Chapter 12

Sixteen melee rounds spread over four days and sixteen winners who would face one another in a final round. Sixteen of the best the seven kingdoms had to offer and I was one of them.

Brynden Tully, Robert Baratheon, Gregor Clegane, Beric Dondarrion, Gerrold Hightower, Jorah Mormont, Thoros of Myr, Yohn Royce and Eon Hunter were the names of the lords in the final round of the melee.

The rest of the six and I were the unknown men. Six hedge knights and one hunter. It was obvious that the odds were stacked against me.

I sat in the room thinking of the weapon I was going to use in the melee. It was a choice between a sword and a spear. In the end, I chose the sword.

A viking berserker sword made of hardened 51-60 spring steel. A sword meant to maim and kill. As my offhand weapon, I went for a messer made from the same alloy.

It was the final round of the melee and people were storming the grounds to witness the battle. It wasn't everyday they could see so many warriors gathered at a place fighting with incredible skill and power.

Meanwhile, the Jousts had begun and some favorites were winning. Rhaegar being one of them.

Everyone was there to witness the melee happen. As Whent gave the nod, a bugle horn was sounded and chos ensued in the field.

[Used skill 'Fast reflexes']

[Used skill 'Expose weakness']

With live steel in everyone's hands, the stakes were raised through the canopy. The nearest one swung his sword with all of his strength. I could easily tell that he wasn't very skilled. I redirected his attack with a flick of my wrist and punched him right in the jaw with a haymaker. Is head snapped back before it took his body with it.

I moved to my next target when I felt his jaw crack under my knuckles. The hedge knight was seeing black before he even hit the ground.

I parried the attack coming at me and quickly struck back. It was a powerful swing that made my opponent fall on his knee as he tried to stop my sword. He wore expensive armor, so, I assumed he was one of the lords. I couldn't recognise him. He was either Hightower or Eon Hunter.

My eyes picked up movement from my periphery and I immediately backed away, narrowly avoiding the spike of a war hammer aimed right at my chest. It was Robert and he was out for my blood.

He snarled and attacked me with wide swings of his hammer. I backed away and manoeuvred out of his path. Frustrated, he yelled, "Fight me like a man, you coward!!"

'Yeah, no.'

I parried his hammer away and spinning on my heel, I slammed my leg deep into his side. Robert screamed as a loud thud was heard and he fell hard on the ground.

I couldn't finish him as others began targeting me. Eon Hunter being one of them. I narrowly managed to block a sword aimed for my neck. I dodged another and shoved Eon Hunter away before parrying Hightower's sword.

It seemed like they had formed a temporary alliance to defeat me.

'Motherfuckers are trying to gang up on me.'

Dodge, parry, block, kick, parry and then... I slapped Eon's face hard with the flat of my sword. The spring steel did its work and the slap busted his ear open along with his lip. It also seemed like I broke his cheekbone and the man fell down right away.

"What?!" Hightower exclaimed in shock. A moment later, he snarled and charged at me.

"What's got you balls in a twist? Is he your lover or something?"

".. Huh?.. W-What the fuck are you trying to imply?!"

'What an idiot.'

That was enough of a distraction for me to place the edge of my blade against his neck.

"Yield."

Hightower could only comply.

We were down to eight. With Eon and Hightower defeated and the six hedge knights either killed or knocked unconscious, I was the only commoner left.

Beric and Jorah were locked in an intense fight while Thoros was trying his best to evade Gregor Clegane. Meanwhile, Brynden and Yohn were sizing each other up.

I went for the biggest and baddest one of them.

Clegane swing his sword down vertically and Thoros barely escaped with his life.

"Hey, man-bun! Need help?!"

"Do you have a death wish?! Run! I yield! I yield!"

"Really?!"

The ogre's attention shifted from him to me as Thoros decided to just give up. Clegane towered over everyone despite of him being a young adult. He stomped towards me with menace and anger in his stride.

He said nothing and didn't even wait before he began his attack. I wasn't going to run and met his blade with my own.

*Clang*

A loud sound pierced everyone's ears as our blades struggled for dominance. I could see the amazement him Clegane's eyes along with a thirst for blood and battle.

He swung at me again and our swords struck each other, sparks shooting off the struggling edges as I used my strength to hold him at bay. Clegane was truely super human. What shocked was the fact that he was stronger than me. I could feel him gaining ground as our swords battled. But, I had the advantage of speed.

I changed my strategy mid battle and parried his next attack. He clearly wasn't expecting me to parry. I took advantage of it and brought my blade up to slash at his head with nigh unavoidable speed.

Somehow, Clegane was quick enough to lean away and bring his sword up to block the attack. My sword struck his and slid off the edge. I didn't stop my attack and kicked the side of his knee with as much strength as I could muster.

Clegane screamed in pain and fell as he held his leg.

The monster who would terrorize the seven kingdoms was down on the ground, ready to be slain. I was about to pierce my blade through his chest when I felt the force of a hammer strike against my back.

[- 40 HP]

The pain was nearly unbearable and I bit my lip to stop myself from screaming. For a moment, white-hot anger erupted from me and when the attacker was taking another swing at me, aiming the spike at my head, I swung at the handle of his hammer and cut it clean in half!

I let the spin take my body around and rammed my foot to the side of his head. The man's head whipped like it was hit by a boulder. His body spun around before he fell with a thud and fainted.

I thought it was Robert as he was the only one who brough a hammer to the melee, but, I couldn't be certain as the man was lying face down. Meanwhile, Beric and Yohn had retired from the melee and Jorah was fighting Brynden.

Still consumed by anger, I rushed towards them and we locked into a three way battle. The two were no where near as strong as Clegane, but, they were certainly quite skilled.

Soon, I overpowered them with my speed and strength and knocked them out before returning my attention the limping Clegane. He was an evil and a maniacal man who didn't have the words 'give up' in his vocabulary.

I ran towards him with my sword in my hand, ready to impale him and prevent the suffering of thousands. Our blades met once again, but, I was easily able to overpower due to his injured leg.

I overwhelmed him and finally, I pushed through and cut his sword hand clean off!

Clegane screamed loudly as he held his stump. That day, I learnt that even an animal as brutish as Gregor Clegane has survival instincts. Because, when I was about to end his life, I saw fear flash across his eyes and he screamed, "I yield! I yield!"

My blade stopped instantly as the edge made a superficial cut against his neck.

A bugle horn was blown and the crowd thundered with cheers.

A commoner had defeated all odds and had come out to be victorious. It was a different feeling for them. Even the ground rumbled from their cheers.

Whent rose from his chair and announced, "The winner of the melee is, Allan, of house Curran!"

"Curran!"

"Curran!"

"Curran!"

"Curran!"

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(ACJTF)

A/N: Curran in gaelic means 'dagger' or 'hero' or 'spear'.