The Vengeful Lion of House Lannister

King Aegon V Targaryen PoV

Melees, no matter how orderly they began, would devolve into an orgy of chaos and violence. Dunk and Gerold were off to a good start as they had each defeated a competitor. A group of three backed away from them. Even if Gerold was slightly smaller than a grown man, no one in their right sense would charge in with Dunk standing next to him.

This was one of Duncan's conditions for Gerold to take part. Quite a few squires were taking part, but at 10 and 3 he was the youngest. It would be easy for any other knight to be tempted to take advantage of him, but Dunk was the first deterrent. Second was that he was fighting under House Targaryen and not House Hightower. Last was that even at his age Gerold wasn't called the Young Bull for nothing, he was relentless and stronger than some of the grown men taking part. 

As the group backed away, one of them was struck from the back by another knight from House Buckwell. The other two spun around and allowed Dunk and Gerold to charge in. It only took a few exchanges before the group of three were defeated and surrendered.

It was at that time the shouts from the crowd drew my attention to another battle. An unmistakable figure was in the mud rolling with another knight. Robar and another knight had devolved into a fistfight in the dirt. Robar had disarmed the man as he had tried to draw his dagger. Robar had gotten a hold of the knight's right hand using both of his own. With this Robar twisted his opponent's arm until a scream could be heard.

As they turned, I finally caught sight of the opponent' Sigel. A Red Lion and I finally recognised that it was Roger Reyne. I then noticed another knight with a mace was running towards them, the next Red Lion. Robar was in trouble unless he could break Roger Reynes' arm or make him surrender but as the second Reyne Knight was almost there, he was struck on the side by a great axe.

The unmistakable massive frame of Lord Sumner Crakehall had intercepted the other Reyne knight from his flank and with his son, who was his squire and at his back, he made quick work of the Reyne knight. When my attention returned to Robar, Lord Roger Reyne doubled over on the ground cradling his arm. Robar showed Lord Reyne no mercy as he kicked him in the side of his head. As he fell rolled, Robar began to stomp the man in his helm until he screamed surrender.

Orienting himself and retrieving his shield and a mace, he slowly broke into a sprint. When I looked in the direction he was running to, Ser Ilyn Payne was facing off against two knights from House Velaryon. As Robar was charging in, to my surprise Lord Crakehall and his son followed behind Robar. This was undoubtedly arrangements that had been made beforehand.

Ser Ilyn Payne while being outnumbered, didn't flinch and was matching both his opponents with a flurry of attacks. Until finally Robar and Lord Crakehall and his squire approached. In an instant ,House Velaryon had lost the advantage of numbers. 

One of the men from House Velaryon began to look around in panic, no doubt looking for allies. "This could be trouble!" I said out loud as I remembered something.

"What is it?" Betha asked noticing my focus as she had heard me despite the noise from the crowd. Usually, she would have not even bothered with attending the melee but after she was concerned with Duncan's joust no longer weighing on her, she was in a much merrier mood and chose to accompany me.

"A moon ago, Ser Wyl Corbray had reported, Lord Aethan Velaryon had openly challenged one of Tywin's sworn swords in a matter concerning Aerys. Tywin had quashed the situation but apparently, it wasn't settled." I said to her as I pointed towards the scene that was playing out.

Velaryon was now surrounded on two sides by Ilyn and Robar on one and Crakehall on the other side. They could either fight or forfeit, but neither choice would be favourable for them. As I heard from Ser Wyl, Lord Aethan Velaryon had intentionally made a scene, and now for him to have to tuck his tail and run, it would be a stain on his pride.

As I thought this, I saw Ilyn raise his hand gesturing at the Velaryon and then at the crowd. Being familiar with Ser Ilyn Payne and his antics, I understood he was provoking them. What followed next left no more need for interpretation as Ilyn brought his hand in between his legs and moved it back and forth vigorously towards the Velaryons. This gesture was crude but extremely effective.

The one whom I now assumed was Aethan Velaryon lunged forward while tightening his grip on the great sword and swung from an overhead stance. Ilyn parried the great sword with his own and then slammed his shoulder into the centre of the other's chest, sending him stumbling back.

The other knight rushed in behind the first but was tied up by Robar who intercepted him. They began to swing their weapons as they slammed into each other and became entangled. Robar letting his shield drop, grabbed the other Velaryon knight under his arm and using his leg as leverage, pivoted and dragged the knight sideways, sweeping his leg out from under him and sending him slamming into the ground. 

As the knight fell head first into the ground, he landed with a hard thud. Without mercy, Robar brought down his new mace onto the head of the fallen knight and with a loud "PANG", the knight lay motionless. A few more moments more, the knight made no more movements before Robar turned to Ilyn. Men from House Velaryon ran out onto the field grabbed the down knight and began to drag him off the field.

Ilyn finally got the better of the other knight and knocked the sword from his arm, but did not stop his blows as he brought down his great sword onto the knight's shoulder heavily. The pauldron was badly dented and the shoulder hung awkwardly as he began to scream. As he tried to make distance, Ilyn gave chase not intending to let him go. At that moment I realized that Ilyn intended to kill him and I would not allow it. 

"STOP THIS INSTANT! YOUR KING COMMANDS IT!" I stood and used a tone I had not used in years while pointing directly at Ilyn Payne who chased after his now fleeing foe. Instantly all the guards and knights within ear shot came to attention and began relaying the orders. Robar and Sumner Crakehall heard my orders and both moved quickly and caught Ilyn Payne before he could further injure his opponent who was already on the floor screaming in pain. Robar who was only slightly bigger than Ilyn and Sumner who was massive compared to him, easily dragged him to the ground and subdued him.

As the crowd slowly became silent, for the 2nd time today, a blood-curdling scream rang out. A young woman with Valarian features screamed at the side of the bleachers. "What is happening?" Betha who was now standing asked me.

"I don't know my deer."

Turning to Ser Donald. "GO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING!"

Whatever was happening made me uneasy as something from earlier went through my mind. I began to have a bad feeling. The melee was temporarily halted until I could ascertain what was going on.

…

Both me and Jaehaerys stood speechless at the sight of the young maiden who wept while clutching the chest of her dead brother. Lord Aethan Velaryon lay motionless staring at the roof of his tent. His head lay in a pool of blood from a gash when his helm had been caved in from a single blow from Robar. According to the Maestar present, he most likely died from a broken neck when he fell but couldn't be sure.

At some point in time, everyone had lost track of the two knights who were dressed in similar armour. As told by a servant of House Velaryon, Aethan Velaryon had commissioner a personal set of Armor, however, it had to be refitted as he was still a growing young man and had recently put on some size and needed for his tourney armour to be resized. Not wanting to miss the melee because of a lack of armour he used his regular set, similar to what his cousin Ser Brent Bywater who also represented House Velaryon, as he was Aetahn's sworn sword.

As I looked at the blood-soaked pale blonde hair and the purple eyes of the now-dead Lord Velaryon, Only two things came to mind. Lily's prophecy had come through. The other was that this was a disaster. Lord Aethan Velaryon had married a young maiden from a branch family of House Celtigar, no more than half a year ago to secure his position, he needed to produce an heir.

She was with a child but what would happen now if the child was a daughter? This would mean the death of the male line of House Velaryon. Just like that, would one of the three remaining Houses in Westeros who traced their lineage back to Valaria, would be wiped out?

"Your Grace, a word in private." Jaehaerys brought me out of my thoughts.

"Certainly," I said to Jaehaerys and then turned to Ser Donald.

 "Make preparations, have the body sent to the silents sisters at the Sept of Balor to prepare his body. I will see to it that all arrangements are seen to. Also have Melissa sent back to the Red Keep. When she is able to, I will speak with her." Ser Donald quickly bowed and began giving orders to the servants as I gave the girl one last look before leaving.

Melissa Velaryon was distraught having lost her brother in such an abrupt manner. Death was rare in melees, but the death of a Lord of a House was even rarer, I struggle to remember if it had ever occurred in the past. It wasn't strange for a Lord to be injured but to go as far to be killed.

No matter how young, hotblooded or ambitious they were, no one wanted to make an enemy of an entire house or other nobles who were on good terms with the one who had been killed. Needless to say, it was only the truly blood thirsty or arrogant with the political backing who would intentionally kill during a tourney.

As we walked out of the tent, Jaehaerys leaned in and whispered. "Lily's prophecy, purple eyes covered in blood." I glanced at him and I could see his concern. "I know, we will speak on this later." Came my response. I didn't find any fault in his concerns because they were the same that I was having. As we returned to the pavilion, all I could hear were the whispers, that Aethan Velaryon was dead.

…

Tywin Lannister's PoV

This wasn't how things were supposed to play out. I had intentionally sent Ilyn out with orders to kill Aethan Velaryon as I knew he would be aiming to get back at me for the rumours. It would be perfect to quickly take care of a budding annoyance while paving the way for another future move. Ilyn was supposed to end it swiftly while in the heat of battle.

Who would have thought that the backup I had arranged from House Marbrand, Prester and Tully would end up getting hung up. Only Lord Sumner Crakehall and his son managed to run interference with House Reyne and back up my men against the Velaryons.

Had everything gone according to plan, he was supposed to kill Aethan Velaryon and then cripple Roger Reyne. Everyone else were suppose to run interference. Ilyn didn't care for his honour and only cared about violence; he was a battle junkie.

When I proposed this, he willingly accepted this under the condition that at the first possible opportunity, I would give him free rein to fight or fuck as much as he wanted. Instead, Robar fought with Roger Reyne and broke his arm. From what I heard, he would probably fully recover with some time. Worst was that Robar killed Aethan Velaryon and it had been completely by accident. Robar said, he rarely used a mace and didn't think it would have done so much damage.

 Now here I was in the King's tent awaiting him. Before the Melee had begun, he ordered Robar and Ilyn to be taken and placed under guard in my tent. I dreaded what was about to come. Even if Ilyn was stripped of his knighthood and ordered to take the black, I had already promised him that I would make arrangements for him to be smuggled to Essos.

He would be well compensated and no doubt, he would take to life in the free companies like a fish in water. Robar was different, he, Kevan and Genna were the only truly loyal and capable people I considered. He was my only true friend who wasn't related to me by blood but I had considered him the same. This whole day had turned into a mess and even as the tourney drew near to its conclusion, there was no doubt in my mind, it still was far from over.