Storms End, located at Shipbreaker Bay, resembled a colossal, pale fist, intimidating the storms of Shipbreaker Bay and guarding the land below it.
Over a decade ago, this 'fist' had pinned the Redwyne fleet and tens of thousands of Highgarden troops here.
It prevented the southern 'royalists' from joining Rhaegar, giving Robert's allied forces ample time to eliminate the Targaryen's fresh troops.
Now, a middle-aged nobleman looked up at the castle where he had grown up, a hint of coldness in his deep, ocean-blue eyes.
His thin lips were pressed tightly together, as if they were ground into blades ready for a siege.
This tall nobleman was none other than Stannis Baratheon, the late King's younger brother.
Stannis gritted his teeth, staring intently at the castle before him. Over a decade ago, he had gnawed on leather belts and eaten dead rats here, delaying the main royalist forces and allowing his brother Robert to defeat Rhaegar.
Yet, Robert had completely disregarded his contributions.
Later, when quelling the Iron Islands rebellion, Robert always criticized Stannis for not attacking fast enough, instead favoring that Stark, as if Stark were his true brother.
Why?
Stannis had wanted to ask Robert more than once.
Why?
Stark didn't even have ships!
Now, Robert was dead, and all three of his legitimate sons were born from the Queen's affair.
Stannis should be the rightful heir to the iron throne, but his younger brother Renly had jumped out to contend with him.
Damn him, damn him, damn him!
This usurper!
What was he doing when Stannis was fighting battles?
He was merely running around the Vale in silk clothes, yet he was granted the title of Lord of Storms End.
He brought the Tyrell of Highgarden, attempting to claim the kingship!
And he even gave Stannis an apple.
In Westeros culture, accepting an enemy's apple is equivalent to surrendering to them.
Stannis would never accept being humiliated by such a boy!
If no one supported him, then he would use his own methods to reclaim what rightfully belonged to him!
A red figure flashed before Stannis's eyes.
Thanks to that woman, Stannis was now the sole legitimate heir. However, even though Renly was dead, the person guarding Storms End still refused to acknowledge him.
Why?
If it weren't for him, Storms End would have fallen long ago.
Stannis's heart was filled with rage.
So, he once again let that red figure take action.
Soon, soon, as soon as the acting castellan of Storms End died, Stannis would lead the Storms End army and Westeros's strongest fleet to attack King's Landing and seize the throne that belonged to him.
Thinking of this, Stannis couldn't help but tighten his grip on the sword at his waist. This sword was named Lightbringer!
The hand gripping the hilt was already cold and hard as ice.
Just then, a raven flew over his head, but Stannis paid it no mind.
This raven was being controlled by Jon.
Tywin had already retreated west with the Westerlands army, and there would be no large-scale battles in the Riverlands for now. Jon had dispatched ravens to the south, constantly monitoring Stannis's movements.
Since there was no way for the two of them to communicate for the time being, it would be disadvantageous if Jon went south too early or too late.
The best scenario was to arrive at King's Landing simultaneously with Stannis, attacking the city from both north and south, and Jon needed to manage this timing.
Jon, controlling the raven, perched on a branch. Soon, the gates of Storms End slowly opened.
First, a horse's head emerged, pulling a carriage behind it. On the carriage lay a corpse, pale as paper.
This was Cortnay Penrose, the acting castellan Renly had left behind after departing Storms End.
Cortnay was covered by the orange banner of House Penrose.
Coincidentally, his short beard was also reddish-orange.
He was unwilling to surrender Storms End to Stannis, nor was he willing to obey him. Stannis, enraged by this, ordered the Red Woman to send a 'shadow assassin' to kill Cortnay for him.
Now, this castle, which Stannis had yearned for for over a decade, finally flew his banner.
The red heart-stag banner.
"Your Grace."
A group of Storms End noblemen knelt before Stannis, pledging their loyalty to him.
"Storms End is yours."
'Storms End should have been mine all along,' Stannis thought to himself, though he didn't show it. He stepped forward, glanced at Cortnay's body, then mounted his horse, ready to enter the castle.
At this moment, a seductive woman in a red robe with flame-like dark red hair approached Stannis. He could feel an astonishing heat radiating from her.
The noblemen of Storms End were unaware of this woman's background, but some noblemen from Dragonstone looked at her with awe and reverence.
The raven on the distant branch naturally noticed this vibrant and conspicuous woman and intended to get closer for a better look.
But unexpectedly, she suddenly turned her head, and the raven quickly made a sharp turn and flew away.
The Red Woman showed a trace of confusion, but it was quickly replaced by weariness.
At this time, Jon had already withdrawn his soul from the raven's body.
"Jon, what's wrong? You're sweating so much?" Seeing Jon's somewhat pale face, Solara reached out to wipe his sweat.
"Nothing," Jon said, wiping his forehead while still on horseback.
The Red Woman gave him a rather terrifying feeling.
Jon was unsure of her power, but based on her performance in the original story, the Red Woman's magic seemed to lean towards 'sacrifice,' with king's blood appearing to be a very important 'sacrifice material.'
To avoid unnecessary trouble, it would be best for him to Warg less in her presence in the future.
Speaking of which, both the Stormlands army and Stannis's fleet were now fully assembled.
Since Stannis had taken Storms End, it meant that the Battle of the Blackwater was at most a month away.
Jon had to find a way to seize military power and control the army within a month.
Jon looked up into the distance. At this moment, the Northern army had already arrived at Harrenhal.
The massive walls seemed to press directly on one's chest, discouraging any thoughts of a head-on confrontation from those intending to invade.
Five towering turrets seemed to prop up the sky, as if one could touch the heavens by climbing them.
As the army approached, the walls of Harrenhal appeared like a vast curtain, as if to obscure the entire sky.
This was the infamous Harrenhal.
Harrenhal was the castle that Harren the Blackheart had forced the entire Riverlands to build for him in his time.
The main structure of Harrenhal consisted of five towers, dozens of meters high.
Its walls were dozens of feet high, and thick enough for carriages to gallop across them.
Ironically, however, the day this castle was completed was also the day it was destroyed.
Aegon the Conqueror, unwilling to submit to Harren the Blackheart, issued him a warning: 'Before nightfall, your line will be extinguished.'
Balerion's dragonfire burned Harren the Blackheart until only a charred mass of flesh remained.
People believed it was his heart, and so he was named 'Harren the Blackheart.'
After the Battle of the Green Fork, Tywin made this an important stronghold for the Westerlands army.
He also hired the Brave Companions for auxiliary defense.
Not long ago, Tywin led his army away, leaving the Brave Companions at Harrenhal.
At Jon's suggestion, Roose Bolton came with gold to bribe the Brave Companions.
And because of Jon's reputation for slaying the Mountain, Vargo Hoat, the leader of the Brave Companions, didn't even put up a token resistance.
The officers of the Brave Companions unanimously agreed to form a new alliance with the North.
And at this moment, standing at the main gate to welcome the Northern noblemen, was the leader of the Brave Companions—Vargo Hoat.
And their Maester—Qyburn.