(Crap post- I'm very far behind with Ellion and wasn't in the mood for Red Mountain stuff, but the other sections should make up for it, I hope.) [@MrDidact] King's Landing Alerie lay in bed, nude to her gentle skin, beneath the cosy golden green quilt, and still held a hand around Tom. She felt her take an arm around her, as she cooed like a dove, not wanting to entirely admit that it had only been perhaps her first time, for real. Some before, but nothing quite as vivid as that. And it was a lot to take in. At least she'd slept well with him by her side, as she listened to what he said. He sounded so....dreamy, albeit Alerie knew this was real to some extent. "You worry far too much. Don't worry about those things. Your father and mine know best....on the what, when, and where. Mostly....I suppose. For now, just worry about us." She said, kissing him on the cheek, reassuringly, a trait that Alerie definitely had to offer. She seemed to offer warmth in her very presence, as she pulled him close, as best as she could, snuggling up against his shoulder. And what would they do with their wealth? Alerie knew the answer, well, sort of. "I suppose your father could say no, and leave me a mother of a bastard. But I think Lord Tyrion wouldn't do that. I wouldn't let that happen, anyway....you and I won't be prised apart so long as I breathe. And as for being Lady of Casterly Rock, the Lady Tyrell married to Lord Tommen Lannister....oh, I have many ideas. There have been many marriages between our houses, but nothing along primary bloodlines on this scale. The most powerful bloc in Westeros.....perhaps we shall show the Targaryens it is not fire and blood that rules, but the lions and roses that grow strong and play a part in their Kingdoms, too. That is only the beginning, my sweet lion. So long as I'm by your side and you're by mine, I don't think we can be stopped." She chuckled, sleeping in a little more with him, knowing if there were any ravens that had come, she would meet father about it later. --------------------- Highgarden Merlin read the letter, sighing. It was better news than before, just about. "We have help on the way, at least." Merlin turned to Eve, who stood by his side, looking over the small quilting room, where Alys sat with her tutor, learning how to knit at the moment, a finely taught skill that any Lady of the Reach would need. It was theraputic to watch almost from Eve's point of view, but to Alys, it looked a little daunting, and clumsy. Merlin on the other hand knew that a simular clumsy came in some of the ways they'd tried to hunt down the beasts lately in the Reach, and that the arrival of the Inquisitor would surely spell well. Given the influence of Gardener pretenders, it was something that had to be laid down. Beyond bounties for the false Gardners to be brought before the court of Lord Merlin Tyrell, Steward of Highgarden, not much had been done, and it was of no doubt to him that the Realm wanted it's stability in one of it's kingdoms, and was sending someone from on high to get it done. "What kind?" Eve asked, looking up to Merlin, as Alys worked away, managing to finish the stitch on the top of the quilt, a lovely fabric cloth with a golden Rose in the middle. Even part of Eve did wonder...she really should have started knitting something else at this point. Perhaps a deer, or a lion, or something, Eve loved her sister in law's handcrafted gifts but it seemed excessive. "The Inquisitor is on their way. That, and I have that cranky old man Oldtower kept telling me to bring in. And a Florent to serve as a administrator, or at least an offer to discuss some matters. Someone I might need to help with this Florent buisness." [@AtomicNut] ------------------ Bloodstone Ellion had taken a bit of a backseat to some of what had gone down, given he had taken a few wounds. Paid attention to the plan, and played his role in it, the mess that was his hair and face adding to the effect, though his height and fighting style did give him away a little bit at times. Even brushing off Lyvia and Aerion's comments, disregarding them a little. His part in the plan had worked out well, and he had been quiet, pretty speechless compared to his usual. Disregarding Miri even, he hadn't actually spoken with her in a while, well, not intimately. It had been business ahead of pleasure here, as lovely as she was, he had to keep his head on his shoulders and he knew she was doing exactly the same. After all of this, no doubt they'd talk. Right here though, in pouncing on Big Cap, he was a little more active. The blur that had been this confusing plan had begun to fade, and his thoughts on really holding back here were out of the window. Rhaegar had taken them the right way, and from here on out, he knew what he had to do. Stabbing the first pirate he met, it was a simple push off the blade as he slashed it into another man charging him from the flank, brutally cutting open his abdomen, dropping to the floor in screaming agony, as Ellion walked past, following close as he watched Malrik face down Big Cap, following by his side as he kept his blade heightened, taking another approach. "C'mon then." ------------------ The Spine The unthinkable happening was something Garlan only could lay witness too, as he yelled the command. "Fall back and reassemble the line! Get the fucking vanguard back in!" The command was conveyed fast, though slower than usual, as he looked across at the various points of the line, the number of men falling staggering. Garlan hadn't pushed all his men into the middle, of course. The supply of the vanguard was crushed, and Ned Dayne was going to follow. He had to pull whatever was left back, and the rest of the men around Garlan were setting up spear walls and emboldening their defence, given that the casualties were going to mount. Holding an assault was insane. This was going to be survival, as Garlan looked around, taking in the men he had from the tactical position on the ridge that he held, from his horseback, looking across to one of the runners to the frontline. "Get the warlocks into the middle! We'll need to fight fire with fire..."