Chapter 130 - The Battle of Haigh Castle (IV)
🕑 Added 2025-02-26 03:57:50 +0000 UTC“Glory and greed go hand in hand with death.” Oberyn Martell thought, watching the vassals of House Frey in high spirits.
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“Surround the tent and prevent anyone from entering.” Aenar ordered a Sardaukar before entering the tent with his Royal Guard and the members of the Court.
Upon entering the Main Camp Tent, Aenar naturally sat down on the main seat. His gaze roamed around those present until it settled on Walder Frey's eldest son. Unlike his father, the man was actually a good person, which, in all honesty, was not something you would expect coming from the offspring of one of the most ambitious and petty men in the Seven Kingdoms.
“Your wine, Your Grace.” Aenys Frey poured a glass of wine for Aenar, who accepted it with a kind smile.
“Thank you, Ser Aenys.” Aenar thanked him as he looked at the man who bore his ancestor's name. He had to admit: the guy was ugly.
Curiously, even Aenys Frey's sons bore the traditional names of House Targaryen: Rhaegar and Aegon. But obviously, both were exactly like their father, lacking even one percent of the Targaryen's characteristic beauty.
“Your Grace, my father has asked me to inform you that the Twins' gates are open for your arrival. House Frey will kneel before House Targaryen once more and fight alongside the King.” Stevron declared with a respectful tone, displaying a kind and warm gaze.
“Lord Frey has my thanks.” Aenar smiled and expressed his gratitude aloud, raising his goblet in a toast, a gesture that everyone followed, toasting with smiles on their faces.
Oberyn and Tyrion exchanged glances, noticing the amusement in each other's eyes. Did they feel pity or mercy for these people? No. Even if they didn't know exactly what Walder and Tywin's plans were, they were both quite sure that these same men would obey Walder Frey's orders and kill them without any hesitation.
So there was no room for pity; on the contrary, the situation seemed ironic, almost comical. Especially for Oberyn, the real orchestrator of the plan. He couldn't wait to see their expressions when they found out the truth.
“Your Grace, can I ask you something?” Aenys Frey took a sip of wine and asked in a respectful tone, flashing a false look of admiration at Aenar. He knew very well how to satisfy a man's vanity and ego.
“You may ask, Ser Aenys.” Aenar narrowed his eyes and replied in a calm tone. He recognized an ambitious sycophant when he saw one, and Aenys Frey was exactly that kind of person. How could he allow someone like that on the Small Council?
Did Aenys think Aenar was like Aegon IV, surrounded by sycophants and incompetents?
“Where will Your Grace strike first?” Aenys asked, slightly excited. He felt that this was his chance to prove himself to the king and secure an important position at the Court of House Targaryen.
“I will attack Riverlands.” Aenar replied, causing everyone who didn't know this information to open their eyes in shock.
In everyone's eyes, including those of the many noble houses of Westeros, if House Stark had knelt before the king, House Tully, linked by marriage to House Stark, would surely kneel too. But when they heard Aenar's words, they all realized that the reality was not exactly as the rumours said.
“For certain reasons, House Tully will no longer be Lord Paramount and will no longer be able to rule Riverlands.” Aenar took a sip of wine and commented casually, watching as everyone was shocked by the information he had just revealed.
Aenys' eyes couldn't help but light up when he heard Aenar's words. He felt his heart beat faster, thinking that this really was the chance for House Frey to reach a level never seen before in history.
Lord Paramount of the Trident and Lord of the Riverlands!!!
It wasn't just Aenys who thought of this possibility. Stevron and Emmon also showed excited expressions. If House Tully could ascend to Lord Paramount during the Conquest of Aegon, House Frey could also ascend during the Conquest of Aenar!!!
At this thought, the brothers looked at each other and saw the excitement in each other's eyes. How could they not be excited? It was the chance their father had always hoped for.
Yes, Walder Frey, an ambitious and cruel lord, had always looked at the weak House Tully with greedy eyes. Honestly, it wasn't just House Frey that had this desire. Without the protection of House Targaryen, House Tully could never contain powerful Houses like Blackwood or Bracken, both noble lineages that were once kings during the Age of the Hundred Kingdoms.
These two noble Houses were extremely powerful in the Riverlands, possessing vast lands and armies larger than those of their liege, House Tully. They also had their eye on the title of Lord Paramount. How could they ignore this possibility when they saw House Tully's weakness?
House Tully possessed something it didn't have the strength to defend, nor even the authority to command its most powerful vassals.
In this world, everything came down to force, especially during the Age of a Hundred Kingdoms, where kingdoms were overthrown every month as if they were mere minor lords.
“Your Grace, don't worry, House Frey will help you pacify the rebels.” Stevron beat his chest and promised in a brave tone. Even someone as kind as him was consumed by greed when faced with an opportunity like this.
Aenar looked at everyone and spoke in a gentle tone:
“I appreciate the good intentions, but this won't be possible.”
His words left everyone except the members of his court extremely confused.
“Right now, Walder Frey is preparing a grand reception for me and my court.” The kindness disappeared from Aenar's eyes. “He's poisoning the wine and preparing bows and arrows to kill me and everyone I care about, on Tywin Lannister's orders.”
Silence prevailed in the room after Aenar's words still echoed in the minds of the vassals and Walder Frey.
As soon as Aenar spoke, Leda, Willam and Oberyn drew their swords.
“They must all be killed.” Taking a sip of wine, Aenar ordered with a casual tone. His eyes were indifferent to the massacre about to begin.
“Your Grace, I don't know where you heard these false rumors, but my father would never do something like this.” Aenys spoke with a smile, but his eyes showed a trace of panic. Her words were lies, and he knew it. Deep down, he could well imagine his father committing something so despicable, after all, that's how Walder Frey taught him.
Aenar didn't answer. What could he say to someone who, in his eyes, was already dead? Without having to repeat her orders, Leda acted without any hesitation. She cut off the heads of those next to Aenar. Coincidentally, the closest was Aenys Frey.
Walder Frey's third son, already of advanced age, didn't even have time to react. His head was cut off in one clean stroke of the Dawn sword. Curiously, Aenys' head fell onto Aenar's empty plate. Blood oozed out and filled the plate, creating a grotesque soup of blood and freshly severed head.
Looking at Aenys' still incredulous expression, Aenar saw the man's eyes move for a moment before he actually died.
When his head was separated from his body, streams of blood spurted out and stained Aenar's armor. But as his armor was already red, the blood only added depth to the suit's hue.
The massacre continued without Aenar raising his gaze, his posture remaining absolutely unchanged in the face of the slaughter taking place around him. The only other person who remained motionless was Tyrion, who obviously had no martial skills.
Oberyn, in particular, was merciless during the murders. He despised filthy traitors like those before him, so the Red Viper of Dorne didn't show an ounce of kindness in his attacks.
Two minutes later, everyone was dead, without any resistance. Blood covered the inside of the tent as Leda, Willam and Oberyn watched the scene with indifferent gazes. None of the three were inexperienced, especially Oberyn, who had spent years living as a mercenary in Essos.
What about the screams? The men did shout, but no one came. The reason was simple: the Sardaukar surrounded the tent, spears in hand.
Leda approached Aenar and took out a white handkerchief, carefully wiping away a few drops of blood that had splashed onto his face during the massacre.
“Oberyn, start your plan.” Aenar allowed Leda to do as she pleased and ordered with a cold tone.
“Don't worry, Your Grace.” Oberyn replied, his voice laden with confidence.
“I will kill many.” He said, smiling coldly.
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I'm writing another chapter.
Sorry for the lack of updates, I'm busy with my dog who had complications, she went blind during pregnancy and can't walk. I almost had a caesarean section on a cachorra because the damn vet said that all the puppies inside my dog had died.
Honestly, I've never been so furious in my life at a person's incompetence.
Comments
Banana19
Sorry to hear about your dog man! Hope she is doing okay now.
Jarod lane
I am so sorry to hear about your dog!
Aemerys
Thank you, I hope you love another dog again. They are so precious to us
Tasjuan Hampton
I had the same problem for my girl husky 2 years ago she died tho because the pregnancy had me shook greatly hope your dog gets better , thanks for the chapter
