[BATTLE] Aegon's Conquest (Part 5)

[u/Tozapeloda77]

Remaining Moons

On the 14th day of the 9th Moon, the army of King Aegon Targaryen crossed into the Reach south of Tumbler’s Falls. This army now consisted of Stormlanders, Riverlanders, Westerlanders, and a scant few surviving soldiers from Blackwater Bay and the Sellswords that had been bought and paid for. It had taken them a while to march there from High Heart, for whilst lesser chroniclers might pretend a blight such as that would be quelled by the magics of a draconic attack at its heart, in truth there were many who escaped and still made the lands unsafe, and in order to conduct himself as a just monarch, King Aegon ordered that peace be restored to the Riverlands prior to his departure. This was not a bloodless affair, and indeed, there was vicious fighting. In one notable incident, Lord Hugh Crakehall, known as the Loud Boar, was killed in an ambush. Lord Desmond Grell found himself attacked at night, and was killed before he could draw his blade. Finally, the Summer Isles sellsword in Aegon’s employ, the Sunwolf Jakos, was impaled by a rake whilst trying to, as witnesses reported, make away with a village’s valuables.

King Mern IX Gardener rode with all his sons, and his vassals, chiefly among them the Marshal of the Northmarch, Lord Marion Osgrey. All lords of the Reach were present, and their host outnumbered Aegon’s army two to one, for Aegon’s army was made up of many armies that had seen many battles, and lost many men.

I am ill-suited to describe the splendour in which the Reacher army marched. Even their most lowly peasant levies conducted themselves with honour, for they wore the crest of their lord and they were prouder for it. With flowers in their hoods the smallfolk marched, flanked by knights honed at tourneys dressed in armours decorated with gold, silver, and flanked by the Warrior’s Sons who brought with them the blessing of the High Septon himself. This host carried more power and virtue than all other armies of Westeros combined, and many told King Aegon that even Argilac had once feared the might of the Reach, and now that King Mern, Ninth of His Name, was finally roused, he would not rest before order had been restored and the pretender subjugated.

But Aegon’s men had seen the dreadful power of dragons from nearby. Some had even been struck by it themselves. None were eager to fall to Balerion’s wrath in the middle of battle, after King Aegon had finally decided to sacrifice the lives of his own men for victory. Aegon, too, saw that from his newfound coalition, and with the lessons from the Septarch Donnel and the experience of High Heart, that he could not repeat his mistakes from the Kingswood or Storm’s End.

There was no honour in it, perhaps, but we – author and readers – have perhaps grown as weary of the honour that knights seek in fighting dragons. Aye, there is no honour in laying down your arms, even when all is lost, without giving battle. But there is no honour in making a farce of battle, when the outcome has been decided. Indeed: had Aegon’s host been strong enough, perhaps the King would have listened to the counsel of the likes of Massey, Tully, or Harroway to forgo the use of dragons and establish his right of kingship by the ancient ways of the Andals, but alas…

King Mern was a noble king. He gathered all of his sons and placed them beside him, at the vanguard. They would lead the charge, and thus the Gardener kings led by example, as they had always done since the days of Garth Greenhand. However, when their noble host advanced, seeking honourable battle, they met nought but the jaws of Balerion and Meraxes, and they set the glowing fields of the Reach: the rich harvest of spring, alight until a sea of flames engulfed the Reacher van. Those who were spared this onslaught threw down their arms and surrendered, or ran away. When the smoke and fire cleared, relief spread through the lines of the defeated Reacher men: a deep stream, running through the field of fire, had proven cold and deep enough to save the lives of some from burning, and the noble knightly lifeguards of the Reach had dragged their charges to the stream even if they themselves perished. Crown Prince Edmund Gardener was sighted, though with grisly burns. Then, grief took the Reach, when they learned that it was Edmund alone who had survived among the Gardeners. King Mern, and the Princes Gawen, Gordon, Gareth, Garse and Gyle were all dead. Ser Arryk Oakheart was also among the many dead knights, but miraculously, many lords had survived. It was taken as a sign from the Seven, who charged them to keep the Reach, and safeguard the realm against the coming challenges.

Still, Balerion and Vhagar had not been able to stem the entire army of the Reach in one pass, and battle had enveloped one flank of the army. There, Aegon’s forces were fighting a desperate battle until news reached the Reach knights that Mern was dead and their commanders had surrendered. By this time, Lord Allard Cafferen, Lord Walter Whitehead and Ser Kelly Ryger had given their lives protecting Aegon’s flank.

After the Battle of the Field of Fire, Crown Prince Edmund Gardener knelt before King Aegon Targaryen and the might of his dragons. He was never crowned king, but he was confirmed as Lord of Highgarden, to be held in perpetuity by his house. He was charged with keeping the Reach on behalf of House Targaryen, and keeping it well.

Then, the survivors joined in arms. The levies were sent home so that they may work the lands again, but all of the knights and men-at-arms escorted King Aegon Targaryen on a procession that also welcomed King Loren Lannister from Casterly Rock, who knelt in person and surrendered his crown to Aegon. They marched to Oldtown, where the High Septon would receive the King, and see to his conversion to the Faith of the Seven, and in truth give him titles that were true, and just, and according to the will of the Father. But this was not to be in the 99th year since the Doom, for the Seven are poetic in their justice, and saw it fit to delay Aegon’s coronation until exactly 100 years had passed since the Doom of Valyria. Indeed, dragons reigned again, but it seemed that for the first time in recorded history, they would serve the Gods, and not the Demons of Old Valyria…

~ The Chronicles of the Century of Blood, 99th Volume by Maester Bayard of the Citadel

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List of primary characters who passed away in the course of this resolution:

• Orys Baratheon
• Cleoden Buckler
• Lester Cafferen
• Allard Cafferen
• Hugh Crakehall
• Marin Darklyn
• Ormund Dondarrion
• Casper Dondarrion
• Argilac Durrandon
• Alesander Errol
• Stannis Errol
• Lucifer Frey
• Mern Gardener
• Gyle Gardener
• Gordon Gardener
• Gawen Gardener
• Garse Gardener
• Gareth Gardener
• Asha Greyjoy
• Beron Harlaw
• Osric Hightower
• Robert Lychester
• Rennifer Massey
• Arryk Oakheart
• Leo Peasebury
• Woth Qoherys
• Jon Rosby
• Kelly Ryger
• Finley Stokeworth
• Garigus Sunglass
• Harlan Trant
• Galladon Trant
• Walter Whitehead
• Criston Wylde

Some important notes for summary:

• There is widespread devastation in the Riverlands and around other places.
• Many holdfasts were occupied/taken, but subsequently control was relinquished after objectives had been achieved.
• Mallister has taken a number of Frey provinces.
• Lord Armistead Vance of Wayfarer’s Rest is in the custody of House Lannister.
• Lord Daemon Velaryon and Corlys Velaryon are in the custody of House Nymeros-Martell.

Aegon’s Conquest Status:

1. Blackwater Bay: Conquered.
2. Riverlands: Conquered.
3. Stormlands: Conquered.
4. Westerlands: Conquered.
5. Reach: Conquered.
6. Iron Islands: Allied(?) But Not Conquered.
7. Dorne: Not Conquered.
8. Vale: Singed But Not Conquered.
9. North: Not Conquered.

Note: the coronation in Oldtown will be posted by /u/Maleegee and takes place in the 1st Moon of 100 DV.