The tourney of Harrenhall was in full swing. The first night had gone well, though it had been dampened by the arrival of the mad king at the end of the feast. King Aerys Targaryen, second of his name was a man who most knew by his moniker, the mad king, though no one dared repeat it within the king's range of hearing. The end of the evening however, was a mixed one. King Aerys had not joined in the festivities, and had only stayed long enough to make a single proclomation.
The naming of Ser Jamie Lannister to the role of kingsguard.
The mad king's announcement had been met with cheers, for most at the tournament knew of Ser Jamie's valor and gallantry. The only ones who had not cheered had been the Lannisters and those of house Terra.
Jamie Lannister would not be participating in the tourney as a member of that esteemed order however. His first order as a kingsguard had been to travel to Kingslanging and guard the queen Rhaella Targaryen and prince Viserys.
However, as the morning came the festivities were in full swing. For the first time since the conquest it seemed, Harrenhall was full to bursting with people. Massive groups, both noble and common, crowded around various attractions. Singers and performers had been drawn from all across Westeros and even beyond the narrow sea to play and perform for the people. Hedge-knights rushed across the grounds, making ready to participate in the melee and tourney while sellswords gathered with them to take part in the melee themselves.
The atmosphere was filled with all sorts of merriment as countless games were played, money was wagered as events were undertaken and handed back and forth as they ended.
The biggest commotion however was in the main pavilion, where the first rounds of the tourney of Harrenhall were taking place. The archery tournament was the first, and men, and even some women, from all over the seven kingdoms and beyond had come to compete. Chief among them however, were the two women and one man from the house of Terra. The women were both tall, the shorter one being six feet tall at least and the taller being half way to seven foot. As tall as Robert Baratheon, who was seated in the stands beside the Starks. They were also beautiful, with angular faces and pale skin. The shorter of the two wore her dark hair cut close to her head, looking more like the hair of a man, while the other, taller woman wore her rich brown hair in a braid down her back. The man was slightly taller than the second women, with the same angular features though his hair was darker and close cropped to his head, even more than the shorter woman.
Sitting up in the Westerlands' box the rest of house Terra sat stoickly as three of their number took their places in the archery tourney. Over three-hundred participants had gathered for the competition, even though it was nowhere near as prostigious as the melee or the joust. Standing amongst the rest of the contestants everyone knew that there were far too many for the competition to be concluded any time soon.
On the other side of the pavilions set up for the great lords of the realm the North and Stormlands had seated themselves next to each other. This was mostly due to the close friendship between the lord paramount of the Stormlands Robert Baratheon and the second son of house Stark Eddard. However, it was also due to the fact that lord Stark's eldest and only daughter Lyanna was set to marry that very same lord.
As the two groups took their seats, many lords and guards even mingling in the stands and creating a mix where it was difficult to tell who belonged to which region, they heard the sound of a man clearing his throat from the entrance to their pavilion.
"My lords, my ladies." The assembled lords of the North and Stormlands turned to see one of house Terra's members standing at the entrance to their boxes. "If it is not an inconvenience, my commander sent me to sit with you."
"Oh?" Brandon asked but gestured for room to be made for the new visitor. "And why would your lord send one of his own to sit with us here? Please ser, enlighten us."
"He said it was meant to make up for not joining you at your table during the feast last night." Said the man. "And to thank Lord Eddard for a good round of conversation before the feast's end."
Many heads turned to the quiet wolf, who turned away from the curious looks before directing his gaze to the new man.
"Well met good ser. Please, you're lord Kurt described you all, but I admit I do not recognise you based solely on his description."
"No need for formality my lord." The man smiled, taking a seat next to the Hornwoods and Umbers. "I am Tom my lord, Ser Tom B-two-ninety-two if you wish to go by my full title, I believe I may end up facing your brother Brandon in the joust."
"You'll be competing?" Asked Lyanna. "Why is your name so odd?"
"Lyanna!" Eddard scolded his sister, though he too thought the man's name was odd.
"All of us are. Well all of us save for our commander and officer Mendez." Ser Tom ignored Lyanna's second question.
"Alright." Said one of the judges, drawing everyone's attention back to the competition. "We'll 'ave you come up 'ere in groups o' ten. Then you all shoot when I say. The best shots go to the next round, then we move on to the next group 'till we narrow ya down. y'all understand?"
There was a general noise of understanding from the amassed group of shooters.
"Now the first ten o' you, line up."
Up in the stands, the lords and ladies of the realm watched as the first group took their places with large wooden targets being set up at the other end of the grounds. In the box of the Stormlands next to the box of the North Robert Baratheon watched as the shorter woman from house Terra notched an arrow alongside nine others at twenty paces. Unlike the bows of most of the other competitors however, the bow of the lady of Terra was a truly massive thing.
"Look at it." Robert said in awe. "It must take three-hundred pounds to use that thing, maybe more."
"And her arm barely even twitched." Eddard commented. "How strong must the rest of them be if she can ready a bow like that?"
"She's one of yours isn't she?" Robert asked Tom.
"She's my squadmate." Tom said. "Lucy's a strong one, then again our commander always said she was a survivor."
"Loose!" The judge said.
Arrows flew through the air, slamming into the targets. Not one of them missed the large wodden constructions, but few of them landed in the bullseye.
"By the gods." One of the judges muttered, looking at one of the targets.
Rather than simply stab into the wood and straw and stay there, one of the arrows had pierced clean through the painted straw, the wooden frame and flew on until it impacted into the ground. Looking at the contestant who had fired the arrow, few were truly surprised to find it was the competitor of house Terra who had made the shot.
"Gods above, now that's a shot." Robert breathed, looking on shocked at the arrow that had pierced right through the target and deep into the ground.
"She held back some." Tom said.
"Held back?" Brandon scoffed. "You must think us simple to believe such an outrageous boast. Please Ser Tom, if your lord sent you to intimidate us with such tall tales, you may just leave now and tell him we are unimpressed."
Tom just offered Brandon a smile.
"Of course lord Stark. I was only trying to be helpful. Still, Jane and Min should be coming up soon. If you thought Lucy's shot was impressive, just know that Jane is even stronger."
As it turned out, Ser Tom wasn't lying. Both Ser Min and Lady Jane, who were the other two competitors from the house of Terra, had advanced, and not just through their incredible accuracy, but by the sheer power of their shots. They, like Lady Lucy, had not only hit the bullseye of their targets, but sent their arrows piercing clean through them and deep into the ground.
Each time and of his fellows was up to shoot, Ser Tom would give some form of commentary about how they were doing. According to the man, Ser Min would be the first to crack, and once that happened it would come down only to the two ladies.
Some of the men of the North and Stormlands had scoffed at Ser Tom for his belief that the two women would beat Ser Min. However the final round had come down to those exact three.
"Move the targets back." Said the judge. A group of servants picked up the targets, moving them back to two hundred paces as the three pulled back on the strings of their bows.
"Two-hundred bloody paces." Robert watched as the arrows again went flying. Most of the assembled lords and ladies had at first grown bored as Ser Min, Lady Jane and Lady Lucy had again and again tied in their shooting. Now though, most found themselves amazed by just how far the three could fire. The competition had long since passed the point where any other tournament would have found a winner.
The arrows landed with a trio of thuds, but unlike each time before, the judges had something to say.
"Ser Min's arrow has been found to be off from the centre. He is eliminated. Lady Jane and Lady Lucy are our final two competitors."
The crowd broke into mumbles and shouts as Ser Min lowered his bow. The three archers shared handshakes, and lady Lucy even gave Ser Min a small hug and some whispered words.
"Min was always a better demo-man than a marksman." Tom said, shaking his head. "It won't be long now though, Jane will likely take the win on this one."
"You sound so sure of that Ser Tom." Eddard said.
"I know them both. Lucy more than Jane, but Wolf-Pack are legendary in Alpha Company."
"Wolf-Pack?" Lyanna asked, suddenly even more interested.
"It's the name of their team." Tom explained. "Alphas and Betas were grouped up in threes and fours during training. Jane was assigned to team Wolf-Pack with Robert and Shane."
"Ha!" Robert laughed. "Another Robert? Is he here as well?"
"He is lord Baratheon. In fact, he'll be competing in the Melee along with Shane and Adam, two of our others members."
"And how many of you will be participating in the joust?" Brandon asked.
"Just me." Tom said. "Though depending on who wins the Melee , Shane might be joining me."
"Loose." The judge called.
The targets had been moved back another fifty paces, almost too far for any of the viewers to see if it wasn't for the fact that both the targets and the archers had been moved. The two arrows flew through the air in a pair of beautiful arcs, ascending high into the air before gravity reasserted itself and they began to fall. The spectators watched with equal parts interest and boredom for while the shooting had been nothing short of awe-inspiring, it was getting rather dull to see the same two people shoot perfectly over and over again.
As the thunk of arrowheads piercing wood echoed softly in the distance, the two judges rushed forwards to examine their placements.
After a few moments, one of them stood upright from where he and his fellow were once leaned over the targets and rose his hand. An excited chattering broke out amongst the nobles and cheers from the common people as Lady Jane of house Terra was announced the winner by the barest of margins. The two woman, one now identified as the winner, turned to each other and like with Ser Min, they shook hands.
Up in the stands, Ser Tom himself rose to his feet.
"Excuse me my lords, I'm afraid I must depart."
"Off to sooth your lady's battered pride are you?" Robert joked.
"Indeed lord Baratheon, and to offer her my congratulations to her for keeping up with lady Jane for as long as she did."
"Is she truly so fearsome?" Lyanna asked, eyes shining.
"She is lady Stark, It's said she's the bravest in all of Alpha company. At least, that's what both Shane and Robert would have everyone believe."
"Well, give her our congratulations, and to lady Jane as well." Brandon said diplomatically. "I look forwards to facing you in the joust, Ser Tom."
"I as well, lord Brandon." Tom bowed.
"And tell your Robert I'll be waiting for him in the melee." Robert called after him as he left the box. "And that I'll happily host him for drinks when I leave him lying on his back."
The Stormlord laughed deeply, but it wasn't an arrogant or demeaning sound. Tom could tell he was making fun, even if he did mean to leave Robert on his back. Part of him wanted to laugh as well, though more because any of these people thought they'd ever have a chance against any of them, let alone some of the best fireteams from Alpha and Beta companies.
On the other side of the private boxes reserved for the most noble houses of the realm, Tywin Lannister sat with Kurt Ambrose as they watched the end of the archery competition.
"How do you want it to go?" Kurt asked. "Now that Jamie isn't here for the finale?"
Tywin gritted his teeth together for a moment before recovering his composure. Of course Aerys Targeryen had to come and ruin everything he had worked to set up. The tourney at Harrenhall was the place to not only confirm the rumours circulating about the capability of his new bannermen, but also to show off his control over those same capable individuals.
The archery and melee were to be the opening act, the building blocks where over and over again Lord Ambrose's Spartans would prove themselves superior to every force to be found in Westeros. The joust would be the finale. In it, The Spartans would destroy everyone they came across, with one exception. Jamie would progress to the final tilt, aided in secret by Ambrose himself if his son's own skills proved insufficient, and face off against the now proven Spartans. That was the time when house Lannister would prove itself. Jamie would unhorse the undefeated Spartan after a sufficient show and claim victory.
With that victory, and the champion's purse, under his belt it would be a message to be heard by everyone in the seven kingdoms. To those not intelligent enough to see the design, they would awe at his son, a knight at only fifteen, who had unhorsed and defeated such great warriors, and in doing so raise house Lannister's reputation for power and skill. To those who did see the truth, it would show them two things. Firstly, that house Lannister held in it's hand warriors who could humiliate the knights of the rest of the realm, and more importantly, that they had the power to order those same warriors to submit in front of all the lords and ladies of Westeros.
Only now, with Aerys' theft of his son and heir, that plan was reduced to shambles.
"Ser Shane will join Ser Tom in the joust. Make sure that the melee is as grand a show of their power as you can. When the joust comes and one of them wins he will present my daughter with the victor's crown of roses and name her queen of love and beauty. If Jamie cannot show house Lannister's power to the realm, I will present Cersei as the most desireable woman in Westeros."
Kurt nodded, keeping his face calm and composed.
"And the rest of the Westerlands competitors?"
"Were my orders unclear Ambrose? I want your man to win. I don't care if you have to break a few shields to do it."
"Understood. I'll have Tom and Shane ready for the joust once the melee is done."
"See to it Ambrose."
Kurt got up out of his seat, making his way out of the box and over to the preparation ground where Robert, Shane and Adam were strapping on their armour while Mendez watched.
Mjolnir armour would be far too conspicuous, and more importantly, fatal to any Westerosi their faced off against. Instead, they wore a mix of medieval looking armour with more modern adjestments. As opposed to steel this armour was made of titanium, stronger than the armour of westeros by leagues but lighter too, in order to ensure fast movement. The horses that had been selected were a special breed aquired from the Lannisters. Good strong destriers who could carry the comparitively lightly armed and armoured Spartans on their backs.
"New orders." He told his Spartans. "The melee is going to be a show. Make sure to make it look good and crush everyone you can as fast as you can."
"Yes sir." Shane, Robert and Adam snapped to attention briefly before returning to securing their armour.
"I still don't like taking orders from that backwards, prehistoric gargoyle." Mendez growled as he inspected each joint of their armour.
"It's necessary." Kurt told the old petty officer. "Tywin is the power behind this country, getting him on our side means that we have the run of the terrain and we can keep out of local politics for the most part."
"Except when we have to take a dive to soothe his ego." Mendez grumbled.
"A small price compared to open battle. These are still people Petty Officer. It's our job to protect them as much as we can, and we can't do that if they're marching on the Platea's gun implacements."
"Sir."
Kurt turned around to find Jane, Min, Lucy and Tom walking towards him.
"Good to see all of you. Nice work on the competition Jane. Lucy, Min, you too." The three competitors saluted their commanding officer.
"Tom, how were the talks with the North and Stormlands?"
"They went well sir. Brandon Stark seems to be reckless but doesn't have any bad intentions. Same with Robert Baratheon. They'll make adequate heads of their territories and once we start introducing industrial advancements I think we can coerce them into joining."
"Try harder with Baratheon. He's got influence with the head of the Vale and the second son of the Starks, We get him on our side and it opens a lot of doors."
"Yes sir, but Baratheon will be participating in the melee, should I return to the Starks while he'd in the field."
"Stick with them as long as you can. I want to know about everyone we might end up having to deal with."
Turning towards the returned spartans.
"Jane, Lucy, Min, I want you to take Robert, Shane and Adams places. They were seated with the Reach, Vale and Riverlands lords. Take their places and keep digging
"Yes sir."
Anyone who thinks that Kurt might not ally with someone like Tywin, remember that Kurt cooperated with the training of four to six year old children to become expendable cannon fodder and when the first two groups died, he illegally subjected the third batch of them to even more unethical genetic proceedures that would leave them severly hampered in the long term.
Working with Tywin to promote the Westerlands' power and sabotage the other kingdoms' chances at victory is nothing compared to that.
Also, while in the previous chapter I made mention of how a few people are surprised by the height of the Spartans, being 6'5 or 6'6 is actually not that big a thing as people like the Baratheons, the Umbers and the Cleganes are all either of that height or taller. Robert is estimated to be 6'6 by Ned, as tall or taller than the average Spartan III, while the GreatJon and SmallJon are both almost seven feet tall, not to mention Gregor Clegane. Anyway while they are still tall, I shouldn't have made it such a big thing.