Chapter 6: Chapter 5: The Tourney (281AC)
Adrian stood at the edge of the tourney grounds at Harrenhal, his small hand firmly grasped in his father's. The journey south had been long and filled with wonder for the young boy, but nothing compared to the spectacle before him now. The Tourney of Harrenhal was unlike anything he had ever imagined, a grand assembly of knights, nobles, and banners of every color fluttering in the summer breeze.
"Remember this day, Aerian. It is not often that we see such gatherings. This is a place where legends are made," Tharren said, his voice steady and reassuring.
Aerian's eyes remained steady as he took in the scene around him. Knights in gleaming armor prepared for the jousts, their horses adorned in rich caparisons, and those preparing to enter the melee and the archery competitions. The air was filled with the sounds of trumpets, the clatter of armor, and the excited murmur of the crowd. It was a world away from the austere halls of their northern keep.
"Looks like there should be some interesting fights for the melee and the jousts during this tourney with the level of these participants," Aerian remarked casually, his voice filled with awe.
Tharren smiled, a rare expression on his usually stern face. "Yes, but if all things go according to our plans, then all the warriors in our charge will be able to overpower at least 3 of these knights by themselves once we put them through your training and raise them to the level of the knights of the table." Hearing that, Aerian only nodded, knowing it to be true.
The first day was dedicated to the melee, a chaotic and exhilarating contest where knights fought in teams until only one remained standing. Aerian watched from the stands with a bored look as he knew how things would end with Robert Baratheon, the victor, with his ridiculous strength.
"Do you think if we sent Lancelot in there, I'd manage to make him sweat a little?" Adrian asked his father while looking at the people fighting below, who were full of flaws in their eyes. His voice barely contained his mockery.
Tharren smiled a little, his gaze steady on the combatants. "I don't even think Lancelot would be able to get a proper warm-up until he goes up against the Baratheon kid, or unless Arthur Dayne joined, now that would be a good match."
As the melee progressed, Aerian continued to watch on while also picking apart every flaw of those fighting as the number of fighters became fewer and fewer until there were just two left. One of them, of course, was the young Robert, and the other looked like a man from Dorne wielding a spear.
' I wonder if that is Oberyn'. Aerian thought silently as he watched the two clash round after round, with the two seemingly being evenly matched; still, to those who have been through countless battles or to Aerian who was able to see the flaws of the two, you would be able to see that Robert had a slight edge over the Dornishman and was slowly wearing him down sure enough, not long after, Robert was able to place a well-aimed blow breaking the spear that the Dornishman was using to block the attack and hit the breastplate of his opponent, causing him to fall back, signifying the end of the match.
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The second day was dedicated to archery, which required precision and focus. Aerian was fascinated as he watched the archers line up, their bows drawn, eyes fixed on distant targets. The silence before each release was intense, broken only by the twang of bowstrings and the thud of arrows hitting their marks.
"I wonder if I should learn the bow when we return home. I think it might prove helpful in the future, especially with an archery unit," Aerian commented to his father beside him, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Tharren looked over to his son, a thoughtful look on his face. "Yes, I think so too, as it would allow us to surprise attacks against our enemies. If you can be as good with a bow as you are getting with the sword, then I have no doubt you'd be able to shoot an enemy commander from across the battlefield."
"Ha, now that would be a sight to see," Adrian said with a smile.
The day's highlight was the final round, where a young archer from the Summer Isles demonstrated exceptional skill, hitting the bullseye with every shot. Aerian's admiration was palpable, and he dreamed of one day achieving such mastery.
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On the third day, he brought the much-anticipated jousting tournament. The air was excited as knights in their armor mounted their horses and prepared for the tilts. Aerian watched with full attention, his hands gripping the edge of his seat, as this would be a turning point in history for this world.
'Once this is over, everything is going to go downhill fast, and we will have to speed up some things to prepare for what comes next,' Aerian thought, his face grave as the silver-haired prince entered the lists.
"Who do you think will win, father?"
Tharren's expression grew thoughtful. "I think probably Arthur Dayne, as none have been his opponent so far in any tournaments held."
'If only knew the sh*t that was about to go down.' Aerian thought, releasing a sigh
The jousts were a series of breathtaking clashes, the sound of lances shattering and the sight of knights unseated thrilling the crowd. The moment that left the most profound impression on Aerian was when Prince Rhaegar unseated Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. The crowd's cheers were thunderous and followed the next act that stirred whispers and tension. He placed a crown of blue winter roseLyanna Stark's lap, bypassing his own wife, Elia Martell.
"He has to be a fool," Aerian said, sensing the unease in the crowd. Even though he knew it was going to happen, seeing it in real life still made him want to punch the idiot in the face for doing something so stupid.
Tharren's faces were evererious, and his eyes were shadowed with concern. "Sometimes, Aerian, people's hearts lead them on difficult and dangerous paths. It is a choice that can change many lives."
"Trust me, Father, that decision will do more than just change many lives," Aerian said through gritted teeth.
Knowing the hidden implication behind what just happened and the possible repercussions, Tharren could only nod in agreement as the realm was now on a tightrope because of one action. As everyone was getting ready to leave, the king, Aerys Targaryen, stood up with difficulty and called for everyone to wait. Once everyone sat back down and turned their attention to the mad king, Aerys cleared his throat before saying, "Bring Jaime Lannister here before me."
Hearing the order, the king's guard behind Aerys left while the expressions on the other Lords' faces varied from anger to curiosity about what was coming next. A few moments later, the king's guard came back, with Jaime walking behind him until they got in front of the king, where Jaime kneeled before Aerys.
"I have something to announce: from this moment onwards and till his end of days, Jaime Lannister shall be the newest addition to the king's guard and the protector of my wife and the Queen."
Once the decree was made, it was safe to say that Tywin, the old lion, was seething in anger and hatred at what Areys had just done, while the other Lords had a Mix of reactions to everything that was happening today, not knowing how to digest all the events that were unfolding.
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The fourth and final day was marked by a grand banquet, a feast that brought together all the participants and spectators in celebration. The great hall of Harrenhal was filled with the smell of roasted meats, the sound of laughter, and the sight of lords and ladies in their finest attire.
Aerian sat beside his father, his face marred with a thoughtful expression as he constantly ran through all the plans he would have to implement to make the most of the war that was to come. There were entertainers, musicians, and storytellers who captivated the guests with their performances.
"It's amazing their ability to act like yesterday's events did not happen," Aerian said, his voice filled with contempt for the rest of the nobles.
Tharren smiled, his hand resting on his son's shoulder. "This is just the world of politics, Aerian. What happened yesterday will obviously have its effects, but as long as it isn't affecting their interests at the moment, then they don't care for now and will just play as innocent bystanders."
As the banquet continued, Aerian listened to the conversations around him, absorbing stories of courage and tales of the past. The events of the tourney—the melee, the archery, the jousting, and now the banquet—had been an incredible experience, one that marked the start of all the journeys that he had yet to take in this new world.
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