Interlude: Battle of King's Landing (Non-Ricasso) II

Stannis Baratheon growled as he cut down a Gold Cloak who was trying to cut him down with a halberd, parrying the descending chop with his blade and literally kicking the man off the walls of the Capital to smash his skull on the flagstones below. The Artillery and Musketeers had done an excellent job of clearing the walls of any enemy musketeers, archers, or crossbowmen and Stannis had surged forth onto the walls using ladders, the men following their King in the process.

This was, Stannis admitted, a modification of the plan, largely based on how the Old Gate was resisting attempts by Ser Loras Lothston to seize control of the Gatehouse, leaving Prince Perros and his detachment stalled outside the city. Fortunately, Stannis had prepared ladders just in case and was now leading men along the walls toward the Old Gate's Gatehouse Complex. Devan Seaworth was at his side, and behind him, Ser Justin Massey led a contingent of troops at his back.

As Stannis lashed out with his arming sword, cutting the throat out of a screaming Levy Man with a hatchet who was wearing a leather cap and a padded jack dyed in the green and white of House Chelsted, he noticed that a group of Guardsmen in Mooton Colors, being led by Lord Mooton's Third Son, Ser Willas Mooton, was forming up in an actual formation to block his advance. Looking to his side, he saw that Devan Seaworth was engaged in a melee with a Household Knight wearing the Seagull of House Hawick of Saltpans on his Tabard. He would have no luck there. To his rear, however, Ser Justin Massey seemed to have spotted the problem.

"Ser Justin! Bring the Muskets forward!" Commanded Stannis, raising his shield in time to block a spear thrust from a Lannister Guardsman in his red cloak and breastplate over mail.

"Right, you heard the King! Hop to it!" Called out Ser Justin, relaying the message.

As Stannis trapped a second spear thrust by the Lannister Guard betwixt his breastplate and shield, he slashed down with his arming sword, cutting through the haft of the spear before bulling forth with a shield bash that sent the Lannister Guardsman off the Wall to break his neck on the cobbled streets of the capital below. No sooner had he done that, than a cry of pain from his left drew his attention to Devan Seaworth.

Ser Davos' Youngest and Stannis' Current Squire had managed to slip a blow through the gaps between the Cuisse and Greave of the Hawick Household Knight's armor, cutting into the back of his leg and sending him to one knee. Stannis approved, as it showed that Devan had the skills to best a fully-trained Knight in Combat, something worthy of a Knighthood. With Devan's blade poised to slide through the Hawick Knight's Visor, the man threw down his own sword and raised his arms.

"I yield!" Cried the Hawick Household Knight.

"Then get on the floor, we have other fish to fry!" Insisted Devan.

The man did so, lying prone to the side of the wallwalk, allowing Ser Justin to come forward with the Musketeers just as the advancing wall of Mooton Shields came closer to them. Ser Justin roared out orders to form ranks, and badgered the Musketeers into it, their Matchlocks interspersed with the limited numbers of snaplocks that Lord Seawynd had been willing to sell him. Soon, there was a thunderous crack as a volley of musketfire belched smoke, flame, and death, lead balls punching through shields and mail and dropping a swathe of Mooton Guards like flies. The Musketeers fell back and were replaced by a contingent of Guardsmen, as Stannis pointed his blade at the suddenly disorganized Mooton Line.

"Charge! Show these men what followers of the True King can do!" Commanded Stannis.

Then he was running and charging into the fray, bashing a Mooton Guardsman in the head with the arsenal steel rim of his shield and snapping the man's neck, even as his Runic, Arsenal Steel, Arming Sword split the mail of another, biting deep into the torso of Another. Ser Justin Massey's Bastard Sword took three Mooton Guardsmen in Rapid Succession, even as Devan Seaworth cut the legs out from under one, and rushed a second off the wall with a shoulder check. Stannis withdrew his blade from the chest of the Dead Guardsmen and parried a wild swing of a Third Guardsman's blade on his shield, riposte cutting through the Guardsman's face and taking his jaw off. The man fell back screaming and fouling up an attempt by Ser Willas Mooton to force his father's men back into formation, tripping up a pair of guards trying to fall back into formation.

The three of them were merely the tip of the spear as well. Guardsmen from Houses Baratheon, Massey, Boggs, and Wylde were also charging alongside them, crashing into the enemy force even as Ser Willas Mooton tried to get them back into some semblance of order. The fighting for this stretch of wall didn't last much longer than that. Stannis' Men practically wiped the enemy off the wall like a flood wipes clean the landscape. Predictably, Ser Willas Mooton was the last to withdraw, making a daring leap onto the rooftop of a building close enough to the wall for him to land on. The building appeared to be a shop of some kind, around eight feet away from the wall and five feet lower down.

It seemed that Ser Willas had twisted his ankle in the landing, however, because he fell to one knee, stuck on the rooftop where Stannis and his men could capture him at their leisure. Stannis supposed it was one of the follies of youth that had made Ser Willas Gamble on such a maneuver. The Man was only seventeen, after all. The teenage years had a way of making one believe they were invincible. Speaking of which, Stannis turned to Devan Seaworth.

"Never try something like that." He insisted.

"Of course, Your Grace." Nodded Devan, enthusiastically.

"Good lad. Leave the foolishness to our enemies. For now, let us make haste to the Gatehouse and see why Ser Lothston has been unable to claim it for our cause." Intoned Stannis.

"You heard the King! To the Gatehouse!" Called out Ser Justin.

A cheer went up from the men, and soon they were moving again. Heading for the Gatehouse. They met one more mixed contingent of fifteen men of the Crownlands Levy before they reached it. Stannis took one Levy Man in Rosby Colors and one Levy Man in Staunton Colors with his sword. Devan took down a Man wearing the Ram of House Rambton on his padded jack through the breast with his sword, and Ser Justin cleaved a man in the Pink and Black of House Gaunt in twain with his bastard sword. With a third of their number dead in the first few seconds, the Levy Formation was already wavering. Stannis' Guards charging into the gap and hacking more down broke them, as they tried to escape however they could. Some died, but most surrendered.

The way to the gatehouse was now clear, and Stannis would lead his forces into it from the wallwalk to see just what had held Ser Lothston up. The door, a stout, iron-banded slab of oak, was blown open with black powder, and Stannis entered inside.

When he arrived at the site of the fighting, he would see exactly what had held up Ser Lothston, or rather, who. . .

XXXX

Ser Loras Lothston had led his men through the hidden passages and sewers and up into the courtyard behind the Gatehouse of the Old Gate, entering and beginning to cut his way through the enemies within. At first, it had been going well, a few Gold Cloaks and enemy Guardsmen had been taken by surprise and cut down, just as planned. They made their way up through the miniature holdfast that served as a Gatehouse for the Old Gate, cutting their way through the first and second floors with ease before reaching the third.

That was where things went drastically wrong. It seemed that not only had a contingent of five musketeers sheltered from the bombardment in the gatehouse, managing to fire at his men and pin them down for a bit as they climbed the spiral staircase onto the third floor but there were more Guardsmen and fewer Gold Cloaks on the third floor. Still, they'd bulled ahead, cutting through men wearing brigandines over mail, and had the Fish of Mooton or Hedgehog of Wode on their tabards.

Ser Loras' Men fought bravely, and Ser Loras cut his way through a dozen Guardsmen and Gold Cloaks, but they lost roughly a third of their number to the resistance that was a lot stiffer than they had believed it would be. It was a slog, and Ser Loras was certain that the Old Gate was going to be the last gate to fall. This was very much not in the plan. It was when they managed to reach the fourth and final floor, where the winches that controlled the gates were that Ser Loras realized exactly why they were having so much trouble. Three Knights stood ready to bar their path.

The First One was stiff-necked and solid, older and experienced, wearing the Hedgehog on Yellow of House Wode on his tabard. Ser Willis Wode, one of the famed brothers Wode, former Hedge Knights who had been granted lands by Old Lady Whent. Word had been that the Wodes had fallen into debt to House Mooton over the matter of the construction of a Meadery in the past half-decade. It seemed Ser Willis was leading a contingent of Wode Guardsmen for House Mooton to repay that debt with a shield and arming sword.

Next, a lanky, twenty-something Knight wearing the Red Salmon of House Mooton on his tabard. His beard was close-cropped on a square jaw and his lanky frame belied a wiry muscle. Ser Wyman Mooton, the secondborn Son of Lord William Mooton, who was known to be an avid boar hunter. He carried a Boar Spear into battle.

Neither of them was who concerned Loras, however. No that would be the last Knight. Long Brown Hair cascaded over broad shoulders and framed a face too handsome to have seen much combat. However, to dismiss Ser Arys Oakheart as just decoration would be a grave disservice to the Man's Skills. King Robert had elevated him to the Kingsguard after his performance in the Greyjoy Rebellion, bringing him back to the Capital in two-ninety after a discussion with Ser Barristan Selmy to give him the White Cloak. His powerful frame was perfectly suited to the greatsword he wielded.

If things had been going poorly before, when those three knights joined the fighting, they turned for the worse. Ser Loras engaged first Ser Wyman Mooton, and then Ser Willis Wode, clashing with both of them and coming out the victor in a pair of engagements. However, he was wounded by Ser Willis Wode, who pulled a trick that Loras had never seen before in their duel, sweeping his legs out from under him in a maneuver that reminded Loras of something he had once heard the Pugilists of Yi-Ti were fond of doing. He had not expected to see such a similar maneuver in Westeros and it had opened him up for a blow from Ser Willis' sword that cut into his forehead, his helm having been knocked off his head during his bout with Ser Wyman Mooton. Loras had just managed to jerk backward as he was standing up in time to avoid having the top of his skull cut off, but now he had a wound on his brow that was bleeding into his left eye.

Fortunately, he was able to wound Ser Willas in turn and force the Knight of House Wode to yield, but Ser Arys Oakheart advanced on him next and exploited the poor visibility created by Ser Loras' Forehead wound bleeding into his eye ruthlessly. Ser Arys came in with broad, arcing strikes, constantly moving off to Ser Loras' left. In the end, Ser Loras was unable to compete. His men were stalemated by the remaining Garrison, while he was battered around by Ser Arys Oakheart of the Kingsguard. Something had to give, and Ser Loras had a sneaking suspicion it was going to be him.

"Enough of this. There is no shame in yielding when you are outmatched." Insisted Ser Arys.

"Not yet!" Bit out Ser Loras, bulling forward once more with his blade.

He cut out in a series of slashes, cutting out high, then low, then high, and attempting to press Ser Arys back. Unfortunately, Ser Arys parried each strike with his Greatsword before going to half-sword and winding and binding with Ser Loras. His larger weapon gave Ser Arys better leverage, while his larger size meant he also had a strength advantage on Ser Loras, and while Ser Loras was skilled, it wasn't quite enough to overcome Ser Arys Oakheart's innate advantages. Ser Arys pivoted, bringing the hilt of his sword up and smashing the crossguard into Ser Loras' head.

Stars exploded behind Ser Loras' eyes, as the steel crossguard smashed into his temple. Ser Loras sprawled onto the flagstones of the stone floor, fighting to stay conscious even though he most likely had a cracked skull. Ser Arys Oakheart, meanwhile, pointed his blade at Ser Loras' neck, clearly prepared to finish the fight, though he was chivalrous enough to give Ser Loras one last chance to yield, a rarity amongst Joffrey's Kingsguard.

"I shall give you one last chance. Yield." Intoned Ser Arys.

Ser Loras looked around, his men were being forced back into a corner by the enemy, and he was clearly about to die. It seemed as if he had failed in his objective, though he hoped the others hadn't failed in theirs. Just as he was about to yield, however, a commotion was heard from the level below them and footsteps began to echo on the stone steps of the spiral staircase. Suddenly, Ser Justin Massey burst forth from the Spiral Staircase, leading Guards, even as King Stannis and his Squire, Devan Seaworth came up behind him.

Ser Justin let out a battle cry on seeing Ser Loras about to be forced to yield or die and Charged Ser Arys Oakhart. Ser Arys, on seeing this, turned to parry the charging cut of Ser Justin, and his riposte smashed Ser Justin to the flagstones. The Arsenal Steel of Ser Justin's Armor held, but Ser Justin Massey's sword arm was clearly broken from the sheer force of the blow. However, Ser Loras had a chance here to reverse the loss he had been dealt.

Ser Loras kicked out with his legs, slamming his Sabaton into the back of Ser Arys Oakheart's knee. The Big Man was knocked down to one knee in the process just as Devan Seawoth charged into the fray. King Stannis' Squire thrust out with his arming sword and Ser Arys Oakheart moved to attempt to parry. Devan Seaworth however was fast, faster than Arys Oakheart, though he would undoubtedly lose a contest of strength. Fortunately, this wasn't one, and Devan managed to plant the tip of his arming sword into Ser Arys Oakheart's eye, biting into the Man's brain and killing him.

Meanwhile, King Stannis led the Guards into the rear of the enemy forces pinning Ser Loras' troops against the wall, hammering into them and killing many. The rest surrendered soon after. For Ser Loras' Lothston, however, the battle was over. The multiple head wounds he had suffered from fighting three knights in a row were catching up to him and his vision swam as he tried to stave off unconsciousness. The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was King Stannis moving to Knight Devan Seaworth. Then Darkness took him.

He would wake up two days later, his head swathed in bandages with the battle having been won while he was out. . .

XXXX

Lord Mors Marshberry had scouted out the Docks. It was that initiative that had led to the fighting in the Bay as he had warned the King in time for the Fleet to avoid destruction at the hands of Lord Farman's surprise attack. Now, he led his forces through the docks toward the open Mud Gate, as Lord Edmund Hardy had led a mixed force of Cracklaw Point Gallowglasses and Kerns through the Sewers to Capture it by surprise. Lord Mors laid about with his longaxe, cutting down a fleeing Guardsman whose Tabard bore the Roosters of House Cox on it, the Runic, Arsenal Steel, Head biting through boiled leather and castle forged steel mail alike to split the Guardsman in two from shoulder to hip. A screaming Lannister Guardsman charged Mors from the Side with a Spear, but the back swing of his axe cleaved the haft of the Guardsman's Weapon in twain, allowing Mors to decapitate him with a follow-on strike.

His men followed him through the collection of businesses, taverns, and docks as he cut a swathe through the docks toward the mud gate. It seemed that with the fleet's destruction, and Salhador Saan landing troops to capture the Naval Dockyards, with the Mud Gate having been captured by Lord Hardy, the enemy forces in the Docks were completely thrown into disarray. On the one hand, Lord Mors figured that was a good thing. He'd heard of some of the casualties that other groups had been taking. Prince Perros' Force had been savaged by surprise musket, crossbow, and archer fire from the walls before the Old Gate had been taken. On the other hand, that meant there wasn't a whole lot for Mors and his men to do. After all, an enemy force in Disarray was an enemy force that wouldn't really be fighting back.

Of course, Mors may have spoken too soon, as he spotted a burly knight in his late twenties wearing the Salmon of Mooton on his tabard ordering a group of mixed Gold Cloaks, Lannister Guards, Mooton Guards, and Crownlands Levies into some semblance of order. By his count, there were around three hundred of them forming a rough square in the Fishmarket, trying to block Mors from linking up with Salhador Saan's force coming from the Naval Dockyard and then heading through the Mud Gate.

"Muskets to the fore! We'll put these bastards right on their arses and then scatter the lot of them to the winds!" Roared Lord Mors.

The Mooton Knight, however, seemed to have musketeers of his own, though. Soon a musketry duel was taking place in the Fishmarket, as Mors' Snaplock Musketeers fought with the Mooton's Matchlock Musketeers. It was here that the benefits of Snaplocks began to tell. For each volley the Mootons got off, Mors' Musketeers got off two. The Musketry duel was brief but vicious, dozens of men on both sides fell, though the Mootons got off the worst of it. As soon as their Musketeers were suppressed, however, Mors ordered his Halberdiers forth, with himself leading them.

They crashed into the Mooton Square like a wave. Mors ordered his larger force to wrap around the Mooton Force in an envelopment. They did so, and Mors led his force in what could best be termed a slaughter. Mors himself laid about with his longaxe, even as his halberdiers hacked, chopped, and impaled the enemy. The Bulk of the enemy force was Crownlander Levies, given a padded jack, skullcap, and weapon, with maybe a week or two of drill before being shoved into the fray.

Mors took the arm off a screaming Crownlands Levy Man in the green and red of House Blount even as he thrust the arsenal steel-shod butt of his longaxe into the windpipe of a charging Crownlander Levy man with the Yellow Goose of House Cargyll emblazoned on his Padded Jack, crushing the windpipe and sending the man to the dirt choking to death. Nearby, his halberdiers likewise laid about, cutting through enemies. Compared to the Musketry Duel, the Melee was going far better for Mors' Force. He parried a spear thrust from a Lannister Guardsman on the haft of his longaxe before bringing the head around in an arc and cleaving the man's head from his shoulders.

To his right, he spied one of his Halberdiers going down to a screaming House Mooton Levy Man, who seemed to have parried the Halberdier's strike through desperation and thrust his spear into the throat of the Halberdier in response. Another Halberdier tried to avenge his comrade, but the Mooton Levy Man's desperate strength allowed him to parry and kill the Second Halberdier, along with a Third, whose sideways Halberd chop he just barely ducked while thrusting up with his spear. The Fourth Halberdier managed to kill the Mooton Levy Man, parrying the desperate thrust of his spear before taking the Levy Man in the head with the back spike of his Halberd.

That to Mors was a sign that they were winning. The Enemy's desperate strength would run out sooner or later, and then they would be slaughtered. All Mors and his men had to do was outlast them. He killed two more, one a Mooton Guardsman and another a Gold Cloak before that point was reached. Suddenly, several Crownlander Levy Men began to throw their spears to the ground and surrender. That set off a chain reaction, as the Levies began to surrender en-masse, forcing the Gold Cloaks to do so, followed by the Mooton Guards, and the Lannister Guardsmen. The Mooton Knight was the last to do so, only surrendering when it became impossible to retain order among his men.

It turned out that Mors had just captured Ser Wade Mooton, the Firstborn Son of Lord William Mooton and the heir to Maidenpool. He met up with Salhador Saan's Force shortly afterward, and together they proceeded through the Mud Gate. As they did so, a Runner from King Stannis reached them.

"What news?" Demanded Mors.

"The Enemy is trying to make a last stand in the Main Square in the Center of the Capital! King Stannis says everyone is supposed to head there!" Came the response of the Dragonseed Runner who couldn't be more than thirteen years old.

"It sounds like we'll be finishing this soon. What say you, Mors? Shall we head that way?" Grinned Salhador Saan.

"Can't disobey the King, now can we? That's bloody treason, that is." Scoffed Mors.

"My friend, it would not be the first Order I have disobeyed from a King." Chuckled Salhador Saan.

"I'll bet." Grunted Mors.

"Still, we've made our bed. It would be horribly rude not to lie in it, no?" Shrugged Salhador Saan.

"Let's just get on with it. The sooner we end the battle, the sooner I can have some bloody mead." Scoffed Mors.

And like that, the pair led their forces through the Mud Gate, joining up with Lord Edmund Hardy and his forces as they made their way to the Central Square of the Capital and the enemy forces concentrating there. It'd be one big battle there, and then they'd move onto the Red Keep to relieve Lord Seawynd. Once they'd done that, the Battle would be over.

Then they could rest for a bit while they waited for the next battle to start. . .

XXXX

Ser Boros Blount of the Kingsguard had no idea how he'd gotten roped into this. A last stand wasn't something he would have ordinarily been enthused to participate in, but it seemed like he was the last one of his brothers standing. That meant he'd been forced to help lead this doomed endeavor by Lord Mooton and the Queen's Cousin, Ser Daven Lannister, who had been sent with Lord Mooton by Lord Tywin to ensure things went according to plan. It seemed that having a Member of the Kingsguard present was paramount to ensuring the levies and Gold Cloaks didn't break and run at the first sign of combat.

Personally, Ser Boros figured that he would have rather lived to fight another day and that the levies and Gold Cloaks were on to something with their desire to run. After all, wasn't Lord Tywin just a few days away from the City? Surely retreating to link up with the Old Lion and then retaking the city from there was a better plan than this folly? He'd been overruled, though. Lord Mooton was adamant that something be done to reverse this giant loss, and though he was no great strategist, Daven Lannister insisted on staying to fight. With two against one, how could Boros' more sensible suggestion prevail?

Now, though, he was busy fighting for his life, bullying the Levies to keep formation, even under the hail of musketfire they were suffering from the advancing enemy. There had to be at least twenty-six-thousand enemy troops marching onto the field against them. With the losses they'd suffered in the fighting so far, that was just about two-to-one odds. They were encircled too, with the enemy attacking them from all sides.

"Keep formation! Archers, Crossbowmen, and whatever Musketeers are still here fire back!" Ordered Boros. Their formation was their only chance, he knew. If the formation broke, they'd be slaughtered.

"Come on Men! Give them a Volley!" Shouted Ser Daven. His Gilded Breastplate and Ringmail Hauberk made him a target, though, Boros supposed that Daven was no more a target in his gilded armor than he was in his white-enameled plate. Unfortunately, he couldn't afford to dismount at the moment, because he needed to command.

"By Jingo, look! They're breaking off the musketry! Stand Fast lads, we'll have them on the run soon enough!" Called out Lord William Mooton.

Boros Scowled at that, the Man was fleshy and weak, plus he was a fool. He hadn't proved a coward yet, but there was time in the day for that still. He wasn't wrong about what was happening, though, just about why it was. The enemy Musketeers had managed to soften up their formation enough that the enemy was getting ready to charge. Not for the first time, Ser Boros wished he'd had different companions today. Caught between a fool who everyone knew was a coward but himself and a bruiser with more courage than sense, how could anyone have possibly turned this last stand into a victory? As the enemy let out a shout, Ser Boros sighed. There was no doubt in his mind this was a rout waiting to happen, only there wasn't any clear path to rout through.

Maybe, if he could squeeze through some of the alleyways when this eventually went south, he might be able to get to Chatayas on the Street of Silk. It was a known secret by those who visited that establishment that Chataya had a hidden passage in her brothel that led down into the undercroft. Lords of the Court who couldn't chance being seen with a whore used that entrance to come and go. So did people such as himself or the Grand Maester, neither of whom could be seen breaking their vows like that. He would have to be quick, but fortunately, he was mounted while most weren't. It was a more decent plan than staying and dying, at any rate.

As the lines clashed, the heavy fighting began. Boros managed to kill two enemies, one with his lance, thrusting the tip through the neck of a Dark-Skinned Summer Islander who was a tad too slow to set his Pike for a charge, and one with his sword, chopping down into the skull of a mailed Summer Islander who was already engaged thrusting his halberd's top spike into the chest of a Levy Man wearing the flail of House Thorne emblazoned on his Padded Jack. Unfortunately, Ser Boros was soon forced back behind the lines in fear of being exposed.

Facing him were no Proper Westerosi, but the forces of the Summer Islander Lords of Lord Seawynd's Domain. The Banners of Prince Perros and Jalhabar Xho marking the identities of his opposition as surely as the feather cloaks of the Guard Forces facing him. Somehow, the scum he had command over, mostly Levies and Gold Cloaks, held. Oh certainly, they died in their dozens, but as he shouted himself hoarse at them, they kept their formations and even took some of the Bastards with them. For an hour, it seemed like they might actually hold out. That hope would prove to be deceptive in another twenty minutes or so, however.

Ser Boros should have known better than to give in to hope. There was no way that they would hold here, with how stacked the odds were against them. When the rout began, it began, predictably, with Mooton. His forces were hit hard in the fighting, taking on Guards from Lord Seawynd's own Guard Force. They fought hard for an hour and twenty minutes before their formation was broken wide open. Lord Mooton, seeing this, instead of badgering his men back into formation, decided that now was finally the time to prove himself the coward that all but he knew that he was. He called for a retreat, demanding his forces flee with him for the currently unguarded Gate of the Gods. This opened a gap between his portion of the line and Ser Daven's, not helped by the fact that Ser Daven was struck by a Javelin thrown by some Pointsman Kern and born of his horse as he tried to close the gap.

Boros didn't wait, he took off on his horse, slipping away from the battle in the confusion as all order dissolved amongst the Loyalist Forces. He rode hard, cutting out with his blade and taking a Summer Islander in the neck while his horse trampled another. Bursting through the fighting and entering an alleyway. Ser Boros Blount took several twists and turns through the back alleys of King's Landing, losing the pursuers he picked up. Not that it was difficult to do so, as he was on horseback instead of on foot like the Summer Islanders were.

Soon enough, he had made it to the Street of Silk, being forced to spend most of the coin he had on him to access the hidden tunnels, as well as being forced to give up his mount. He would steal one later when he was on the road. Somehow, he managed to make it away from the City, winding up in a village a half a day's ride up the Kingsroad while the enemy was still likely running down survivors. He stole a horse in that village and rode hard for Lord Tywin's army.

He didn't stop until he met up with them at a village called Brindle Mill a day and a half's ride north of the Capital. . .

XXXX

The Siege and Battle of King's Landing was over. The Capital was theirs, though the price they'd paid for it was steeper than he might have liked. Three Thousand Men Killed or Wounded in the fighting, most from the Fleet or from Prince Perros' Contingent that had been stalled by surprise fire from the walls while Ser Loras had stalled out capturing the Old Gate. A number of his Lords had died as well. Lord Sunglass and his brother had perished in the naval battle, along with Lord Celtigar, while Lords Kellington and Tudberry had been slain in the final battle.

Lord Tudberry was no great loss as he had been a late supporter of Stannis, though his son was still a Squire, being Squired to Lord Edmund Hardy. Lord Kellington, however, was a loss, though he would be succeeded by his able son, Ser Andrey, who had shown quite a knack for strategy as well as proven brave in combat. Unfortunately, the heir to Sweetport Sound was a slightly pudgy fourteen-year-old, Gyles Sunglass, who was his Uncle's Squire and who had just barely survived the fleet battle long enough for him to be fished out of Blackwater Bay. He needed rest before he could take up any duties, but he was, at least, intelligent, if not particularly martial personally.

More troublesome was that Lord Celtigar would be succeeded by his Grandneice Lady Amelia, who was married to Ser Rennifer Crabb, the Heir to the Whispers, joining those two houses. The issue there was that while Claw Isle was sworn directly to Stannis, the Whispers and House Crabb were sworn to Lord Seawynd. That inheritance was going to be a headache to untangle, and Stannis found himself with the urge to grind his teeth just thinking about it. Fortunately, Lord Seawynd was an intelligent and loyal man who would be more than willing to work with him on a solution. Stannis supposed he should thank the Seven for small mercies regarding that, however he had never really put much stock in Gods.

Of course, the Lannisters got off far worse. Half the forces they had in the City had been captured, with a third killed or wounded, and the remainder fled the city, likely off to become brigands in the Kingswood or some such. That was an issue for later, however. The more interesting part was that six out of seven of Joffrey Waters' Kingsguard were killed or captured, as were the bulk of House Mooton, the Heads or heirs of several prominent Crownlands Houses, and most tellingly of all, Cersei, Tyrion, and Daven Lannister, along with Joffrey and Myrcella Waters. Tywin's Pet Small Council also would be missing members, as Lord Westerling had been captured during the Assault on the Mud Gate, while Lord Farman had been captured with the Enemy Fleet. Grand Maester Pycelle had also been captured, apparently in the middle of attempting to flee the City via hidden passages in the Red Keep Throne Room, thanks to Ser Clarence Pincer.

The best part was that because of how Stannis' Forces had assaulted the City according to Lord Seawynd's Plans, the Walls were mostly intact and could be used to hold off Tywin Lannister when he arrived. Honestly, Stannis could not have asked for a better outcome, even with the casualties he had taken in the process. Unfortunately, he would have very little time to rule before having to take the field again. Lord Marshberry had sent out scouts to reconnoiter the surrounding area. Tywin Lannister was camped a day North of King's Landing, likely trying to decide whether or not to press his attack.

In the meantime, Stannis would have to convene Court and do what he could in terms of ruling. Stannis very much doubted that he would have much time, even if Tywin was still stopped a day's march away. After all, both Varys and Baelish had left the Capital before the Siege began. If Stannis knew either of them, they would have some plot to get Tywin moving again.

And Stannis wanted to be ready when that happened. . .

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AN: All right, here's the next chapter. Stannis has taken King's Landing with massive casualties for the Lannisters and a lot of captives for Stannis. Now he needs to do some quick admin before Tywin decides to, or is nudged into, continuing his advance on the Capital. Stannis thinks that either Varys or Littlefinger might have something up their sleeves to get Tywin to resume his march on the City. Tywin does have close to fifty-thousand troops in his Army, after all. That's twice Stannis' current number of combat-effective troops, though as wounded heal, that number will go up.

At any rate, in the next chapter we'll be back with Ricasso for the Aftermath of the Battle and Stannis' War Court in the Capital.

Stay tuned. . .