Warning: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire, nor this Story.

This story deserves to be available for readers to read. This Story was removed, it deserved to be available, Original Author is Blackwolf2019 as i don't own this story or its work.

Comments and everything below is from the OA.

Chapter 35: The Battle of Prince's Pass

Hope you all enjoy it! Feel free tae comment as always!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Gendry

The Prince's Pass was one of two ways that you could enter or leave Dorne by foot if you were commanding a host of soldiers. It made Dorne much more defensible from the Northern Kingdoms and allowed for less men to be able to hold the pass against the North. The Bone way also served the same purpose. At least that was what Gendry had been taught during his time in Dorne as he looked over the Dornish army that was marching through the pass. There was something close to twenty-five thousand men under the command of Gerold Dayne and Daemon Sand; heading North to fight on behalf of Princess Arianne and House Targaryen against the Starks. It was an impressive host that even included the company's elephants. But it was a host that had taken a lot longer to forge than usual for Dorne. And that was because of Lord Yronwood and Lord Dayne, his closest friend.

Ever since the taking of King's Landing and the attempted use of Ashara Dayne as a hostage,and my own heritage forcing me to be smuggled out,Edric Dayne had become a very unsupportive Dornish Lord in regards to the Targaryen reign. His friend hadn't been able to do much in the early years of winter in action against the dragons but time had been merciful for him due to Arianne's prolonged presence in the courts. The Princess had changed her tune apparently from when she was young and had committed herself to wanting to rule the Seven Kingdoms; something she had gone a long way in doing by giving potential heirs where Daenerys Targaryen had given none. Her Long-term absences allowed for House Yronwood to more openly express its displeasure at Daenerys Targaryen inadvertently killing Quentyn Martell in Meereen without a strong Martell presence to remind them who ran Dorne. That had led to Edric marrying the Lady Gwyneth Yronwood as a show of support. More minor houses in Dorne had started singing similar tunes when they had nobody but Manfrey Martell to petition to who had very little power as Castellan at Sunspear despite being known to have done his best under the circumstances.

It had become a perfect storm and when Arianne called the banners to march North; houses refused and forced more loyal houses to give all of their levies instead of it being more spread out across the Lords of Dorne. Those that had refused the call had answered Lord Dayne and Lord Yronwood's though under the position of making Manfrey Martell the Prince of Dorne. They had slowly but surely made a host of ten thousand to take control.But today there's only one thousand of us.Gendry thought as he looked to where one thousand Spears and knights stood ready at the bottom of the pass. It was all that could be snuck into the pass unnoticed. He would join them soon once Edric and him had finished scouting the enemy army.

Gendry felt a pat on his shoulder as his friend came up to him. His friend had a grin on his face as he looked over the battlefield and to him. He could see Dawn shining at his hip. The sword that had helped to slay the Mountain.

"You look tense Bullhorns. A bit nervous for this?"

Gendry grinned at the nickname. It was the name he had chosen once Edric had knighted him. It suited his bull helmet.

"You know as well as I do that this will end in a defeat. You should be too Ned." Gendry responded, albeit light-heartedly.

Edric smiled. "I suppose that's true. But we have faced worse. We were both at the taking of King's Landing and if I remember rightly it was you that returned to help train members of the Knights of the Bold despite the risk."

Gendry smiled sadly at the memory. He had gone back to do that to help his people as a knight should. He'd helped train men to use the sword and hammer with Brynden Tully whenever the old Blackfish had snuck himself into the city. He'd also had to carry his body to the sea to be buried without anyone knowing he'd been in the city after he passed defending members of the Bold from an Unsullied raid on a training session. Gendry had smashed his hammer into the rest of the Unsullied that Brynden hadn't got to keep Brynden's involvement hidden.

"Well, I suppose I'm just a stubborn risk-taker. Must be in the flea bottom blood."

Edric nodded at the words. He knew better than to make a comment about being Robert Baratheon's son.I'm no King or Lord. Just a knighted Blacksmith.

"It's in the Dornish blood as well. The fight's going to be a tough one even if we have to break so they've got something to chase."

Gendry took another look down at their small host. They all knew that they had to rout at a certain point of the battle and get away enough for the Dornish to give chase. They needed the Dornish army out of Dorne as quickly as possible so no forces could be sent back to deal with Yronwood as he took Sky Reach from House Fowler; securing both passes into Dorne by land.

"And who better to chase than Ned Dayne, Sword of the Morning." Gendry replied wryly

"And his bull-headed friend, Ser Gendry Bullhorns." Edric finished.

The two laughed as they made to re-join their force as they spotted the final portion of the large host.

The Dornish spears before Gendry looked all the more fearsome than they did from above. You couldn't see the entirety of the enemy but you could feel their power all the more. He could tell the one thousand men here were feeling the same for all they knew what was soon to happen. Gendry could see the odd few shake the spears and swords slightly from behind. The riders were calming their horses in response to the thousands of steps and hooves. They would all calm once the battle started though. Edric had picked mostly greybeards and veterans for this battle.Experienced Soldiers will be good for this.Gendry thought as he watched a small parley banner head to the centre to meet with Edric. The scouts had found the army and Daemon Sand and the Dark Star Dayne wanted to treat.More likely Sand. The Dark Star's a piece of work if Edric's right.Gendry had heard that Doran had planned on having the man executed for killing Myrcella Baratheon which resulted in Prince Trystane's eventually suicide from a broken heart. But upon Doran's death, shortly after King's Landing had been taken, Arianne had changed the order and kept him as a guard.

Edric's words seemed to be true if appearance was anything to go by. His combed sandy blonde hair, high cheek bones and regal pose all screamed the part of an arrogant cunt. Edric's great cousin looked looked at both Edric and Gendry with both disdain and haughtiness in those purple eyes. It was a look he had seen on so many arrogant Lords he had come across in his life from his time in Flea Bottom and on the roads.

"I see my Great cousin has decided to betray Dorne. That's two Swords of the Morning to have done that. I'm looking forward to taking Dawn from you after I cut it from your traitorous hands." Gerold Dayne said first before Daemon Sand could speak.

Prick.

Edric didn't look fazed as he turned his attention to Daemon and ignoring the Dark Star. "I won't have Dorne fight against my kin from the North. And I won't allow the injustice done to my Aunt Ashara go unpunished. I can't allow you to pass Ser Daemon."

Daemon looked saddened by that. "I want this to be peaceful Edric. You just have to let us pass and we can forget this. Princess Arianne would understand why you have not joined your banners with Dorne. Princess Arianne would not have you be seen as a traitor to Dorne."

"Princess Arianne betrayed Dorne when she let the Targaryens attempt to turn my Aunt into a hostage. She has betrayed Dorne the past fifteen years from ruling from afar and leaving Dorne to rely on a Castellan that she refused to give more power to. Arianne is my enemy as well." Edric replied calmly.

Daemon sighed but nodded. Gerold smiled arrogantly.How is Edric kin to this?Gendry thought. The two had similar sandy hair and Edric's eyes almost look purple in certain lights but the two Daynes were complete opposites. Like day and night. Like Dawn and Dusk.

"I can't wait to take Dawn and Starfall from you and your sons and daughters Cousin."

Edric looked at him calmly. "I wish you good luck in the wars to come. You'll need it."

And with that, Edric turned his horse. Gendry followed suit to join the lines that would be fighting in a matter of hours. Most likely less.

The Spears were approaching quickly as Gendry too his place with the men on the ground. He would use horse in the retreat alongside Edric as the main group for the host to chase out of Dorne whilst the rest gradually disappeared into mountains. Gendry gripped the Warhammer he had forged hard as the spears came closer. He could feel his blood start to pump as the spears of Dorne got closer. Gendry kept a calm demeanour like Edric which seemed to spread to their forces. They were ready for the hit and had the advantage of defending their piece of the pass in the valley over attacking. They just had to hold instead of push.

And all hell broke loose as Dornish Spears met Dornish Spears and Swords. The known passion for fighting in Dorne seemed to erupt in an instant as the two sides clashed. Gendry felt the push of the spears on them as they tried to break their lines. Their lines wouldn't break until ready though. Gendry wouldn't fail his friend as he struck his Warhammer into a Dornish skull before him; blood and skull drenching Dornish soldiers around his kill. Gendry took that as an opening for him to do more damage, swinging the great Warhammer quickly and efficiently into their skulls as well. Spears dropped to the ground as Gendry continued to fight. He could feel his blood pumping quicker and quicker with every kill. Each strike of his hammer feeling more powerful as he swung it into Spears, shields and the Dornish. It was always thrilling once he got started in the fight. Gendry had learnt that in the taking of King's Landing and his time with the bold. Today was no different as he fought harder and harder with every single one of the men beside him. Out of the corner of his eye, Gendry could see his thousand Dornish soldiers holding their lines' each man fighting quickly and efficiently as new spears replaced the ones they had cut down. They all looked impressive in their bloodlust.

And none looked more impressive than Ned Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. Dawn glistened with blood as Edric cut through spears as if they were made of butter. It almost looked like a Dance when watching Ned fight. His parries and strikes were all elegant, smooth and quick as he cut through the lines. That was how he had cut the Mountain's Leg off and helped to end that beast. He was quicker than everyone else with the sword. It never ceased to amaze Gendry at how his friend could do that.I prefer my hammer though.Gendry thought as he smashed at a man's armour repeatedly until it broke apart, allowing Gendry to take another smash through the ribs. The spearman fell to the ground, the hammer smashing the breath out of him. Gendry finished it quickly as he moved onto the next one. Both hosts were making their own chants as they tried to cut down the other.

"FOR DORNE!"

"FOR PRINCESS ARIANNE!"

"FOR THE SWORD OF THE MORNING!"

"FOR VENGEANCE!"

The chants and noises all blurred in the clashes of steel as they kept attacking each other furiously. Neither side was giving up, instead tearing into each other repeatedly. Gendry could feel himself standing in gore where their lines were. It was a bloodbath as soldiers kept coming at them until Gerold Dayne rode through the lines towards Edric. The arrogant Dark Star got off his horse and joined his way to the front to meet Edric's sword. Gendry turned himself towards the oncoming conflict as he smashed his hammer into another spear. He could hear Dark Star's voice as the two Dayne's clashed, louder than everyone else's on the front.

"I can't wait to melt that sword down and turn it into my own blade cousin!"

Gendry could hear the glee in his enemy's voice as he slashed at Ned. His friend was deflecting the blows calmly, not speaking as he fought with Dark Star. Gerold Dayne was clearly a talented… and aggressive fighter. Each blow was quick but extremely forceful as his sword tried to get through Ned's guard. It was clear that his friend was making more of an effort with Dark Star but Ned still looked graceful as he deflected every blow. He looked at ease and calm.Gerold is talented but Ned is clearly the better.Gendry thought confidently as he watched the fight out of the corner of his eye. His thoughts were proving to be true with Ned changing from a defensive form to offensive. It seemed like he had got quicker in an instant as he reigned down multiple strikes on the Dark Star and any spear around them trying to kill the Lord of Starfall. It was almost like lightning. Bodies dropped faster than they could be replaced as dawn moved through them like they were air. Gerold was deflecting what blows he could but the speed of Ned had turned the clash of Daynes from a fight to a decimation. Every strike pushed Dark Star into a weaker position. He was gradually being cornered and left with no options to attack whilst all the sword of the morning did was assault. His friend was winning. And pushing forward too. Not enough to get lost within enemy lines but enough to make the royal host nervous. Ned's men started to chant as their spears and swords pushed forward with more power.

"Dawn!"

"Dawn!"

"Dawn!"

The ancient sword seemed to answer the cries of the soldiers, effortlessly disarming the Dark Star and bringing him onto the ground. Gendry roared in victory of the sight, sending his hammer into another spear attacking the lines. His blood was pumping faster.Just kill him and get back to the lines now.His friend kicked Dark Star in the face instead to Gendry's brief annoyance and started to push back to his own lines.He won't slay kin.Gendry realised as Dawn once again cut through spears to get back. Ned was focused on dealing with the spears as he made his way back. He didn't see the Dark Star had recovered from behind, knifing Ned in the back of his leg and then the arm. The knife had clearly got through the armour as Ned dropped to the ground, now parrying from below. Dark star and Dornish spears were all trying to break through the weakening sword of the Morning's defence.

Gendry saw red at Gerold's dark grin and roared.

"NED!"

Everyone but Dark Star's face had disappeared in an instant as Gendry charged forward like a bull. All thoughts had left him and only rage was with him. His hammer crushed every skull before him like they were paste as he kept charging. It kept getting redder and redder for Gendry as he made his way closer. Seeing nothing but Dark Star and hearing only the screams as he kept going through whatever was before him. His heart was beating furiously alongside each swing of the Warhammer. It was red too. And it became redder when he got to those that dared harm his brother. Gendry's Warhammer smashed against the Dornish around Ned. Their spears turned to ruin and their bones to dust as he cleared an opening for his friend to get up. His brother nodded gratefully as he started to gracefully cut back to the lines.

Gendry could barely see that nod for the blood, continuing to tear forward and at Dark Star. He wouldn't stop until the shit was dead. Until he'd gored him He could see a hint of fear in his eyes as the hammer swung towards Dayne. Gendry roared as he smashed at the sword again and again. Pushing Dark Star further and further back; more blood joining with Gendry's hammer. Each strike of the hammer felt more brutal and punishing as it hit the steel sword. And then the hammer broke the sword in half. Gendry roared again as he smashed the hammer into Dark Star's terrified face. Gerold Dayne wasn't quick enough to duck as the hammer cleaved the top half of his skull off. Gendry roared again as his vision turned redder, turning his attention to the Dornish around him. He swung again and again until a piercing shout came from his brother.

"Retreat! Fall Back Bullhorns!"

The words brought him back for a moment to see that the men were running into the mountains and the riders were powering along. Only Edric and a few riders were waiting for him on horseback with a horse for himself. Gendry bolted towards them, running across a litter of bodies from a distance he didn't think he'd covered. The lines had done better than expected.

"How did you not hear the horn for retreat?!" Ned yelled in astonishment as Gendry got on his horse and started to ride with speed in the pass.

"I didn't hear it! The enemy must have been too loud!" Gendry answered.

Ned looked at him in disbelief. "You turned the battlefield silent with that hammer! You gave the men more time to fall back than we'd hoped!"

Gendry didn't believe him as they rode away. The sound of Cavalry starting to come from behind.

"Your plan worked then! We've got them on our arses! Where now?"

Ned was still looking at him with disbelief. "We keep riding brother. All the way to Black Haven where we can hide until Yronwood does his part!"

Gendry smiled at his brother as the group rode away from the Dornish army that would be dogging their steps.

Hope you all enjoyed it! This is a short battle but we're getting closer tae the big battle. I just want ate show other things are going on across the realm. In this case, because Arianne hasnae been able tae manage both Dorne and the court at King's Landing. Some Lords have discontent and are backing Manfrey as a viable alternative. Dayne convinced Yrownwood tae dae this so they could get more houses to support them. Yronwood would have wanted tae take Dorne fir himself.

And the strategy was all about making the Dornish host look forward instead of behind. If they were going at a normal pace they could have had a better chance of receiving news and sending troops back once sky reach had been sieged and taken.

I wanted tae show that Edric is the honourable sword of the morning. Brill warrior but wasnae going tae be a kinslayer. ANd Gendry is his Father's son fir all that he is happy being a commoner and knight.

Next chapter is Sansa which will be a reunion wae the pack

Feel free tae comment and ask questions as always.