Winter's Fire → Game of Thrones

lx. Taking Storm's End

There it was. Standing right in front of us. Storm's End.

From where we stood, the single castle of Storm's End looked like a fist raised towards the sky. It was one of few castles considered impregnable. Yet here we were, ready to try to take the castle with thirty men.

Daemon was running us through the layout of the castle. It had a massive outer wall that was 100 feet high. That outer wall protected the kitchens, stables and yard. There wasn't a second wall inside, but it was big enough to prove a problem. So was the single tower, which housed the granary, barracks, armoury and feast hall, as well as all other rooms a tower would usually hold.

There were a few things that bothered me about the castle. Of course that outer wall was the main one, but there were other things. One was the massive cliff on the far side of the castle. The other was the fact that the castle is said to be protected by spells woven into the stonework.

The sun was going to begin to slowly rise within an hour. Soon enough we would have to decide how we would go about getting into the castle. If we did not decide soon then our cover would be blown and we may as well go back to King's Landing because the castle would be on high alert.

Lucien, Daemon and I all had our own plan. We all also knew we really were meant to know by now what we were going to do. Yet it had been hard to find the words to explain what we wanted to do. So now we were acting as if we were giving the men a choice in plan, and not admitting we had not shared our plans yet.

All of the men with us trusted us. They trusted we had a plan that we were not sharing until the last minute as if it is part of some big strategy. But here we were, failing them. We had not even started fighting yet and we had failed them.

Only Daemon was being genuine about wanting the men to help us decide on our plan. Lucien and I both wanted to sort it between the three of us. Daemon won though because none of us could find the strength to voice our plans to each other. 

I think it is because we are scared of making the wrong decision and losing not just our men, but each other.

"Lord Lucien, Lady Stark and I all have different plans," Daemon told the men. "We are asking you to risk your lives alongside us, so we ask you to listen and help us decide. Lord Lucien will present his plan first."

"I want to call for a discussion between Ser Gilbert Farring, Lord Elwood Meadows and Ser Lomas Estermont," Lucien said. "I think they should allow us to take the castle, but if not we will kill them."

Lucien's plan was... bad.

I did not like admitting that to myself, but it was a horrible plan. Ser Gilbert Farring, the castellan, is one of Stannis' strongest supporters. Lord Elwood Meadows is the man who turned Storm's End over to Stannis in the first Place. Ser Lomas Estermont is Stannis' uncle. They would not give us the castle.

As for killing them if they did not give in to our demands, that basically ensured our own deaths. Not only would the soldiers in the castle refuse to open the gates for us, but it is likely they would send some of their own to fight us. In an open field like in front of Storm's End, that spells certain death for a force of merely 30.

"It is a no from me," Daemon said, to which everyone muttered in agreement. "My own plan is to find a way under the castle. Whether it be down the cliff or we sail a few small boats in. We would have to get past a portcullis, bars and murder holes, but we should be capable of it as we are such a small force. Once we are in the castle, surprise gives us the upper-hand."

Daemon's plan was not as bad as Lucien's. I had been expecting more of him though. It seems he is just as confused on what to do as the rest of us.