Sasha Lovejoy

Sasha Lovejoy is the daughter of Broderick, and Karolin Lovejoy making her a member of House Lovejoy through her father, and a member of House Starke through her mother. Sasha Lovejoy has one sibling in the form of Balon Lovejoy of whom is the heir of House Lovejoy and a truly gifted warrior who gained fame during the Battle of Whispering Winds. 

Sasha Lovejoy was a member of Robb Starke's bodyguard during the Invasion of Westbridge and she followed him into the breach where she became aware of his tryst with Dacey Mormont. Sasha Lovejoy would travel to Bolten during the First Bolten Lucerne War and she would join her cousin Robb Starke`s sworn gaurd once again. She would be tasked with travelling behind enemy lines following the siege of Karhold beggining and she would meet with the leadership of House Hornwood. She would arrange the cooperation of the Kingdom of Lucerne with the Hornwood`s and this led to her joining Daryn Hornwood when he launched his siege of Lotten.

History

Invasion of Westbridge

Main Article : Invasion of Westbridge

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.

Bolten-Lucerne War

Sasha Lovejoy would travel to Bolten during the First Bolten Lucerne War and she would join her cousin Robb Starke`s sworn gaurd. She would be tasked with travelling behind enemy lines following the siege of Karhold beggining and she would meet with the leadership of House Hornwood. She would arrange the cooperation of the Kingdom of Lucerne with the Hornwood`s and this led to her joining Daryn Hornwood when he launched his siege of Lotten.

The Battle of Whispering Winds

Main Article : Battle of Whispering Winds

“Green Creek led to everything. After Green Creek there was only madness, and winds that killed everything.”

— John Cole

Following the defeat of the Bolten army at the Battle of Green Creek the army of Bolten was in complete retreat, but what forces remained would move under the command of Domeric Bolten and move north of Karhold where they hoped to resist the Lannisters castle by castle until relief arrived at Karhold and pushed back the Starke`s who were incoming as well. These Bolten forces under Domeric would split into half when Domeric took much of the army including many of his finest men in order to deal with the Siege of Hornwood. With the departure Jamie Lannister would push against the castles of the area and took them hold after hold until he reached Castle Whisperwind where he would send an envoy under the flag of peace to the Whisperwind lord of whom they knew from the Bolten traitors was a frightened man that was apt to surrender if threatened. Jamie Lannister would make it very clear that unless Lord Laryn Whisperwind surrendered the castle he would butcher every member of the family and burn the entire castle to the ground. Despite some resistence from his Castellan he would surrender the castle to Jamie in order to keep his family safe, and he would make sure that Jamie knew that he would mobilize his own forces for the Lannisters, or due anything he could to help the Lucernians if only they would not harm his family.

“It was either I gave the Lions what they wanted, or I watched my entire family killed and my castle burned. I did what any sane man would do. Maybe honor would have led me to é die with my family, so I guess I can forget honor under those terms.”

— Laryn Whisperwind

With Castle Whisperwind under their control Jamie Lannister would deploy some one thousand troops into the castle, of which were mainly Reyne men, while he led the main force south of the city into the forests beneath the plains that led into Castle Whisperwind. Kevan, and his son Lancel moved to the north of Castle Whisperwind and south of Hayford. At this point Jamie would decide that the time for battle was now and he would have Veryl Reyne prepare the Whisperwinds to send letters to the Bolten forces telling that the Lannisters were sieging them from the west, but attacks south and north had not happened due to the arrival of relief forces in the north from House Cole. House Cole would also send word southward due to their affiliation now with Lucerne describing how they were holding the Lannisters off in the north but that they needed to come very quickly so that they could trap Jamie Lannister.

The Trap

“The noose tightened around their neck, and for yet another time in the history of the war an entire army of Bolten was ambushed.”

— Jamie Lannister

The arrival of the forces of House Starke under the command of the Lovejoys and their command structure south of the growing Bolten army signaled the final piece of the noose around the Bolten army. The Bolten army begin movement towards defending the castle when the Reyne`s would send out Visin Whisperwind to the Bolten army telling them that the situation had changed and they needed them immediatly as the Lannisters were preparing to assail the castle, and that they wouldn't be able to hold if this happened. Not truly believing Visin due to the fact that he was extremely nervous the Bolten army was stopped and they sent scout out in all directions, in order to try and find out what was happening. Of these scouts nearly all returned stating seeing no signs of a trap, but some returned saying that farmers stated seeing large troop movements nearbye. At this point Tahlin Pree attempted to turn the forces back but was overriden in this decision by Paul Holmgren of whom believed his cousin`s family in Castle Whisperwind. Paul Holmgren would at this point send his eldest son Robbet Holmgren with Visin Whisperwind and a small force of the personal forces of House Holmgren in order to assist them since the debate was still happening.

“As they camped for the night everyone surrounding them all knew in the morning it was over. They would walk into the path of Castle Whisperwind and then be surrounded and destroyed.”

— Sasha Lovejoy

In order to buy even more time for the Lucernian forces to move into position the envoy of Visin Whisperwind before he left with Robbett Holmgren would pass on a raven from the castle saying that they should camp the night and then come in during the morning as the Lucernians appeared to be pulling away for the moment. At this point in the night several of the commanders of some of the more diligent houses including House Istin, and House Rella would attempt to form a reargaurd so that they could abandon the trap that they believed was coming, but they were not allowed to leave as Paul Holmgren, and Tahlin Pree believed they were cowards. During the night though Visin Whisperwind and his cousin Robbet Holmgren would arrive at Castle Whisperwind, and entered the castle where the gate closed behind them, and the thirty men with him, and Robbet were forced to surrender or else the thousand plus Reyne men, and now loyal Whisperwind forces were going to kill them. Robbet was devestated by the betrayal of his cousin, but was taken to the dungeon with the rest of the men, and was commanded to be treated as well as was possible as they didn't want to make the Holmgren's enemies but they did need to defeat them.

Defeat of House Isnet

“We knew the Hornwood`s were one inch from joining us, and that meant House Isnet had to be given every chance to escape the trap relatively unscathed.”

— Roland Tarbeck

While the majority of the forces moved north to deal with the very large Bolten army it was the responsibility of House Tarbeck to defeat the side army of House Isnet. Knowing that House Isnet was a vassal of their potential allies in House Hornwood the forces of House Tarbeck and their vassals were commanded to do their best not to utterly defeat the Isnet army and to try and not kill family members or lords of the army. House Isnet was on the move when the larger Tarback army appeared in front of it, but instead of charging the leadership of House Tarbeck called a parlay with the Isnet`s and met them between the two armies. Meeting together Brodin Isnet would be shown letters from Halys Hornwood where the Tarbecks indicated they wanted no violence against the Isnet`s. Unable to fully trust the Tarbecks but also believing the letter from the Hornwoods they would make the deal that the Isnet`s would move their army into the relatively nearbye Fords of Oirun where they would await word from House Hornwood. House Tarback by this point having achieved their commands would escort the Isnet army to the Fords, while taking exchanging several prisoners between their forces as signs of the deal being honorable.

The Battle

“Our war against Lucerne was over. It was just completely and utterly over.”

— Medger Cerwyn after hearing of Battle

Now completely surrounded by the forces of Lucerne and the wayward forces of House Whisperwind the army of Bolten would unknowingly walk farther into the trap when they marched on Castle Whisperwind. Approaching the castle they were fired upon by archers and catapults from within the walls forcing them to pull back from the castle and move back to the ambush position. By this point Jamie Lannister and the main army appeared beside them, and Paul Holmgren was quickly able to move the forces in the Lannister direction to meet them. Seeing the Lannister force was significantly larger then them he ordered defensive positions while he sent a small troop of cavalry east to get assistence from Hayford, and Bolten while sending more troops south to try and find House Isnet and their forces. While they waited hopelessly for reinforcements many of their scouts returned bringing news that forces had appeared in the north, and east and also they could see the forces streaming from Castle Whisperwind itself. Seeing himself trapped he commanded the army to split into four and defend each angle of attack. Now surrounding their enemies on four sides the main army under Jamie Lannister moved against the now horribly outnumbered southern echolon of the Bolten army. Arrows fell into the Bolten army in three waves until finally the Lucerne army would charge the dimished force. The battle would be over in minutes as they melted the moment they were attacked, and retreated. Suffering terrible casualties as they fled into the other forces of Lucerne, they would either surrender or were killed by the rampaging Lucernians.

House Hornwood Turns

Main Article : Siege of Lotten

“The Bolten`s had failed the Kingdom. Of that there was no question, and now the only thing to ask ourselves was where did we go now.”

— Dalys Hornwood

Arriving back at Hornwood with the forces of House Hornwood he would camp the army around Hornwood while he and his commanders entered the city. As Daryn met with his father he learned that following the death of Domeric his father Halys had contacted Robb Starke at Karhold and offered to meet with them to discuss a union with Lucerne. Only a few days after this were visited by representatives from Lucerne in the form of Sasha Lovejoy and a group of Starke Men who were sent in order to begin planning the Hornwood alliance. Sasha offered complete protection for Hornwood and a level of auntonomy that they didn`t have now, and she also told them that an agent of Lucerne had taken in many of the children that were hostages of Bolten in the Dreadfort and was preparing to get them out of the city. As the talks continued over the days the unmarried Sasha Lovejoy would become smitten towards Orsen Stout of whom had been commanded to take her and her delegation on a tour of Hornwood and the area in order to give the Hornwood forces more time to think. Sasha Lovejoy would accept an offer of marriage that was brought up during the days meetings and thus her bethrothel to Orsen Stout only continued the relationship between the two houses. With all of this information Halys Hornwood would swear an oath to the Kingdom of Lucerne, and would have his son Daryn lead the army against Lotten and the only remaining sign of resistence in the south in the form of House Locke.

The Siege

“The end had come, and all that remained on the wrong side were doomed to fail.”

— Hayls Hornwood

With the arrangement met Daryn Hornwood would lead the forces of House Hornwood against one of the only remaining Bolten loyalists in House Locke when they besieged Lotten. Sending a raven into the castle before they besieged it the raven was shot out of the air, and this was a clear sign that House Locke was not willing to switch sides even if it meant survival. Inside House Locke was split between Ondrew Locke, and his cronies of whom were lost in arrogance and believed that someone would come to relieve the siege if they only held out, while on the other side Jorde Locke and the heir of House Locke in the form of Donnel Locke resisted continueing the siege but were outnumbered and forced to go along with things. The siege of Lotten would last for weeks as the Hornwood's and their vassals surrounded the town, but believing that they could take the town without much bloodshed Daryn Hornwood was not commanding siege machines be launched at the castle. While there was growing support for Donnel Locke the defenders held firm led by the brutal Ondrew Locke of whom held his family in his grasp with an irongrip. At this point in the siege Mallador Locke would create a fake letter using the signature of Ramsey Bolten that outlined the lies being told to the Locke family about the war effort. What elements of this letter Mallador believed is unknown but in the letter he said that the Lucernians had been crushed at Hayford, and that Ramsey had led a relief force southward and was now camped west of Lotten awaiting the Hornwood's to assault the town. Ondrew wanted to believe this and thus he took it at face value when it really made very little sence in the real terms of what was happening on the battlefields of Bolten.

“You are the most powerful men in Lotten behind my father, and it is time for you powerful men to do what is right for this place. My father will see the truth, or he wont. Its that simple.”

— Donnel Locke

With Ondred Locke now believing a lie it broke his son Donnel to do it but Donnel begin meeting with Lords Romny, and Lyman of House Eastmyre, and House Caliman. Romny had come to Donnel when they were attacking Koenisburg and asked outloud to Donnel whether they had a plan in place for what happened if Ondrew kept taking them down a path of destruction, and back then Donnel had remained loyal to his father and somewhat quashed the rebellious talk, but now he was leading it. The three men agreed that if this continued then they would not be able to support Ondrew, and they would have to remove him, and then place Donnel in the Lordship and hope that would be enough to appease the Hornwoods. In every scenario they knew that Mallador, and his father would both have to be removed as the Hornwoods wanted the blood of Mallador to pay for what happened to Domeric. As the siege continued into another week Daryn would send a white flag for a meeting and would meet with Ondrew, and Donnel Locke in a discussion that would ultimately end the siege.

Conversation Incoming Fairmarket. The Riverlands. Lorderon, and Kul Tiras. Westbridge. All had fallen to our might. All had sworn the sword to the Valley of Lucerne. All that power, and yet I looked north and saw a great demon the likes of which I could not hope to resist. The Empire was the reason for growth. The Empire was the reason for everything we did. The Empire was the land that should have done great things for the world, but instead of this they did nothing. They allowed chaos to breed amongst them, and in that weakeness and failing they threatened to ruin the entire continent.

I walked onto the field shadowed by Orsen Stout, and Sasha Lovejoy behind me to the right, and my brother Larance behind me to the right followed behind him by a group of men at arms. I had at first wanted to come out with just Orsen Stout and my brother, and maybe Sasha Lovejoy but my father warned me of what had happened to Domeric Bolten under the protection of the White Flag, and I came to see the path.  Standing in the field just out of range of their archers we waited for the gates to open. Even in the midst of this stressful situation Orsen, and Sasha were still like lovesick children as they held hands. You could feel the emotion just pouring off them, and while I felt happy for my friend I couldn`t help but feel momentarily melocholy from missing Corina.  It had been almost three months since I had last seen her, and while I heard news was positive back in Jeutenburg from Sasha I felt a pain in my stomach that she was forced to be in that situation. My mind wandered back to Jeutenburg and the chaos unleased by the madness of Ramsey, and if it was possible I hated him more. Others were responsible as well. The Locke`s under Ondrew had ravaged the market and stolen anything they could lift. The Urnet`s had tortered and killed hundreds, of which would have been higher if Jonas hadn`t stepped in when he did and killed those Urnet`s. And now we were here miles from home, and many more miles away from my heart in Jeutenburg. The gate opened with clank as the old castle of Lotten was always known to be a shamble of a place. Watching the Locke men walk out I could clearly make out the hunched back Ondrew Locke and his heir Donnel. When I was young Donnel and I had been together in the Dreadfort and back then I remembered him as a funny kid that loved trying to chase that stupid red bird that nested itself in the Dreadfort. Seeing him now clad in the purple stained armor of his family I wondered how much of that funny kid remained. They reached us, and I could hear the sound of Orsen planting the white flag in the ground before stepping forward and standing beside me, followed directly behind him by Sasha of whom I saw held onto the back of his arm. ``So what does the Moose family want may I ask.`` Always a foolish man was Ondrew. He could barely stand due to the severe slouch that he held, but yet he still held this arrogant aura about himself. ``It is time to surrender now Lord Locke. The castle is surrounded, and the Dreadfort can send no relief.``I saw a bit of fear cross his face as I told him the Dreadfort wasn`t coming but as quickly as it appeared it was gone and replaced by that same arrogance. ``You have wasted your time if you called this for a surrender.`` And he went to turn back and return to Lotten when Donnel stepped behind him and whispered in his ear low enough that I couldn`t hear him, but whatever he said stopped Ondrew in his tracks. ``My heir wishes to know what terms you offer.`` He remained resolute beside his father, but I could see that Donnel was aware of how dire this was for House Locke. I had nearly twenty thousand troops lined up completely around the castle, and from what forces they besieged Hornwood with they maybe had a thousand. Following the betrayal of Domeric Bolten it was Mallador that had taken some two thousand of House Locke`s forces and went northward with Ramsey thus leaving the already weaker Lotten further diminished. ``You will retain Lotten. You will pay restitutions for your crimes against the villages south of Hornwood. You will send Caryn and Jorde Locke to stay at Hornwood...``As I went to continue the hunch back Lord of Lotten interupted me. ``You dare to offer me the hostaging of my children.`` The look of anger on the weasly hunch back was priceless, as most likely this was the first time in his entire life anyone had ever really questioned him in the way he ruled his people, and what he had to do. "You will lose your lordship and travel north to take the black at the wall." The wall seemed to easy, but I understood partly what had happened for Ondrew, and that meant for me that I should be somewhat lenient. Not leniant to the point that it wasn't a punishment, though and that was where Sasha's advise of the great wall of Stor had come in as a perfect oppurtunity. "You can`t be that stupid, as to believe..." What he had done was a travesty to the entire kingdom that we had all once sworn an oath to protect, and yet here he stood slightly laughing at the thought he might be punished for what he had done. The wall was a simple punishment. He had always been a silent ruler, and thus I had little knowledge of the kind of person he was until the first time I met him at Koenisburg, and honestly even there he had seemed a calm man with little of the violent tendencies that have come to define him now. "You have no choice in this matter. You and your son Mallador will die if you dont take this deal, and trust me when I say your deaths will not be pleasent. Your deaths will be as painful and humiliating as your dishonorable killing of the crown prince." I made the decision to not make this moment worse by stating his brother Mallador had no chance of survival under any deal as he was complicent in the actual murder of prince Domeric. His death would have to be public, and I would do it myself. Everything that had transpired on that day I could look back on say to myself would have never happened if Mallador Locke had never led the siege of Hornwood, and if he had done the honorable thing, and not ambushed the crown prince. "You continue to spread horrible gossip I see." "If you stand here denying your son Mallador's involvement in the murder of Lord Domeric Bolten, then you are a more detestable person then even I gave you credit for." "My son was at home with me Milord. We were planning a nice summer feast when we heard the terrible news about the prince." He had the most stupid look on his face as he silently laughed to himself as he lied. Noone would ever believe that, and the facts were simple that his flags had been seen from the walls. The life of his son, and after this convseration the life of himself were over. They would pay with their lives for their crimes, but this didn't have to end the life of poor Donnel. "YOU LIE!" Orsen stepped forward and screamed it at Ondrew. I looked back and saw the pure hatred in my friends eyes, and I was glad that Sasha was there to hold him back, because the two men at arms and Ser Lucas Iron wouldn't have been enough to stop him. "You dare raise your voice at me. Your little better then a farmer." Ondrew raised a little above his usual slouch as he must have been truly angry. "You embaress yourself by your very presence here. You supported a monster instead of supporting the rightful heir to this kingdom and now look at where we are." He chuckled as I spoke and it took every piece of strength I had not to take the sword from my side and stab him through with it. "And what does it say of you that you bring this Lucernian here. There people have burned this kingdom to the ground, and now you stand with one of them in your council?" He looked around at Sasha of whom pulled back from Orsen clearly not wanting him to seem weak by his women holding onto his arm for comfort. "The Lucernians did not burn this land to the ground Lord Locke. Ramsey Snow did that. The man you supported, and the man you betrayed your oaths for has been the one responsible for that." "The words of a traitor is all that I hear." "Then from the lips of a traitor shall your entire family be put to the sword." ``This all goes back to your belief that you can take Lotten.`` I heard Orsen laugh behind me as he said that. There was just no scenario where my forces couldn't take the town, and unless he was completely dillusional there was just no hope for Lotten anymore. "Father the castle will not be able.." Before he could finish his father turned and hushed him. I felt bad for Donnel once again in that moment. I still remembered the boy I had known back in Hornwood when we were boys, and the boy I knew then would have been dying inside knowing he was a part of something as vile as what his family took part in with Domeric. There was a lot of blame to go around, but no matter what way I tried to slice it just never seemed to be a blame that I could place at Donnel's feet.  "Return to Lotten Lord Locke and make your decision. You have until the end of the day, and then I will order the destruction of your castle, and with it everyone inside it.". Ondrew went to speak but Donnel grabbed his arm and whispered once more in his ear, and before another word was said Donnel picked up their white flag and assisted his father in walking back to the gatehouse.

Following the disasterous conversation between Daryn Hornwood, and Ondrew Locke they would return to their respective camps with two completely different ideas of what came next. For Daryn Hornwood he was prepared to launch the siege machines against the castle the next day, and while he hadn't wished to destroy Lotten he now understood that Dorren didn't have the influence neccessary to make his father do what was right. Back in Lotten Ondrew commanded the men under him to prepare the defences of Lotten as he understood that the siege was going to come, but he continued to believe the letter shown to him by Mallador that Ramsey Bolten was nearbye and was preparing to assault the Hornwood's from the side once they moved against Lotten. 

Coup of Lotten

“I'm sorry father that it has come to this moment. I had hoped that you meeting with Daryn would have made you see the hopelessness of where your leading us. I had hoped that you would come to understand that this didn't end in any scenario with you or Mallord escaping free.”

— Donnel Locke

Following the return to Lotten Donnel would meet with several of the lords of House Locke that he had talked to before, and he and Romny would plan about the taking of Lotten during the night as everyone else slept. Using mainly the strength of the two coup partners in House Eastmyr, and House Caliman they would quickly take control of Mallador, and Ondrew Locke and put them into safe places, while at the same time take control of the keep, and the main gatehouse with their forces thus allowing them to hand over the proper prisoners, and to also let in the Hornwoods if it came to it. The Caliman forces would mass and take control of the great keep, as well as the main gatehouse, and while this was happening House Eastmyr would go alongside Donnel where they found Ondrew with Mallador where they were talking in Mallador's room. Seeing his son Donnel enter with Romny Eastmyr fully armored and surrounded by many armed men, Ondrew would emotionally crash and begin weeping. Despite this breakdown Ondrew, and Mallador were taken to the great keep's dungeon, while word was sent outside the town to the Hornwood's about the change.

Relationships

Robb Starke

See Also : Robb Starke