The Entrance

[The Forgotten God]

A week before the combat begins, the horde descends upon Harren's Town. Almost fifteen thousand men and women from outside the kingdom begin to arrive, in their retinues that approach three thousand in some cases. The city is well prepared; months having been spent stocking ales and liquor, armorers coming from as far as White Harbor to make their fortunes in the days to come, mercenaries from Pentos and Braavos and Myr and Tyrosh coming to sell their swords.

The city seems small before the gigantic fortress, and even the most hardened warrior's gaze lingers an extra moment on the awe inspiring scale of Black Harren's masterpiece. Truly it appears invulnerable, all powerful, and the bright sunny day makes it seem somehow more intimidating; not even the light of the Seven can dim its puissance.

The Lannisters and Gardeners arrive first, the two largest groups, each over two thousand men alone. Their banners fly as the King of Highgarden and the Prince of Casterly Rock lead their hosts in thin lines that seem to stretch forever, meeting about a mile west of the city, where a simulated yard has been assembled for warriors who wish to settle their scores outside the more constrained limits of the city. An entire massive tower of Harrenhal has been converted for use by the guess, able to sleep hundreds, and King Harmund has opened many of the inns himself to the lower knights and men at arms.

Scouts report that the Durrandons and Martells are a day's march each, coming along the other side of the God's Eye, thousands strong themselves, and the Valemen are coming from the northeast in their thousands. A thin trickle of Starks has been seen, but the North had sent at most a tenth the men of anyone else, and who leads them is unknown as yet.

As they arrive, the guests are greeted by King Harmund, who sits on his horse at the gates to his great castle, his axe at his side but unarmored, surrounded by his lords and great warriors, a broad smile on his face. "Welcome to my humble abode!" He boomed, looking over the gathering forces. "It has been too long, my countrymen! Do come in! Partake of my food and drink, make yourselves at home in the Island Tower!"

[Prince Willem Lannister]

Willem Lannister, the Prince of Casterly Rock rode towards the gate, flanked by some of his most trusted men, including his brothers, cousins and other friends.

Behind him the Lannister host stretched out, a sea of mainly red and gold with many a proud Lannister rampant lion banner flying. The Prince himself was an impressive sight, mounted as he was on a giant white warhorse and clad in a breastplate etched with lions, spaulders in the shape of paws, greaves and sabatons with filigrees. Atop his head he wore a golden helmet showing a lion's roaring head. His long golden hair flowed out from underneath it, while his cloak woven of red and gold silk waved gently in the wind, like a giant red sail. The Prince's golden stirrups gleamed in the sunlight, while the ornateness of the two swords he carried and the red painted shield with the Lannister lion painted in gold upon it caused some to shield their eyes from the sunlight reflected off it.

"King Harmund." said Willem gravely, but pleasantly. "Greetings. My father King Harys also sends his greetings. We are pleased to be here on this auspicious occasion."

[King Perceon IV Gardener]

Perceon was near the front of the Reach's mounted column with his father and siblings, wearing a fine green tunic that appeared no worse for wear from the ride, suggesting the Prince may have only recently changed into it. He sat silently on his mount waiting for his father to make his introductions, feeling incredibly sore from the ride. He coughed slightly, covering his mouth to quiet the sound as he gazed around trying to match faces to names.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Melissa had elected not to wear her mail for the journey. Instead she was in riding leathers, with the hand motif of House Gardener emobroidered upon her jerkin in green thread. Her hair had been tied back in a long tail with a green ribbon holding it together.  She looked around curiously.

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

Lady Alyssa looked resplendent, because of course she did, in a lovely red dress with matching jewels in her ears and round her neck. She had ridden in on horse back beside her husband rather than in a carriage because she'd hate to miss anything, she rode side saddle though, elegant and demure.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

One of King Harmund's attendants, a grim fellow in black leathers and soft white furs, sat upon a horse. He could have been a steward or some minor lord perhaps. He carried a sword, but it was a practical item, likely taken from the armory on the way to this meeting.

The man gave a polite smile and bow to the prince, but dare not interrupt His Grace when speaking. Eventually, the dour gentleman looks over at the arriving convoy. His face becomes a little less dour as he mumbles something to the old man. Then he rides past the Western congregation who have never met him and approaches the Reach representatives.

He dismounted his horse and kneeled in the street before King Grayson. "Your Grace... I am Prince Theon Hoare. My grandfather and I welcome you to Harrenhal."

[The Forgotten God]

King Harmond nodded to the prince of Casterly Rock. "And we are honored to have a lion here as a friend and equal," he said formally, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. No one lied like a king lied. "I do hope your prowess is proven on the fields this next week," he offered, "I hope to see you there myself, maybe these old bones have a fight left in them. Please, I know you have come far. Your quarters are prepared. If you would sit in your father's seat I would be honored."

King Grayson nodded to Prince Theon, "Well met," he said, "my sons Perceon and Geralt," he nodded, "and my daughter Melissa. And I believe you've met my daughter in law, Lady Alyssa Hightower." He looks about. "I look forward to making your acquaintance, I believe we have mutually beneficial things to discuss."

As the westerners filed through, he turned to the King. "It has been many years, Grayson," he said, clapping him on the back like a warrior, "it is good to have you here as an honored and invited guest finally," he said with a great laugh, "and these are the future of the Reach..." he looked down the line. "Prince Perceon, Prince Geralt, Princess Melissa," he kissed the latter's hand, giving a gentlemanly bow, and then he turned to Alyssa, "and you must be the new Lady Hightower. Enchanted," he offered, but as she wasn't royalty he merely nodded politely. "Please, do get settled, if the castle does not serve I have a hunting lodge to the east, splendid view, room for all," he promised. "I know the stone life is not for everyone"

[King Theon IV Hoare]

Theon stood up without dusting his pants immediately. He was not a self-conscious man, and often had much worse elements on his person when he was still officially a maester. As the old men chatted, he approached the Lady of Oldtown. "My lady..." He spoke softly. "It seems you have become even more regal, both in law and appearance." He turned to her husband. "You have all of my envy and respect, Prince Geralt."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"Prince Theon," she and with a smile, "how charming of you, I brought you a present. The Citadel did not want to part with many, but I demanded they make you copies."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

His eyes widened as one hand took hold of her horse and he moved closer. "You didn't...? You did?! How many did the old tyrants surrender? Were you very curt with them, or did you sweettalk them? Oh, I wish I could have been in that room..."

[Lady Alyssa Hightower]

"I just clicked my fingers and told them what I wanted, but as for how many, you'll have to wait until you open them," she smiled down at him, "they were displeased to whom they were for, but others displeasure rarely deters me."

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

Prince Geralt had ridden the last leg of the journey beside his wife on a mighty black destrier, the knight resplendent in white enameled plate like a hero from song. A green hand had emblazoned on his breastplate, over the heart, a fist rather than the Gardener's open palm to mark him as a member of the Order of the Green Hand. Upon the shield on his back was the open palm of House Gardener and a verdant green cloak billowed from his shoulders. At his belt he carried the Valyrian steel longsword Vigilance, a recent honor bestowed by his uncharacteristically doting wife for the occasion and to celebrate their first year of marital bliss.

"Looking upon your awe-inspiring keep, Prince Theon, you have my respect and envy in turn," he replied evenly to the Greyjoy heir, as his wife and the oddly bookish reaver went on about some tome or other. He bit his tongue on a few occasions to keep from slighting in wife before their esteemed guests, wanting to agree that his displeasure never deterred her. Quite the contrary actually, for it seemed to spur her on.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Ah yes..." Theon sighed, pulling back a little. "Well, I know whose displeasure I fear more." He grinned as he started moving towards the proper Gardeners.

"My lords Perceon and Geralt. I hope you had a smooth trip north. I also hope our tourney impresses, because I studied the Andal traditions obsessively in planning this. Knighthood is not really an institution in our culture, but I know some of the Riverlords have been itching for a proper joust with the Green Hand."

[Mychel Mallister]

Lord Mychel stood on the walls of the great keep leaning over the coronations watching the procession pass underneath the gates with a smirk. Since he wasn't part of the royal numbers he decided it was best not to be front and center during the overly pretentious display of camaraderie coming from the bottom of the walls.

[Prince Geralt Gardener]

"Well they do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," Geralt replied, though he expected this tourney to be a pale shadow to those in the Reach, the beating heart of chivalric tradition. He wondered how many of the prince's banner could even sit a horse and imagined the melee would be even more chaotic than usual. "We will have to find a way to repay it in kind."

[King Perceon IV Gardener]

"A pleasure to meet you, your grace." Perceon replied to Harmond, smiling as if the man were some long lost friend. He opted to say no more, and let his father determine what their accomodations were to be. He was of the opinion they should stay somewhere uncomfortable to prove they were not weak, but if his father opted for comfort he would voice no argument.

Perceon then turned to the other man who had greeted him and held his tongue throughout the exchange between his brother and the ironborn Prince. Eventually he spoke up, offering Theon the same smile his father had received. "As my brother has indicated, we are grateful for your hospitality, Prince Theon. Let us hope that your tournament may serve to improve our understandings of one another. Just as you have studied our traditions I would welcome the opportunity to learn more of your own."

[Prince Willem Lannister]

Aug 4, 2017 19:24:45 GMT The Forgotten God said:

King Harmond nodded to the prince of Casterly Rock. "And we are honored to have a lion here as a friend and equal," he said formally, his eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. No one lied like a king lied. "I do hope your prowess is proven on the fields this next week," he offered, "I hope to see you there myself, maybe these old bones have a fight left in them. Please, I know you have come far. Your quarters are prepared. If you would sit in your father's seat I would be honored."

Willem nodded graciously, a smile touching his lips, although only he knew whether the smile was genuine or sardonic. "I thank you, Your Grace." he replied. "I...we... look forward to it." He turned to Ser Jaymes and his younger brothers and the other nobles who had accompanied him and motioned them forward.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Fear not the appearance of impropriety, Prince Perceon. I was also a stranger in this land not too long ago. I grew up in Oldtown, under the watchful gaze of Alyssa's father and the Conclave. I returned to Harrenhal with a Reachman's crisp accent and the fear that I would offend some perfumed lord or knight or my own family by breaking some sacred rule" He shook his head. "But I didn't. Because there were no rules to break. There is only my grandfather's will. The rest of us simply live to please it and live by not displeasing him. Life is much... simpler here that way. So the only mark of understanding you need show is perhaps some of that famous Arbor red..." He grinned, before turning to the sister.

"Princess Melissa... I confess I have been looking forward to meeting you for some time now."

[King Perceon IV Gardener]

Perceon nodded at that. "I am sure there is more to your people than that. But as a general rule it is not so different from our own. The Lords of the Reach are wise to act according to my own father's will. I shall heed your counsel on the offering of our wine though; perhaps you would do me the honour of joining me for some prior to the events beginning?"

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Absolutely. We have much to discuss." He mounted his horse again. Looking ahead, "It seems the golden prince has signaled his procession into the tunnel." He clicked his heels and directed his steed forward. "Have you ever met the man?"

[King Perceon IV Gardener]

"I cannot say I have." Perceon replied. "Although I am sure I shall have the opportunity to over the next few days."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Aug 4, 2017 22:14:06 GMT King Theon IV Hoare said:

He grinned, before turning to the sister.

"Princess Melissa... I confess I have been looking forward to meeting you for some time now."

Melissa had been quietly watching the introductions, a polite smile remaining in place throughout.  When the Hoare prince turned his attention to her, however, she felt the faintest stirrings of interest.  He was handsome, with a pleasant voice, not at all like the rough barbarian of her imagination.  It appeared that the time he had spent in Oldtown had taught the prince southron courtesies, and she appreciated that.

"You are kind to say so, Prince Theon.  I hope I am not a disappointment to you.  I have been curious about your homeland and your people for a long time, but my first impression is certainly favourable."

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Is this your first journey outside the Reach, my lady?" He rode beside her on his own horse.

[Lady Abigail Lannister]

Lady Abigail Lannister had arrived with the Western contingent, riding slightly behind King Lannister and his children. She wore a beautiful crimson satin gown that clung to her curves, while hiding most of her skin baring arms and chest. The bodice was a tightly strung corset, the current high fashion at Lannisport and Abigail hair had been curled for this occasion. In her ears were silver earrings and she had a ruby hair clip that shone between her golden locks.

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

Aug 5, 2017 16:21:58 GMT King Theon IV Hoare said:

"Is this your first journey outside the Reach, my lady?" He rode beside her on his own horse.

"Not at all," she said. "I've visited Sunspear and Casterly Rock, though in both instances I travelled largely by sea. Have you been to either of those places?"

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Never. I've seen the Iron Islands of course, but most of my life has been spent here or Oldtown. I fear the Dornish heat would quickly kill me. Ever since I left the Citadel though, I've been obsessed with the works of Bran the Builder. The Hightower, the Wall, Winterfell, Storm's End... I should like to visit these places before I die, if peace and politics allow for it."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"But surely you visited the Hightower when you lived in Oldtown?" She queried. "It's very splendid, to be sure. There are so many other famous castles to visit but I honestly believe our southron castles are the best."

[King Perceon IV Gardener]

Perceon was content to pull his mount away from his sister and the ironborn Prince as they began to speak, moving it closer to his brother's so as not to awkwardly intrude upon the conversation.

[King Theon IV Hoare]

"Aye, that's where the fascination began. And I suspect you'll find your beliefs challenged once we're past the wall." He gestured to the impossible maw before them. "Harrenhal is like no other castle in the Seven Kingdoms."

[Princess Melissa Gardener]

"You sound like a man with pride in his home," she remarked. "I look forward to seeing Harrenhal, truly. I'm sure you could tell me much about it, and the men who came before you."