Hello everyone! This is the next update for this fanfic, and I do hope all of you are enjoying it! Haha!
It's quite long, so please do try to take your time reading it!
Now the next update is going to be another chapter of this fanfic, then two chapters of The White Wolf of Winterfell! So enjoy.
Then, it's going to be Overlord: The Demon Empress! So stay tuned for it!
Also, like always.
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!This chapter is edited! 24/August/23!
Chapter 4
The nightly attack left a scar deep inside King's Landing, but it wasn't one on the buildings or walls, but the people who survived the night. And now, the Usurper, King Robert Baratheon, stared at the map on the table with nothing to do that would distract him from what took place and what they took away from him. The King Stag gritted his teeth with pure rage he hadn't felt in such a long time. The type of anger that could make him break the Small Council table with his bare hands. Yet, he didn't do it. Robert only glared at Varys, the spymaster, with cold fury.
"Tell me, spymaster, how in seven hells does a force of that size gather in the Crowlands without you knowing?" Robert hissed angrily, and Varys could only look down. He didn't know. Everything that has happened was so fast, so out of his control.
Varys had no clue, no evidence, no whisper of something like that could ever happen. Nothing. They just seemed to appear out of nowhere, and it worried him a great deal. The Spider prides himself on always being a step ahead of his enemies. So, if an enemy could do something such as hiding a coup to overthrow the king, and gathering an army to start yet another rebellion under his watchful eyes, then he was truly lost. Yet, Varys knew if he wanted to live for another battle, he must be very careful now.
"A failure of mine, your grace. My birds have told me nothing of such plot nor of such army gathering in Sow's Horn."
Varys told the king, and as he expected. The Stag King only shows his displeasure by hitting the desk. A normal person would have broken a finger or two, but not Robert. Not at all.
"You're the fucking spymaster! Your job is to spy! What use are you if you can't even tell us anything about assassins or rebellions?!"
Robert's voice made everyone flinch.
"It seems that the person organizing such… event knew the ways around. It's my belief the responsible for this incident are lord Chyterring and his allies. House Buckwell, House Hogg, and House Brune. Maybe there are some other minors' houses, but they are the three big houses fiercely loyal to the Targaryens."
Varys wasn't sure if those houses were truly aligning with each other, but he knew he had to say something before they accused him of conspiring. Especially the queen, who was there, oddly silent, whispering. She was lost—the loss of her dear daughter, her oldest one. The beautiful white lion with golden eyes was taking a toll on Cersei. The queen then spoke, with hissing intent, hiding her pain in cold fury.
"We have the names… their lands, we know where they are… we have to kill them and get my daughter back."
The queen said, and it was such a tense tone. That made her look mad.
"It will be hard to do so, your grace. Reports of fires across Brindlewood are coming. They are raiding the towns and making sure to cause as much mayhem as they can," Varys said with a hint of sadness about the already hundreds of innocent people being murdered in such a cruel way.
"I don't care about peasants! I want my daughter back!" Cersei hissed with murderous intent.
Robert, again, hit the table. "Our troops are scattered after the Greyjoy rebellion." He muttered.
"Our fleet is also still on the dock," Stannis added with that serious face of his, not showing concern about his niece's kidnapping. But a part of him, deep down. He was worried about her. Men weren't kind to innocent girls, especially princesses. So, he hoped that the worst hadn't come to pass. Yet, at least.
"I'll readily send a letter to our Bannermen, brother. It would take them three weeks to assist King's Landing, with a force of at least 8,000 strong. The rest would take a month," Renly said. The flower prince was also worried for his own reason. His niece was important to him. It was not a lie. But she was also an important piece for the future. It's a valuable bargain chip. So losing her now would surely make things more difficult for him.
"I know!" Robert yelled.
The mind of the king was not complicated, and while he was not a genius of sorts. When it comes down to warfare. The king knew a thing or two about waging war, and currently. He saw how precarious his position was at King's Landing.
"Those fuckers waited for something to happen in order to strike. Choosing to revolt after a rebellion when our forces were tired and scattered. They knew it would take time for us to assemble an army yet again. Giving them time to do what they want."
Robert knew he couldn't call Ned. The North was too far away, and their forces were already all over the place. It would take them at least half a year in order to move out south. Not good.
Robert looked at the map of King's Landing and hissed. "They could strike right now."
"They won't reach King's Landing. We have provisions to last three years," Stannis said, and Robert agreed. But he wasn't sure about what to make of the mercenaries Varys told him about.
"You eunuch, this company of mercenaries. What do you know about them?" Robert asked quickly.
"They're two of them, your grace. Tolos Bastards and the Flatlands Raiders, around 7,000 strong, together. They are the ones causing problems all across the Crownlands. Targeting civilians and the bridges."
"Sellswords, no honour," Barristan Selmy whispered while he tightened the grip of his sword.
"They must have been paid a large sum of gold for coming here. Otherwise, I see no point in crossing the Narrow Sea," Renly pointed out, and Robert knew it had to be true.
"They'll leave as soon as things go bad for the rebels," Varys said, and Stannis scoffed.
"If we let them."
"And we won't let them go," Robert said, and everyone stared at him. Those eyes. were filled with determination, and while his anger wasn't quenching by the news or information about what was going on. He knew that in war. There was nothing he could not do. And right now, saving his daughter was the most important thing.
"Send the ravens. We need to gather as many forces as we can around King's Landing before attacking the fuckers. Stannis, I want you out at the sea. Put a blockade around Blackwater Bay and any ship you think is from those mercenaries. Burn it!" Robert ordered.
"Renly, call the fat oaf of Highgarden… tell him his king needs soldiers!"
Renly nodded, although he smirked internally. It would be perfect to secure more power for him if he was careful.
"And you, spider, I want to know where are they holding my daughter…! Do you understand?! I want to know everything! If they touch even a hair of hers… I'll swear I burn their castles to the ground!" Robert yelled, and Varys had to comply with a nod.
"I'll do my utmost best, your grace."
Varys said while the discussion was going on. The spider noticed the confused look of Petyr Baelish. Littlefinger seems to be quite worried about something, or maybe just utterly jumbled, just like him. But what Varys thinks was the reason for such a reaction was that the houses that revolted were quite the clients of his and part of his many schemes like sinking the Iron Throne in-depth and many other things. Yet, it seems that the plot of killing the king and taking the princess away was not one he was part of at all. Yet, if those houses fell, and they would, in time. It could cause a great danger to Littlefinger. Varys would pay attention to what the master of the coin would do in the next few days. Surely, Littlefinger would go scorched earth in order to destroy whatever information could be out there that could put him on the chopping block.
Yet, Varys wondered what would happen if the worst came to pass. The princess was the best thing that could ever happen to the Seven Kingdoms, but it seems the gods were as cruel as always. Varys could only pray nothing bad was happening to the princess. That's all he could do for her, for now.
Tywin Lannister stared at the sea from his balcony at Casterly Rock. He was not paying attention too much, but just the waves coming and going. The news that came from King's Landing has brought great concern to him since, in his eyes. It was an act of defiance towards his family, towards his legacy. But it would be a lie if he didn't say that. The kidnapping of his granddaughter, the princess, was a great deal to him.
Ever since he saw her for the first time a few years ago, Tywin quickly understood she was something else. A child couldn't be that smart, that keen to look forward to the future. The princess's thoughts were something he marvelled at. She came up with so many ideas to improve his work and things he could never fathom. Princess Galadriel was everything Tywin wanted in an heir. Well, kind of. Suppose she was born a male. Tywin would have done everything to make him king. Yet, she was a woman, but still. She was a princess and could still secure the birthright of the Lannister family as one of the most powerful in Westeros' history. Besides, there was something else that was important to Tywin.
"She reminds me of Joanna," Tywin whispered while trying not to remember his deceased wife.
Tywin also felt strange around his granddaughter. It was a feeling he had forgotten a while ago—a sense of attachment. The girl amused him, no doubt. Still, he wonders why he felt so devoted to her. Maybe it was because the princess was the only grandchild so far that had surpassed his expectations and more. Well, Tywin understood that she was still fairly naïve in some other areas, but that could be easily fixed with some tough lessons.
"She is part of my family, my legacy… and my future."
Tywin then looked behind him, hearing a certain person entering his room. He looked with not so much hidden disdain at his youngest child.
"Beloved father, to what I own this so urgent call of yours?" Tyrion asked, with that usual smirk of his. He looked around and immediately took off to take a sip of wine, as Tywin only stared at him.
"Where is Uncle Kevan? I haven't seen him since yesterday."
Tyrion asked while sitting in front of his father, who kept on staring at him.
"Kevan is gone, with 900 riders, to the Crownlands in order to assist the king's forces while I prepare."
Tyrion stopped his wine drinking as he stared, confused, at his father.
"The crownlands? What is uncle going there, with 900 riders?" Tyrion asked, rather muddled.
"Some houses of the Crownlands are now on open rebellions. They have attacked the king during the night and have kidnapped the oldest princess."
Tyrion almost dropped his cup as he heard those words. Yet, he remains silent, knowing that by the looks of things. Tywin was already thinking exactly what to do. But was that a good thing? Tyrion doubted it, especially by the haughty demeanour of the lord of Casterly Rock.
"How… is Cersei?" Tyrion asked, knowing that Cersei's love for her children was perhaps the only thing he respected of her.
"It devastated her, as you know," Tywin only replied.
"I see."
Tyrion muttered only as his thoughts went back to his niece. The beautiful girl has blinded everyone with her beauty and kindness. If he was honest, Tyrion didn't know where Galadriel got that compassion from. Cersei has never been kind to anyone. Yet, Tyrion would say that his niece was special to him. And he believes she was to everyone. So, an urge to find those responsible for her disappearing emerged from within him.
"The seven kingdoms sure do love its rebellions," Tyrion muttered.
"Your jokes are not welcome," Tywin hissed.
"I am not. But you have to admit, this is rather strange, for it happens so fast. One after another," Tyrion pointed out.
"It doesn't matter. We'll crush them as we did with the Greyjoys. And that's what I call you here," Tywin said, now peering down at Tyrion.
"Meaning?"
"I'll leave with half of our forces in a fortnight. You, however, will stay here… and make sure to keep Casterly Rock safe," Tywin said, almost dreading each word. The Old Lion didn't want truly even think to do such a thing. Yet, currently, with Kevan gone. He would need someone from the family capable of handling things for a while.
Grandfather, Uncle Tyrion is smarter than you think. You should give him a chance to prove at least himself worthy of you.
I'll not have this discussion with you, your highness.
You know, people are calling my Highness because of you. But I digress, you know this, right? You said it yourself. We can only trust our family. And Uncle Tyrion is your son. No matter how much you try to deny it or how much you wish it not to be true. Suppose you can't put your son to good use. Then, you're wasting potential and resources.
Tywin scoffed at those words, but he knew it was true. He was not a fool. Tyrion was smart and had a sharp eye on things. But that was not what Tywin hated him for. Not at all. Yet, now, Tywin needed a family member here, and only Tyrion was someone Tywin would trust with the familiar home.
"Me…?" Tyrion muttered.
"Yes. You."
Tywin deadpanned again. "You'll take care of things while I personally put this rebellion down. One of our is taken by an enemy. It is the duty of the family to respond in kind and show them that a Lannister always pays his debts. I'll do it for any of you."
"Even me?" Tyrion asked with a teasing tone, and Tywin gritted his teeth.
"Even you," Tywin said, hissing.
Tywin then slowly approached him, and Tyrion couldn't help but feel intimidated by his father. Those eyes were glaring down on him with nothing but disdain, but it was unspoken.
"I'm giving you this chance… to prove that you're more than just a lustful little creature with nothing but vanity for whores and wine. You understand?"
Tyrion nodded nervously as he put the wine down. "I'll make sure to keep Casterly Rock afloat while you're gone."
Tywin said nothing, and Tyrion knew it was his cue to leave. So, not showing excitement or fear for the upcoming task. Tyrion slowly moves away. But, of course. Tywin was not about to let his dwarf son leave without issuing a warning.
"One more thing… if I heard that you brought a whore into my castle. I'll hang her and everyone who shares her blood."
Tyrion clenched his jaw, feeling hatred at the word he hated the more. But only smirked at his father, bowed dramatically at him, and left him alone. Tywin exhaled deeply as he looked at the window one more time. He would not waste time thinking about Tyrion. No, he would make sure to focus on the task at hand and let everyone in the Seven Kingdoms know what happens when someone dares to mess with the Lannister family.
Back at King's Landing, Gendry was hitting the dummy with all his strength. Everyone who knew who Gendry's father was could see a very familiar fury emerging from within him, by the fact he could do nothing to help his sister.
You're a child who knows nothing about war.
I want to fight! I want to save my sister!
I say no more of this, boy! You're going to get yourself killed!
You want me to do nothing?! To leave my sister to be taken away while I sit on my ass here?!
You'll do more harm than good if you get yourself killed. Now, leave, boy. Go and do something useful and go back and make some armor. We'll need them.
Gendry could recall those words with an eerie feeling of desolation and wrath. However, it changed nothing. Gendry was useless, just like a normal bastard child with no prospects for the future. He had only himself to blame for the lack of power.
"What is even the point?" Gendry muttered angrily, remembering those endless months of training to become a shield and sword for his sister. Yet, when it comes down to protecting her. Gendry fell flat on his face.
"All this training for nothing… fuck!"
While Gendry was throwing a fit on the ground, Mya only stared at him, not hiding her own faults.
"You're going to break your hands if you keep hitting the ground like that," Mya said, and Gendry took a deep breath, still refusing to look at her.
"Why are you doing here?" Gendry asked, a bit snippy, and Mya only frowned.
"I don't want to be near the Red Keep. The queen is, for the lack of a better word… insufferable. Not that I blame her. Everyone is insufferable right now."
Mya whispered, sitting next to her half-siblings, Gendry, who only scoffed.
"That's a way to say it," Gendry replied.
"Say what?" Mya asked.
"Say that the queen would kill anyone at any moment."
"I guess so. Regardless, I don't want to be near her."
Mya muttered, and both siblings only kept each other company for minutes to no end. There was little to say that both felt comfortable sharing. It was as if happiness was stripped out of their souls, leaving only a husk and nothing more.
"It feels weird when she is not around," Mya whispered, and Gendry noticed some tears leaving his sister. Gendry cursed since he should have known that the pain in his heart was not so different from the one in Mya's soul.
"Yeah… if Galadriel was here. She would be playing around with some scorching ingots, wouldn't she?" Mya said, and Gendry chuckled.
"Yeah… look, Gendry! I can do this!" Gendry said, trying to imitate his sister's voice and making Mya giggle. But those chuckles started to become sobbing, and Mya cried. The loss of her dear sister and knowing she couldn't do anything to stop it was eating her alive. Even after, she, just like Gendry, promised to be there for her. Now, their word meant nothing. And it was painful.
Gendry sighed and awkwardly put his hand around Mya, trying to soothe her in some way.
"She is going to be alright," Gendry whispered.
"How can you be sure?" Mya replied with a sobbing voice.
"I just… I just know. They would use her as a bargaining chip or something, maybe. They're Targaryen loyalists, right? She's going to be fine," Gendry said, trying to sound more confident. She has to! He thought, just hoping that his sister. The person he owned, everything was alright.
"We must get stronger, Mya... if we want to protect her. We must become stronger."
Mya nodded with the same Baratheon determination. "We will... we will."
They once again only looked at the many swords and armour and thought that in the future, they'd wear them in order to defend their beloved sister. Yet, the only thing they could do now was, hope that she was alright.
"She must be so afraid," Mya whispered.
Gendry couldn't reply since he also thought the same. Yet, he needed to be strong for everyone. But he was sure of one thing. He was going to see his sister again. Soon. He wished.
And talking about the princess whom everyone wished to rescue so desperately. Well, she was currently lying on an enormous bed, eating a large piece of chicken while staring at the roof.
"Ah… this is so boring," Galadriel moaned as she took large bites of her piece of chicken.
The white-haired girl knew it was going to be long before she saw any action. It was one of the bad things about living in a rather primitive world. Moving armies takes a long time. A very long time. And if things go according to plan. Her grandfather would move his army and come and save her, and the reason Galadriel knew that was that Tywin would protect his family no matter what. The old lion would always take his time telling her how the family was all that mattered and how they must always make sure to be strong and whatever. So, with that in mind. Galadriel believes Tywin would come and destroy his enemies to let everyone know not to mess with the Lannisters. It was pretty easy to predict if Galadriel could say so herself.
"The rest will come… the worst thing now is the waiting… ugh!" Galadriel groaned lazily.
They currently held the princess captive, kind of, since no one was actually holding her against her will. They were all just puppets, and she was the master puppeteer. So, Galadriel was just in the seat of House Buckwell, the biggest castle of the Crowlands, the Antlers. And while most of the time, it would hold a large force for a noble house. Currently, it was empty. The reason was that Galadriel ordered all those mortals around and ordered them to go around and cause chaos across the land.
"Mm, with those mercenaries' group. The new rebel forces number is almost 15,000 strong, perhaps a bit more. Not bad at all. It's going to be amazing to see a battle in real time!" Galadriel exclaimed, excited about it. Yet, the truth sinks in.
"But it's going to take a long time… ugh!"
Galadriel rolled on the bed, wishing to speed time and see the mayhem unfold before her. Still, she would have to do the worst part of her plan, and it was the waiting. However, that allowed her to think about other things, and it was something she did not too long ago to Lady Buckwell.
"I feel nothing torturing her… nothing at all, but glee and joy. Uh, truly, I am a demon now."
Galadriel whispered, recalling how she took her time to dismember that old lady who always looked down on her because of her beauty and other silly things. Galadriel's joy while torturing that woman was cut short, as the lady didn't seem to respond as Galadriel wanted. That led to another problem, and it was that mind control truly made things dull and boring for her. The desperation Galadriel seeks isn't there when torturing a woman whom Galadriel's demon brainwashed to follow her commands. It was just a doll that moaned in pain and nothing more. It was incredibly boring, no doubt.
"It was fun at the beginning, but then the fun died. But I still feel no guilt. It seems my demonic traits are still very much alive."
Galadriel muttered, thinking of herself.
"But now I think that… controlling people's minds takes the fun of things. If I had more patience, I could have witnessed their falling into madness! It would have been glorious!" Galadriel whined.
"Using cheat codes can truly make things boring," she said while rolling on the bed.
Galadriel decided she would not use her ability to mind control the other players of the game. Otherwise, it would lead to a boring outcome. Galadriel wanted to see the face of Littlefinger when she revealed herself. The face of desperation, of madness, realizing he was always in her palm, dancing at whatever tune she played would be one of the best moments in her life. Galadriel smirked widely. The other players' faces and reactions were something she desperately wanted to enjoy. So, she would play the long game and take her time. The longer the wait, the bigger the reward.
"I didn't know I was this sadistic… was I always like this? Or it's the demon in me making me enjoy it?"
Galadriel wondered about it but decided that it wasn't a matter. It required energy thinking. Galadriel then walked towards the balcony and saw the beautiful castle and had to admit it was a shame her grandfather would destroy it. Not entirely, of course. Galadriel was sure Tywin would put someone off the Westerlands in charge of this place. Since once, the little phoney rebellion was over. There was going to be a vacuum of power left in the Crowlands, waiting to be filled. And she knew Tywin would not waste time into moving pawns here.
"Well, it doesn't matter in the end. I'll have my due."
Galadriel whispered as she took a big, deep breath.
"I bet they are already thinking my captors have done horrible things to me… Well, that is to be expected. But I can use that to my advantage. It would surely make me more fragile in their eyes. Uhm, I can use it as a way to avoid any problems with marriage in the future if they think I was… well… if they used me."
Galadriel hissed those words, not liking them. Yet, she took a good look at the complete picture and saw how much advantage it could provide to her in the future. Everyone would be so sad, so willing to accommodate her, and so willing to underestimate her. Allowing her to grip her hands around their necks without them realizing it until too late. Besides, Westeros looks down on marrying a girl with no maidenhood. So, having that sort of "damages goods" on her name would allow her to not worry about marriage proposals for the foreseeable future. It was one less worry for her.
"A fake persona will lead to realistic goals. As long as I keep up the act, I will slowly devour Westeros."
Galadriel smiled deviously as she saw the extensive fields ahead of her.
"It's going to be fun… like a movie. Ah… I forgot… where should I build my secret base? I need a base where I can summon things and build my small army, among other things."
Galadriel thought as she decided to go back to bed and finish her meal. She has time to think about those topics for now.
Thankfully, time does go flying when things need to speed up. And that was the case for Robert, who stared at the map in detail of the Crownlands. The royal army camp was already getting ready for the first battle at Brindlewood, where the major forces of the mercenaries and a part of the rebels' forces were trying to gather their forces and face the royal army head-on.
"The rebels are soon to arrive… half a day's march. How many did our scouts say there are coming?" Robert asked, and Ser Barristan approached the king.
"Around 13,000 soldiers, your grace. They are trying to hit us fast before we gather our forces."
"I see. We are a bit outnumbered, but it is alright. We have the high ground. We just need to hold on and wait for Tywin Lannister to arrive with the major forces."
Robert and Barristan then turned to the entrance of their tent as Jaime entered with a spy of sorts.
"Our scouts captured him… it seems he has some proposals from the rebels," Jaime said in a mocking tone. Robert's face grew red.
"Proposal, you say? Tell me then, what type of peace term do those rebels have?" Robert hissed.
The scout looks uncomfortable. But keep his face up.
"The usurper must renounce the crown to the true king of the Seven Kingdoms and heir of the throne, Viserys Targaryen. Then, the usurper will face trial for the crimes against the Targaryen family, and his family will be exiled from Westeros."
There was silence and nothing more. Only the sound of the outside royal army flooded the tent.
"Out…!" Robert hissed. "Out, you fool! Tell those Targaryen fuckers I'll put their head on a spike! I'll do it myself! Each one of them will die in my own hand!"
"What about your daughter…?" the scout asked, acting terrified.
"If they dare to put a hand on her… I swear to every single god, old and new. I'll raze their castle to the ground. Then, I'll hunt down every single silver hairy cunt, and kill them. I'll erase the Targaryen out of history."
Robert said, and it was quite terrifying to hear those words in his normal voice, low and dangerous. The scout only nodded and left quickly, leaving behind a furious-looking king who hit the table with strength.
"Your grace… if they had already hurt the princess," Ser Barristan whispered, and Robert hissed.
"I know!" Robert yelled, hitting the table one more time.
"I know… I know… the only reason she is still alive is because of her Targaryen heritage. But… if what Varys said is true… then," Robert whispered, and Jaime felt a twisting feeling inside his guts. He remembered the news and how Cersei lost her mind. Even he felt blinded by pure rage. It was said that a group of mercenaries who were in charge of protecting or holding the princess captive took advantage of the situation and did unspeakable things to her. The princess was alive, but she would never be the same. Or that was, they were told. There was no way it was actually true, and Varys told them as such. But even thinking about it causes them great pain.
"They'll pay… I swear it."
Robert whispered, feeling the same old feeling as before. The feeling he got when he heard the news of his dear Lyanna's abduction.
"All of them."
Robert grabbed his war hammer and put on his stag helmet.
"Prepare the army… I need to crush some skulls."
While they prepared the royal army to put a stand against their enemy high above the sky, Galadriel was happily sitting on a cloud, well, technically not sitting, but it didn't matter. She was looking down on the field, smirking widely, excited about the future battle.
"It's a shame. I don't have popcorn with me."
Galadriel whispered and smiled at the sight of the royal army getting information to meet the rebels. She could see without a problem. Her father was in the vanguard without fear, holding a war hammer with only his left hand. He looked completely angry.
"I knew those peace terms were going to do the trick. Father is so easy to get riled up."
Galadriel giggled and smiled as she saw the rebel army already charging.
"Yes! A medieval battle is happening in front of me. Mm, I should get close. I need to see it better."
With that, Galadriel decided to use an item to make herself invisible and flew down to the battlefield.
Down there, Robert was waving his hammer around, with the strength of five men, just annihilating soldier left and ride.
"Argh!" He yelled, noticing a rebel soldier emerging from his left side. The rebel had a spear and seemed to be aiming at his side, but Robert was quicker. As an experienced warrior, he was able to block the tip of the spear with his mental gauntlet. It was quite the move since it allowed him to move that enormous hammer and crush the poor soldier's chest with it. The sound of metal being crushed was quite brutal for a normal person, but not Robert. He was used to it.
"Another one!" He yelled, and soon another soldier came forward, trying to take the king by surprise. But failed as the king, then used his brutal strength and hammered down the head of the poor soldier. The sound of the skull being crushed surely was something else. Truly, it was a horrendous sound for many. But for Robert, It was a reminder of his strength.
And as Robert saw the body of the soldier falling down. He could hear someone clapping next to him, so he already thought someone was trying to kill him from behind. He turned around as quickly as he could and raised his hammer up, but he saw no one behind him.
Around him were his soldiers fighting, but no one was clapping. Robert was confused, but he decided not to ignore it.
"Ser Barristan!" Robert yelled in the middle of the battlefield, and it took not long before the kingsguard commander appeared next to him, all drenched in blood, but it was not his but the enemy.
"Your grace!" Ser Barristan yelled.
"Tell our riders to move to the flank. That side is about to crash!"
Robert could see that the numbers were now turning the battle against them. Yet, they could hold if they only moved closer to a more defensive position.
"Usurper, die!"
Ser Barristan, like a lighting dash in front of his king and in a manoeuvre that one could even call beautiful, redirected the sword of the enemy by using the speed and strength of the enemy against him and closing the space between him and the rebel and open the throat of the soldier with his sword. Ser Barristan was truly a painter. Robert nodded in respect and moved his hammer to attack since a few more soldiers were trying to close on them. But the kingsguard was already there, doing their duty and protecting their king.
"Kingslayer!" Robert yelled, and he could see Jaime cutting down three enemies at once—one after another, with deadly precision and a bit of bravado. Almost smirking during the fight. Even if Robert hated his guts, the stag king would always admit that Ser Jaime was one of the most lethal knights currently in Westeros.
"Your grace," Jaime replied while covering the king's back.
"Where are the reinforcements?!" Robert asked, taking deep breaths before landing a killing blow to yet another rebel.
"They should be here any minute," Jaime said while blocking the attack of a group of mercenaries, who were all smirking at him.
"Kingslayer, eh? Nice sword. It will be a good trophy," one of them said.
Jaime had to smile at the bland disrespect. It seems his name was not that well known across the Narrow Sea. It was something he would need to do something about it.
"Why you don't try to get it, then?" Jaime said teasingly.
"Jaime, focus!" Ser Barristan yelled as the commander of the kingsguard seemed to destroy whoever dared to cross his path completely.
And while Jaime was secretly pleased to find his way in battle, to show everyone who he was. He also realizes that the battle was also getting more intense as the numbers were slowly going down. But Jaime was not worried at all.
Those mercenaries did not know what was yet to come. And as Jaime and the rest of the royal force heard the Lannister trumpets coming from the hills. They'll soon see it.
And from the hills, the Lannister forces, led by Tywin Lannister himself, came crashing down.
It took the mercenaries by surprise since they believed they would be far away before the reinforcement came, but it seems they were wrong.
"Retreat…!"
One yelled, but it was, of course, too late for such a thing. Tywin had no intention of leaving anyone to escape. They surrounded the enemy's forces from behind, cutting them off from any sort of escape.
"Push them! Don't let them escape!" Robert yelled, loudly bolstering his forces to fight harder. And it was clear that in war, his charisma to go on was clearly his strongest suit. Since the royal forces saw victory nearby, the remaining forces were without mercy.
What followed next was an onslaught, and the Lannister forces were clearly fresh and fought like lions. So, the battle didn't take long until it finished with a decisive victory for the royal forces.
Yet, while the battle was ending, a certain princess was looking around her at the endless sea of bodies and smirked.
"That was amazing!" Galadriel exclaimed happily, not something someone would say in such a position, but since Galadriel wasn't a normal person. It was clear she found everything highly amusing. She used her invisible ability to just sneak peek at whatever her father and the rest of the soldiers were saying.
Galadriel walked joyfully over the dead bodies of a hundred soldiers, where she approached her father, who was meeting Tywin Lannister, who was looking proudly around on his horse.
"Your grace," Tywin's voice sounded hard and cold, just like usual.
"About time you show up, Lannister," Robert said, taking deep breaths since even though he was strong and in the prime of his life. He was still a human.
"Father," Jaime said while cleaning his sword, and Tywin took his time to inspect his son to see if he was alright. But noticing that besides exhaustion, Jaime was not injured, Tywin only nodded.
"I believe these are not all the forces left of the rebels," Tywin said, and Robert nodded at that.
"Yes, they definitely have some left deep in the Crownlands, especially in Antlers. We'll need to set a siege there, as well, to raid the entirety of the north of the Crowlands from Sow's Horn to Rook's Rest," Robert said, and Barristan cringed at the idea of telling that to someone like Tywin Lannister.
"We don't need more open battles," Robert said, and Tywin only nodded.
"I'll set their fields on fire."
"Your grace, are you sure about this? Many towns had nothing to do with this, even Rook's Rest," Ser Barristan said, and Robert only glared at him.
"I'll risk nothing. We don't know if more mercenaries are hiding there as well. Most of those towns were pro-Targaryen and supported their lords in taking arms against the crown. Rook's Rest is the perfect port to allow them to escape, and if the loyalist escapes, then they'll join the scum Targaryen across the Narrow Sea. I will not allow it. Stannis is already blocking their path, so I'll destroy the ones here. Burn it all, Lannister."
Robert ordered, and Barristan could only sigh deeply.
"Of course… your grace."
Tywin only replied with mild courtesy.
"Good. Help the wounded and send the scouts ahead. We'll move as soon as we can to take the Antlers."
Robert ordered, and Galadriel, all that time, was listening next to them. They couldn't see her, of course.
Uh, they are going to kill many people right now. And all because of me. Nice. Galadriel thought with a sense of cruel amusement. Yet, she wanted it to clean the north of the Crownlands because then, now, it would all belong to her. Not publicly, but secretly.
The battle was fun to see, but it is over now. I must go back to the Antlers and prepare those puppets to fight on. Ah… I'll have to wait again. Fun times.
Galadriel whined as she flew away. Unbothered by the upcoming massacre.
The day came faster than Galadriel expected. She guesses the reason for that was that a lot of time has been spent flying above the many burned-down towns and countless seas of dead people. Galadriel's grandfather, Tywin Lannister, has burned every single town and castle. And put in spikes all those nobles who dared to raise their arms against the crown and take his granddaughter prisoner. It was very overdramatic, in Galadriel's humble opinion. But it didn't matter now. All those poor fools Galadriel used as a scapegoat were dead now. House Buckwell was the one left. The survivor forces were on the Antlers castle, ready to defend the impossible. They were still under her control, and so far, they seemed not to realise what was going on. They were just robots following her orders—a boring reaction, in Galadriel's opinion.
Yet, their job was completed. Galadriel needed them no longer.
Galadriel stared from the balcony, watching the castle being hammered down by catapults and many other things.
"Mm, I must say… I have eaten in a fortnight, the food supplies that could have lasted in a year. Ha! Gluttony is such an amazing sin! Really, I just wanted to eat all of it, to let nothing to the humans around the castle."
Galadriel giggled at her words. Yet, decided that after spending so much time on her little game. It was time to end it all.
"It was fun… watching my grandfather's mad dog, the Mountain, doing his dirty job. Although, the raping of small girls… that's something I'll have to deal with later. Mm, now that I remember. Dorne truly hates my grandfather and everything, Lannister—especially the Mountain. Maybe I could do something about it. Yeah… yeah, I have a lot of things to do!"
Galadriel whispered happily. "Well, it is time to cause a horrible scene for me."
Galadriel muttered as she pulled a bunch of items from her inventory.
"Thanks, god, for the Halloween event back in Yggdrasil."
Galadriel said as she used the skin-changing item to make it look as if she was brutally tortured and whatnot.
"Ah… I think I should act accordingly. Mm, I have never acted in such a dramatic way before. Ugh! It's going quite to cringe. But I'll do my best to make it look convincing."
Galadriel sighed and wondered if her actions would be up to the task. It was only a matter of time.
Back at the siege, Robert led the vanguard once again, as the royal forces were jamming the large entrance of the castle as they fired arrows at him. Yet, the Stag king pushed through with fearless determination.
"Bring it down! Bring it down!"
Robert yelled as the siege equipment did the job they intended it to do and brought the large entrance into a million pieces as the royal forces stormed the castle. The king marched inside the courtyard and showed everyone how utterly furious he was by ripping apart enemy after enemy.
"Barristan!" Robert yelled as his kingsguard approached him, killing anyone who dared to interfere with his duty.
"Your grace!" Barristan yelled back.
"Move your soldiers to the deck. Get those walls clean! Kingslayer, gather Lannister forces and move forward!"
They obeyed without a doubt, while Robert only stared at the castle and glared at the forces defending the entrances.
"Push the bastards! Kill them all!"
The Stag king went head-on and, using his combat prowess, led the way inside the castle. Robert had too much anger and let it all out on the poor soldiers, who were just dropping left and right.
"Your grace, we control the courtyard," one soldier said, and Robert only nodded as he was taking deep breaths.
"Good, let's control the castle."
"I need to look after my daughter," Robert whispered while only staring at the burning castle. He needed to find his child before it was too late.
Robert looked around the castle like a madman until he finally reached one room on the last tower left standing. There, he saw a door covered in chains and knew it was there, where his child was being held prisoner. Robert didn't have a key, but he had a hammer, and both worked the same in the right hand.
And Robert did as such. He broke the chains with his hammer, and upon entering the room, his heart sunk lower than before. There, chained to the wall, they held his daughter. Blood was pouring down her face, and lacerations upon her tiny naked body could be seen. Robert now sees that those noble lords took their anger upon his daughter.
Robert slowly approached his child, fearing for the worst. But then he heard a groan, a soft moan of pain, as Galadriel was able to look up to her father, showing her face. Robert could see those golden eyes staring at him, cloudy and incredibly tired. Robert felt pain watching how they treated his child, his daughter. No father should see such a thing. Yet, there he was, standing before the broken body of the princess.
"Fa… father," Galadriel whispered, melodramatically.
Galadriel wasn't really comfortable with her current state of undress, yet she knew it was important to act like that. However, she had to admit that acting was entertaining. The scene, how she was behaving, the message she wanted to give. It was actually fun to do. Lying people into believing whatever she wanted them to believe was becoming an incredibly fun thing to do.
Uh, who would have thought I'd enjoy something like this?
Galadriel thought while she tried to look in pain.
"Father," Galadriel said one more time, trying to make her voice sound horse and in pain.
"What they did to you," Robert whispered, showing a side of him that Galadriel had never seen before. The king was furiously trying to get her free, and Galadriel decided to add more tension by acting more in pain.
"Everything," Galadriel whispered, again, very dramatically.
Robert couldn't say anything more. Nothing, he choked a bit while breaking those chains. When he finally was able to free his child, he quickly put a coat around her naked body and carried her out. She is so small. Robert thought in pain as he soon met the rest of his soldiers. And no one could deny that the king was feeling the pain of carrying his child in such a state. Jaime approached and could see the many wounds his niece had on her body. He knew, right then and there, the many horrors the princess endured.
"I want the maester to check on her, now!" Robert yelled, and everyone obeyed.
"Ser Barristan, what about survivors?" Robert asked.
"None… your grace. None surrendered."
Robert only growled but decided to focus on his child before anything else happened.
Galadriel closed her eyes and allowed herself to be the damsel in distress. Still, her agents were already cleaning up whatever they could. So, now it was time to reap what she sows, which would be quite a lot, especially in the upcoming future.
True, about my secret base… the Isle of Faces seems like a perfect place to build a castle. Mm, yeah… I'll have to move things there. Galadriel thought while they carried her out of the burning castle.
Galadriel lay on her bed in the Red Keep, completely covered in bandages and looking fragile and other things. Well, in reality, she was bored to death. Of course, Galadriel knew it would be like this for a while. So, for the time being, she has moved her summons to inspect the Isle of Faces in search of a place where she could build her fortress. Her secret base.
However, putting aside those plans of her. Galadriel had to admit how she did not expect the reaction of her family. Maybe she did expect it, but not at the level she thought. Cersei, her beloved mother, was practically heartbroken about her current state. Cersei has refused to let her side, and while it was endearing to some point. It could be too much. Jaime, her uncle, has shown a tender side towards her. It was weird, truly. He was very kind and loving, maybe trying to be a sort of father figure or something.
Gendry and Mya were both different, too. They were even more determined to be there for her. They swore an oath to become stronger, no matter the cost. So, that was good in her eyes. Galadriel would use more items and potions just to see what else they could achieve.
Now, the king was truly something else. Robert has made sure to be there for her when she pretends to be asleep. He would sit next to her and simply whisper things, apologies, and how bad of a father he was. It truly made Galadriel feel strange hearing the mighty warrior king speak like that, but then again. He was just a man with a lot of things he regrets. Nevertheless, Galadriel wasn't sure of how things were going to plan out between them. It was something she didn't plan further. Yet, she would sit back and see where it goes.
Galadriel was sure it would not lead to some kind of love bond between them. But it would change how Robert behaves in the future. Maybe she could take advantage of it. And she would do just that.
"Well… this is going to be quite different from now on. Mm, the small council are changing their plots as well. The news of the things that happened to me is now out in the open. I think some families were hoping to marry me off. Now that is changing. Perhaps they'll try to keep doing it. But now it would allow me to play the… damaged and fragile princess who is now afraid of things like holding hands and stupid things like that."
Galadriel said with a bored tone. "Also, from what my agents have told me. Varys is now trying to convince Illyrio Mopatis that I am truly the best candidate for this so-called Targaryen heir Young Griff to marry. Interesting. Varys is pushing aside Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen. Maybe he would try to use them differently. I'll have to wait and see."
Galadriel said, wondering where Varys was going with the whole Targaryen exiled family.
"Also, Renly is desperately trying to get the Tyrell to accommodate me in Highgarden. Saying things like it would serve me to be away from the Snake pit. Renly wants me to marry the eldest son of the Tyrell family. Mm, but I think Lady Olena has other plans for me. But Mother will die before allowing me to leave her side for now. Yet, Renly is trying to gather more support for the future. Interesting."
Galadriel looked at the window and sighed.
"Baelish is not moving for now. It seems that the whole incident brought down his plans a few steps. Since those families were in his pocket, he is afraid something or someone may bring his association with them. He should be. Father and grandfather are still searching for anyone who shares not only blood but a connection with them. So, he's going to lie low for now before thinking about what he should do next. But knowing him. He is going to be just fine."
Galadriel wondered where her plans should move next. Now that she has control over the Crownlands. Maybe she should focus on getting some connections of her own.
"Yeah, but where to start? Also, I think, for the time being, I should keep working on the Seven Kingdoms, making sure everyone sees me as this tragic figure who is filled with love and compassion for the rest. Ah… It's going to be fun to see what these years are going shape out to be for me, no doubt."
Galadriel whispered as she yawned.
"Nazarick… I wonder where it could be now? Will it arrive later? Or maybe it is across the sea?"
It's going to be a while before she sees her home once more. Yet, maybe, it won't be as long as she thought it would. Perhaps, things were going to change sooner than she realised. Who knows?