(Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire nor its characters. Those all belong to George R. R. Martin, aside from my OC.)
(Randyll Tarly POV, Prince's Pass)
Randyll stared at the men and women bound in front of him.
Franklyn Fowler, Dagos Manwoody, and Larra Blackmont.
The Heads of their respective Houses and the fools who decided to confirm his worries about a Dornish incursion. Something he and Titus had initially used, so that they didn't get involved with the civil war that presently plaguing the Reach.
For whatever reason the Dornish had decided to confirm it for themselves and had attacked the March, forcing him to rally the Marcher Lords to drive them back.
While House Tarly and Peake were the most influential and well-known Marcher Lords from the Reach. There were various petty Lords and petty knights who also could be considered Marcher Lords, with House Hunt being the most prominent of these petty Houses, they also happened to be his principal bannermen.
As such an attack on them, meant an attack on him.
"It was foolish of you to attack us when your numbers were so depleted from the rebellion," Randyll sneered at them.
Dagos the leader of three merely glanced up at Randyll, disgust in his eyes. "Men who would still live, had you not bandied about in a fools siege!" he spat.
Franklyn and Larra for their parts remained silent, Larra in silent fury and Franklyn in grief.
While his expression remained stern, inwardly the Tarly Head couldn't help but agree with the Dornish. That didn't mean he would admit it to them anyways.
For the past few weeks he, Ser Marwen Hunt, and Lord Titus Peake had been harrying the Dornish back to the Prince's pass.
Their smaller numbers while allowing them to disperse and harass the Reachmen, made them vulnerable if attacked properly. Just a few days ago, Randyll and Titus had managed to force the Dornish into a proper field battle using Marwen as bait.
Taking the bait, the Dornish quickly found themselves surrounded at all sides, leading to the slaughter of a significant portion of their men. The survivors making a breakthrough mander lines managed to escape, which included these two Lords and Lady.
Titus and Marwen were put in charge of the defensive lines at the entrance of Prince's Pass, in case House Wyl or Yronwood decide to join in and make their own Offensives. While Randyll chased after the fleeing Dornish Leaders, having finally caught up to them.
Around them were the vultures who were feasting on the dead, while more flew in circles waiting for the men below them to leave so they may begin their feast. It made for a rather grim sight. Randyll wasn't pleased as it reminded him of the many villages that were sacked and the number of men he'd lost to this foolhardy move.
A pair of his men approached, bringing with them a body wrapped with the Fowler banner. Even wrapped, one could see the blood seeping through, staining the once grey banner crimson red.
It wasn't difficult for Randyll to realise who the dead man might have been. The grief-stricken cry coming from Franklyn was proof enough.
There was some pity to be felt for the man, it was his brother's body after all. Though that didn't change the fact that he felt it was justice from the gods for the atrocities committed by them during their incursion.
They had wiped out whole villages located within his Lands, killed the men, and raped their women and daughters while they forced their sons and brothers to watch. It was beyond monstrous and Randyll sought to rectify their actions.
"Let the vultures have it," He ordered. The men bowed their heads and swiftly dragged the body to put it with the rest of the corpses.
"What shall be done with the prisoners, my lord?" A Young Knight asked, one of Marwen's cousins if he remembered correctly.
The man looked ready to hurl at the sight but had the sense to keep himself steady in front of the enemy. For a few moments Randyll merely stared at the Leaders of the incursion, he could now see pure loathing and hatred in the eyes of the Folwer Head.
Dagos looked resigned while Larra remained expressionless.
"I want their heads on a spike and planted on the ground ahead of us, that should serve as a warning for the next Dornishmen foolish enough to make the same mistake," He said.
Showing no hesitation, the men surrounding the Dornishmen quickly began executing his orders. No one was spared, be it man or woman.
Randyll could only hope that the rest of the Sand Dwellers heeded his warnings.
…
(Mathias Rowan, Goldengrove)
"What is the situation at hand?" He asked his Master-at-arms.
"Caswell and Meadows had fallen," Roger reported. "Apparently the two had just finished battling each other when the Banners fell upon them and captured their Lords."
His face fell at that, Meadows had been the only ally close enough to support him, with both of them being surrounded at all sides by Florent loyalists. The rest of Mace's supporters could be found southwards and busy besieging any of the fox's supporters there.
The only good news he'd had so far was the fact that Footly had effectively shot himself and the Florents in the foot by attacking the Riverlands. Unfortunately, this was somewhat ruined by the fact that Olenna, the so-called 'Queen of Thorns' had spread rumors of a potential Mudd-Tyrell alliance which caused this whole mess in the first place.
Now both Florents and Tyrells were facing the wrath of House Mudd and neither was willing to work with the other to push this threat out. He didn't have many options at the moment, any move he made held immense risks to not only his own safety but that of his family.
"What of the Neautral Lords within the North," Mathis asked.
"Osgrey, Graceford, and Westbrook have declared their allegiance to Lord Erlend, my Lord," Roger answered.
Randyll paled at that, while individually Those three Houses were rather minor in the grand schemes of things, combined they posed a genuine threat to his territories.
It wasn't just him, the Oakhearts and Cranes were also at risk, especially if his other vassal the Webbers also decide to join in the fun. Though that was unlikely seeing the dispute that had existed between both Houses since Eustace and Rohanne's deaths.
With his ancestor's support, Rohanne's and Eustace's son was forcefully removed from his position as Lord of Coldmoat and was given Standfast as recompense. Whilst Wendell Webber's children were granted Coldmoat, this has started a blood feud between the two.
Mathis like the rest of his predecessors continued to place his support on House Webber, as it was far easier to control compared to the proud Osgrey's.
Most of the Florent forces were currently positioned in Merrywheather's seat Longtable, the disgraced House having regained their Lands and Wealth with Florent support after the burning of Kings Landing. It wasn't like anyone was bothered to continue with the charade of obeying the Mad King nonsense now that he was Dead.
Mathis sincerely hoped the Lion Cub had managed to stab King Scab, before burning with the Old Lion.
The greatest casualty of this War so far had been Lord Footly. Though Mathis heavily doubted that there was anyone from either side really grieved his death, considering what his stupidity has brought down on them.
The tides were turning and it wasn't to the Fox or Flowers advantage.
The Osgrey's wanted their Lands back, and their fellow minor lords were following suit.
Erlend Mudd now held nearly half of the northern reaches in his grasp and it wouldn't be long before he took the rest. He had the most experienced men, some of the best commanders Westeros had to offer, and an ambition to match both.
Letting out an exhausted sight "Send for the Maester, we have ravens that need to be sent." He ordered.
Mathis decided to make the only decision he could afford, he just hoped Mace was smart enough to do the same.
Sitting within his solar, Mathis simply waited.
…
(Desmond Osgrey, On the March)
Desmond wouldn't call himself the most ambitious of men.
Yes, he wanted to regain his House's status as Lords of Coldmoat, to right the grave injustice that had been inflicted on his House since the fall of their lieges the Gardeners, may they rest in peace.
But that was something practically all his predecessors wished for, and should have been resolved by the marriage of Ser Eustace and Lady Rohanne, yet those scheming Rowans refused to let right be done.
The good Lord Erlend had promised to restore House Osgrey to their rightful position, should they bend the knee and manage to convince House Graceford and Vryrnel. By the seven he'd managed to do it.
Oh, Desmond would've loved to look at Mathis's face when heard of it, those damn golden trees can only wither at the sight of the proud Osgrey lion, as they should.
Mark his words, House Osgrey would be able to fly their banners proudly again, and if he had to trample on House Webber and Rowan to do so, then that was fine by him.
'Let Right be Done.'