CHAPTER 4
A SEA OF GOLD AND CRIMSON
HIGHGARDEN
Olenna's POV
The Viking, as he called himself, had revealed but a few things to her while she wrote upon the small parchment sent to Daenerys. He was not very talkative; every word he said seemed mulled over for relevance.
She wholly believed him. Why would he fabricate such an intricate story?
Her attendants hurried to prepare a comfortable setting upon the highest lookout post in the Tyrell Stronghold. She had requested wine, fruit, and pastries to be brought. A high-backed chair with plush cushions had been placed for her, which she sat upon presently.
Ser Igon waited patiently by the stairwell until the attendants finished their tasks and departed.
"My Lady… your orders have been carried out to all regiments."
"Good!" said the Queen of Thorns, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Stay with me a while; I want you to see."
She could tell the old soldier was torn between his duty to his men and obeying his liege lady.
"Just for a while, Ser. Should it go poorly, you have my permission to go and die with the lot."
Out on the plain, the shimmering sea of gold and crimson banners and armor advanced ominously toward the city.
"It really is all of them," said the captain.
Her aged eyes were still sharp enough to make out the Lannister army as well.
"I will give it to them; it is a bold move," she said cheekily, taking a sip of the finest Arbor wine from her cellar.
"We wouldn't be able to contain them on our own," stated the captain.
"No, of course not. It would be a field of trampled roses, for sure."
Ser Igon sighed deeply. "And where are the Viking's armies? How did we miss them coming?" His voice quivered with doubt.
The Lady of Highgarden poured a cup of Arbor from the prized flask, offering it to the soldier. He knew better than to refuse her.
"They arrived by night, sailing up the Mander on their light warships. They hid them in the brush along the riverbanks. At least that's what he told me."
Ser Igon looked toward the riverbanks. It was thick and vast enough to conceal an army, he assessed, but not one large enough to defeat the Lannisters. Besides, the Lannister army came from two fronts.
His lady seemed to read his thoughts.
"Not only on the east bank. They are lined on the western banks by the road to Dustonbury as well."
The captain leaned on the tower edge, trying to see the west side of the city.
"To ambush the Ocean Road regiment. Brilliant…but won't charging from lower ground present a disadvantage to them?"
Olenna pondered his valid question. "I suppose we shall see soon enough."
On the Ocean Road, the smaller Lannister forces could already be seen, adding to the already massive scale of the battle about to unfold.
Olenna Tyrell smiled, pleased with the spectacle.
"I never thought the fate of Westeros would be decided upon the plains of The Reach." She paused, pondering deeper.
"Much less would I dream that it would unfold like a game of chess before my eyes. Win or lose, live or die; I am glad to witness such a thing in my lifetime."
By then, she was mostly speaking to herself.
"I do hope she comes to see this. That clever imp may sway her otherwise, but she shouldn't miss it. I hope she comes."