(Winterfell, The North, Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Westeros, Planetos)
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(Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon POV)
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Together with Captain Greer, and Uncle Jaime, as well as Lyle and Aurane, Lyonel had joined the Hunting party. As would be typical, they'd split off into small groups, and would sound a war horn when they'd slain a beast. Lyonel was looking for signs, snapped branches and prints. He felt Aurane tap his shoulder, and a little further ahead were some tracks.
''Hmm, I don't recognize the tracks, but based upon the prints, I'm guessing an Elk of some kind.'' Lyle says in a low whisper.
''Could be a great elk, but those are traditionally found north of the Wall. Let's keep going, and keep the chatter down, but also watch your step, no need to alert what's here.'' Says Lyonel.
''Your mother is not going to let me hear the end of this if it is a Great Elk and you get hurt. I've heard how big they get.'' Jaime warns.
''Let's worry about my mother later, I'm the one with a Dragonbone bow after all.'' Says Lyonel. ''If it is a Great Elk, then my Bow has both the range and penetration to take it down quickly with fewer arrows.''
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Tracking the animal was a long and arduous process, and they were about to give up when out of the corner of his eye he noticed something. Raising up a closed fist, he slowly drew an arrow from his quiver, the Golden wood glinting in the rays of sunlight that slipped through the trees. He knocked his bow, but he didn't draw it. He signaled for his friends and uncle to stay behind while he stealthily approached.
Looking at the beast, it was indeed a Great Elk, could easily be at least nine foot, its antlers were huge, But that wasn't what drew his attention, the coat of the beast was not the standard dark brown, it was a bright chestnut, possibly even slightly reddish bronze.
It was grazing right then, and Lyonel placed two arrows in front of him, before aiming. The Elk was maybe twenty feet from him, and it was side on. Drawing back his bowstring, he released a low but clear whistle and in the fraction of a second it took the Elk to look up in alarm was all it took for him to launch his shot, before quickly lining up a second and taking it. His first shot hit the Elk in the right side, possibly just missing the heart or lungs. His second shot, which he assumed was the kill shot, hit the Elk in the neck as it started forwards.
The beast went down, hard.
Waving the others over, Lyonel stabbed his dagger into the heart of the Elk, ensuring its death. Nodding to Captain Greer, Lyonel watched as he blew his War Horn three times, indicating they'd need a lot of help bringing their quarry back.
''Did father teach you that?'' Uncle Jaime asked.
''No, I'm just naturally good with a bow. The arrows are Goldenheart so with the range and strength of a Dragonbone bow they hit harder. Of course the bow is no mere recurve as well, it's a Great Bow.'' Lyonel reminds Uncle Jaime.
''Made from Dragonbone harvested from the skull of Balerion the Black Dread himself.'' Jaime notes.
''Lots of trial and error.'' Lyle says.
''What do you hope to do with the beast?'' Aurane asks.
''The Coat and Antlers will go to King's Landing. A portion of the meat will come with us back to King's Landing, the rest should remain with House Stark.'' Lyonel decides.
The sound of two war horns caught their attention.
''They're on their way.'' Lyonel notes.
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(POV Shift: Lady Margaery Tyrell)
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She spent the morning as she usually did.
Taking care of herself and her body. She bathed, cleaning herself with lemon and lavender scented soaps, and water. She dressed in fine green and gold velvets, while also ensuring her hair was brushed.
But unlike previous days, her routine this time was a little bit different. They were preparing to travel to King's Landing. She would finally have a chance to meet her betrothed, Crown Prince Lyonel. The Prince had sent a raven to them, instructing Loras to present himself at Court.
She suspected this was to fulfill one of the voids on the Kingsguard in the wake of the three suspicious deaths of Ser Boros Blount, Ser Meryn Trant, and Ser Preston Greenfield. But she didn't know for certain.
Regardless, father was quite insistent that House Tyrell was both represented by more than just Loras, and that she had an opportunity to both ingratiate herself to Prince Lyonel and supplant his Paramour.
The Velaryon girl was a point of contention in the betrothal pact, but Prince Lyonel seemed to be less stubborn than King Robert, who required significant debate to agree to the betrothal. What made them concede certain demands was the fact Lyonel Baratheon himself had pushed for the marriage. Thus a single condition was that Lyonel not father any bastards until the succession was established was a condition of the match and them not pushing for her to be set aside.
Even so, father seemed to want her to supplant Daeneria Velayron. She understood it, but she needed to know more about the relationship between the crown prince and his paramour, as well as the Crown Prince himself before making any such attempts, something father was oblivious to. No matter though, Grandmother was the real power in House Tyrell. So long as father didn't do anything stupid, House Tyrell's star would continue to rise.
Regardless, she couldn't help but worry. What if the Crown Prince found her less than desirable after the marriage? Turning to his paramour for comfort? It was a seed she refused to let blossom into something more, but one she couldn't help but let be planted. The only consolation was she had a lot of time to prepare herself.
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(POV Shift: Lord Lyonel Corbray)
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A Raven came in the night. Reading the letter in his hands, a small smirk played across his lips.
By order of Crown Prince Lyonel Baratheon,
Ser Lyn Corbray, Heir apparent of Heart's Home, is to journey to King's Landing and present himself to the Crown Prince promptly. Failure to appear will be punished severely, whosoever receives this letter and fails to deliver it to Ser Lyn will be deemed just as guilty and culpable.
The letter was short and precise, which made him sorely tempted not to inform his brother about it. Lady Forlorn would return to its rightful owner, but if it got out he had received the letter and did nothing, he'd be punished.
Such a pity.
''Well?'' Looking up at his brother, he tossed the parchment across the table.
''The Crown Prince desires your presence. You are to travel to King's Landing at first light tomorrow. When you arrive, present yourself to him as soon as you are able. Do not, disappoint him, or me.'' He warns Lyn Sharply.
''Sure, I suppose I can ride for King's Landing.'' The carefree words grate on his nerves, but he ignores it.
''First light, Lucas will see to it you're prepared.'' He orders sharply.
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(POV Shift: Ser Brynden ''Blackfish'' Tully)
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Amusement.
That's what he felt as the Maester read the short and precise message.
He was oh so tempted to ignore it.
But he wouldn't, because Ned would apparently be King's Hand if King Robert had his way. And if nothing else, this gave him an opportunity to meet some of his great-nephews and nieces for the first time. Hoster might just keel over if he did and chose not to write back.
Tempting as it was, he still loved his brother. And Hoster was adamant he presented himself to the Crown Prince. What the young princeling wanted he didn't dare guess, but it was a royal summons, and he couldn't exactly ignore those like he typically did with Hoster's.
Ah well, hopefully this proved a tad more interesting than the effort that was required to travel to King's Landing.
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(POV Shift: King Robert I Baratheon)
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He didn't know what to expect at the sounding of three horns. Certainly not what greeted him. A Great Elk, easily over ten feet with two Goldenheart arrows lodged in it's side.
''By the gods.'' He quietly agreed with Robb Stark.
''Who struck the beast down?'' He knew well who'd done it, only Lyonel carried Goldenheart Arrows. But he had to be sure.
''I did father, first one was to the left a little, second one took it down after hitting in the neck,
''You took this Great Elk down with just two arrows?'' Asked Robb Stark.
''Two arrows made from Goldenheart, shot from a Great Bow made from Dragonbone taken directly from the Skull of Balerion the Black Dread. Yes.'' he smiled beneath his beard at the casual tone his boy used.
''Impressive.'' Ned Said.
''We'll need help to take it back to Winterf-''
''RRRAAAARRRRR!'' In a second, every man had either drawn their sword or nocked an Arrow.
Good thing two, as a Gigantic Snow Bear came rumbling into the clearing they were in, it snarled menacingly.
''Mother is going to kill us.'' Lionel said unamused, before Drawing back his bow and firing his Arrow straight and true at the gigantic Snow Bear.
''Fight for your lives!'' He roared.
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(Author's Note:)
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I had intended to have Loras debut in this chapter, but I felt it was better to debut Margaery here and leave Loras for later. For reference, let's assume the second shot of Lyonel's bow hit the Elk's carotid artery and also nicked a portion of the spinal column slightly severing it. Anway, this was completed the day after the first four. I'm on a bit of a roll right now, and since my phone's dead I don't have access to all of my notes for the chapters I was planning to actually do the day I wrote this.
Eh, such is life.
Next chapter, we'll see some of the fight initially, before switching to Cersei and then switching to various characters. In between we'll sort of get back to the fight, before closing the chapter with the finale of the battle against the bear. Until then, enjoy yourselves.
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