Just as Randyll Tarly was outlining his siege plan to Viserys, a guard rushed over, breathless. "My Lord, Alekyne wishes to surrender to Your Grace, Viserys."
Sam glanced at the dragon beside Viserys and thought, It's probably the dragon's doing. Even without it, the mere presence of a king on the battlefield was enough to tip the balance of morale. Father and son turned to Viserys, awaiting his decision.
"Let him come to me first," Viserys said calmly.
A moment later, Alekyne Florent, followed by a small retinue, approached. He knelt before Viserys and said, "Your Grace, I am Alekyne Florent, son of Lord Alester Florent of Brightwater Keep. On behalf of House Florent, I pledge my loyalty to you."
Dany, standing nearby, scoffed. "How presumptuous! Why should we believe you can truly represent House Florent?"
Alekyne gritted his teeth, his face tightening. "Your Grace, I offer Brightwater Keep to you in good faith." He knelt fully, bowing his head, hoping for Viserys's approval.
Dany remained silent, her eyes fixed on her brother, awaiting his decision.
Viserys pondered for a moment before delivering his verdict. "After the war, the lands of Brightwater Keep will be halved."
House Florent was known for their opportunism, switching allegiances whenever the tides of power shifted. Viserys understood this well and decided to send a message. There's an old saying, he reflected, 'Without knowing the punishment, you can't judge its severity.'
Viserys's tactic was the opposite. By threatening to take half of Florent's lands, he let the fence-sitters weigh their options: surrender and lose a portion of their fiefdoms, or stand with Robert and lose everything. Most chose wisely. Viserys didn't truly care for their lands—he cared for securing their loyalty.
After accepting Alekyne's surrender, Viserys declined an invitation to Brightwater Keep. He had other plans. Turning to Randyll Tarly, he ordered, "Lead your army north and prepare to strike the Westerlands. Replenish your supplies here and move quickly."
Before departing, Viserys surprised everyone by acknowledging Sam. "Ser Randyll, Sam is a fine heir. You are fortunate. In time, I may consider him as my Hand of the King."
Viserys expected Sam to be overjoyed by the compliment. Instead, the one who seemed most affected was Randyll himself. For the first time, a smile broke through his typically stern expression.
"Your Grace is truly too kind. I will ensure he is trained even more strictly!" Randyll replied, his tone formal, though a rare hint of satisfaction could be detected.
Sam, standing nearby, felt a flush of flattery at Viserys's praise. However, the warmth quickly faded once Viserys and his entourage departed.
Without a word, Randyll reached into Sam's coat and pulled out a large sack filled with dried meats and candied fruits. "No dinner for you tonight. And no sleep until you've completed 500 sword swings," he said coldly.
Sam opened his mouth, ready to protest, but Randyll's stony glare stopped him in his tracks. His father's eyes were as cold and unyielding as marble statues.
"...Yes, my lord," Sam finally muttered, defeated.
...
Meanwhile, Garlan had led the army north to block the Westerlands, while Mace Tyrell stationed his forces around Bitterbridge. Crossing Bitterbridge would lead directly into the Crownlands, setting the stage for an advance on King's Landing.
Though Viserys only needed to visit Mace briefly to solidify their alliance, he chose to journey to King's Landing first out of respect for the old Hand of the King, Olenna Tyrell—the true power behind House Tyrell. Her influence made it essential for Viserys to meet her in person.
Back in Highgarden, only Olenna, known as the "Old Rose," and Willas Tyrell remained. They had just received word that Viserys had successfully retaken Dragonstone and anticipated his visit to King's Landing soon.
Willas sat hunched over a map, carefully analyzing the current situation. Although Viserys had gained the upper hand militarily, the conflict remained relatively deadlocked. They needed a decisive victory to break the stalemate and shift the balance of power fully in their favor.
"My lord, Your Grace Viserys has arrived at Highgarden," a guard announced breathlessly.
"Hurry! Go tell my grandmother!" Willas Tyrell commanded.
Meanwhile, Viserys and Daenerys had landed their dragons on a low hill north of Highgarden. From there, they were greeted with an endless vista of green fields stretching as far as the eye could see. Flowers bloomed like stars amidst the lush greenery, as if all the color and vitality missing from the North and beyond the Wall had gathered here. Highgarden, sitting at the confluence of the Golden Tree and Mander Rivers, seemed to pulse with the life force of the entire Reach.
A gilded carriage adorned with golden roses approached from the distance, flanked by cavalry bearing banners of green with gold flowers. There was no need to announce Viserys's arrival; Quentyn Tyrell was already moving forward to meet him.
Several sturdy guards carefully carried Willas Tyrell's wheelchair down from the carriage, while two maidservants assisted Olenna, the "Old Rose," to descend. They both recognized Viserys and Daenerys standing nearby.
Despite his injury, Willas rose from his chair, and Olenna hobbled forward on crutches. It was an entirely symbolic gesture of respect.
Willas, around Jaime Lannister's age, appeared older due to his lack of physical activity over the years. Noticing his discomfort, Viserys waved him back into the wheelchair and offered Olenna a seat as well. His polite and considerate manner immediately won the favor of the Tyrells, especially as they stood before such a strikingly regal couple.
Viserys didn't rush to reveal the news of Brightwater Keep's surrender. Instead, he opened the conversation lightly. "Lady Margaery is doing well in Tyrosh. Dany even took her for a ride on the dragon once."
Olenna's sharp eyes gleamed with approval. "Ah, it is Margaery's great fortune to have the favor of Your Grace and the Princess. I thank the Princess on her behalf."
As Olenna attempted to stand again, Daenerys smiled warmly and interjected, "Lady Olenna, there's no need for that." She then shared the news about Brightwater Keep.
"Your Grace is the true king of Westeros," Olenna said, her tone practical but sincere. "Lord Alekyne made the right decision."
Their conversation flowed like a gentle spring rain—calm and refreshing. Eventually, Viserys turned to Olenna, saying with a respectful smile, "Lady Olenna, you are the wisest person I've met, except for Maester Aemon. Do you have any valuable advice for this reconquest?"
Olenna was visibly surprised by his deference, but quickly realized what he truly sought: insight into the Reach's interests after the war, or more specifically, what Highgarden desired. She paused thoughtfully before responding.
"Your Grace has restored the glory of House Targaryen in just a few short years. Your wisdom far exceeds your youth," she said, gesturing to the lush fields surrounding them. "The motto of House Tyrell is Growing Strong. For most noble houses, preserving their legacy and protecting their lands is paramount. As long as they can ensure their house survives and thrives, many will gladly serve Your Grace."