Chapter 100

I unfortunately only had a single night to spend with Brienne before having to march out of the Capital with Stannis' Army for the Battle with Tywin's Army. Even more unfortunately, the Red Keep was so crowded with Lords that any attempt at anything more intimate than a brief kiss and cuddling was out of the question. We largely spent the evening doing that and in the morning, she would be sailing back to Bloodstone to return to Quentyn while I would be riding out with Stannis and the Army to face Tywin.

As morning came, Brienne helped me into my armor. Once I was kitted out, my beautiful Amazon of a wife leaned down and gave me a kiss. It wasn't anything big, no deep thing of passion was this. Instead, it was just a brief peck on the lips with the promise of more should I return victorious.

"Come back to me." She demanded.

"Gods, what did I do to deserve such an amazing wife?" I grinned.

She snorted in laughter at that, but even now, after years of marriage, I don't think she truly knew how lucky I still felt to have married her. Instead of saying anything in response, Brienne simply handed me my helm and reminded me not to be late for the muster. With that, I headed for the stables to mount Armino and join the Army assembling outside the Gate of the Gods. Thankfully, I wasn't the last Lord to assemble, that dubious honor went to Ser Gilbert Farring, whose son Bryen Farring would be serving as my newest squire after Ser Maric and Ser Clarence.

Apparently, I was getting a reputation as someone who trained excellent knights, even though I myself was not an anointed knight. Ser Gilbert had lobbied King Stannis hard for Bryen to be my new squire. I wasn't sure what exactly they expected me to do for the lad in the single day that I'd had him so far before rushing into battle, though. I barely had time to suss out his capabilities before I had to retire for the evening yesterday.

Bryen Farring himself was a lad of twelve, a mop of shaggy brown hair atop his head, fringe obscuring his flint gray eyes. He still had some fat on his frame and was equipped with an Arsenal Steel Chain Hauberk over a padded jack. I would have liked to get better armor for the lad, but with Tywin so close to the City, we simply didn't have the time. Fortunately, Bryen had received some instruction on how to ride and fight from his father, otherwise, I would have turned Ser Gilbert down. After all, Squire or no, the Battlefield was no place for an untrained boy. Bryen nodded at his father as Ser Gilbert rode up to the assembled lords, hand tapping on the hilt of his arming sword nervously as he sat atop his courser.

"Steady on, Bryen. No need to be nervous yet." I murmured, getting a nod in response.

"Right, Milord." Affirmed Bryen.

"Nerves are all well and good, but you can't dwell on them, else you'll never be able to perform." I insisted.

"In that case, perhaps the lad would care for a drink of ale?" Questioned Salhador Saan from nearby.

"I note you're not offering your own wineskin, Salha." Smirked Ser Roger Groves.

"The lad isn't my squire." Shrugged Salhador Saan.

"Typical." Chuckled Jalhabar Xho.

"Aye, the Old Pirate's still at his tricks." Grinned Ser Denys Irons.

"I wouldn't listen to them, Lad. Though if I'm being honest, the suggestion of ale's not a bad one." Shrugged Lord Rupert Crabb.

"Milord?" Questioned Bryen, looking at me.

"Aye, ale can settle nerves. Just don't drain the skin or you'll be unable to fight properly." I agreed.

I handed over a skin of ale to Bryen and the Lad took a pull from the skin before handing it back to me, where I tied it off onto Armino's saddle. To his credit, Bryen seemed to forget all about his nerves if his lack of continued tapping on the hilt of his arming sword was any indication. I just hoped he didn't make a habit of it. A dash of ale to calm nerves every now and again was fine, but you only had to look at the late King Robert to see how being a drunk effectively wrecked your chances of competence at any real endeavor you tried.

Of course, now that Ser Gilbert Farring was here, Stannis called for the drums to start and the army began to move out. Tywin Lannister was encamped at a village a half-day ride up the Kingsroad at a large village called Last Rest, so-called because it had the last inn before the Capital. The march was mostly smooth sailing, though, at one point, we encountered a small party of outsiders lightly armored on fast horses. Scouts for Tywin Lannister judging from the red and gold of their padded jacks. As soon as they spotted our army, they turned about and fled. It wouldn't be long now before we met Tywin's Force, of that I was certain.

We did so just after noon, in a field to the south of Last Rest. Tywin's host was a motley assortment of troops from various sources. Troops from the Riverlands whose Lords had submitted to him, Lannister Guardsmen in their crimson cloaks, fur-wearing Mountain Clansmen with their motley assortment of weapons, Essosi Sellswords in their brightly colored garb, some fifty-thousand men all equipped to different standards.

By contrast, our army was mostly equipped as Pike, Shot, Halberdiers, and so on along the lines that I'd championed, though the ratio of pike to shot was off-balance thanks to having Stormlands and Crownlands men with us. Those that weren't were primarily equipped like the combination of Hobelars, Gallowglasses, and Kerns that were so prevalent in Cracklaw Point, with only a comparative handful equipped to a miscellaneous standard. Some thirty-five-thousand men. Likewise, we had an advantage in Artillery thanks to the Six and Eight-pounders of my own forces, though Stannis also brought along his own four and two-pounders. By contrast, Tywin had four and two-pounders, along with a few bombards. The numbers were on his side, though only slightly, at one hundred artillery pieces to our ninety.

It seemed that Tywin had numbers while we had equipment. It appeared as if training was likely going to be the deciding factor in the battle. If Tywin had bothered to drill his forces to a sufficient standard, this could wind up being something of a slog for us, comparatively. I knew my troops were trained to the highest standard available, but I wasn't certain about any of the others. Some lords held the belief that equipment would cover for poor drill, something that I knew to be objectively false. Were any of the Stormlords or Crownlander Lords serving under Stannis of that ilk? If so, it was about to bite us.

As I took all this in and the armies unfolded themselves into battle array across the field, a small delegation of four men rode out under a white flag from Tywin's Host. The fluttering cloth-of-gold cape and gilt and crimson armor leading them ensuring that all knew Tywin Lannister was among them. Had he realized that we had Cersei, Tyrion, and all of his Grandkids except for Tommen captive? If so, I could only hope this meant he wanted to talk terms of his surrender.

"Lord Seawynd, Ser Davos, Ser Justin, with me. It seems that the Old Lion wishes to Parlay. Let us see if we cannot get this farce over with." Called out Stannis before spurring his horse forward.

I fell into place alongside Stannis, as did Ser Davos Seaworth and Ser Justin Massey. I honestly didn't think much of Ser Justin, both from the knowledge of how he acted in that other timeline and what I'd seen of him in this one. Stannis seemed to rely on him for certain things, however, and as the heir to Stonedance, no one could really gainsay his presence. They'd be more likely to object to Ser Davos, being that he was a former Smuggler who'd won his title and lands in such a way that cast doubt on his worthiness. Hell, even with most people acknowledging me these days, I'd be objected to more than Ser Justin.

As we rode closer and the forms under the flag of Parley resolved themselves, I saw that it wasn't just Tywin Lannister. His doppelganger, Ser Kevan was also present, as was, surprisingly, Lord Jason Mallister and Lord Clement Piper. Apparently, the news that the Mallisters and Pipers had been in debt up to their eyeballs to the Lannisters and Tywin had called them to fight as a result had been true. I hadn't believed it when I heard it.

As we stopped in the center of the field to Parley, Tywin nodded at Stannis. Stannis nodded back, fractionally, while grinding his teeth. I frowned at that since it seemed it was going to be one of those parleys.

"Lord Tywin, have you come to bend the knee?" Questioned Stannis.

"No. I have come to warn you to release my daughter and grandchildren from captivity. If you do not, then there can be no peace." Insisted Lord Tywin.

"You would make demands of your King?" Queried Stannis.

"You have not been coronated. I know this to be true because I have the Crown safely hidden away. Until you have, there is yet room for doubt about who is King." Insisted Stannis.

"What can you do, Lord Tywin? We have the Capital, and much of the Realm already acknowledges King Stannis. You have a few traitor Riverlords, your Westermen, and a few lords who you've defeated in battle and forced into your service afterward. Furthermore, we have your family as hostage against your behavior. How can you possibly think you have any room to negotiate here?" Asked Ser Justin Massey.

"You think that is all I have? You are mistaken." Responded Tywin.

"The Ironborn. He has the Reform Faction in his purse. He plans to get reinforcements from the Iron Isles if need be." I mused.

"Astute as ever. I did warn my children not to underestimate you after the issue with Ser Gregor. However, you have much to learn still." Sneered Tywin.

"Explain." Demanded Stannis.

"Lord Baelish has promised Tywin that he would bring the Vale over to our side as well. He has likely reached the Eyrie by now." Informed Ser Kevan.

"It's a poorly kept secret that Lady Lysa was always besotted with Littlefinger. They used to canoodle behind Old Hoster's back as children." Added Lord Patrek Mallister.

"Indeed. And with Lord Jon no longer with us, Lysa likely will allow those feelings to resurge anew." Concurred Lord Piper.

"So you sent Baelish to use his dubious charms to rekindle that flame so that the Vale rides to your aid?" I scoffed.

"Aye, even if that's true, I don't think Bronze Yohn is gonna be going along with it." Nodded Ser Davos.

"Whether he wishes to or not is immaterial. Lord Baelish has assured us that he is more than capable of bringing the Vale to our side regardless of Lord Royce's wishes." Retorted Tywin.

"And you believe him?" Demanded Ser Justin.

"I do. It dovetails too neatly with reports my Spymaster has been getting from the Vale." I intoned, remembering the warning that Bronn gave me before the Battle for the Capital.

"Lord Seawynd?" Questioned Stannis.

"Aye, there were rumors, Your Grace. Whispers that Lord Yohn was being outmaneuvered politically in the Vale, though my agents are currently still in the middle of the situation. There hasn't been time for them to report back since the last report I received shortly before we took the Capital." I explained.

"I suppose we know who the slippery weasel is that's been doing the outmaneuvering now." Huffed Ser Davos.

"Indeed." Muttered Stannis.

"So, about my Children and Grandchildren? Will you not let them go?" Queried Tywin.

"And if I do, what then? Will you resign yourself to bending the knee? Will you persist in your rebellion?" Asked Stannis.

"I certainly won't bend the knee if you do not. Even should you defeat me here, I will simply withdraw from the field. The Westerlands are an impregnable fortress of mountains, as is the Vale, and while your fleet could sail around the breadth of Westeros to assail the Iron Isles, you would take losses doing so." Warned Tywin.

"I do not take kindly to Ultimatums, Lord Tywin, and were I to accept this one, it would only serve to weaken my entire kingship. I refuse your terms. After all, they would only give your grandchildren cause to incite rebellion after you and I are in the ground, and I will not have the Blackfyres in Lion's Skin plaguing my line for years to come." Scowled Stannis.

"Then the war continues." Spat Tywin.

And with that, the parley was over. Both sides returned to their respective forces, which were still assembling for battle. I took my place amidst my Pikemen, ready to lead my own forces to victory. We were placed in the center, a wall of pikes to hold against all comers. Around five minutes later, both sides were fully-arrayed for battle. There was the sound of roaring cannons and the crack of smoke as the artillery on both sides started up.

And the Battle of Last Rest had begun in earnest. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we see the next bit of time from Ricasso's POV. We also get a bit of information on what Littlefinger's been up to while absent from King's Landing, that being bringing the Vale into the War on the Lannister Side. With the Ironborn Reform Faction already in Tywin's Purse, that means that the Lannisters have plenty of manpower and ability to continue the fight even if they should lose here.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the Battle of Last Rest. Then we'll have a series of interludes showing various other places, starting with a double look at Pyke and the Eyrie.

Stay tuned. . .