This is the first time we get to see the Golden Company in action properly, elephants and all… I've borrowed bits from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King here, but these are normal sized elephants not the giant ones they seemed to have. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy!

As for this story though, I own nothing but any OC's involved. All other characters and places belong to George R R Martin and/or HBO.

For Jon Connington up on the Walls of Pentos, watching the fight between Khal Drogo and Lucerys was almost as bad as the feeling that he had when Aerys the Mad had banished him from Westeros and stripped him of his Lordship. He audibly hissed in exhilaration when the Valyrian Steel sword went up in flames and cheered with the rest of the Golden Company as Luke forced the brute to his knee, cutting open the Dothraki's neck and severing his braid. The cheers fell silent once it was clear that Luke had taken some heavy wounds in the process though, but thankfully those out in the open with him were quick in their retreat.

Jon barely saw Luke as they raced into Pentos, but as soon as the gates slammed shut his mind had to be focused, as he took in the sea of Dothraki in the distance. They were getting rowdy, and somehow the Stormlander knew that this wasn't over. "FORM RANKS!" He roared down below, and the order was passed from serjeant to serjeant, as the infantrymen tightened up their divisions. He heard the catcalling from the horizon and saw the dust of the ground being kicked up into clouds by the 40,000 strong cavalry force, shrouding the Dothraki charge. "ARCHERS!"

"ARCHERS!" The call went around the walls from Black Balaq.

"NOCK!" Jon called, waiting for the Dothraki to come into range. "DRAW!" The row of elephants began to move forwards then, and Jon grinned knowingly, thanking the Gods that Chains was still in his right mind. He saw the Dothraki getting closer, and they were moments away from being in range of Black Balaq's archers. "Loose." He said menacingly.

"LOOOOOOSE!" Black Balaq roared, as his own Goldenheart bow pinging musically, as his feathered arrow soared into the air quicker than the others. Jon watched on as the arrows seemed to fill the sky as they hit the peak of their arc, before falling down towards the ground and colliding forcefully with the onrushing Dothraki.

Another volley of arrows hit the 40,000 strong Khalasar before the archers lowered their bows, and for now all Jon could do was watch as the famous beasts of the Golden Company proved themselves against the might of the Dothraki.

Chains was a veteran of the Golden Company. His Great Grandfather had been one of the men that fought for the Black Dragon and had survived the Battle of the Redgrass Field, following Bittersteel across the Narrow Sea and he had been loyal to the Golden Company until his death. Chains himself, his birth name lost to the ages and hadn't been said in so long that Chains felt that he could barely remember what it was, had been a member of the Golden Company since he could wield a blade. He had given up on steel long ago however and strapped to his back was a two-foot wooden handle that held five feet of linked iron chains, a formidable whip.

He had been placed in command of the elephants since long before his own Father had fallen in battle, and he never felt more alive as he did when he was perched upon the small towers placed on the great beasts back charging them into battle.

The ground outside of Pentos was dry and dusty, as shown by the horizon of dust clouds being kicked up by the Dothraki screamers as they narrowed the gap between themselves and the Free City. The Elephants too were kicking up a storm as they raced forwards towards the oncoming horde. Chains held onto the reigns tightly as the 5 other men on the lead elephant were shouting instructions.

The only sound Chains could hear clearly though was the thundering of hooves coming towards them. The men on the horses were just coming into view, and Chains tightened the grip on the reigns.

The clash came moments afterwards, as the elephant roared and whipped his head to the right, impaling at least three Dothraki on the iron spikes littered on its tusks, the arakh's almost bouncing off of the armour protecting their legs.

"Loose!" Chains roared, his voice low and gravelly. The archers on the tower began firing down at the Dothraki, while the legendary mounted warriors towards the back of the formation began firing back up at them. Chains had to duck out the way of an incoming arrow but one of his men weren't so lucky, the arrow embedding itself in his eye.

The elephants weren't the only formation smashing outlet that the Company had however, and as the Dothraki began to crowd the elephants, falling in their droves as the beasts battered them with tusks and feet, the numerous Knights of the Golden Company clattered into the Essosi barbarians. Swords clashed with arakh's, and the battle outside of Pentos quickly began in earnest.

Illyrio's manse was on the other side of the city to the Sunrise Gate, and all Daenerys knew of the battle is that it was likely happening at that very moment. Wistfully, she sat down in her chambers with a book on the Dance of the Dragons, trying to pass the time.

Voices were beginning to raise from down below the balcony, and as Dany had just reached an interesting part in the tale about the Dragonseeds when she could clearly hear the words one of the men arguing were saying. "He is the Prince!" The voice roared. "Get your healers now before he bleeds out, and we shall settle it with your Magister when he lives!"

Fearing the worst, Dany closed her book and rushed over to the balcony where she saw a brawny ginger carrying Lucerys awkwardly, her brother not moving. Gasping, she ran out of her room as quickly as possible.

She arrived at the courtyard a few moments later, when Illyrio was already there, the fat Unsullied surrounding him. "Your General brought war to Pentos when we could have had a lasting peace with a marriage. He abused my hospitality, so no. I shall not invite him back into my home."

The ginger was furious, his towering height leering over Illyrio with glaring eyes. He had shifted Luke over to another of the Golden Company and his sword flew out of its sheath and was quickly at Illyrio's neck before the Unsullied could react. "Listen, fat man. I don't care who you are, I don't care how much money you have. All I care about is that Prince Lucerys gets the treatment he needs, and he will get that treatment. I can either walk behind you as we go and get it, or I can step over your corpse."

Dany had to intervene. "There's no need for that, Ser." She said boldly. All the men turned to face her, and she felt suddenly self-conscious, but she swallowed her anxiety down for a moment when she saw Luke hanging off of one man's shoulder. She turned to Illyrio. "Magister, my royal brother would be most irate if he finds out you hadn't helped Luke in his time of need."

"Princess…" Illyrio began, but Dany had found her strength.

"Magister." She cut in. "A man such as yourself would surely see the benefits of staying on the rightful King's good side and make the choice that would guarantee that, wouldn't you agree?"

Illyrio clenched his teeth and thought for a moment, before he nodded. "Very well." He said. "Take him into the feasting hall, I shall have my finest healers see to him."

Smiling, Dany curtseyed before showing the young ginger, who's name turned out to be Rolly Duckfield, to the feasting hall. She waited in the corner as the few men of the Company began stripping Luke of his armour and throwing it to one side, and she gasped at the sight of the gashes on his leg and the deep stab wound in his side. The healers got to work quickly though, and all Dany could do was watch.

Jon Connington prized himself on learning from his mistakes. At the Battle of the Bells he had underestimated Robert Baratheon's ability to inspire loyalty and it had very nearly cost him everything. Since then, his cautious nature often frustrated his comrades, but he was effective and ruthless when he needed to be. He knew now that he should have just burnt the Stoney Sept down to the ground and picked out the corpse of the Usurper, rather than do the honourable thing. The Knight of Griffin's Roost chuckled to himself at the thought of honour. Back then he was a naïve boy that thought he could impress his Prince by bringing Robert in chivalrously, but what had that gotten him? He had slain Ser Denys Arryn against the fountain in the centre of the town yes, but he had almost been killed for that action by Robert Baratheon's Warhammer by the sept. Escaping with his life and exiled, the only thing that had stopped Connington from drinking himself to the Seven Hells was the toddler that Rhaegar had tasked him to save.

Shaking his thoughts and clearing his mind, he returned to watching the battle from the walls of Pentos. Thousands lay dead from both sides. The initial charge of the knights had brought them some fortune, but the Dothraki weren't known as the greatest mounted warriors for no reason, and their lack of mercy was gruesome to watch. Two elephants had fallen as well before a few lines of the Dothraki broke through the cavalry battle towards the infantry wall.

The pikes came out efficiently, but Jon himself readied the archers.

"We'll hit our own men!" Black Balaq argued.

Jon stared him down coldly. "You are the best archer in Essos, your company is the finest in the world." He reminded the Summer Islander. "Fire on the Dothraki."

"Jon…" Black Balaq began, but Jon silenced him.

"Do it!" Jon roared, and Balaq bowed his head and gave the orders.

Below the walls, hundreds died from the arrow fire that followed. Thankfully to Jon, most of them were the Dothraki screamers, but regrettably some of those bleeding from the Goldenheart arrows were Company men. Shaking the regret from his mind, Jon nodded his happiness at how the charge had been halted by the well-trained men of the Golden Company and left the command of the walls to Black Balaq.

He walked down to the road by the gate inside of the city to where 200 mounted warriors were gathering. Not as many as Jon would have liked, but it would do. He mounted his own horse, a fierce chestnut coloured destrier, and without words he nodded at the Pentoshi guards to open the gates, ready to join in the carnage outside with a fresh charge.

It was a few hours after the duel against Drogo when Luke slowly opened his eyes. He recognised the ceiling of his room in the Pentoshi mansion, but he also recognised the feeling of pain in his left leg and his side. He went to sit upright, but a delicate hand lay down on his bare chest.

"No, Luke." Dany's voice said. "You must rest."

Luke settled down onto the mattress, and Dany came into view, sitting on the side of his bed and holding his hand with both of hers. "What happened? Last I remember… I think I had won?"

Dany smiled, and nodded her head. "The Khal is dead, you slew him with a blade of fire and cut his braid. She nodded over towards the side of the room, and Luke turned his head to see the length of braided black hair on one of his sofas. He grinned, the achievement settling in his mind.

"The braid is my gift to you, sister." Luke told her. "To show you that the Gods have vowed that no horse lord will ever be worthy of you."

"I don't need a braid, I need my brother." Dany said firmly. "So you rest up and grow strong once more."

Luke shook his head. "I need to see." He grimaced as he pushed himself upright with his hands. "I need to see what's happened."

"I can tell you that, my Prince." Rolly Duckfield said from the doorway. "Forgive me for intruding, but I heard voices."

"Not at all Ser." Dany smiled kindly.

"Ah… I'm not a knight, Princess." Rolly bowed his head shamefully. "I should have told you sooner, but I was so irate at the Magister."

"With good reason." Dany admitted. She turned to Luke. "He isn't happy with you for bringing war to Pentos."

"He's doubled the guard." Rolly noted. "He even has 10 guards outside his personal chambers at all time, even when he isn't there."

That intrigued Luke. "You will be knighted soon my friend." Luke promised. "I will knight you myself for all that you've done for me."

Rolly grinned, before controlling his facial muscles and dropping to one knee. "I am honoured, My Prince."

"Now help me up." Luke commanded.

"No." Dany insisted. "You need to rest."

"I will rest once I know that we've won." Luke told her firmly. "Get me a cane and help me up. I need to give instructions…"

"There's no need for instructions." Rolly told him. "You've been out for hours, my Prince. The battle is over."

Dead lay everywhere. After Jon's charge had broken the eager Dothraki and he himself had killed one of their other leaders, the savages had quickly begun to retreat. Old John Mudd and Young Jon Mudd had led the party to chase them down with Ser Jorah Mormont, which left Jon Connington free to just survey the field.

He kicked his horse into a light canter back towards the City, who had opened the gates to allow the wounded to be brought inside and treated. He noticed silver hair coming outside of the city though and was angered to see Luke hobbling out onto the battlefield. Galloping towards the Captain-General, he then dismounted in front of the Targaryen and his sister. "What are you doing out here?" He asked gruffly.

Luke grinned, holding his side. "I've come to see your victory, Jon."

Jon scoffed. "Some victory. I don't know the final counts, but we must have lost over 5,000 men today."

Dany looked horrified as she surveyed the battlefield. "5,000 men died for me?" She whispered.

"No, 5,000 men died because I asked them to fight." Luke said grimly. "This is on me."

Jon knew Luke could handle it and didn't argue. "We broke their initial charge, and a secondary cavalry force smashed their vanguard while the infantry brought them down with spears and pikes. We must have killed at least two of Drogo's bloodriders or they would have never retreated."

"How many of theirs dead?" Luke asked.

Jon tried to count in his head. "I'd say at least 13,000. It was bloody, Luke. This will go down in history as a bloodbath."

"This will go down in history as the prelude to House Targaryen winning back the Iron Throne." Luke corrected. "As soon as enough people are recovered we'll ride back to Ghoyan Drohe and sail down to Volon Therys. With my siblings."

Dany smiled at that, but her smile turned to horror as she stared past Jon's shoulder. Connington turned around and saw that the Mudd's had returned, followed by a small force of Dothraki soldiers on foot. Luke stood tall, Blackfyre at his hip as Jon stood beside his leader, waiting for the force to reach them.

"Some fled further." Young John grinned as he rode towards Jon Connington. "They were infighting over escaping and surrendering. These are the survivors that wish to surrender to you, Captain-General."

One of the Dothraki stepped forwards, his head bowed in shame. He spoke slowly, and Jorah translated for them.

"These only ask for a small blade, so that they can cut off their braids and lay them at your feet, My Prince. It is the mark of a Dothraki loss to do so."

Luke nodded, and unsheathed his own dagger. "You may do so with my own blade." He told the Dothraki, and Jorah translated. One by one, hundreds upon hundreds of men stepped forwards and cut off their braids, laying them at Luke's feet. Nightfall had fallen upon them before the last man stepped forwards, and Luke was absolutely shattered, almost falling asleep on his feet. Once the final Dothraki had then walked away in shame, Luke held a weak grin. "Let us rest tonight, my friends, but tomorrow we celebrate this fine victory."

Viserys had finally been let out of his chambers the next day as the Great Hall of Illyrio's had been turned into a crowded feasting hall for as many of the Golden Company that could stand. He held a smile for those that drank with him, but secretly he seethed. How dare his younger brother knock him out and lock him out. Was he even who he said he was? He watched on as Dany and Luke both shared a laugh and grimaced. He may have fooled his sister, but Viserys was the last dragon. He knew when something wasn't right, and he was determined to find out what that was.

He carried on watching as he saw Luke whispering into the newly knighted Ser Rolly Duckfield's ear and saw the ginger leave the room. Something was going on, and Viserys would find out what his supposed brother was hiding from them.

Viserys is mad, and his suspicions have turned his opinion of his brother sour. This is the start of a conflict between the two, which will only grow as they head off towards Luke's own city.

I'll leave this last authors note brief, but I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and I'd appreciate any reviews you care to leave.

Until the next time, where Luke finds out what Illyrio is hiding in his chambers and the Targaryen family leave Pentos behind them.

Reviews:

TheOnlyKing: Luckily the Company is well drilled and has a chain of command!

Hail King Cerion: I did think about having it on horseback but in the first draft it was so boring, just them swinging at each other until Luke jumped from his horse and got a lucky blow. I can write battles on foot better I feel, and the only experience of Drogo fighting was also on foot, so I could pull more from that. Yeah Luke has grown into a capable leader and knows that Viserys won't be a good one, he's just needing to separate that from the thought of family.

fdiggin: That's their official motto, but the unofficial one is the one I used as it fit the scene. An interesting thought of black flames actually, I may use that if I have more of a R'hllor influence. Yes, this is a show fic so Jon is the trueborn son of Rhaegar and Lyanna.

jojoboy914: Daenerys did that as she wanted her own army and then decided to free all slaves after what she'd been through and in seeing Astapor. Luke doesn't have an anti-slavery opinion so conquering the Ghiscari cities would be laughable to him when all he wants is to retake the Seven Kingdoms. The dragon eggs will come into it next chapter.

Narctia: Luke follows the Seven, but the Red Priests are everywhere in Essos, and especially Volantis where their temple is based, so it makes sense that a Red Priest would attach himself to the Golden Company.

Silver crow: I think most of Essos will be relieved that he leaves the continent to be honest, as they'll sleep easier knowing that the Golden Company are across the Narrow Sea.

Jiubantai-taichoCalmejaneJose: He will need more men yes, but I don't think he'd care to look East.

Guest (morale): It spurred them on for a time, but once a couple of other of Drogo's bloodriders died then they had no leadership and crumbled.

FunParade: Hopefully you like this one too!