Chapter 3: The Fall of a King
The air was thick with tension as Arthur stood near Lord Bracken, serving as a cupbearer in the flickering candlelight of the war tent. Outside, the sound of men sharpening their blades and preparing for battle filled the night air, but here, in this small space, the fate of the Riverlands was being decided.
King Tristifer V sat at the head of the table, his face grim, the weight of leadership heavy on his shoulders. Around him, the lords of the Riverlands murmured in low voices, their eyes flicking towards the king as they discussed the latest news.
Lord Bracken, always a steady presence, leaned forward to speak. "We've received troubling news, Your Grace. Lord Axel Tully has thrown his lot in with Armistead Vance. He's sworn allegiance to the Andal host."
A ripple of anger passed through the room. The Riverlords exchanged uneasy glances. Tully had been a respected name, a symbol of unity in the Riverlands, but now, with his defection, the balance of power had shifted dramatically. King Tristifer's jaw tightened.
Lord Blackwood, seated at the far end of the table, sneered as he spoke, his voice dripping with disdain. "A snake in our midst. Just like the one standing beside Lord Bracken." His eyes flicked towards Arthur, his lips curling into a cruel smile.
Arthur stiffened, feeling the weight of the accusation hanging in the air. He clenched his fists at his side, struggling to maintain his composure. He had been prepared for this, for the insults and suspicion, but that didn't make it any easier to bear. He knew his Andal blood marked him as different, an outsider even among his own people. But to be called a spy—it stung deeper than any wound a blade could inflict.
Before Arthur could respond, King Tristifer's voice cut through the tension like a sword. "Enough." His tone was cold, commanding. The room fell silent immediately. "Arthur is my brother, and he has proven his loyalty. I will hear no more of this."
Blackwood's sneer faltered, but the malice in his eyes remained. He said nothing more, but the damage had been done. The other lords glanced at Arthur with renewed suspicion, their trust in him shaken by Blackwood's words.
Lord Bracken's hand came to rest on Arthur's shoulder, a quiet gesture of support. Arthur appreciated the gesture, but the tension in the room remained palpable. The rest of the meeting passed in a blur of discussion and strategy, but Arthur's mind was elsewhere, focused on the battle to come. The Andals were close, and soon, they would be upon them.
The morning sky was streaked with gray as Arthur stood with Lord Bracken, the army of King Tristifer V arrayed before them. The Andal host was already visible on the horizon, their banners flapping in the wind. The two forces were like opposing storms, gathering strength before the inevitable clash.
Arthur's heart pounded in his chest as he tightened his grip on his sword. This was it. The battle that would decide the fate of the Riverlands. He glanced at Lord Bracken, who stood tall and resolute beside him. The older man had seen countless battles in his time, but even he seemed tense, his eyes scanning the horizon with a hard intensity.
The battle began with a roar, the two armies surging towards each other like crashing waves. Arthur fought alongside Lord Bracken's men, his sword flashing as he cut down the Andal warriors who came too close. The clang of steel and the cries of the wounded filled the air, a cacophony of violence that seemed to drown out everything else.
As the battle raged around him, Arthur caught sight of King Tristifer, fighting valiantly at the center of the fray. His brother's golden crown gleamed in the sunlight, a beacon for their men. But even from a distance, Arthur could see the weight of the battle pressing down on him. Tristifer was surrounded, his forces thinning as the Andal host pressed in from all sides.
Arthur's heart lurched in his chest. His brother was in danger, and he couldn't stand by and watch. Without thinking, he broke from Lord Bracken's side and charged towards Tristifer, his sword raised high. The battlefield seemed to blur around him as he ran, his focus solely on reaching his brother.
But just as he reached the edge of the fray, a strong hand grabbed him from behind, pulling him back. It was Lord Bracken. "No, boy! You can't help him now!" he shouted over the roar of battle.
Arthur struggled against him, desperate to reach his brother, but Bracken held him fast. "He's gone, Arthur! We have to retreat!"
Arthur's eyes locked on Tristifer, who was now surrounded by Andal soldiers. He saw his brother's sword flash one last time before he was struck down, his golden crown falling from his head as he crumpled to the ground.
"No!" Arthur cried, his voice breaking. But there was nothing he could do. Lord Bracken dragged him away, pulling him back towards the safety of their lines as the Riverlands army began to falter.
The retreat was chaotic, men fleeing in all directions as the Andals pressed their advantage. Arthur stumbled along beside Lord Bracken, his mind numb with grief and disbelief. His brother was dead. King Tristifer V, the last hope of House Mudd, had fallen.
As they retreated into the forest, the sounds of battle fading behind them, Arthur felt a deep, hollow ache settle in his chest. The world around him seemed distant, the trees and the sky blurring together in a haze of grief. He barely noticed the passing of time as they made their way back towards Stone Hedge, the weight of their defeat hanging heavy over them.
Lord Bracken's voice broke through the fog of Arthur's thoughts. "We'll make it through this, lad. We've lost today, but this war isn't over."
Arthur looked up at him, the older man's face grim but determined. There was still fight left in him, and in that moment, Arthur knew that he had to keep going. His brother might be gone, but House Mudd wasn't finished yet. As long as he drew breath, he would continue the fight.
And so, with the remnants of their army scattered and broken, Arthur and Lord Bracken began their long journey back to Stone Hedge. The battle was lost, but the war was far from over.
What did you guys think about this prologue/beginning arc. Leave recommendations on how I can improve and what you want to see next in the reviews. Thank you for reading.