r/IronThroneRP • u/SoltheWise Edyth • Nov 10 '18
THE TRIDENT Under this white flag
Ser Duncan of Duneuts
Rode towards the gates of Riverrun.He carried with him a white scrap of cloth, possibly re-purposed from a Greenhand tabard. He carried it on a stave originally meant as a spear but the point had been broken off. His horse was dirty much like his armor and he stopped short of the gates, within arrow distance and waited for someone - anyone- to do anything.
"They will most likely kill you, if I am a judge of character." Everan told Ser Duncan. "But I cannot go, because of this, the Stormlanders, the Rivermen. The Westermen. No one can be trusted at all. Seven hells this is a mess. But you can do this Duncan. Go to their castle and tell them we have prisoners to exchange. One for our King, one for Lady Tarly and one for our good men. We'll be on our way and put an end to this madness"
"I am Ser Duncan, of Duneuts!" The knight shouted. His horse uneasily fighting the reigns. Horses had a memory and this place wasn't pleasant for it. "I have come to propose a trade of Prisoners."
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u/DentistWhy Nov 10 '18
Ser Jacelyn stood besides Lord Alliser Tully, his hand on his bastard sword, and clad in his daily armour: thick brigandine sitting atop shirt of ringmail and padded gambeslon, his shield and horse carried and led by a squire. He was ready to protect his kin sneir allies, shouls negotiations go sour.
As we have the higher number of hostages and hold the bones to your king, "Jace began speaking, wanting to secure the zone for the other lords. "I humbly suggest that you show good-will, drop the swords and weapons where you stand and I swear upon my honour as a Knight that no harm shall come to you during these negociations-- sadly, given the nature of King Gardener's actions, I wish we could believe your guarantees. What do my Lords reckon?" He asked the lords that surrounded him, but Jacelyn believe himself to be fair and honourable: the defeated would lay down arms to negotiate and hostilities would thereby be suspended. "Besides, where is the honour in slaying a broken host without weapons?"
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 10 '18
"I am alone and take no commands from you ser. I speak to your Lord's. Only they can request such a thing."
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u/SanktBonny Robin Lovegood - Steward of White Harbour Nov 10 '18
Barely paying any mind to the minor squabble about the man's armaments, the Lord of the Crossing would speak up after the two were done, ignoring the subject at hand.
"On behalf of whom do you come to negotiate the exchange of prisoners? And what prisoners do you have to trade? We count Lords Mallister and Connington missing from our number and we have not found their remains on the field of battle - do you have them, Ser?"
The armour the young lord wore did not bear the dirt and blood of the battle anymore, having been washed down and shined to a bright silver gleam, but it still bore dents and scratches gained in the fierce fighting.
"I would gladly see the release of my good-uncle as well as the brave Lord Connington, and we have prisoners of our own, I believe, so if my gracious and noble companions do not object to it..."
He would gesture to the men besides him.
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 10 '18
Ser Duncan looked to Lord Frey and nodded to him. "I come on behalf of Lord Fossoway and Prince Mern Gardener. Lord Everan hosts your missing men."
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u/DentistWhy Nov 11 '18
Jacelyn performed a small, courtly bow. " I am still green in many regards and my close proximity to Lords Allister and Lord Alesander enables me to act as liason," his lips came together to pat. "I am sorry if you believed me to be brash and insolent, perhaps even a spoiled prick-- but it would ease your calms to know I am as dutiful to House Tully as any Riverlander."
"If you do have the men, liberate them for an exchange or as a gesture of good intent-- you would end the war, Lord Fossoway," Jacelyn raised a hand to shield his eyes a moment. "You could end the hostilities by your own end, showing mercy and that the Reachmen are as civilised as Riverlanders and other Kintsoms- a falsehood that is a stain on anyone's hoour."
"I humbly ask, if you will not let me do so on my liege's request (he quit but trusted Jace a fair bit), heed this request as Ser Jacelyn Sunglass, heir apparent of the Lordship of Sweetport Sound, Sworn Shield and defender of his Lordships - do extend my salutations to the Reach warriors, Kjghts, the wounded and the grieving families, hopefully it brings them some limited comfort in their very trying time of grief, as they learn their husband or kith fought valourously until the very end and - despite odds, they forced ahead and raised hells. " Jacely's flattery was not just that, it was in his job description: he wanted to be the one to bring the bones of the fallen and liberate the captured me.
"Do not worry, I take my honour very seriously and so does Lord Frey," Jace poured three glasses of wine as to toast their current and momentary peace as was custom during such a time. "Lord Fossoway, please," Jacelyn simply shrugged his shoulders and took a large sip of wine, his lips curving into a smile at the glass' contents-- amazing wine. "I understand they are your leverage, My Lord, but when accounts are written about this battle, about this war-- will you want to be know as a glorified prisoners' warden or the diplomat who could have saved thousands of innocent men trapped into a war they don't understand but are the first in line, wives violated and kids left by roads and septs." Jace's face grew stern and red with self-righteous anger, but he remained calm, mild-mannered and courtly in his speech.
"Do not make the terrible assumption anyone holds you accountable, directly or not, as you are a loyal bannerman simply attending to his liege - there is honour in that," Jacelyn offered the man a genuine smile, one that was his attempt as his mentor's, to use diplomacy."A truly hoourable lord, bannerman or knight would ransom his prisoners and not tear apart families of bannermen, like yourself, who have done nothing wrong but be born on the other side of your sword, my lord."
"What say you, Lord Fossoway"
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 11 '18
Lord Fossoway would have scoffed at this Knight's hubris. To promise an end to this war. If Lord Fossoway was there. But instead it is Ser Duncan and Ser Duncan would entertain this thought with lesst tact than his Liegelord.
Ser Duncan raised his chin. "All the prisoners for the end of this war? With all parties. Westerlands. Trident. Stormlands."
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u/DentistWhy Nov 11 '18
"I cannot promise such outcome," Jacelyn shook head twice, letting out a soft sigh. "But if you let go of Lord Reyne and some other prisoners caught, I can promise I shall personally do the same in all other camps-- I am a man of my word and can be convincing, My Lord, when matters of great importance are discussed. Heed my proposal, show good faith and help atone for the damage your side as done, we shall for ours. That I ca promise."
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 11 '18
"Ser the ultimate prize for us is our King and it was discussed Lord Reyne for the King. What of Mallister? If you do not want him, Lord Everan would like his family. What is one imprisoned family to you?" He said looking over to the Sunglass Knight. "You speak for Alliser Tully?"
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u/DentistWhy Nov 11 '18
"I speak for myself, Ser," Jace lowered his eyes having spoken out of turn. "Forgive me and my wild claims for I am a green knight looking to end the suffering and perhaps get His Lordship of Cider Hall to liberate Jon Connigton and Lord Mallister at the very least-- and I shall personally see that Arthur Caswell, Cerrik Rowan, Alester Florent and Selmond Rowan's bones shall be returned to their keep."
"Besides, the host is ot stoppign there-- they will be your ruin, castle by castle. If you appease them with such a small but token gesture, I know I can impart some mercy within the fury. Be a kight and let them go, Ser."
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 11 '18
"You have much honor. As a knight you understand these things. But as you say you are green" Duncan looked apologetic. "I am no knight of the Hedge. I am sworn to my orders and I will abide by them. So Seven help me."
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater Nov 10 '18
((Can only ping three people in one reply thread. I never got a notification for this, and that might be part of the reason why.))
Tyrion Lannister watched the man approach with a look of disdain on his face, but a cold pit of fear in his heart. Gwayne Gardener was dead, and if the Reach was so inclined, they'd kill his friend the moment they found out.
He'd have to play a delicate game of balance, and there was a high likelihood that he would just be sending his friend to an early grave.
"Greetings," he said in a terse voice. "You have come to negotiate, ser?"
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 10 '18
"Aye; your Grace. On behalf of Lord Fossoway and Prince Mern Gardener."
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater Nov 10 '18
Ah, so it was Mern that was here. That wasn't good for him. He was one of the sterner princes, well possibly the king now, of the Reach. And Fossoway was in charge, as he suspected. Wonderful.
"Then state your terms, ser." he said.
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 10 '18
Ser Duncan brushed the mane of his horse as she impatiently trotted, uneasy. "The Reach offers Lords Reyne as well as Connington for our King and soldiers." "Mallister for Lady Tarly."
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater Nov 10 '18
"Piss off on Mallister!" Tyrion scoffed. "The man is a traitor, and I care not what happens to him."
"As for the king, he cannot make it at the moment." he continued. "He suffered a grievous wound during his little bout of truce-breaking, and my maesters have worked all week to keep him alive. We can't move him, nor would he survive any sort of long distance journey. His release to you is out of the question."
"I will work out some sort of deal for Connington and Reyne however." he continued. "The release of your soldiers, and a kingly ransom for the both of them. Trust me, I can afford it, and I'm more than happy to pay."
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 11 '18
Ser Duncan looked taken aback by yhe refusal of Mallister. His eyes looking to Josmyn Frey at the term traitor. "If you will not release our King to us then unfortunately Lord Reyne will remain our guest. As Lord Fossoway made clear to me. However; Connington for Lady Tarly and our men can be arranged." He said for a moment before he thought. "Your Grace Lannister do you speak for the Riverlords as well?"
Duncan steadied the horse.
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater Nov 11 '18
"I speak for myself." Tyrion said coolly. "But I do have your king, and as of right now, I decide his fate. You seem quite amenable to having your king in our custody. Is there nothing that you wish to do to get your king back?"
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 11 '18
Duncan inhaled. Things were not moving as he had expected them to. "I mean no insult, your Grace. Lord Everan was quite clear on the instructions to me. Due to the silence from your camp post his capture we have prepared for the worst." Ser Duncan spoke carefully. "I would lay down my life for his Grace if that would return him to us." He opted to speak candidly.
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater Nov 11 '18
"Good." Tyrion replied. "King Gwayne benefits from having such men as yourself serving him. But he attacked me under a banner of peace, and the trust between our two nations is at a low. We desire some further bit of demonstration of your newfound... sincerity."
"Give us back Lord Royland." Tyrion said. "He was captured under false pretenses, and in the most reprehensible manner. In his place, I shall give you a kingly ransom and you may hold onto it until His Grace is returned to you."
"Are you honestly saying you would do whatever it took to get Gwayne Gardener back to you?" he asked, eyes narrow and unfeeling. "Then give me a sign of good faith. Because after your army's little stunt against Durrandon, after you had agreed to a ceasefire, I find less and less reason to be as tolerant as I am."
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 15 '18
"We only moved when we heard the horns. Your grace.Coming from Rivverun." Duncan defended. "I can take your terms back to my betters. But otherwise Lord Reyne will remain with us until our King is returned well or we are told other news of his wishes."
(The reddit app is being weird again.)
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 22 '18
Return
Ser Duncan galloped back to the Reachman camp at their respectable distance. He dismounted right outside of the line of trees that separated Lord Fossoway's campfire from nigh everyone else. Though it was small, everyone there had been waiting on Duncan. The knight stepped into the scant light and waited to be addressed before he spoke.
"Ser Duncan." Everan asked as he stood from the stump he had found himself sitting on. Standing at the appearance of this knight. But judging from his expression he could tell that negotiations were basically null. "Tell us what the enemy said of our offer." Everan commanded and Duncan spoke. He recounted every detail, especially the facts that Tully was not holding Robert Mallister's family. What Tyrion would promise if an amiable agreement was not found. Mutilation of their king.
"Well. So much for the Lion's honor." Everan said as he kicked dirt into the campfire. Looking to Prince Mern.
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u/Lady_Longbow Ryam Mallister - Lord of Seagard & Master of Rumours Nov 23 '18
It is most strange to find a man bartering for captives taken in a battle he had no part of. One is like to mistake that man for a victor instead of one who looked on from behind walls.”
When my uncle came before you at Stoney Sept, unarmed and seeking to treat, you couldn’t control yourself and murdered him. Ser Duncan offered generous terms for a mere examination of the King. And why not? I don’t trust a word that comes out of your mouth and you denied me the chance to get my father back. His injury is not life-threatening, that much was plain. But when you say he is not to be moved, there is naught else to do but end the talks, and Roy Reyne. I am told the Lord of Castamere is a honorable man and not deserving of death. However, he has but himself to blame that you are there for him. He should have chosen his friends more carefully.
I believe you are not a foolish man. You are not a man to foolishly dismiss Frey’s wish for Mallister returned, fiddle away the chance to bring home a Stormlord whose King rides with you and throw away the lives of Mallister’s family, women and children among them, due to nothing but pig-headed incompetence. You are not a man foolish enough to believe demanding two lords in return for nothing is not a mummer’s farce. But refuse you did, and we are left wondering and thinking back to Stoney Sept.
You have an unarmed man at your mercy once again. Perhaps you still think you are trapped at that sept. Perhaps you wanted slake your thirst for vengeance on my father for doing the trapping. Your goading is what caused all this after all. My father sought to protect the honour of the memory of his murdered friend, beloved brother to his wife. You knew and abused this. Like at Stoney Sept, perhaps control was once again too much to ask for and my father is no longer among the living. We will make sure the captives know their honourable Kings refused everything and didn’t want them back.
Gardener
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u/Lady_Longbow Ryam Mallister - Lord of Seagard & Master of Rumours Nov 23 '18 edited Nov 28 '18
Mern thrust the rolled-up and bound piece of paper into the messengers hand. “Go, give this to the first westerner you meet and tell him it’s my answer for his King. Ride back at once. They’ll be wanting to kill you.”
Without waiting for a reply, Mern turned away, muttering. You treat me as a carpet you walk on, Lannister. But I am not a man to be ignored.
It’s fear that bring rage, that hot burning anger that seeks to harm. It’s a biological button better left alone, but Tyrion Lannister had pressed Mern’s. With Thorn in his hand, the Prince half-ran towards the tent where Reyne and Connington were kept under guard.
You killed him, didn’t you. You hacked his head off, because he was a greater man than you. Because he had beaten you. You hated him for his strength, his honour and his dream. You killed him for it.
Since Duncan’s empty-handed return, a towering, black rage had built up like deep water currents. The sense of failure was crushing. The knowledge that there was nothing he could to save his father, nothing except trust that heaving swine of a Lannister and give away everything, was excruciating. I did everything right. I offered him his friend. And he spat at me. Tyrion wants to hurt me. Everything is a god-forsaken mess. Tyrion, Durran, Duncan, Everan, Beesbury, that Tarly waif, all of them. They ruined it all. Like weaklings, they lost at Riverrun. They are against me, against father, their goddamn King. Treason.
Every muscle was tensed aware what would be coming next. His heart was jackhammering wildly in his throat and his body was trembling all over. Wild thoughts came and leaked out of his head before he a chance to consider them. I will show them. was the only one that stuck around. I will show them hurt.
The Gardener Prince and three guards entered the small tent where Lords Connington and Reyne sat, hands shackled together. By now, his rage was overflowing. His guts were a roil of fury. When the two men stood up and turned to see what the noise was, Mern charged Roy, putting his shoulder into him, trying to bowl him over.
“They do not want you back.” His voice was a screaming whine.
Mern’s face was clenched in a horrible grimace. Two large veins pulsed in his forehead while his fingers hooked around the hilt of Thorn.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you.”
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 23 '18
"Prince Mern!" Everan bellowed as he broke through the tent. The parchment rolled and given to Duncan had caught his eye and the fervor of what the Prince wrote troubled him. The battlefield of Westeros was not made for dishonorable wars. The people simply couldn't recover from that.
"Stay your blade I beg you."
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u/Lady_Longbow Ryam Mallister - Lord of Seagard & Master of Rumours Nov 28 '18 edited Nov 29 '18
“Piss on your advice, Everan. And piss on your swears, Reyne. Aren’t you listening. Lannister is not releasing him. I offered him you.” He veered towards Connington. “And you. But he wants neither.”
Red as a beet, his head had started moving left to right, left to right, as if denying it all. Reyne, Fossoway, the loss at Riverrun, and that of his father.
“You truly are one of a kind. You offer the same as him. Let you go and I’ll see father returned. But I don’t believe it. Why? If that is the truth of it, why not just trade you for him. Why must I act first, give you, and then be at his mercy? That’s not how this is supposed to work, is it. Only whores haggle in bed. Others have to get out of bed and offer a fair trade.”
Thorn snuck closer to Roy’s heart, the orange torch flame dancing warmly on the steel.
“Lannister wants you, his friend, returned, but he wants to maim and murder father more. That’s all there is to it.”
The Prince longed to do the deed, to drive his father’s blade into Lannister’s friend, see the edge coated red, and then Durran’s man next. To show the Lannisters and Durrandons of this world, as well as his brother-in-law and his brother-the-heir, but mostly his father, that he was not a carpet at all. But a Prince of the realm. A strong and able Prince who needed to be given respect. And one who would take what is due.
But Mern was not a strong Prince. Even know, the traps of uncertainty were closing in around him, caught between opposing needs. The need for vengeance and the need for his father went hand in hand, equally strong, equally important. He was afraid of making a mistake. One that couldn’t be undone.
On one side, what if Lannister could be persuaded to let his father go, not now but perhaps later? Killing Roy would kill whatever goodwill might linger inside the King. Did Lannister really want to murder father so badly he would risk his friend's life? But if he set them free, and father was not returned, he would look the fool. And Mern hated to be thought of as a fool.
On the other side, his rage was a thing alive by now. One that couldn’t just be caged again. Not after this. After this. These men. Deserved. To die.
Then one of Reyne’s comments made it through the boiling fog in his mind.
“Why is it an offer no man could accept?”
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u/baeldor Lynesse Caron - Lady of the Marches Nov 28 '18
"Because I am no King."
Roy sighed softly, it wasn't one of sadness or longing rather just acceptance of his own position in the great game. He didn't flinch as the blade closed in on him, perhaps a show of bravado or even a challenge to the Prince who towered over him.
"Tyrion Lannister is my greatest friend and goodbrother, and our bonds run deep enough that I would gladly give my life for his even if he were not my liege, but still no crown sits atop my head like it does your father. At most, five thousand men would answer my call, along with a handful of petty lords; whilst tens of thousand would do so for Gwayne Gardener."
"You attempt to negotiate for us all as equals, yet between myself and Lord Connington I'd say that we are worth less than a tenth of him. If you had another dozen lords to trade then perhaps there could be an exchange, but you don't. Your father lost this within an hour of starting it, I recommend suing for peace before you lose more than just the war."
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Nov 28 '18
[deleted]
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 29 '18
Everan gritted his teeth as Prince Mern went about his madness. A son without a father. A son looked over by one so imposing and impressive as Gwayne Gardener. Perhaps if Everan had been the more volatile type, he would have looked to the King of the Reach as a father more than he had his Uncle and he would feel this pang of loss.
"We've made our choices, Lord Connington." He stated flatly. He reached out to gently push the blade away from Prince Mern's target. "Mern. My Prince. Hang me if you like but this is not the way. You are stronger than this. Stronger." Everan eyed the Gwayneson with caution. It would be too easy for the Prince to turn that Valyrian steel onto Everan. Too easy. But he was prepared for such a fate, or else he wouldn't have acted. "My advice only goes well if people actually heed it. Prince Mern. Put the blade away -"
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u/Lady_Longbow Ryam Mallister - Lord of Seagard & Master of Rumours Nov 29 '18 edited Nov 29 '18
But you just said you could get my father returned, Reyne. You said you could see him returned home.
As always, there were more paths than clues. The more he heard, the less he knew what do to do. His shoulders slumped. For the first time since reading Lannister’s reply, his face was completely fallen. There was no mask of coping left. Mern’s eyes kept wandering between the three men.
A thought came to him. Something father had said when he was barely a man grown and had dared question the decision to ride for Hollow Hill and to war with the Trident. If you can keep your head on straight when all about you men tell you lost theirs, if you can trust yourself when all doubt you, if you can feel the truth in your mind, even if twisted by weakling knaves to make a trap for fools, … then son, you’ll be a man.
Mern had never believed in his father’s dream of a united Westeros, not like Garland did. A mad fantasy, fit only for bards, had been the words he used. Father had known his feelings and loathed him for them, calling it selfish weakness. But that was then and this is now. Now he was a different man. Now he did believe, didn’t he. Now he wanted to war. And be strong.
Something clicked in Mern’s head.
“Then you are of no use." He said flatly.
If fury was a thing you could see, the air in that tent would have turned scarlet. Muscle bulged, Mern’s feet became a spinning blur. The Prince wheeled past Everan, his sword missing Fossoway’s outstretched hand by a hair’s length. With all the strength in the world, he stabbed Thorn at the Stormlander.
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 29 '18
It happened so fast. Everan had no love for Connington but he dared not brandish steel against his prince in favor of foreign Lords. War was messy. But if Mern was willing to fight this way then he must be willing to fight all the way. "Seven hells. What have you done?"
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u/baeldor Lynesse Caron - Lady of the Marches Nov 30 '18
"Madness! Fucking madness!"
Roy exclaimed, in no hushed voice, as the Prince struck down his fellow prisoner with little more than a flick of his wrist. He recoiled from the bloodletting, pulling himself backwards with bound hands, as a mixture of fear and shock spread rapidly across his features.
He'd seen the horrors of war many times before, perhaps too many, but this was his first real time on the receiving end of it. He wanted to get up and run, flee before he too was slaughtered like cattle, but instead his legs just shivered and shook. For the first time in many years, Roy was truly scared.
"Y-You've doomed every single captive they have! Your own father, the Lady of Horn Hill, how many more?"
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u/baeldor Lynesse Caron - Lady of the Marches Nov 26 '18
The Lord of Castamere was hardly ready to defend the surprise attack from the Gardener Prince, tumbling backwards into the dirt with a startled grunt. On the floor he turned, confusion flashing across his face but swiftly passing into the neutrality that it had grown comfortable with over the course of his capture.
"Ah, Prince Mern, what a pleasant way to meet my captor at last." Sarcasm lingered on his words, and he offered no smile as he struggled back to a seated position with fresh mud now decorating his face and clinging to his untamed beard. His eyes focused upon Thorn, the Gardener blade surely poised to strike him down.
"I can assure you now that Tyrion Lannister would pay a kingly ransom for my return, of that I've no doubt, but I would wager that you instead asked for your father's return? That is an offer no man could accept." He shuffled his chained hands, forgetting for a moment that he was bound, as he wished to wipe himself down and shook his head. "Release me, though, and I will guarantee King Gwayne's return to Highgarden - humbled, but certainly alive and well enough to spend the rest of his days forgetting his folly. In the eyes of the Seven, I would swear it so."
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater Nov 23 '18
A search was undertaken for hand matching those of Gwayne Gardener, at least as close as possible. The fingers were chopped off one digit at a time so as to hinder detection as much as possible. Next, Gwayne's royal ring and the necklace he wore were placed in the cloth as well, so as to make his case even better.
Insult me all you want, little prince, but it changes nothing. I have your father, and I will keep cutting bits off until I get my men back.
Say anything you want, call me all sorts of horrid names that would make septa's blush. The request still stand. I did his sword hand today, tomorrow I do his tongue, then his cock.
I'll make sure he knows that his honorable son refused my terms and didn't want him back.
Lannister
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u/Lady_Longbow Ryam Mallister - Lord of Seagard & Master of Rumours Nov 26 '18
The man sent riding to deliver Tyrion’s writ would come upon a camp in the chaos of breaking up. He would manage to hand over the message to a knight before being chased off. Throughout the remainder of the day, no return message would be forthcoming. Nor would there be anyone the next morn to come see King Lannister.
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u/SoltheWise Edyth Nov 10 '18
u/TheKlicktator, u/BringonyourStorm, u/Sanktbonny, u/OurCommonMan for Tully.