Robb Starke is the oldest of all the children of Eddard, and Catelyn Starke making him a senior member of House Starke of Stormwind. Robb is the eldest son of Lord Eddard Stark by his wife, Catelyn. He has two younger trueborn brothers, Brann Starke andRickon Starke, and two sisters, Sansa Starke and Arya Starke. He is also close to his half-brother, Jon Snow, and to his father's ward, Theon Greyjoy , whom he counts as his best friend outside of the family. He has been trained from childhood to wield a sword and wear armor by Stormwind's master at arms, and is highly proficient with both for his young age. He has a pet direwolf named Grey Wind. Robb Starke is in a romantic relationship with Obella Martell of whome he has been in a relationship with since the day they met during the The Journey, and during the days following the Invasion of Westbridge the two marry in Lucerne. With Obella Martell he has two children in the form of Tollena, and Eddard Starke of whom his daughter Tollena is being educated with Robb's brother Rickon, while his son Eddard is travelling with his parents as they fight eastward into Bolten as Obella refuses to leave his side. Robb Starke also has two bastard children with Dacey Mormont in the form of Catelyn, and Robb Mormont of whom is a young girl nearly the same age as Tollena and on Bear Island she is already begining to use a weapon, while his son Robb is still rather young at the time of Burning Dreams but is already a spitting image of his father.
Robb Starke along with his best friend Theon Greyjoy gained quite the reputation during the conflict with Gondor, and this has created an even larger conflict with Jamie Lannister who has been rivals with him for most of their lives. Robb Starke would join the rebel forces that joined with William Lovie III. during the events of the Journey and during this he fought at the Battle of Minas Ithil where he was badly wounded taking an two arrows during the fighting, but still accompanied the army to Tree Hill following the battle, and then was present for the coronation of William Lovie III. Robb's growing influence and respect as a truly brilliant commander means that his rivalry will only increase in the coming conflict in Westros. Following the Invasion of Westbridge it would be Rob Starke that would marry Obella Martell in a ceremony in Stormwind, and only a month after this they came to find she was pregnant with their first child. Robb and Obella would remain in Stormwind for two months spending time together for the first not having to rush, or worry about whatever task they were forced to do and it was the time of their lives. Obella would now be known as Obella Starke and would accompany Robb as he took command of the province of Noveria north of Westbridge. In Noveria Robb Starke was meant to prepare the province for Brann Starke who was going to be in control of the province once he reached the point that they felt he could handle the position. While commanding Noveria Robb Starke would fortify the area, and would become known for leading the province in the Battle of Saalfeld and during the First Lucerne-Tevinter War. At the Battle of Saalfeld Robb Starke would route the army of Tevinter that was besieging the city. He would during the battle fight side beside with Obella Starke of which together they would be monsterous on the battlefield. Obella would during the battle also kill Astoria Malfoy the wife of Draco of which Draco witnessed while fighting nearbye and would attempt to avenge his wife but was defeated by Robb Starke before being pulled off the field by his personal gaurd. Robb Starke after fighting in the north for nearly a year would be forced to take command of the Starke forces attacking Karhold after his brother Jon Snow made the decision to reject the offer of being logitimized and intead wanted to head north and asssit in Frostfang. Understanding the importance of the north as well Robb would travel with Obella and their child to Koenisburg where they would meet Jon Snow for the last time before he was to head to Frostfang.
"I knew what I was supposed to be from the first day I could walk."
-Robb Starke
Robb was trained from childhood to wield a sword and wear armor by House Starke's Master-at-Arms Rodrik Cassel, and is highly proficient with both for his young age. He knew his role would be to eventually lead the Starke forces, and after that replace his father as Lord of Stormwind, and this meant the world to him. When Robb turned 7 years old he was paired with a new comer to the city in Theon Greyjoy of House Greyjoy. When he arrived in Stormwind he was paired with Robb Starke for much of his youth by Eddard Starke parents in order to produce a close friendship that would assist both children. This strategy while originally caused a lot of conflict between the two boys eventually created a very close almost brother relationship between the two. During his youth outside of Theon Greyjoy, and Jon Snow upon his arrival Robb Starke is close friends with Fladen Termont, and Brandon Starke II. of which the two of them would become center pieces in his life moving forward.
The Raid
“We lost a member of this family father. Do you even remember Theon? Do you even care that he is in the hands of those who know nothing of our ways? Do you not care that your son is gone?”
— Asha Greyjoy
The Iron Fleet had become brazen in its actions during Theon Greyjoy's youth, and on one such raid of the area west of the Rhine, and very near to Stormwind Theon was brought with the raiding crew in order to see it in action. The captain of the ship had been ordered to raid the area south of Westbridge, and had taken those commands very liberally when he went all the way south to the rich countryside east of Stormwind. Attacking this area was forbidden because the leadership of the Iron Islands wanted to take Lorderon and when they did they would need Lucerne as an ally against the very hostile forces of Gondor, and Arnor. The captain disregarded this and they made landing in the area where the Port of Stormwind stands now, but at the time it was the neutral village of Mul. As the raiders landed Theon waited on the boat for them to return but two days went by and still noone returned. Eventually a group of men at arms from Stormwind arrived led by Eddard Starke at the location and took young Theon into captivity, but Theon was able to hide his friend and cousin Dagon Greyjoy II. and thus Dagon was not captured and hid himself in the wilds. House Starke who had destroyed the raiding party, and then captured young Theon sent a letter to the Iron Islands suggesting that they not return to raiding this area of Lucerne if they wanted one of their princes back, and by this point Dagon Greyjoy II. found his way to the nearest major port of the area in Castamere where he would smuggle himself back to the Iron Islands. The letter was sent back with a response from Balon Greyjoy who didn't want to make an enemy of Lucerne since he down the road saw a great possibility in trade with them once he took control of Lorderon. In order to keep the peace he offered Theon as a gift to House Starke, and an olive branch to let them know he wanted nothing of harm to come to Lucerne. The leadership of House accepted the gift and Theon Greyjoy became a member of the House Starke Honor Gaurd under the care of Eddard Starke, and was paired very closely with Eddard's eldest son in the form of Robb Starke as well as Eddard's nephew Brandon Starke II.
Direwolves
"It was a moment of clarity for the group of us. It would be the last moment for a long time that all the Starke boys were together and in this way I always remember it fondly even if I also remember what I was forced to do."
-Eddard Starke
Bran is among a group of twenty men who witness Eddard dispense the king's justice to a deserter of the Starke Honor Guard, the first time Bran is allowed to accompany such a group. Lord Eddard questions the man briefly, and then Theon gives Eddard his Valyrian steel sword Ice. Jon Bran's bastard brother tells him to watch and not look away, and Bran watches as his father strikes off the man's head. The head lands by Theon, who laughs and kicks it away. Jon calls Theon an ass and compliments Bran on his poise during the execution. On the way back to Stormwind, Robb and Jon argue about whether the deserter died bravely. They race their horses, and Eddard comes up to speak to Bran. He asks if Bran knows why he executed the man himself. He explains that the First Men, of whom the Starks are descendents, believe that the man who pronounces the verdict should do the execution himself, lest he become too comfortable in ordering deaths. The Starks still hold to that principle.
"The Direwolves changed our lives. Despite the fact that we didn't know it then everything after that would share a little of the moment that we decided to take them with us."
-Bran Starke
Jon calls from up ahead, for them to come see what he and Robb have found. They find a corpse of a direwolf, as large as Bran's pony, Theon comments that direwolves have not been seen south of the Wall for two hundred years. Given that the direwolf is the sigil of the family and there are as many pups as the Stark children (even an albino runt for Jon), they take the pups with them. Bran and each of the other Stark siblings receives one of the young animals as a pet, but over time these will prove to be far more then just pets. Robb names his Grey Wind and Bran names his Summer, whilst Eddard's daughters Sansa and Arya name theirs Lady and Nymeria respectively. Eddard's youngest, three-year-old Rickon, names his Shaggydog. Unexpectedly, Jon finds a sixth pup lying separately nearby: an albino runt with white fur and red eyes. Jon claims this one, Ghost, for himself.
Lucernian Invasion of Rhunian One day you men will look back and ask yourself what the hell you did here. You attacked us while were fighting monsters. So much for the honor of the Dragons.
“James Lovie second of his name forced us to invade a realm we had only shared interests with. He saw a chance to take advantage of a realm fighting against a shared enemy, and for that there can be no forgiveness.”
— Eddard Starke
The Lucernian Invasion of Rhunian begin after an increasingly devolving James Lovie II. recieved word from Gondor that they needed help in fighting the Orcs on their eastern border. James would summon the council of Lucerne and reluctantly everyone outside of Forks came to the meeting but instead of proposing assistance to Gondor it was James that discussed his desire to attack and gain control of the Rhunian region of Gondor. Upon hearing this the Starke forces that were present would react with shock and resisted this heavily, but in this they were supported by none of the other members of the council who all have been successfully intimated by what everyone knows was James reaction to the last time the lords resisted him in the form of The Plague. When Eddard Starke continued to resist the wishes of James it was James Nighting and several guards who brought Rickon Starke, and Lyanna Starke and in front of the council Rickons life was threatened if Eddard did not agree to follow through. Unwilling to lose his son and sister it was Eddard that agreed to lead his forces in assaulting Gondor, and alongside Winterfell it was the Grand State of Castamere and several other prominent areas in the Valley that would be commanded to begin preperations for the assault on Rhunian. Eddard would remain behind after the rest of the council was sent away and it was made clear that Rickon, and Lyanna would remain in Lucerne and that if the Starke's did not make good on their word then not only would Rickon, and Lyanna be executed but the next council meeting would be about removing House Starke from their position.
“Your father sent me letters detailing how many troops he was planning on sending us in support. He spent weeks lying to me. Promices are tough to hear from a Lovie.”
— Tari-Aragorn Elessar III.
While this was being planned it was James that was communicating with Gondor about his plans to support them in a push into Umbar to create a barrier between the two nations, and thus Gondor was moving troops to the Ethring region while Lucerne was moving troops to the Gondor border. Rhunian thus would have only its own forces, and a small amount of reserves from Gondor to defend it if the Lucernians attacked the land, but one element that the Lucernians had not anticiapted was the arrival of Tur-Eldarion Elessar a prince of Gondor who arrived in Langstrand to begin recruiting troops in Rhunian and this drive for recruitment would bring thousands of extra troops into Rhunian. When the Starke's did little more then send small outriders against northern Rhunian, and a contingent of Mormont men from Bear Island it was left to the Lannisters to actually instigate the conflict. Tywin, and Tygett Lannister would send hundreds of cavalry into central Rhunian against the villages along the border, and proceeded to ransack and pillage the entire area leading to at first confusion from Gondor who had signed alliance papers and had principally agreed on a mutual plan to attack Umbar. Gondorian diplomats were imprisoned in both Castamere and Winterfell and attempts to communicate were met with silence leading to a shocked Gondorian prince Tur-Eldarion to send word to the Gondor capital that was was now declared with Lucerne.
Lannister Invasion of Langstrad
“I looked at the conflict in two different lenses. The first was my belief that the king was increasingly moving in the direction of a mad King and this decision wreaked of a lack of foresight. On the other hand control of Lanstrand would be a great addition to the power of House Lannister.”
— Tywin Lannister
As the Gondorians were mobilizing it was the Lannisters who smashed into the western areas of Rhunian taking control of dozens of villages and putting four towns under siege. House Lannister moved their main army straight out of Lannistane alongside all of their vassals, and other houses and moved directly towards Langstrand. The Lannisters were led by Tywin Lannister of whom took complete charge of the siege of Langstrand, and then he sent his family members to take control of the various villages, and castles nearby. The defenders of Langstrand were offered quarter, but refused under the command of Haalbrad and demanded the Lucernians leave their lands or else face the consequences. The defenders were outnumbered, but Langstrand sat on the edge of water, and the river bed was shielded by cliffs which meant they could get some supplies inside, thus making the siege even longer.
Invasion of Tolhnen
Elements from Mander, and southern Castamere landed by boat in southern Rhunian and placed the town of Tolhnen under siege as well as spread out throughout the coastline of southern Rhunian attempting to gain control of the entire southern coast.
Sack of Tolhnen
Invasion of Torginiath
With his brother Guntram still missing it was Arwin that took command of the House Jest forces during the Lucernian Invasion of Rhunian and his forces would launch a naval invasion of the port town of Minas Torginiath, but before he could reach the port he took part in a brief naval battle outside Torginiath where he sunk most of the Gondor navy. Having gained control of the port of Torginiath it was Arwin that situated his forces in a garrison position as per his commands from the Lannister high command, and prepared for any sort of invasion by the forces of mainland Gondor. During this garrison duty he would become close with the Admiral of the Torginiath naval forces in the form of Ka-Alisse Maethadis, and their friendship would allow for a more peaceful control of Torginiath as Alisse assisted him in controlling the city. Arwin would agree to Alisse's desire to travel to Tolhnen and try and save her brother and sent her there with three men, and before she left the two shared a kiss and promices of more for the two of them hung in the air as she left Torginiath for Tolhnen.
Exodus of Torginiath
The men that Arwin had sent to accompany Alisse to Tolhnen returned and told him that she had been executed alongside hundreds of other innocents by the order of Alberich Grefford, as well as telling him that Alberich was on his way to Torginiath. Realizing what Alberich would do if he came to Torginiath he would take his ship and meet with Admiral Ka-Nethion Authion and would faciliate the exodus of hundreds of high ranking nobles out of Minas Torginiath by boat, and when Alberich arrived this exodus was almost complete and once again in his desire to continue his ethnic cleansing program it was Alberich who attempted to order a fight with the Gondor navy. This attempt was resisted by Arwin and once again Alberich prepared to fight a fellow Lucernian force, and this time there was no high ranking Lucernian commander to stop him and thus started the Skirmish At Torginiath. During the brief skirmish between the forces loyal to Arwin and those loylal to Alberich hundreds were killed but when the population of Torginiath came to the streets in support of Arwin it was Alberich that forced to flee the city leaving Arwin firmly in control of Torginiath.
Invasion of Adrahil
With the Lannisters fully preparing to invade and once that war being declared it was the Starke's no matter what they wanted, and they massed all their vassals into the area now known as Arathor and prepared to attack into Central Rhunian and upwards, while the Lannisters already had mobilized were preparing to attack southern Rhunian, and upwards from there. It was this point that James Lovie would send forces from his own Circle of Magi of whom led by Kieth Schwartz, and accompanied by men from House Lerman under the command of Faedra Lerman, and Logan Lerman and these forces were sent to watch over the leadership of House Starke of whom James Lovie had no trust in. The strategy of House Starke though was for their forces to thrust against the large town of Adrahil, while there forces then moved against the villages north of Adrahil in an attempt to draw the Gondor soldiers into pitched battles that worked against them. They would be led by Eddard Starke, and Brandon Starke of which the two brothers would lead the siege of Adrahil.
Gondorian Counter Attack
“It was just another tick in a nearly endless supply of failures given to us by Bill Lovie. He told us noone would come, and here we were facing the might of the two princes of Gondor and a weaker but still substantial army.”
— Eddard Starke
Following this the conflict escalated very quickly when despite the conflicts on the eastern half of their Kingdom the forces of Gondor moved significant forces to the western half against the forces of Stormwind. During this escalation the forces of House Lannister, and House Starke moved increasingly to the front, with both sides employing different strategies. House Lannister and its forces continued to move against the area around the large Gondor town of Langstrand which they had surrounded with forces, and moved a smaller force of more elite irregular troops led by many of their more elite forces to harass the lands south of Adrahil where the main thrust of House Starke was moving against. This strategy worked with both the forces assisted by a small detatchment sent from House Ordos. House Ordos sent an elite force of siege experts that assisted with both the siege of Langstrand, and Adrahil with both logistics and leadership for goals of the sieges. On the other side of the conflict was the defenders of Gondor of whom were led by Eldarion Elessar, his brother Ildarion, and their uncle Halbaard Elessar. The conflict in the east was dire, and thus Gondor was forced to rely on the two princes, and the forces they brought were relatively weak auxiliary forces from south western Gondor, and not the more battle hardened eastern troops. The forces of Gondor were obviously relying mainly on defenders made up of the forces of the two major towns Adrahil, and Langstrand and because of this they were in a lot of trouble when it came to the massive forces being brought to bear by Castamere, Winterfell, Mander, and Hillsbrad. The northern town of Adrahil was led by the two sons of the King, while Lanstrand was held by Halbaard Elessar making for serious leadership in the two towns.
Hiding
“Did my father expect me to leave you here Liana? Did he think I would turn away? I hope he thinks more of me now then he clearly thought of me back then.”
— Philip Prester
It would be at this time that Liana Beyne would be nearly completely in love with Philip Prester by the time the two were fourteen and it was this love that led Philip to take drastic actions when his father sent him word about the invasion of Rhuthian. The word came in the form of several pages, and a man at arm in the form of Tristen of Feastfires of whom would take Philip aside and tell him he needed to come with them as the attack on Rhuthian was weeks away. Learning this he would in the dead of night sneak away from the sleeping Tristen of Feastfires and go to Liana's father Menagil Beyne of whom would assemble his family after hearing what Philip had to say, and would put complete faith in the young Philip Prester when he handed him over his two daughters for protection, and with only supplies and horses he sent them away from Castle Beyne for the west. Tristen of Feastfires would awaken and realizing quickly what had happened left the castle with little resistance from House Beyne of whom was happy to have him and his two squires gone. Philip would reach the Gondorian port town of Leghland where they found passage to Lucerne where shortly after arriving on shore they found a large encampment of Lucernian forces carrying the banner of House Starke. Going into the camp of House Starke Philip Prester would present himself to the Starke leadership of whom listened to him as he was the heir to a powerful house, and they would do the honorable thing when they sent him northward with Liana and Vellia to Winterfell. As the conflict neared its beginning his presence in Winterfell would become known when Tristen of Feastfires finally found his trail after weeks of looking, and would lie saying Tywin Lannister himself had summoned Philip, and with this command in place Philip would tearfully say goodbye for a time to Liana Beyne while traveling with Tristen to the forces of House Prester.
Chasing the Prince
When he was given word that Ildarion Elessar had fled Adrahil and was moving south he sent his most trusted commander in his son Jaime Lannister north to chase him down with most of the heavy cavalry and the entire force of House Reyne that had come with House Lannister. Jaime Lannister would move quickly north, but was very careful to move his large force out of sight of any force that they saw and through this strategy he moved undetected through Gondor and begin stalking Ildarion Elessar and his force so that he could capture the prince before the Starke's got him. Jaime got close to Ildarion Elessar twice but both times Ildarion was able to meneaver himself away from the forces of Jaime Lannister, and escape. Either way the forces of Ildarion were basically reduced to running around for nearly a month as they were chased by Jaime Lannister and this left them unable to take part in any actual fighting.
“My father may not have noticed but while Jaime was running about chasing around Ildarion Elessar, I was taking control of an entire province of Gondor.”
— Tyrion Lannister
While Jaime was searching for Ildarion Elessar his brother in Tyrion Lannister moved throughout the region between around Langstrand with a largely weakly equipped ground force and begin capturing the various castles, and forts that dotted this region. These forts, and castles were far weaker then they had ever been because the west was seen by Gondor as the area that they least needed to be worried about. Despite this though Tyrion had to deal with each of these defences of which the largest was the fort of Amon Hen of which was defended by six hundred men of Gondor and was perched on a cliff overlooking the valley around it. Tyrion would use great skill in traversing the valley around the fort which allowed him to sneak his forces to the depths surrounding the fort. The forces of Gondor in many places fought to the last man, but were clearly given some orders for larger garrisons to surrender and save their lives. In Amon Hen the defenders lost some three hundred troops in the suprise attack, but still held on for hours before they surrendered and were sent westward as prisoners. With Tyrion sacking castle after castle he finally had managed to block the eastern river approach into Langstrand thus closing the city off from supplies by the water, and thus making starving them out once more an option.
The Chase Expands
“I knew I had to take control of the situation before the Lannisters got their brand of victory. The only problem was that I knew Halbaard very well and I didn't have any violent quarrel with the city.”
— Eddard Starke
Theon Greyjoy joined Robb Starke in a raiding party that was basically meant to harass, and capture large tracts of land in the hopes of getting the Gondorians to leave their fortifications and walk into traps north of Adrahil. While they did this Jon Snow led a smaller group of heavy cavalry against the villages of this area, and he slowly but surely became a sort of vangaurd for the larger cavalry force of Theon, and Robb. At this point with fighting breaking out all over the region the main army of Eddard Starke supported by House Baratheon and some logistics sent by House Ordos moved against the town of Adrahil and put the town completely under siege. Before they could get the entire town under siege though one of the brothers in Ildarion left the city from the west with a large force of heavy, and light cavalry and made his way south to defend Langstrad where the the city was more capable of falling quickly. With Adrahil under siege and the objective of starving the town out until it surrendered Eddard gave the command to begin the heavy harrasment in the north. House Mormont and the Bear Island troops would capture nearly all the mines, and livestock of the area and bring it westward, while the other Bear Island troops ransacked northern Rhunian and took the spoils into Lucerne. While this was happening the forces of House Tarly of whom commanded a large force would move eastward towards Lamedon, where they would arrive and thus block off the ability of Gondor to send any kind of supplies or reinforcements into the area. Randyll Tarly would hold two castles west of Lamedon, and despite attempts by the Lamedon troops to dislodge him, he was a master tactision and was unable to be removed.
“My father gave me strict orders that I wasn't to die.”
— Robb Starke
Theon and Robb would command together a force of cavalary of which they used brilliantly and after raiding the village of Meadow's Grove they noticed a rather large group of Gondor soilders marching eastward and they immediatly begin following the group. After a full day of marching the Gondor forces set up camp inside a forest and they believed they had the night to rest before marching again. This was a large mistake, and the forces of Theon and Robb moved quickly to surround the camp. While they surrounded the camp the forces of Jon Snow moved against the only real chance of the Gondor force to be saved when they moved against a cavalry force led by one of the local commanders. In the coming Raid on Groilline Jon Snow would discover that Ildarion was with that camped force, and would send word to Robb about this, while Jamie Lannister was not told or made aware of any changes.
Raid on Groiline
“My success in the capture of Groiline would allow me to get out of the shadow of being a bastard son of the Lord of Stormwind, but it also sent me to the north.”
— Jon Snow
During the days of the war with Gondor, Jon Snow was tasked with a small unit of troops that he was tasked with raiding the northern farmlands in order to draw out the outstretched Gondor forces into the trap of the army of House Lannister, and House Starke. In Jon's role he would become aware of how outstretched the Gondor forces were when he chased a force of Gondor cavalry through the night and as he passed by the village of Groiline his scouts reported no defenders. His scouts informed him that the cavalry had no intention of stopping as they were moving eastwards towards Prince Ildarion of whom was being shadowed by both Robb Starke, and Jaime Lannister. Seeing this as an oppurtunity he would stop chasing the cavalry and would instead move his force to Groiline and capture the village, thus unknown to Ildarion Elessar and his forces the road west was free for them to go back through, but without knowing that they made camp that nigh with no knowledge they were trapped on all sides except one.
“I followed my orders to the letter. I chased that foolish prince through the forests for weeks, and each time I got close he ran a little faster. When I finally caught him I was failed by my scouts of whom I can only assume died for their mistake.”
— Jamie Lannister
As Jamie Lannister made his way north his scouts were constantly scanning the woods, and the villages that they moved through, and around in the guise of finding Ildarion. As this continued they reached just east of Castle Beyne when they caught the scent of Ildarion as he was travelling north of the castle fighting a running battle against a House Starke cavalry force. His scouts reported to him that the forces of House Starke that were involved were those of his rival in Robb Starke so he moved quicker then he wanted to in order to catch Ildarion. As he moved with less stealth now his force was noticed by a local garrison of whom was led by the able commander Aegnor Tal-Villion of whom begin shadowing the larger Lannister force. Aegnor was a Numenorian just like his friend Ildarion Ellessar and knew the importance of his prince, and thus he made the decision to stop Jame Lannister by whatever means necessary. Aegnor quickly realized as he followed Jamie's forces that Jamie was attempting to harry his prince, and thus Aegnor prepared most of his men for the defence of their fort, while he and a company fifty cavalry begin to harass the rear echolon of the Jaime Lannister force. Jaime
Lannister was in a meeting with his scouts of whom informed him that Ildarion was only a few hours away and if they marched now they could catch him. As he prepared to give the command the cries of battle went out as the cavalry of Aegnor crashed into the camp killing at random. As they charged into the camp Aegnor would set off extremely loud horns and cut the ropes that bound the horses thus causing the Lannister horses to go screaming into the night. Jaime moved into the fray, and after a brief fight the cavalry of Aegnor calmly retreated from the field. The Lannisters had lost nearly two hundred men in the brief fight, and their supplies were in tatters following the ambush so Jaime was forced to deal with the forces of Aegnor and resist the capture of Ildarion as he didn't have the capable forces anymore. Having saved his prince from capture Aegnor retreated to Castle Trenabal where they bunkered in for the inevitable counter assault.
Ambush at Meadow's Grove
“The culmination of everything over the past months was finally coming together, and the closeness of it gave me slight pause. I moved into that camp with the belief that I would either be sealing his coffin, or walking into the trap that sealed mine.”
— Robb Starke
Before Jon Snow had moved against the village of Goiline he had sent a raven scout northwest towards where he believed his brother to be with the information that he had Ildarion surrounded from the north, while Jaime Lannister was in the south blocking that route, and a force of cavalry was coming from the west to alert the Ildarion force of their predicament. Realizing they had to stop the cavalry force Robb Starke ordered a bold move when he moved his entire force south west into the path of the cavalry. His force would get off their horses and quickly prepare and ambush for the force of maybe fifteen cavalry, and when the force arrived they quickly saw they were in a lot of trouble so they surrendered with only two casualties of whom had attempted to flee. Robb's force would quickly gain the information from the cavalry about where the prince was precisely located, and with this information they were sent to the rear lines by some of the men, and the rest of the force moved towards the force of Ildarion. With no hope of relief, or any new information they knew they had Ildarion this night if they worked this well. Theon, and Robb's forces moved silently in the night and proceeded to take out the scouts that had been posted to watch for just this event. With the scouts taken out the forces moved into the camp, and went tent to tent killing the nearly 300 strong Gondor force. Quickly into the attack the Gondorians woke up on mass after a large death scream, and combat raged across the camp with the House Starke force vastly outnumbering the Gondorians and completely surrounded and without their equipment on. The force had been chased by Jamie Lannister for well over a month, and due to House Tarly closing the supplies they were not able to be releived as often, and thus for all of these reasons by the time they were now in battle they were no longer even capable of fighting. After only a few minutes the Gondorians begin to surrender, and it was during this end of the fighting that Robb Starke noticed that one of the fighters who had remained fighting was Ildarion Elessar the son of the King of Gondor.
“Seeing him like this was exactly what I thought it would look like. He was unarmored due to the fact that he was probably catching the first true sleep he'd had in over a month, and this was how it turned out for him. He killed two of my men before I was able to intervene, and fighting him made me realize how much training I still needed to do. If he wasn't half asleep, and ragged from being worn down for two months I would have never won that fight, but he was and I won.”
— Robb Starke
Robb immediatly engaged him in combat and on his own velition was able to defeat him only because he could tell that Ildarion was half dead from fatigue, and being unequipped with armor, or a shield. When Ildarion fell defeated the rest of the Gondor force was swiftly throwing down their weapons and surrendering leaving the full Starke force with a nearly complete victory. With Ildarion defeated Robb was egged on by Theon to kill him, and for a moment Robb contimplated listening to his friend but he then thought strategically and realized that if they had the prince they could basically ransom whatever they wanted from the Gondorians. With this in mind Robb decided instead of killing him he would instead take him in as a prisoner, and ordered the force to pull back to their original position with their now sixty prisoners along with the prince of Gondor.
Prisoner
“I never thought I would be captured. Even as I was chased I just assumed I would get away.”
— Ildarion Ellessar
Robb Starke would pull his force back behind the lines, and there would set up a camp for all the prisoners they had captured and then sent word to his father about the capture of Ildarion, which would then spread like wildfire. When Eddard heard of this news he sent word to Eldarion in Adrahil of whom then sent word to Aragorn of this change in events. Aragorn had two options in front of him. The first option was to engage the Lucernians in a full pitched battle which he might lose, and if he didn't lose he would most likely lose on the east because of all the causualites. Or he surrendered most of the Gondor lands west of the River Rhine. In the end he would send word to Eldarion that their forces were going to surrender under the terms that all Gondor citizens, and forces be allowed free pass into Gondor, along with the return of Ildarion, and all prisoners. Bill Lovie would send word to Eddard that he was incoming to the camp that Eddard and Tywin Lannister were meeting, but when the letter came the servent that brought it told them that Bill planned to execute Ildarion on the spot.
“The King was coming to kill the prisoner that stood between me and a lot of power. I couldn't let his stupidity and blatent attempts at war to stand between me and all that. Luckily for me Eddard Starke was able to ignore his honor for a second and do exactly what had to be done.”
— Tywin Lannister
Both commanders understood that if they did this it would mean all out war which was stupid since they could have all of this land with no bloodshed. Because of this they hid the note, and told the scout that the prisoners were already in transfer back to Gondor. With this information Bill Lovie would return to Lucerne instead of seeing the two Lords, and they both knew they had made an enemy that day. When this happened Ildarion was given word by Robb Starke that he was to be released along with all of his men. The two would discuss the coming world that they both lived in, and Robb Starke would gain a lot of respect for Ildarion, and the same would be true of Ildarion for Robb Starke.
The Early Arrival You just sent me away Will. You sent me away on what I thought was a real reason, but from where I stand it looks like it was worth nothing. You could have sent any of them, but instead you sent me. I did what you asked me and in return I lost everything I had ever dreamed of. I must now stand here and watch the future I dreamed lived out with that Italian. I lost everything while I was away. For nothing. For absolutely nothing. What makes it worse is you still can't see.
Going to Stormwind
“I trusted William with my life, and it was the only reason that I would have ever travelled so far from anything I knew. His belief in me pushed me forward, and drove me to be better then I could ever have been without him.”
— Leven Martell
Leven alongside her sisters, Lyanna Starke and Ellia Snow would join with a group of twelve Martell men at arms of whom was sent to join them on their trip to Stormwind, as well as a group of four men at arms for House Fraizen who were led by Taelan Fraizen to also accompany them to Stormwind. The group would arrive at the tiny port of Castle Dalmatia and stayed the night there meeting briefly with Landsgrave Modius Dalmatia of whom Leven did not reveal anything she thought to be important but gave enough when she revealed that she had been sent by William. Modius was a devout loyalist to James having been at the Battle of Lyons and this loyalty led to him sending his brother Decius Dalmatia to Lucerne to find out what was happening. Leven and her party left the next morning accompanied this time by Appius Dalmatia the heir of House Dalmatia who Modius had given orders to watch everything Leven did and then come back. Arriving at the port of Littleheim south of Stormwind they would not reveal their purpose and made no attempt to meet with local leadership and instead made their way directly to the city of Stormwind. As they made their way northward it was Lyanna Starke that would be saddened by how little assistence she was able to provide for their journey as she barely remembered her former home. Reaching the outskirts of the city there arrival was expected by House Starke who met Leven Martell and her group with Robb Starke of whom would be sent as the envoy for the house since Brandon, and Eddard Starke had traveled to the south in order to meet the Lannisters and try and get them to join with William Lovie III. and thus assist the young prince. Robb immediately became the source of much interest for Leven`s sister Obella of whom would watch him very closely and he would do the same as he alongside his father`s vassals led them throughout Stormwind. Getting Leven a room in the Starke estate in Stormwind she and her sisters would get a good sleep in before their busy day the next day. Leven and her sisters would wake the next day and meet with Robb Starke again of whom told them that Eddard had promised the entire support of House Starke to the efforts of William Lovie. Robb Starke would take her throughout the city of Stormwind where Robb and her sister Obella Martell grew closer and closer before eventually Leven suggested that Robb show Obella privately the second tier of the city while she and her sister Dorea Martell were escorted by Robb's sister Sansa Starke of whom showed herself to be a beautiful and charismatic young lady just younger then Leven, but the same age as Dorea.
“Carlisle had told me to expect stiff resistence to the idea of going behind the kings back. He hadn`t told me they hated the king without pause.”
— Leven Martell
On the second day of their stay in Stormwind it would be Eddard and Brandon Starke that arrived back in Stormwind accompanied by a large force of House Starke. Following introducing himself it would be Eddard Starke that would meet with Leven alone, as she would make it clear in letters from William that she was a completely trusted member of his forces. Eddard thus spoke openly to her in a way that they were unable to do in letters, and really let her know about the things that James Lovie had done and the level of hatred the people had for him. Revealing to her first as well that he believed he had failed in his goal of gaining the support of the Lannisters he was dismayed that it seemed to him that the Lannisters would support the regime, but Leven was thankful for him having even attempted that knowing from her lessons how much division there was between the Lannisters and Starke's. At nearly this same time Decius Dalmatia would arrive in Lucerne where he would attempt to seek an audiance with James Lovie II. in order to let him know what was happening in the area. James was at this point battling for control with Vhloraz and thus was hidden away in the Cloud Tower by Khadgar, and Kieth and thus was not present at the Keep. Tristan Lovie would be told of the arrival of Decius by Tavin Slynt and learning of this he would meet with Decius and learn the location of Leven Martell and from the location of where she was going Tristan guessed that she would soon learn the extent of the rebellious elements of Lucerne. Taking the opportunity it would be Tristan that fabricated a letter from his father and gave this letter to Decius with the letter detailing his command to kidnap Leven Martell and bring her to Lucerne as a hostage.
Look at the world father. You were born into this land. You grew up here. These people swore their lives to you. How could you have done all of this? Look at everything you have done. You destroyed a city. Killed hundreds of good men out of fear. Is this how you want to be remembered father. Is this the world you want to leave behind? I know you were a good person once. Don't end it all here. Don't do this. For me father. For everything I supposedly mean to you. Don't do this.
"I wish nothing but the best for your friend, and the prince of the land in Lord William but his father isn't capable of leading anymore."
"So what are you suggesting?"
"I am suggesting Milady that prince William when he done in Forks should come to Stormwind and we shall do everything we can as a people to remove his father and place him on the throne." Picturing William on the throne was something I had done more times then I would ever admit to throughout my life, but hearing it out of the mouth of one of the most powerful men in Lucerne was something that I scarsley believed I had just heard.
"You understand I've know the King for my entire life."
"I know you have seen him your entire life, but my lady what do you truly know of this man." I thought about it and I had eaten dinner down the table from him hundreds of times, and what little had spoken while kind to me had always been for the ears of William. It was no secret that he wasn't a great man, but to suggest he was a tyrant as Eddard had wasn't something I understood.
"I'm not his blood, and he places the ideals of his family...prince William above all things." The honorable Eddard Starke could barely control himself at my near mistaken use of family over William. Sadly noone even his most direhard supporter would call Bill a family man. He was devoted to Will, but to his family...I dont think so.
"I'm sorry milady but when you are forced to exclude the entirety of his family outside of the prince he is not a family oriented man. I know the king well from when we were children, and the man I knew I can say is gone. He used to dote on his sister Catherine you know." He looked at me clearly wanting that to sink in. I had heard him yelling at Willliam's aunt but I had never seen any sort of time between them that would have indicated anything more then hate." For years she was everything to Bill. Then he met Lisa Tyrell and everything in his life just got even brighter."
"He loved her back then?" The fact that it was shocking that Bill loved his wife was something that struck me as odd. I had never thought of it before today, and that as well struck me as strange.
"He loved Lisa Tyrell like there was not another soul in the world. I was there at that tournament when he made her the Queen of Love and Beauty and I watched the two fall in love as they stared at eachother. It was pure love. But milady...lady Martell when he returned from Lyons he was changed."
"Changed how?" I knew the Battle of Lyons well. Thousands upon thousands of Lucernians had gone to war, and but a slimmer had returned. The destruction of the human alliance at the battle was legendary, but I had never heard William's father mention it once, so hearing Eddard say it was a defining moment in his life was shocking to me.
"Things no longer made him laugh. Everything was dark and twisted through his eyes. He pushed aside everything that had mattered to him including Lady Tyrell." He looked out the window as if remembering some distant event that pained him.
"Are you alright Lord Starke?"
"I'm fine milady just coming to terms with the fact that my old friend is gone was a painful thing to do, and its no easier now."
"You mean you came to this conclusion long ago?"
"Yes back during the days leading up to the Plague he was lost in madness and shouting during a meeting of the Lords and I realized it."
"The Plague my Lord?" As he went to speak a knock on the door brought our attention there and left the question hanging.
"You may enter." The door opened immediately after and I saw Robb open the door. Behind him walking away was another Starke man I remember as Brandon Starke II. while accompanying him was my sister Obella of whom was most likely leaving Robbs side for the first time since we had arrived.
"Father there is a party of Lannisters entering the city who wish to meet as well with Lady Martell." Eddard nearly burst from his seat before coming around to my side of the table and grabbing my cloak from the hanger on the wall.
"I am sorry Milady but we must cut our conversation short and meet with the Lannisters." He helped me up, and despite never needing the help I knew the reasons behind it, and I took his arm and pulled myself from the chair where he would place the cloak over my shoulders.
"I thought you believed it didn't go well speaking with Lord Tywin?"
"I guess the minds of people like the Lannisters are difficult to read for simple soldiers like me." He laughed as he said it before leading me out the door following behind Robb who led us through the winding hallways and out into the courtyard.
"Where are we to meet the Lannisters Ser Robb?"
"Meetings with the Lannisters are held in the High Keep." As he said High Keep I remembered from yesterday as we had made our way to the third teir of the city, and how high up it was. I wondered why two groups such as House Lannister, and House Starke would have ever thought it was a good idea to meet in a place so easily formed for throwing people off ledges in anger. Laughing to myself brought the attention of Robb of whom looked back and smiled to himself as if knowing I was laughing at some joke I told myself.
Walking along we were joined at the gate to the third tier by a young man dressed all in red armor, and a large Lion Emblem on his chest. It wasn't difficult to know he was a Lannister but Robb walked up to him and clasped his hand in what to me looked like friendship. The man smiled at Robb briefly exchanging words before the two laughed. The laughter of the two ended when me and Eddard reached them, and behind the young Lannister was approached by an older Lannister man with a massive Blond beard.
"Lord Eddard Starke it has been a long time since I have seen you."
"It has Ser Stafford. What brings you and your nephew to the gates to meet us?" So the young man was the nephew of Ser Stafford Lannister. Thinking back to my class time that could mean it was Lucion, Lancel, or Tyrek Lannister. I doubted Lucion as he was known as Lame Lannister for his ugly appearance and slow brain, but Lancel or Tyrek were both possiblities.
Stafford Lannister stepped forwards staring at me before speaking "To meet with the beautiful Lady Martell is more then enough reason to come here Lord Starke." He gave me a strange look as he said it, and I felt my arms instinctively pull my cloak around me a little further. It was cold so the act would be seen as such, but it was meant for more then keeping the fall snow off me.
"From our last talks it didn't seem your brother was willing to make the trip."
"You must have mistaken. We left a few hours after you did, and we are more then happy to meet a representative of the true King of Lucerne in William Lovie third of his name." Well that was shocking, but if he had wanted to let it sink in he didn't wait long before he nearly immediately turned around summoning the younger Lannister with a look to follow behind him and led us towards High Keep.
During this conversation Eddard would first reveal the emotional damage that was caused against Bill Lovie during the Battle of Lyons including the fact of how kind, and funny a person that Bill Lovie was before the events of the Battle of Lyons. Also revealing the first mention of the fact that Bill Lovie was responsible for the destruction of the Lucernian city of Tree Hill this would be a shocking revelation for a girl that was one of the few people who had been almost always treated with kindness by the King as Leven was one of basically three people that Bill Lovie did not outright hate.
“The Arrival of several Lannisters was shocking for everyone around, as Eddard had said the conversations hadn't indicated they would come. Something was changing in the air when the Starke's were willing to abandon the king, and the Lannisters were willing to do anything.”
— Leven Martell
As Leven talked with Eddard they were interrupted by Robb Starke entering to alert his father that several Lannisters had arrived in the city to meet with Leven. Eddard would lead Leven, and her sister to the Lannisters who waited in the main keep where it was said Tywin, Stafford, and Tyrek Lannister had come. Tywin would join Eddard and Leven in meeting, and Tywin appeared to Leven to be nothing like the man she had heard legends of back in Lucerne as this man in front of her discussed wanting to assist the prince, and wanting to eliminate the tyranny that his father had brought on the land. Eddard and Tywin would argue briefly over an event they called the Plague, but she knew nothing about it, so she made a note to find out about it later. Tywin did suggest that he wished to meet with the prince, as Eddard had and Leven knew her time in Stormwind was over and her time for returning to William was upon her he had one major truth to reveal. Eddard would take Leven to the top of Stormwind once more where joined by his wife he would reveal to Leven that James had orchestrated the destruction of Tree Hill, and that he was still actively resisting attempts to save those inside the city. Horrified by what this meant she would take a letter written by him and still in shock prepare to leave the city to return to William. While this was happening it was Decius Dalmatia that returned to Castle Dalmatia with the orders that he believed had come from James Lovie II. but were in fact false orders given by Tristan Lovie.
Stormwind Negotiations
“If he turns out to be a monster Robb do not fret. We have our out. I will not force your sister to marry any monster. I promise you this.”
— Eddard Starke
Following the departure of Leven Martell from Stormwind travelling to Forks in order to meet with William it would be the Lannisters that called a meeting with the Starke's. Meeting together at the the Keep of Stormwind the group would discuss moving forward as the Starke's were very clearly completely behind William Lovie III. but the Lannisters would quickly point out that in order to move forward and join this alliance they would need more. Discussions would begin when Tywin requested that Sansa Starke be betrothed to Joffrey Lannister of which was rejected initially but was eventually agreed to once assurances were made that if the relationship was not acceptable to both parties upon meeting then new arrangements would be made instead. With marriage ties to bind them there were deals made on trading and control of the Rhunian region of which more regulated what was quite a chaotic region, and thus the Lannisters would agree to join with the Starke's in their support of William. With the Lannisters now joining the forces of William it was the spies for James at the negotiations that would send word ahead of what had transpired in Stormwind. This word was taken by Canius Opimius westward, and while Canius himself would travel all the way to Lucerne to alert James it was Canius that also stopped at Castle Dalmatia to alert Landsgrave Modius Dalmatia of what was transpiring.
“You had a different feeling about the land after you heard the words of the honorable Eddard Starke. This was a man who you just knew from hearing him that he spilled out honor, and yet he was telling his horrible tales you just didn`t want to be true.”
— Leven Martell
With the loyalty of House Starke assured and Eddard promising to do his best for the rest of eastern Lucerne Leven would return to Lannistane and back to the boats which would take her directly to Forks. While this was happening the James loyalist Modius Dalmatia would be preparing an ambush in order to capture Leven and hold her as a means to bring William to the table. While the main ambush was being prepared at Castle Dalmatia it was Franzal Nighting and a group of Nighting soldiers present at Castle Dalmatia that would take a boat and attempt to make their own move against Leven. Franzal was hopeful that if he gained Leven before House Dalmatia then James Lovie II. would begin to favor House Nighting again. Before leaving for this ambush it was Franzal that left a letter for Rachel in Castle Dalmatia where she was rushing towards in order to find Franzal before anything could happen. The Nighting ship would use the cover of fog to join the small fleet of Leven Martell and getting inside their ranks it was Franzal and his force that would use rafts to get right beside the boat of Leven Martell and then used ropes to get on to the boat. Once on the boat they would spread out throughout the top deck where they would quickly kill the captain and two guards on the main deck in preparation for their move against Leven. Leven and Dorea were unable to sleep due to the snoring of Obella and thus decided to go to the main deck and sit for a time. Leaving their sleeping sister Obella they went to the top deck, and while at first, they brought nothing with them it was Leven that watched Dorea grab her dagger that led Leven to also grabbing her sword.
“I hope this letter finds you in good health Rachel. I want you to know I will always be thankful to you for raising me. You were the mother I was lucky enough to have, and for that I will always have nothing but love for you in my heart.”
— Franzal Nighting
When they reached the top deck, it was completely pitch black out, and the only light was the single flame burning beside captains’ wheel. Leven would approach the captain and find him with a knife in his neck and bleeding out all over the deck. Reaching for her sword she barely got it out before a dagger narrowly missed her head and slammed into the pole behind her. Sliding to the deck she was forced to defend herself as a red masked man charged at her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Dorea fighting against another man, and she could hear commotion as the rest of the boat clearly awoke from the fighting. Initially Losing her fight to the red masked man she would finally kill him after he tripped on one of the bodies strewn about the deck, and she would slice his head from his body before he fell into the river (The attacker would later turn out to be Franzal Nighting after Rachel Nighting revealed one of her cousins had been killed by Leven and this was the only instance that makes sense). The crew then broke through the locked door keeping them below and the other man would jump into the river to escape where two were killed by arrows fired at them but the remainder were able to swim back to their boat. Following this attack, the crew remained on heavy alert as they made their way westward and decided to stop at Castle Cerintha instead of Castle Dalmatia as they had originally planned due to Appius convinsing this was the best option. Appius for his part had become completely broken by what he had learned in Stormwind and now the assassination attempt made him even more confused over the truth, and thus while Leven stopped at Castle Cerintha it was Appius that took a ship and traveled to Castle Dalmatia.
1. Appius is stopped during his attempt to reach Castle Dalmatia 2. Camped army of Modius Dalmatia prepares to sail towards Castle Cerintha 3. Army of Modius lands west of Castle Cerintha in preperation for the Battle 4. Arrival of the Dalmatia fleet who blockades the port of Castle Cerintha 5. Meeting of Castle Cerintha where the negotiations for the surrender are made.
“We have to stop her because she found out the truth. Our loyalty to the king does not end. It doesn't matter what he has done.”
— Modius Dalmatia
Appius did not have to travel far before he ran into a blockade led by ships carrying the flag of his household. Approaching the ships he met with the captain of the fleet in Juventius Ovidus who told him that his father had camped on the shore and to speak with him of which Appius did and discovered what appeared to be thousands of troops all camped on the riverbank. Appius would meet go to his fathers tent where he found his father and all the Dalmatia vassals meeting in regards to what he quickly realized was an ambush on the fleet of Leven Martell. While Appius did not reveal that Leven was at Castle Cerintha it had already been revealed by one of the survivors from the Nighting failed attack, and thus the army was planning to move against Castle Cerintha while the fleet split up with most moving to Castle Cerintha to blockade the castle while the remainder split in half to block any attempt to relieve the castle from west, and east. While the vassals moved about to get ready to march, and sail it was Appius that met with his father telling him that Leven was a good person who was loyal to the prince. To his shock it was Modius that told his son he already knew that James had ordered the destruction of Tree Hill, and that was the reason they had to stop Leven, and then use her capture as leverage. Shocked by what he had discovered it was Appius that took command of several ships in the Dalmatia fleet and joined Juventius, and Pisentius in moving to Castle Cerintha to blockade the castle.
“This isn't personal Lady Martell. I just serve a different king.”
— Modius Dalmatia
Realizing that the words of his father had been lies, and they were following a mad king it would be Appius Dalmatia that would conspire with the loyalist Pisentius Larcius to gain control of the Dalmatia forces and stop his father from getting them all killed. While the fleet was blockading Castle Cerintha it was Appius and Pisentius that took a group of soldiers and made there way to the flag ship of the Dalmatia ships in the form of The Medee and would meet with captain Juventius Ovidus. Juventius was an honorable man, and had lost a brother at Tree Hill and thus when he was told what had actually transpired there he would join with Appius and with Juventius on their side they gained the fleet. Juventius would have several captains he wasn't sure of the loyalty of removed to their quarters, and with this control now in place it was Appius that attempted to end the battle before it could start. While the army of his father was preparing the siege it was Appius that took a raft and while carrying a white flag entered the port of Castle Cerintha. Quickly taken by the Cerintha forces he was brought to the main hall where Leven, and the Cerintha forces were planning for the coming battle. Meeting with them he revealed the changed loyalty of the fleet, and that if Leven would call a parlay with the Dalmatia forces he believed he could convince the other leaders of his fathers army to stand down.
“I would be within my rights to have you executed for what you have done. What you nearly did. I will instead allow you to return to your home under the watch of the new Lord of Dalmatia. You are not to leave your families lands until this is all over with. I trust you will watch over him Appius.”
— Leven Martell
Taking the advise of Appius its Leven that meets one last time with the forces of Modius and sending a messenger to the Modius forces she lies and says the meeting is where she will surrender to Modius. Leaving through the gate of Castle Cerintha with just Lord Atrius Cerintha, Dorea, and Titus Numonis she watches as Appius hides his face under a hood as he carries a white flag alongside the group as they walk towards the riders that have come from the Modius forces. Reaching the Modius group she can tell that he has brought many of his vassals to watch her surrender and realizes that Appius was right about what his reaction would be to her surrendering. The two barely speak before Appius removes his hood and calls out his fathers lies in front of the Dalmatia vassals, and the two argue for a few minutes before Clodius Cervidus the most powerful of the Dalmatia vassals voices his support of Appius. Realizing that he has lost its Modius that agrees to stand down and face the consequences of what he views as his devotion to his oaths. Following a discussion between Leven and Appius it is agreed that Modius would be placed under house arrest at Castle Dalmatia and remain there until William had made a decision on him. Appius would be given lordship of House Dalmatia by his father in front of their most prominent vassals and then while Appius commanded the vassals to prepare their forces to return home he had Juventius Ovidus who had just arrived at the meeting to take Modius to the Medee and personally take him back to Castle Dalmatia.
Arriving in Castle Dalmatia
“It was actually the first person I have ever killed. He moved quicker then anyone I had ever fought before. He tripped on a body and as he got he stumbled on the blood and I took his head from his body. His red mask was the only thing that didn't fall in the water.”
— Leven Martell
Arriving in Castle Dalmatia
“You killed my cousin Leven. He was seventeen and just wanted to help his family. He didn't deserve to die on that river.”
— Rachel Lee
Third Battle of Minus Tirith Tomorrow is the moment we stand as free men of Europe and say in one loud voice the truth that we have always known. We will scream out our truth, and when were done the Dark Lord himself will know that the men of Europe will not stand for evil anymore. Tomorrow we strike. Tomorrow he will know pain.
“My father had relented despite his strong vocal anger towards what I wanted to do, and with his resistance no longer present the few forces of Lucerne that were not involved in some way begin to come out of the word works. I don`t forget loyalty though, and those houses that only came after the choice was gone are not the ones who I trust in the same way as those who joined me when it was still in doubt.”
— William Lovie III.
With Aragorn`s success in gathering the forces of the Sindar Elves of High Forest he would send word to William Lovie III. of whom had succeed in gaining his father`s permission to lead the forces of Lucerne into Gondor and drive away the Mordor Orcs so that they could then relieve Tree Hill. In terms of the Sindar Elves of High Forest they would travel by boat from High Forest to Osgiliath where they would land north of the port city and meet with the overall forces in the area just north of the Battle site itself. The Orcs for there part had recently sent a smaller force through through the Morgul Pass of which had been moving southward towards the fortress of Narvine of which they would as usual most likely raid the already barren farmland north of Narvine and then retreat when they were opposed. William Lovie III. would lead the Lucernian army alongside his main commanders in Lucerne in the form of Charlie Swan, Renault Scarlet, Jack Shepard alongside many others of whom the main ones they would be meeting east of Stormwind in the Rhunian province.
Eddard Starke led the eastern forces alongside the Lannisters of whom were behind the attack surprisingly even before the acceptance of Bill Lovie and these two massive forces would send most of their forces to Lamedon but the leadership remained at Stormwind where it would meet the main army as it came through. The western forces of Lucerne led by the Greymane would lead their forces as well eastward with their army being the furthest behind but using ships from Highgarden, and Fogtown the armies were moved eastward towards Lamedon. The Gondor forces would begin to marshal under the command of Aragorn Elessar III. and while the vast majority traveled to Osgiliath to prepare a smaller force traveled to Lamedon where they would meet William Lovie III. once his army had gathered and was preparing to cross into Gondor.
“This is all about faith young prince. On one hand I see the future of my Kingdom ending unless something is done about the monsters at my door. On the other hand despite everything you`ve done I have heard that your father was once honorable and just. You decide the fate of Kingdoms and Men with the decisions you will make in the coming days so make sure you are better then your father has been.”
— Aragorn Elessar II.
Aragorn Elessar II. would watch with silent fright as the nearly sixty thousand Lucernian troops would mass themselves on the west side of Lamdeon, and it was only upon the arrival of the flags of House Lovie signalling the arrival of William Lovie III. that Aragorn crossed the bridges of Lamedon and met with the Lucernian leadership. William Lovie III. would be awaiting him alongside nearly his entire leadership of whom had arrayed themselves as much as possible inside a massive tent that had been brought for this very occasion, but knowing the importance of this conversation noone outside of William was to speak and it was in this way that Aragorn entered the tent of the Lucernian King and the two would speak one last time before going to war.
Look at the world father. You were born into this land. You grew up here. These people swore their lives to you. How could you have done all of this? Look at everything you have done. You destroyed a city. Killed hundreds of good men out of fear. Is this how you want to be remembered father. Is this the world you want to leave behind? I know you were a good person once. Don't end it all here. Don't do this. For me father. For everything I supposedly mean to you. Don't do this.
``My prince the King has entered the camp and will be here momentarily.``
``That is good. Thank you Ser Percy.``Despite my fears Hayden Percy was one of, if not the most loyal man I knew and he deserved to be treated with respect.
I could hear them through the tent, and it made me sick. I could remember the days when it was me that made him feel that way, and I hated her for it. Sometimes I thought to myself in moments like this how different my life would be if I had gotten pregnant during one of the hundreds of times we were together, but for whatever reason the gods didn't want that for me. I would be in that tent right now holding him close, and knowing with every fiber of my being that I was loved. I was noble born, and on the same level as Bella, and yet she had so easily eclipsed me in so little time that it just didn't seem fair.
I felt a hand touch my shoulder, and immediately grabbed for my sword before laughter slowed me and Emmett's head appeared from beneath the helmet as he pulled up the helmet. "I didn't mean to startle you Levia." A fool wouldn't have believed him as he continued to laugh and I struck him in the chest right beneath his breast plate, causing him to stop laughing. As he stopped laughing the sounds of Bella from within the tent grew momentarily louder, and I couldn't stop myself from looking at the tent for a second before answering.
"You didn't startle me." I felt his hand go back to my shoulder as I stared at the tent, and as I looked back to him I saw the understanding in his eyes, but also I could feel pity and that was something I didn't want. "It's fine Emmett." His eyes didn't believe me for a second, but I didn't have time to deal with this right now. "I'm going to catch some sleep make sure he doesn't stay up too late we have to be ready for the morning." I said it more harshly then Emmett deserved, and as I walked away from him leaving him with nothing more then a nod of my head I felt terrible.
Emmett just wasn't a person you should ever be rude too. Born of commoner blood it was his kindness that had pulled him into our group, and it was that same kindness that had led him to becoming the gentlemen he was now. I would have to make a point to bring him something as an apology after the battle, but I couldn't think on that now I just needed to get away from that tent that I wanted to be in more then anything.
I found myself searching hopelessly for Obella when I overhear a Starke man talking about how Robb Starke is with her. Going to the Starke part of the camp I see her sitting with him outside their tent rubbing the hair of that giant wolf of his, and as I watch them I feel happy for my sister. She deserves that kind of happiness, and I know that Robb Starke will treat her well. I turn around and walk to my own tent, and as I move through the seemingly endless ranks of tents, and men that we have gathered I feel a sense of dread wash over me.
I have never been in a battle and yet here I am walking through camp thinking on Will, and hoping for a good life for my sister, and yet I ignore the fact that tomorrow we wade into the unknown with nothing more then a hope. I'm glad that me and Jasper will be by Will's side tomorrow, as I don't know how I could handle the fear of not knowing what was happening with him throughout the entirety of the battle.
I reach my tent and open the flap revealing my sleeping sister Dorea within, and I smile as she jumps up holding a small dagger. "There is no threat from this direction dear sister." She put her dagger away with a smile before sitting up in the bed.
"You can never be too safe. Uncle told me once that when your surrounded by enough men you need always keep a dagger near you lest you find yourself pierced by things other then steel." She laughed as she said it, but I saw how hard she had clenched that dagger, and I knew her well enough to know that she was afraid. I didn't blame her for fear, for I was afraid too.
"Oh my god Dorea when did Oberyn tell you that?" I didn't need to even think on which uncle would tell her such a disgusting thing.
"It matters not for Oberyn always speaks the truth of such things." She smiled at me once more before laying back down, and pulled the blankets up to her shoulders. I moved to take off my armor and piece by piece put it on the stand. Each piece of armor had been intricately crafted, and designed for the every whim I had when I was thinking of my armor, and yet looking at the armor now I wondered whether I had ever really thought I would be in a situation where I would need it. "Levia?" Looking to the sound of Dorea she looked so small under the blanket, and I went to her now clothed for sleep and sat at the edge of her bed.
"Whats wrong Dorea?" She shrugged at me, and the way she did it reminded me of how truly young she was. Less then sixteen name days and here she was standing on the edge of the world sleeping one more time before we entered a battle with strange monsters. "There is nothing wrong with being afraid. I would be scared for your mental health if you weren't afraid."
"I'm not scared to fight tomorrow." I tilted my head at her, and she pushed me playfully. "I'm not I swear...its just."
"Just what sister?"
"I just wonder about something Melessa Vaith said when I was leaving."
"What did she say to you?"
"She didn't say it too me, but I know it was actually about me." I nodded at her to continue. "She was talking about Elize Scorpian. She was saying how no man would ever want to marry Elize because she was constantly armored, and that men hated that." The moment she said it I felt terrible for her. Here she was on the eve of battle not afraid of dying, of which I'm sure she was, but she was more worried about her marriage possibilities if she did fight.
"Let me tell you a story Dorea." She grabbed my hand and I rubbed her hand with my thumb as I begin. I knew the story wouldn't hold up to close examination, but as I watched her eyes close and open I knew her sleepy mind wouldn't put it together. "Once there was a prince of a great kingdom, and this prince was beloved by all that he met. He had ladies fawning over him at every turn, and yet one day the tough lady of another land came to court, and he looked at her with a smile that melted her heart. This lady thought as Melessa did. She believed that her love for swords, armor, and horses would turn him away. But the prince smiled at her, and each day he saw her he smiled again. One day the lady would be walking with her horse by the stables when the prince appeared in all his beauty and splender, and once again he smiled at her. The lady was lost in his eyes, and the smile he gave her melted her heart away. The prince told her she was a beautiful girl, and took her hand walking alongside her and the horse." I looked down as I felt her move her head onto my lap, and I watched her fall chest move up and down, and felt such peace watching my sister sleep. I don't know why but I felt the need to keep telling my side of the story. I didn't want to wake her so I begin whispering it to her, and perhaps it was selfish but I wanted to hear it for myself. "From that day forward the two shared a secret smile between them, and whenever he smiled at her she knew in her heart that he loved her. It didn't matter that they didn't marry, and it didn't matter that he was promised to others because she knew she was loved."
After speaking together it was Aragorn that would lead the Lucernian army across the bridges of Lamedon and the Lucernian marched eastward towards Osgiliath and the eventual battle that everyone had been waiting for. The now combining forces of Gondor, and Lucerne would meet at Osgiliath with their two forces gaining immense numbers after aligning together, and this led to a serious escalation in belief on specifically the side of the Gondorians of whom had been spending years watching the Orcs overwhelm them. With both forces combining plus the eventual assistance of the Sindar Elves they had almost ninety thousand human troops and nearly ten thousand Elven troops of which would be opposed on the other side by the main orcish army of more then one hundred thousand.
The Attack
“I was shocked that they didn't even check their flanks. I was shocked because all I knew of Orcs was that they wiped us out at Leon, and at Tree Hill. Were those Orcs somehow more intelligent then the idiots we met on those fields?”
— William Lovie III.
The two armies crossed the river and made their way to the hills west of the location of the Orcish Army, and from there pieces of the army begin to separate and move to their positions with heavy cavalry moving into the south, and north while the forces of Cair Andros, and Dal Imnil met them south east of Pelagir in the forests that the Sindar Elves had hidden themselves in adding another five thousand troops to the alliance. With one night before the assault the Shadow Council would meet and spent time together, and throughout the night they were joined by other young nobles that William had befriended, and this was the way they spent the day before the assault. During the night the armies would move into a closer position to the Orcs with the Gondor Army arraying itself directly before the Mordor Orcs in an attempt to get their full attention while the Lucernians and Sindar Elves would hide themselves as close as possible and once battle was met they would charge. At this point the besieged forces of Gondor inside Minas Ithil still had no idea that relief was coming and it had been decided that they would not make any attempts to alert the defenders as it was possible the Orcs might intercept the attempt and then everything would change dramatically for the plans of the attack. By this point the Magi Commander of the Lucernian forces in the form of Edward Cullen would group together with the Gondorian Istari and would discover to their great happiness that Ren the Unclean the Nazgul commander of the Orcish armies was not present on the battlefield. Despite the the fact that Ren the Unclean was not present the Kingdom of Orthanac was present with a force some five thousand troops and led by the Magi Sa-Uluos Thelvhian of whom also had some five other Magi with him and thus realizing they would be facing a significant Magi threat Edward Cullen would gather the Magi in the Lucernian army and alongside the Gondorian Istari would prepare a plan to attack the Orthanac forces and crush the Orthanac Magi swiftly.
“I was shocked that they didn't even check their flanks. I was shocked because all I knew of Orcs was that they wiped us out at Leon, and at Tree Hill. Were those Orcs somehow more intelligent then the idiots we met on those fields?”
— William Lovie III.
With the forces in place the armies of Gondor, Lucerne, and High Forest moved into their positions in their corresponding areas, and prepared for light to signal what they hoped was a blind charge by the forces of Mordor into the Gondor army. The day would break and at this point as the Gondorians had moved into the open of the field west of the Orcs they were noticed quickly, and it didn`t take more then a few minutes before the Orcs did exactly what was believed they would do. The Orc commander Urgreek Madd ordered his forces to charge the Gondor soldiers and in this way the entire Mordor army except the few thousand archers that moved in behind the charging Orcs. The Orcs that were sieging the city itself would remain mostly still there but there was a sizable amount that broke from the siege upon seeing the larger army fighting and were now moving away from their position outside Minus Ithil, and towards the Gondorians, which meant the plan was going perfectly. The Gondor archers opened up on the orcs but the numbers were immense, and the Orcs kept coming and coming. When the orcs finally reached the lines, the Gondor soldiers used delaying tactics and simply held the Orcs in place. Aragorn and his leadership would fight like men possessed in the center and Aragorn himself during the early moments of the Battle would kill two of Urgreek`s sons of whom had both wanted to sway their father by killing the King of Gondor but found him out of their league. Also during the initial assault Ildarion would be struck by an arrow, and despite this fact he would remain in the battle and for the rest of the battle had an arrow sticking out of his right shoulder. While the moment the Orcs had moved against Gondor the Lucernians, and Sindar armies had begun slowly moving it was the moment the orcs engaged with the army of Gondor the Lucernians and Sindar launched their full out attacks.
The Ambush
The Lucernian Cavalry preparing to ambush the Orcish forces. The Lucernian forces were decided into two main parts attacking from both the north, and south and hitting all over the rear, and flanks of the completely exposed Orcish army.
“After they charged it was a simple ticking of the clock before we massacred them. Though they didn't know it yet the Orcs were dead the moment they entered that field without looking. It was almost disappointing to see these creatures of tales, and nightmares be so foolish.”
— Jamie Lannister
With the Orcs embroiled in combat with the Gondorians they were completely focused in front of them and missed the Lucerne army, and they definitely missed the High Forest trees as they charged out as well. The first signs the Orcs had that things were changing was when the cries of battle appeared behind their lines, and the Lucernian cavalry along with the Ents of High Forest slammed into their rear, while accurate archery fell into the core of the Orcs. During this initial assault Jamie Lannister and the Lannister cavalry would overrun the center of the Pitghost Tribe and during this overrunning of the Pitghost Tribe their overlord Ghorgauth, and all his warchiefs would be killed leading to a complete route of the Pitghost tribe who fled eastward. Moving past the Pitghost tribe the camped army was cut down in their hundreds during the initial assault the forces of Gondor as well would switch themselves and become more aggressive as they realized the trap was on thus the Orcs felt pressure from all sides which only increased the desperation of the Battle. William Lovie III. alongside his Shadow Council and many other noble young men were in the thick of the main cavalry charge and William himself got into a fight with a large Troll of whom had killed several others around him including Lord Osgood Elbertson, and Davin Percy II. and fighting against the Troll he was pushed back and nearly killed by the Troll before his personal guards would mass around him and murder the giant Troll.
Ugreek did not have a lot of strategy to himself but he did clearly understand that the battle was turning into a massacre and would make a straight line for the command flag of the Gondorians trying to end the battle in one fight.
“I was pulling my sword out of the last Orc to fall to my blade when I felt the air around me calm, and then the subsequent slash towards my head had me flying backwards to avoid it. When I turned around I saw what could have been an Orc, or could have been a giant staring at me. In the end it mattered not what it was, because it had to die.”
— Aragorn Elessar II.
As the Orcs realized they had become caught in a trap Ugreek Madd would meet with overlord Ugled of whom with his warchief Ghaddish rallied their elite troops and followed Ugreek Madd as he looked along the battle line for the commander of the opposing force hoping to end his enemy and route the army in one fell swoop. Ugreek would become distacted by the arrival of several Sindari Elven wareagles and thus Ugled led his Nightshred elite guard alone towards the Sindari lines abandoning Ugreek. Fighting his way through the Sindari lines Ugled would come to face to face with Taflarion Stormrage of whom accompanied by the Treekin Ashthorn would resist this charge and after a brief duel between the group Ashthorn would crush Ugled and with Ugled dead Ghaddish would retreat from the field of battle alongside the remainder of his forces. Located near the front lines Ugreek would see Aragorn Elessar the king of Gondor slashing and killing all along the line, and would smile before making his way towards the King. Ugreek had been alive for many many years and as an Orc this meant that he had grown to impressive size and his power was something beyond which most had ever faced. The two would come face to face, and despite Aragorn's superior skill he was pushed back and fell to the ground seemingly defeated. As the men around him watched their King seemingly defeated the entire battle line just stopped, as the men and Orcs watched the titanic fight between
Aragorn would be nearly killed by Ugreek but the battle would end with Aragorn Elessar II. Killing Ugreek and cutting the head off the Orcish army
these two amazing fighters.
“Like every Orc in history his downfall was his arrogance, and stupidity. Had he of kept the advantage up instead of laughing and hollaring he would have killed the King of Gondor and most likely routed the entire force in one fell swoop.”
— Aragorn Elessar II.
But as Ugreek reached him and raised his mace, Aragorn suddenly lunged up and stabbed the Orc through the chest before swiping across and nearly cleaving him in two. Ugreek coughed out blood before falling backwards dead. Aragorn looked around at his men who seemed to be still shaken, and without another second thought he screamed out a battle cry and flew back into the Orc lines followed by the rest of his force behind him. The Orcs for their part were now broken as a force, and all along the line begin to realize they were defeated. A renewed cavalry charge led by Jamie Lannister alongside the Reynes would finally smash the only surviving leader in the fourth and only surviving child of Ugreek leaving the army completely leaderless.
Massacre
“I had told Arwyn I would come home. I had promiced her in all truth. The real truth was that in my heart I thought it would go wrong. I thought perhaps the Lucernians would betray us, or perhaps the Orcs were tipped off like at Lyons. It didn`t matter what actually caused our defeat I just truly believed we would lose, and yet here I stood on the field of battle and all the eye could see was the corpses of dead Orcs.”
— Aragorn Elessar II.
With the Orcs realizing they were surrounded and Aragorn having killed the Orcs leader the nature of Orcs led them to a full scale retreat. The defeat was hopeless as they were utterly surrounded, and as they ran they were cut down in their thousands by the vengeful attackers, and those that managed to break the line were taken down by the accurate fire of the Sindar Elven archers. The few hundreds of Orcs that managed to escape the main battle found themselves cut down by the Lucernian and Gondorian cavalry of whom had attacked the besieging Orcish army and had been preparing to assault the remaining Orcs.
“This was the moment where my great gambit would either be revealed as genius, or madness. Would Gondor now honor there part of the arrangement and join with High Forest and our own forces to destroy the Orcs that had overrun Tree Hill. If they made an excsue ”
— William Lovie III.
Nearly fifty thousand Orcs were destroyed in the battle with the loss of just under fifteen hundred in the Gondor Army, and less then five hundred in the Lucernian Army meaning the battle was far more then just a victory. The Battle cemented the alliance between the three nations and in this way led to the continuation of the Journey which would not lead the alliance towards the Lucernian city of Tree Hill where they would lead their army in the liberating battle of the Second Battle of Tree Hill.
Commemorating the Losses
“I did not know your father as well as I should have Varian. The Orcs have taken so much from us, but it is the loss of these great people that darkens our hearts the most. We shall have our vengeance against these monsters. We shall have our vengeance for every conversation that goes unspoken because of these beasts. Our vengeance will brighten the sky. Our vengeance is coming.”
— William Lovie III.
Second Battle of Tree Hill Today my brothers we right a terrible wrong in the history of this kingdom. We all know what happened here, and there isn't a thing that we could do to take it back. We may not be able to change what happened, but right here and right now united together we can make sure the people of Tree Hill are finally given the rescue they have long deserved. Today don't fight for vengeance. Don't fight for revenge. Fight to save the lives of the innocent. Fight so that a betrayed city may finally awaken.
The armies of the alliance would land around all sides of Tree Hill intent on retaking the lost city.
“For a warrior waiting years for something to happen, he didn't seem to care much that the army he was waiting to arrive got destroyed.”
— Saiden Scarlet
As the Lucernian/Gondorian/High Forest alliance destroyed the Orcs that had held the Gondor siege of Minas Ithil for many years immediate plan became the movement of portions of this army towards the besieged city of Tree Hill. Jurden over the decade of the siege had become obsessed with maintaining his own power, and had basically become uninterested in actually ending the siege through conventional means. Alongside this he also had a growing belief that the humans were completely useless and for all of these reasons Jurden Hardaxe made no effort to double his scouts or anything that might have assisted him in stopping the coming ambush. And if all of this added up wasn't enough he was also still being whispered to by Morrigan who was telling him that the crisis was the other Orcs in the area. Following the gathering of the forces of the alliance in the area they would organize themselves into seven main armies. The 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 7th armies would travel towards the port of Klausburg. Landing at Klausburg they would meet with the local leadership there and made their decisions on the direction of there forces. The 1st, 3rd and Fourth would move up the Oakheart River and land near Castle Prennig where they would move from there towards Tree Hill. The 7th army would be sent up the Bresklo River where it would land at the ruins of Glendt Hold. The seventh army would be joined in this campaign by forces mobilized from House Brentfurd as well as House Winklebock. The 2nd army would land at Vinterbold Hold north of Tree Hill and joined by forces from the area they would prepare to move to Castle Interbold and then to the north side of Tree Hill. The 5th army led by the Westerlands Arch Lord would land at Castle Hackenholt where they would move against Tree Hill from the west. The final army in the 6th army would be formed from the southern vassals of the Stormlands and led by House Crane they would move themselves to the city of Leiblinshire where they would attack towards Tree Hill form the south.
The arrival of the vast armies of William Lovie III. would have major effects on those forces already around the Stormlands. The first major effect was following the news of victory at Minus Ithil. House Guntbold who had been named the Arch Lord of the Stormlands following the collapse of Tree Hill realized that with the goals of William becoming clear they were going to have to pick a side in the coming conflict. It was Lothar Guntbold that would push his nephew Edric Guntbold who was at the time the Arch Lord of the Stormlands to see the error of the side they had picked and to call a council of House Guntbold. Following this call it was Lothar that left Guntbold Hold to return to Lucerne and be at the side of his friend James Lovie II. The council would be attended by all members of House Guntbold except for Winfred Guntbold, and his wife Ophellia who remained at Klausburg but sent their son Winfred Guntbold II. to act in his stead. At this meeting it was decided that House Guntbold would change sides to William Lovie III. and would send both Winfred Guntbold II. and Athilda Guntbold to William Lovie III. to open this dialogue. The pair would take a ship from Guntbold Hold and travel along the rivers of the Valley of Lucerne where they would eventually stop at Vindale Hold which they knew would be the eventual crossing point of the armies of William in their move back west. When the fleet of William arrived Vindale Hold it was Athilda and Winfred that would meet with the leadership of the army revealing details of the area.
“For a warrior waiting years for something to happen, he didn't seem to care much that the army he was waiting to arrive got destroyed.”
— Saiden Scarlet
The night was spent with Athilda meeting with William, and members of the Shadow Council and it was during this meeting that Edward Cullen discovered her Magi abilities and confronted her on why she did not reveal this before meeting with the prince. Telling them her fear of reprisals she was forgiven by the group and continued to tell them about the situation in the Stormlands. Athilda would let the group know that the Guntbolds were willing to assist William despite what was a top-down command from King James Lovie II. to not assist his army in the movement against Tree Hill, but she wanted assurances that the Guntbolds would not be punished following the campaign. Needing more forces, and not wanting resistance from human forces as they moved against Tree Hill it was William that made the decision to agree to this arrangement. With this agreement in place, it was Winfred Guntbold II. that would travel back to Guntbold Hold with the Guntbold ship to tell the Guntbold leadership about the agreement. Athilda would remain behind in part as a hostage of sorts but her good impression on the Shadow Council had led to her joining them as an advisor of sorts.
Clearing the South
“Three kingdoms working together for the common good. It was inspiring to finally have a king I could believe in. For my entire life I have followed a king who while he may have been good once, I don't think I even remember that. From this moment forward son I will die to protect William Lovie III.”
— Eddard Starke
Clearing the West
Clearing the North
Clearing the East
Retaking the Capital
Leven Martell arrived on the field only a day before the battle would happen with a large force of House Martell and her father's writing of support.
“The closer we got to night the more I came to understand that the world would be much different after I liberated Tree Hill. Without a single doubt in my mind I now understood that my father had done this. My father was responsible for all of the wrongs in Lucerne, and once this happened there would be no more quests to keep me from the simple fact that he had to die. My father had to die for what had happened here.”
— William Lovie III.
Waiting for the night to come William would be able to watch for the first and last time the Orcs setting off their massive drums and horns in order to force the defenders to be unable to sleep during the night and thus exhausted during the day. Hearing this many among the attacking army grew even more angry at the fact that the defenders had been forced to endure this for all this time without anyone helping them. William would spend the night with Leven, Jasper, Emmett, and Edward as the Shadow Council as they were not openly to each other calling themselves spent a few last hours with each other before they all knew everything was going to change. Finding themselves greeted throughout the night by every lord who not wanted to speak to William they couldn't help but see how different things had become for the naive group. During one of these meetings he would talk with Charles Swan who by this point he was beginning to view as a father of sorts, and discussing with him his relationship with Isabella he would bring up the idea of a betrothal. Charles was happy about this and agreed on the spot, and following this agreement it was Charles and William that would meet together with many of the remaining nobles and this betrothal was brought up during many of these meetings thus spreading word of its agreement. The Orcs by this point had no contact with their scouts, and yet they still remained completely unaware. Morrigan would at this point make her final step towards sealing the fate of Jurden Hardaxe when she would convince Jurden to host a large party for his Orcs which made them all drunk and even less prepared.
The Massacre
“I hope they felt in their final moments all the pain of those who they had so cowardly killed years before, and tormented for years since. I hope they face an eternity of pain an anguish for what they have done.”
— Charlie Swan
As the night neared the Orcs would begin their party and the loud noise would alert the alliance that this was underway, and also awake most of the defenders of Tree Hill of whom were prepared for what many believed was the final attack. The party continued, and the alliance moved itself completely into position against the now scout less Orcish force, and pushed in many places all the way against the wall with the entire Orcish force within the city itself or dead outside. The night came and the army would move on their predetermined signal of which moved everything forward. The infiltration of House Scarlet into the under tunnels of the city begin as Saiden Scarlet led a large force of hundreds into the tunnels in the goal of reaching the estate of House James and once the attack was underway they would spring upon the already ambushed Orcs. From the west the forces of House Greymane, and House Ordos would move themselves through the broken shattered western gate and encountered hundreds of Orcs in differing stages of drunkenness and the fighting wouldn't spark any concerns from the Orcs as it was all believed still to be a part of the party. Seeing the ambush was underway it was at this moment that Morrigan finally ended the charade and came upon Jurden while he was standing in his residence.
“Sometimes Brooke you play the long game. You see if you lie to someone for so long he eventually believes that it is truth. For how could anyone keep up a lie for as long as you do. Once they no longer believe you lie, they believe everything that you say. You can whisper the most dangerous of things to them, and they will drink everything you give. Then finally when the moment is complete you may spring. Spring the final trap on the fool who allowed himself to die.”
— Morrigan
Aftermath
“Its one thing Leven to win this battle. Once we win this battle, because I believe we will. Once that happens the time to return home is upon us. You know what we will find in Lucerne. You know what victory here means. It means the death of my father.”
— William Lovie III.
The battle would end with the complete destruction of the Orc army and the liberation of Tree Hill. When the armies of Lucerne and Gondor entered the remains of Tree Hill, they found the sad remnants of a once truly mighty city. Food, aid and supplies were rushed to the city, but before the true rebuild could begin Andrew Lovie would take the reigns of the King of Lucerne following a duel with his father.
Nortburg Tournament of 5125 Look out there Alice. Did you ever imagine we would be hosting men, Dwarves, and Elves for what is quickly becoming our honeymoon.
“A tournament signals that the reign of the new king will be one of great success. I know that there is much to do, and no one understands that as much as I do. But we must also look to consolidate our holdings. You have a lot of goodwill and this will only help us later your grace.”
— Jacob Vorn IV.
Following the crowning of William Lovie III. as the new King of Lucerne he met with his council within the Lucernian capital and they went bout devising there next steps of action. Following some of the more extensive plans he met with the Shadow Council, and Jacob Vorn IV. of whom now stood as the King's Archbishop and the group would decide they needed to know more about the regions around them and also repair damage and they would do this by planning a tournament at Nortburg and invite foreign dignitaries to the tournament alongside the most influential of nobles of Lucerne. Also invited to the Tournament would be the Trachtenberg family of whom were the blood cousins of William Lovie incluing his uncle Frank Trachtenberg, and two cousins Michelle Trachtenberg, and Kristen Trachtenberg all of whom William wanted to repair relationships with most specifically with Michelle who he came to understand had been treated quite terribly by his father. The Trachtenberg side of the family had become distant due to several instances, most notably the imprisonment of Bill Lovie's cousin Katia Lovie the Matriarch of House Trachtenberg in the city of Berne.
True Sons of Lucerne
“William you need to understand that Berne is hell itself. Your brother is losing control more and more every day. We are attempting to control the situation but its a tinder box waiting to explode.”
— Hanna Arryn
A large force under a white flag and led by Kieth Schwartz, and Alistair Bedregen arrives at the tournament ground carrying also the flag of the True Sons of Lucerne. The arrival of these True Sons would cause William himself accompanied by the Shadow Council and Charlie Swan to confront them and while at first wanting to bar them from the tournament as they were basically traitors the arrival of Hanna Arryn, and Aria Arryn would lead to William speaking privately with Hanna and Aria. Speaking to the two alongside Leven Martell, and Charlie Swan he would discover that the situation in Berne was growing completely out of control and that was why they had agreed to all the demands of Sean Lovie and had come here. Seeing that his friends were in grave danger he would agree to play along with the plans of the True Sons and allowed Danzal to take part in the tournament. Following this meeting with Hanna and Aria he would meet with Kieth Schwartz who was like an uncle to him during his childhood and the two would talk over everything that had happened with Kieth admitting to everything and for the first time giving William a true glimpse at what Bill had been going through and why he had chosen to do all the things that he had done. Another of the members of the group to come under the flag was Harrold Hardyng of whom as a dire hard member of the rebellion against Sean Lovie would sneak himself into the force with the help of Alistair and when he arrived he met with Teri-Jacob Vorn IV. and together in secret the two worked out steps for Harrold to take to help with the eventual retaking of Berne.
Look at the world father. You were born into this land. You grew up here. These people swore their lives to you. How could you have done all of this? Look at everything you have done. You destroyed a city. Killed hundreds of good men out of fear. Is this how you want to be remembered father. Is this the world you want to leave behind? I know you were a good person once. Don't end it all here. Don't do this. For me father. For everything I supposedly mean to you. Don't do this.
"Tell me about Amber."
"She is safe but misses you dearly."
"I know you may not feel the same way, but I want you to know how truly amazing it is to see you again Will." His face rose with a smile as he looked at me and it brought me back to thinking about the man who had helped teach me how to swim when I was a boy. He was a constant throughout my youth taking on my fathers role for those months when he could barely leave the tower.
"You know I cannot same the same. And you know why."
"I want you to know that I am sorry. I want you to know that he is sorry."
"Do not speak of him here or this conversation will end."
"That hatred that you feel. That's what drove him William."
"I know my friends would never let me do the things you let him do."
"Your friends love you. As your fathers love him."
"Love doesn't mean you let those you love go mad with no attempt to stop them."
"You look at it now and believe that if you started talking about killing your own daughter that what Jasper would stop you. Leven would stop you."
"They would. As you fucking should have!" I knew I was being too loud. The tournament was not even close to starting so the numbers here were low, but this was all so fresh. I could not be seen as being my father.
"They would do as we did. They would speak to you like I spoke to your father. I told him of the madness of what he was thinking. I told him that he had lost himself in that damn book. I did everything your friends would do. The only further step I could have taken was the one thing I could not do."
"They would."
"Look me in the eyes William and tell me that you truly believe that one of those people hovering outside this tent would ever raise a sword against you."
Following the conversation between Kieth, and William Kieth would leave the tournament as he was a soldier of Bill Lovie and not Sean Lovie and did not care if the plan of Sean succeded or not, and thus he would return to Orleans where he would report to Bill Lovie about the conversation that he and William had. With the departure of Sean Lovie the remaining elements of the True Sons of Lucerne were mainly William loyalists and in this way he would meet again with Hanna but this time she introduced them to House Krinner and House Dorin of whom led by Harrold Krinner, Trailen Dorin and accompanied by prominent heirs in Danzal Krinner, and Trailen Dorin II. they would be shown to be loyalists who were more then ready to assist when the time came to destroy the forces of Sean Lovie.
The Riverlands
Meeting the Elves
Following the Second Battle of Minus Ithil the Elves of High Forest would come to understand that the alliance between Gondor, Lucerne, and High Forest was something that they should work towards and as they followed the Lucernians into the relief of Tree Hill they would also send a large force to Nortburg to celebrate at the tournament. Alongside sending a force led by Taflarion Stormrage, and his wife Helian Stormrage, and their daughter Tonlia Stormrage, alongside her husband Cadwyr Winterdew the High Forest government back in the capital would also make several large movements for advancing the alliance itself when Malfurion Stormrage would contact the forces of the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas, and the Atmer Empire and told the two forces that they needed to send forces to the tournament as the new king of Lucerne was someone who truly was willing to try and change things for the better. The Sindar Elven Kingdom of Quel'Thalas sends representatives in the form of Alleria Windrunner, and Marinda Oakwhisper to the tournament as well with the purpose of arranging a stronger relationship with the Kingdom of Lucerne's new King. The Atmer Empire would send members of the Atmer Elven great house in the form of the House of Finwe to the tournament and these Elves used Magi portals to enter the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas and then travelled into Lucerne alongside the force led by Alleria. These Atmer Elves would be the first of the High Elves to enter the Kingdom of Lucerne in an almost uncountable time and led by Elendil Finwe III., his daughter Alais Finwe, and sons Talais Finwe, and Anar Finwe IV. of whom have come to discuss an alliance with William and Lucerne. The Elves appear very honorable about their intentions and the talks go well, with Hedrik Clegane III. leading the negotiations with the High Elves, and despite eventually leaving it would be so successful that William would make his intentions known to them by inviting the Elves to found a small settlement in Frosthelm. The Elves like the idea and Elendil sends his sons back to Ulthuan to make the arrangements while he will accompany William for the next while.
End of a Betrothal
“He's a monster.”
— Sansa Starke
The Starke's had come on mass to the Tournament of Nortburg and during this time it was believed that Sansa Starke, and Joffrey Lannister would get a lot of time together to get to know eachother, and while this was true with Joffrey, and Sansa going on a walk together and having a good time, this would alter dramatically later that night.
The Manderlys
As the tournament is only a few days from starting the final invitees arrive in the form of the Manderlys of whoom William meets with several representatives of the Manderlys who control the White Knife and during this conversation he and his father in law Charlie Swan are able to arrange a marriage between Winfred Manderly, and Miley Black. In this arrangement he and Charlie Swan decide that they will send Lucas Scott of whom is deemed by many to be the hero of the Siege of Tree Hill and thus someone they want to remain close too, but also William has become obsessed with Brooke Scott and thinks on her constantly believing that this will give him a chance to see her again.
Arrival of Brooke Scott
“Our being together was not a mistake William. Our being together has led us to this moment. No matter what way you look at this our child will be amazing. Our love guarantees that.”
— Brooke Scott
Following the end of the tournament William and the group prepare to return to the capital where they will plan out the reconquest of Berne, but this changes with the arrival of Brooke Scott of whom breaks down crying in front of him as he stands with Leven, and Jasper and William quickly takes her away from the two into a back room where before he is able to say anything she reveals her stomach showing she is nearly four months pregnant from the time they last saw each other. Realizing in that moment she appears more pregnant then Bella he ponders the consequences of this but she doesn't demand anything just wishes him to help her with her grandfathers funeral.
The Battle of Berne This is where this divide ends. After we take this city there is nothing stopping the Kingdom of Lucerne from becoming exactly what we always dreamed it would be.
“The fact that Sean was able to escape was a black eye on the Kingdom of Lucerne, and no matter what anyone said as long as he lived there would be no improvement for us. He had to die or else we would be nothing more then a joke to the rest of Europe.”
— William Lovie III.
With the valley clear of Bill, and Sean Lovie, William went about attempting to gain control by eliminating those that were loyal to his father, but most of all he declared war on his father's supporters and very soon after doing this he came to understand that Sean Lovie had taken control of the city of Berne which he didn't even know existed. Under Alistair Bedregen the loyalists loyal to William were sending word to William outside Berne for the first bit of the control by Sean and thus for this early time they knew many of those loyal to Sean or at least to afraid to resist Sean. With this knowledge William rallied the Order of the Red Dragon, alongside a large force of House Lovie and sent this large force to besiege Berne. When his forces arrived there he they saw that Berne was a death trap, and that while they could feasibly attack the city the casualties would be horrendous and on top of that they might not even succeed. Knowing this William ordered them to dig in, and make sure no assistance came from land, and they were forced to live off the small parcel of land within Berne, and to burn through their internal supplies. With the front door shut for the moment William went about his plan to take control of Berne which would revolve around building a tunnel from Lucerne into the rear of Berne and fighting inside from that direction, while also hoping to starve out the defenders so that they would surrender. As William devised his plan where they would complete the underway in its route to Berne and thus they would break in behind the defenses and take the city from within, the Order of the Red Dragon begin having difficulties holding the main entrance as the Orcs in the region were a constant problem. Knowing they needed to be somewhat quick with their siege they were in trouble as unfortunately the tunneling behind Berne would take some time, and so he needed to block the front of Berne without having his army sitting there for the four years the underway would take to complete.
“The Kingdom of Quel'Thalas could either close the gap that existed, or leave it open. It all depended on the whims of Elves, and they had never showed themselves to be willing to take chances in order to help others so I wasn't exactly betting on their assistance.”
— William Lovie III.
In order to do this William sent emissaries from the Order of the Green Dragon to meet with the Kingdom of Quel'Thalas whose forest extended close to the boundaries of Berne and thus would be able to assist in blocking them in if they so chose to do. The Order of the Green Dragon was sent and led by Demi Hill of whom was accompanied by Franklin Brent and his wife Karyl Reyne who led a force of some six hundred House Brent forces alongside three hundred men led by Dexter Hill to act as guards for the mission. When his emissaries arrived they were greeted by Legolas, and Alleria Windrunner of whom were accompanied by nearly three hundred Sindar Elves, and they would greet them with friendship and take them to Darnassus. Traveling through the woods of Quel'Thalas its Franklin, Karyl, and Demi that discuss the current situation in the area and discover that the Quel'Thalasian Elves are not the only major Elven power in the area as Alleria tells them about Lothlorian. While being there to make an alliance with Quel'Thalas its Demi Hill and Franklin that both make mental notes to discuss also furthering the Lucernian presence in the area by also forming a relationship with the Kingdom of Lothlorian. In Darnassus they would be treated to a beautiful feast and Alleria took Franklin and his wife around the capital before they would have the meeting later that night. Seeing the size and beauty of Darnassus, and the kindness of the Windrunner siblings Franklin would have a very high opinion of the Sindar Elves, and he took this opinion into the meeting that night. At the meeting they found that Quel'Thalas was willing to do this in return for an alliance with them which Demi Hill was quick to give them, as William was more then willing to make an alliance with the Elves. Not just happy with an alliance the it was Alleria Windrunner that would offer Franklin and the members of the Lucernian entourage a chance to visit the Dor'Danil Barrow Den where they would be able to enter the Emarald Dream if they so choose.
“Enter the Emerald Dream, and discover who you really are.”
— Tular Windswift
After discussing what would happen there its the groups decision that they will all accept this gift except for Demi Hill, and outside of Demi they are then taken by Clintar Dreamwalker of whom is the Arch Druid of Quel'Thalas, and Saelar Dewwalker of whom is the Guardian of the Claw and leader of the Dor'danil Barrow, to the Dor'Danil Barrow Dens which are located on the edge of Darnassus. While the group spends several days in the Barrow Dens a letter arrives from William stating that a revolt has broken out in Hillsbrad and since they are closer Franklin is tasked to travel there with all speed and end the revolt. The Quel'Thallasians reveal that they can portal Franklin and a small group to near Hillsbrad as there is a forest there with a way stone and Demi Hill agrees that once he wakes from the Emerald Dream he will go there through the portal and gives the letter to Alleria who will give it to Franklin. Following the agreement its Legalos that would lead a force of some two thousand fighters to a forward forest that they would fortify and from there they would be able to adequately block the Orcs from being able to interfere in any real way. So with the front door closed his forces returned to Lucerne while a small contingent remained along with a larger force of the Elves of Quel'Thalas. Franklin Brent and his group wake from the Emerald Dream and with Alavanna holding a visablly shaken Franklin of whom is in tears as he wakes from the Emerald Dream, and taking him by the arm she leads him to a meeting room where Clintar, and Nylindia wait inside. The group sits together and as Franklin slowly recovers from waking from the Emerald Dream they discuss that Tular, and Alavanna will be joining him as he travels not back to Berne, but instead travels through a portal formed for them in Darnassus taking them to a small forest east of Hillsbrad where Franklin is told William Lovie III. has sent him a letter which after reading Franklin nods and asks for them to take him to the portal. As Demi Hill was leaving to return to Berne it's Alleria Windrunner that said that she would be joining them with some two hundred heavily trained and equipped Sentinels at the main Lucerne camp, and this was once again quickly accepted by Demi Hill.
“There were two option when it came to Ezio Ederiz. Option one was that he was a trap. Sean had sent him to make us believe him and we would be caught in a trap of his making. Option two was that he was telling the truth. If this was correct then we couldn't just ignore him, but the real question was how would we ever know until it was too late to turn back.”
— William Lovie III.
As things were happening outside the city and making the siege move positively inside the city there was chaos as Sean Lovie lost his mind and was the source of madness and chaos for the citizens. Ezio after saving the life of Thomas Lovie and watching Allison Arryn die would decide to move aggressively to allow William into the city, and thus would make his way to the western tower and prepare to send a message to the Lucernians sieging the city. Ezio enclosed in the message the entirety that he knew about the defenses of Berne, and a message that the city was ready to be joined with William's forces. He had hoped that if he gave as much information that William would still attack even if he didn't believe Ezio, but he also understood the distinct possiblity that William wouldn't believe him and would just continue to siege the city. Ezio waited at the tower for some time alongside the rebels that he had gained control of, and waited patiently for a response. He got his anwser when a Lucernian messenger approached the tower, and sent a letter up to Ezio. In the letter William told Ezio that he needed to come down from the tower so that they could discuss this, and that no harm would come to him if he did this. For all Ezio knew William had become his fathers son since the last time he had seen him, and thus suffering from the same madness as his brother, but he knew he had to do something so he trusted the devil he didn't know over the mad man that he did. Ezio gave command of the tower over to his top man in the form of Martin Arryn of whom had snuck his way into the tower and convinsed the men to join the rebellion.
“I felt fear being pulled alongside those golden armored men. This whole thing just reminded me why I didn't get personally involved in these political matters. As I regretted my decision to put myself in this kind of danger I remembered the brave look in Amber's eyes as she surrendered herself to save her child. If she could have that kind of strength then I could, and would do everything in my power to save her.”
— Ezio Ederiz
When Ezio got to the bottom of the tower he was grabbed by some five men all clad in golden armor, and these men escorted him to the Lucernians camp. One of the men identified himself as James Junnsworth and told Ezio that if he planned to harm the king he would be doing it over all of their bodies. When he arrived at the camp he immediatly knew which one William was when he saw the golden haired boy walking up to him in his magnificant armor. Restrained by the men around him he saw how little he was trusted by the arranged forces, but he wasn't bitter as he could understand their fear. He spoke as best he could and told William of what was happening inside the fortress, and that every day they delayed the citizens inside were being killed in ever increasing numbers. As the conversation continued Ezio accompanied William inside his tent with Jasper, Leven, Marcel Lovie II., and Draco Highmore and then spoke openly of the murder of Allison, the rapes, and for Andrew the most horrifying news that Amber Heard was captured and now held in a cage beside Sean's throne. Ezio would at this point tell William about much of the things he had done for his father, and would make William understand that he had done all he could to help him after he had learned how brilliant and how much potential William had. Leven would suggest that during their initial attempts to clear the gatehouse that much of what Ezio suggested he did made sense as to why they found it so easy in certain places to get what they wanted.
Infiltrating the Tower
First Tower of Berne Peak
“For whatever it was worth I believed him. I looked in his eyes and it told me that he was being truthful. In this world you really have to trust your gut, and my gut was telling me to go all in on this.”
— William Lovie III.
With Ezio done telling him what was happening William told him he needed some time to think and that while he trusted him, he needed to plan on the best way forward. Ezio told him that he had control of the first tower, and thus he could get some of William's men inside that tower if that would make him feel better about the whole thing. William liked this plan, and it was then that he asked whether or not Hanna Arryn, and her sister Aria were safe inside the city, and Ezio told him that House Arryn was now in hiding in the city outside of Byron Arryn who was being forced to sit and watch Allison's body be violated by Sean Lovie. Andrew was thankful that Hanna was fine, and because of this he told Ezio that he would have his anwser in an hour. With that William called in his commanders and they discussed their options about how to move forward. After talking for some time it became clear that they needed to gather more troops, and especially Andrew wanted to have some of his up and coming leadership involved so that they would feel important to him. He planned to travel to Forks where he would meet with these leaders and make them aware of their involvement and then they would launch the attack. He got Ezio back in the tent, and he told him that he needed to allow his men to take control of the first tower, and that this would amount to his test of loyalty. Ezio agreed without hesitation and left with Jasper, and Leven to make the arrangements of which Franklin Brent would volunteer to command the first forces into the tower. Emmett was left in command of the siege while William was gone alongside the commanders, and this would be the situation that was left as William left for Forks. Franklin Brent would lead a force of men alongside his friend Dexter Hill, and several others of whom they would enter the first tower using massive ropes hung down by the loyalist Arryn rebels within the tower.
Meeting in Forks
“It took days to travel to Forks, and days to travel back to Berne, and thus it's hard for me not to wonder what might have been had we of just moved against the fortress with just House Lovie's forces. Atleast I got to see Bella, and it was in the comfort that she offered me that I knew exactly why she was the one for me.”
— William Lovie III.
After talking to Ezio and having silently infiltrated the first tower with his help William accepted that this was the only plan that had any quick hope of success, and he now felt incredibly rushed due to the threat to the people inside the city of which there were many that he cared for on a deep level. In order to do this he needed the most elite force he could get, so he begin calling his banner houses in, as well as commanding several houses travel to Forks to meet him. All the houses that had been called clearly had to send representatives but when they arrived this mission clearly could be seen as a silent attack that didn't require huge numbers. House Crane, House Swan, House Scarlet, and House Lovie were the houses that would be leading the attack along with leadership from many other houses in Lucerne. Alongside this House Skane, and House Starke were sending numbers led by Robb Starke, and Torgon Skane of whom would join the other forces in entering through the main courtyard once the towers had fallen, or in the worst case even if they didn't fall. As William waited for Bella to arrive so that he could see her, he spent many hours talking with the leadership of the houses that were going to be involved of which included Orival Crane of whom he wanted to one day be a very important figure in the Kingdom of Lucerne, and he made this very clear to Orival as they talked. The Arrival of the reinforcements also brought news that House Jestife had started a revolt taking control of Brill, alongside a spreading rebellion elsewhere which were being handled by loyalists in House Clegane, and House Tyrell. In his talk with Orival Crane he and Hedrik discussed how William was trusting heavily in this traitor of the True Sons of Lucerne, and also discussed how his older lover Amber Heard had been captured likely as a last minute threat to William in order to make him turn back. It was late when Bella arrived in Forks, accompanied by Freddie Highmore, and Wilhem Martell - alongside a large force of House Martell, and House Shephard of whom were also sending forces to join the attack - and when they did he said his quick hellos to Freddie and Wilhem before he and Bella made their way to stay in room in the House Swan estate of which he was technically a member of House Swan. After being together romantically he talked openly about how scared he was of seeing Sean there, and also he feared that he was going to be made to make a choice in that final room between killing Sean and keeping his old friend Amber alive. Bella already knew of the old relationship between the two, as Alice had told her of this long ago, and because of this she understood that he didn't simply care for this girl, but he in fact loved her. Bella tried to make him feel better about it, but there really wasn't much you could say to that horrible of a situation so she just held him while he went through it all with her. That night he left Bella who was sleeping and went outside to speak with Leven of whom brought him a response letter from Brooke of whom had quickly sent a letter after William's had reached her. William would read the letter with Leven and Brooke sent her emotional support and told him how much she loved him, of which Leven at that moment didn't believe but didn't want to upset William.
Discovery of Betrayal
“I saw you once Your Grace. It was at the Battle of Minus Ithil. You were slashing and stabbing at the monsters and for a moment I stopped. Just stopped and watched you. All the fighting surrounding me and there I was watching you move like a god. I knew then that you were my king.”
— Edric Nighting
It was at this point that Edric Nighting would arrive in Forks where he had made the decision to turn against his family and reveal the plans of his family. Edric Nighting had several weeks before this begin hearing talk from his father and older brother that they planned to rise against House Scott and murder the Scotts in the city before taking control of Tree Hill itself. He would watch his brother in secret as his brother James Nighting II. followed Brooke Scott watching her movements, and watching her himself he discovered that she was the mistress of William Lovie III. through listening in on a conversation between Brooke and Haley Scott. Learning of this relationship between William and Brooke the loyal Edric Nighting would depart Tree Hill by horse with his friend Hanzal Grightling heading towards Forks where they had heard William Lovie III. was meeting with his wife and the leadership of Forks. Arriving at Forks the two would quickly gain an audience with the king of whom was surrounded at the time by Charlie Swan, Leven Martell, and Bella Swan, and seeing how influential the group was Edric would immediately tell the king what he knew which horrified the group of whom had already rallied their forces and was planning to move out the next day to Berne. Realizing the main forces still needed to go to Berne he would command Jasper Hale to lead a secondary force to Tree Hill in order to defend the Scott's once the Nighting's moved against them, and after discussing it was decided that Jasper would move south through the province of Rosten where he would summon a force from that province's lord in House Elric alongside Northern Tree Hill's lordn in House Guntbold and then lead them southward to Tree Hill.
“Tell me Jasper how it is fair that your love for him is more valuable then my own. He doesn't love you any more then he loves me. So tell me the truth why you must always stand by his side?”
— Leven Martell
Following the breaking up of the meeting Jasper, Leven, and Bella would follow William back to his tent where Jasper would convince William to take him with him to Berne and instead send Leven to Tree Hill. Making up excuses about why she needed to go instead of him Leven was left shocked by what Jasper did and thus limply accepted this change of plans, and with a kiss to her forward she and William would say goodnight and following this Jasper and Leven left the tent. Leaving the tent Leven would follow Jasper trying to get him to explain himself, but he refused until she became quite agitated leading to an argument between the long time friends. Fighting loudly forced Jasper to take the argument into his tent where he would reveal that he did not trust her abilities to protect William considering how in love with him she was, and following this she would punch him in the face before returning to her own tent. The next day William, Jasper and the larger force from Forks would leave the city leaving Leven and a few hundred men at arms and knights to move south towards Castle Elric where she would go to defend the mistress of her beloved.
Sneaking Inside
“This was the moment thousands had been waiting for. The moment my brother's madness would finally come to an end.”
— William Lovie III.
When William Lovie arrived back at Berne flanked by the forces of House Swan, Scarlet, Crane, Starke, Martell, Skane, and many of their vassals he entered the command tent and prepared alongside his commanders the method by which they would do this. Ezio told them that the only real way into the valley of Berne was to take control of the towers defending the passes, and this was possible since they controlled the first tower. From the first tower they would attack the second tower, and then the third, and fourth control towers which would allow them to bring the entire army into the Valley where the defenders would be unprepared for their entry. Once this was achieved they must take control of the fifth tower which was inside the City of Berne itself and was connected through a long tunnel which could be locked from the inside meaning if they failed to take it before they were noticed it would be shut and they would have to attack the main walls.
“I felt fear being pulled alongside those golden armored men. This whole thing just reminded me why I didn't get personally involved in these political matters. As I regretted my decision to put myself in this kind of danger I remembered the brave look in Amber's eyes as she surrendered herself to save her child. If she could have that kind of strength then I could, and would do everything in my power to save her.”
— Ezio Ederiz
With this plan in place William Lovie would send the forces of House Scarlet led by Darion, and Saiden Scarlet to enter the First Tower where they would push their full forces and they alone would be responsible for working alongside the rebels in order to take control of the towers. They would be assisted by the Order of the Golden Dragon of whom was forced to follow William Lovie of whom was going to assist here alongside Edward Cullen and several members of the Order of the Blue Dragon, as well Orival Crane would convince William to let him join the forces attacking the towers. Entering the tower and joining the Arryn loyalists, and Franklin Brent and his forces that had initially taken control of the tower from the rebels and had held it while the main forces gathered. At that final moment Robb, and Jon Starke joined the assault group and this would force William to also take Wilheim alongside with him as Wilheim now wouldn't take no for an answer.
The Battle
“The Towers all held so many moments where everything could have gone terribly wrong. It was by the shere luck of the dragon that we were able to sucede as easily as we did.”
— Saiden Scarlet
With the main force now preparing to enter the first pass into Berne they only needed to see the response from the second tower to know when to move in, and they would get that call the first night as they would be signaled by a flag hanging from the wall set out by the tower forces. The Tower forces would wait until night, and that night as they moved forward the few guards meant to make sure such infiltration of the towers were not possible were rebels and thus they allowed the tower forces to infiltrate the towers, and within they found the mercenary forces of Sean Lovie in the form of the Stormblown. The fight for the tower was swift as with most of their forces asleep the few on sentry duty found themselves being attacked by a huge number of troops flooding into the tower. As the Stormblown moved to raise the alarm they found the alarm room locked, and when they finally broke inside they found inside several rebels of whom killed the Stormblown that tried to enter the room. With the tower taken Orival Crane would raise the flag thus giving the main force the safe call to enter the first pass. Torgon Skane alongside the other commanders would move their forces alongside the Elves and reached the very edge of the first pass as the attack move forward, and during this they also moved forward with the siege machines that everyone hoped they would have no need of using. At the third tower they would basically be allowed in as the rebels had taken complete control over this tower, and the few members of the Stormblown that were present inside the tower were barely able to get out of their beds before they were killed by the vengeful rebels and the incoming Lucernians.
“I watched each flag go up and each time a piece of me felt better as I knew my king was safe for yet another moment. It was his bravery that made people love him, but in these moments his braveary was horrifying for those of us who were forced to watch from afar.”
— Joshua Jackson
The fourth tower was the true test of the attack as while it was held by the forces of House Krinner who was a member of the rebellion the tower held the largest contingent of the Stormblown outside of the city itself. Robb Starke, and Wilheim Martell alongside Robb Starke would lead a contingent of forces east of the tower to cut off any kind of relief once the main attack went forward, and with that the main assault could begin on the fourth tower. As the Lucernians made their way into the tunnels approaching the fourth tower they were spotted by a Stormblown soldier of whom alerted the rest of the force to a betrayal, and with this becoming clear the forces of House Krinner would assemble under the command of Danzal, and Benjamin Krinner of whom defended the tunnel route heading towards the fifth tower so that none of the Stormblown could warn their comrades, and inside the tower House Krinner under the command of Oskar Kinner the defenders would block the gate into the alarm room thus preventing for a time the forces of the Stormblown from gaining entry to the alarm. A fierce battle would commense between the defenders in House Krinner and the Stormblown. As the forces of Lucerne attempted to enter the fight they were forced to attack through defended barriers quickly set up by the forces of the Stormblown in order to resist the attackers. During the fighting here Darion Scarlet would become famous for defeating the Stormblown second in command in single combat after they entered the last room of the tower and it was held by the Stormblown second in command. With his death the rest of the Stormblown slowly surrendered, and with that the flag was raised and the main army understood that the way into the valley was clear.
The Final Tower
“The Sound of that horn going off could have meant the massacre of our entire force. It could have meant the deaths of thousands but the bravery of the three Arryn brothers. They could have stayed hidden and not risked death but instead they did what was right and resisted a tyrant and they saved thousands. History may say that I won that day but I know the truth of who was responsible for our victory.”
— William Lovie III.
As the main army moved into the valley silently in the darkness of the night the tower forces moved into the tunnels approaching the fifth and final tower. Ezio had told them that they had to get to the other end without being stopped or else the way would be blocked and there would be no way in except a truly viscous fight for the valley. As they entered the tunnel and were only two minutes away everyone including the main force heard a massive horn go off, and the rebels told William that someone had set off one of the alarms of the towers. With this all sense of stealth went out the window and the tower force charged into the tunnel in the hopes of reaching the gate controls before it was shut. As they ran down the tunnel they watched as the massive portcullis gate was slowly shutting, and then suddenly as they were getting closer it slowed and then stopped and they could hear the cries of battle at the other side, and as they reached it they entered a brutal battle between members of House Arryn and the Stormblown who were trying to shut the gate. With the entry of the Lucernians the battle went away from them, but the Stormblown survivors were able to retreat in good form and make their way towards the Berne Keep where they would blow the alarm horn again and the Stormblown throughout Berne would retreat to the keep alongside those still loyal to Sean Lovie although that number was very slight now that House Arryn was in full rebellion. With the stormblown in full retreat the defenders that were on the wall moved completely into the rebellion allowing the main force to enter through the front gate, as the rebels opened the gate letting them inside. The rebels, and the tower forces would move throughout the city, and kill or capture anyone still flying the colors of the Stormblown and as well as this making sure that everyone knew that the city was Lucernian again and they had nothing to fear.
“As the Stormblown mercenaries, and the other True Sons were pushed back more and more the call from Sean was not for them to pull completely back, but instead it was for them to attack the estate of House Krinner where much of the women and children alongside nearly all of the nobility of the city had fled too. Thousands fleeing into the estate were never under the belief that they would be under threat, but that was proven wrong the moment the forces appeared near the walls.”
— Paul Arryn
As the Lucerne forces took the final tower before the wall there were some who suspected something was wrong, but all orders were that everyone stayed inside so no one was allowed to leave the inner fortress to investigate, and in order to occupy the forces he had at alert (and in order to further make sure the defenses failed as was hinted at by Sean Lovie during the final duel with William) Sean would command that they attack the House Krinner estate of which was the site of the retreating nobles of Berne. While the commoners and the vast majority of the population had fled into the deeper sections of the city, and to the walls where the more Lucernian houses guarded it was the nobles that fled into the estate of House Krinner. Other then the nobles and politically far more important then that was the fact that Alistair Bedregen had retreated into the Keep alongside Thomas Lovie of whom was the true target of Sean Lovie this late in the fight. News reached them late that Alistair had gone there following the attempt on his life and Thomas and when it became clear this was where he was Sean would send basically everyone available including most of the defenses of the tunnel in order to try and kill Thomas. The estate itself was a sort of mini castle that was built into a large cave deep in the northern section of the city and was defensible from one large tower that covered the entire entrance, and from the ramparts built into the gatehouse.
“Massing on the walls I could make out the hundreds of attackers that swarmed all around the courtyard. I knew what they would have to do to take us, and I just prayed we were strong enough to resist.”
— Paul Arryn
It was this spot that the forces of the Stormblown, and the other True Sons loyalist houses would move towards in heavy numbers in order to try and complete the commands of Sean Lovie. Some three hundred Stormblown (including many of their most elite members, and two of their top three commander) alongside some four hundred more True Sons loyalist (of which only the fifty from House Ignirt would actually take part in the battle while the rest simply miled about faking interest in the siege. House Ingirt would be this only truly loyalist element due to the fact that Lord Beren Ingirt's daughter Lia Ingirt, and heir Harren Ingirt were captives of the prince and he was basically blackmailed into supporting Sean Lovie's forces out of fear for his two children. The forces of the True Sons would charge out from the shadows and attack without even a call for surrender, as they were commanded to destroy them and thus no surrender was neccessary or warrented. Charging the walls they suffered accurate and deadly archer fire from the large tower that surveyed the courtyard, and the archers on the ramparts. During this charge Lord Beren Ingirt would fall with an arrow to the neck and with his death the forces of House Ingirt fell under the command of Beren's brother Brandon Ingirt of whom would silently slip away with most of the relief forces moving them towards the prison where they would take part in the taking of the prison. With no cover the Stormblown and others got to the walls much diminished but still with high strength, and once at the gate they bashed at it with quickly made battering rams and climbed the sides of the wall to get to the ramparts, while hoisting a large ladder against the tower.
“I could see Trailen Dorin`s heir, and Danzal Krinner standing on the ramparts, and from their position they were able to shoot anyone that came up the ladder to the tower without any cause for fear from the ground. On the tower they were just massacring those on the ground with a nearly endless stream of arrows into their ranks. At the gate I stood with my shoulder against it alongside my men as we tried to buy more time for the archers to thin their numbers even more.”
— Paul Arryn
The men attempting to get up the ladders and climbing the walls suffered terribly as the tower was able to hit the men climbing with ease while the ramparts were hitting the men climbing for the tower, and thus it all came down to the gate. During this initial fighting the defenders on the walls were joined by Alistair of whom desperate to make sure that Thomas survived would take a bow and fight on the walls where despite his age he would fight bravely before being hit by an arrow from the ground, and fell dead at the age of nearly seventy three. It was near this point that Vaedin Stormblown`s next brother Sordin Stormblown was also shot through the chest by Danzal
Danzal Krinner would make a further name for himself during the battle as he led the tower in its attacks and coordinated the fire very well.
Krinner of which led to the final Stormblown son in Tolin Stormblown fleeing the field, and taking several other high level commanders with him as well. By this point the other houses of which had been milling about watching the siege, would retreat and pull back to their respective estates of which they decided was the only logical thing they could do as they would be most likely targeted by the Krinner estate for their believed betrayal. The battering at the gates was shattering it, and it was only a few more minutes before it finally came crashing down. Moments before it went down, Paul Arryn would gather with his most elite men, and forces of the loyalist houses, and prepare for a charge out of the gate. Warning the wall and tower that they were charging out, they opened the gate and smashed into the unsuspecting attackers outside the wall. Pushing them back the force fell back and was cut down from behind, killing nearly the entire force attacking but the loyalist forces returned into the keep to repair the gate and didn`t persue believing the larger force was incoming. At this point as the line melded together Hanna, Aria, and other noble ladies would move into the front and do their best to relieve the men by bringing water, and other supplies while helping to repair the gate.
Taking of the Prison
Hunting a Beast
Morrigan would serve for the final time Bill Lovie in his command of her to go to Berne and murder Forder Braxton and stop him from killing several of the prisoners. By this point she was till under the directive of Flemeth to assist Bill Lovie and using this directive she would be more then happy to serve Bill Lovie who was beginning to attempt to silently assist his son one last time before he lost himself to madness completely.
“I don't have much time before my mind is taken over again by the monster. Go to Berne and stop Forder Braxton. The monster in my mind has ordered him to kill as many people as he can in Berne, and I need you to stop this from happening.”
— James Lovie II.
It would be Forder Braxton, and his son Markus Braxton that would be sent to Berne by James Lovie II. to represent the dealings of the Circle of Magi and a believed loyalist faction, although Bill Lovie had no intention of ever assisting Sean as he wanted William to gain victory, but this was not known by Fordor of whom arrived in Berne to find the city in Chaos and surrounded by the Lucernians. Traveling into the city through Magi he would meet with Sean Lovie and at this point he would join the upper tier of the leadership of the True Sons of Lucerne executing several loyalists alongside his son, but it would be only a few weeks before the city came under assault by the Lucernians. During the battle Fordor and Markus would wander the city of Berne killing at random as was their command by James Lovie if/and when the city fell, and reaching the prisons hoping to kill as many valuable hostages as he could before leaving Forder would be shocked to find Morrigan his old Circle of Magi partner waiting in the gallows before the prison entrance surrounded by the dead bodies of the Stormblown mercenaries guarding the prison.
“You think you understand what Bill Lovie truly wants of you? Do you think you even have the slightest idea what that madman wants of you. This great king of yours killed hundreds for doing nothing more then asking why they should serve a madman. You stood by...I stood by as he murdered these men, women and children, and then we did it again...You come here because of reasons you could not even hope to understand. He commanded you to come here and murder innocent men, and women, and children, and at the same time he ordered me to come here and stop you. What kind of king do you follow? What kind of man do you worship at the feet of? What kind...I'll tell you now that you shouldn't follow a man who gets your son killed...”
— Morrigan
Confused why Morrigan was resisting him he told her he was only doing the work of James Lovie, and at this she would retort saying that so was she and then launched a killing spell at Markus, but it was deflected killing the two guards accompanying them, and then fighting Forder, and Markus who barely managed to resist her strength. As the three fought Forder, and Markus were no match for the more powerful Morrigan and Forder dropped his wand surrendering, but after surrendering he expected to be allowed to leave but Morrigan instead slew young Markus and then prepared to kill Forder but he unleashed a Magi blast at her and was able to escape through hidden tunnels.
Duel with Sean Lovie
William carrying Amber
“Forgiveness is never easy. Bitterness is easy. Hatred is easy. But forgiveness, that's a tough one. Sometimes, people say things they don't mean or do things they can't take back. Sometimes we do things we can't take back. So we feed ourselves to starve the pain. I have to believe that's what happened to Sean.”
— William Lovie III.
With the civil war all but over the moment had come for the final confrontation with his brother. There wasn't really a doubt in anyone's mind who would win in a fight the difficult part of the coming fight was the fact that Sean had the emotional advantage through his capture and hostage taking of Amber Heard the first love of Andrew. The room before the throne room was gaurded by James Nighting II. of whom laughed at them for not realizing that House Nighting was truly on the side of the True Sons of Lucerne. James and the three House Nighting men that were with him charged William and his group, and after a brief fight the four were killed by the far superior forces of William. Jasper held James down, and with a wave William commanded his death and Jasper ended his life. Surveying the rest of the room there were bodies stacked in the corner, of which not all were adults, and the the scope of the atrocities in this city were becoming clear. William before entering the throne room ordered Wilheim Martell to return to the camp at all speed and send word that House Nighting had betrayed them. They all knew that if House Nighting turned then who knew what sort of alliance might be present outside of Berne and with a large quantity of the loyalist forces besieging Lucerne they could be open for a betrayal.
Amber Heard never thought she was going to survive to see William again, and the sight of him caused her to leap up and great pain as the chain around her neck kept her stationary.
Before entering the final room William would also command Robb, and Jon Starke to lead forces to make sure that no holdouts would cause them any problems, while he briefly met with Alleria Windrunner of whom would wish him the best in the next room as she knew something about fighting siblings. She attempted to one last time make sure he understood that his brother had made his choice and that no amount of sympathy from his side would change what Sean had become. When Andrew entered the throne room of Berne flanked by Jasper, Edward, Emmett, Faye, and his elite guard they found Sean standing alone with nothing but the bound and strapped form of Amber Heard keeping him company. Looking around the room briefly he could see the ruined corpse of what he assumed from the words of Ezio was the poor Allison Arryn, and all along the wall he could see broken corpses of men and women that had obviously fallen victim to Sean's madness.
“He sat the way you would expect any psychopath to be sitting when they were idle. He just had nothing in his eyes, and I had to try to force my mind to even remember a moment that he didn't look that way. My brother was gone. He was lost into madness, and no matter what he said he couldn't leave this room alive. After all the years and the pain he was going to pay for everything he had ever done.”
— William Lovie III.
As he entered the room Sean remained silent but the look on his face told Andrew that Sean had a plan and whatever happened this plan was something he believed could work. Amber Heard never thought she was going to survive to see William again, and the sight of him caused her to leap up and this led to great pain as the chain around her neck kept her stationary. Laughing at what had happened to Amber through the fact that she was crying and holding her neck the situation turned as William charged forward only stopped by Sean holding his sword to Amber`s neck.
Look at the world father. You were born into this land. You grew up here. These people swore their lives to you. How could you have done all of this? Look at everything you have done. You destroyed a city. Killed hundreds of good men out of fear. Is this how you want to be remembered father. Is this the world you want to leave behind? I know you were a good person once. Don't end it all here. Don't do this. For me father. For everything I supposedly mean to you. Don't do this.
``Really brother. If I were you I would take a couple of steps backwards.`` Everyone stopped as he held the sword to Amber`s neck. I held my hands out to make sure he knew I was willing to atleast talk this out. As I did I noticed the windows in the corner of my eye which I noticed had archers in them. ``Thats right you listen to me now.`` Everyone just stood in place and I hated having him control even an ounce of anything in this world. ``Now that I have your attention tell everyone to leave. This is between me, you, and the bird.`` I looked behind me at Jasper and his eyes told me there was no way he was going to leave, but I knew he had to if I wanted to try and find a way into his mind and to somehow save Amber. Knowing about the windows I had to hope that there was some kind of back entrance into the throne room, and from there perhaps they could infiltrate the windows and gain the upper hand. Moving closer to the men I whispered to the group so lowly that poor Emmett with his poor hearing was forced to come nearly to kissing level.
"We need to do what he says.``Seeing the rejection in their eyes I stopped it immediatly. ``There are windows all along this room, and I need you to get in them so that we can get a handle on this. Emmett, and Edward I can`t tell you what to do. If you want to go with Jasper and the windows then so be it. I would prefer if you saved as many innocents as you could. The rest of you wait in the last room and give those poor souls a cleaner end....they deserve better then to be piled in the corner like garbage. If I should fall.``Edward stepped forward``If I should fall you all must make sure under no circumstances does he leave this room. He cannot be allowed to survive this no matter what happens. Now go. We have little time.``Relunctantly they begin filtering out of the room to the sound of laughter from Sean behind me. ``Yes Sean you have us exactly where you want us, now tell me what you want.`` His laughter was the first thing that happened before he grabbed a key from behind his back and undid the chain around Amber`s neck. Pulling her farther away it took everything in me to not move forward and attack him on the spot.
``I don`t want anything brother. You see that`s the trick. You had the same repository of books that I did, and let me tell you something about the villians in a story. Sometimes the villians want something. They want gold to build a mighty castle. Or maybe they want a women." He swayed as he spoke flayling his arms about like a mad man. " In the end brother It doesn`t matter what they want, it just matters that they want something. You see its important that they want something because for this reason these villians you see, they can be bargained with. They can lose.`` Knowing where he was going I interupted him.
``And let me guess. Your the kind that wants nothing.`` Standing up taller before he spoke he pulled Amber closer to him, and I could see the tears flowing from her eyes. I tried my best to comfort her with my eyes, and her eyes followed suit with mine, and I could tell I had calmed her down. He pushed her to the ground holding the sword so close to her neck I could see a bit of blood fall before raising his face to me again with a twisted look to his face.
``I don`t mean to interupt your longing towards the Arryn whore. " He stared at me clearly trying to make sure that I got the message. "Good. Now that I have your attention again I'll tell you the secret." He looked so excited to say it, as if its was some secret. "I'm not the villian brother. That honor is for you.``
``In what twisted world do you live where your not the villian. You are the same man who sits on a throne covered in the innocents that hes killed. Your the same evil that tried to molest his own sister, and now dares to threaten such a innocent as Amber Heard.``
"Its all a matter of perception." He pulled Amber back up to stand in front of him, and he begin to pet her hair causing a whelp from her. It took every piece of my control not to burst forward and kill him where he stood for touching a hair on her head.
Controlling my increasing rage I spoke to the monster standing before me. "And what perception is that?"
``The perseption that comes from knowing the anwser to this question." He stopped and stared at Amber before looking back at me. "What makes her innocent my brother. Is her innocene borne from the fact that she opened her legs for you whenever you pleased...``
``How dare you...``
"It is an honest question. I want you to tell me how this girl. This piece of meat. I want you to tell me right here, and right now what makes her innocent. "
"She hasn't harmed anyone. She hasn't done a thing in this world other then be a good person."
"And that makes her innocent, does it?"
"Yes it does."
"Your a fool."
"You wish to brandish words around like a bunch of fish wives then do it your way. Or do you want to finally become a man and face what you've done."
``I get this moment brother. You forgot through your youth, that unlike you the rest of us out here in the world have things happen to them. Your the villian along with this whore because of what you have allowed to happen. One does not blame the virus for infecting its victom. You blame the monster who created the virus, and you my brother are the reason I am the way that I am.``
``You want to find a way to escape the person that you are you need to find someone who cares for even a moment for whether or not you live or die.``
``There it is right there. Don`t you see. It was that uncaring neglect. Outright hatred at times that left me utterly alone.``
``You don`t get to blame becoming a monster on the fact that you and I weren`t best friends.``
``I have the sword. I have the damsel. Those mean I get to say, and do whatever the fuck I want to do. Do you understand what I`ve done. Do you have any idea the scope of the things I`ve caused.`
...Continued
Death is the End
“As the minutes went by my brother fell into a darker and darker place, and despite knowing I should be pulling him back, I hated him so much in that moment that I basically pushed him off.”
— William Lovie III.
Watching his brother implode in front of him, and basically throw him in front of the bus for everything that had ever gone wrong for him in his life, wasn`t something that William was able to accept. William would begin badgering Sean and insulting him to the point that his brother begin to reveal to him certain darker acts then anything anyone had ever thought he was possibly involved in. Sean told him how he had become obsessed with seeing the death of this particulary noble girl of whom he refused to name but said she unimportant in the grand scheme of things, and that this obsession had followed him for years. Finally one night he had been invited to dinner for the first time in months and was told by Bill to not criticize anything throughout the meal or else he was never eating with them again. Tasting something horrible in the meal he ignored it and kept eating, and following this he said that a dark entity would offer him assistance and when he accepted he begin hearing terrifying voices in his mind. After going through all the terrible things he had done throughout this time he finally got to Berne where he told William that he just wanted to die. He just wanted to
Amber watched as Sean appeared to fall apart in front of her, and all she could think was that she just wanted to live. She just wanted another chance with William. It didn`t matter that he had remarried. She just wanted to be with him again.
escape all the pain that he was constantly bombarded with, but that as time went by nothing he seemed to do incited anyone to kill him, and this annoyed him even more. Sean would tell him that he had broken and abused Hedrik Clegane's now wife in Rachel Wood, and that he was responsible for the rape of countless other noble girls, and that he was specifically attempting to escalate it so that he could die, but no matter what he did he continued to escape justice. Sean would reveal to him how that night he had attempted to kill Alice it was as if this voice in his head was literally screaming, and it was screaming to ravish Alice. He had honestly been incapable of stopping himself, and despite trying he found himself constantly moving towards her room, and he had been glad that William had assaulted him. He told William that he had been forgotten by their father when he made the spell removing Alice and that he had followed her to Forks where he had watched her for months but was stopped by men of Bills from revealing anything to her.
“I watched the first archer fall and in that moment I saw Jasper nod at me from the window followed by Emmett standing in the window with his own bow prepared to launch an arrow at Sean, but foolishly I believed I could talk him down. I also knew that any attempt to fire at Sean would most surely end with Amber`s death as Sean was too much of a coward to go down like that. I did know one thing though, with the one window down, it was only a matter of moments until the other three went down as well, and when that happened their would be an opening.”
— William Lovie III.
William watched as Sean devolved and saw Jasper kill one of the archers in the window thus revealing to him that they had found a way into the windows. Seeing there were only three other windows he waved away Emmett`s offer to kill Sean from the window as he knew it would end with Amber`s death. Sean seeing the look on William`s face would demand to know what was so interesting that his brother was ignoring him, and when William could not appease him enough Sean slashed Amber across the shoulder with a blade narrowly missing her head, but still causing serious damage. Seeing this Sean would pull a lever behind him which the moment after he did all the windows slammed shut with Stone portcullis, and the gate they had entered from also was barred with portcullis. Rushing to Amber he knocked Sean to the ground, and picked up Amber. Picking her up he realized instantly how bad the wound to her shoulder was as it had cut far too deep for anyone there to heal her, and he panicked knowing she was going to die. She held him tight, but he could feel her grasp on him loosening as her life left her. Closing her eyes he let out a cry as he believed she had died, and he held her tight crying into her shoulder before kissing her hard on the lips and then gently laying her down before moving towards Sean who was slumped against a post nearby.
“As I walked to him, I knew this was the end. He would die in this moment. I didn`t expect him to be crying.”
— William Lovie III.
Grabbing Sean by the shoulders he found his brother crying, and Sean grasped onto Williams arms as if to try and hold onto him. There was no resistance, and as William held the sword to his chest he held a moment and looked into Sean`s eyes waiting for his last words. Sean in that moment would tell William that Bill still lived and had gone west to France, and would begin to start an apology when William stabbed him through the chest and covered his mouth with his hand. Looking behind him at the lifeless body of Amber he would proceed to be overcome with rage and strangle Sean as the last of his life left him. Getting up he walked back over to Amber, and ignored the sounds of crashing as his men attempted to break there way through the gate, and the windows. Kneeling beside Amber he ripped some cloth from his tunic and covered her wound not wanting her to be seen like this. As he wiped her wound her arm would move up and grasp onto his, and her final grasp for life would continue and it gave the two former lovers one last chance to talk to each other.
The Rise of Lucerne I saw the destruction of the world, and knew I had to stop it. There was nothing left to do but become bigger then everyone else. The Empire was never going to be the beacon the world needed it to be. Westros was on fire. The Bretonians had reached for the stars and been burned. And the old shadow of Numeron was fading far too quickly. It was left to us in Lucerne to change the fate of all those who wished to reject darkness. We were the last hope for a world who had long since given up on believing.
I could almost feel her leave me as there was a lifelessness to her eyes, and when I did I gently let her down to the ground. I left a kiss on her lips before closing her eyes and taking a moment to stare at the girl I had loved first in my life. She was the innocence of youth. The kind of person who is always the victim of monsters like my brother and that sad fact just left me more angry then any other death I had seen in my life. I had seen good men die in battle, but to look down at Amber and realize that she was just innocent, and had still died hurt me deeply.
Hearing a sound come from Sean I gave one last kiss to her lips before letting her go, and turning around to find my brother. He had moved himself into the corner and was shaking while holding onto a large flag. As I went towards him I couldn't make out what he was saying, but to be frank it was not going to matter what he said. Sometimes men are just guilty and words cannot escape that fact.
Reaching Sean I grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him to face me, while I took out a knife and held it to his throat. Turning him had revealed what the noise was as his face was covered in tears, and the sight of the sword made him pull himself towards it.
``Please William. Kill me now. I cannot live the things in my mind anymore.``
``You murder someone as innocent as Amber and you dare to look for pity now.``
``No pity brother. I want mercy.``
``You do not deserve mercy. The things you have done are beyond imagining.``
``Then punish me William.`` At these words I threw the dagger away and a look of sadness went to his face, before being quickly replaced by understanding when I pulled out my sword and aimed it towards his chest.
``No punishment in the world would ever be far enough to be justice. You deserve so much worse then I could ever give you.``
``You are right brother.`` Sean begin to shake, and I swear I saw somesort of cloud come from his body towards the roof above us, and as it did he looked up at the roof of the room and a look of peace went over his face that just horrified me. I didnt want him to feel peace while she lay dead. He didnt deserve to feel anything even close to that. The things he had done were too much. ``I think its gone.``
``No more talk.``
``Perhaps just one more thing brother.``
``Say your last words and be done with it.``
``Our father went west. He went into the ruins of France.``
``I will find him and give him the true death I will soon give you.``
``I hope that you do William. I hope that you avenge everyone who has been hurt by him.`` I felt such overpowering rage as I looked at him that my eyes must have been showing it as he looked at me with a realization that it was over and he closed his eyes. ``Goodbye Will...``
Before he got the words out I stabbed him through the chest piercing his armor between the plates and he let out a sigh before going limp in my arms. I let him down with a loud bang as his body hit the floor, and leaving behind his body I went towards Amber wanting to just hold her one last time. Kneeling at her body I pulled her closer and held her tight to me.
As I held her in my arms crying into her hair I felt her arms clasp themselves around mine and I looked into her face hoping beyond hope that she would live. I held her face with my hand and begged her to wake. My other hand held her wound with everything I could trying to somehow stop it. I pleaded with her, and I watched as her eyes flickered open. I hugged her tight knowing in my heart that I would want to always remember the feel of her life, as she was perfection, and it was a tradgedy that it had taken all of this for me to realize that. ``William...
``It`s alright my love. Just rest my sweet, Edward will come and...he will...he`ll find a way...``I hadn`t realized that I was crying until I couldn`t see from my eyes anymore, and I felt her hand wipe across my cheek clearing me of the physical signs of my sadness.
``William I love you...Thomas is your son.`` I didn`t understand. She had left, and no one had ever said a word. How many lies had been told to keep this from me. ``It was my doing. Don`t blame anyone but me for keeping it from you.``
"They all lied about where you had went...I loved you with everything in myself. I would have protected you from everything.`` Her eyes closed as the pain must have overwhelmed her. Looking at her shoulder the blood was smeared all across my hand as it was too large a wound for me to keep from gushing.
``I thought I could protect you. He told me he would kill you...he held a knife to your throat and bid me to leave. I`m so sorry William. I`m so sorry you never got to see him grow.``She stopped and coughed out blood, and I knew she was going quickly. The shoulder just kept bleeding through and I couldn't even bear to look at it knowing there was just nothing to fix this. ``You must promise me that you will protect Thomas from everything. Protect him the way I never could.``
``He lives Amber. You saved him. My brother would have killed everything to have killed any son of mine.`` I kissed her on the lips gently carressing her hair before looking into her eyes again.
``I tried my...`` Her eyes closed and her arm went slack for a moment before I shook her gently and she opened her eyes again. ``It doesn`t hurt anymore. You have to promise me William. Promise me.``
``I promise you Amber I shall protect him. I shall love him, and cherish him as the son that he is. He shall never know pain, or anguish, or sadness. I shall love him as I love you.`` Her eyes begin to once more close, and I selfishly shook her again.
``Stay with me Amber...just hold on please...``I shook her again, but this time her eyes didn't reopen and just staring at her I could see that I had failed to save her. She coughed one more time and her eyes opened somewhat and she looked at me again.
``I`m so sorry Will...I`m so sor...``Her eyes remained open, but she just never blinked. Holding her I couldn't feel anything as I knew she had died. I would never hear her voice again. I would never know her touch again, and I let out a scream which I could barely control.
Following her grasping of his arm the two would talk briefly as she bled out but she held on for long enough to make sure William knew that Thomas was his child, and the two would heart sadly say goodbye to each other before finally she bled out from the horrible wound on her shoulder. It was several minutes of banging on the door with William crying into the hair of Amber before the rest of his men were able to get into the throne room, and by this point the Battle of Berne was over with the remaining forces of the True Sons of Lucerne either dead or having surrendered, but for William it felt increasingly like a hollow victory. As Faye, Jasper and Emmett tried to console him and help him with Amber he would refuse without words picking her body up and carrying her out of the throne room before collapsing outside of the inner keep where he would be helped up by Faye. He whispers to Faye that he needs to take her out of the fortress so he can bury her, and Faye goes ahead clearing the gatehouse, and letting the front gate open where William carries her all the way out of Berne and reaches the Valley of Berne where the large Lucernian army awaits and it is at this point that Alice meet him and he finally surrenders Ambers body to Jasper and breaks down in Alice's arms.
Meeting a Son
“You are too young to understand my son, but know that I have loved you, and I will always love. The world will be tough on you because of how you were born, but understand this. You shall always have a place at my side. You will always be a member of my house. You are my son. You are our son.”
— William Lovie III.
With Thomas sleeping William gathers with the Lucernian army leadership and following a long discussion on their next steps he commands his friend Hanna Arryn be brought to him, and then the meeting breaks up and joined by Jasper, and Edward he returns to his tent where saying goodbye to them he goes into the tent and finds Alice sleeping on his bed holding a sleeping Thomas. Looking at the scene in front of him he starts crying as he thinks about the loss of Amber, and at the sound of his crying Alice wakes up and gets out of bed gently leaving Thomas in bed and the two siblings hug. Thomas eventually wakes up to the talking of Alice and William and Thomas at first only wants Alice, but William goes to him and talks to him about his love for Amber and when Thomas reveals that Amber had talked about William to him almost every night William tells him the story of how he met Amber of which was a story that Amber had told him a thousand times before.
Control of Berne
“I would name you the Arch Duchess of this place if you would let me.”
— William Lovie III.
Meeting with Hanna Arryn the two old friends discuss a more personal view of what happened in Berne, and Hanna reveals to him the depths of some of the things that happened, but also refuses during their conversation to come with him back to Lucerne telling him that Aria needs her more. Discussing Aria, and her father Byron it becomes clear that he needs to speak with Aria and asks Hanna to bring her to him something she agrees to if William agrees to be lenient on her father of which William agrees to out of love for Hanna. The conversation ends with Aria and William agreeing that in one month it will be the leadership of Berne that will travel to Lucerne to meet with William and the Kings Council who will decide the future of Berne. William Lovie III. leaves Berne with the majority of the army but leaves behind several thousand as a garrison of the city under the command of Dylan Steinmare, and this garrison is under orders to further the control of the crown over Berne who at this point there is still fear may be mixed in its loyalties.
Founding of Anthor Father it is time. You must come with us. This is the only way the Kingdom can ever truly heal.
“It was east where I saw our future. It was in our expansion into the Riverlands, Westbridge and Westros that the growth of the kingdom would be built, and it all started with growth in what we actually had.”
— William Lovie III.
Following the crowning of William Lovie III. as the King of Lucerne many drastic changes were going on in the Kingdom of Lucerne, and one of these was the idea of the necessity of a port in eastern Lucerne to be the center of the navy of Lucerne. This eastern location would also allow them to combat the increasing piracy that was coming from Yairs (Region) and in time William wanted to incorporate them into the Kingdom of Lucerne. William also wanted to expand the control of the Lucernian Kingdom in the east with the feeling that most of the region was either of dubious loyalty or underpopulated the region of Anthor was chosen for the site of the new port. The Order of the Red Dragon had the funds and materials needed to begin construction of the Lucerne navy but no great port existed, and Lannistane was deemed to dangerous a location to do it at since the Lannisters couldn't be fully trusted. William would send Varian Anthor his family and vassals eastward where they would found a port on the island now to be named Anthor. The Port of Eastfall would become the beacon of the eastern section in a part of the land where there was little Lucernian presence. The vast province of Winterfell was somewhat broken up to make way for the larger state of Anthor and the many provinces within it, and this was compromise of later giving House Starke land north of Anthor (Later would become Hentwood). The lands that became Anthor would be rich in fishing, and had some mining, but the main operations of the house would be built around Eastfall and the trade that would grow from being the center of eastern trade for the Kingdom of Lucerne.
“House Anthor nearly bankrupted itself constructing the port, but as the loans from the Hales, and Lovie's flowed in the fears were somewhat alayed. This was going to be their main holding and for them you could tell by talking to Varian that he wanted it perfect. He dreamed of Stormwind, and Lucerne when constructing the port.”
— Leonardo Mevinlo
The Port of Eastfall's construction would be the responsibility of both House Anthor and the Order of the Grey Dragon of whom had already worked magic reconstructing Tree Hill. The Port of Eastfall was constructed over several months and during this time House Anthor was busy travelling around the new state making sure that everything was going according to plan, and during this time they were met by members of House Starke who arrived in the near built port of Eastfall. During this time Leonardo Mevinlo would arrive in the port with nearly two hundred engineers and thousands of workmen from the west. Leonard had been tasked with completing the port as quickly as possible and that the Order would fund a basic design on its own, and that House Anthor would be responsible for any expansions on the plan. Finding Varian very much interested in growth he would be tasked with quickly adding to the construction several extra docks, and a large expansion of the Anthor esates.
Candice Anthor was the most trusted person for Varian Anthor and she was placed in charge of directing around all the nobles visiting the Port of Stormwind.
“We were gaining a Noble House in our lands, and that was something we had to keep a close eye on. House Anthor was known for its honor, but honor is something often spoke of and unless tested how can one know.”
— Jon Snow
The Starke's were led by Robb , and Brandon Starke while accompanied by Jon Snow and his friend Samwell Tarly in order to meet with the new Noble House that existed on their doorstep. Kevan Ambry also arrived in the area in order to make sure everyone knew that he was the first in line for the lands north of Anthor that were being promiced, and he arrived around the time that Keven, and Tyrek Lannister also arrived in order to see what was happening and how it would affect Castamere. Candice Anthor was placed in charge of leading the visiting nobles around and making sure they were kept happy, and she did this extremely effectively to the point that Keven Lannister bid her whether she would be open to a marriage to young Tytos Lannister. She would politely refuse but Jon Snow was listening in and watched as she eyed him afar, and after this she would confront Jon on evesdropping. She would kiss him, and the two would begin to take it farther until he stopped her telling her that his heart was with another. Following this the whole group would group together to meet with a large party of Frey's that her father had bid come to the port and see the scope of what was planned in order to further relations under the overal command of William.
Frey Trouble
“The Frey's were know as a rotten bunch but you didn't realize until you actually saw them that the rumors were true.”
— Jon Snow
The Kingdom of Lucerne would make it a point to invite the Frey's and under the command of William Lovie III. the Frey's were to be treated with the utmost of care. William though would be skeptical of them at the same time due to the conversation that he had with Menelia Proudmoore during the Nortburg Tournament of 5125 where Menelia Candice Anthor, and Jon Snow would continue to spend time together and she continued to attempt to seduce him, but his father's teachings about honor made him unable to do so. She would go to the port when the Freys arrived with Jon Snow beside her, and as the Freys visited it seemed clear to the Lucernians that the Freys were after a marriage. After discussions over the female Frey's that they brought with them went well it was believed by all those that were there that everything was going according to plan. After the Freys returned with Roslin Frey the most pretty of the girls that had been sent the Lucernians would make the mistake of not bringing Tytos Lannister to the meeting (Keven had been commanded not to by Tywin Lannister knowing that it would make them think it was Robb Starke they were offering) and this led the Frey's to believe that Robb was being offered. When this was made verbal there was laughter from several Lucernians who saw it as a joke that the Freys would believe Robb Starke would marry someone like a Frey. Black Walder Frey would take out his sword and fighting nearly broke out before his father Stevron Frey grabs ahold of him and controls the situation. The Freys leave after this with parting words from Lothar Frey being very threatening to Robb Starke of whom they feel greatly insulted them.
Robb never discussed the Frey object left behind in his room to anyone outside of Obella of whom he only vaguely mentioned once when she asked about the Frey's.
“Beyond Childish were the Frey's. Did they honestly believe we would marry the heir of one of the most powerful men in the kingdom to a daughter leagues down the inheritence line of some foreign nation. Still hearing the limping Lothar Frey threaten my brother made my blood rise.”
— Jon Snow
The Frey's would return to their ships following the argument and despite attempts by many including a near marriage proposal created by Candice Anthor and Stevron Frey the other Freys were intimidated by Black Walder Frey and refused to listen to the heir of Frey in Stevron Frey. On the route back from Eastfall it is known that during the night everyone went to bed, and the next morning the boat had its anchors up, and many on board were dead including Stevron his wife, and the captain. Everyone believed that Black Walder had done it, but unable to prove it and unwilling to be next on the chopping block noone mentioned it, and the story returning to Frey was that the captain had gone insane and killed Stevron and his wife.
Trouble in Highport
“People are starting to ask questions my friend. Go in there. Sleep with a whore, and make them forget their questions.”
— Percival Lott
Alongside the other forces it would be Robin Highport that travels to Eastfall in order to take part in the celebrations for the new city alongside his friends. Shortly before they leave Fogtown his sister Lara Highport comes down with a sickness due to her pregnancy with their second child and thus stayed behind while Robin Highport left Fogtown by boat traveling to Eastfall. Arriving in Fogtown he finds his friends forcing him to go to the newest local brothel and after a confrontation with Percival Lott he is convinced that the only way to keep his relationship with Larra a secret is to follow their lead and thus he agrees to sleep with a whore at the brothel, and unknown to him the whore he is paired with is Vanessa Cleef of whom is in the process of being tricked by several noble girls into believing this will make her popular. Vanessa Cleef would travel to Anthor for the same reason as Robin, and accompanied by her family there was much thought to finding the fourteen year old Vanessa a future prospect for a husband, but in this regard she was extremely uncomfortable and was not looking forward to this. Entering the room where he believes he will sleep with a whore he finds Vanessa Cleef of whom convinced that she will popular if she sleeps with Robin decides to play the part as best she can, and so desperate for popularity is Vanessa that she is able to convince Robin that she is a whore at the brothel, and he eventually after having a connection with her sleeps with Vanessa.
Conversation Incoming Loneliness is a disease just like any other. The worst part of the disease is the cure isn;t always to be surrounded by those who love you. Many times the desease spreads despite the logical reasons why it would nothing vulnerable in the host. Loneliness is a disease. I know because I have it..
"What is your name?"
"Now is not about talking about me milord. Tell me what you want me to do for you." She ran her hand up my arm with a confidence that made me sad. She was maybe fifteen and here she was more experienced then she should be at thirty.
"I want to talk with you." There was a look that passed her eyes after I said it and then it disapeared leaving her confidant look to come back to the forefront.
"Shall I talk dirty to you milord?"
"Tell me your name."
"Vanessa."
"Tell me about how you came to be here."
"If I tell you about myself will you. Will you let me do what you paid me for?"
"That depends on your honesty."
"My mother died when I was four. My father liked the drink. When his love for the drink got more then we could afford he sold me here."
"That's terrible Vanessa."
"Life is terrible sometimes milord."
"What would make your life less terrible?"
"What do you mean?"
"What do you dream of?"
"It might sound strange milord..."
"Robin."
"It might sound strange...Robin. But my dream is to be on a farm."
"A farm?"
"Do not laugh at me Robin."
"Milk of the Poppy must be used a lot here."
"That it is Robin."
"Do you...do the women here never contemplate having children with one of the noblemen that come through these doors."
"I would imagine it crosses their minds. I would imagine the embarrassment of being sacked from their job, and rejected by the father would outway any imaginations they had of that."
"Not all men would look at the birth of their child in such a way."
"What type of man are you Robin?"
Following this the two lay together and he promises that after he is done meeting with the people he has to at the ceremonies he will return to the brothel and pay for her escape from this life and marry her to a noblemen who will treat her right. The two talk for some time and it Robin finds himself for the first time feeling something for a girl that isn't Lara and realizes that perhaps there is hope for him outside of his relationship with Lara which he realizes cannot go anywhere real as she is his sister and thus will always be walled off to him. Kissing the girl on the forehead he leaves her once again with the promise to return and then leaving he brothel he returns to the the camp outside of Anthor where he meets up with his friends, who are actually shocked he went through with it, but no his honor is without question and believe him. Vanessa having been left to herself cleans herself up and goes downstairs where she tells the girls that she did but they all already know as they reveal they were watching through the wall of the brothel and embarrassed she finds that they treat her better and they walk her back to her families lodgings in the city and all say goodbye with Vanessa feeling good for the first time she can remember.
Robin spends time with his uncle before he falls asleep in preparation for his role at the ceremony for the foundation of the city, and the dinner that will follow for the nobles. The ceremony comes and arriving at the town hall Robin enters the room where he and his party travel to their table, but he nearly falls over when he sees Vanessa seated at one of the tables, and it is with her locking eyes with him that he spits out his drink causing the entire room to look to him, but she flees the room as this happens. Despite the staring of all the nobles in the room which amounts to most of the most influential people in the entire Kingdom of Lucerne Robin remains seated in his chair and despite dying inside that he cannot chase after her he thinks of how important this event is and not wanting to let down the memory of his fallen sister and brother he raises his drink and makes a toast laughing off his spitting out the drink which causes nearly everyone to laugh with him. As the dinner progresses it is Vanessa that makes her way back into the room after her father found her and forced her back and returning to the room as the nobles all mingle she is found by Robin and she reveals who she really is and shocked at this he begins attempting to discuss marriage between the two but they are interrupted by the arrival of Vanessa's brother Vilhem Cleef who introduces his betrothed Sydra Skane and despite Vanessa nearly crying Vilhem is so excited that he takes over the remainder of Vanessa and Robin's time together which ends with the arrival of Vanessa's father Saiden Cleef of whom also does not realize Vanessa is overwhelmed and thus doesn't check in on her just takes her away leaving Robin's marriage offer hanging in the air unanswered. Following the end of the dinner Robin attempts to find Vanessa Cleef and finds Vilhem Cleef of whom tells him that Vanessa was sent away back to Goldshire after her father had been enraged at her embarrassing moment of running out of the dining hall, and at this news Robin returns to his party and tells them that he will travel to Goldshire.
Arrival of Kul Tiras
“I come here with an open mind to joining your kings vision.”
— Derek Proudmoore
While the situation in Lucerne was coming under control it was other regions that were feeling a different feeling and of these the situation in Kul Tiras was one of fear and chaos. Following the marriage of Derek Proudmoore to Sauria Frey the relationship between the Freys and Proudmoore's should have gotten better but instead it had gotten far worse with Tiras ships and Frey ships fighting on the Rhine. This got worse when the Empire of Frey declared war on Kul Tiras in the Frey Invasion of Kul Tiras but despite having superior numbers the navy of Kul Tiras was able to defeat the Frey's at sea and thus push back the invasion. Realizing that they would not survive another invasion Kul Tiras first looked to the Riverlands, and Lorderon for assistance but when both negotiations went no where it was the Kingdom of Lucerne that would be viewed as the next best option.
Meeting the Hearth Druids
“We are the Druids of the Hearth, and we come in peace.”
— Pen Ecrowi
The Truth Comes Out
“Your Grace. I have a letter here, that was given to me by a prominent member of the druids. You need to read this.”
— Elsa Hosk
William watches as Leven walks away from the tent and then lets Elsa into his tent where once inside she shows him the letter. Reading the letter it is written by an unknown writer but details how the Druids of the Hearth are corrupted by evil and mean to simply distract Lucerne so that there true plans can move forward.
Game of Rivers Father it is time. You must come with us. This is the only way the Kingdom can ever truly heal.
Olivia Wilde would heavily support her brother Andrik following the discovery of Andrik's best friend Ellisha Jennett being sexually abused by her own brother and uncle, and this would lead to the decision to turn against House Jennnett.
“The Riverlands were a prize that we just couldn`t walk away from. The ports, the navy, the armies, the population...everything was just far too much to not have within our control.”
— William Lovie III.
The Kingdom of Lucerne following the capture of Berne, and the internal reorganization under William begin to heavily target the Riverlands for their next conquest. The region south of the Riverlands called Fairmarket was the first problem in the way as without control of Fairmarket then the threat of a land based offensive was going to be moot. Fairmarket was not very heavily populated but had two main population centers in the form of the large city of Fairmarket, and the western stronghold of Whellia. It would be at the Tournament of Forks following the Battle of Berne where the true plans would be laid forward for the capture of the region of Fairmarket and from there movement further north and taking the Riverlands. Unknown to William was that three members of House Wilde in the form of Andrik Wilde, Olivia Wilde, and Orden Wilde had come to the Tournament of Forks following Andrik Wilde's discovery of the demons in the closet of House Jennett and came to the tournament planning to arrange an alliance with the Kingdom of Lucerne that would end House Jennett. Arriving at the tournament Andrik is able to get himself quite close to the king and spends his time overhearing the plans of the king, and inspired by the vision of William Lovie III. and also hearing about plans to move against Fairmarket he is able to meet with William Lovie III.'s aunt Catherine Lovie and alongside his sister, and brother the three arrange with Catherine that when the forces of Lucerne come to Fairmarket House Wilde will turn on their Fairmarket masters and join with them.
The sexual molestation of Ellisha Jennett would become the centerpiece of the destruction of House Jennett as she was beloved by Andrik Wilde of whom turned the remainder of his family against House Jennett.
Following this agreement it would be Olivia Wilde that would go to William Lovie III. with this offer alongside Catherine Lovie and it was decided to keep this a secret from the leadership of the attackers lest they make it obvious that the Wilde were turning on them, and also to make sure there forces were not lured into a trap if the forces of House Wilde did not in fact join with the Lucernians. With this in mind the forces of House Starke, House Lannister, and House Scarlet would be the main forces sent against the region of Fairmarket and following discussion with their leaders they would mobilize against Fairmarket. Representatives of the Kingdom of Lucerne were sent into Fairmarket, and the capital of the same name, and these diplomats were either killed outright or tortured and sent back nearly dead by the command of House Jennett of whom was being tricked into believing lies about the Lucernians. Only in the west where House Wilde was dominent would the sent diplomats return safely. In the case of House Wilde when it seemed that conflict was coming they would send one of their members in the form of Andrik Wilde of whom would enter Fairmarket with the command to wait there with fifty men in case the defence failed. With diplomacy having failed the Invasion of Fairmarket was launched, by the combined forces of Lucerne of whom moved in three different spots against the defence of Fairmarket.
The defence of Fairmarket was always going to be extremely difficult for the Jennett's but their hope was that if they held out long enough they would incite assistence from the Frey's and some of the Riverlanders who did not wish for annexation by Lucerne.
“The Jennet line was broken and rotten by the time Lucerne arrived. If I had of wanted to resist, of which I didn`t want to. I would have never fought and died so that the Jennet`s could have one last bloodbath.”
— Olivia Wilde
The leadership of Fairmarket was led by House Jennet of whom deployed their forces alongside nearly twenty thousand mercenaries hired from the Riverlands. While unreliable they gave them significant numbers and made a once easy invasion more of a problem. Eddard, Robb, and Brendan Starke led the forces of House Starke into the center of the attack. In the west Saiden, Darion, and other Scarlets led the attack but found that the forces of House Wilde and their vassals were reluctant to engage in actual conflict and were doing more retreating then anything elce. In the east the mercenarie forces of Fairmarket were joined by a small army sent from the Island of Frey of which were called freedom fighters but were sent by the Freys as an insult.
The collapse of both the eastern front, and the purposeful failure of the Wilde forces meant that the entire front was constantly in retreat for the forces of House Jennett.
“After the mercenaries broke and ran you knew it was over. We were not going to die with the fools that thought Frey`s and a mercenary band calling themselves the Whores Servents was enough to defeat the Kingdom of Lucerne.”
— Olivia Wilde
With the weakest section of the Fairmarket forces standing on the eastern front, it was the objective of the Lucernians to target that area. Jamie Lannister would instigate a situation where the mercenaries would march during the day and then both armies would camp during the night both sides never exposing themselves. After five days of this the mercenaries and Freys were becoming less and less prepared for battle, and this was exploited on the sixth day when Jamie Lannister moved his men during the night. The Fairmarket forces noticed this and assembled their forces for battle, but their scouts were slacking and did not notice the divergence of the Lannister forces and focused on in front of them. While Jamie moved right at them two larger forces moved in from the sides and enveloped the Fairmarket force. After fighting for several minutes the Mercenaries accepted defeat and would surrender with little hold out fighting, while the Frey`s fled eastward back to the ships on the coast. News spread quickly but not quickly enough for the main Fairmarket force of whom was stuck in between the Starke`s and the Lannisters.
“You almost wanted to punish the Wilde for the cowardess of the act, but how could you. They had destroyed our enemy and surrendered Fairmarket to us without much more of a fight.”
— Saiden Scarlet
While this was happening the Wilde family determined the time was right to change sides, and under the guidance of Olivia Wilde returned nearly all of their forces to Whellia. Back in Whellia Olivia Wilde would lead some two thousand men at arms and a hundred knights towards Fairmarket and behind all the fighting going on in the center. All of this went on while the Scarlet forces moved towards Whellia slowly as they feared they were being lured into a trap, and it was around this time that they were joined in the fight by the forces of House Lovie who were finally arriving in the area and brought overwhelming numbers. Olivia though arrived at Fairmarket, and without alerting the defenders of the Wilde turning on them would use Andrik Wilde to allow Olivia Wilde and the army of House Wilde to enter the city. Entering the city they turned on the Fairmarket forces, and burned and pillaged the town before massacring House Jennet, and taking nearly all the nobles prisoner. As this happened the forces of House Lannister arrived at the gates of Fairmarket joined by the well aware Saiden Scarlet and received the bodies of House Jennet as gifts. Saiden Scarlet would want to take the Wilde family prisoner, but Catherine Lovie had arrived and under the orders of William Lovie III. would command House Wilde spared and handed control of northern Fairmarket, while House Scarlet was given the south.
Edmure Tully was headstrong in wanting to join with Lucerne.
“The Tully`s were already blood, so I wasn`t surprised when they wanted to not shed any.”
— Eddard Starke
When it came to the Riverlands the main power brokers were the most powerful house in the form of House Tully, the dominent northern house in the form of House Green, and the dominant southern house in House Blackwood. These three houses learned of the destruction of Fairmarket, and immediately the Tully`s made the decision to join Lucerne whatever was offered to them. House Blackwood would accept this as well, but many in the house wanted to resist for honor`s sake, but Brandyn Blackwood disagreed and invited the Lucernians to Raventree for a meeting. House Green led by Fadin Green was having difficulties in their north in fighting against the forces of the Deatheaters and thus was more then open to the idea of gaining a very important ally and thus in the spirit of gaining this ally Fadin would send his son and daughter to Fairmarket where they made their ideas clear. Unwilling to meet in a unknown venue such as Raventree the meeting took place in Riverrun. While this meeting was being formed it was House Keath one of the most powerful Riverlords who controlled the large Keath Islands in the southern Riverlands who go to the Lucernians at Fairmarket sending their heir and two daughters alongside several of their most powerful vassals in the form of House Butterwell, and House Vypros in order wot swear themselves into the Kingdom of Lucerne. Following the capture of Fairmarket Lord Tobben Keath would become horrified by the potential invasion of his own island and with this fear in mind he would send letters to the Lucernian forces now garrisoning Fairmarket and these letters opened up conversations about what swearing themselves to Lucerne would mean to them. The meeting in Riverrun would count in all the major houses of the Riverlands, and major elements from Lucerne including Catherine Lovie of whom led the Lovie delegation.
The Rise of Lucerne I saw the destruction of the world, and knew I had to stop it. There was nothing left to do but become bigger then everyone else. The Empire was never going to be the beacon the world needed it to be. Westros was on fire. The Bretonians had reached for the stars and been burned. And the old shadow of Numeron was fading far too quickly. It was left to us in Lucerne to change the fate of all those who wished to reject darkness. We were the last hope for a world who had long since given up on believing.
Watching the coast disappear, and the vast city of Riverrun appear on the horizon I was shocked at its scope. The port itself ran for miles, and the port was guarded by two large castles on both edges, and in the distinct center was a massive tower the size of which I hadn`t seen since I saw the Cloud Tower back in Lucerne. Eddard approached from behind me, and I felt his hand go to my shoulder. ``Its quite the sight isn`t it Saiden.`` I looked still at Riverrun as he spoke, and the tide of Blue Flags carrying the Tully Fish were so many that it made the city appear blue.
``Were you as intimated the first time you were, or is it just me.``
``When I came here to marry Catelyn I was beyond scared.`` He walked away and towards the mast, and I followed in behind him. ``Back then the tower you see in the center was nothing but a wall, and now look at it. Its funny the way things change.`` He stared out into the port, and behind us I looked and saw the form of my squire, and other nobles coming from beneath. My family vassals in Sigmund Mien, and Tirrion Fraizen came into sight and Tirrion gave me a bow as he caught glimpse of me looking. I laughed at the gesture of Tirrion who through his mother was my blood relative and was older then me, and yet he still managed to be beyond loyal.
``Will Lady Catelyn be meeting us on the deck alone.``
``I would assume her brother Edmund will meet as well, along with any of the Lords that are in the city.`` He turned towards me and rested his hand on my shoulder. ``Never forget that you and I are Lords of Lands larger and more powerful then these Riverlords. While you may be intimidated by the larger port and the castles, never forget that they know what we represent. We represent a threat that their ships, and their trade cannot hope to resist.`` The boat finally reached the dock, and men poured themselves onto the side throwing ropes to the dock hands, and letting us go ashore.
Following behind Eddard he was enveloped in an intimate hug by his wife Catelyn, and looking at the two I couldn`t help but be envious of that kind of love. I had married Jessica when I was very young and she was already past her bloom. She was a beautiful women I would never say otherwise, but her beauty hid an anger and pettiness that was entirely unbecoming. For years I tried to love her, but despite her good and loyal work for me she was still nothing I cared for truly. Not the way Eddard loved his cat. Not the way William loved Bella. It was just so much lesser then what it should be. ``Lord Saiden shall you accompany us.`` It was a question but the man saying it said it with a hint of laughter and I realized I must have looked ridiculous lost in thought standing on the edge of the boat. I turned and bid my squire Fredick Clegane II. to bring my sword shield and I followed behind Eddard.
As we walked I looked into the bay and watched the ship of Jack Shephard, and the representatives of House Lovie that had been sent to further the talks. We all knew that with Riverrun so went the entire Riverlands, and other then some hot spots the talks were going extremely well especially with the constant threat of the large Lannister and Starke combining with my houses forces. ``Fredrick have you ever seen ships this big.`` The young boy looked around and he was so awe struck it made me laugh.
``No my Lord I havn`t.``
``Well lets get moving, and perhaps we can find a pretty Brannish girl for you to marry while were here.`` It saddened me that this honorable young man was so mistreated by his father. Apparently his father had spent years working at a betrothal for his younger son, while letting poor Fredick the second of his name sit idle training with the Clegane forces. As he followed closely behind me I wondered whether there was some kind of silent failing in the father that had led to that kind of neglect, but the evidence was so widespread maybe loving your child unconditionally was the rarer act.
Before I knew it we reached the base of the tower, and a giant tent was arrayed where Eddard, his wife and her brother the lord of Rivverun had gathered around a table. A skinny man in purple armor with a intricate beard approached me from the side, and clasped his hand on my shoulder. ``Lord Scarlet I bid you welcome to our beloved Riverlands.`` As he stared at me it dawned in his face that I had no idea who he was, and he laughed. ``I`m sorry my Lord where are my manners.`` He dusted his hands on his jacket before outstretching his hand for me to shake. ``I am Bryndan Blackwood son of Lord Tytos Blackwood of the Raventree. I am very glad to see your people today, as it is long due that Lucerne and Riverlands be joined together. In the coming days know that I am willing and greatly hopeful to help you with everything your people may need.`` Going back to the notes my Maester had given me on the boat, I remembered back to the Blackwood`s and realized the company I was with.
Byrdan Blackwood was the heir to the seasoned but not elderly Tytos Blackwood, and despite being the third oldest was the heir. Apparently some kind of mishap had broken faith in the oldest boy, and since then Bryndan had become the voice of House Blackwood. Maester Seryn told me that the Blackwood`s would be beyond important to us, and thus without another moment pause I reached and shook his hand. ``Lord Bryndan I believe Raventree has a lot to gain from our friendship.``
"Of this there is no debate. Let me tell you though Lord Scarlet that several inside that room will be of trouble for you."
"It would be too easy if there was no push back Bryndan." He gave a light chuckle before I continued. "Who do you see as pushing back the hardest against our involvement here."
"Pushback you will find from House Hantoway, and House Graege."
"What are there issues with our proposals?"
"They simply love there freedom."
As the groups came together and met in order to arrange the alliance it would be a clear divide during the meetings about how House Tully, and most of the Riverlanders were very receptive to the words of Lucerne, with really only House Hantoway of the Western Islands of Hantoway, and secondly House Graege from the south western Islands of Greage providing any kind of resistance against the Kingdom of Lucerne's plans. Very similar to the current situation in the Riverlands it was decided that the Riverlands would become a Grand State of Lucerne with House Tully forming the Arch Lord of the Riverlands and gaining a seat at Lucerne, while the Riverlords would continue to be known as Riverlords but all fall within the Grand State of the Riverlands. Realizing that their resistance was going to mean little due to the agreement of House Tully, House Blackwood, House Keath, House Justman, House Goodbrooke, and House Lancer the leaders of House Hantoway, and House Graege would storm from the meeting to return to their seats with the belief that they would declare their independance from there. It was during this meeting that the true scope of what the Deatheaters were would become known to the Lucernians as led by the words of Seth Green the violence and chaos that had come with the arrival of the Deatheaters was detailed. Also during the meeting it was Harras Handlin that made the point of joining for the mutual protection of everyone against the increasing hostility of the Iron Islands of whom had started reaving against the lands of House Handlin as well as many other Riverland areas.
Invasion of the Hantoway's
Main Article : Invasion of Hantoway
The moment that House Hantoway, and House Graege stormed from the meeting it was decided by the Lucernian counterparts of the meeting that there resistence had to be stomped out immediatly and this took the form of House Proudmoore, and House Scarlet and all of their forces taking a Kul Tiras fleet and invading the Island of Hantoway.
“If everything we heard about the Boltens was correct then we needed to move on the Divine Lands quick before the Frey's or Boltens did it first. ”
— Hedrik Clegane III.
Following the meeting of the Kingdom of Lucerne, and Lorderon it became clear through those talks, and the talks with the Riverlands, Seagard and others that the Kingdom of Bolten was an extremely menecing actor in the field of Westros. Along the westernside of Westros sat the independant land called the Divine Lands. The Divine Lands had an alliance amongst eachother to defend eachother if things ever came to fighting, and this had allowed them to escape the clutches of larger Kingdoms like Bolten, and the Freys. Communication begin with the Divine Lands after Nicoli Machiavelli would communicate with the leadership of the three city states and from insiders he had planted in the area learned the ways he believed he could get them to the Lucerne side of things.
“Grandlen had a population on par with Gulltown. I didn't have to hear another word about why we needed them in the fold.”
— Hedrik Clegane III.
Firstly he sent promices of large arms trade agreements with the largest of the towns in the form of Grandlen of which created a strong bond between the two. On top of this he would offer hands in marriage to his eldest daughter in Allenia Grandlen of whom was approaching twenty three but the prospects in Grandlen were not what he was looking for. Lord Grandlen was very much interested in having a large meeting of the Divine Lands, and said that if the Lucernians could put it together he would be a staunch supporter of theirs during the meeting.
Jeutenburg and Ventin
“Jeutenburg was scared of the Karstarks. It took two letters to realize that they wanted us more then we probably needed them, but even if we could have squeezed them into a more permanent alliance our mandate wasn't to do that so we played fair.”
— Hedrik Clegane III.
Jeutenburg would be substancially easier to placate as they mainly just wanted protection, and this was dealt with when William Lovie sent a letter to House Banner telling them that the Kingdom of Lucerne would intervene on any conflict which involved Jeutenburg. Nikolas Banner would arrive at Koenisburg after the third letter between he and Lucerne and would be prepared to be very positive towards the Lucernians during the meeting. Alongside Jeutenburg the mercentile city state of Ventin would be contacted as well, and they basically only wanted assurances of assistence in the case that the Frey's attempted to block their trade routes. If the Frey's could not be reasoned with then increased southern trade was their main option thus making them send five members of the Trade Union Guilds to Koenisburg for the meeting.
Koenisburg
“Oberyn Martell II. showed me during that tournament that honor and knighthood were real. My doubts about the Dragon were extinguished that day never to rise again, and the only fitting thank you I could do now was to swear an oath to his blood.”
— Britt Lancave
Last to get within the fold was Koenisburg of whom was perhaps the most important of the city states as the long term goal of Koenisburg was to act a major port nearbye The Trident which would alert Lucerne to any problems. Koenisburg was led not by a house as the other states were and instead was a hyper theocracy led by the Voices of the Dragon of whom are led theoretically by the Voice of the Dragon. Communicating with this voice they discovered the voice was Britt Lancave of whom had won prestige in Lucerne during the Nortburg Tournament of 5120. After determing from the council that they would like to be aligned with Lucerne if for no other reason then to make the Frey's less willing to threaten them she would go about making the best deal possible. After negotiations of shipping lanes, and trade was over she knew the deal was signed and simply wanted one more thing. Britt Lancave wanted only one thing in order to pull her to their side and that was for them to send a Martell that she could swear an oath before. This was an easy task and they sent Obella Martell of whom wanted any excuse to travel eastward and see her fiance Robb Starke.
The Meeting
“It was rubber stamped and the only thing remaining was to actually get everyone in a room and agree to work together. There were small talks of making the Divine Lands a state, but this went away when the Grandlens made it clear they were not ready for that yet.”
— Hedrik Clegane III.
The meeting would finally take place following the return of William Lovie III. and his family from their time in Lorderon the second time. Nicholi, and Hedrik Clegane would not return to Lucerne with the rest of the group and instead would meet Obella and Robb Starke in Koenisburg for the meeting. All the parties would arrive for the meeting except Teonisburg of whom obeyed the command of Koenisburg and saw no reason to send more representatives. The meeting would become somewhat interesting when several Frey's made dock in Koenisburg and attempted to join the meeting. Finding Robb Starke inside there was nearly a fight inside the hallway and Robb Starke would leave the hall in order to not make more of an issue then there already was. The meeting would continue and Obella Martell took the oaths of Koenisburg while the others signed papers of alliance with Lucerne thus sealing the Divine Lands as a Lucernian alligned area. The night came and as the Frey's prepared to leave Robb Starke once more attempted to make things better but instead of this he ended up insulting them more when Obella came out, and seeing she was his fiance by the way she clung to him the Freys were further insulted and left more angry and with more ammunition.
The Rise of Lucerne I saw the destruction of the world, and knew I had to stop it. There was nothing left to do but become bigger then everyone else. The Empire was never going to be the beacon the world needed it to be. Westros was on fire. The Bretonians had reached for the stars and been burned. And the old shadow of Numeron was fading far too quickly. It was left to us in Lucerne to change the fate of all those who wished to reject darkness. We were the last hope for a world who had long since given up on believing.
I watched from my window as Robb Starke walked out of the tower and into the street. I wondered what he was doing until I saw the weasely Frey he was walking towards. I could hear that Britt was still talking but despite the loveliness of her conversation I couldn't let Robb get into a duel in the streets. The last thing we needed was a fight with the Frey's at a time like this. "I'm sorry my Lady but I must take your leave for a time my friend is in for some trouble outside."
"Trouble amongst the children of Glaurung on the streets of his city is city isn't something I can ignore. I shall accompany you." Lady Lancave followed closely behind me as we exited the room.
"Alright my Lady but we must hurry." We made our way down the steps and into the street to find the Frey man with a sword pointed at the direction of Obella Martell of whom was being shielded by Robb who had his hand on his own sword. Three of the Frey's men stood behind him hands on their swords, while more then ten Martell, and Starke men stood around behind Robb. Reaching them I finally could hear their words.
"At some point this must end Frey." Robb held his hands out peacefully and you hoped the Frey would accept this, but he spit at Robbs hands before speaking. It was dark but I knew this Frey to be Hosteen Frey one of the endless sons of Walder Frey. Hosteen is a husky man with a square face, and despite his size he wasn't fate just very large. When we were told of the Freys that had arrived they had made a special point to say that he is very much comparable to a bull, slow to anger but implacable when aroused.
"This could have been so much different wolf, but you chose that whore over a true lady." He looked at Obella with such discust that her cousin Obara nearly charged forward until I saw Britt move infront of her stopping her dead in her tracks. Alongside his anger it was apparent that Hosteen is either dim and stupid, or arrogant and foolish.
"And I am sorry that this has offended your family but you can either accept my apology or you won't." The slight was so small that it seemed almost insane that someone would still be angry over it. These Frey's held a grudge over what I had heard was the fact that a few men laughed at them.
"We will not."
"I am sorry Ser Hosteen but you are causing undue problems for the City of the Dragon, and I must ask that you leave." She stood strong, and I gained even more respect for Britt then I already had as she stood in the middle of two very angry groups barely looking like she was afraid at all.
"The rivers will run red with your blood wolf." He turned and walked back before turning one last time and looking at Robb. "Trust me when I say that. You'll one day be surrounded by death and wonder how it could have all gone so wrong." With that he left and Robb turned towards Obella of whom held onto him tighter then her strength should have allowed her to.
Invasion of Westbridge The Fall of Westbridge would shake the entire continent to its core.
For the Starke's, and Lannisters there attack on Westbridge would form the critical suprise assault on the very inside of the defences of the port city. There success and failure would determine how quick a victory the Lucernians would have.
“This would be the first time that we would be asked to work together since the War against Gondor. During that conflict both sides had not worked together at all and had basically moved however they wanted in order to take as much land for their respective house. This time we were being shuttled by the new Order of the Red Dragon and thus we would be landing where the commanders had decided it was best to land.”
— Robb Starke
William Lovie III.'s quick conquest of the Riverlands, and Fairmarket had led to the Lucernian Kingdom becoming a main part of the Empire foreign affairs to the point that the feelers were out to the Malfoy's of whom they would attack Hogwarts in their attempt to grow the relationship. House Starke, and House Lannister were tasked with leading the attack that Lucerne would launch from the sea, and they would bring all of their vassals and head northward from the Port of Stormwind. Over the course of several months dozens and dozens of ships had been constructed, or purchased from Westros and elsewhere in order to provide the required ships for the invasion, and these ships had all packed into the rivers of Castamere as well as the coasts of Bear Island. Eddard Starke was the leader of the Starke forces that were assembled to take part in the Invasion, and he along with House Lannister was tasked with using the ships that had been constructed to land on the two islands that existed in Westbridge, and hold them while spreading out from there leaving the Malfoy's attacked from all sides and no where to retreat too. On the lead up to the campaign it was members of the Kreigs Marine that were brought in as mediators for the two sides that despised each other and basically tasked with making sure that they worked together for the good of the invasion.
“I had to make them understand that the conflict between the Lannisters and the Starke's wasn't something I could have happening right now. If it meant I put a non-starke or Lannister in charge I would, and I just hoped that threat was enough to push them off.”
— William Lovie III.
Eddard and his council met with Tywin, and his council at the Port of Stormwind where there armies were camped west of and together over the course of two days they decided on the best course of action. Eddard did make sure to show the letter he had recieved from William Lovie III. of which detailed the fact that if the two groups could not work together then Randyll Tarly would be placed in charge of the Starke's while for the Lannisters Hanzal Reyne would be made commnader. This was a great insult to Tywin Lannister and thus he would meet outside the room with Eddard and the two would come to an agreement that they would work together and not let this ruin the potential of this for the two families. They decided to land the majority of their troops on the main island, while they split their vassals, and banner houses into attacking the individual islands that dotted Westbridge city so that there would be no holdouts left. On the days preceding the leaving for the invasion Eddard relunctantly led his forces along with House Lannister on to the boats of the Kreigs Marine fleet, and they sailed up the river Rhine to coincide with arrival during the night.
“The Trident was the only place we didn't control along the route to Westbridge, and thus it was of supreme importance to peacefully get past the city. I knew they would be angry, but what they demanded was beyond comprehension.”
— Robb Starke
The Trident would become the main block in the route of the Starke/Lannister forces moving northward, and it was thought of heavily by the overall battle commanders. Lucerne had sent several spies into the Trident, and on the days before the Invasion fleet landed they would spread rumors that the Riverlands had gone into rebellion and there was fighting across the entire land. When the fleet reached The Trident they were stopped by the Trident forces led by Symond Frey, Ryman Frey, and Walton Frey of whom forced the leadership of the Stark and Lannister forces to meet on the docks of the city. Following this it was Jamie Lannister, Robb Starke and a few other commanders that would meet with the Frey detachment led by several prominent Freys but mainly Symond Frey would be in charge of the direction of the negotiations. The talking went better then they thought, and after believing they had permission to leave the Starke's and Lannister forces went to leave but were stopped by Symond Frey of whom told them the conditions to get through.
“Poor little Brann would be forced to live his life without any choise. Arya was going to kill me.”
— Robb Starke
The first was a major payment of gold of which they knew was coming, and the second was the marriage of two Starke's and several other nobles to Freys. Symond Frey would declare knowledge of Robb's bethrothal to Obella Martell and thus let it be known that Brann, and Arya Starke would be the two Starke's while the others would be decided later. Robb was forced to accept this knowing that the fleet could not take the Frey navy as they were not meant for heavy combat, and even if they did they would suffer terrible casualties and be unable to go any further. Agreeing to the arrangement they would leave, and as they were travelling back by boat to the fleet Jamie Lannister would insult the arrangement and Robb's failings and because of this the two got into a heavy fight which forced them to be pulled back from each other.
The Starke's had visited the island of Kul Tiras during the initial annexxation and for this reason many within the house had built some relationships with the leadership, while only Keven Lannister had visited Kul Tiras. This all added together to create a situation where the Lannisters were forced onto an uneven playing field with the Starke's.
“When we stopped for the night at Kul Tiras you knew there was going to be trouble if everyone wasn't seperated so sadly enough the fleet split into the two sides with the Starke's landing in Boralus, and the Lannisters landing in Drisburg.”
— Daelin Proudmoore
The fleet would stop for a night in Kul Tiras where they were forced to split in half so that there wouldn't be any trouble. While there Eddard Starke would meet with Daelin Proudmoore who took him throughout the capital of Kul Tiras and told him of the lands, while in Drisburg the Lannisters made little contact with the Kul Tiras people and stayed mainly on the boats. As they left it would be the next day that they would land on the islands once they got the sign that the city was under siege by the flags that House Lovie would plant on the towers of the southern gate, as well as a message arriving from a griffon of the Luftwaffe. On a normal occasion their boats would have been discovered by the Westbridge lighthouses that were located throughout the islands, and this would have led to the fleet of Westbridge ships launching to stop them, but the lighthouses were taken out of commision by the work of the Order of the Violet Dragon and thus Westbridge was blind to the ships movements. This would be the first time that the fleets of the Kreigs Marine would be used in this manner, and the hundreds of ships litterly packed themselves on the River with many ships litterly bumping into eachother because of their close proximity. The Fleet would plant anchor within range of the island, and all throughout the night the men on board waited for the flags to be raised and the griffon to arrive. When the Griffon arrived and the flags were raised the Kreigs Marine moved its ships to land on the main island.
The North Islands
“It was the first time many of my men had seen real combat since the conflict with Gondor, and there was some worry that they would panic under the pressure that was surely going to come our way.”
— Robert Baratheon
The attack on the northern islands was mainly an attack on the small wall estate that controlled the largest island, and its walls were small enough that the ships dropping them off would only need to make a few small holes in the wall in order for the troops to be able to spill into the estate and quickly take control of the island. The defenders were controlled by House Brand who controlled several vassals on the northern islands and was well fortified in the estate, but its vassals had been silenced by the Order of the Violet Dragon greatly weakening their defences.
“They fell like the traitorous swine that they were. You need to have loyalty and I don`t think there was a single soldier that I fought that I felt was ready to die for the cause.”
— Randyll Tarly
The troops landed on the islands without much problems but a gaurd on the wall noticed their arrival as they spilled into the homes of the people of the northern island, and when this happened the bells went off, and the estate became aware of the attack. As Randyll Tarly led his forces into the breaches created by the ships the combined vassals of House Starke made simple work of the few defenders that had managed to wake themselves up in the middle of the night. As they broke the ranks of the defenders it was Dickon Tarly that dueled Ryan Brand the heir of House Brand and defeated him but spared his life, and this caused a general surrender of the House Brand forces and the northern islands with it.
The Southern Island
“I had been told by the Order of the Violet Dragon that the defenders of the southern islands were mainly kept in line by the defenders of House Rangold of whom were very rich and powerful. I knew the right of control, and if I was able to best the leader of the house, and then he was knighted by me I would gain them as a Sworn House. The taking of the southern Islands were never in question once William captured the southern gate, so I knew my main purpose had to be taking control of House Rangold.”
— Hanzal Reyne
The Southern Islands were heavily populated and even more heavily defended, but its main problem was the fact that House Lovie and the Order of the Red Dragon once they broke the southern gate would be coming at them from the front, while the forces of House Reyne, and House Tarback alongside their sworn houses would be coming in from the relatively undefended rear ranks. As the siege moved to the more heavily defended bridge areas of the southern islands the Kreigs Fleet moved the vassals onto the island, and then proceeded to move towards the main contested areas where they targeted the defenders with their on board archers, and balistas. The members of House Reyne made a straight movement towards the forces of House Rangold, while the remainder of the landed forces captured the southern islands one after another before taking the defenders of the main southern gate from behind and allowing inside House Lovie, and the Waffen Army. House Reyne led by Hanzal made their way into the House Rangold esate and shocked the house by having Haznal challenging the Lord of House Rangold to a duel. The two would fight for some time but Arthur Rangold fell, and prepared to die. Hanzal offered him the choice of death or becoming a sworn house, and Arthur chose to become a sworn house, and thus Hanzal had gained exactly what he wanted with basically no losses.
The Main Island
The Lannisters, and the Starke's had taken the other islands, or at this point were atleast contesting them but the staunchest of resistence was assumed to be found on the main island, and thus all the heavy infantry, and the leadership were full into the assault of the main island. During the attack noone could have anticipated how effectively the Order of the Violet Dragon would have been in forming a fighting force of rebels, but their success led to a debilitating failure on the defenders as they were attacked from all sides.
“So many things can go wrong when you attack a fortress using suprise. Maybe they were all aware we were coming, and the moment we got off the boats we would be met by a hail of arrows. Maybe the siege machines would fail and we wouldn't be able to get past the walls. So much could have gone wrong, but when we landed aside from a few strong points they fell without much of a fight.”
— Jamie Lannister
While the attacks on the northern, and then southern islands were more easily accomplished it was the main attack on the largest island that would be the most interesting. It was here that the House Malfoy forces led by House Labeouf, and their vassals were the strongest, but it was also here that the forces of the Order of the Violet Dragon had become the most intermingled in the attack. When the forces of House Lannister, and House Starke made their way onto the island carefully planned rebels forces attacked Malfoy forces all across the island, and this was followed by the loyalist vassal houses openly turning against House Malfoy, and thus chaos was brewing behind the main lines as the forces of House Starke, and House Lannister engaged the forces of House Malfoy in the streets. House Malfoy was barely mobile at this point but its commanders were able to atleast launch a defence of the streets, but they were cut down as they were defending against a very well prepared and more numerous oponenet. With the death of several commanders of the defenders the defence collapsed and they begin retreating into the attackers hoping they would be able to surrender, and they were as this was part of the attackers mandate.
“He was the one I wanted since I was a little girl. My armor, and my swords had left me in a disadvantage in comparison to the dresses and beautiful ladies of Stormwind. I deffinetly never had a chance against the Martell girl.”
— Dacey Mormont
As the attacking Starke forces under Robb Starke moved forward they met with a detatchment of Mormont troops, and Robb and Dacey Mormont would chase several Malfoy men into a house where the two would battle alongside several other Starke, and vassal soldiers. Killing the Malfoy men the others left the house to continue the attack, but Robb and Dacey would remain and in the violence of the fight they begin kissing. There kissing became fevorous and they would make love amongst the dead within the house, and after they were finished Robb held her and she professed her love for him, but knew they couldn`t be together because of his relationship with Obella Martell and she accepted that. Leaving the house they joined the remainder of the mopping up and noone realized what had happened between the two lovers.
Death of Lucius Malfoy
“The town was burning around me, and it seemed hopeless to believe we could survive after the arrival of Severus, and the members of Hogwarts from within our ranks. Nothing to do but wait. Nothing to do but wait and hope my family surivived.”
— Lucius Malfoy
With the fall of the final gatehouse into the main city, and the quickly debarking marines from House Starke, and House Lannister the forces remaining under the command of Lucius Malfoy waited for his command, and he ordered them to retreat to the Malfoy Keep for what everyone believed was a last stand. At this moment more then half the remaining men under his command would lay their swords down instead of retreat, and thus Lucius travelled over the bridge with less then thirty men left and ordered the men to prepare for the final attack. He was reported to by a messenger that the Hall of the Deatheaters had just fallen, thus meaning their final means of escaping the city was gone as the forces of Hogwarts alongside the Order of the Blue Dragon had teleported directly inside the building after the wards had been destroyed by traitors within the Malfoy forces. With Westbridge fallen to the forces of Lucerne Lucius saw this as his chance to finally die. As his remaining men prepared to die in the last stand, he knew he had to make sure that his son Lucius wasn't going to make the same mistakes that he did. Lucius first went to his youngest son, and the only one left in his family who he felt had any morals left and told him the following.
Lucius had finally come to the end of resistence and understood it was all over for him.
“You must listen to me son. What has happened here was for the best. We are morally bankrupt, and the pain weve caused must be paid for, and I plan on making the first deposit. No matter what happens son never allow vengeance to consume you or elce you will make the mistake my brother made. I love you son.”
— Lucius Malfoy
Following this he took out his sword and walked to the center of the bridge connecting the main island to the palace, and stood waiting for the forces of Lucerne to come. His men waited around him horrified but still remaining loyal to the end, and in that moment he ordered them to lay their swords down, and return to stand with his family. After a few minutes Joshua Jackson arrived on the bridge with his men, and told Lucius to stand down and accept the surrender of the city. Lucius just laughed at them and said that his time was over, and if they had any compassion they would end him. Joshua knew something about compassion for the weak, and he ordered his men to stand down while he engaged Lucius in a duel. The two fought and as Draco watched on Lucius was killed by Joshua Jackson, and then released gently into the river.
“You just never think your hero is going to die. You always assume after reading books, and hearing stories that the hero lives. Either everything I'd ever read, or heard was a lie or my father wasn't the hero. And if he wasn't the hero that means he was the villian. And if he was the villian what does that make me?”
— Draco Malfoy
Joshua would lead his men across the bridge and find the remaining members of House Malfoy and their vassal aristocrats lying on the ground with their swords thrown away. Seeing this he ordered his men to take them into captivity until they knew what to do with them. As the House Jackson men moved to do this, Draco finally came to the conclusion that would change everything. Draco would rise from the rest of the surrendered troops and stand up. His mother would yell at him to lay down, and think about his wife who was in another part of the city, but he had to escape and so he ran from the group and climbed to the top of the House Malfoy keep. Chased by the men of House Jackson, and the now arriving Lovie forces, and the shouting of his mother he would jump from the ramparts into the water nearly thirty feet down barely missing the rocks. Hitting the water he stayed under as long as he possibly could before hiding under the outcropping of rocks so that none could see him. The Jackson men believed he was dead, and thus he managed to escape but left behind much of his family and his wife and young son.
“My King we have control of the city. Its truly happened Will, you took Westbridge.”
— Leven Martell
With the death of Lucius the capture of remaining resistence within the final Malfoy keep the city of Westbridge was well and truly fallen into the hands of Lucerne. William would meet with the commanders of the attack at the center of town, and already news filtered in about the fall of Yerness, and the numerous towns south of Wesbridge having fallen as well. Realizing he had a true victory William would have the Labeoufs brought to the center of the town where the large population of the town was brought forward, and from there he named the Labeoufs the new Arch Lords of the Grand State of Westbridge. Promicing to assist in rebuilding the city, the people would chear as the Malfoy`s and their madness was pushed out and the new Lucerne-Labouef union began.
Marriage and Sadness
“What I had done with Dacey haunted my thoughts in sleep and while awake, but duty bid me to follow through with my promice and marry Obella, even if I was having doubts.”
— Robb Starke
Following the Invasion of Westbridge it would be Rob Starke that would marry Obella Martell in a ceremony in Stormwind attended by many of the most influencial men and women in the entire kingdom including the King and his sister. It was also following the Invasion of Westbridge that Robb Starke came clean to his brother Jon about his affair with Dacey Mormont during the attack, and the fact that he couldn't stop thinking about her. Realizing the cost of ending the bethrothal to Obella Martell Jon would advise his brother to ignore his heart and marry Obella Martell of whom he didn't know if he loved anymore. Back on Bear Island it was Dacey Mormont that gave birth to the child of her and Robb Starke, and while during the pregnency she remained silent over the father she finally came clean to her sister and this let everything out of the bag. It was only a month after the wedding that they came to find out she was pregnant with their first child, while only a few weeks after that Dacey Mormont's sister Alysane Mormont would come to Stormwind and tell Robb Starke that Dacey had given birth to their child, but was going to keep the secret to her grave if that was what Robb wanted. Robb and Obella would remain in Stormwind for two months spending time together for the first not having to rush, or worry about whatever task they were forced to do and for Obella Martell it was the best time of he life, but for Robb Starke it was torture as he was so conflicted over his heart, and his honor. Obella would now be known as Obella Starke and would accompany Robb as he took command of the army of Westbridge, and Heathfall that was heading to the front line in the form of Noveria north of Westbridge.
Council of Heathfall
Council of Heathfall You can stand alone, and join an evil people corrupted by darkness or...or you can join with us. I don't come here to threaten you. I don't come here to make demands. I come here because my King is tired of these monsters running around doing whatever they want. Today you can make a decision to stop them. Stop them here.
Very large army, with a large population, no navy, and very poor of which forces its reliance upon the Franks of Lydes.
“Following the Invasion of Westbridge the entire south of Thedas was something we wanted to get closer to. It was either we put them in our sphere or wait until Tevinter, or Germania placed them in their own.”
— William Lovie III.
Following the Invasion of Westbridge and the collapse of the House Malfoy control base north of Westbridge the power brokers of southern Thedas would begin to realign themselves with an eye for Lucerne and away from Tevinter. With House Arryn of Heathfall as the leadership caste of Heathfall they had been members of the Kingdom of Lucerne in everything but name, but preceding the Invasion of Westbridge Heathfall was finally made a member and took a heavy role within the Invasion of Westbridge. Dowenshire would become the target of Lucerne due to its power and position and to secure it Edmure Tully a R'hllor Knight, and Edmund Blackwood would travel to Dowenshire in order to try and convince the Theocracy there to join Lucerne. Edmure Tully, and Edmund Blackwood would arrive in the town of Dowenshire with a contingent of Riverland lords including a healthy mix of R'hllor knights, and Dragon Knights, and were treated well by the Dowenshire Theocracy due mainly to their mistreatment by the forces of the Deatheaters of whom had reacted violently to their defeat at Westbridge by massacring many villages on their way north into Tevinter. Using the hatred of the Dowenshire Theocracy of the Deatheaters to their advantage they were able to convince the Theocratic leadership of Dowenshire to support the Kingdom of Lucerne in return for their retaining their religious independence. Due to this Dowenshire, and Heathfall were already all but members of the Kingdom of Lucerne, while the Kingdom of Noveria, and Gnomer were powerful and had independent ideas but also wanted an alliance to assist in defending themselves against the encroachment of The Empire, or Tevinter. Noveria in particular stood right on the doorstep of the Empire of Tevinter and was already seeing a dramatic rise in the number of Tevinter troops amassing on the borders with them without any sign of diplomats coming with them.
Assassination in Hossberg
Main Article : Tevinter Assassinations in Hossberg
“I want you to take some men and go to Hossberg. The Grand Prince of Lydes is travelling to Hossberg. I want you to make sure that the King of Anderfells and the Prince stop breathing.”
— Thomas Malfoy
The city of Lydes, and its dependent Kingdom of Anderfells would also become intertwined after the Tevinter diplomat Cho-Ninimdor Narthriel arrived in the Kingdom of Dole's capital of Inrathous and met with the king of Anderfells son Anders Feron. The meeting would go well enough with Anders being open to improving relations with Tevinter but then collapsed completely following a conversation between Ninimdor and Marik Feron the eldest son of Prince Anders where in Ninimdor let slip the further desire of Tevinter to expand into Thedas and more specifically Lydes. Following this argument Diplomat Ninimdor returned to Tevinter and relayed the now broken relationship, but downplayed his role in this instead blaming Prince Anders for the break down. Following this High Archon Thomas Malfoy would send an elite force of Death Eaters to the Anderfells in order to ambush and kill the Anderfells leadership as well as the Grand Prince of Lydes who had traveled to Hossberg to meet with the King of Anderfells. Arriving in the Anderfells capital of Hossberg it was the Deatheaters who used the meetings of Lydes and Anderfells to ambush both parties and during this ambush they would kill Marik Feron, and his wife while also maiming the face of Anders Feron who survived only due to the arrival of Grand Prince Tylor Griggs and his elite Personal Guard instigating a skirmish in the palace. During this skirmish most of the Deatheaters were killed, while Tylor Griggs was injured quite badly and dozens of guards killed but Anders Feron survived the attempted killing. Following the interrogation of the surviving Deatheaters it was discovered to be a part of a larger plot and with all this evidence the border was closed with Tevinter and while war was not declared the two nations would be in a state of near war.
“They killed my son. Your Dragon King promices me vengeance on those who made the order that killed my beloved son and I will join you.”
— Anders Feron
Anders Feron would thus arrive in Heathfall and without really anyone having to communicate to him about moving forward he gave the distinct impression to Dran Arryn that he and his family wanted and desired two things in the form of revenge for the murder of Marik Feron, and for the Lucernians to assist them in getting Viola Feron back from her holding in Tevinter. Dran Arryn would be the one that was finally able to bring everyone together when he was able to have everyone send representatives to Heathfall for what people came to call the Council of Heathfall. The meeting would take place in the large town of Heathfall only three months following the death of Marik Feron, and six months following the Coup of Tevinter, and the Lucernians would send the Labeouf's, Starke's as well as Saiden Scarlet and a party of his people, while the leaders of all the nations came to Heathfall outside of Lydes of which Tylor Griggs was still recuperating from the injury he had suffered during the Tevinter ambush on the Anderfells capital of Hossberg, and thus instead sent his son Bylor Griggs of whom would act as the Lord of Lydes during the meeting.
“I had never seen a Gnome before. I had seen Dwarves of Lucerne. Elves of the Forest and Ulthuan. Orcs at Tree Hill. A dead Goblin body in Lucerne. A ratman corpse in Lorderon. But I had never seen a Gnome. Seemed like a short human to me.”
— Saiden Scarlet
The Gnomes of Gnomer were the second last group to arrive and led by their High King Gelbin Mekkatorque it would be Saiden Scarlet, and Robb Starke that would meet them at the gates of Heathfall and had a long talk with both the king and Silas Nonu. The Gnome King had brought Silas Nonu alongside Tinken Cogbonk, Fimbus Puddlefizz, and Ressa Beddlespark alongside some thirty Gnomish soldiers of whom would act as his guards of sorts but Tinken Cogbonk would accompany Silas Nonu to speak to Robb Starke, and Saiden Scarlet out of the ears of the guards of both groups. The four would discuss how the Gnomes would side with Lucerne during the council, but they also said that there assistance to the alliance would be minimal as they were fighting a war in their capital of which they had finally turned the tides on.
Anna Orlais II. would be one of the many noble daughters of Southern Thedas that would be married off, or betrothed following the Council of Heathfall in order to further alliances.
The four would discuss the Gnomer invention of underwater boats of which could move men, and supplies without risk of being caught by defending ships, and this was something both Saiden, and Robb Starke needed to be brought to the attention of the King of Lucerne, and made Silas Nonu not discuss the offer with anyone else until the King had heard. Eventually there discussion ended and they were forced to attend the overall meeting with the rest of the group where they found Eddard Starke already beginning the discussion. The final group to arrive at Heathfall was the forces of the Kingdom of Noveria of whom arrived in heavy numbers and influence with the king himself coming to Heathfall accompanied by nearly five hundred men, two of his five council members, and the princess of Noveria also came in the form of Anna Orlais II. of whom he was ready to marry off to further strengthen any alliance he might make while in Heathfall. The Noverian forces were met by Shia Labeouf and his beloved Meghanna of whom took them towards the Heathfall Keep where the meetings would take place and during this time the Noverian King showed himself to also be very hateful towards the forces of Tevinter.
“We were the obvious choice in terms of who was going to care more about their people, but sometimes fear overstates common sence. Sometimes people are so afriad of something that they will bow before it. That fear might have allowed Tevinter to control southern Thedas but instead Lord Voldermorte attacked Anderfells and lost himself that fear. Hate is a stronger emotion that fear.”
— Saiden Scarlet
One of the main things discussed during the council was what there strategy was going to be to resisting the might of Tevinter if the conflict did come to a head. Noveria would be struck heavily as well as the Anderfells, and for that reason it was decided that Noveria would be heavily fortified against attack, and at the same time they were going to send a large troop of the Order of the Grey Dragon to rebuild several of the fortresses of northern Anderfells for the coming attacks. Lydes was prepared to finance much of the rebuild of northern Anderfells under the condition that Lucerne name them an Arch Duke within their kingdom and they became the head of the State that would be created north of Westbridge. This was heavily argued amongst the table, but eventually Dran Arryn was willing to accept this for a position of Grand Lord and lordship over his own province, as well as becoming the vassal of House Lovie over House Griggs. By this point the news was coming southward of how violent northern Tevinter was becoming due to the rising cult falling behind the Deatheaters, and this alone would scare all those assembled at the council to their shared cooperation in regards to defending against Tevinter.
Noveria
Following the Council of Heathfall Robb was sent to Noveria where he was meant to prepare the province for Brann Starke who was going to be in control of the province once he reached the point that they felt he could handle the position. While commanding Noveria Robb Starke would fortify the area, and would become known for leading the province in the Battle of Saalfeld.
Battle of Saalfeld The tide was turning, and we were willing to move the front.
“This was the first time I had a chance at something real. I had control of a province. It was the most important in many ways as it was just west of Noveria and very heavily populated. ”
— Draco Malfoy
Draco Malfoy would become one of the commanders of the First Lucerne-Tevinter War, and would fight at the head of the army of Tevinter. His promotion came after he had attempted to the best of his abilities to control the rebels in western Tevinter, and his success there led Lord Voldermorte to reward him with a command, and when he learned it was Saalfeld he was beyond exctatic to be rewarded with such a prestigious position. Draco would at this point still remain somewhat moralistic in his views, and he led his force to link up with the main force at Saalfeld with the simple plan of pacifying the region in the same way he had previously, and that was with less violence, and more outreach to ease the problems of the commoners. His army that he commanded around the province and town of Saalfeld became quickly known for the peaceful manner that it held the town of Saalfeld, and for this he had one of the most peaceful of the holdings of Tevinter north of Noveria. His wife Astaria Malfoy would leave his child in the care of their mother, and arrived at Saalfeld where she would act as a member of his council, and the Castellan of Saalfeld after the previous had deserted for the Lucernians. Her arrival would corespond with the dramatic increase of violence in his province as just weeks after she arrived a Lucernian army led by Robb Starke attacked the outlying region of Saalfeld. Seeing this Draco called for aid from the nearbye Antiva forces, but the commander of the Antiva gate fortress refused to send troops as he was not willing to weaken his own defences. With Antiva not coming to his aid he prepared to send word to the massive army at Dongret, but stopped when a small force arrived from Dongret asking him to send troops to Dongret as they were in need of assistence.
“They were led by an actual Malfoy, and despite his actions talking to the locals he could have given everyone of them a gold piece and it wouldn't have changed how they felt about him. He was blood to the monster that was tearing their lands apart, and they wouldn't forget.”
— Robb Starke
Robb Starke was one of the main commanders of the Noverian Lucernian forces, and his battle group had been fighting against a large Tevinter force holding the large town of Dongret north of Noveria, and having little success other then killing a seemingly limitless number of Tevinter soldiers. With this in mind the Lucernians recieved reinforcements in the form of Westbridge of whom sent some four thousand troops under the command of Luke Labeouf, James Hartrian, and Radford Arnault and with this force Robb Starke split from the main army and moving alongside a force coming from Heathfall led by Lenwood Arryn, Rob Starke would move against the lighter defenses of Saalfeld which if they took control of they would be able to flood the rivers north of Saalfeld destroy the bridges, and thus push the front back further. In order to get to Saalfeld all he had to get through was the minor castles in Castle Shellfor, and Castle Toffindell of which Violet Dragons had heavily infiltrated Castle Toffindell while Castle Shellfor was badly damaged after a force of rebels had besieged it. Robb Starke put the damaged Castle Shellfor under siege, and at the same time was able to quickly capture Castle Toffindell after the Lord of the Castle surrendered before there was even a fight over the castle, and to make matters worse Lord Liam Toffindell added his forces to the Lucernians further giving them reinforcements.
“I didn't have to offer them gold, or lands Draco. I didn't have to offer them anything other then an opportunity to kill a Malfoy.”
— Robb Starke to Draco Malfoy
As Robb Starke took Castle Toffindell, and sieged Castle Shellfor the way was open to the Lucenrians to the large town of Saalfeld of which had a castle within it, but there was no curtain wall as the two castles were meant to guard it, and despite the Tevinter efforts to construct one the one present only covered half the town, and was of limited quality. Leaving his lieutenant Fladen Termont, it would be Robb Starke that would move slowly against Sallfeld knowing he had a lot of time with Dongret. and Antiva unlikely to send forces, and while he did this he sent Benjamin Bradfoot and his cloaks into Sallfeld where they met with the local leadership. and worked to foster a rebellious movement. Finding a lot of resistance among the locals Benjamin was advised that several local Tevinter commanders were behind a lot of the fear among the people and if they were eliminated then large numbers would join the Lucerne cause. Benjamin moved against these commanders, and in a join action with Jerad, and Krylla he would arrange an attack on the three main commanders at the same time. Rebels sparked fighting in the town, and this distracted the Tevinter attention and during this spectacle Benjamin and his cloaks would assassinate the three local commanders sewing chaos behind the Tevinter lines, and seeing the Tevinter weakness the locals would organize under Jerad of Lucerne of whom led them into infiltrating the main hold of Saalfeld, where they attacked the garrison based within the castle. Most of the Tevinter army in the form of some three thousand plus troops were camped outside the town in a large camp, but some fifteen hundred were within the main castle and in smaller garrisons in the town, and it was the hold fast, and these smaller camps that the organized rebels were attack. Horribly outnumbered within a now hostile town the hold fast surrendered as the gates were compromised by the rebel commander Calenhad Dendon, and the camps within the town either retreated, were killed, or captured by the vengeful Fereldens.
“It was either stand and fight, and try and eke out some kind of victory, or I retreated and was probably run down. I had no good options, but I hoped I could defeat them on the field.”
— Draco Malfoy
Following the retreat of the Tevinter army out of Saalfeld, Draco led them westward as the northward region was heavily mudded and was difficult at the moment to traverse, and would have probably led them into an ambush or at the very least unsuitable battle conditions. Moving westward he was hounded by the larger Lucernian army of whom sent mounted troops along the flanks of the Tevinter movement and got troops in front as well, and as the Tevinter army moved the Lucernian cavalry was joined by increasing numbers of troops carrying Ferelden flags showing the turning of the province against Tevinter. Realizing the retreat would not reach the river Draco would stop the army in a massive clearing where he arrayed himself against the Lucernian force, and finally the Battle of Saalfeld was met. Draco was forced to leave a piece of his army facing each flank, and the rear as the numbers of the Lucernian sub forces around them had increased, and while this was happening the two main armies moved at eachother. The Lucernians had balooned to some six thousand troops while the Tevinter army through casualites had dropped to less then four thousand, but they did have what they beleived was an experiance gap by having been fighting for so long. The Lucernians also had some two thousand extra troops surrounding the Tevinter army from basically tthe entire rear, and both flanks, and as the two armies crashed into eachother these two thousand would attack the horribly outnumbered reserves that Draco had left to guard againsts the rear and flank charge. The fighting was intense, but the numbers of Lucerne, and the mounted troops they also had would cause the route of the left flank, and despite the middle holding for a time they too begin to buckle, and it was at this buckle that Robb, and Obella Starke met Draco, and Astoria on the battlefield. The four would fight and after two very one sided fights Draco is badly wounded, and Robb Starke is distracted by several Tevinter men at arms trying to defend their commander and this causes Draco to be carried away, and Robb then goes to the fight between Obella and Astoria to find Obella has fatally slashed her across the arm and then mercy kills her and with it this death that leaves the Tevinter army to retreat through the ambush behind them and after all was said of the original four thousand less then six hundred escaped the Battle of Saalfeld. Following the battle Calenhad Dendon was named High Commander of the planned Castle Saalfeld, while Leonas Bryland was named the Duke of the new province of Lucerne in the form of Saalfeld.
The Siege of Karhold Surrender now. Everything west of here is gone to your kingdom, and we have this city surrounded. Save thousands of lives and surrender yourselves to the justice of Lucerne.
The forces of House Starke and the Kingdom of Lucerne already vastly outnumbered the defending forces and this was only made worse for the defenders as long time only slightly aligned forces around Karhold turned against their House Karstark masters.
“It had been generations since we had been betrayed and our land taken form us. While we had rebuilt our lives and the memory had begun to fade. The anger and hatred of a betrayal never truly goes away.”
— Eddard Starke
With the fall of Jeutenburg the route into Karhold was completely open to the forces of Lucerne and they would take advantage of the shock caused on the Bolten forces by the destruction of the army at Green Creek. Moving eastward the forces of House Karstark would be fed bad information from the retreating forces who told them that the main goal was the castle west of Karhold in the form of Saltwood Castle. In this way believing they would hit Saltwood first Arnolf who was in command of Karhold would send a significant portion of the Karstark forces to Saltwood under the command of the Bastard and already turned to the Lucernians Wellen Flayed of whom knew that House Saltwood had already defected to the Lucernians and was thus further feeding bad information. As the Bolten forces were going towards Saltwood Castle in order to meet the forces of House Starke head on the true Starke force was now heading directly towards Karhold from the north where due to misinformation and much of the Karstark forces turning to the Lucernians it found basically no resistance.
Battle of Saltwood Castle
Main Article : Battle of Saltwood Castle
“You half felt bad for those poor fools walking into the disaster at Saltwood. We knew there would surprise and everyone who laid down a sword was going to live. It had to be that way.”
— Jaden Ambry
The Secondary force from House Starke would arrive at Saltwood Castle before the forces of Bolten and would menaeuver themselves into the forests south of the castle while the Bolten forces could be devided into two distinct sections. The first section of the Bolten forces had remained loyal to House Bolten and the Karstarkes either out of honor or had not been told of other options and thus moved towards Saltwood without knowledge that most had switched sides. The second group were led by House Johanston of whom commanded a force made up of the houses of the area and from elsewhere that had switched sides to the Lucernians and these forces were prepared for the ambush as they marched. Marching forward the Lucernian loyalists would remain outside the castle while the Bolten loyalists split in a further half with one side entering the castle, and the other side heading towards the forest where the Lucernians awaited them. Once out of range of the castle the Saltwoods would reject the call to call for surrenders when they opened fire on the Bolten troops entering the castle, and nearly the entire force was massacred. Trying to flee the Lucernians turncoats that had waited outside the castle hit them from the rear and these forces were more willing to accept prisoners but the Bolten troops were destroyed or captured in their entirety. The other force led by Cregan Karstark II., and Eddard Karstark II. would find themselves moving towards the forest and seeing a now fully deployed and larger force of Lucernian troops awaiting them. Deploying into position they watched the arrival of the other forces but these forces stopped behind them with weapons drawn clearly indicating a trap. Moving forward towards these troops Jaden Ambry, and Trevor Baratheon would bid them surrender and seeing the hopelessness of their position they would surrender themselves as well.
The Attack Begins
“We went immediatly under the assumption that the Saltwood turning would lead to our victory against their main force, and we hit the northern gate while noone was ready.”
— Robb Starke
Robb Starke and the main Starke force would hit the northern edge of Karhold during the night, and would spy very few sentries on the wall due to the late night and the fact that noone thought Karhold was even threatened. Robb would send Theon Greyjoy, and Gregory Estermont with a small team of troops carring ropes who would ascend the northern wall and open the gatehouse for their troops. Theon, and Gregory would be able to get onto the wall but the alarm was raised as they were opening the gates thus alerting the city to the attack. The army of the Starkes entered the northern gate either way and was able to quickly capture a large swathe of the northern section as most of the defenders were just waking up, and those that were up were either killed or disarmed by the attacking forces. Arriving at the western gate Robb Starke alongside Wilheim Martell would get inside the gatehouse, and open the gate allowing the monsterous Grey Wind to enter as well and Grey Wind would massacre Cregan Karstark and several other men before finally being restrained by Robb and together they left men at the gatehouse before moving to the Keep.
“They held fast at the eastern gatehouse, but they were horribly outnumbered and in most spots we controlled the high ground.”
— Gregory Estermont
The fighting in the eastern gatehouse was particularrly stiff as Craig Karstark, Urmen Stone, and Douglas Tisler waking to the alarm and heading to the eastern gatehouse in order to try and defend it. Urmen Stone would be struck by an arrow as the Stark men had taken the tower that overlooked the gatehouse and fired shots down at them. Retreating from view of the tower Craig would hold the inner gatehouse and fought off several men before finally Gregory Estermont got into the courtyard and would kill Craig. With the gate opening Douglas Tisler would jump from the wall into the water beneath and while badly injuring his leg he was able to swim to the Karstark side of the river to safety. The Karstarks would resist greatly in the marketplace of southern Karhold, but the main reason for the resistence being able to hold them off was the fact that Robb Starke had ordered a slow and safe conquest of the town believing he had increasingly large amounts of reinforcements incoming and didnt need to risk his forces in a battle he was already going to win.
Name
Fate
Eddard Karstark
Killed by Robb in a duel near the western bridge after failing to surrender
Craig Karstark
Killed by Gregory Estermont while defending the eastern gatehouse
Urmen Stone
Killed by arrow while defending eastern gatehouse
Janise Karstark
Died trying to kill Gregory after the death of Craig Karstark
Cregan Karstark II.
Prisoner following the Battle of Saltwood Castle
Eddard Karstark II.
Prisoner following the Battle of Saltwood Castle
Ophellia Karstark
Prisoner following failed attempt to flee the city during the intial attack
Metalyn Karstark
Prisoner following failed attempt to flee the city during the initial attack
Cregan Karstark
Killed by Grey Wind defending the western Gatehouse
Leysha Karstark
Prisoner following surrendering to the Starkes
“Bodies were strewn about the streets as the Karstark forces had left disaster as they retreated into their keep. I stood over the body of Eddard Karstark his name brought shame to my fathers and for that along with his poor life choices he paid the ultimate price. Looking at the keep I saw four bridges and my men had told me a fifth was located on the opposite side of the island, and that made me clearly aware that we controlled three out of the five bridges. One of the bridges they controlled was so close to our lines that we would be able to destroy it with ease while the one on the east was built of stronger work then that. In the end it was clear the siege was over, and now we were fighting to see how many of them died.”
— Robb Starke
The Karstarks had been devestated by the fighting with nearly ten of their number either captured or dead on the field, and without much hope that they could hold the keep for long. The sheer number of Karstarks that they had prisoner meant that they were forced to house them all in the walled keep in the northern part of the city, and from there they made Arnolf very much aware of how many were prisoners. Arnolf himself was sickly and was unable to move but in an act of blind arrogance refused to hand command over to his grandson Harnolf Karstark believing that his brother Rickard was laughing at him for failing to hold the city, and thus he would die before he gave it up. Outside of the Karstarks there allies in House Urnet, and House Tisler also lost several members with only Heshen Urnet able to flee out of the city, and returning to the forces of House Urnet. With the fighting intensifying in the southern half of the city the Karstarks awaited reinforcements, but this would be a hopeless wait as well as while the fighting was dying down in Karhold the news begin filtering in that Hornwood was under siege from House Locke and House Hornwood was abandoning the area east of Karhold in order return home, and they were taking all their men with them.
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