11th Month of 284 A.C. Lannisport
Ser Jaime Lannister
The siege of Lannisport had lasted for nearly five moons now, and throughout it all there was just one thing that had kept him going. That thing was the correspondence he kept up with Lady Ashara, they wrote about many things, their hopes, their ambitions, their worries and their dreams. He had found from corresponding with her that she was a very smart lady and quick of wit, showing that she was more than she was just a beauty. Jaime found that he was falling for her, and he knew not whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. His father it seemed did not have a problem with this correspondence and instead seemed to be encouraging him along with it. This was the one thing Jaime could not understand, did his father want him to marry Mariah Banefort or not, the Baneforts had remained unsurprisingly silent throughout the whole conflict with the Greyjoys and the Ironborn and so Jaime wondered if there would even be a betrothal.
Their siege camp had been made up of eager men when they had arrived. All of them determined to avenge the fallen of the West on the Ironborn who had dared attack their homes, and the determination had lasted through the first few months. Now though things were beginning to wind down, as the enthusiasm gave way to boredom and men began wondering when the Ironborn would cave. They'd had access to supplies that were in the city before the battle of Lion's Mouth, and yet by now their food would've had to run out. It would seem that Victarion Greyjoy was either stubborn or stupid or both. And the sight of bodies being strung up on the walls of Lannisport had given new anger to the men. Something his father had been playing on during their war councils. With the arrival of the northmen and the Riverlanders it seemed to Jaime that this siege was going to come to an end.
"The royal fleet has burnt whatever ships Victarion Greyjoy had left anchored at port. And is now cutting them off from gathering anymore supplies." Lord Hoster Tully said.
There was some murmuring at that. And then Jaime's father spoke. "That is good very good. With the Ironborn having no access to their ships and any chance of escape they will come looking for a fight."
Lord Hoster nodded. "Aye, they will, the question is how long will it take for them to realise that they are doomed and for them to try and fight their way out of it?"
"It should not take them too long." Lord Tywin said. "Victarion Greyjoy is many things but he is not completely stupid. He will be slow to realise, but once he has he will try to force his way out."
Eddard Stark the heir to Winterfell spoke then pointing at the map before them. "The Golden Lion's gate seems the place where they shall be likely to come streaming out from. It is after all the closest place for them to look for an escape."
Jaime's father nodded. "Aye it is. But my men have been looking out at that gate and preparing for any attempted movement from within the city. There has of late been none. But I would not wait for too long before beginning to try to force them into action. My people are within that city and I do not want for them to starve."
This was a side to Lord Tywin that Jaime had not seen before. And then he wondered about it, was Tybolt Lannister not within the city having being dragged in as a prisoner? And was he not also Cersei's betrothed. His father was plotting something but what it was he knew not. Lord Kyndall spoke then. "The man are ready and waiting for a command my lords. We are ready to give our lives to ensure that the iron scum never make it out of here alive. They have destroyed our homes and raided our shores too often and now they must pay."
There are loud voicing of agreement coming from the other Westerlords at Kyndall's little speech. Something of a dark look passed over Lord Eddard's face but he still spoke in a calm manner. "And there shall be justice. But there is still much we must learn. We must learn what has become of Euron Greyjoy and what became of Donnor Saltcliffe as well. The Lord Regent has specifically asked for Euron Greyjoy. His brother should know what has become of them."
There is some murmuring at that and Lord Kyndall speaks then. "A pox on them both. If we find them, I shall kill them myself. Lord Farman was my goodbrother and my niece was reduced to nothing more than a whore before that bastard slit her throat. I will kill them and end them there and then."
Another loud chorus of approval comes from the Westerlords, and Jaime is surprised his father has not kept them under control. Either Lord Tywin is losing his grip on his bannermen or he is allowing this to happen deliberately. Lord Triston Farwynd, an Ironborn and someone most here regard with suspicion speaks then. "It would make sense for us to look for Euron Greyjoy and Donnor Saltcliffe my lords. They are two dangerous men and their absence will mark an uneasy period for us all should they cause havoc elsewhere. As for getting Victarion Greyjoy out and ready to fight, there was always one method my father said could work."
Silence follows this proclamation as the lords all wait to see who speaks next eventually it is Brax who speaks. "And why should we believe you? You are Ironborn just as much as these other bastards are in there. You could be leading us to a trap."
Calls of agreement echoed in the tent, and Jaime was once again surprised his father allowed this to happen. Eddard Stark spoke up then. "Lord Triston has proven to be a good and just man, and a loyal servant to the king. He was the one who slew Maron Greyjoy and came close to slaying Rodrik Greyjoy had it not been for Ser Arthur."
"He is still Ironborn." Lord Kyndall says.
"I am Ironborn aye. That much will never change. But I want the Greyjoys dead as much as you do. They took my family from me if you remember Westerlander. I have more right than any of you to want their heads. Now either listen to what I say or don't but when you die do not blame me." Farwynd says heatedly.
Angry murmurs follow this but then Jaime's father speaks. "Say what you have to Lord Farwynd and let us get this meeting over and done with."
Jaime looks at the Ironborn lord curious as to what he will have to say. The man swallows and then says. "The Greyjoys have always hated us Farwynds, for reasons that none can remember. If you want Victarion Greyjoy to come out to fight before the men begin growing tired of waiting, you had best send me out with a few men to taunt him. He will not deny a challenge when I am there and his men are looking for leadership."
"And what would happen when he comes to fight you?" Jaime's father asks.
"I would clash weapons with him enough for the rest of you all to come and over power whatever men brings with him and then give you enough time to enter the city. I do not have enough skill to hold him off for very long." Farwynd admits.
"So your plan revolves around you coming to blows with an experienced warrior who may or may not end up killing you before we have a chance of getting through the city gates? Not exactly a full proof plan now is it Farwynd?" Lord Kyndall says dismissively.
Farwynd smirks. "I never said it full proof my lord. I merely said it was a plan that could be used."
Jaime senses what the man is getting at and says. "You are suggesting someone of noted prowess ride with you to give the men enough time to get through and breach the walls?"
Farwynd nods. "That is the only way that we shall get enough time for Greyjoy to die."
There is silence for a long moment as everyone considers what needs to be done and then Jaime says. "I shall do it." After that everything else is a bit of a blur, his father is telling him off for being so stupid, that he risking everything, but Jaime knows he can beat Greyjoy, he knows how to fight, he grew up here he knows this place like the back of his hand. Soon enough he will get to proof himself right and deserving of the heirship to the Rock. He will show his father.
His father of course ordered some 200 men to ride with him and Lord Triston with most of them being guards for Jaime himself, completely unnecessary as far as Jaime was concerned but still it gave them the men they needed to deal with Greyjoy. The overall formation of the battle plan was to surround the city as they were at present and progress forward in war formation. It seemed a simple plan but there were many little details that all linked to make it work, most importantly Jaime and Farwynd succeeding. Jaime is armoured and mounted by the time he hears the camp come to life once more. He knows that today is a very important day sooner or later they will need to break this siege and destroy the Ironborn completely.
They ride with two banners the Lion of Lannister in Jaime's squire's hand, and the Seaking of House Farwynd in another westermen's hand. They and the 200 men ride with them right to the gate of the Golden Lion and Lord Triston roars out. "GREYJOY SCUM. I am Lord Triston Farwynd come meet your death like a true Ironborn. Or are you too scared of the Grey King and his wrath?"
Silence followed this statement and then men came to the battlements and roared back. "The seal fuckers are dead. Our lord saw to that."
Triston Farwynd bristles and roars back. "There is one seal fucker left you scum. Tell your lord to come out and die like a man."
The two men on the battlements laugh and are about to respond when Jaime barks a command and the archers in their group fire and the two men fall to their deaths covered in arrows. More men come at that and the same result happens. This goes on until Jaime tiring of this shouts. "Tell Victarion Greyjoy to come out and fight. Otherwise we shall set the walls on fire and burn you out."
Nothing happens for a long time after this and then, there are footsteps and the gates open. A bull like man with shoulders as big as Jaime's head walks out dressed in full battle armour, accompanied by some fifty men. "Which one is the seal fucker?" he asks.
Triston Farwynd dressed in armour almost bigger than he is, and with a blue cloak draped around his neck, spurs his horse forward and says. "I am."
"Then you shall die." The bull like man says. And it is only when he comes close enough that Jaime realises he is the Greyjoy man holding Lannisport.
He remains rooted to the spot as do his men as Farwynd and Greyjoy fight, their blows echoing across the empty space, Jaime knows this is necessary after all the men both his father's and the northmen and the Riverlanders are scaling the walls right now. But still it is painful to watch Greyjoy begin to beat Farwynd somewhat senseless, the boy nearly dies twice, and it is on the third failed attempt that Jaime spurs his own horse forward sword drawn. He blocks Greyjoy's blow and then man grunts. And he barks at Farwynd to get back and then their dance begins.
Greyjoy is clearly tired when they exchange blows and this does Jaime a world of good. He plays on this tiredness and advances and then retreats, his horse knowing which way he wishes to go, and when Greyjoy begins roaring challenges Jaime begins moving even quicker, tiring the big bull of a man out. They move and sparks fly when their weapons meet, but Jaime is younger and quicker and he knows where to look for weaknesses. He swings and on multiple occasions connects with the openings in Greyjoy's armour, managing to draw blood. Enough blood it seems to slow the man down even more, and when this becomes apparent, Jaime pushes the advantage, and just as he is about to strike the killing blow when Greyjoy suddenly disappears from his line of sight. Confused Jaime does not anticipate the blow to his back that sends him tumbling for his horse.
He is dazed and confused when he gets back up and Greyjoy begins pummelling away at him, swinging his hammer like a man possessed. One blow, then another rains off of Jaime's armour some of the blows connect and leave dents. Others merely bounce off, but most of them do cause pain and he knows that come the morn he is going to be in a lot of pain. The fall from the horse is causing him to see things as well, making it harder to judge what is real and what is not. Something is dragging him down but also holding him up and so he raises his sword when he thinks he needs to and luckily survives for another bout with the great bull of a man.
It appears his earlier fight with Greyjoy has done enough damage, for soon enough Greyjoy's blows lessen and he starts swaying, at least that is what it appears like to Jaime. The man is a bit of a blur to Jaime but he stumbles forward and in a move his uncle Tygett taught him he feints right then left and then when Greyjoy is stuck in the snow he thrusts his sword into the large gap in Greyjoy's breastplate and buries his sword in the man. He blinks hard watching as the man falls to the ground. Blood pooling on the floor. He manages to give the command for his men to slaughter the Ironborn who came with Greyjoy and then he looks around and wonders why he sees his mother on the battlefield.