We Bleed Silver(GOT/ASOIAF Fanfic)

In Dragonstone, Silverwing seemed to sense something, suddenly crawling out of the dragon's lair and letting out a roar toward the north. Valar, in the Tower of Twins, woke up instantly from his sleep. Layla Velaryon, who lay beside him, was still peacefully asleep.

Valar looked out the window in confusion, but saw nothing. All that could be heard was Silverwing's roar, which soon faded into silence.

In the Riverlands, at Harrenhal.

Prince Daemon took control of the castle with little effort. The acting lord of this massive, intimidating fortress, Ser Simon Strong, immediately knelt and surrendered as soon as he saw Caraxes land on the Fire King's Tower.

He and the Strong family inside Harrenhal were already inclined toward the blacks, so they quickly raised the Queen's banner and gave her the wealth of the Strong family, which amounted to thousands of golden dragons. Caraxes then immediately set off, flying to other castles in the Riverlands.

"Bracken, traitor!"

By the mill on the riverbank, the army of House Blackwood raised the banners of Raventree and the Queen's quartered banner, marching in force into the lands of House Bracken. They burned the farmlands and mills, drove off cattle and sheep, plundered every village, destroyed every visible sept, and chopped up the wooden carvings of the Seven to use as firewood.

Lord Amos Bracken quickly gathered his forces and, in turn, marched to the borders of House Blackwood. They carried the red horse banner of House Bracken and King Aegon's banner—the black field with a golden dragon, symbolizing the King's ally, the blindingly bright scales of the Sunfire, and unquestionable royal authority.

As Lord Amos Bracken prepared to set up camp, House Blackwood's cavalry "dishonorably" launched a surprise attack on the Bracken's infantry, who had just arrived and were preparing to set up camp. The armored knights instantly tore through House Bracken's crossbowmen and peasant infantry like tearing paper. The free riders and light cavalry followed the gap torn open by the knights, pouring in and cutting down Bracken's peasants, sending them into disarray. Flames quickly engulfed the entire mill.

"Blackwood!" Lord Amos roared, signaling for his knights and heavily armored infantry to push forward, while he brought the main force to slowly counterattack. Fortunately, House Blackwood's cavalry was preoccupied with chasing down the peasant troops, and did not reorganize to face the Bracken counterattack. Additionally, House Blackwood's infantry had failed to keep up.

What a great opportunity!

Lord Amos Bracken immediately rallied his knights for a counterattack, seeking out his old rival, Lord Samwell Blackwood. No matter how much he changed, Bracken would recognize him even if he turned to ash.

"Samwell, you shameless coward, traitor, come!" Amos urged his warhorse forward, charging straight at Samwell. He swung his sword, but Lord Samwell raised his own blade to block it. "I could say the same to you, Bracken!" Samwell retorted.

The two earls clashed on horseback, but it wasn't long before they both dismounted. Lord Amos Bracken drew his mace, swinging it at the chest armor of Lord Blackwood, who wasn't about to back down. He thrust his longsword, and the sword and mace clanged against each other in the flames.

The battle between the two Lords raged on for a long time, neither able to gain the upper hand until Lord Samwell missed a strike. Amos seized the opportunity, smashing his mace into Samwell's wrist. Samwell winced in pain, and his sword flew from his hand.

Amos Bracken wasn't about to let his injured rival escape. His mace rained down on Blackwood's chest and helmet, striking fiercely. With just a few blows, he shattered Lord Blackwood's armor and helmet.

Blood poured out, along with white brain matter and a murky fluid that Amos couldn't identify.

Lord Blackwood's nearly flattened body slowly toppled to the ground. Just as Amos raised his mace in victory, a long arrow, coming from an unknown direction, pierced the gap in his helmet with deadly accuracy.

The two old enemies lay together, their blood and brain matter mingling into a mess that could no longer be distinguished.

A black-haired young girl in leather armor lowered her longbow, coldly surveying the chaotic battlefield. The Blackwood's infantry, led by her and Robb Rivers, finally arrived at the scene. Robb Rivers's archers fired a volley of arrows at the burning mill.

The Bracken army collapsed. Without their leader, they had already lacked morale, and after the surprise attack, they could only rely on the chaos and the cooperation of Bracken's knights and heavy infantry to hold their ground. But with the sudden barrage of arrows from above, they were quickly shattered. Only Amos Bracken's half-brother, Raylon Rivers, managed to lead the remnants of the army across the river, retreating toward their castle.

When Raylon arrived at Stone Hedge Castle, the sight before him nearly caused him to fall from his horse. His nephew, Humfrey, was bound and hung at the castle gates, crying uncontrollably. The red horse banner of House Bracken had disappeared, replaced by the banners of House Piper, the twin towers of House Frey, the two-headed horse of House Roore, and the farmers of House Darry.

A large camp had sprung up below his castle, and among the tents stood a massive dragon.

Prince Daemon stared coldly at Sir Raylon Rivers. The bloodworm beneath him stretched its neck, its gaze fixed on Raylon as well, the same look shared by several lords standing atop the castle walls.

Lord Forrest Frey of the Twin was a handsome middle-aged man clad in blue plate armor, exuding youthful vigor. The young Lord Frey had once boldly courted the Queen when she visited the Riverlands, and now, as Prince Daemon descended from the skies on his dragon, Lord Frey immediately raised the Queen's banner. He led 200 knights and 600 armored infantry to join Daemon's forces. His battle-hungry wife, Shabitha Varlpine, would also rally around 2,000 peasants and mercenaries to fight for the Queen.

Lord Petyr Piper of Pinkmaiden similarly led 100 knights and 700 armored foot soldiers in a swift march. His grandson continued to gather more troops from the rear. The elderly Lord Petyr explained to Daemon the reason why the Riverland lords acted so decisively.

"We swore to her with our swords. Now I am old, some of us have died, some have grown old, but I am not yet old enough to forget my oath, nor have they been so shameless as to die without teaching their sons and grandsons the oaths they must uphold," the old Lord said. "The sword is still in my hand, and I have not forgotten, nor has it."

In just a few days, as Daemon descended on various castles riding his dragon, House Mooton of Maidenpool, the Mallister family of Seagard, and the Vypren of Travelers Rest all raised the Queen's banner. The Riverland lords had gathered several thousand troops, and that number was still growing.

Sir Raylon slowly dismounted from his horse, kneeled, and raised his sword. "The Bracken family pledges allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen. Please, forgive my ignorant nephew."

Daemon smiled and accepted Raylon's surrender.

From this point onward, much of the Riverlands was now aligned with the Black faction. The armies of the Riverland lords began to march toward Harrenhal.

Above the sky.

Aemond lay stunned atop Vhagar's back, finally coming out of the fury from the previous night.

"What have I done?"

A chill swept over the One-Eyed Prince's heart.