Siege of King‘s Landing

Siege of King's Landing

Tyrion POV

Once again, I was on the walls of King's Landing, watching as Stannis prepared for another attack. Day after day, we would exchange rocks with each other. We mainly hit nothing while Stannis would hit the towers or the buildings behind the walls.

We had enough men to defend ourselves but not enough to take the fight to him. Thank the gods that uncle Stafford has arrived in time. He isn't a fool, even if he lacks tremendous martial capabilities. I feared I would be left under Cersei and her son's Joffrey command. It would have been disastrous times, indeed.

Joffrey, the inpatient fool, was ready to send men to death. Cersei was worse. She would have sent me to my end. I don't know what would have happened if Stafford didn't stop them. Still, our situation didn't look good, and I feared for the worst.

"You are there, Tyrion," Speaking of the devil.

"Uncle Stafford, I didn't know you were looking for me."

"You weren't in the small council."

"Small council? It's more like Cersei's mummers' show, nothing more."

"You shouldn't speak of your sister like this."

"It doesn't matter. I am the only one left that opposes her. No matter how I speak about her, she would still want to kill me."

"She is your sister and, more importantly, your queen."

"Not for long if this will continue. Stannis soon will be my king."

"We will hold the walls until Lord Tywin comes. And your plot with the Wildfire took care a good portion of his ships."

If uncle hadn't pulled the chain too early, we could have taken almost all of Stannis' ships. Of course, uncle Stafford got all the laurels of it. Only a few would even speak that it was my plan, to begin with. Sometimes I have to question why I am even trying so hard for them. If not for Jaime, would I still stay here?

"Last I heard, my father was still at the Golden Tooth," I said to my uncle.

"It is a small castle. He will take it soon enough."

"I don't know. I've been there several times, and I can't imagine how they could climb the hill beneath it without sustaining many casualties."

"Theon did it. Tywin will not lose to Ironborn savage."

"Don't forget that my father is still in Riverlands. The Riverlanders won't stay still."

"You doubt your family too much."

"I am just being realistic."

"Either way, we have enough men to hold the walls. Stannis won't take it from us."

"I am not worried about Stannis, uncle. Have you been in the streets? The people are starving or soon will. Tell me, who will they eat first, if not the lions?"

"Don't worry. You would be left for the last. You too small to feed many."

"Laugh as you wish, uncle, but the situation inside the city isn't favorable to us. Someone is killing our knights left and right. The riots are getting bigger and bigger with each passing day."

"It is the mobs that killed those knights, don't overthink it."

"I find it hard to believe that unarmed and untrained people can kill our proud knights."

"What would you know of it? You never held a sword in your life."

"If you say so," I knew when to shut up. "So, why were you looking for me?"

"The King wants to put a bounty on Theon Greyjoy, fifty thousand gold dragons."

"Why? As you said, my father is going to take the Golden Tooth. I thought Theon Greyjoy was there. Did I think wrong?"

"No, you are right."

"Then why? We should worry about Stannis first before worrying about others."

"The King believes that we will prevail, but it seems he has some deep hatred towards Theon Greyjoy. He doesn't want Theon to survive no matter what."

"Fine, I will find you fifty thousand gold dragons once we are safe from Stannis."

"Good, I will be leaving then."

There was nothing I could do but sigh. I had no friends or allies in this damn city. Only my position as the master of coin kept me relatively safe. Even if we win, can I keep my head? Well, I will not be killed so easily.

Tyrells will accept my offer, for if they don't, they will have to worry about their vassal lords. By now, Myrcella should have arrived at Horn Hill. Lord Tarly won't deny the marriage proposal, and if Tyrrells decline my offer, they will have to worry about Stannis and Lord Tarly.

I don't need my father to save me. I don't need anyone. Even Cersei couldn't decline to send Myrcella and Tommen away to safety. I will prove to them that making an enemy of me would be a mistake.

They think I am a helpless dwarf they can take care of whenever they want. But they still are clueless that I have already bought a portion of Goldcloaks. If, no, when Tyrells arrive, I will win their favor in any way possible.

I should return to my work. I have to put fifty thousand gold dragon's bounty on Theon Greyjoy. Who could have imagined his name to spread so much? You can't walk anywhere without someone sharing rumors about him.

Defeating Jaime was already unbelievable enough. Now people say Theon took an eye off the Mountain and ate it in front of him. It was partially true, as the Mountain had only one eye left. But after taking the Golden Tooth and defeating uncle Kevan, people think he is some hero of the North. Some even started calling him the Sword of the North, not even realizing that he was from the Iron Islands.

Davos POV

It was hard to stay still and wait. The trebuchets would throw the stones, sometimes the rocks would go over the walls, and sometimes they wouldn't even reach them. Still, with each passing day, the walls are more and more destroyed. The third of the towers are already gone. I might not know much, but if this continues, we will soon be able to take the walls.

"Davos Seaworth," Lord Alester Florent called me out. "The King wishes to see you."

I nodded my head and turned to King Stannis' pavilion. Lord Florent was still grief-stricken after his son died in the Wildfire. Even I saw that he wasn't fit to counsel the King in his state. I wouldn't trust the rest of the Stormlords either. None seem to like the King much.

"Your Grace, have you called for me?" I asked before entering his pavilion.

"Come inside."

That was all I needed to hear before coming inside. But I wish I wouldn't have to see the Red Woman by the King's side. As time goes by, she gets closer and closer to the King. I'm not fond of it even a bit.

"What commands does his grace have for me?" I asked as courtly as I could.

"I want to hear your counsel."

"I am not worthy, your grace. There are plenty more experienced and capable men you should listen to."

"You should not question your King, ser Davos," Even her voice was hateful.

"I have listened to everyone else. Now I want to listen to you," The King said.

"Still, I am only a lowly smuggler, your grace."

"You are my knight. Never forget that ser Davos," The King's voice might not be loud as his brother's, but it was at least as powerful. "I listened to Lord Florent, which cost me almost half my fleet. If you have not slowed down, the other half might have been lost too."

Even if he says so, it was only luck that Salladhor and the rest of the sell sails slowed down their ships together with me. It created a chain reaction where the other of the King's fleet slowed down too, so we weren't trapped in that hell. I pray to the gods every day for the mercy they showed me.

"Your Grace, Lord Florent lost his son. I think he received enough punishment."

"If only it were only his son he lost. He killed yours too."

"It was Lannisters that killed my son, your grace," And the Red woman.

"I see," The King let out a sigh. I didn't know if it was of relief or not. "Still, I will listen to your words before my next action."

"What would you want me to speak of, your Grace?"

"We should not waste more time and storm King's Landing."

It was the Red Woman who spoke instead of the King. I knew I should suppress my hatred for her for the King's sake, but she was a horrible woman. All red, from her hair to her robes. Many thought of her as the most beautiful woman in the world, but all I could see was horror. How can there be a person with no compassion for the dead and those suffering?

"Your Grace, I might not know much, but the walls are still tall, and Lannisters have many men to defend them," I said. "The Lannister have lost two times against Theon Greyjoy, even if he had a lot less men. I believe walls gave a big advantage for defenders."

"Fewer men, not less, ser Davos," The King corrected me. "But you are right, even if I hate to admit it. Theon Greyjoy showed the world how to break armies with only a couple of hundred men. I should not make the same mistakes as the Lannisters."

"Your Grace," The Red Woman spoke. "I saw in flames your defeat if you do not take the King's Landing soon."

"But you have not seen my victory if I tried to storm the city, have you, Melisandre?" The King stood up from his table. "We will continue throwing stones, but once the towers are destroyed, we will storm the King's Landing."

It seems that the King had already decided before he called for me. Did he want reassurance? I should not try to know what he is thinking. I know little of war and ruling. Still, I am glad the King has not given in to the Red Woman. And if the day comes that the Red Woman oversteps her boundaries, I will kill her.