Chapter 497: Fire at the Allied Camp

In the heart of this ancient and mystical forest, Oberyn Martell set ablaze a fire so fierce it could be seen throughout the Westerlands.

The roaring flames surged high, interspersed with green flames. Before leaving King's Landing, Oberyn had borrowed a few items from Viserys, confident they would aid him in taking the Westerlands.

Firstly, the fleet of the Iron Islands, led by Euron Greyjoy, who had pledged loyalty to Viserys. With the fall of the Iron Islands, Euron's fleet was the last bastion of the Ironborn. Viserys promised him the return of his homeland after the war.

The second was the wildfire hidden beneath King's Landing. The Golden Company found large stashes of wildfire in cellars upon their arrival, said to be left by Viserys' father, the 'Mad King' Aerys II. Though the wildfire was moved out of the city, Oberyn took much of it, deploying it in this battle.

Wildfire is highly volatile. Targaryen soldiers needed only to smash pots of it on the ground, igniting it as the panicked Westerlands soldiers fled into the woods. One pot of wildfire could quickly ignite others, and the ancient, sprawling forest served as kindling.

In mere moments, a world-consuming fire visible throughout the Westerlands took hold.

Billowing smoke darkened the skies, with flames illuminating the heavens, turning night to day.

The screams of Westerlands soldiers were chilling, akin to the sizzling of food at high heat, even exuding the aroma of burning flesh.

Oberyn, clad in a sandy-colored war robe, bore a sun-pierced spear sigil on his chest. He stood atop a nearby hill, the firelight reflecting on his weathered face, his dark eyes quietly observing the blaze.

"My Prince," a guardsman beside him couldn't bear to watch, especially as lives were consumed by the inferno. Yet Oberyn remained stoic.

"This fire has eradicated half the living forces of the Westerlands," he said, breaking the silence. "Over twenty thousand young lives, fathers, sons, and brothers. How will the Westerlands perceive me? Or rather… how will they view our dear Lord Tywin?"

Oberyn mused aloud, a cryptic smile playing on his lips. "Let's go," he said, turning his horse away from the hill. He had seen enough.

"Make way!"

Not far off, a towering Westerlands knight emerged from the fiery chaos. Panicking, he killed several Lannister soldiers who blocked his path. But escaping the flames, he faced Targaryen soldiers. Although they struggled to subdue the frenzied knight, he was eventually captured, tied up — just a small episode in this war.

The Targaryen's surprise attack at midnight led to a fire that raged until the third night, finally quelled by torrential rain. The flames consumed an ancient forest, home to tales of the First Men battling the Children of the Forest, and over ten thousand Westerlands soldiers.

Many soldiers and nobles perished in the fire, while others were captured by the Targaryens, like Sandor Clegane. Only a few escaped.

They fled to the Poultry Hall, but Oberyn and his forces soon followed. The count of Poultry Hall and his eldest son had died in the fire, leaving the remaining Westerlands forces demoralized and unable to defend against the Targaryens.

In 293 AC, August, the world watched as Poultry Hall fell. Oberyn's forces had won the race against time, capturing the city first.

A soldier under Oberyn's command was the first to reach the battlements and was knighted. Tywin Lannister, arriving later, could only lament from outside the walls, having also heard of the decimation of over twenty thousand of his forces. The 'Red Viper' was cunning. He lured the Lannister forces, then struck like a predator, nearly causing Tywin to spit blood in rage.

Tywin's cousin and uncle by marriage, Ser Stafford Lannister, rising star of the Westerlands, either by luck or intentional mercy from the Targaryens, narrowly escaped the fire.

"Cousin, spare me!"

Now, Stafford knelt before Tywin, begging for mercy. Yet, the furious Tywin remained impassive. Even considering his late wife's memory, Tywin couldn't forgive Stafford. Many of those lost were related to the present nobles.

"I'll look after Daven," Tywin finally declared. With a wave of his hand, guards shoved Stafford, pale-faced, towards the gallows. A full corpse remained.

The surrounding Westerlands nobles and knights fell silent, the atmosphere oppressively tense. This defeat severely dampened their spirits. A young Lannister with golden hair and brown eyes, Daven Lannister, Stafford's son, could only watch helplessly as his father was sentenced.

News of Oberyn's victory at the Red Lake quickly reached King's Landing.

This was an epic battle that would be etched in history. Oberyn defeated the Lannister forces in just two days.

King's Landing rejoiced, celebrating the Targaryens' victory, as most despised the Lannister family.

Tyrion felt mixed emotions upon hearing the news, while for Cersei, it was a devastating blow. Her final pillar of support had crumbled.

Yet, Viserys was preoccupied. Time had flown, and after ten months, his queen, Princess Arianne of Dorne, was due to give birth.