26

Chapter 26 – Battle for the Vale

The Eyrie, the Vale…

The great castle which had acted as the centre of authority and leadership for the kingdom over countless generations was a hive of activity as the men prepared for battle, Baelish had not worn armour since he was a boy and he had no intention of starting now. The Mockingbird was not going to lead his forces into battle himself. He was however looking over the numbers he had risen to fight in his or rather Robert Arryn's name. With all the Vale soldiers, Mountain Clansmen and Pirates his army totalled close to fifty thousand men, slightly more than his enemy but given the advantages they possessed in regards to superior weaponry and leadership he would need a miracle to win against Hadrian Lannister and his allies who were already marching towards them.

He was feeling the pressure as he walked down the corridors looking for his…ally although the term when applied to this person made Petyr frown. He knew that it was perhaps a mistake to bring the pirates here. They were like the Mountain Clans, excellent at spreading fear but they were near impossible to control he raged to himself. If he did manage to win this battle, then it would be time he got rid of them and end their misadventures for good.

But then again what could you expect from rogues and outlaws he conceded. He wanted to scream but mindful of all the people around in corridors he kept his silence, working hard to not lose his composure.

Arriving at the suite of rooms that had been given to Hours, the pirate leader Petyr was not bothered by the sights of debauchery around him. After all he had run many brothels over the years and seen just about everything you could imagine, so the sight of the fattening and bald Horus surrounded by over a dozen women in various stages of undress did not even make Petyr pause in the slightest. Some of them were not whores but instead women taken from the villages that Horus had raided, young girls mostly but now soiled goods so they might as well be whores. Petyr gave them a brief glance as he chose quickly the women that would work in his brothels after Horus was bored of them before turning to the pirate leader who was only just starting to stir.

"The army rides out to face the Lannisters in an hour and you still have your cock out." Petyr said not allowing anger to creep into his voice despite how much he wanted to shout at the man. Horus reluctantly got to his feet, no modesty at all as his cock swung around and carressing an ancient totem that he always carried with him in an almost loving fashion. Petyr did not understand his attachment to the strangely shaped object, it looked old but it was made of a black coloured stone not unlike dragonglass but that was all Petyr could gather. The infuriating pirate smiled at Petyr with a smirk that grated on his already strained nerves.

"Do not worry…Petyr." The use of his first name irritated him for its arrogance and assumed superiority. "Whatever weapons Hadrian Lannister has, they will be useless against this." Horus said with complete certainty.

Petyr Baelish, the Mockingbird. The Lord of the Vale in all but name was about to dismiss the pirate's claim when he saw the dark ripples emerging from the totem. Like shadows with a mind of their own.

-x-

Sansa Stark watched from the window of her room as Baelish, the pirate thug Horus and their army rode out to confront the Lannisters and their allies and although she had never been a violent person, Sansa could not help herself but hope that Baelish and his various thugs and vile creatures met their ends at the tips of Lannister swords. The strength of the wish shocked her somewhat but she could not deny it would please her greatly to see Baelish's head on a spike.

Deciding not watch the army any more Sansa turned her head away from the window to see Brienne and her friend Tormund Giantsbane sitting not far away, keeping a watchful eye on her. Brienne gave her a kind smile and said.

"Hopefully my lady you will not be a prisoner for much longer."

"We can but hope." Sansa said wistfully, thinking of her life before she had become caught up in the game of thrones. It had been far more peaceful that was for sure Sansa thought with mixture of longing and mirth. Everything had seemed better back then, safer and warmer. However as Lady Olenna and Margaery had taught her it was useless to dwell on the past when the present and the future were so much more interesting.

"Aye, a victory celebration will be coming soon. I hope that you will be there to share it with me Brienne and more privately later." Tormund said with a saucy grin that made Brienne sigh in exasperation with the faintest of blushes on her face. Sansa herself could not help but giggle at the dynamic between her two protectors, whatever Brienne did she could not seem to free herself of Tormund's affections and Sansa suspected it was more out of not knowing how to handle it than lack of interest.

She would not blushed so deeply if she was not even slightly interested in Tormund Sansa reasoned to herself before going back to her embroidery, stitching a silver direwolf in a circle of golden roses onto the handkerchief she hoped to be giving Loras soon.

Near the Redfort, the Vale…

The Redfort, seat of the house of the same name was one of the oldest castles in the Vale. The Redfort family had long been tied deeply to the Arryns and the enormous debts Lord Redfort owed had seen the house allied to Baelish.

Its army lined up with all the other houses and thugs under Baelish's command, it was a band of criminals filled with confusion and general disorder. The pirates and Mountain Men had never having participated in a true field battle before, they were better suited to raiding and had no real experience or leadership for this sort of thing.

So while the pirates and Mountain clans mixed together in a large mass of disorganised men the Vale lords kept themselves strictly separate, disgusted at being allied with such people maintaining their own better organised lines.

At the other end of the wide valley in which the castle sat, the Lannisters and their allies had gathered. Their forces were much more cohesive than their enemy, maintaining close formations as they prepared for battle. Their cavalry force, led by Lord Royce, his cousin Nestor and Prince Oberyn Martell all lined up on the flanks of their main body of infantry which itself was in lines of heavy infantry at the front and back for defence while light infantry and archers stayed in the centre to move out when contact was made to flank the enemy.

Baelish sat on his horse as the rough pirates and sellswords lined up with the primitive Mountain clansmen and behind them on horseback were the Knights of the Vale that he had under his command. Not bad he thought to himself for a boy from the Fingers. They might lack cohesion but they at least looked intimidating.

Horus sat on his horse waiting with an eager bloodthirsty grin as the murderer of his father was finally within his grasp, he had been waiting for so long now. He could almost see Hadrian Lannister dying in the most painful and long ways possible, Horus thought with his grin turning sinister that he might fuck the man's daughters in front of him and make him watch as they carried his children while the heads of his sons were constantly placed where their father could see them. He licked his lips at the possibilities. The totem in a pouch on his belt made him completely certain of his victory, it had laid waste to the civilisations that had once existed in Sothoryos and reduced those that survived into simple minded beasts that while fierce in battle were more stupid than anyone could imagine.

-x-

Across the valley, Hadrian sat at the head of his army with Oberyn Martell, Loras Tyrell, Lord Yohn Royce, Jon Connington and Ser Arthur Dayne in full armour and armed to the teeth. Hadrian turned to look at Ser Arthur, who stared back at him with the same unease that was in Hadrian own gaze.

"Should you not be with the Princess?" Hadrian said, wondering what on earth could have persuaded the fiercest and most skilled swordsman in Westeros to leave the woman he had dedicated over seventeen years of his life protecting.

Arthur looked at him, wondering if he should tell him but could not find the words in any case. The air between the two former friends was fraught with tension despite what they now knew of each other's motives and actions. It saddened both men that they could not seem to find it in themselves to talk properly to each other about the past, to try and repair their friendship for Shaena's sake if nothing else. But for now, working together would have to suffice.

"She is gathering additional support. She will be here." Arthur told him with a guarded look, something that confused Hadrian as he wondered just who exactly Luna or Shaena as she was known here was trying to rally to their side. There was no-one left within the Vale that had not already taken a side. And while more support would be greatly appreciated Hadrian knew he would have to make the best of what he had right here and now.

While he would prefer to just destroy Baelish's entire army with rockets he had discovered a problem with some of the boxes that they had brought from the Westerlands the previous night. A few of them had not been sealed properly and rain as they travelled had dampened the rockets inside. Hadrian had cursed at that, the rockets could be dried out but until they did he only had a single box of ten rockets at his disposal. He would make a note to severely discipline the men that had incorrectly packed the rockets back at Castamere the first chance he got but for now he would have to make the best of it.

Placing the rockets launchers in positions to strike at Baelish's army, he then turned to the drummers and nodded deciding to make his first move.

The sound was carried across the valley as the tune was beat by the men, a song known to many in Westeros. The men of the Lannister army, with Hadrian leading began to sing in unison, joined surprising by the Vale, Reach and Dornish men amongst them.

And who you are, the proud lord said,

That I must bow so low?

Only a cat of a different coat,

That's all the truth I know.

In a coat of gold or a coat of red,

A lion still has claws,

And mine are long and sharp, my lord.

As long and sharp as yours.

And so he spoke, and so he spoke,

That Lord of Castamere,

But now the rains weep o'er his hall,

With no one there to hear.

But now the rains weep o'er his hall,

With no one there to hear.

The song terrified the men on the opposite side of the valley, all of them had heard the song before and knew the history behind it. Some were ready to flee but were held there by the blackmail material or hostages Baelish had against them.

The Mountain Clans however were not so disciplined and the sound and words of the song unsettled them more than they could admit. However one man, a clan leader called Shagga decided he had had enough of the song and with a loud throaty roar he ran forward, emboldening the men at his side who began to charge with him. Like sheep they followed, a mass of poorly armed men and women with no thought as to the danger they were running into.

Hadrian without taking his eyes off the advancing Mountain clansmen shouted out to his archers as the drumming continued.

"ARCHERS, DRAW!"

The men notched and loaded their bows, they notched ready to fire upon the command being given. As the clansmen got closer and the song still reverberated in the air the tension in the Allied army soared. Men's fingers shook slightly as they ached to fire, but waited for their lord's command. And thankfully for the sake of their sanity it was not a long wait.

"LOOSE!" Hadrian bellowed out.

The archers did not waste a second as they let their arrows fly. Shooting upwards at an angle the deadly projectiles flew through the air briefly before turning back down towards the ground. The unarmoured and undisciplined clansmen and pirates had no chance as the arrows easily pierced their rough cloth and animal pelts. Cries of pain echoed in the air only to be drowned out by the sounds of the drums and men still singing. The sight of their people dying under a near tidal wave of missiles that near blocked out the sun coming down on the clansmen chilled and further stripped the will of the enemy.

The clansmen that survived the arrow barrage continued their charge and now were almost at the point of contact with their lines. Seeing the incoming threat, Hadrian responded by turning to the lines of heavy infantry and gave his next order, remaining perfectly calm.

"SHIELD WALL."

The men responded and lifted their heavy shields in front of them, forming a barricade of wood and metal while the sharp points of spears peaked out from the top. Moments later tonnes of flesh and bone collided against the wall of shields, stopping any further movement. The men strained under the brutal force of men colliding with the wall they had made but aided by the other men around them and their heavy armour they held firm.

Lord Royce looked out over the battle field as their shield wall held off the Mountain Men and began to inflict heavy causalities to the enemy's other infantry as spears jabbed out from behind the shields and saw that more importantly the opposing cavalry was just holding back, not willing to try and flank their shield wall. Cowards Lord Royce thought to himself cursing them, trying to use the Mountain Men as fodder to break their defence first before coming in themselves. He turned to Hadrian Lannister who nodded having realised the same.

"Rocketeers. Target the enemy cavalry, five rockets only." Hadrian ordered to the men manning the new launchers which could now fire ten rockets at once. The rocketeers immediately loaded the requested five rockets into one of the new launchers and from their slightly elevated position in the valley took aim at the enemy cavalry. Seeing this complete Hadrian allowed himself a bitter smirk before giving the order.

"Fire!"

The flint then struck the fuses on the five loaded rockets which only took a moment to spark the rockets. The five deadly projectiles burst free from their tubes and flew faster than any arrow towards the enemy cavalry. Some of the men knew nothing of their fate except that five strange objects with flames emerging from behind them came closer. Upon impact, each rocket exploded with tremendous force, scattering the horses of Baelish's army in sheer panic while his infantry rushed forward towards the enemy, scared that more rockets would be sent their way. Some troops even began to flee the field in fear.

Lord Royce watched in awe at the new weapon the Lannisters had deployed. He had never seen the likes of it before and now knew the reports and rumours about what had been done to the Iron Born where well founded. Envy lanced through him as he wished he had such a weapon but he could at least take some comfort in seeing the cowards scatter although he kept his cool and stern exterior.

Oberyn enjoyed the sight too but he openly smirked as he saw the cowards run, it was good to see such rapists, murderers and thieves shown for the pathetic creatures they really were. He looked to Haderian who sensed what he was asking and gave a quick nod of approval so Oberyn turned to the squadrons of cavalry, which were at his own command and gave his orders.

"With me men, let us fuck them right up their cowardly arses!" With relish they cheer and charged at the retreating men. Both Yohn and Nestor Royce did the same with their own cavalry forces, making sure that only a few would escaped the field today.

-x-

From their position far from the action Horus and Baelish could see that the rumours about the new Lannister weapon were all too true. Feeling deeply unsettled and was really considering running at this stage, those rockets had not only killed several of his commanders but had spread complete panic in his ranks. Some of their men were running in all directions rather than risk being blown to pieces by more rockets while others were frozen in place by fear or duty. Turning to Horus who was now devoid of his normal smug expression but did not look at all worried Baelish asked him angrily.

"Just what are you going to do about this?"

Horus then smiled that annoying smirk of his which made Baelish feel even more irritated.

"I have a few weapons of my own. Bring out the beasts! Let them know what a Chimera looks like." Horus told Baelish with complete confidence. Baelish wanted to lambast the man about his lack of concern given the situation that they were in but he looked at the strange boxes being dragged onto the field by horses who strained at their apparent heavy weight. The boxes emitted a loud growling sound that made the men handling the horses look extremely anxious but this became intense terror when the ends of the boxes finally burst open. The creatures that emerged from the boxes were unknown to all but the most superstitious or educated in ancient myths. Creatures that were bigger than the largest warhorses smashed the wood of the boxes open as it is finally gave and to add to the confusion their bodies resembled three separate creatures that had been fused together.

The head resembled that of a lion, much like the one at Hadrian's side. It was snarling with vicious hatred as it ran straight towards their lines on front legs that were that of a lion but its back legs however were quite different, looking more like that of a goat allowing it to make great stomping strides that covered much ground. The most unusual feature though was the tail that was shaped like a large green serpent that hissed and spat venom at any man that was unlucky enough to come close enough to its path.

Their hides shrugged off the normal steel and iron from the men that were able to get close enough to try and impale their creatures. The beasts cared little for the Mountain men that were in their way, smashing them aside as easily as if they were dust on the wind, they cried out as they were flung to the side or trampled under their enormous paws. The Lannister infantry who only moments had been so confident found themselves terrified at the strange creatures that were charging straight at their lines.

Baelish looked on in astonishment at the strange creatures that had been called Chimera and asked Horus with surprise.

"Where on earth did you find such beasts?"

Horus smirked and said with glee.

"Sothoryos, they roam the jungle around some of the ruined cities. One of many treasures I found there." Horus then stroked the black idol that he had been holding for some time which unsettled Baelish for some reason especially when a black aura began to emerge from the strange object.

-x-

Seeing that their line would never hold back such creatures and they were moving too fast for his gunners to get them with rockets, Hadrian acted quickly and decisively, working hard to suppress his own surprise and fear.

"Form paths around them, let them past!" Hopefully then they could surround the creatures when they stopped and impale them on spears and spears.

That was when he noticed Sandor Clegane had broken away from the rest of the cavalry and was riding at breakneck speed straight towards one of the strange creatures.

-x-

Sandor Clegane was known for obeying orders, even those that he disliked but when he saw those strange creatures coming at them with their weird ass mix of several animals he knew something immediately.

He wanted to kill one. Showing off that pelt would get him free drinks for a month at least.

So he broke rank and charged straight at the nearest creature.

He oddly did not feel fear, not when he saw the creature trampling men under foot and its snake head spitting venom. His only real fear was fire, not surprising after what Gregor had done to his face so the sight of creature did not scare him as much it is did other men. And when he was close enough despite his heavy armour he leapt with all his strength once the horse was close and landed on the back of the strange creature. It did not like having him there, Sandor thought the creature thrashed around as it tried to get him off its back but Sandor held on for dear life with one hand while pulling Nightfall from its scabbard and plunged it deep into the creature's neck.

The creature howled in agony and its thrashing grew even harsher desperate to get the sword out of its neck, causing Sandor to have to hold on to his sword's and press it deeper to stay on the creature's back. Blood spurted from the wound as it became wider and jagged with all the movement and covered Sandor with its blood but he did not care.

Finally the creature seemed to slow and grow weaker having lost too much blood to remain thrashing and it swayed briefly before finally it toppled over. Sandor smiled briefly, wondering where he might find a man to have this beast stuffed.

-x-

Loras Tyrell had been confidence incarnate when this battle started, sure of their success before even having to fight. That of course had been before these creatures had been unleashed on them.

Seeing men trampled underfoot or down screaming in pain as poison was spat at them, catching some in the eyes or burning them like boiling water. It filled him with fear to see such strange creatures, men did not frighten him. They could be killed but these creatures seemed able to withstand steel and had been unstoppable as they charged towards him making Loras wonder for a moment if this was to be his last day.

Then Sandor Clegane had proven the idea that these creature were invincible false with a rather insane act of bravery. Loras was comforted by the weight of the Valyrian steel in his hands, now he knew how to kill these creatures. But he did not think he would have chance to try and kill one of these creatures himself as the snake tail spat its burning venom in his direction. His put his armoured right arm to protect his eyes and even though the metal did shield him from the venom as it came towards him, he was shocked when he looked at it to see the metal discoloured by the venom and was thinking twice about attacking the Chimera when he heard the creature howl in pain. Moving his arm from in front of his face he saw to his amazement that Lady had clamped her large jaws on the body of the snake tail and was holding on for dear life while the creature roared and swung its tail wildly to try and shake the direwolf off but Lady refused to let go. In fact she dug her teeth in even deeper as the rapid thrashing of the angry and scared snake tail tried to force the wolf to let go.

Finally with one almighty swing the creature dislodged Lady but not before she took off the head of the snake off with her sharp and large teeth. A spray of dark red blood splattered all over the ground and men as the creature howled in agony, Loras seeing his chance dived forward and impaled his sword right through the mouth of the creature and into its brain.

The Chimera instantly stopped as its brain was pierced by Rosethorn, stumbling slightly before falling over on its side. Breathing heavily Loras looked over to Lady who came over to him and he smiled at the wold, petting her on the head which made her tail swing with enjoyment before they turned to see a horde of vicious pirates charging straight at their lines.

"Fuck me." Loras said and Lady whimpered sensing his unease.

-x-

Hadrian Lannister was glad to see the other two Chimera die although he was angry as hell at the disruption that they had wrought on his lines of men, they had lost cohesion completely and now the last of the chimera was charging straight at the rockets launchers. Seeing his men were not going to react in time Hadrian turned his horse around and with Raga at his side rode hard after the chimera in hopes he might catch the creature before it got there.

He urged the horse on for all it was worth but it was with a sense of anger and inevitability that he saw the chimera ram itself into the large metal apparatus that he used to fire the rockets safely, the men that operated them scattering like frightened birds and the infantry that should have been protecting them running away it was almost in slow motion that the launchers were torn into scrap metal. Thankfully the rockets were not loaded so at least they still had them but his fury rose at the men that had fled and the creature that had taken away one of his best weapons.

He leapt from his horse with Crimson Night already drawn and slashed at the creature's side causing it to howl in pain as blood and guts spilt onto the ground. Raga did not hesitate either and with a mighty roar the great lion leaped onto the back of the chimera and bit deep into its neck from behind. The creature found itself unable to breathe as its windpipe was rushed by the fierce pressure of Raga's jaws and its struggles ceased quickly. Hadrian smiled at his lion.

"Well done." He said and the lion he could sense was pleased. With that sorted Hadrian turned to see the pirates that advanced and were now attacking their lines with the remaining Mountain Men while Baelish held his own Vale forces back although some Vale knights had joined in the charge. Sighing in resigned exasperation he grabbed his horse and got back onto the saddle to return to their frontlines as quickly as possible.

-x-

The lines of both armies had fallen into chaos as they met in bloody combat now ranks had been broken. Jon Connington however did not mind in the slightest as the blood rushed through him and his heart was beating so loudly it was like thunder in his ears. He had not felt this alive in so long, in the heart of battle killing men right, left and centre. The only enjoyment he found in anything after almost twenty years of anguish.

As a pirate found himself being savagely hacked to pieces by Jon's sword, the former lord of Griffin's Roost saw Ser Lyn Corbray nearby. The new Lord of House Corbray was so busy fending off a knight from one of the Reach houses that he did not see Jon, who stalked towards him and soon felt the pain in his back as Jon thrust his sword between the individual plates of his armour. He tried to twist around, perhaps to see who had killed him but Jon stopped him by grasping his sword hand tightly and twisting the blade that was now lodged in Lyn's chest. As the man expired his sword fell from his hand into Jon's, he was about to throw it aside when he saw the ripples in the dark coloured steel and his excitement grew.

Lady Forlorn, he thought with a sinister grin. It was like fate he thought to himself, the weapon of his vengeance.

Looking around as his normal steel sword fell to the ground he saw Hadrian Lannister and his lion riding into the thick of the battle and his grin widened. Now he thought to himself, now was the time to avenge his beloved Rhaegar. Nothing else crossed his mind, nothing else mattered. He was going to kill Hadrian Lannister and would laugh about it. Whether he lived or not was irreverent, he would finally have his revenge.

He stalked closer with the noises of battle all around them masking his own movement until he was finally close enough to Lannister to be able to strike him. The Hound and the rest of Hadrian' bootlickers like Oberyn were too far away to help him now and his monstrous lion was smashing its way through a group of soldiers. So with a great sense of euphoria he swung his newly acquired sword, his target the Lannister's neck.

-x-

Hadrian was just finishing off a pair of pirates when suddenly a sense of imminent danger made him instinctively turn on his heel and raised his sword just in time to block Jon Connington's attack. When he saw just who it was that had tried to kill him from behind like a coward he was instantly filled with incredible fury. He had long known of Jon's hatred towards him and had actually given serious thought to having the man killed but the current situation and his own hatred of Baelish had blinded him to the threat that was closer to home. He could almost laugh at his own arrogance had the situation not been so dire, so he focused instead on blowing Jon's ferocious attacks and to his surprise saw the Valyrian steel in his hands.

No words were said, Jon Hadrian realised was not capable of them as his face was going from red to purple with rage. He resembled a much slimmer Vernon Dursley at that moment but was far more aggressive in his blows going for power rather than skill which had Hadrian on the back foot initially. He struggled with his muscles straining to gain the upper hand and finally managed to force Jon back with some powerful blows of his own but as he prepared to take Jon's head he felt a fierce pain in his side as a spear man glanced his side. A roar from Raga erupted as the lion struck down the spearman that had wounded his master but his sword was kicked out his hand by Jon who had used the momentary distraction to recover and time seemed to slow down as Jon moved to swing the stolen sword right into him.

Hadrian's narrowed as he realised that this could well be the moment that his life here came to an end, he snarled preparing to roll out of the way and grab his sword. Magic coiled around his gloved fingers ready to strike Jon with a fire ball to distract him only to be saved the bother when the tip of a sword erupted from Jon's throat. Hadrian blinked momentarily frozen as what had just happened sank into his mind before he looked to see who it was that had just in a real sense, saved his life. His eyes widened when he saw Arthur Dayne standing there with a look of disgust on his face as his eyes glare at Jon.

"You are nothing but a mad dog now Jon and for the good of everyone I have to put you down." Arthur said sharply before pulling his sword out of Jon's neck and letting the corpse fall to the ground. For a brief moment Hadrian and Arthur's eyes met, tension hung in the air before Arthur offered his hand to Hadrian who cautiously took it and allowed Arthur to pull him to his feet.

As Hadrian pressed his hand to his injured side and used magic to heal himself, Arthur picked up Lady Forlorn and admired the fine quality of workmanship that had gone into the blade. Hadrian saw him admiring the blade and asked him with interest.

"I thought you preferred Dawn?" Hadrian said, wondering why Arthur had not gone and retrieved the ancestral sword of House Dayne that only Arthur was supposed to wield as Sword of the Morning. Arthur then broke the tension by smiling and answering cheerfully.

"It will do as a substitute, at least until I can finally tell my family that I am alive and well." Arthur said and Hadrian smiled back while he retrieved Crimson Night from where it had fallen. The two men instantly remembering days from twenty years ago when they had spent their days riding around with Rhaegar and the future had seemed so much brighter. They only allowed this for a moment though before getting back to the battle that was still going around them.

-x-

As the fight continued from their spot on the nearby hill where most of their Vale forces were still impatiently waiting to join the fighting, Petyr Baelish and Horus watched the battle and Petyr felt distinctly worried as he saw the Lannisters and their allies were definitely gaining the upper hand and were pushing closer towards their position. He looked over to the so called Pirate King with fury in his eyes. He was about to turn to order his Vale forces to join the battle so he could swiftly retreat himself when his eyes caught sight of the strange totem in Horus' hands. The dark aura was now swirling around it and even Horus himself as the man holding it grinned, Baelish suddenly felt very scared of the totem and the man wielding it. It was something that he rarely allowed himself to feel, an instinctive gut reaction. Something about that totem terrified him, he could not say why but he knew that it was evil…a word he had never thought to ever call anything or anyone. Notions of good and evil were foolish, only the truly naïve believed in such things while he knew all too well of the greed and lust that yearned constantly for more yet something about this object made him want to run away.

The swirling aura expanded outward and the shapeless blobs of darkness that were spinning around them faster and faster started to change. Baelish felt like ice was running up his spine as the air around him began to quickly become much cooler, his own breath invisible before was now easily seen and around him the men were becoming increasingly disturbed as the swirls became larger and multiplied, spreading the chill even further across the immediate area which was steadily dropping in temperature all the time. But along with it came a sort of mist and a growing sense of dread as their worst fears, memories and nightmares all began to consume their conscious minds. Horus however was smiling in a way that made Baelish question whether the man had truly lost his mind as he seemed unaffected by the aura in the air. Baelish himself was fighting with all his willpower to stop the memory of his humiliation at the hand of Brandon Stark in front of his beloved Catelyn from dominating his conscious thoughts without much success, all the slights and embarrassments that had been heaped upon him over the course of his life were rising to surface of his mind like an growing flood, driving any pleasant thoughts or happy memories away so he could no longer draw on them for comfort.

He was so distracted by this he failed to notice the shapeless swirls of darkness elongating themselves into the shapes of cloaks with withered, skeletal hands emerging from the sleeves. With a screeching that made nearly all who heard it hold their ears, the creatures began to spread out across the field towards the Lannisters and their allies. When Hadrian Lannister saw them, his face visibly paled beneath his helm as memories of these creatures from his last life as Harry Potter sprang into his mind.

"Why them?" Hadrian asked with anger in his voice, but fear in his eyes. "Why did they have to be here?"

"Who?" Arthur Dayne asked, his own eyes wide with anxiety as the strange creatures swarmed towards them.

"Dementors." Hadrian in barely a whisper as he was confronted with the really thought that they were all about to rendered soulless, empty shells by creatures that he had no way of stopping without a wand.

-x-

Nestor Royce and his cavalry were the closest to the creatures and the men that had only a moment before they were surrounded and enveloped by the dementors. The sheer mass of the wraith-like creatures was enough to make an aura so strong that the men were instantly rendered helpless with fear and dread paralysing them as the creatures, hungry for souls clamped their claw like hands on them and drained them of their souls. A thousand men were swarmed by the dementors while some fled in terror. Not all were the men of Nestor Royce however, Mountain Men and pirates too found themselves being fed on by the dementors which seeing more prey around quickly started to move outwards towards anyone within reach.

Hadrian had never felt as powerless as he did when the screams of those men reached his ears, in all of his worst scenarios he had never imagined that he would have to deal with the dementors and had no weapons in his current arsenal capable of driving the horrible creatures away. He was about to signal a retreat so he could lick his wounds and desperately try to find some way to combat the dementors when his thoughts were interrupted by a deafening roar coming across the mountains. All men turned including him, were wondering what fresh nightmare was about to hit them now when two large creatures flew into view, stealing their breath away when they realised just what they were.

-x-

The roars came again as two enormous dragons flew into view; the men were wide-eyed with fear and awe as the two great creatures soared across the sky, their bodies so large their shadows covered many men in darkness. The first and smallest dragon was a muddy brown coloured beast that some would have called ugly because of its colouring but it nonetheless soared majestically over the mountains, filling many with awe at the sight it presented.

The second dragon was larger than the first and its colouring far more vivid. Its scales were coloured a glorious shade of red with a gradual darkening to near black from head to tail. Its sheer size however did not detract from its agility and poise as it moved around the skies with an elegance that belied its nature. However the most crucial difference between the two dragons however was the larger red dragon had a rider.

Shaena Targaryen with his hair flowing freely behind sat on the back of her dragon with a look a pure joy as the wind whipped through her hair. Her dragon, Terrax rumbled beneath her as he flew through the sky alongside Sheepstealer who she had spent the last couple of hours waking up from her hibernation so that the dragon could be brought to aid them in battle. She had wanted to give her own dragon a cooler name like Terrax, she had even thought of calling her own red dragon Nargle but Arthur had convinced her to begrudgingly follow tradition and choose an existing name. Why she thought with slight sadness did no one see that you could choose a name that fitted you rather than just copying someone else.

Seeing the dementors however stopped any thoughts of the nargles, creatures that she had hunted in her first life with her father dragons or their names. Fury gripped her as she saw men being fed on and her playful and joyful demeanour fell away, the fate of men that had valiantly fought to free the Vale of Baelish and his thugs angered her enough that she had no hesitation in unleashing the power of her dragons for the first time. She smirked as she used the bond she shared with her dragon to urge Terrax towards the dementors and calmly withdrew Dark Sister from its sheath before giving the command, knowing full well what she was about to unleash.

"Dracarys!"

Sheepstealer and Terrax responded immediately and opened their great mouths and blasted the area where the dementors where feasting on the helpless men with all the fire they could muster. Great plums of white hot flames torched the area, the dementors screeched with pain as the magical fire of the dragons burned them away as easily as if they were parchment. The men below that were still alive and had their souls cried out briefly before the intense blasts of fire burnt them to a husk. Those that had lost their souls were released from the worse than death state that they had been trapped in, it was enough to bring a small bit of sorrow to Shaena's heart but she pushed past it with the knowledge that it had to be done.

The freezing aura of the dementors vanished in an instant, the sheer power of the dragons too much for the wraiths. Baelish was now filled with terror at the sight of the huge beasts that previously he had thought belonged only in myth. He had of course heard the whispers from Essos about the Targaryen dragons but he had not really taken them seriously and now he was faced with two of the enormous creatures. His sense of preservation was what made him move and he urged the horse away from the lines of his men as the dragons swooped lower in their direction, their glowing maws revealing their intentions. The rest of the men could only stare in terror at the creatures although the pirate that had fancied himself a king could only scream out towards them in anger and frustration as they bathed the field in fire, killing all that remained of Baelish's army on the field.

Petyr Baelish could feel the heat on his back as he urged the horse he was riding harder and harder in a desperate attempt to escape the flames and the Lannister forces that had only moments before seemed doomed. However he felt the chance of freedom slip away from him as an enormous claw wrapped around him and hank him clear off of his steed. The sensation of being carried into the air was possibly the most unsettling experience he had ever had in his life and he dared not look up trying in a futile way of avoiding the truth.

It was the end for him.

-x-

The flames disturbed Sandor Clegane, given the incident that had left him scarred but the sight of the beasts that made them was enough to make even him nearly run in fear. He had always grounded himself in earthly concerns; coin and women. His loyalty to the Lannisters had brought him both but never had anyone mentioned the possibility of having to fight dragons he raged wanting to flee but somehow remained in place, worried that the dragons might scoop him up, just burn him to ash or eat him whole.

Loras Tyrell, Yohn Royce and Oberyn Martell too were in awe of the incredible beasts but Oberyn took their sudden appearance in his stride. He had hoped that he might see a living dragon in his life time and he smirked that his wish had finally come true.

Petyr Baelish was dropped by Terrax in front of Hadrian who stared down at the man with undisguised hatred burning in his eyes. Baelish went to raise his head only for an armour glove to impact against his head, knocking him unconscious. Terrax and Sheepstealer landed nearby, leaving all the men nearby absolutely terrified, looking ready to run at a moment's notice while holding their swords and spears in shaking hands. Absolutely petrified at the thought of having to fight dragons.

Only Hadrian and Ser Arthur showed no fear although Hadrian could not deny at least in the privacy of his own mind that he felt a little apprehension at the sheer size of the red dragon that Luna/Shaena was riding not to mention the brown dragon which was now feasting on the burnt bodies of the men. Shaena slid from her saddle and allowed her dragon to go and join its fellow fire breather in eating their fill of cooked meat. The sight made many of the men sick to their stomachs but Hadrian only had eyes for Shaena.

He had seen the portraits of the first Targaryen Queens; Rhaenys and Visenya when Rhaegar had shown him around the royal gallery in Dragonstone and he could honestly say it was like Shaena embodied them both. Echoing Rhaenys her hair flowed long and loose down her back, surprisingly still straight after her flight but like the original Rhaenys Targaryen she had a circlet of silver with a few rubies around her forehead. She had a more voluptuous figure than most Valyrian women that was highlighted by the formfitting black, red and gold coloured leather emblazoned with the red three headed dragon which drew the eyes of many men who would have given everything they owned for a night with her and in her hand to the amazement of everyone but Arthur she carried the ancestral Valyrian steel sword of House Targaryen Dark Sister. Just how she had gotten hold of that was a conversation for another time however, he had to arrange care for the wounded and punishment for the men that had abandoned their posts in battle. Firstly though he thought to himself there was something more important he had to do.

-x-

Petyr Baelish was unsure of where he was when he finally regained consciousness, he could see the sun setting barely through his blurred vision along with a dark shape against the horizon until finally his eyes managed to regain focus. His eyes now managed to see that the dark blurred shape was Hadrian bloody Lannister and his teeth ground themselves hard against each other, the man was going to kill him he knew that…so perhaps he thought to himself he might get some satisfaction of causing the man that had derailed his plans as much pain as possible.

"So here we are at last." Baelish said as Hadrian kept his back to him, his posture perfectly straight and unmoving. His face despite the fact Baelish could not see it was like a mask of indifference hiding the fury that was raging inside him. He finally had the killer of his son in his grasp and it was taking every shred of restraint he possessed not to just kill the man where he sat, chained and under guard. The men that he had brought would not dare tell anyone what he was about to do to Baelish, he had made sure of that and Shaena who was currently petting Terrax on the head which the dragon enjoyed immensely, its tail swinging like a dog except this tail would easily smash a thin wall to rubble hated the man enough to not object. The sight was enough to nearly bring a smile to his face but he ruthlessly suppressed it, now was not the time to show levity. He turned his head slightly said nothing to catch a glance at Baelish from the corner of his eye, despite the bruise on his forehead and the mud on his clothes he looked just as smug as ever. Hadrian did not feel the need to trade barbs with him, there was only one thing he wanted to say to Baelish. Just what fate he had created for him. If he thought his death was going to be quick Hadrian thought with a disturbing smile, he would be in for a surprise.

"You have done so many things…caused so much…pain." Hadrian said losing his sinister smile as the pain of Leo's death echoed through his heart brining a tear to his eye. The heartbreak on his children's face as clear as it had been when he had brought his eldest son's body home and it still felt like a hole in his heart. He knew that killing Baelish would not heal the wound straight away and probably it never really would but at least he could secure justice for his son's murder. Hadrian with his arms behind his back and his posture perfectly straight then turned to face Baelish properly who just kept that annoying smirk on his face.

"I was just playing the game. Killing your son, was just a bonus. He begged like a coward when I stabbed him." Baelish told him with a complete lack of fear or remorse that nearly made Hadrian strike the man, the lie enflaming his rage to the level that it felt like a volcano ready to erupt. Hot burning anger flared inside him but he refused to give Baelish the satisfaction of reacting with violence. He ruthlessly suppressed his rage before he spoke to Baelish again.

"You were never a player that was going to win, not even close. You were always destined for small things. A sickly child born into a poor house that owed everything to the kindness of one old fool. In the years to come your name will be forgotten, no one will even know you existed." Hadrian told Baelish in no uncertain terms before he decided that now was the time to tell him what fate awaited him, something that actually gave him a thrill of dark pleasure. "I thought long and hard on what revenge I should inflict on you, I had so many ideas that it would almost have been worth getting a Red Priest to resurrect you after each time so we could do it all over again but I finally settled on this." Hadrian told Baelish before stepping aside so Baelish could see the elaborately decorated casket. Baelish's face lost all colour as he realised just what Hadrian was planning for him, Hadrian felt a grim sense of satisfaction as he saw the fear in the other man's face and then proceeded to take great pleasure in telling him the rest.

"The box is lined with Valyrian runes, runes that will keep you alive for a time with air to breath and enough water to just avoid death by dehydration. Manacles will hold you in place while the key is stabled to the lid of the coffin out of your reach, you will die all alone in complete darkness but only when you finally starve to death. But if only that was the worst." Hadrian said with a growing smile that only made Baelish near shake in fear. "The runes will not only keep you alive for a time but they will also stimulate the pain centres of your body keeping you in a constant state of agony. Runes on the outside once it is buried will drive people away from this area so no-one will ever find you." Hadrian said with a slight tilt of his head before he continued to talk.

"I discovered this process in the Valyrian lore hoarded by Myr until the city of conquered. Buried alive with no chance of rescue while you slowly die in the cold and the dark all alone and in the worst pain that can be inflicted knowing that I will dismantle your entire legacy and use you as an example of what happens when someone crosses House Lannister. Now I think it is time to say goodbye and welcome to the closest thing to hell on earth that you can experience here before you finally go to burn in the real one." Hadrian said with a grin and nodded to the men who were holding Baelish.

The Mockingbird struggled against his captors with all his strength but it was for nothing as they carried him over to the coffin and forced his squirming body into it. Baelish felt panic as he thrashed wildly trying to free himself but the manacles fastened around his waist, wrists and ankles with a dull thud that was as loud as any war drum. Seeing one of the men lifting the lid of the coffin he tried to get through to them by any means he could.

"I CAN OFFER YOU GOLD! AS MANY WOMEN AS YOU COULD EVER DESIRE! CASTLES! JUST RELEASE ME!" The men ignored his pleas, not wanting to make an enemy of their liege lord who would surely crush them if they even attempted such a thing. They lifted the lid over the coffin as a man stood ready with a hammer and nails to seal it closed and Baelish had never imagined such terror as the lid started to come down almost as if it were in slow motion. He yelled out in fury and fear as the lid closed and the men ignored his screams as the box was sealed. They then carried the weight of the box with ease as they walked the short distance to the pre-dug grave, carefully lowering it with ropes into the narrow slot in the ground. Hadrian came over with Sandor at his side who had watched the proceedings with interest and gratification to finally see the prick brought to justice and all the men picked up shovels and started to fill the grave with earth and rocks.

-x-

Baelish could hear the thumping of the earth and rocks as they were piled high on top of the coffin forming a large pile of earth over his coffin, his struggles were like a wild beast and his cries just as rough, all his graces and suaveness gone as he devolved into a trapped animal. The complete darkness of his surrounding only served to make his mind conjure images from his worst dreams. The laughing face of Brandon Stark seemed to emerge from the darkness and Baelish screamed in rage as the sound of laughter echoed in his mind. But no one would ever hear it.

-x-

As Hadrian walked into the camp, the road was lined with the men that had abandoned the rocketeers when the Chimeras came. He had to make an example to his men about what would happen if they did so in the future, so fifty of the hundred or so men were now staked onto poles along the side of the road in the glare of the sun as they had stood for most of the day and would for the foreseeable future in nothing but loincloths with nails driven through the wrists and ankles. It was a grim sight, especially those that were still moving but Hadrian did not react. His men now knew the price of desertion and they would now think twice before breaking rank again.

When he arrived at his tent back at their camp outside Redfort, Shaena followed him and poured two glasses of wine for them. He took the glass she offered and met her gaze which was completely earnest in its curiosity and concern.

"Has it brought you any peace?" She asked him, Hadrian looked at her with a sudden weariness. He was not sure what to say, how he felt at the moment. He eventually told her with complete honesty owing her nothing less.

"I do not know." He said slowly, tired all of a sudden or perhaps he realised the events of the past few months were finally catching up with him. They had he admitted to himself been the busiest in virtually his entire life and some of the hardest. Hadrian might have won all of his battles so far but at what cost, he wondered. "I feel so tired, my son's death, wars all across continent, missing my children." Hadrian sipped his wine before continuing. "And we still have to bring the rest of the Vale in line before we are finished here. I understand you have taken the Redfort for yourself?" He asked to change the subject his mouth forming a slight smile which she returned, a knowing glint in her eye letting him know she was not fooled by his evasion of her question but ignored it for the moment.

"Yes, shame about Lord Redfort and his sons dying in the battle. Still at least the castle will be cared for and I am sure that our allies will take ensure peace in the lands that now need new lords." Shaena said, the second Field of Fire as some of the men were already calling it had killed off so many Vale lords and their sons, leaving their castles for the taking. It would be a great boon to the lords that had dared to fight Baelish, any daughters of the dead lords would find themselves married to the sons of the victors. Shaena had taken a liking to the Redfort and claimed it for herself, her dragons she thought with amusement had removed any opposition.

"We might have lost the rockets but hopefully with your dragons it should not take long for us to secure the country. By the way, just how did you get hold of two dragons? And Dark Sister for that matter?" Hadrian asked, dragon eggs were rare enough but the second ancestral sword of House Targaryen had not been seen in over a century. Many had spent their entire lives looking for it and yet here it was at Shaena's waist. The woman in question smirked as she lifted her cup to her mouth and took a sip before answering.

"Jon Arryn was kind enough to consult with Aemon Targaryen up at the Wall, even tried to convince the man to come to the Vale to be my tutor but the old man did not want to draw attention to me. So instead Great Uncle Aemon gave me the dragon egg and Dark Sister that had been entrusted to him by Brynden Rivers before he went beyond the wall. Eventually I found Sheepstealer hibernating inside a volcano. He was a rather difficult dragon to tame, that was way I was so late to the battle." She told him and put the glass down before coming up close to him, the presence of her body was enough to trigger a response. The lines of her figure were perfect and sat comfortably in the tight leather, the sight was a real pleasure on the eyes Hadrian thought with interest. He had not had a woman since his wife Clarice had died and what Shaena presented had him thinking along lines he had not touched in a long time. He wrapped his arm slowly around her waist and pulled her firmly against him.

The proximity of each other was making it harder and harder for them to resist, Hadrian and Shaena had almost gone past the point of caring and Shaena took the lead and smashed her lips into his, firmly wrapping her arms around his neck so he could not escape. He would not have tried anyway and tightened his hold on her waist while one hand wandered down to her bottom, giving it a firm squeeze while he kissed her back.

At that moment however a smirking Oberyn Martell strode boldly into the tent and said loudly to shock the couple that had not yet noticed his presence.

"Room for anymore?"

The unexpected interruption made the couple break from their embrace and glare at Oberyn who only laughed at them. Shaena stalked over and slapped Oberyn right on the cheek but he only grinned before laughing again and Shaena left the tent in a huff. Hadrian fumed at the Prince, wanting very much to take a swing at him at that moment but instead said.

"We march on the Eyrie tomorrow. And fuck you Oberyn." His voice full with anger but the Red Viper only laughed.

The Eyrie, the following morning…

The vast army of the Lannisters and their allies marched through the Gates of the Moon, they had been ready to storm the castle if they needed to. Not an enviable task as the defender of the Eyrie was a truly formidable stronghold but the sight of the two large dragons cowed the guards on the castle wall immediately, especially when combined with news of their regent lord's defeat the previous day. The Captain of the Guard had ridden out to surrender to them which brought a sigh of relief but they wasted no time in moving on and securing the castle.

When the Eyrie came into sight it was hardly as large as any of the great castles Hadrian, Shaena, Loras or Oberyn had seen before but it was impressive in its own way nonetheless. Archers and any soldiers lined up to oppose them were swiftly burned by Terrax's fire before the great dragon used a single ball of fire to blast down the castle gates. Hadrian smiled as they marched in, guards dropped their weapons immediately rather than oppose them, while some escorted their captives to the cells to sort through them later, other men made way for their commander as he came to the throne room of the Vale. Upon the Weirwood throne from which the Arryns had ruled the Vale for centuries sat Lysa Arryn with her son drinking from her breast. The sight made everyone who saw it question just how completely mad Lysa Arryn must be if she was still breastfeeding her son at the age of six and considering her present situation, surrounded and alone. The boy in her arms was the sickliest child that any of them had ever seen, his growth stunted and his skin like curdled milk.

There was howling of the wind they suddenly noticed as the moon door was open and whatever they had been planning to say was stopped before they could ever start with a scream from Lysa in the shrillest voice that any of them had ever heard.

"You will not get my son!"

Before any of them could do anything to stop her, Lysa grabbed hold of Robert and leapt forward straight through the Moon Door. Their screams could only just be heard over the howling of the winds. Lord Royce, shaken at her sudden and senseless move turned to his men and said.

"Close the moon door. Make sure the castle is secure." The men, respectful of their lord did as they were bid without hesitation. Lord Royce meanwhile walked around the hole in the floor as it closed and up towards the Weirwood throne and with a moment of indecision he took his new seat. Hadrian smiled and gave a slight bow of respect before making his declaration.

"All hail Lord Yohn Royce, Ruler of the Eyrie, Lord Paramount of the Vale and Warden of the East." All the people in the room; Oberyn, Shaena, Ser Arthur and all the lords and knights present began to repeat the words. The Vale lords and knights however added something of their own for their new liege lord.

"AND LONG MAY HE REIGN!"

Unseen by many, Shaena carefully pocketed the Elder Wand as she came up to the Weirwood throne, she and Hadrian would soon have use for it.

-x-

While the rest of his companions were focused on Lysa and her son, Loras accompanied by Lady had gone to find Sansa. The moment the direwolf had entered the castle she had started off in a different direction, Loras followed hoping that she would lead the way to Sansa. He did not have to wait long as the wolf came to a locked door and furiously scratched hard against the wood while whimpering. Loras took the hilt of Rosethorn and slammed it into the door lock, it gave way and Lady rushed into the room as soon as the door opened. Loras heard the cry of Sansa's voice as she saw her direwolf and the happy laughter as Lady licked Sansa's face. Loras moved quickly into the room and his heart soared when he saw his future wife alive and well cuddling her direwolf as a familiar looking woman knight and what Loras could only describe as a Wildman dressed in animal skins looked on. But he paid them no mind as he looked at Sansa, she was safe. He felt more relief at that than he had ever believed possible, when had she become so important to him? He wondered to himself with astonishment, a warmth feeling came over him when he saw her smile, making him smile in turn. He walked over to Sansa without knowing what he was really doing and when she got up to speak to him he pulled her into a kiss so sudden that neither of them knew where it come from but without even realising it they both deepened the kiss with Sansa's arms coming around his neck while his wrapped themselves around her slim waist pulling them gently together. Both Brienne and Tormund left the young couple to stand watch outside the room not wanting to disturb them.