WILOW-Ch.441: The King’s Landing Has Fallen

King’s Landing, Crownlands

POV of Domeric Bolton

30 Giants sent by Domeric hammered away at the Iron Gate for half an hour.

During that time, the Baratheon forces tried everything from raining arrows and bolts on them to pouring hot oil and throwing large stones at the giants, but nothing went past their armor.

The Giants continued, and the gate finally gave way.

Domeric wasn’t surprised at all to find that Stannis Baratheon himself was commanding this section of the wall.

Stannis filled the whole streets with his men and gave them the order to stop the Giants and the forces behind them at any cost.

That attempt failed spectacularly when no spear or sword even scratched the Giant’s armor, and they easily cut a bloody swath through the gate. At the same time, the Manderly, Karstark, and Umber forces used this opening to take over the gate as well as the nearby walls.

The Dragon Gate, which was closest to Iron Gate, was the next one to fall, and after that point, Stannis gave the order to retreat, and all the remaining Baratheon men retreated from the walls and into the Red Keep in quiet order.

He sighed when he heard that other armies’ men had tried to sack and plunder the city. But most of them were unsuccessful and seemed to just run back and forth through the city streets.

Domeric ordered his troops to spread out throughout the city and restore order. He also ordered the Giants and Direwolves to join patrol units on the city streets.

He hoped this would cause many of the greedy men to retreat.

Although some houses appeared to have been broken into and looted, most were safe thanks to Domeric’s magic.

Furthermore, many men who wanted to loot the city soon realized something was wrong and, fearing the consequences, retreated, saying it was due to the Old Gods’ protection.

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The next day.

Tensions were high in the war council room.

The lords from the North, Riverlands, and Vale were glaring at the lords from Reach for breaking their words and attacking the walls early so that they could win some glory.

The lords from Reach were glaring back at other lords because, despite their attack, they failed to break through their own gates and were left behind by his army and the Northern forces, who broke through the Iron Gate thanks to his giants.

More than a few of them even had the audacity to glare at him for using his giants during the siege.

Apparently, the lord from Reach still hadn’t realized that he was an Emperor.

Garlan just looked tired at this point.

He might have felt sorry for the man if he hadn’t disobeyed his orders and acted on his own accord. Garlan had tried to attack the walls early to gain back his reputation, but that gambit failed spectacularly when his army broke through the city defenses before they could.

Garlan couldn’t even dare look at him at the moment.

He knew Garlan was angry at him from inside for ruining his plans. But what Dominic did was to minimize losses in the war. And Garlan has no way of saying anything against that.

Domeric, on the other hand, took out a book and started reading it while the other lords bickered and fought amongst themselves.

"Your Majesty, why did you withdraw your giants from the attack?" Lord Leyton Hightower asked, "If you had pressed the attack, then we would have taken Red Keep by now."

He looked up from his book and noticed the whole room had gone silent, and everyone was staring at him.

He slowly stared back at everyone in the room before he closed the book and said, "Lord Centon Highwater, was it?"

"Leyton Hightower... your majesty." The man said and glared at him.

"Whatever." He said and started using his magic to pressure the man into submission, "For you to have the audacity to question my actions, you must have made huge contributions in this war. That is why I find it strange that I’ve not heard anything about your accomplishments so far. It’s almost like you have done ’Absolutely Nothing’ but since the start of this war."

The man looked a little angry but also a little intimidated by him.

"This is not about his actions, your majesty," Lord Randyll Tarly said. "We are aware of our inaction and our mistakes. What we’re asking is why you did not take action when it was necessary. Why did you not send the Giants to smash the gates of the Red Keep while we had the advantage? Why is it that some of your army patrol the streets of King’s Landing while the rest remain outside of King’s Landing when they could do much good against the Red Keep’s defenses?" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

He turned and looked at Randyll Tarly.

After men from other armies, particularly the men from the Reach, had failed in their attempts to plunder the city, the lords had turned their attention to the Red Keep.

But Domeric, instead of sending his men to besiege the Red Keep, ordered them to continue patrolling the streets of King’s Landing.

Meanwhile, his Imperial Tent and other logistical personnel, along with some of his men for protection, remained outside the walls of King’s Landing.

"You just said you were aware of your own mistakes, Lord Randyll Tarly. But without even apologizing, you now shamelessly dare to question my decisions. Are all the Lords of the Reach as thick-skinned as you, or is this unique to you, Lord Tarly?" Domeric said.

Domeric’s words had caused Lord Randyll Tarly’s face to turn as red as a tomato. But Domeric continued speaking, waiting for him to answer.

"The reason behind my inaction is quite simple." He said, "I heard that your men have started to kill and rape the innocent commoners of King’s Landing as soon as they entered the city. And I had to deploy my men to ensure the safety of the city’s people. Then I ordered the commanders of the three other armies near me to support me in this matter."

Although Domeric knew his army was powerful, he didn’t have enough men to cover all the streets of the city.

Therefore, he ordered the commanders of the North, Riverlands, and Vale armies to deploy patrols to maintain order in the city.

"Things like rape and pillage are common during the sack of a city. I’m surprised you did not expect something like this, your majesty. Maybe you’re too soft for this." Lord Randyll Tarly said.

"I knew this would happen, Lord Tarly. That’s why I sent a decree to all armies forbidding pillage, rape, and killing against the small folk after the city was captured, do you remember?" he said, and then looked into the eyes of each of the Reach lords one by one.

Because of the magical pressure he emanated, they all had to bow their heads in fear.

Then added, "Not only have you defied my decree, but you also accuse me of being soft? Perhaps I should be extra harsh in determining your punishment."

"Your majesty..." Ser Garlan wanted to interject, but Domeric raised his hand and silenced him.

"Just because it is expected doesn’t take away the fact that what your men did was wrong." He said and continued. "And don’t confuse being merciful and kind with being soft. I can be the complete opposite when the situation calls for it, and believe me, you wouldn’t want to see that side of me."

All the lords in the room, whether from the Reach or not, were now breaking out in a cold sweat at Domeric’s assertive demeanor. And Lords from Reach, he was addressing, could only swallow hard.

"I do have a kind heart for the small folk. If Lord Tywin had not involved the smallfolk in his war against the Riverlands, then I would not have sent him to Sunspear. That’s why you’d better learn this early; with the new order that comes with my empire, some things will change."

Then Domeric leaned back and waited for a while for those in the room to process what had been said.

Of course, that wasn’t the real reason Domeric sent Tywin to Sunspear, but some lords thought Tywin’s punishment was too harsh.

Therefore, Domeric thought it wasn’t a bad idea to use Tywin as an example while showing his appreciation for the small folk.

Now the lords would have to reconsider their attitude towards the small folk. After all, no one wanted their fate to be like Tywin’s.

After a while, he spoke again. "As for the siege of Red Keep, my army will not participate."

The expressions on the faces of those in the room after these words were priceless.

"Many of you thought I stole your successes, didn’t you? I don’t want future generations to remember me as a glory-monger emperor. So, here’s your opportunity. King Aegon will lead the siege of Red Keep. If you want to gain fame, do it yourselves and contribute to the siege."

His words were obviously met by silence.

And he was not in the mood to listen to them any longer, so he said. "You can discuss the rest of the siege amongst yourselves. King Aegon, the War Council is now in your hands."

Then he left the war council room with Varko and Brienne following him in their Dark Knight attire.

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Next Chapters’ Name:

Ch.442: Another Ritual Time

Ch.443: Ygritte Becomes a Dragonlord

Ch.444: The Death of Stannis Baratheon