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Spartans Don't Play Games by You will not find me
Halo & Game of Thrones Xover Rated: T, English, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Kurt-051, Lucy-B091, Tom-B292, Tywin L., Words: 250k+, Favs: 2k+, Follows: 2k+, Published: Nov 17, 2020 Updated: Nov 25, 2024
2,288Chapter 1
Lyanna Stark looked on in wonder at the sea of banners that hung all around the castle of Harrenhall. The great tourney held by the Whents had called most of the Westerosi nobility to attend the event, and for the first time in perhaps three hundred years, the castle the Targaryens had ruined so long ago was so filled that many lords were forced to camp around the grounds as opposed to staying within Harrenhall's walls. Lyanna and her brothers Brandon and Benjen had only just arrived, meeting with their other brother Eddard, who had traveled from the Vale with his friend Robert Baratheon.
At the thought of the storm-lord Lyanna could feel her mood take a downward turn. She'd heard of the arrangement that her father had made. She was to be married to the southern lord paramount, a prospect she was highly against.
'Why must I be married off to some southern boar?' She wondered to herself. Brandon was already set to marry the lady Catelyn Tully, but neither Ned nor Ben were betrothed. Father didn't seem to care about finding matches for them.
'So why?' She thought, was it so important that she be sent off without even being asked whether she approved the match.
She shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts of her upcoming nuptials, instead turning her eyes back to the seemingly never-ending stream of lords who were still arriving to participate in the tourney.
"It seems the Westerland houses have finally arrived." Brandon said, coming up behind her with Benjen, Ned and Robert following close behind.
"About time." Robert said, eyeing the various banners as if he was looking for one in particular. "I've been wanting to see that new house that rose out in Fair Isle for a while, they say the warriors there are better than even the kingsguard."
"And I'm sure it's also nothing to do with the rumours that they came from a fallen star and that they have a sword the likes of 'Dawn'?" Ned asked his friend.
"Well if I'm asking about one rumour, I might as well put the rest to bed shouldn't I?" Robert shrugged, going back to looking over the banners of the Westerlands to find the banner he was looking for.
Lyanna found herself in agreement with her betrothed. A rare instance indeed, but even she had heard of the new house that had emerged to take dominion over the island of Fair Isle. There were rumours a plenty regarding them and their people. Some said they'd come from across the Sunset Sea and brought riches enough to entice the Lannisters. Others claimed they were messengers of the seven gods and had blessed the Lannisters in exchange for the island.
Finally she caught sight of the golden lion on a field of red, the symbol of house Lannister, the lords of the Rock and the wardens of the West, and just behind them, was the banner they had been waiting for.
The sigil's field was a deep, forest green, with an eagle resting on a blue circle with lighter green shapes Lyanna didn't recognize, the eagle also had its wings spread, as if showing off its mastery over the small orb. Behind the large banner. there was a banner of another eagle, this one much simpler than the elaborate weaving of its predecessor, with arrows in one of its claws and what looked like a bolt of lightning in the other and three lines set in the background connected on the upper and lower ends. There were other emblems and banners as well denoting other houses who traveled with the lords of the Westerlands, but she and the others had seen what they'd come to see.
The people riding under the banners were different as well. At their head, presumably their lord, was a man that made all the men Lyanna had ever seen seem small. Even Robert's large frame and presence seemed almost insignificant next to the giant that was at the head of the banners. Riding with him were little more than half a dozen other people that, while impressive themselves, nonetheless paled in comparison to the truly enormous man who rode ahead of them. He kicked his horse into a light trot, moving to ride next to the lord Tywin Lannister and speak to him. The conversation was hushed and quick, with the Lannister lord merely nodding his head and uttering a few words that Lyanna couldn't make out. Bowing his head respectfully the tall lord looped around and urged his horse back to his own men.
"Alright men."
Lyanna froze, and she noticed that what idle chatter had started up amongst her brothers and betrothed had also stopped. If the man's visage was commanding, she didn't know how to describe his voice. It almost seemed as if authority itself had been distilled and coated his every word.
"I want tents set up, Lord Tywin's given us the pick of the Westerland camping grounds. Make sure the camp is ready and secured within the hour. After that you have leave until the gathering tonight."
The assembled group remained silent, offering only dutiful nods and a few words of aknowledgement. As they did Lyanna noticed that there were not only men on the horses. She'd been so caught up in the lord that she hadn't noticed that several of the people riding directly behind him were woman. The group rode off, taking their horses and carts with them to set up camp.
As soon as they were gone, Lyanna's companions began again to speak.
"Did you see their lord?" Benjen asked, eyes following the retreating group in awe.
"Damn near as tall as Gregor Clegane." Robert nodded with Benjen. "It's odd that he seemed so close to lord Tywin though. I've never heard the man letting anyone ride up to him like that."
"Have you ever met anyone from the Westerlands who says it's out of the ordinary?" Ned asked, raising an eyebrow at Robert, who, for his part, laughed off her brother's skepticism.
"Too true Ned." He thumped her brother on the back. "But still, I've heard more than enough about how the old lion rules. They played 'The Rains of Castamere' less than half a fortnight ago in the tavern we stayed at."
Lyanna turned away from her brothers and betrothed. Instead, she stared after the retreating group of men and women who were making their way to the Westerlands' camping ground.
"Do you think we might be able to visit them? Maybe we could dine with their lord."
The four young men turned to the young woman, following her eyes to look at the distant group.
"Can't see why not." Robert said. "I'll send a messenger to ask."
Lyanna shared and excited look with Benjen before the two turned to her brothers. The two older Stark siblings found themselves at the mercy of their younger siblings' pleading looks and could see that for the first time Lyanna seemed genuinely in agreement with her Stormlord husband to be over his suggestion to introduce themselves to the new lords on Fair Isle.
"Very well." Brandon sighed. "I'll see if they will join our table at the feast tonight after the official functions end, or perhaps we can invite their lord to dine with us in the coming days."
Of course, Lyanna wasn't going to wait for Brandon to arrange supper with the new lord and his retinue. The lady Stark and her younger brother had decided there would be no better way to see the new warriors of the Westerlands than to watch them as they set up camp. The two younger Starks had slipped away from their older brothers, not that Ned was particularly attentive with Robert around to take up his attention, and Brandon had been distracted by at least a half-dozen pretty noble ladies wandering the halls of the massive castle.
The two had positioned themselves along one of the walls that overlooked the camping grounds given to the lords of the Westerlands. The Lannisters had already placed themselves in the tower allotted to them, which left their vassals to pitch their tents in the lower levels and the grounds around their tower.
It had only been an hour or two since the party of Westermen arrived, and both she and Ben have seen Lannister servants rushing to and fro, making rooms ready of their lords and ladies. The camp of the Lannister's newest vassals however was contrary to their lord's in every way. Five large tents were set up in a group. Identical in almost every way, save for small touches on the tents' canvas. Unlike most lords and ladies, who had traveled to Harrenhall with veritable armies of guards, knights, squires, pages and all other manner of tag-alongs, there appeared to be no other members of the new house aside from the lord and his eight companions.
Other houses of the Westerlands had set up all around them. Closest to the new house were the Westerlings of the Crag, while at the other end of the camp, Lyanna could spot the sigil of the Farmans of Faircastle.
"Where do you think their lord is?" Asked Benjen. Several members of the group had entered and exited their tents. Occationally they gathered at the campfire at the center of their group of tents but for the most part they paired off and left, presumably to other parts of the tourney grounds.
"I'm not sure." Lyanna replied, looking over the tents. At the moment, about four of them were sitting by the firepit, despite the fact they hadn't lit a fire. From their distance neither Lyanna nor Benjen could tell too much about who each of them were, but they could see that one of them was significantly older than the others.
"Do you think that's their master at arms?" Benjen asked.
"Maybe, he's a bit old though."
The two continued to watch for a while, but before long they heard someone clear their throat behind them.
"What do you two think you're doing?" The two turned to find a woman dressed in the clothes of a servant standing behind them, looking rather displeased. "Why aren't you two helping to set up lord Lannisters' rooms? We don't have all day."
The two Stark children shared a look and a smile. She obviously didn't recognise them and simply assumed that they were young servants themselves.
"We're not-" Benjen began before he was hit in the ribs by Lyanna's elbow.
"Apologies ma'am." Lyanna said. "We were told to pass on a message to the new lords on Fair Isle, but we couldn't find their lord."
The woman's eyes narrowed before she rolled them.
"Alright, who's camp are you from? You're obviously not from ours."
Lyanna and Benjen were shocked that they'd been found out so quickly. Benjen looked down at her boots shuffling them on the ground.
"The Starks." Benjen mumbled.
"Right then." She nodded. "Off with you two now. If you go now I'll not tell anyone that you two snuck in here. If you want to deliver a message to Lord Terra, you can go down to his camping grounds instead of sitting up here staring."
The two children nodded eagerly before running off.
"You think he's down in the camp?" Benjen asked
"If he was, then he'd probably have come out of his tent at some point right?" Lyanna replied, shrugging
"Maybe he's doing something. Father sometimes spends his whole day in his solar."
"I suppose. Still, we should go down there and see for ourselves."
"What? Are you mad? What do we say?"
"Just what we told that maid, that we're here to ask their lord to feast with us."
"You are mad. Brandon and Ned will be furious"
"Never mind Brandon." Lyanna waved away her younger brother's concerns. "I'll tell him I've saved him the trouble of asking himself. Besides, if Robert finds out he'll calm Ned down."
"I thought you didn't like Robert." Benjen raised a brow at his sister.
"I don't, that doesn't mean I can't get him to help me deal with Bran and Ned." She turned to Benjen and gave him a pleading look. "You with me?"
Ben tried to resist, but under her gaze he couldn't.
"Fine." He said, following as they reached the bottom of the Lannister's tower and made their way towards House Terra's camp.
An idea that's been forming for a long time. As of now I think you can guess a few of who came to Westeros but you probably don't know the full history. I know that Tywin doesn't come to the tourney in the original books but I thought it would be wierd for Jamie to come without Tywin. Also, Tywin now has some new allies, so he has even less to fear from the Iron Throne, and even more to gain from snubbing them.
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Spartans Don't Play Games by You will not find me
Halo & Game of Thrones Xover Rated: T, English, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Kurt-051, Lucy-B091, Tom-B292, Tywin L., Words: 250k+, Favs: 2k+, Follows: 2k+, Published: Nov 17, 2020 Updated: Nov 25, 2024
2,288Chapter 2
As Benjen had predicted, neither Brandon nor Eddard had been happy to know that Lyanna had extended an invitation for the lord of house Terra to dine with them. They were even less pleased to know that the offer had been accepted by his companions and that they would be arriving in a matter of hours.
"If father was here he'd ban both of you from attending this dinner." Brandon scolded his younger siblings. Benjen was looking remoseful, but Lyanna carried that same willful look that told Brandon that she wasn't going to back down.
"Well it's too late now." Robert guffawed next to Eddard. "They'll expect places at the table once the official feast ends. I'm sure seating them next to the Umbers or the Mormonts will work out well. They have a good respect for warriors, even southern ones."
Robert was probably saying that because the lords of house Umber and Mormont had been so taken with him. While many lords criticised her father's choice of southern spouses for his eldest son and daughter, none really complained about Robert himself, for he fit right in with the wild northmen.
Lyanna watched as Eddard rolled his eyes at his friend, but a small smile was already blooming on his face as Robert slapped his back and laughed. Ned had always been the quietest of the Stark children, never one for great laughter or bouts of rage, but Robert's largeness of spirit seemed to rile up her brother.
'Perhaps Robert should marry Ned. They certainly get on better.' Lyanna thought, trying not to look at Brandon's disappointed face.
"Besides, it's not like their lord will stick around long. He won't be able to leave lord Tywin's side for long during the opening feast."
"Exactly." Brandon barked. "Inviting them for the first feast of the tourney is incredibly rude, no matter if you two didn't mean offence. Now we have to host them if they choose since I can't have it said I couldn't control my servants, let alone my two siblings."
"We're sorry Bran." Benjen mumbled.
The oldest Stark sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Damn it Lya, Ben. I wanted to enjoy the first night here, now I have to spend the whole night making sure that we don't bruise lord Tywin's ego." A glint flickered in his eye suddenly.
"Which is why I think you two will be seated with lord Tywin's lords tonight, while lord Terra and his companions are seated at our tables."
Lyanna gasped and Benjen looked shocked.
"What?" Lyanna asked incredulously.
"Right." Brandon clapped his hands. "Since you two caused this whole mess, you two should be responsible for cleaning it up."
"That's not fair." Lyanna complained, puffing up her cheeks and pouting.
"It absolutely is. Now get ready, you two will be seated with the Westerlands lords tonight."
The two younger Stark siblings protested, but in the end they were both sent out of their brother's borrowed solar and to their own rooms in one of the towers of Harrenhall. As they left they were followed by Ned and Robert.
"Ned. Please can't you change Bran's mind?" Lyanna begged.
"Sorry Lya." Eddard seemed genuinely remorseful. "You brought this on yourself. If you'd just let Brandon invite them himself this wouldn't have happened."
"But-"
"No buts Lyanna. This isn't Winterfell. We can't just let your wolf's blood run wild causing trouble."
"You never cared before." She protested again.
"Because that was back North. Here we are not the only great lords, and no matter how much you may not like it, you can't just do whatever you wish. Just be thankful it wasn't father or you would have just been confined to your rooms."
Lyanna huffed, turning and storming down the hall to her rooms with Benjen hot on her heels, complaining the whole way.
"She's a wild one isn't she." Robert guffawed, watching her leave with Ben.
"Indeed." Eddard rubbed his brow. "You'd better head back to Jon now Robert. He'll want us both presentable for the feast."
"Aye, the old man's been uptight since we started this journey." The lord of the Stormlands walked off in the opposite way of Lyanna and Benjen, waving goodbye to his friend before he disappeared around a corner.
Eddard waved back until his friend was no longer in sight before turning and returning to his older brother's solar.
"She'll not go quietly Brandon. You know that." Eddard said as he re-entered.
"I know." Brandon sighed. "Damn it Ned, it's the first day and she's already caused us trouble with the lord paramount of the Westerlands. What's next? Will she kick Prince Rhaegar in the shins if he asks her to dance?"
"Knowing Lya, she just might." Eddard smiled slightly.
"Wonderful, and here I was hoping I could dance with some pretty southern maids before the tourney started."
"Wouldn't your betrothed have something to say to that?" Eddard asked, brow raised.
Brandon groaned, leaning back in his chair.
"Don't start that with me Ned. I'm to marry Catelyn soon enough. That doesn't mean I can't still dance with a pretty maid or two."
Eddard shook his head in exasperation as he regarded his older brother. Brandon was a wild man, and often prone to impulse and willfulness. Still, it wasn't his place to judge his brother.
"What will you say to lord Tywin and lord Terra?" He asked.
"I'll tell lord Tywin the truth. Our siblings were being willful and so as punishment I will be depriving them of the company they so recklessly sought. Lord Terra will be told that our dearest siblings were unable to join us at the table tonight."
Eddard nodded.
"And if lord Tywin tells lord Terra the truth?"
"By then it won't matter, and I doubt lord Terra will be eager to stand on our siblings' behalf when they started such trouble."
"Very well, we'd better get ready then. The feast will be starting come the evening."
The opening feast of the tourney of Harrenhall was a large and lavish affair. It was a joyous affair, filled with singing, laughing and merryment. Eddard looked out across the hall, seeing dozens of men and women, both noble and less, cavorting and celebrating as food and wine were eaten and drunk in large amounts. Eddard could see Howland Reed seated with Lyanna and Benjen, conversing and sharing stories, though it was mostly Lyanna who did the talking while the young crannogman remained soft-spoken.
The quiet wolf's face split into a smile as he watched his friend Robert Baratheon enter into a drinking contest with GreatJon Umber and several other men from the North and Stormlands.
Lyanna and Benjen had been seated between a set of guards to make sure that nothing they did could cause any trouble, and more than that, to ensure that they would go over to the Westerlands' benches when the time came.
Over at the long tables of the Westerlands, Tywin Lannister sat with his twin son and daughter, flanked by his brothers and his most loyal lords. Eddard could see the lords of House Westerling, House Lefford and House Crakehall surrounding his family and the Lannisters of Lannisport. That wasn't what was drawing Eddard's attention though.
The massive lord Terra sitting just outside of lord Tywin's inner circle drew many a wandering eye. He was tall, so tall it almost boggled Eddard's mind, and dressed quite oddly. He wore some kind of black doublet, with long black trousers and black shoes . He had a black hat with a golden rim and wore a white shirt with buttons along the front under the black doublet and a black piece of cloth tied around his neck and hanging down inside the coat but over the white shirt. Eddard himself thought it looked quite strange, but not ugly in any way. it was sharp and looked suitably formal for an event such as this. The oddest thing about his dress though was the fact that all of his company seemed to be wearing the same thing. Even the women had forgone wearing dresses of any kind and instead wore that same uniform. The only difference in any of them was that they appeared to wear some kind of pattern on their left breasts and they all seemed different, and less extravagent, than the lord's.
The lord Terra also seemed to be the talk of every table. Most every kingdom in Westeros had heard of the new lords on Fair Isle and what prodigeous warriors they were. However, none had had the chance to test that claim, which made the appearance of such a small number of them at the tourney an even greater attraction.
A few men and even more ladies approached the lord, talking and making conversation. Some even approached his retinue, who all together numbered no more than eight, not counting their lord. As the night drew on, bards and minstrals played great songs and the room became filled with dancing. Even the men and women of Fair Isle didn't seem immune, as four of thr group stood and joined the assembled groups in a merry jig. Eddard could see the four of them stay close to each other, and though they danced less vigorously than the rest of the Westerosi, they still seemed eager to partake in the atmosphere of the feast.
It was only once they got up from their seats that Eddard saw just how tall all the members of house Terra's entourage were. Even the smallest of them, a woman who's age Eddard could not quite determine, was six feet tall easily, and maybe more. The others were all on the way to seven feet themselves. Easy to pick out amongst the crowd even disregarding their strange dress. The only one who was not massively tall was the older man who Eddard estimated to be in his seventh decade of life. He was still tall, almost six feet, but did not have the outrageous height of the others.
As the night wore on neither the singing nor the celebrations seemed to wane, at least until Prince Rhaegar decided that he wanted to sing. The room grew silent as the prince plucked at the strings of his lyre. His voice carried all throughout the hall and the meloncholy tone he sang in, Eddard could tell, plucked at the heartstrings of every maiden who heard it. Eddard even saw Lyanna's eyes water as the last words left the dragon prince's lips. He smiled as Benjen teased their sister for her swooning at the handsome prince and even laughed as Lyanna poured a nearby goblet of wine over his head.
Benjen squeaked as the wine soaked his clothes, almost falling off of the bench as he jumped from the shock. Several other lords seated near them laughed and offered Lyanna and Benjen good-natured pats.
A flowing gown of royal purple caught Eddard's eye as the dancing began once again in the aftermath of Prince Rhaegar's song. A beautiful woman was moving along the dance floor, escorted by a dornishman with dashing features. The beautiful woman laughed at something the dornishman said and her eyes wandered the crowd. For a second, Eddard thought that their eyes might have met across the crowded hall, but as quickly as it happened she was once again spinning around the floor. It was over so quickly that he believed that he might have imagined it but he shook his head.
"Ned!" Brandon said, colliding with Eddard's shoulder with a full glass of wine in his hand. "What are you doing sitting here? You aren't being punished, no reason you should sit with out little pup siblings."
Lyanna shot Brandon a seething glare, only to huff and go back to her conversation with Howland and a slowly drying Benjen.
"I've never been one for festivities Bran." Eddard said. "You know that."
"Aye, but still. There has to be someone you have your eye on. Some pretty maid out there?"
Involantarily Eddard's eyes flickered over to the woman in the purple dress. She had finished her dance with the dornishman and was now sitting with another woman with darker skin dressed in red and black.
Brandon followed his eyes however, seeing the woman and chuckling.
"You have good taste little brother, go ask her to dance, the night's almost over."
"I'm sure she has a dozen more prominent suitors to dance with."
"No one is around her now Ned, no one wants to approach the Princess. Come on."
"Leave it Bran. I don't want to embarrass myself."
"Fine then, if you won't do it, I will."
Before Eddard could stop his brother he was off, weaving through the crowd with a dexterity that was shocking given how drunk he must have been. Before Eddard could even get close Brandon was standing in front of the Princess' table. As he got closer his brother looked back, beckoning him forwards with a smile. The two woman seated at the table were both looking at him with interest even as Brandon spoke.
"Ah, here he is. My lady, I'd like you to meet my younger brother Eddard. As I was saying, it would do a concerned older brother's heart a great service if the lady Dayne would consider a dance with him, perhaps as a favour to our house."
"Oh?" Ashara Dayne regarded the two Stark men with a raised eye. "And what may I ask in return for such a favour?"
"Ashara." Princess Elia Martell rolled her eyes in exasperation at her friend.
"A matter for a later date I'm sure." Brandon smiled. "And I'm sure that any favour you ask of our house, Ned here will be most happy to comply."
"Really?" She asked, turning her attention to Eddard. "Is that true lord Stark? Would you repay me a favour for this dance?"
Eddard found himself unable to speak under her piercing violet gaze and offered only a mute nod in return. Smiling, Ashara rose from her seat, extending her hand for him to take. As Eddard took it he found himself led away onto the dance floor as Brandon shared a laugh with Elia Martell.
The dance was unlike any Eddard had had before. Ashara was a much better dancer than him, and at times it seemed that she was leading him more than the other way around.
"How has the tourney been treating you so far lord Eddard." Ashara asked as they spun.
"Well enough." He replied. "Though my younger siblings have gotten us in a situation with lord Tywin and lord Terra."
"Oh? I hear that the men and women of house Terra are the greatest warriors in the world, though I believe that there are several others who might dispute that claim."
"I assume your brother is among them?"
"Ha! Arthur is determined to face off against their best, and from the looks of who their lord took with him to this tourney, he just might."
"They are quite fearsome, aren't they."
"The shortest among them, aside form that older man, must be six feet tall at least and I hear she is even competing in the archery competition. Their lord himself must be as tall as Gregor Clegane himself, I wonder if he will be riding in the tourney."
"You worry for your brother?"
"Of course. Even as good as Arthur is, he isn't invincible, and the gods often play their tricks. I don't want to lose him to an errant shard of a lance."
"Indeed, it would be a tragedy."
Ashara regarded him for a moment.
"Because of the loss of one of the men who safeguards the king?" She asked.
Plucking up every ouce of his courage, and secretly channeling as much of Brandon and Robert's charisma that he possibly could, he offered a smile and answered.
"Of course, though moreso that it would bring tears to a face as lovely as yours."
Ashara giggled and snorted in response, and Eddard felt his stomach turn over as she smiled at him.
"Well lord Eddard, you had better hope for my brother's safety and victory then. After all, I'm sure you would hate to leave me in tears."
Eddard dipped Ashara slightly as the song came to an end. Lifting her up he brought up her hand to place a kiss on her knuckles.
"Of course my lady, I will most certainly pray for your brother's victory."
He led her back to her table. Brandon had long since left it seemed, leaving only Elia Martell with a contented smile on her face.
"Thank you for the dance lady Dayne. You were wonderful company."
"As were you my lord. Please, when the next feast comes, do not wait until the evening's end. I would enjoy your company very much."
"Of course my lady."
As he left the table to return to his siblings and countrymen he looked back at the Westerlands' table. He saw that a good number of lord Tywin's men had left, likely to partake in the revelry. Tywin Lannister himself remained seated, accompanied by a pair of guards and one of his brothers. The lord of house Terra was also still sitting, only accompanied by his oldest companion who seemed of age with Tywin.
There was no better time, Eddard realied, to make contact with the strange man. Making his way across the hall, avoiding the celebrating men and women who pushed and crowded all throughout the hall, Eddard Stark stepped up to the Westerlands' table, right across from lord Terra.
"Greetings my lord." Eddard said, bowing his head slightly to him before turning and doing the same to lord Tywin, who had turned to look at him as he approached. The lord of Casterly Rock returned his bowed head with a nod before he returned to a conversation with his brother.
"Hello." The lord said, offering Eddard a kind smile. "A pleasant evening isn't it."
Eddard nodded, taking a seat.
"Indeed my lord. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Eddard Stark. Second son of Lord Rickard Stark. Lord of Winterfell." The lengthy greeting was necessary but long-winded and as soon as he was finished lord Terra offered his hand, which Eddard grasped and shook.
"A pleasure Lord Eddard but please, you don't have to call me lord. I am Captain Kurt Ambrose, the head of house Terra of Fair Isle."
The other man, of age with lord Tywin, grunted and offered his own hand.
"Mendez, Franklin Mendez."
It's the Spartan IIIs. That's the army that arrived in Westeros. Of course it's not the IIIs from the original Halo universe. I changed a few things to get what I wanted but overall just go with the assumption that all the Spartan IIIs that existed, with a few exceptions (Noble Team) are alive and on Westeros.
Also, can any of you guess who exacly accompanied Kurt and Mendez to Harrenhall. One or two of them are obvious to fans of the IIIs but the rest might be harder.
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Spartans Don't Play Games by You will not find me
Halo & Game of Thrones Xover Rated: T, English, Fantasy & Sci-Fi, Kurt-051, Lucy-B091, Tom-B292, Tywin L., Words: 250k+, Favs: 2k+, Follows: 2k+, Published: Nov 17, 2020 Updated: Nov 25, 2024
2,288Chapter 3
The tourney of Harrenhall was in full swing. The first night had gone well, though it had been dampened by the arrival of the mad king at the end of the feast. King Aerys Targaryen, second of his name was a man who most knew by his moniker, the mad king, though no one dared repeat it within the king's range of hearing. The end of the evening however, was a mixed one. King Aerys had not joined in the festivities, and had only stayed long enough to make a single proclomation.
The naming of Ser Jamie Lannister to the role of kingsguard.
The mad king's announcement had been met with cheers, for most at the tournament knew of Ser Jamie's valor and gallantry. The only ones who had not cheered had been the Lannisters and those of house Terra.
Jamie Lannister would not be participating in the tourney as a member of that esteemed order however. His first order as a kingsguard had been to travel to Kingslanging and guard the queen Rhaella Targaryen and prince Viserys.
However, as the morning came the festivities were in full swing. For the first time since the conquest it seemed, Harrenhall was full to bursting with people. Massive groups, both noble and common, crowded around various attractions. Singers and performers had been drawn from all across Westeros and even beyond the narrow sea to play and perform for the people. Hedge-knights rushed across the grounds, making ready to participate in the melee and tourney while sellswords gathered with them to take part in the melee themselves.
The atmosphere was filled with all sorts of merriment as countless games were played, money was wagered as events were undertaken and handed back and forth as they ended.
The biggest commotion however was in the main pavilion, where the first rounds of the tourney of Harrenhall were taking place. The archery tournament was the first, and men, and even some women, from all over the seven kingdoms and beyond had come to compete. Chief among them however, were the two women and one man from the house of Terra. The women were both tall, the shorter one being six feet tall at least and the taller being half way to seven foot. As tall as Robert Baratheon, who was seated in the stands beside the Starks. They were also beautiful, with angular faces and pale skin. The shorter of the two wore her dark hair cut close to her head, looking more like the hair of a man, while the other, taller woman wore her rich brown hair in a braid down her back. The man was slightly taller than the second women, with the same angular features though his hair was darker and close cropped to his head, even more than the shorter woman.
Sitting up in the Westerlands' box the rest of house Terra sat stoickly as three of their number took their places in the archery tourney. Over three-hundred participants had gathered for the competition, even though it was nowhere near as prostigious as the melee or the joust. Standing amongst the rest of the contestants everyone knew that there were far too many for the competition to be concluded any time soon.
On the other side of the pavilions set up for the great lords of the realm the North and Stormlands had seated themselves next to each other. This was mostly due to the close friendship between the lord paramount of the Stormlands Robert Baratheon and the second son of house Stark Eddard. However, it was also due to the fact that lord Stark's eldest and only daughter Lyanna was set to marry that very same lord.
As the two groups took their seats, many lords and guards even mingling in the stands and creating a mix where it was difficult to tell who belonged to which region, they heard the sound of a man clearing his throat from the entrance to their pavilion.
"My lords, my ladies." The assembled lords of the North and Stormlands turned to see one of house Terra's members standing at the entrance to their boxes. "If it is not an inconvenience, my commander sent me to sit with you."
"Oh?" Brandon asked but gestured for room to be made for the new visitor. "And why would your lord send one of his own to sit with us here? Please ser, enlighten us."
"He said it was meant to make up for not joining you at your table during the feast last night." Said the man. "And to thank Lord Eddard for a good round of conversation before the feast's end."
Many heads turned to the quiet wolf, who turned away from the curious looks before directing his gaze to the new man.
"Well met good ser. Please, you're lord Kurt described you all, but I admit I do not recognise you based solely on his description."
"No need for formality my lord." The man smiled, taking a seat next to the Hornwoods and Umbers. "I am Tom my lord, Ser Tom B-two-ninety-two if you wish to go by my full title, I believe I may end up facing your brother Brandon in the joust."
"You'll be competing?" Asked Lyanna. "Why is your name so odd?"
"Lyanna!" Eddard scolded his sister, though he too thought the man's name was odd.
"All of us are. Well all of us save for our commander and officer Mendez." Ser Tom ignored Lyanna's second question.
"Alright." Said one of the judges, drawing everyone's attention back to the competition. "We'll 'ave you come up 'ere in groups o' ten. Then you all shoot when I say. The best shots go to the next round, then we move on to the next group 'till we narrow ya down. y'all understand?"
There was a general noise of understanding from the amassed group of shooters.
"Now the first ten o' you, line up."
Up in the stands, the lords and ladies of the realm watched as the first group took their places with large wooden targets being set up at the other end of the grounds. In the box of the Stormlands next to the box of the North Robert Baratheon watched as the shorter woman from house Terra notched an arrow alongside nine others at twenty paces. Unlike the bows of most of the other competitors however, the bow of the lady of Terra was a truly massive thing.
"Look at it." Robert said in awe. "It must take three-hundred pounds to use that thing, maybe more."
"And her arm barely even twitched." Eddard commented. "How strong must the rest of them be if she can ready a bow like that?"
"She's one of yours isn't she?" Robert asked Tom.
"She's my squadmate." Tom said. "Lucy's a strong one, then again our commander always said she was a survivor."
"Loose!" The judge said.
Arrows flew through the air, slamming into the targets. Not one of them missed the large wodden constructions, but few of them landed in the bullseye.
"By the gods." One of the judges muttered, looking at one of the targets.
Rather than simply stab into the wood and straw and stay there, one of the arrows had pierced clean through the painted straw, the wooden frame and flew on until it impacted into the ground. Looking at the contestant who had fired the arrow, few were truly surprised to find it was the competitor of house Terra who had made the shot.
"Gods above, now that's a shot." Robert breathed, looking on shocked at the arrow that had pierced right through the target and deep into the ground.
"She held back some." Tom said.
"Held back?" Brandon scoffed. "You must think us simple to believe such an outrageous boast. Please Ser Tom, if your lord sent you to intimidate us with such tall tales, you may just leave now and tell him we are unimpressed."
Tom just offered Brandon a smile.
"Of course lord Stark. I was only trying to be helpful. Still, Jane and Min should be coming up soon. If you thought Lucy's shot was impressive, just know that Jane is even stronger."
As it turned out, Ser Tom wasn't lying. Both Ser Min and Lady Jane, who were the other two competitors from the house of Terra, had advanced, and not just through their incredible accuracy, but by the sheer power of their shots. They, like Lady Lucy, had not only hit the bullseye of their targets, but sent their arrows piercing clean through them and deep into the ground.
Each time and of his fellows was up to shoot, Ser Tom would give some form of commentary about how they were doing. According to the man, Ser Min would be the first to crack, and once that happened it would come down only to the two ladies.
Some of the men of the North and Stormlands had scoffed at Ser Tom for his belief that the two women would beat Ser Min. However the final round had come down to those exact three.
"Move the targets back." Said the judge. A group of servants picked up the targets, moving them back to two hundred paces as the three pulled back on the strings of their bows.
"Two-hundred bloody paces." Robert watched as the arrows again went flying. Most of the assembled lords and ladies had at first grown bored as Ser Min, Lady Jane and Lady Lucy had again and again tied in their shooting. Now though, most found themselves amazed by just how far the three could fire. The competition had long since passed the point where any other tournament would have found a winner.
The arrows landed with a trio of thuds, but unlike each time before, the judges had something to say.
"Ser Min's arrow has been found to be off from the centre. He is eliminated. Lady Jane and Lady Lucy are our final two competitors."
The crowd broke into mumbles and shouts as Ser Min lowered his bow. The three archers shared handshakes, and lady Lucy even gave Ser Min a small hug and some whispered words.
"Min was always a better demo-man than a marksman." Tom said, shaking his head. "It won't be long now though, Jane will likely take the win on this one."
"You sound so sure of that Ser Tom." Eddard said.
"I know them both. Lucy more than Jane, but Wolf-Pack are legendary in Alpha Company."
"Wolf-Pack?" Lyanna asked, suddenly even more interested.
"It's the name of their team." Tom explained. "Alphas and Betas were grouped up in threes and fours during training. Jane was assigned to team Wolf-Pack with Robert and Shane."
"Ha!" Robert laughed. "Another Robert? Is he here as well?"
"He is lord Baratheon. In fact, he'll be competing in the Melee along with Shane and Adam, two of our others members."
"And how many of you will be participating in the joust?" Brandon asked.
"Just me." Tom said. "Though depending on who wins the Melee , Shane might be joining me."
"Loose." The judge called.
The targets had been moved back another fifty paces, almost too far for any of the viewers to see if it wasn't for the fact that both the targets and the archers had been moved. The two arrows flew through the air in a pair of beautiful arcs, ascending high into the air before gravity reasserted itself and they began to fall. The spectators watched with equal parts interest and boredom for while the shooting had been nothing short of awe-inspiring, it was getting rather dull to see the same two people shoot perfectly over and over again.
As the thunk of arrowheads piercing wood echoed softly in the distance, the two judges rushed forwards to examine their placements.
After a few moments, one of them stood upright from where he and his fellow were once leaned over the targets and rose his hand. An excited chattering broke out amongst the nobles and cheers from the common people as Lady Jane of house Terra was announced the winner by the barest of margins. The two woman, one now identified as the winner, turned to each other and like with Ser Min, they shook hands.
Up in the stands, Ser Tom himself rose to his feet.
"Excuse me my lords, I'm afraid I must depart."
"Off to sooth your lady's battered pride are you?" Robert joked.
"Indeed lord Baratheon, and to offer her my congratulations to her for keeping up with lady Jane for as long as she did."
"Is she truly so fearsome?" Lyanna asked, eyes shining.
"She is lady Stark, It's said she's the bravest in all of Alpha company. At least, that's what both Shane and Robert would have everyone believe."
"Well, give her our congratulations, and to lady Jane as well." Brandon said diplomatically. "I look forwards to facing you in the joust, Ser Tom."
"I as well, lord Brandon." Tom bowed.
"And tell your Robert I'll be waiting for him in the melee." Robert called after him as he left the box. "And that I'll happily host him for drinks when I leave him lying on his back."
The Stormlord laughed deeply, but it wasn't an arrogant or demeaning sound. Tom could tell he was making fun, even if he did mean to leave Robert on his back. Part of him wanted to laugh as well, though more because any of these people thought they'd ever have a chance against any of them, let alone some of the best fireteams from Alpha and Beta companies.
On the other side of the private boxes reserved for the most noble houses of the realm, Tywin Lannister sat with Kurt Ambrose as they watched the end of the archery competition.
"How do you want it to go?" Kurt asked. "Now that Jamie isn't here for the finale?"
Tywin gritted his teeth together for a moment before recovering his composure. Of course Aerys Targeryen had to come and ruin everything he had worked to set up. The tourney at Harrenhall was the place to not only confirm the rumours circulating about the capability of his new bannermen, but also to show off his control over those same capable individuals.
The archery and melee were to be the opening act, the building blocks where over and over again Lord Ambrose's Spartans would prove themselves superior to every force to be found in Westeros. The joust would be the finale. In it, The Spartans would destroy everyone they came across, with one exception. Jamie would progress to the final tilt, aided in secret by Ambrose himself if his son's own skills proved insufficient, and face off against the now proven Spartans. That was the time when house Lannister would prove itself. Jamie would unhorse the undefeated Spartan after a sufficient show and claim victory.
With that victory, and the champion's purse, under his belt it would be a message to be heard by everyone in the seven kingdoms. To those not intelligent enough to see the design, they would awe at his son, a knight at only fifteen, who had unhorsed and defeated such great warriors, and in doing so raise house Lannister's reputation for power and skill. To those who did see the truth, it would show them two things. Firstly, that house Lannister held in it's hand warriors who could humiliate the knights of the rest of the realm, and more importantly, that they had the power to order those same warriors to submit in front of all the lords and ladies of Westeros.
Only now, with Aerys' theft of his son and heir, that plan was reduced to shambles.
"Ser Shane will join Ser Tom in the joust. Make sure that the melee is as grand a show of their power as you can. When the joust comes and one of them wins he will present my daughter with the victor's crown of roses and name her queen of love and beauty. If Jamie cannot show house Lannister's power to the realm, I will present Cersei as the most desireable woman in Westeros."
Kurt nodded, keeping his face calm and composed.
"And the rest of the Westerlands competitors?"
"Were my orders unclear Ambrose? I want your man to win. I don't care if you have to break a few shields to do it."
"Understood. I'll have Tom and Shane ready for the joust once the melee is done."
"See to it Ambrose."
Kurt got up out of his seat, making his way out of the box and over to the preparation ground where Robert, Shane and Adam were strapping on their armour while Mendez watched.
Mjolnir armour would be far too conspicuous, and more importantly, fatal to any Westerosi their faced off against. Instead, they wore a mix of medieval looking armour with more modern adjestments. As opposed to steel this armour was made of titanium, stronger than the armour of westeros by leagues but lighter too, in order to ensure fast movement. The horses that had been selected were a special breed aquired from the Lannisters. Good strong destriers who could carry the comparitively lightly armed and armoured Spartans on their backs.
"New orders." He told his Spartans. "The melee is going to be a show. Make sure to make it look good and crush everyone you can as fast as you can."
"Yes sir." Shane, Robert and Adam snapped to attention briefly before returning to securing their armour.
"I still don't like taking orders from that backwards, prehistoric gargoyle." Mendez growled as he inspected each joint of their armour.
"It's necessary." Kurt told the old petty officer. "Tywin is the power behind this country, getting him on our side means that we have the run of the terrain and we can keep out of local politics for the most part."
"Except when we have to take a dive to soothe his ego." Mendez grumbled.
"A small price compared to open battle. These are still people Petty Officer. It's our job to protect them as much as we can, and we can't do that if they're marching on the Platea's gun implacements."
"Sir."
Kurt turned around to find Jane, Min, Lucy and Tom walking towards him.
"Good to see all of you. Nice work on the competition Jane. Lucy, Min, you too." The three competitors saluted their commanding officer.
"Tom, how were the talks with the North and Stormlands?"
"They went well sir. Brandon Stark seems to be reckless but doesn't have any bad intentions. Same with Robert Baratheon. They'll make adequate heads of their territories and once we start introducing industrial advancements I think we can coerce them into joining."
"Try harder with Baratheon. He's got influence with the head of the Vale and the second son of the Starks, We get him on our side and it opens a lot of doors."
"Yes sir, but Baratheon will be participating in the melee, should I return to the Starks while he'd in the field."
"Stick with them as long as you can. I want to know about everyone we might end up having to deal with."
Turning towards the returned spartans.
"Jane, Lucy, Min, I want you to take Robert, Shane and Adams places. They were seated with the Reach, Vale and Riverlands lords. Take their places and keep digging
"Yes sir."
Anyone who thinks that Kurt might not ally with someone like Tywin, remember that Kurt cooperated with the training of four to six year old children to become expendable cannon fodder and when the first two groups died, he illegally subjected the third batch of them to even more unethical genetic proceedures that would leave them severly hampered in the long term.
Working with Tywin to promote the Westerlands' power and sabotage the other kingdoms' chances at victory is nothing compared to that.
Also, while in the previous chapter I made mention of how a few people are surprised by the height of the Spartans, being 6'5 or 6'6 is actually not that big a thing as people like the Baratheons, the Umbers and the Cleganes are all either of that height or taller. Robert is estimated to be 6'6 by Ned, as tall or taller than the average Spartan III, while the GreatJon and SmallJon are both almost seven feet tall, not to mention Gregor Clegane. Anyway while they are still tall, I shouldn't have made it such a big thing.
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