Bab 17: 17: Trial by The Trident Part 1
(The Trident, The Riverlands, The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros, GoT Universe)
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Barthogan Blackstark stood with Red Rain, Rhaegar Targaryen stood with Blackfyre. Each Blade with a storied history.
Red Rain, had been the Ancestral Blade of House Reyne of Castamere before being taken through an Ironborn Raiders Cunning and Wits.
Blackfyre, the Legendary Sword of Aegon The Conqueror, but thrown to a Bastard Cadet Branch by King Aegon The Unworthy, and a source of death, destruction, tragedy, and misery ever since.
Then there were their wielders.
Barthogan Blackstark, a Peerless inventor and proficient Swordsman, who within the first five years of his life transformed House Stark into the Second Wealthiest House in Westeros. Who barely upon reaching Manhood Bested and Slew Dustan Drumm after the Bone Lord tried to take his head.
Opposing him Was Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.
Rhaegar may have come to Swordsmanship later in life, but he proved just as quick a study at arms as at books. Rhaegar hoped that Blackfyre would ensure his victory, as every King who sat the Iron Throne with it at his Hip was the preeminent Swordsman within Westeros outside the Kingsguard Lord-Commander.
But Barthogan was fighting for a better and brighter future, one where The Realm was united against the White Walkers and they didn't lose nearly everything as a result of the Real War or as a collateral damage result along the way. The fact he was here at all rather than Robert proved he was willing to risk life and limb for this dream, but could Rhaegar say the same? Barthogan didn't believe he did have that ability or the luxury of it.
Both Men were Descendants of a Legendary King or Hero, Rhaegar a Descendant of Aegon The Conqueror and Barthogan a Descendant of Bran The Fucking Builder, would his First Men Lineage triumph over a Dirty Valyrian Bloodline of Incest and Insanity, or would the Mad Family triumph, whether it be through skill, chance, or just pure luck?
Time to find out....
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(Barthogan Blackstark POV)
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Barthogan held Red Rain in his left hand while his right held his Kukri Knife. Barthogan watched as Rhaegar Circled him.
''Fight or Submit.'' Barthogan Barks, and after a moments more hesitation Rhaegar charges swinging high, and rather than Block, Barthogan Spartan Kicks Rhaegar flat on his Pale and Platinum Blonde Arse.
''Stand and Fight.'' Barthogan snaps, disappointed at how easy it was to flatten Rhaegar and so quickly at that.
Rhaegar stands and rather than rush at Barthogan, he trades glancing strikes. Neither of them was willing to go all in after A direct charge failed for Rhaegar. In Barthogan's Case he knew Rhaegar would be more on guard knowing that a direct charge would end with him flat on his plate mailed ass, which meant he'd be waiting for an opportunity to either or attack or counter attack.
Unfortunately that was how Barthogan fought as well. Only ever reacting and never acting, because nine times out of ten it was always better to retaliate rather than to await Retaliation. Tywin Lannister understood this, it was what made him so effective in the Reyne-Tarbeck Rebellion, rather than entertain them in a protracted war of attrition, Tywin knew that the Reyne's and Tarbeck would ultimately hole up in their Castle's so he hit Tarbeck Hall with Catapults and Trebuchets, and sealed the Castamere Mines before Flooding them. He retaliated before they could, leaving no room to counter him.
Barthogan applied this same tactic in his Information Network and how he fought. If an opponent gave an opening he'd take it and continue attacking to tire him out, wear his strength down, and behead him. But if they opponent kept that opening open he'd not risk it again. Any guy who's played a game where you can spam attacks knows that all it takes is one lucky shot to fuck up your entire strategy.
It was why he'd never invite Rhaegar close just to Spartan Kick him again.
Because it carried too much risk of being bait.
Barthogan finally got sick of Rhaegar's inaction and discarded his plate armor and sat cross-legged in his Alloy Armor atop his Leather just to piss off him and bait him.
''Stand and fight!'' Says Rhaegar.
''No, if you attack me I'll defend myself. But I won't attack you. Because what's the point? Knowing this do you have it in you to strike me down or do you have it in you to surrender and give us the chance to sit down like adults as soon as we get rid of your father. See while I will never surrender to you, I'd keep your ass locked up until we can sort the truth from the bullshit. During that time a Provisional Council of Loyalists and Rebels would rule. After that we air the truth out and fight or we vote. Depends on the...'' An Arrow hits Barthogan's Shoulder from the Loyalists side, and The Rebels and Loyalists stand still as neither knows how to react.
Standing to his feet, Barthogan snaps the Arrow off and pulls it out, a small patch of blood staining the Gauntlets from the Arrow lodging itself in between the Alloy Plates.
''Treachery?! You dare violate Honorable Single Combat?'' Barthogan Growls angrily.
''Lord Blackstark, please, I gave no order!'' Rhaegar says scrambling to calm the enraged Rebel King.
''You expect me to believe that? After Jon Connington's Men sacked and Butchered more than half of House Frey, leaving only six Frey's alive? I was willing to look past it, to settle our duel as a no-contest due to our identical forms of Combat, but no, that ship's sailed.'' Barthogan bellows, as His men take aim and fell dozens upon dozens of Loyalists as soon as Barthogan raises his sword.
Barthogan quickly signals his men forward, and after a few moments the Loyalists Surge Forth to fight. The Battle of the Trident was going to actually happen it would seem, but...The Trial by Combat between Rhaegar and Barthogan had not yet been declared over, which left the Rebel King and Crown Prince with unfinished business....
And in the Immortal Words of Optimus Prime:
One Shall Rise,
and,
One Shall Fall.
And in this case, Barthogan was Optimus Prime, and Rhaegar wasn't even Megatron, but Starscream.
Granted Barthogan had orchestrated the whole scenario, but he never saw Connington move, which meant one of three things; Cassandra forced his hand, The Agent acted without permission, or someone legitimately took a shot at him. And given how the arrow Lodged itself between his Alloy Plates, he was more than a little inclined towards the third one, chiefly because it would take a highly skilled Archer to make that shot and not be compromised in the ensuing Blood-Soaked Battle of the Trident. Which meant a highly skilled and well paid Whisperer or Sellwood snuck past his Ravens. An unlikely but by no means at all impossible scenario, but very concerninng. The Points between the Alloy Plates were the only obvious weaknesses, which is why it was wiser to wear them on top of Leathers but beneath Plate Mail. The Alloy was strong enough, thin enough, and light enough to do this, but the Gaps between them stuck out and hurt like a sore thumb.
But enough, a Battle needed Winning and a Prince needed some very serious Mad Dragon Slaying.....
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone