Wizard Lord of Westeros-Chapter 409: Being Stuck in Between
WILOW-Ch.409: Being Stuck in Between
King’s Landing, Crownlands
POV of Stannis Baratheon
The men cheered as soon as Ser Jamie Lannister died. After that, the defending army began to fall back or simply desert their posts to save their lives.
It was a pathetic display, but far too common when men fight for a cause they don’t believe in or care about.
Also, because the troops were undisciplined and morale-lacking, it was unsurprising that they abandoned their posts at the first opportunity.
From what Stannis later heard, King Joffrey himself left the place as soon as the fighting became a little tough.
Couldn’t say he was surprised that the false king Joffrey Waters would do that. The boy might have been a cruel tyrant, but he was also a coward with no sense of honor or bravery.
He told his commanders to take over all the gates while he led his own men toward Red Keep.
He was angry and disappointed over the fact that Lord Stark and the other Kingdoms didn’t support his reign.
He was doubtful that he would be able to hold the throne if the war continued.
After all, the North/Vale/Riverland/Reach alliance outnumbered his army by 6:1.
Moreover, Lord Stark not only wanted to place King Aegon Targaryen, whom he claimed was the legitimate child of his sister Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar, on the throne...
He also declared the North’s independence and called himself King of the North.
And Stannis knew that even after seizing the Iron Throne, there was nothing he could do against this.
The North was no longer part of the Seven Kingdoms. And after sitting on the Iron Throne, he would not be the sole King of Westeros.
Furthermore, the claims about King Aegon Targaryen’s legitimacy seemed true, judging by the evidence Lord Bolton presented in his newspaper with what he called photographs.
But he had no intention of giving up the crown. The Targaryen era was long over, and the Baratheons now ruled. He had no intention of giving up what was rightfully his.
Even if his opponent was Domeric Bolton, who had declared himself Emperor of Westeros.
He had once considered taking Lord Bolton under his wing and making him one of his essential allies in King’s Landing. Perhaps even granting him the title of Hand of the King.
Because, however young he was, Domeric Bolton had already proven himself to be no ordinary man.
But it seemed that Domeric Bolton’s ambition was far greater than he had anticipated, and even the Iron Throne itself wasn’t enough to satisfy the Hungry Beast.
If it were, the Hungry Beast wouldn’t have set his sights on all of Westeros.
And now, besides facing the armies of four kingdoms, he had an Emperor, a King, and a King-want-to-be leading those armies.
It was as if the gods were doing everything to make his task difficult.
But once he sat on the Iron Throne, his claim would gain more legitimacy.
That would allow the other houses that were merely sitting on the fence or the ambitious houses of respective kingdoms, like Freys, Florants, etc., to join his cause.
Even the Stormlanders who shunned him as a Kinslayer and a monster who made pacts with the demons would probably change their tune and come to support him.
Not that such a thing would save them from the punishment of betraying him before.
After all, the good does not wash away the bad.
Just as he was about to lead an attack on the Red Keep, he heard horns from behind.
He frowned when the sound of fighting began anew outside the walls.
He sent some of his men to check on the situation and learned that the Tyrells had finally joined the battle as well and were now attacking his rear.
He gritted his teeth at the Reach being a thorn in his foot once again.
When he finally became the uncontested King of the Seven Kingdoms, he would make sure to pay the Tyrells for all the insults he had suffered throughout his life.
For now, he told his men to siege the Red Keep and make sure that they were not attacked by the remaining Lannister men from behind while he went back to the walls to check on the situation.
The situation outside the walls was both bad and good.
Bad because the surprise attack from the Tyrells had worked well. They had chased away his ships and killed a few thousand of his men before they were able to close the gates to stop the Tyrells from getting inside.
The good, because the Tyrells were definitely late for the attack, and they were only able to bring their cavalry.
Meaning that now that the surprise attack has worn off and the gates have been closed, the Tyrells could do nothing but stare at him from outside.
Oh sure, the main army of the Reach would follow after them soon enough, but his commanders had done a good job of securing the gates, and his men had taken over the walls.
If the Tyrells wanted the city, he would make sure they had to bleed every inch of the way to reach it.
But for now, he needed to lead a siege against the Red Keep, kill the False King, and take the seat that rightly belongs to him.
And he knew he had to accomplish this as quickly as possible.
Even though only the Tyrell cavalry was waiting outside the walls of King’s Landing, the main army of the Reach couldn’t be far away and would soon arrive.
If he couldn’t capture the Red Keep, he would be trapped between the castle and the city walls, and without sufficient food supplies, he wouldn’t be able to withstand such a long siege.
And aside from the Tyrell army, the real challenge would begin when the armies of other kingdoms arrived at their doorstep.
But he was Stannis Baratheon. No matter what challenges life threw at him, he would find a way to overcome them.
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Next Chapters’ Name:
Ch.410: Time to Head Towards King’s Landing
Ch.411: I am Sending You Home
Ch.412: Eliminating the Last Remnants
