone over to another man, silver-haired, with a seahorse on his own armor, his head turned to two of his captains, magnanimously accepting the surrender of the city.

The caption read 'Lord Aurane Silverwaters accepts Eldon Estermont's surrender at Greenstone'.

"In fact, Aurane Silverwaters did not bear that name until he was knighted, almost five-and-ten years later," Maron told him. "Back then, he was just known as Aurane Waters, the bastard brother of the much more famed Monford Velaryon. And as for Eldon Estermont, he was not present at Greenstone, since he was captured by Dornish forces at the Battle of Kinrock. A castellan was the one who capitulated the city to Aurane."

"Did Aegon VI actually honor that promise?" Gerold asked.

"Aegon VI actually honored almost all his promises concerning Dorne proper," Maron replied. "It was the Stepstones that ushered in the 'Era of Broken Promises'."

Gerold nodded, looking at the paintings, then at the objects laid before him.

There were many swords, bows and arrows, as well as replicas of cogs, galleys and fast frigates.

"Then why was Greenstone known as 'the troubled island'?" Gerold asked.

"Good question," Maron answered, leading him towards another painting.

This one showed the knighting of another man in turtle armor, by a man in a rich dress, with laurels upon his head. The title read 'Prince Quentyn declares Aemon Estermont lord of Greenstone'.

"The Estermonts were Stormlanders, through and through. Although they did trade with the Dornish, they did not consider themselves as such."

"Really?" Gerold scoffed. "But they're more Dornish than some Blackmontese!"

"Back then, the resentment towards Dorne was still strong, though not as strong as certain regions of the Marches. 'Banditry' was still a major issue, and was not wiped out until many marriages with the Estermonts helped fizzle it out," Maron explained. "In fact, Greenstone's relative isolation compared to the rest of Dorne made it easy for the Stormlanders to exert influence, at least until the disgrace of the Swanns. Which meant that Greenstone was almost as rebel-infested as Harveston at such points that Prince Quentyn himself considered giving back the isle before his abdication."

"This never happened, though." Gerold turned back.

"Of course not." Maron shook his head. "Eventually, the lower classes noticed that they were much more well-off than their companions on the mainland, and the same could be said for the middle and upper classes. It took much longer, because of the sea, and the fact that the ruling family was not of Dornish origin, but in four generations, Estermont was finally free of rebels."

"A hundred years…" Gerold whispered. "That's longer than Harveston or Starpike!"

"Or even the regions around Blackhaven and Fawnton," Maron acquiesced. "But the Estermonts did have the advantage of coming out of the War for the Crown and the War for the Dawn relatively unscathed compared to the Selmys, for example. They still retained a lot of influence, and weeding it out or 'Dornishing' it was not an easy task."

Gerold nodded, and stepped into another room, one with a lot of paintings, from more modern eras. The largest one was one of the current star-shaped fort of Greenstone, intact, Dornish banners floating proudly above, while a fleet burned in the harbor.

"The Siege of Greenstone." Gerold smiled.

"Indeed!" Maron acquiesced. "They held for six hundred and three days. Supplied from the sea by the Dornish fleet, Greenstone held long enough for the columns of the Dornish armies of Princess Aliandra to come and relieve the Estermont Strait after the fall of Weeping Town, in a decisive victory that allowed Dorne to become independent."

"A folly that King Aegon XII thought he could take the islands." Gerold scoffed.

"He was confident in the power of his military but did not anticipate that his kingdom was so fragile. Dorne fought, and Dorne won. There were no dragons left to help him, then." Maron looked at the victorious figure of Princess Aliandra, hands raised to the sky. "And most importantly, Dorne did not lose any territory. We would have to wait for the Reacher Revolutions, no less than thirty years later, to finally see Dornish territory conquered once more."

"Conquered but not broken. Starpike is still Dornish," Gerold pointed out. "Of course, but they still held it and some of the Marches for some time."

"Aye, if not for our alliance with the Targaryens to hold off the Empire of the Reach, who knows, they could've stayed that way for a long time," Maron replied.

"I think that Dorne and the Targaryen's combined economic power would've crushed the Reach economically. The Iron Throne would've funded Northern campaigns for years, but we digress…" Gerold answered, moving on to another room.

This one was full of rich porcelain from Yi-Ti, carvings and sculptures from the Free Cities, idols from Sothoryos and golden jewels from the Summer Islands.

"Eventually, Greenstone grew into a center of trade, and blossomed thanks to the privileges that Dorne enjoyed," Maron explained. "Greenstone grew rich, and Prince Quentyn's love for travels helped it get favorable trade deals. Some of his own works are kept here. Look."

Gerold moved to a glass container, which showed a book with some writing and the sketches of sea beasts.

"Travels to the Summer Islands and Naath, Volume 3," Gerold read. "Is it an original?"

"That's something you won't see in Sunspear!" Maron nodded. "The Lionslayer liked Greenstone, and its turtles especially. Did you know he established here the first ever protected area? He closed off beaches so that turtles could lay their eggs in peace, and all that protected by local guards hired for the job! Insane, don't you think?"

"I find it tame compared to what else he did…" Gerold scoffed.

"There's a reason Prince Quentyn is one of our most famous princes." Maron shrugged. "Inventor, scientist, doctor, explorer, warrior, ruler, patron of the arts, there are little lives that have been more fulfilling than his, but come…"

Maron led Gerold into another room. This one was darker, but still showed some exhibits.

Inside one of the glass cages in the room was a statue of Prince Quentyn, looking over a map and charts of Greenstone, eyes towards the sea. Behind him were three deities: Jaelys, the Rhoynar goddess of trade, Sylrana, the Rhoynar goddess of the sea, and Hyleos, the Rhoynar god of the wind. Each were presenting him with a different gift: a crown of gold for Jaelys, a ship for Sylrana, and Dornish and Estermontese-colored sails for Hyleos.

"The statue was presented by Garth Estermont to Princess Mariah in recognition of Prince Quentyn's help in the development of the city. It overlooked his tomb, in Nymeria's Sept, in the Palace of Sunspear. Have you seen it?" Maron asked.

"It's been a while, but I think I remember." Gerold nodded. "Prince Quentyn's tomb is in its own chapel, with a sort of statue with him and his Valyrian steel sword. His wife's tomb is beside him, along with that of his paramour and his six children. There are engravings, paintings and murals describing his deeds and travels all over, but I forgot that there were these sculptures."

"They were moved here about thirty years ago to make way for copies. Sunspear thought it better to send us the original, which now stands here."

"Keeper of the broken heart…" Gerold murmured.

"What?" Maron raised an eyebrow.

"Well, Prince Quentyn died of a broken heart, no? That's what the histories say." Gerold shrugged. "He had to face the loss of his paramour, his wife, his siblings, all but one of his cousins…"

"In a sense, yes, Prince Quentyn was one of the last of the great figures of the Second Age of Heroes to pass away, just a year before Jarlinna Arya Stark and two before Edric Dayne…" Maron looked up to the statue. "But Princess Margaery died almost six years prior, and Princess Nymeria almost nine. Trystane Celys had died eleven years before and Arianne Targaryen just seven years before that. Hardly a broken heart."

"Then why the myth?" Gerold asked.

"After the death of Trystane Celys just a year after Myrcella Celys', and Arianne Targaryen's death just six months after Prince Daeron's, it was poetic enough for Prince Quentyn to also be laid as having died of a broken heart," Maron explained. "It makes for good stories. The last sibling, dying the same way as the others. The most likely thing is that he just died of heart failure, in his sleep, at the age of eight-and-seventy, and having have lived through the War for the Throne, the War for the Dawn, the Era of Broken Promises and the Three Regencies. A life well-lived…"

"Princess Mariah and Prince Gerris carried on his legacy afterwards, leading Dorne through the reign of King Aemon and King Jaehaerys III…" Gerold whispered.

"Peace for a time…at least until the Second Dance of Dragons, two hundred years later, which ended the Neverending peace," Maron agreed. "At least, Dorne had the good sense to stay out, not repeating the mistakes of the past."

"And the foundations laid by Prince Quentyn helped us gain our independence, many years later. Something he desperately wished for, but would never obtain."

"His successors made him proud."

With that, Gerold took one last look at the statue, and, following Maron, stepped forwards into a brightly-lit corridor.

XXX

ACT III, Scene 2

The scene: under the walls of Blackhaven, Aegon's army falters. Aegon draws his sword and presents it before his men.

AEGON: Forward, men, forward! Are thou not warriors? Sons of victory and fathers of glory? Have thou any spirit? Stand, Westerosi, whose Andal blood of your fathers conquered these lands. These fathers, like Garth Greenhand, who have fought and won here great victories that put our dragon blood to shame. Do not dishonor your mothers, wives and sisters, and show that you are of the same mettle of those who fathered you. Stormlander, unsheath your sword. Reacher, draw your bow. Crownlander, pick up your shield. Victory awaits beyond these walls. Sons of glory, follow your spirit, charge and hail 'For the King, Queen, House Targaryen and the Warrior'!

[Cheers and hurrahs, Enter BENJEN, GARETH and MORION]

BENJEN: Let us go, into the breach!

GARETH: Glory awaits us indeed!

MORION: Our King is brave and just, but mine legs do not follow. Go forth, friends, I cannot bear to enter the halls of death.

BENJEN: The halls of death are no more than a corridor to the hall of glory and riches. Come, forth!

GARETH: Let us bathe in the glory and drink in the songs.

[Enter CAPTAIN]

CAPTAIN: Into the breach, now! Move, you dogs!

[CAPTAIN urges the three forwards]

GARETH: Warrior, grant me your strength. Smith, guide my blade. Mother, grant me your mercy. Stranger, turn elsewhere. For I am a son of the Greenhand, a man of the dragon. I shall not return anything but victorious.

BENJEN: I am a King's man, and I do not know fear. Let us win the day!

MORION: Ah! Seeing the courage of my friends fills my heart with rage. I can no longer face the dishonor of running back to my home. Confidence fills me, and I must now cast my vow with those who have been closer than anyone, if not in blood. Let us go friends, I shall defend you with all my strength and all my heart. Let us, onto the breach!

[Exit BENJEN, GARETH, MORION and CAPTAIN, Trumpets, Fights]

[Enter CONNINGTON, VELARYON]

VELARYON: My lord, you must come to the inner keep, the King awaits!

CONNINGTON: The King is brave, but I must lead my men through this city. It is mine people that I hath to defend, against the baseless lust of men and Dornish alike. My duty is here, my lord.

VELARYON: Aye, your honor and your duty are not in question, but it is another matter. The King commands that you come, for the castellan of the city hath asked for a parley.

CONNINGTON: Parley, you say? Then we hath to put an end to this fighting.

VELARYON: Sound the trumpets, my lord, the day is ours.

CONNINGTON: By the gods! It is truly our gracious King's great victory! His reign will be one of greatness, I thus can see. Let us go, Lord Velaryon, let us go! Sound our victory for all to hear!

[VELARYON and CONNINGTON exit under the sounds of trumpets]

XXXXX

Act IV, Scene 10

The scene: After the Battle of Kinrock, in the King's camp.

[Enter VANCE, BLACKWOOD and COLE, bickering]

VANCE: You did not strike Tarly down, that sword you bear cannot be yours by rights!

COLE: Aye, I have been told he was a warrior already when you were but a babe suckling at your mother's teat!

BLACKWOOD: Yet, I have struck him down, sers, it is so!

COLE: You are a liar, ser!

BLACKWOOD: Nay, I swear it on my honor!

VANCE: Do not dare to swear on such a thing! Or have the Northern savages forsworn their honorable tradition?

[Enter VELARYON and HIGHTOWER]

VELARYON: Good sers! What is the matter at hand?

VANCE: My Lord Velaryon, this man is a liar! He claims to have struck down Lord Tarly, when he is but a boy! This sword is not his prize to take, but His Majesty's!

[Enter AEGON VI and CONNINGTON]

AEGON: Now, what is afoot?

VANCE: Your Majesty, the ser in front of you is a vile liar! He claims to have struck down Lord Tarly and taken his sword.

BLACKWOOD: 'tis only but the truth, your majesty. I came ahorse towards him, and stuck him down as truly as possible. Lord Tarly did die by mine own hand, I swear it on my honor.

AEGON: My good sers, if not for Ser Lucas, I would not have been alive today. As I soared into the melee, mine own Kingsguard lost me, and Ser Lucas came to my rescue. He cut down three knights, including Lord Tarly. His strike was good and true, and his prize was his for the taking.

BLACKWOOD: It was an honor to serve you, Your Majesty, for there is no greater cause in the world than yours. I hath told you before that my sword is yours, and thus, as pardon for intruding on your day, accept Tarly's sword as my humble payment for your pardon.

AEGON: Connington, be sure to reward this boy with his weight in gold, for he has done today a great service to the Crown. Friend, your sword is yours to keep until your dying days.

BLACKWOOD: Your Majesty could not honor me more, but this sword I must then give away, if it pleases you. A house has lost their sword most foully and would not receive compensation for it. I will carry this sword to Winterfell, and lay it in front of the Stark.

AEGON: You are a kind and just man, ser. Go.

CONNINGTON: Your Majesty, we must talk about the battle.

AEGON: What is it, Ser? Are the dead numbered?

CONNINGTON: Aye, and prisoners, too.

AEGON: Whom are they?

CONNINGTON: Lord Eldon Estermont, Lord of Greenstone, Lord Gilbert Mertyns, Lord of the Rainwood and Lord Mathis Rowan, Lord of Goldengrove, and fifteen hundred more lords, knights and squires.

AEGON: And the dead?

CONNINGTON: Ten thousand slain traitors, Your Grace. In this count, there are five hundred knights and a hundred lords, men of noble birth and of good standing. Randyll Tarly, Lord of Horn Hill, Bryce Caron, Lord of Nightsong, Bonifer Hasty, leader of the Holy Hundred, Tristan Swygert, a bold knight, your own cousins, Ronnet and Raymund Connington, the brave Duncan Osgrey, Imry Florent of Brightwater, Willem Footly of Tumbleton, Brandon Roxton of the Ring, and more knights, Graves and Liscorne, Jarvis and Costayne, Harris and Mossony, Blackbar and Porcet.

AEGON: So many bold and brave names, so many dead. And what of ours?

HIGHTOWER: Prince Oberyn of Dorne, and Ser Daven Peake, a squire. That is all of renown that has fallen. Them and five-and-twenty others lay dead.

AEGON: Thank the heavens and the warrior's hand, their favor was with us on this day. Let us go and rejoice, my lords, for we have won a great victory. Onwards, onwards! But let us also pay respects to the dead. A ceremony, to lay them in earth, and then on to Tumbleton, and King's Landing! Peace and prosperity await us all.

[All exit]

The play 'Aegon VI' by Eddard Spearquiver was a complete success in the realm of Queen Rhaenys I, but much less so in Principality of Dorne. Prince Gerris himself eventually banned the play in Dorne, an act that was only overturned recently. Indeed, 'Aegon VI' vastly ignores the presence of the Dornish in the War for the Crown, relegating only a few background characters to it. As for King Aegon's military exploits, be they the Storming of Blackhaven or the Battle of Kinrock, they have been taken away from Dornish heroes like Quentyn the Victorious, Edric Dayne or Franklyn Fowler.

In fact, 'Aegon VI' came at a time when relations between the Iron Throne and the Sun Throne had started souring during the 'First Cold Period', hence the Dornish being pushed out as characters, in favor of stauncher loyalists like Jon Connington and Monford Velaryon, or loyalists that had not yet professed their loyalty to the Crown, like Baelor Hightower, Lucas Blackwood and Karyl Vance. In fact, the conflict with the Northern Coalition seems to have been completely forgotten in favor of the much more interesting Southern theater, and with most of the lesser-known but no less important fights in the Reach having been relegated to oblivion.

To this day, adaptations of 'Aegon VI' to the big screen have sparked outrage in Dorne, especially in scenes such as the Battle of Kinrock, where, as a reminder, the Dornish foot held the line to avoid being slaughtered, thus seeing the fall of Oberyn Martell and the serious injury of Quentyn the Victorious, and where the Dornish cavalry led by Edric Dayne played such an important role. In these scenes, the Dornish are being reduced to just being auxiliaries in Jon Connington's force, or being led to victory by Aegon VI after they cravenly tried to run back to Dorne. Other quarrels appear notably around the role of Edric Dayne, whether it is in the capture of Blackhaven or the giving of Heartsbane to House Stark.

Recently, the adaptations have also been criticized in Reacher circles, with the over-villanization of personalities such as Randyll Tarly, shown as a bloodthirsty maniac on par with Tywin Lannister, or Margaery Tyrell, depicted as a deadly seductress that schemed her way out of a justful execution.

Nevertheless, 'Aegon VI' remains one of Eddard Spearquiver's hallmark plays, along with 'Hendrik, a play centered around Winterfell and the son of a Jarl that has been killed in mysterious circumstances, 'The Merchant of Braavos', set in the Free City, or even 'Daeron and Baela', set in the First Dance of Dragons and telling of an impossible love between two feuding families.

From An overview of the history behind the plays of Eddard Spearquiver by Archmaester Garth Longhands, 1002 AC.

XXX

The Dornish had many historical retellings of the campaign in their own ways, in every vessel possible. Of course, one remembers, 'The Three Knights', a tale of three knights from different parts of Dorne: Artos Toland, Perros Blackmont and Arron Qorgyle, who welcome a lower-born into their ranks, an Orphan of the Greenblood named Drey of Shandystone. The novel goes into the factionalism within the ranks of the alliance, with the Dornish, sworn to Quentyn the Victorious, and the Golden Company, sworn to King Aegon VI, all in an atmosphere of war against the Iron Throne, but also against the Northern Coalition, who could well join forces and annihilate the loyalist cause, all thanks to three foes: Lord Blackbar, Lady Uller and the traitorous Ser Roger Peake. Arthur Masts' book is now famous worldwide.

Of course, there are also the big cinematic pictures, but most of these are well-known. Instead, let us focus on a small TV series that had seen no particular attention until recently. It tells of the very little-known Dornish campaign in the Reach, which saw the fall of Nightsong, Starpike, Dunstonbury, Horn Hill and even threatened Oldtown and Highgarden. In the middle of the Marches, the Dornish soldiers were not at home, and it is in this tumultuous scenery that the series 'Sharp' was set.

Rickard Sharp is a lowborn footman, who aspires to become more than just this. He saves Prince Quentyn in an ambush, the latter of whom knights him after another exploit at Blackhaven, and becomes a favorite of his, sending him on missions throughout the Marches with a Reconnaissance Company, along with his second-in-command, the Lysene ex-slave Paenios Maelosyr, then again during the War for the Dawn, in the North, battling the Others, in the Vale, during the Vale Emergency, and, finally in far-flung lands such as Meereen and Yi-Ti, chasing glory and, of course, women.

This series did not have a major impact at the time, but it had the merit of showing little-known theaters of war, and showed how high a man of low birth could rise in the Dornish ranks in the times of the Victorious.

SHARP, EPISODE 2, LORD PEAKE'S BANNER

[The scene: Yronwood, a richly decorated castle. Prince Quentyn sits behind his desk, with Ser Archibald Yronwood behind him, and Ser Desmond Sand to his right. In front, Ser Wyland Wyl stands at attention, with Elaerys Askalenos next to him.]

QUENTYN: Very well. Please resume, Ser Wyland.

WYLAND: Well, my prince, upon sighting the Reachers, I naturally gave the order to advance. That is my style, my prince. The men of the Golden Fleece crossed the bridge and engaged the enemy. Ser Lester Lennox panicked upon seeing the number, thus I fell back in good order and destroyed the bridge, my prince. The supply lines to Nightsong were thus secured from the bandits, and their only route to get to the interior was cut.

[Prince Quentyn continues to write, there is silence]

WYLAND: I have sent a raven to the Golden Company, my prince, to state that the Golden Fleece battalion acted most commendably in carrying out your orders of engaging the enemy and destroying the bridge.

QUENTYN: Did any man, noble or not, distinguish himself during the action?

WYLAND: Ser Gunnard led the advance, my prince. Aye, he is tied to me by blood, I do admit. But as tied he is to my blood; I cannot tie my tongue to rob a man of a just reward. No, my prince, I recommend Ser Gunnard to be made a landed knight.

QUENTYN: And Ser Sharp?

WYLAND: Ser Sharp faltered, my prince. He was cut off when we destroyed the bridge.

QUENTYN: This is a report from Ser Desmond, which somewhat differs from your account, Ser Wyland.

WYLAND: Ser Desmond is a bastard, my prince, and no fighter besides!

QUENTYN: Aye, a bastard, and no fighter, but a man with more bravery and competence than the lot of the Golden Fleece, I shall tell you this much, Ser Wyland. Ser Desmond reports a consequential number of losses, Ser Wyland. He says you first lost your mind, and instead of destroying the bridge, sallied forth over it. He says you then lost your composure and ran from a small Reacher patrol. He says you lost ten men and three knights. He says you finally lost your sense of honor and destroyed the bridge, cutting off a rescue party led by Ser Sharp. Ser Desmond leaves the worst for last, though. He says you lost the King's banner.

WYLAND: I was not at fault, my prince. Ser Lennox must answer.

QUENTYN (shouting): Ser Lennox answered with his life, ser! As you should have done if you had any sense of honor! You lost the banner of the King of the Seven Kingdoms! You disgraced us, ser! You shamed us, ser! You will answer.

[Prince Quentyn marks a pause, and rubs his scar]

QUENTYN: The Golden Fleece is stood down in name. If the name is wiped, thus the shame may be as well. A missive has been sent to Ser Strickland to this effect, and have suggested to make you a battalion of detachments, playing fetch and carry. The mounted company, I will let it stand under a new name, in the Dornish host, and under a new commander.

WYLAND: To be commanded by the newly landed Ser Gunnard, my prince?

QUENTYN: To be commanded by the newly landed Ser Sharp, ser!

[Ser Wyland is annoyed, steps forward]

WYLAND: I have a cousin who has risen high in the Golden Company, my prince, and I have friends who have had the king's ear for many years.

[Prince Quentyn rises his head, in disbelief]

QUENTYN: By His Grace, you mean my cousin by blood, do you not? Remember this, Ser Wyland: a man who loses the King's banner, anointed by his own hand, loses the King's friendship. You have two choices, to hide in Dorne or be a hero in the Marches. I shall help you be a hero. Ser Jon Blackmont will lead a foray past Nightsong and Lord Hightower has an army waiting to receive him soon. There will be a battle to be sure. You will be the first to see a Reacher charge, ser, I assure you, it is not a pretty sight. What you do then, ser, is up to you. Good day.

[Ser Wyland bows and leaves with Elaerys. Ser Rickard Sharp is beckoned to enter in turn. Prince Quentyn scribbles down a few words.]

QUENTYN: Sharp…I can land you, but I may not be able to keep you landed.

RICKARD: You are the Prince of Dorne…my prince.

QUENTYN: Aye, but these lands are still the Crown's to give, should they wish to reward those of good and leal service in the Golden Company, and as a servant of His Grace, I may not be able to refuse him, do you understand? There is talk about a Baratheon banner, Ser Sharp. There is talk of a promise made to Ser Lennox. Swear to me that this is naught but gossip, Ser, or by the Gods I swear that you shall walk out that door a mere knight.

RICKARD: I swear that no one heard me make any promise in respect to a Baratheon banner to Ser Lennox, my prince.

QUENTYN: Ser Archibald?

ARCHIBALD: My prince?

QUENTYN: You may escort Ser Sharp, Lord of the Three Masts, to the door.

ARCHIBALD: Yes, my prince.

[Ser Rickard leaves, escorted by Ser Archibald]

DESMOND: He reminds me of someone, my prince.

QUENTYN: Who, Ser Sharp?

DESMOND: Aye, he bears a striking resemblance to the late Lord Stark. The northern mother, mayhaps.

[Prince Quentyn barely nods.]

QUENTYN: Ser Desmond…let Hightower know that the fool who lost the dragon banner is holding our flank.

[Ser Archibald comes back, slightly distressed]

ARCHIBALD: My prince, this means sending a Reacher cavalry charge…

QUENTYN: If Ser Desmond's informers may tell a good tale…

[Ser Archibald smiles]

QUENTYN: Ser Lennox was a fine knight. Did I ever tell you how he led the sweep of the Merchant's Quarter, in Volantis, Ser Desmond?

DESMOND: No, my prince.

QUENTYN: You are a damn liar, Ser Desmond.

DESMOND: That is what you pay me for, my prince.

[Scene fades to black]

'Sharp' did not have a deep cultural impact, as said before, but it did succeed where a lot of series, films or books failed, in that it accurately represented the life of a common footman or lowly knight in the Dornish Army, as well as the baggage train that came with it. It also dealt with the themes of war, destruction, the villanization of the enemy, represented by Ser Draven, but also the honorable foe, represented mostly by Lord Ambrose. It also dealt with much of the internal politics in the mess that was the loyalist army, and the relative distrust that the Dornish showed their fellow allies after the Battle of Tumbleton.

Other big Dornish pictures, though, did have a lasting impact. Many of these are centered around the Marches Campaign, the Battle of Kinrock, Tumbleton and the Fall of King's Landing, as well as the War of the Dawn, where Dornish forces played a key role. However, there are some, more peculiar movies, that show the 'Era of Broken Promises' and the start of the cooling of relations between the Iron and Sun thrones. One such picture is 'The White Dragoness', a movie centered not around King Aegon VI or Prince Daeron, but rather Queen Daenerys. The choice of a Dornish picture to center around this legendary figure may seem surprising, but we have to remember that in 'The White Dragoness', despite its somewhat good portrayal of the Queen, lays the blame of a lot of anti-Dornish decisions on her, carefully avoiding to put either King Aegon VI or Prince Daeron in a bad light, both, let us not forget, having ties to Dorne, one being half-Martell, and the other having a Martell wife and half-Martell children.

[Scene starts. A massive procession rides through the streets of King's Landing, bringing many curious bystanders to the streets. At the foot of the Red Keep, the procession stops, revealing Prince Quentyn, atop his horse, and his wife, atop hers. Both step foot on the ground, under the cheers of the crowd. To their surprise, it is Queen Daenerys who welcomes them.]

QUENTYN: Your Grace, I had not thought to see you welcome us.

DAENERYS: Is it not a Queen's duty to welcome a leal vassal? Come, I beckon you.

[Prince Quentyn and Princess Margaery enter the castle, and are led by the Queen and Kingsguard to a large room, where a Red Priest is waiting.]

QUENTYN: Where is King Aegon?

DAENERYS: He is in the Vale, with the Lord Hand, reminding them to whom their allegiances lie, Prince Quentyn.

QUENTYN (turning to the priest): And him?

RED PRIEST: I am Moqorro, a servant of R'hllor and his grace, Queen Daenerys the Unburnt.

QUENTYN: Does he have to be here for this discussion?

DAENERYS: Not any more than your wife, I presume? Or is she here to remind me that I ought to see her pretty face on a spike?

[Prince Quentyn scowls and Princess Margaery bites her tongue. Prince Quentyn restrains her from taking any action.]

DAENERYS: What is your business in the capital, Prince Quentyn? The city has not seen you since we have liberated it from the traitors.

[Queen Daenerys eyes Princess Margaery with a smirk.]

QUENTYN: Before the War for the Dawn, before even the War for the Crown, we made an alliance. An alliance dictated by the fact that Dorne would get half of the Stepstones.

DAENERYS: Indeed, you are right.

QUENTYN: And, as you know, you have not yet vacated the islands that have been promised to Dorne. Thus, my position on the matter is clear. You will either return Summerhall and its lands, or you will vacate my islands. Either you leave my lands, or I get mine lands back.

DAENERYS (smiling): It has the merit of being clear, Prince Quentyn. In mine eyes, Summerhall is the property of the crown, one that you have conceded as your sister's dowry, in perpetuity. And, as you know, Prince Daeron has wed and bedded your sister, giving her seven beautiful children. As such, Summerhall is the Crown's. As for the Stepstones, well, I have declared for it to be a Royal Protectorate, to finally wipe out the pirates and slavers gangrening the isles, and as a setup for other plans… [she looks into the distance] …and as a way of getting rid of these pesky sellswords, always asking for land and riches. You thus place me in an unfortunate spot.

QUENTYN: Summerhall or the Stepstones, Your Grace, these are my terms.

DAENERYS: Terms? [Laughter] We are not in the days of war, Prince Quentyn. I am Queen of Seven Kingdoms, there are no terms that you may discuss. I have fulfilled my piece of the bargain and given you the Seahorse Isle and the Long Isle.

QUENTYN: Our agreement also included Bloodstone and the Grey Isles, Your Grace.

DAENERYS: Indeed, it does. However, these are my islands.

QUENTYN: By whose word?

DAENERYS: The troops who currently hold these lands are all wearing the sigil of the three-headed dragon, and the banners that float atop the keeps, tunnels and coves match them. This makes them mine. [Almost giggling.] That is final, my lord.

QUENTYN (angry): I am a prince, not a lord. You ought to remember that.

DAENERYS: A prince? To a dragon, there is nothing but specks of dust on the ground. Remember that. I may call you anything.

[Prince Quentyn scoffs and immediately turns towards the door.]

DAENERYS: Is that it? No gallant speech about how I am wrong? No great argument to try and sway me otherwise? I come to regret your youth, when you cast me around like a little girl.

QUENTYN: I have come to see your judgment on the matter, and I have it. Thank you for your time.

DAENERYS (standing up): Westeros is by no means conquered, prince Quentyn, no matter how you wish to see it as so. The North laments that their Prince is not a King, the Vale has been put down and humiliated, the Westerlands rage against the charges placed on them, the Reach suffers as their stocks have been plundered, the Stormlands rage as their territories have been shattered and the Iron Islands…well, best not to talk about them.

QUENTYN: Thus, you think Dorne should be insulted like the rest of them? Will that be all, Your Grace?

DAENERYS: Oh, sweet, you are going? So soon? You are not even going to ask if I have an offer to propose to you?

QUENTYN: Have you?

DAENERYS: Not at the present, but my Lord Hand may yet think of one before I do.

[Prince Quentyn, exasperated, walks out, Princess Margaery following.]

DAENERYS: Lady Margaery! I almost forgot to ask, how is it to share the bed of a man whose greatest wish is to leave it to jump into another's?

MARGAERY: I am no Queen, but my husband has brought me four beautiful children. I suppose it is a gift not all of us can be happy about receiving. Good day, Your Grace.

[Princess Margaery leaves the room with a smile, while Queen Daenerys slumps back into her chair, scowling.]

'The White Dragoness' is one of the rare examples of a Dornish film depicting events that mostly transpired outside of the Dornish realm, though it did focus a lot on the reasons for the eventual distancing of Dorne with the Crown, the 'Era of Broken Promises', and the rapprochement between Prince Quentyn and Prince Daeron, especially after the betrothal of Prince Aemon to Princess Daena, an act that was received with shock and disbelief from every kingdom, and even Prince Daeron himself. 'The White Dragoness' is one of the films that does portray the feelings of Queen Daenerys and Prince Daeron the most accurately, and is still a reference outside of Dorne.

From Dornish history through the lens of the cameras by Archmaester Hellor, 1011 AC.

Fancast

Assumes show start date (2011)

North

Eddard Stark – Sean Bean

Robb Stark – Richard Madden

Sansa Stark – Sophie Turner

Arya Stark – Maisie Williams

Bran Stark – Isaac Hempstead-Wright

Rickon Stark – Art Parkinson

Jon Snow (Daeron Targaryen) – Kit Harrington

Catelyn Stark – Michelle Fairley

Rickard Karstark – John Stahl

Greatjon Umber – Clive Mantle

Howland Reed – Owain Yeoman

Aemon Targaryen – Peter Vaughan

Riverlands

Hoster Tully – Richard Harris

Brynden Tully – Clive Russell

Edmure Tully – Tobias Menzies

Thoros of Myr – Paul Kay

Beric Dondarrion – Richard Dormer

Edwyn Frey – Aneurin Barnard

Jason Mallister – Luke Evans

Iron Islands

Theon Greyjoy – Alfie Allen

Asha Greyjoy – Alba August

Euron Greyjoy – Pilou Asbaek

Victarion Greyjoy – Asbjorn Krogh Nissen

Vale

Lysa Arryn – Kate Dickie

Robin Arryn – Lino Facioli

Harrold Arryn – Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Petyr Baelish – Aiden Gillien

Yohn Royce – Rupert Vansittart

Robar Royce – Tom Hiddleston

Westerlands

Tywin Lannister – Charles Dance

Cersei Lannister – Charlize Theron

Tyrion Lannister – Peter Dinklage

Kevan Lannister – Ian Gelder

Amory Lorch – Fintan McKeown

Gregor Clegane – Hafpor Julius Bjornsson

Alysanne Lefford – Helena Mattsson

Crownlands

Joffrey Baratheon – Jack Gleeson

Tommen Baratheon – Dean-Charles Chapman

Monford Velaryon – Charlie Hunnam

Aurane Waters – Francois Civil

Jonas Bar Emmon – Henry Lloyd-Hughes

Harien Celtigar – James Sutton

Qyburn – Anton Lesser

Varys – Conleth Hill

Stormlands

Stannis Baratheon – Stephen Dillane

Renly Baratheon – Gethin Anthony

Shireen Baratheon – Kerry Ingram

Melisandre – Carice Van Houten

Davos Seaworth – Liam Cunningham

Brienne of Tarth – Gwendoline Christie

Richard Morrigen – Richard Coyle

Bryce Caron – Ben Mendelsohn

Alester Florent – Mark McGann

Balon Swann – Jude Law

Reach

Olenna Tyrell – Diana Rigg

Mace Tyrell – Roger Ashton-Griffths

Alerie Tyrell – Nicole Kidman

Willas Tyrell – Raphael Personnaz

Garlan Tyrell – Matthias Schweighofer

Loras Tyrell – Finn Jones

Margaery Tyrell – Natalie Dormer

Alla Tyrell – Maia Mitchell

Elinor Tyrell – Florence Pugh

Mathis Rowan – Elliot Cowan

Randyll Tarly – Vincent Cassel

Samwell Tarly – John Bradley

Paxter Redwyne – Andy Serkis

Baelor Hightower – Ewan McGregor

Tommen Costayne – Simon Baker

Dorne

Doran Martell – Alexander Siddig

Oberyn Martell – Pedro Pascal

Arianne Martell – Naomi Scott

Quentyn Martell – Suraj Sharma

Trystane Martell – Darsheel Shafary

Manfrey Martell – Amr Waked

Obara Sand – Michelle Rodriguez

Nymeria Sand – Eiza Gonzalez

Tyene Sand – Lea Seydoux

Sarella Sand – Lupita Nyong'o

Elia Sand – Banita Sandhu

Obella Sand – Ulka Gupta

Dorea Sand – Ashnoor Kaur

Loreza Sand – Sara Arjun

Aldeman Martell – Gene Gabriel

Myrcella Baratheon – Aimee Richardson

Anders Yronwood – Gerard Butler

Archibald Yronwood – Dave Bautista

Ynys Yronwood – Keira Knightley

Cletus Yronwood – Alexander Ludwig

Gwyneth Yronwood – Eloise Smyth

Gerris Drinkwater – Matthew Beard

Franklyn Fowler – Gary Sweet

Jeyne and Jennelyn Fowler – Penelope Mitchell

Delilah Fowler – Phoebe Tonkin

Fiora Fowler – Josephine Langford

Alyn Dayne – Brendan Gleeson

Allyria Dayne – Ana de Armas

Edric Dayne – Tom Holland

Gerold Dayne – Jaime Blakeney

Elinor Dayne – Samara Weaving

Nymella Toland – Penelope Cruz

Valena Toland – Emma Stone

Teora Toland – Madelaine Petsch

Julian Toland/Estermont – Nick Boraine

Lucian Toland – Tyrone Keogh

Trebor Jordayne – Oded Fehr

Myria Jordayne – Aiysha Hart

Samira Jordayne – Ariadna Gutierrez-Arevalo

Gulian Qorgyle – Ranveer Singh

Arron Qorgyle – Sidharth Malhotra

Ryon Allyrion – Oscar Isaac

Nymor Allyrion – Wilmer Valderrama

Harmen Uller – Ghassan Massaoud

Lina Uller – Inbar Lavi

Ulwyck Uller (son of Harmen) – Birkan Sokulu

Ellaria Sand – Indira Vharma

Mors Gargalen – Shaun Toub

Tremond Gargalen – Lee Majdoub

Drey Dalt – Burak Celik

Deziel Dalt – Gurbey Ileri

Rowan Wyl – Jason Day

Sylva Santagar – Anna Shaffer

Daeron Vaith – Adhir Kalyan

Dagos Manwoody – Eduardo Noriega

Myles Manwoody – Alex Gonzalez

Mors Manwoody – Marc Clotet

Larra Blackmont – Paz Vega

Jynessa Blackmont – Alicia Sanz

Perros Blackmont – Alberto Rosende

Alyse Ladybright – Sonam Kapoor

Areo Hotah – Ron Perlman

Caleotte – Luis Tosar

Garin – Adam Bakri

Joss Hood – Varun Dhawan

Ricasso – Jordi Molla

Septon Wyland – Omar Sy

Julia of Greenstone – Daisy Waterstone

Maron of Sunspear – Walter Perez

Elder Symon – Maz Jobrani

Essos

Aegon VI Targaryen – Maxi Iglesias

Daenerys I Targaryen – Emilia Clarke

Barristan Selmy – Ian McElhinney

Missandei – Nathalie Emmanuel

Jon Connington – John Isaac

Harry Strickland – Tomasz Kot

Rolly Duckfield – David Kross

Septa Lemore – Elsa Pataky

Daelena Maegyr (Nymeria's mother) – Helena af Sandeberg