Chereads / ASOIAF: The Red Lion and the Crazy Child / Chapter 16 - The Glory of the Lion

Chapter 16 - The Glory of the Lion

Tywin Lannister left the next day, dividing Lannister Hospital in two, he took 20,000 men with, along the gold road, heading to Harrenhall. Jaime had 12,000 to advance against Correrrio.

We march along the path of the golden tooth, towards Correrrio, set camp in a forest at the edge of the West, a few miles from the beginning of the Riverlands.

At nightfall, the army began to shake and prepare.

- What's going on?

- News from the scouts, an army is closing the passage to the land of rivers. They spotted Lord Vance and Piper's banners.

Gwayne laughed.

- What fools, did they mention the size of the army?

- Maybe six thousand, maybe more.

- When are we leaving?

- Soon.

Gwayne returned to the tent and told Daeron the news.

- I didn't think we'd have a battle that fast. - He said, with a little insecurity.

- We'll massacre them, we have more men and Jaime. - Gwayne smiled at him.

They woke up with men raising camp, Ser Jodi called them and warned them they were leaving.

They put their armor on and Gwayne again checked Daeron's armor.

- It's okay... he said it. - Don't stay away from me, understand?

"Yes, he muttered Daeron."

They rode on their horses and joined the rows of the cavalry, marching with the army to a declive that would give them advantage.

They were too far behind to see what was happening out front.

But they heard the screams, knew the time had come and the rows began to advance quickly.

Gwayne looked at Daeron and said.

"stay close"

The next moment they were advancing along the cavalry, down the slope the scene they saw was almost beautiful.

A huge hotel descending the slope against an enemy infantry on open ground. They against attacking with arrows, knocking down some of the Lannister knights, but defeat was inevitable. The Young Lion led the attack, advancing into enemy rows and destroying any attempt to defense. The battle ran in the field after that, the infantry that survived was fighting on the floor and Lord Vance and Piper's cavalry, who was behind, now advancing clumsyly. Gwayne rode across the flank, leaving the main stage of battle and defeated one of the Vance's men, knocking him off the horse and leaving the infantry, while the man was trampled by the ones following him.

Daeron and the other knights of the Vikary house, along with other free knights. Gwayne kept making way between enemy resistance. Ser Jodi was knocked down by a lancer, which was soon finished by another of the knights.

Daeron came back to check if Ser Jodi was alive, while Gwayne was barging the advance of three pickels through the mud that had become the land. Much further, Gwayne spotted Ser Jaime in his golden armor, he continued the attack against the rivers' men, who resisted the first investment. He was unstoppable.

Gwayne and the other four knights finished the three pickels without much effort, one of them was trampled and another struck by an arrow of a Lannister bullshit, our infantry had just arrived in the field and knights with Peiper banners screamed for the rivers' army to retreat, they would try to protect the rear. But they couldn't stand it for long. Jaime cut off their main head and the others ran in stamped. The battle was won.

Gwayne returned to Daeron, removing the helmet and descending from the horse. Ser Jodi was dead.

- He couldn't take the wound.

Gwayne looked at him closely, after a silence he spoke.

- We still have work to do, many of the men need the coup.

They spent most of the morning helping her end up in men's pain. A new provisional camp rose up on the high of the slope. They went over there to rest and eat something.

- Are you hurt?

- No, thanks to seven.

- Thanks to them.

- How many did you take?

- Um, I used the spear on an archer who carried the symbol of a naked woman in the chest. - Daeron laughed. - What emblem was that?

- The Piper emblem. - Gwayne said, with a half smile on his face.

- And you?

- I'm not sure.

- Are you okay? He asked Daeron, with a considerate face.

I'm just thinking about Ser Jodi, it wasn't that old and I'm also bothered to leave him in a simple grave... said Gwayne, so he sighed. – I'm thinking about it.

- I understand! Daeron said from the outerts. - I think you should send him home, he had family in the village... i would still grow the esteem of the knights for you...

- He said, getting up from the table.

Gwayne tried to find a carriage in the loot of the enemy's things, and sent two men to escort the body to D'oro Bosque.

At dawn we march again towards Correrrio, now with the completely free path and we were very close.

They marched again, making another camp and continuing the next day the march to Riverrun.

- We won what, eight thousand men? - – questioned Daeron. - Maybe that means a siege in Correrrio, I don't think they'll fight after the news of what happened here.

They'd be idiots if they left the castle walls, so it's almost certain.

- Daeron, with a worried face.

- why did you say it was a shame ser jaime was lannister?

- Come closer, Daeron. - Gerald said.

Daeron approached.

My father wasn't a man of the Vikary house, he was a Reyne... — Gwayne took a long break, looking around, Daeron's face was astonishing and surprise.

- Ser Lymond found him in the ruins of Castamere. - continued Gwayne.

Daeron turned his eyes.

So that's the reason for the two lions in the guard of your sword. – whispered Daeron, staring at Gwayne.

- Gwayne Reyne... i never thought much about this house, but here's a lion right in front of me. Now I understand your words at the camp near Rochedo, at the time of the trip to the camp.

- Nobody can know about this - Gwayne said.

You have my loyalty now and forever. – You exclamated Daeron, proudly on your face.

they both always liked adventure and that would be another amazing adventure, Daeron would like to investigate and walk through the Castamere salons... but only after the end of the war.

They both heard the screaming, which they thought was strange.

- Put on the helmet, Daeron. - Gwayne said it can't mean anything good.

And both were shoulder to shoulder and advanced with the horses, and then heard the first screams, the screams of war.

Out front, the infantry was too agitated. - what's happening!

They couldn't see what was happening because they were in the rear of the army. Gwayne fired the horse towards the left flank of the army to see what was going on there. Daeron fired back.

When they got closer, they spotted with haunting and surprise on their faces. Lord Tully had left the walls and was going to fight in the field.

The army of the fluvial lands was 400 yards away from our infantry.

- shit, shit, shit!

Gwayne was surprised by the courage or stupidity of the Lord of Correrrio.

- Let's return to our position. He said, with austero face - let's take our men to battle.

So they left for rear, getting there one of the knights asked what was happening.

- The Lord of Correrrio will fight in the field.

The Horseman let a laugh.

- Looks like the war's gonna be short, we'll be home soon, boys! Garged him, men roar in response.

- Let's move on!

In the distance the sound of death and swords shocking, screams of pain and death.

Daeron seemed a little nervous.

- Come on, we're missing all the fun back here. - Gwayne said.

Daeron was insecure, but he agreed to his head. i wouldn't leave your friend alone.

- It's very dangerous, young sir. - said one of the knights. - wait for the battle to spread a little more.

- I don't intend to go into the middle of battle. He said, in response.

- We'll attack by the flank. And right after that they fired the front.

Gwayne up front, followed by Daeron and the four knights left and fifty men of weapons.

Being 40 metres of the Battle, Gwayne gathered his men, and screamed calling for other men assembled, and infant, after attracting their attention.

"for castamere thought gwayne."

But he did pull the horse towards them and scream.

- For Casterly! he advanced against the Tully army flank, which was already being pressed almost against the walls.

Gwayne's big stud hit two Tully soldiers, throwing them away while hitting with his sword. He hit one in the back and saw the blood run through the sword, and the man scream.

the stud stepped on to death what was fallen. He looked around and saw his knights advancing over the enemies and crushing them, even Daeron was able to press the flank, making enemy soldiers flee to the middle of the Tully army, giving place on the front for more rested men. Gwayne continued advancing and more and more the Tully army was obliged to retreat before the Lannister's well-equipped men.

A pile of bodies formed behind you. While the Lannister army was maintaining the position conquered by the Vikary, who opened a front on the Tully's third flank.

Gwayne and Daeron retreated a little bit, stopped the horses side by side behind the army. Fifteen metres separated them from the Battle. They looked ahead and saw Ser Jaime was on the right flank with his own cavalry.

- You all right, Daeron?

- I can't lift the sword anymore... He exclaimed Daeron, catching his breath.

- Did you get hurt?

- No, just tired. - You answered him. - Let's stay in the rear now, we've already done our part. Now it's a job for infantry and it doesn't look like it's gonna last long.

The Tully army was retreating back to the wall.

- And you were okay?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

Daeron observed Gwayne's face, covered in sweat and his helmet with mud spatter and blood.

After an hour the battle had already ended completely. The infantry was doing its job, killing enemy soldiers in the field.

Gwayne ordered his men to mount camp and lift the standard, then sat on a stone to look at the sea of death that was the battlefield.

- I didn't think it was gonna be like this.

Gwayne was silent.

I was looking at a look like a tired lion and surrounded by enemies.

So, a Lannister man arrived.

- Lord Vikary?

- Just Gwayne. - He retributed Gwayne, with his tired voice.

- You were summoned by Ser Jaime, he awaits you at your camp.

- Show me the way. - Responded Gwayne.

They walked to where a big tent stood up.

They saw Ser Jaime with a glass of wine in his hand and talking to some gentleman they didn't know.

Ser Jaime was surrounded by Lords and Knights.

The soldier announces the arrival of Gwayne from the Vikary house.

- Get close, Gwayne of House Vikary. - said Jaime, delivering the glass to one of the squires. - His name isn't strange.

My mother was one of Queen Cersei's company ladies, my lord. — answered Gwayne. — We visited the Queen when she came to Casterly seven years ago...

Ser Jaime looked at him with a half smile and an interested look.

- Now I remember, it was during the tournament in honor of Princess Myrcela... I remember Cersei receiving you ahead of many other great lords and ladies, my sister is not very capable of doing this sort of thing to any lady of company.

My mother always remembered the queen with much appreciation, my lord.

- You fought well today. - Jaime walks around Gwayne, watching him. - He led the fight on the right flank, you played the role that another older and experienced gentleman should have played. - He said he, looking at the gentlemen around.

- I did what needed to be done, my lord. - You answered Gwayne.

- Modesto, huh? The kingdom would be better if more knights had this quality... Today, you were more than a simple soldier. Thanks to you my tweezer movement worked perfectly, and Lord Edmure's stupid act of courage had become songs. — Jaime draws the sword, and look at Lord Edmure tied to a tree.

Gwayne looked at him.

- Kneel if, Gwayne from the Vikary house.

Gwayne knelt and lifted his head to look.

- In the name of the seven... i consecrate you with a knight. may you wield your sword not for glory, but for honour. May your shield protect the weak and innocent, and may your name, young Gwayne, resonate not by the power you hold, but for the justice you defend. – Jaime puts the blade over his shoulders.

- Get up, be Gwayne.

The other gentlemen and knights around have applauded.

"Congratulations, being Gwayne!" it came from the crowd.

Some gentlemen came to say hello, but many didn't come because of Ser Jaime's words.

But Lord Roland Crakenhall came.

Sor Lymond will be proud, not anyone who is sacred by Sor Jaime.

- Congratulations, Ser Gwayne. - Said Daeron, jumping and hugging him by the neck.

Then they both went back to camp. Gwayne was tired of more to understand everything that happened, only the next morning he really realized. Gwayne lay in his bed and Daeron next door. He could hear Daeron's voice saying something but he didn't understand it right, the world became a silence and his eyes started to get heavy and soon fell asleep.