Version 2.0
Royce licked his lips. "You sure know how to make this, oh-so, frustrating. But I suppose that is what makes you so enjoyable Brandon" Royce said, as his smile stretched across his face.
Brandon shudders. "What do you want Royce?" Brandon asked.
He just smiles. "It seems you are out of reach again Brandon. Two kings striving for power, we are just too similar Brandon."
Brandon shakes his head. "I doubt that. Look you have one king captured, and I have the other. We can either fight it out or come to an agreement and end this fighting."
"One day, Brandon. Mmm." Royce said, as he looked at his force and then Brandon's force. "Fine, then we can end the fighting here." He smiles sweetly at Brandon.
"Fucking weirdo," Brandon cursed under his breath. "Alright, then, let's make a deal."
The two armies after days of brutal battle and fighting finally stood down. With the battle-weary soldiers on both sides easing their weapons, the battlefield fell silent. The kings, set up a tent in a clear open field, to decide what is the outcome of all this fighting.
They debate and quarrel with one another and much like the battlefield they give and take pushing what they want whilst squaring what is opposing them. They wrestle and tussle until finally, they give.
"Very well then," Brandon said. "The lands on the other side of the White Knife River from the Locke Kings Lands shall be transferred over to me. This shall include all of the land, people, and resources of that area."
"For now." Gareth comments as he smiles.
Brandon continued. "This land is taken for the freedom of Gareth, for his men and levies the compensation is in the form of food, animals, and tradable goods. I shall also keep all loot and weapons that I took."
"For myself." Starts Royce. "Parts of the Sheepshead Hills shall go to me including all the lands, people, and resources of that. For his freedom. You're lucky that your men continued to fight Edwyn and that your second in command is so competent."
"Shove it up yours Royce," Edwyn said still nursing his wounds.
"How very kind of you Edwyn, well then it seems we are done here. I look forward to seeing you again Brandon." Royce said as he left the tent.
As the discussion comes to a close, and Royce moves to leave something catches Edric eye. He quickly turns to Royce and looks at his second in command.
"Hold on." Edric demands. "Where have I seen you before," Edric asks, and as he gets a closer look at his face, his eyes drawn to his crookened nose.
"The fuck you want." He demands.
"Watch it," Theon exclaims as he moves closer to him.
"Or fucking what." He says as he stares down Theon, his marked face matching his unhinged mouth.
"It's alright Bryce, no need to get so worked up," Royce said as he stopped his second in command from doing anything. "Let us continue on our way."
"Watch yourself dickhead." Bryce said staring down both Theon and Brandon.
Royce and Gareth take their armies and leave, returning to their lands—some richer and some weaker, though both seem oddly happy.
"Fucking mental, both of them," Edwyn says.
"That's an understatement," Brandon comments. "I'm curious how you were defeated; when I last looked, you seemed to be holding well."
"Royce is a real bastard. It seems the reason that he took so long to get to this battle was that before he even arrived on this battlefield, he had gone around my lands taking prisoners from the villages. Threatened to execute every last one of them unless I surrendered. Though I am reluctant to agree with him on anything, I will say that I am fortunate that Ben, my second in command, is smart. He was fighting on the left front and had managed to spot what was happening; he led his men in an attack to free the prisoners when they were moving," Edwyn said before sighing.
"But you had already surrendered, haven't you," Brandon says.
"Aye, it was stupid of me," Edwyn said. "Lessons learned, and I won't let Royce beat me again."
"You were in a bad situation this entire war; the fact you only lost a bit of land, and some people is better than being completely defeated."
"I suppose so." He grumbles. "Goodbye for now, Brandon, thanks for the aid," Edwyn said, as he walked out of the tent his back straight and his head held high.
"Goodbye," Brandon said.
With the final words said, the last remaining armies started to pack up and return home. Brandon watched his men start to pack away both spoils and supplies many levies taking bronze or food they looted from soldiers or Gareth's camp.
"My King. I have a general report of the army," Theon said. "We got plenty of equipment and bronze; they are being taken by our men. As you ordered, anything the levies took, is kept as spoils and pay. When I asked around, they mostly seem to have taken foods, some weapons like bronze spear tips, or anything else of value they could find."
"Good, and what about I asked before, about the dead," Brandon said,
"I got some of the men to ask around. From what they gathered, most of the people who died did so after the battle, not that many died during it. It seems what you said is also correct; very few people know how to take care of themselves, and very few people know what you call 'medical'. Some of the household guards picked up stuff you said to them before or when you helped them out but there are few of them my King. And as is becoming a tradition after the long night the dead were burned in pyres my King."
"Alright, Theon. That will be all," Brandon said.
/
As the sun rose on the horizon, casting long shadows across the lands, Brandon and his weary army commenced the process of packing up and preparing to return home. The air was filled with a mixture of fatigue and quiet satisfaction, as the spoils of war, were stowed away. Tents were disassembled, and the makeshift camp was gone by the end of the morning.
The men achingly moved about, their tired faces showing signs of the recent conflict. Some carried scars of battle, while others wore expressions of relief at surviving. The clang of weapons being sheathed, the rustling of armour being adjusted, and the murmurs of soldiers recounting their experiences created a cacophony that echoed through the light.
Brandon moved among his men, chatting with any he could getting the moods, and read on his men. The levies, now weathered by the harsh realities of warfare, carried the spoils they had claimed during the campaign. Bronze goods and other acquired items were proudly displayed.
With the order given, the procession began its journey homeward. The army, now diminished in numbers moved on. Brandon, leading at the head of his men, cast a final gaze upon the battleground. From the torn-up fields to the ghouls now scampering around the field sniffing out for any dead.
They marched home but first passed through their newly acquired lands where Brandon had the village chiefs swear oaths of loyalty to the Stark Household and to always stay loyal to it before moving on home.
/
With banners furled and the tramp of boots resounding, Brandon's reduced army, (men spit off to return to their homes), made its triumphant return to their homeland. The familiar sights of the village came into view and a sense of relief washed over the tired soldiers. The distant silhouette of the castle stood behind the village's wooden walls.
As they entered the village past its walls, the welcome was heartfelt. Villagers lined the streets, cheering for the return of husbands and partners. Children, who had been eagerly awaiting the return of their fathers and brothers, waved excitedly from the sides of the road.
The familiar faces of Jon, Jocelyn, Elinor, Alys, and her husband Benjen greeted Brandon. Their smiles bore a mix of relief and pride. Jon, with his customary happy demeanour, stepped forward to clasp Brandon's in a hug which was quickly joined by Jocelyn.
"Welcome back, Bran," Jon spoke.
"Ye, welcome home Brandon," Jocelyn said, her happiness leaking through her voice.
Elinor, who had come with the orphanage kids, stood with a kind smile. Alys and her husband Benjen, their expressions a blend of relief and gratitude, joined the gathering, though Alys had a very wide smirk as she looked between Elinor and Brandon.
As men returned to their families Brandon relaxed into the embrace of his own.
"It's good you're back Brandon," Alys said. "You might have been gone for a short time, but the rest of the North has continued to move on."
"Great," Brandon said. "Let's leave it for later, let's just enjoy family for now."