Martyn Lannister
Casterly Rock featured often in his dreams now, not so much the castle or the fact that he was its lord- a position he had never been trained for nor expected to inherit- but rather the people who made Casterly Rock so joyful to live in, his wife Margaery with her brown curls and beautiful smile and mind and their children Loren who seemed to be the very picture of Margaery and Martha with her blond locks and sweet smiles, Aunt Genna with her sharp mind and even sharper tongue they were the people who helped Martyn remain sane during the many challenges he faced. Aunt Genna's husband Ser Emmon though, the man had been a problem, a never ending one since Martyn had become Lord of the Rock five years ago, the man had initially not taken Martyn seriously and then when Edmure Tully had been given Riverrun and the Lord Paramountship of the Trident back by Aegon, Martyn's uncle had fumed and fumed, and had begged Martyn to speak with the King. Martyn had merely looked at his uncle disgust filling his eyes, and had simply told him "My uncle's dealings with your family shamed our house. I will not listen to your whining anymore."
And so Emmon Frey had kept quiet, until Daenaerys Targaryen had come along and then he had begun pestering Martyn to declare for Daenaerys and to give her cousin Jaime, Martyn had looked at his uncle then and said. "Daenaerys Targaryen is a mad woman, she will be more likely to burn us all down to the ground than accept Jaime and pardon us. Besides Jaime and Lady Brienne are family matters now." When uncle Emmon had not stopped protesting, Martyn had simply arranged for a little accident for him to happen when he went out riding, his body was found three days later broken and twisted, a fall from a horse the maester decreed and no more was said of it, neither Aunt Genna nor her grandchildren mourned the loss of the man.
Martyn's thoughts then turned to Jaime and the Lady Brienne both at the Rock still. Martyn had debated over what to do with them for the longest time, he knew his Aunt Genna was deeply in favour of simply keeping them both at the Rock and not telling a soul that they were there, and Martyn had been deeply in favour of doing such a thing, until the Lady Brienne had insisted quite stubbornly that she needed to go and find the Lady Sansa. The woman did not believe Martyn when he told her that the Lady Sansa was fine and safe in Winterfell, and Jaime had joked that she would only be satisfied when she saw the Lady Sansa with her own two eyes. Martyn had simply told her he could not allow her to leave not now that she was here with his cousin. Jaime, the man he had grown up idolizing and wanting to be like had looked at him then and said "And what do you plan on doing with me cousin? Do you plan on giving me to Aegon or to Daenaerys?"
Martyn had stared long and hard at his cousin then and had then said. "You shall both remain here, but you shall both serve some purpose I will not waste my dungeons on you both. Jaime you shall serve as my castellan when I am gone. Cousin Damion is expecting another child and I think he has enough to worry about. Lady Brienne you shall help with the defences and that shall be that."
The Lady had looked like she was going to protest but one look from Jaime and she remained silent. Jaime had then asked him a question Martyn still knew not the answer to. "When this war is over Martyn what then?" Martyn knew what his cousin meant, but he knew not how to reply, he knew not what he wished to say to the man he had considered a hero for longer than he could remember. Instead he had simply walked away from their cells and then told Damion about the new arrangements and then had ravens sent out to call the banners to war to aid the King in defending his realm.
15,000 men answered his call to arms. Lords Crakehall, Lefford, Marbrand, Banefort, Brax, Clifton, Jast, Lydden, Payne and Prester came with their men. Other lords had lost greater numbers of men during the war of the Five Kings and in the fighting with the White Walkers and as such did not have the strength to answer call to arms, these houses Martyn instructed with the defence of the Westerlands when they had enough men to call to arms. Other houses led by Ser Gown Lannister of Lannisport rebelled against Martyn's call to arms and instead declared for Daenaerys. The houses that sided with the traitor included House Westerling, House Spicer, House Algood, House Drox, House Farman and House Sarsfield altogether the rebel lords managed to raise a host of some 10,000 men and they assembled at Castamere perhaps preparing to launch a direct attack on the Rock or cut off Martyn's advancement to the Golden Tooth.
The battle itself was short and sweet, both forces met not at Castamere which was still half a ruin, but on the summit of the Pendric Hills battling on Lion's Point. Martyn himself getting his first real taste of fighting since the war of the Five Kings, felt rusty but still it felt good to be doing something other than having to think of politics. He swung his sword left, right and centre bringing it down on his foes who came to close to him, hacking and slashing he fought his way through, leading the left flank of the loyalist host he rode through men and killed many more.
There was one point during the battle where he feared he might actually die. A brute with the arms of House Sarsfield on his armour rode forth wielding a war hammer, and he swung the hammer so hard that Martyn's horse actually keeled over with the pressure of the blow. Martyn just managed to avoid being crushed by his horse, but was dazed when he got up, so much so that the big bull of a man managed to knock him back down again and soon Martyn had received several blows to the chest and arms, and he could feel the dents in his armour digging into his skin. The pain was becoming unbearable, yet somehow he found the strength to continue, he staggered to his feet and kept swinging his sword, left right and centre he swung until the bull was lying face down in the ground blood pooling around his body and adding to the vast amount already present on the battle field.
The fighting still raged fiercely around him, there were countless bodies strewn across the ground, their blood pooling around them, the sound of steel on steel and the screams of men in their death throes was beginning to get to Martyn. Yet still he found the strength to raise his sword and continue swinging it, left and right he swung, he hacked, he ducked and dodged, he did all he could to remain alive. And at the end of it all his blade was stained crimson red, red with blood, red of victory. Ser Gowen Lannister had been slain but his second in command Ser Charles Vikary was brought before Martyn at the end of the battle when the rebels had either been killed or had bent the knee once more. "You rebelled against your liege lord and your king Ser Charles and for what? A madwoman's promise?"
Ser Charles was covered in blood and dirt but he still sounded proud when he said. "No my lord. We fought so Queen Daenaerys may get her birthright. Not the pretender you call Aegon."
Martyn merely looked at the man and then said. "What of the other lords of Westeros the Florents? Why do they fight?"
Ser Charles had sneered then and said "For Highgarden, they want your whore's family dead and their arses in Highgarden in fact your goodfather the fat flower will most likely be dead and his son Ser Gallant captured or dead."
Martyn felt panic in his heart and then quickly plunged his sword into Ser Charles's stomach ending the man's life. He then ordered a quick march from the Pendric Hills to Cornfield where the maester there informed them for the loyalist victory on the Red Fork of how Edmure Tully and the royalist Riverlords with aid from Lord Targaryen and the northman had defeated the rebel riverlords. But the maester then mentioned that White Harbour had fallen to Nestor Royce and the Valemen, and that had surprised Martyn, for he had thought that the Valemen had given their support to Aegon unofficially but then he thought that perhaps they were simply biding their time. Regardless he ordered a quick march from Cornfield to Highgarden where they were met by Lord Willas Tyrell, now Lord of Highgarden who informed them that "The siege was ended when Lord Appleton marched south to join forces with Lord Ambrose in marching on the capital. Lord Targaryen had come here after the Red Fork to assist us, but went north on his dragon when he learnt of White Harbour's fall."
"What of King's Landing?" Martyn had asked.
Lord Willas had sighed and said. "It appears his grace has grown confident, with the defeat of the rebel riverlords at the Red Fork he believes that the Riverlands are secure. And of course with the raven sent to King's Landing after the Pendric Hills he believes that his throne is largely secure. He is growing more arrogant because of it, he does not realise the threat he will be under should Lord Ambrose and Lord Appleton have the chance to combine their hosts."
Martyn sighs and feels fear begin to build up inside of him, his own house nearly burnt to the dust because his uncle and cousins became too arrogant in their safety, he can't have his friend suffer the same fate. "Has Lord Connington mobilised his forces though? With the might of the Stormlands and the Crownlands behind him surely they should be able to withhold the attack led by Lords Ambrose and Appleton no matter the size of their combined hosts."
Lord Willas gives a rueful sigh and says. "Lord Ambrose is an accomplished warrior, and his host of some 30,000 men managed to destroy the host my brother Ser Garlan led on the Cider Plane. My brother is a hostage and the remaining lords who are loyal to Highgarden and the King do not wish to fight much longer. They have fought a long hard war before with the War of the Five Kings, and the War with the White Walkers and with winter still firmly here, some simply wish for peace. I know not what the situation is with the crownlands nor the Stormlands, and I can say for certain that the hosts that Lord Connington and his grace the King muster won't stand a chance against a battle hungry Reacher Host."
Martyn hates the sense of despair in Lord Willas' tone and says. "All is not lost yet my lord, we have managed to crush the rebels in the Westerlands and Ser Garth Greenfield shall be marching with more men soon enough, they shall help us fight the traitors Ambrose and Appleton and help secure the Reach for his Grace."
Lord Willas does not seem particularly convinced but nonetheless the man still allows Martyn and his army the chance to stay in Highgarden for a few days to allow them to rest stating above Martyn's protests. "Lord Appleton and his men will know that they cannot march to quickly otherwise they will not be fit for battle, more than likely they will be camped on the Cockleswent, you shall have enough time what with the snow and the rain to catch up with them my lord."
And so they camped in the grounds around Highgarden, Martyn and Lords Crakehall and Brax within Highgarden itself and there Martyn saw just how desperate the situation could have been. For though Highgarden itself had many supplies, there was still the signs of the siege that had led to Lord Mace's death evident in the haunted look that Lady Alerie and Lady Leonnette had about them. Lady Olenna, his Margaery's grandmother looked at him once before saying. "Come to wage war in the Reach have you lion boy? Well it will be a damned sight harder than waging war in the West. Lords Ambrose and Appleton are not the fools Lords Ashford and Florent are, they will continue the fight."
They were in Highgarden for six days before Lord Randyll Tarly arrived with men from Goldengrove, Old Oaks, Red Lake and the survivors of the battle of the Cider Plane. The man was strict and somber, though when he discussed the reality of their situation. "I have brought with me some 2,000 men Lord Martyn. How many men do you think Ser Greenfield will be able to bring with him?"
Martyn sighed and said "I know not how many exactly my lord. I know perhaps some 3,000 men could come with him. If we write to Riverrun perhaps Lord Edmure will be able to join us in beating the Lords Ambrose and Appleton."
Discussion raged long into the night, before it was decided that they would set out for Longtable where Lady Olenna's spies had reported that the host commanded by Lord Appleton was currently camped. Lord Willas bade them farewell and told them that 3,000 men would be joining them sometime soon led by his uncle Ser Baelor Hightower for they had marched from Oldtown some weeks ago. Sure enough as they arrived on the outskirts of Cider Plane where the battle that had led to Ser Garlan's capture they were joined by men bearing the Hightower of the Hightowers, Ser Baelor was usually a jolly man or so Martyn had been told, today though his face was nothing but somber. They discussed how best to deal with Lord Appleton's host which was at last estimate mean to number some 20,000 men. Ser Baelor simply said. "Lord Arthur is likely to have grown over confident after the siege of Highgarden, he will not expect us to divide our forces perhaps if one part of the host goes on a forced march we can surround him and enact a hammer and the anvil formation."
Lord Randyll disagreed and said. "We would be better served marching in one host and then having the van form a pincer movement, Lord Appleton will be fighting in the van you can count on it."
Eventually Martyn said. "Very well if we are all agreed that Lord Arthur will be in the van then it is best if we place a pincer movement for the Van. Lord Randyll you shall lead the Van, Ser Baelor you shall lead the right, I shall lead the left and Lord Crakehall shall lead the centre." That agreed they all retired for the night, for the march the next day would begin early and would likely end in battle. As he slept that night, Martyn dreamt of Margaery and her soft hair and tender lips, and her laugh and her eyes. He could feel himself growing hard at the thought of her pressed against him, and he desired so badly to see her, his love who was with child once more. He had sworn to her that he would return to her alive, and he fully intended to keep that promise.
They set off early the next morning and soon the horn was being blown and the battle of Longtable had begun. The snow covered most of the ground and the land surrounding the town was slushy where the rain had fallen and melted previous snow. Martyn fought hard, they all did, swinging and hacking and slashing doing all they could to survive and put their side ahead in the battle. He struck left, he ducked, and dodged, hacking a man's head off occasionally, and sometimes being dealt many blows, one of which he seriously thought might knock him off of his horse it was so strong, all it did in the end was dent parts of his red armour.
Snow began to fall as the battle of Longtable raged, covering the white powder already on the ground, and making it harder for Martyn to see in front of him, going by instinct as to when to raise his sword to block and parry and to swing. His horse stumbled once or twice on the thick outlines of rocks covered under layers of snow, but the creature never looked as if it was going to fall. And for that Martyn was thankful, for it allowed him to continue swinging his sword left, right and centre hacking down men and beast alike. Painting the white snow red, and littering the ground with bodies.
The fighting continued even though the men were tiring, still the battle raged on and on, Martyn felt as if his arms were going to fall of so many times did he swing his sword or raise it up to defend himself. He was dimly aware that he was bleeding in different places, the wounds from sword strikes that he had not been able to properly deflect or defend himself against, but against his armour he could not truly tell how badly he was bleeding. That was until someone with a axe threw the axe and it struck his helm knocking him out and causing him to slump on his horse.
He awoke sometime later in a tent, the wind gusting in. He sat up and shivered, and then found himself staring straight into his cousin Ser Tywin Frey's face, his cousin had inherited his mother's looks and golden hair. "Ah Martyn thank the gods you're okay, we were beginning to panic."
Martyn felt his head begin to swim as he tried to move forward, Tywin pushed him back to rest his head against a pillow, and Martyn asked. "What happened to the battle Tywin? Did we win?"
His cousin laughed then and said. "Of course we did coz. Do you think I'd be sitting here trying to talk to you if we had lost? No we won alright, once Lord Randyll cut down Lord Appleton his men bent the knee well enough. We lost only some 5,000 men to their 10,000. The Pincer movement truly worked coz."
"Did Ser Garth join us in the end coz?" Martyn asked.
His cousin grimaced at that and said. " Ser Garth and his men have declared for Daenaerys and are currently marching through the Riverlands burning and pillaging as they go. Lord Edmure Tully is marching to stop them at Harrenhal for now." Martyn sighed deeply and felt anger beginning to boil inside of himself, he would need to deal with the rebels once this was all over and done with. "There's more coz." Tywin said sounding scared. Martyn looked at his cousin then and raised his eyebrows questioningly. "There was a raven from Lord Connington, there was fighting at Fawnton, between the host Lord Connington had assembled and Lord Ambrose's host. Lord Connington and his men were soundly defeated, but Connington managed to beat a retreat to Grand View, Lord Ambrose has marched onto King's Landing. And it appears as if King Aegon has stirred himself from King's Landing with the men from the Crownlands."
Martyn nodded and then said. "We must march soon then, we must aid the King and attack Lord Ambrose from the rear if we can."
Tywin was about to reply when Lord Randyll entered the tent and said. "That will not be possible my lord. The information Ser Tywin has given you is old, some three days ago Daenaerys Targaryen descended from the Vale with a host some 25,000 strong and destroyed the host Lord Edmure had assembled to deal with Ser Garth Greenfield, Lord Edmure rots in a cell now in Harrenhal. She then marched onward for King's Landing where she and King Aegon met in open battle, her host defeated his host and her black monstrosity killed the King's dragon, but not before the King's dragon managed to wound her dragon. But still it was not enough, the King is dead, King's Landing has fallen."