章 526: Chapter 526: Escape to Storm's End
King Viserys took the field himself, leading the Golden Company to confront the rebel leader Stannis and his formidable Stormlands army at the gates of Bronzegate.
The battle raged from dawn to dusk. Stannis' forces initially held their ground against the Targaryen onslaught, even gaining the upper hand for a brief moment, causing significant problems for the Targaryens.
However, the renowned war elephants of the Golden Company and a dragon joining the fray turned the tide of battle, leaving the Stormlands army unable to contend with the rulers of the sky and the earth.
The Stormlanders fought valiantly, defending their homeland. Stannis' command was exemplary, but it was an uphill battle. The blood of soldiers stained the ground.
Ultimately, the Stormlands suffered a crushing defeat at Bronzegate, leaving behind countless dead and fleeing in haste. In their retreat, they lost numerous villages, towns, and castles of the Stormlands.
The Targaryen forces, with the momentum of victory, swiftly conquered Bronzegate, Hay Hall, Harvest Hall, and Felwood.
Facing Viserys, Stannis was consumed by a familiar sense of powerlessness. The last time he felt this way was when he confronted the White Walkers at the Wall, facing an unending horde of the undead. All his battle knowledge and experience seemed worthless then, and it felt the same now facing Viserys.
If it were just the dragons, perhaps there would be hope. But Viserys also had an army of war elephants, creatures from another continent, which struck terror into the hearts of Westerosi soldiers and horses alike.
In this battle, Viserys had only unleashed one of his dragons. He had another tormenting Tywin in the Westerlands, one guarding Pentos, and five more young dragons still growing.
With this overwhelming sense of despair, Stannis, under the protection of his guards, made a hasty retreat to his stronghold, Storm's End.
"Open the gates!"
"Open the gates!"
In the pitch-black night, a group of knights, armored yet worn, approached the gates of Storm's End, holding the charred banner of the Baratheon stag, calling out loudly.
The walls of Storm's End were brightly lit, guarded by Baratheon soldiers. The bad news of the Bronzegate battle had already spread, casting a shadow of despair over Storm's End. Everyone was on edge.
"Halt!"
"Who goes there?"
Recognizing a familiar face, the guards atop the wall shouted, "The cavalry has returned!"
With the sound of a deep horn, the heavy gates of Storm's End opened to welcome the returning knights.
"Here, easy now."
The sound of hooves echoed as the battered forces of the Stormlands entered.
"Help me off my horse," Stannis, equally weary, said as he was assisted by his guards. His legs were chafed and sore, but he bore the pain, merely taking a sharp breath and discarding his gloves.
Several times during his escape, Stannis narrowly avoided being spotted by the dragons. At one point, dragonfire consumed the space right before him, incinerating two of his guards. He managed to dive into a bush just in time, narrowly escaping death.
Fortunately, the geography of the Stormlands was intricate, and though it didn't have as many mountains as the Westerlands or the Vale, it had dense forests. These forests, lush due to the frequent rains, provided cover for Stannis. With the protection of his guards, he evaded capture and returned to Storm's End.
The horn sounded from the walls, and despite the late hour, the castle was abuzz.
Maester Cressen, an elderly man with white hair who now relied on a cane, hurriedly approached.
"Stannis."
Ever since Stannis and his brother Renly turned on each other, and Stannis emerged victorious, Maester Cressen had aged considerably. The once-vigorous old man now appeared frail.
"Stannis, I've heard about the battle. It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes. One or two defeats don't define you."
"Storm's End has ancient magic protecting it. It has never been breached. Even a dragon's fire cannot harm it."
The words of Maester Cressen touched Stannis, but he did not show his vulnerability. He simply nodded and said, "I was merely fortunate to escape."
Looking around, Stannis saw the anxiety on everyone's faces. He paused, then said, "It's late, and the journey has been taxing. Maester, we'll discuss matters tomorrow."
Maester Cressen nodded, and Stannis retreated to his chambers in Storm's End.
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