Storm's End, situated on Durran's Point, stood like a massive pale fist, intimidating the storms of Shipbreaker Bay and guarding the land beneath it.
Over a decade ago, this "fist" had pinned the Redwyne Fleet and tens of thousands of Reach troops here.
It prevented the "Loyalists" from the South from rendezvousing with Rhaegar, giving Robert's coalition ample time to destroy the Targaryen main force.
Now, a lord in his prime looked up at the castle he had grown up in, his deep blue eyes as cold and hard as the sea.
His thin lips were pressed tightly together, as if sharpened into blades to besiege the castle.
This tall lord was none other than the late King's eldest younger brother—Stannis Baratheon.
Stannis ground his molars, staring intently at the castle before him. Over a decade ago, he had gnawed on leather straps and eaten dead rats here to delay the Loyalist main force, allowing his brother Robert to defeat Rhaegar.
But Robert had turned a blind eye to his contributions.
Later, during the Greyjoy Rebellion, Robert had complained that he didn't attack fast enough, favoring that Stark instead, as if Stark were his real brother.
Why?
Stannis had wanted to ask Robert more than once.
Why?
Stark didn't even have ships!
Now, Robert was dead, and his three "legitimate" children were born of the Queen's incest.
Stannis should be the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, yet his younger brother Renly had jumped out to compete with him.
Damn it, damn it, damn it!
That usurper!
What was he doing while Stannis was fighting wars?
He was just running around the Vale in silk clothes, yet he was granted the title of Lord of Storm's End.
He tried to claim the crown with the Tyrells of Highgarden!
And he even offered Stannis a peach.
In Westerosi culture, accepting an enemy's peach was tantamount to surrender.
Stannis would never accept being humiliated by such a brat!
Since no one supported him, he would use his own means to reclaim what was rightfully his!
A red figure flashed before Stannis's eyes.
Thanks to that woman, he was now the sole legitimate heir. Renly was dead, but the garrison at Storm's End still refused to recognize him.
Why?
If not for him, Storm's End would have fallen long ago.
Stannis's heart was filled with rage.
So, he had that red figure act again.
Soon, very soon. Once the castellan of Storm's End was dead, he could lead the Storm's End army and the most powerful fleet in Westeros to attack King's Landing and seize his throne.
Thinking of this, Stannis couldn't help but tighten his grip on the sword at his waist—Lightbringer!
The hand gripping the hilt was as cold and hard as ice.
At that moment, a raven flew over his head, but Stannis paid it no mind.
This raven was controlled by Jon.
Tywin had retreated west with the Westerlands army, and there would be no large-scale battles in the Riverlands for now. Jon had sent the raven south to keep an eye on Stannis's movements.
Since they couldn't communicate directly for the time being, moving south too early or too late would be detrimental.
The best scenario would be arriving at King's Landing simultaneously with Stannis, coordinating a siege from north and south. Jon needed to grasp the timing perfectly.
Controlling the raven, Jon perched on a branch. Before long, the gates of Storm's End slowly opened.
First emerged a horse's head, pulling a cart behind it. On the cart lay a corpse, face as pale as paper.
It was Cortnay Penrose, the castellan Renly had left in charge of Storm's End.
Cortnay was covered with the orange banner of House Penrose.
Coincidentally, his short beard was also orange-red.
He had refused to surrender Storm's End to Stannis, let alone obey him. Enraged, Stannis had ordered the Red Woman to send a shadow assassin to kill Cortnay.
Now, this castle Stannis had yearned for over a decade finally flew his banner.
The fiery heart and stag banner.
"Your Grace."
A group of Storm's End nobles knelt before Stannis, offering their loyalty.
"Storm's End is yours."
Storm's End should have been mine all along.
Stannis said in his heart but showed nothing outwardly. He stepped forward to look at Cortnay's corpse, then mounted his horse to enter the city.
At this time, a charming woman in a red robe, her hair a dark red like fire, came to Stannis's side. He could feel the astonishing heat radiating from her.
The nobles of Storm's End didn't know this woman's background, but some nobles from Dragonstone looked at her with awe and reverence.
The raven on the distant branch naturally noticed this vivid and conspicuous woman and wanted to get a closer look.
Unexpectedly, she suddenly turned her head. The raven made a sharp turn and hurriedly left.
The Red Woman showed a trace of confusion, but it was quickly replaced by fatigue.
Meanwhile, Jon had already withdrawn his consciousness from the raven.
"Jon, what's wrong? You're sweating all over," Sora asked, reaching out to wipe the sweat from Jon's pale face.
"Nothing." Riding on his horse, Jon wiped his forehead.
The Red Witch felt truly terrifying to him.
Jon wasn't clear about her exact strength, but based on her performance in the original story, her magic seemed to favor "sacrifice." King's blood appeared to be a very important "sacrifice material."
To avoid unnecessary trouble, it would be better to use skinchanging less often in front of her in the future.
Both the Stormlands army and Stannis's fleet were now fully assembled.
Since Stannis had taken Storm's End, the Battle of the Blackwater was at most a month away.
Jon had to find a way to seize military command and control the army within a month.
Jon looked up into the distance. The Northern army had arrived at Harrenhal.
The massive walls seemed to press directly on one's chest, extinguishing any thought of a head-on assault for would-be invaders.
Five towering spires seemed to prop up the sky; it felt like if you climbed them, you could touch the heavens.
As the army approached, the walls of Harrenhal loomed like a curtain, threatening to blot out the sky.
This was the infamous Harrenhal.
Harrenhal was the castle "Black Harren" had forced the entire Riverlands to build for him.
The main body of Harrenhal consisted of five towers, each dozens of meters high.
Its walls were dozens of feet high and thick enough for chariots to race atop them.
Ironically, the day the castle was completed was also the day of its destruction.
Aegon the Conqueror destroyed Black Harren, who refused to submit, after issuing the warning: "When the sun sets, your line shall end."
Balerion the Black Dread's dragonfire burned Black Harren until only a charred lump of flesh remained.
People believed it was his heart, thus naming him "Black Harren."
After the Battle of the Green Fork, Tywin had used this place as a key stronghold for the Westerlands army.
He also hired the Brave Companions to assist in the defense.
Not long ago, Tywin led his army away, leaving the Brave Companions at Harrenhal.
At Jon's suggestion, Roose Bolton arrived with gold to buy off the Brave Companions.
And because of Jon's fame for slaying The Mountain, Vargo Hoat, the leader of the Brave Companions, didn't even offer symbolic resistance.
The officers of the Brave Companions unanimously agreed to form a new alliance with the North.
Standing at the main gate to welcome the Northern nobles was none other than the leader of the Brave Companions—Vargo Hoat.
And their maester—Qyburn.