Chapter 4

The Reach

Aegon's Conquest

High Garden

King Mern Gardner IX Pov

The drums of war are sounding. Those Targs want the continent for themselves. I wondered how long it would be before they finally did it. Those of Valyraian blood do not like to see others as equals.

They have already taken Storm's End and of all things married their bastard brother to the heir of Argillac. Tge Durrandon line that is almost as old as the Starks themselves and Gardners themselves have been assimilated.

Baratheon.

From Argella Durrandon to Argella Baratheon. Has she no pride! Laying with the very man that killed her father. She should have slit his throat on her wedding night. But what should I expect from a weak willed woman. Not everyone can be Lady Malenia.

Dragons. We have no weapon that can bring them down. Our only hope is to take out the riders then disperse before they can burn us all.

But just incase I can't take my children out for this war. My line can't end with me. I'll tell them to surrender and bend the knee in the event I lose and die.

'You bring me Ser Loki and make it discreet. I don't want others knowing he was here.' I commanded a servant who quickly went to complete the task.

A few minutes later a giant of man in black leather armor entered. He looked around quickly before sitting down and removed his helmet.

'King Mern. You requested me.'

'Loki I need your help. Should I lose I need you to take my children away from Highgarden. Preferably to the former castle of House Manderly that we took as our own after we defeated House Peake a few generations ago. I fear this is the last I see of them. Please take care of them and guide them. Take this as my final request, old friend.'

'I promise the line of Garth the Greenhand will not end with you. But do not rush into this battle. Gather forces and wait for Loren to join up with your men. If you go down do not go down alone. Leaving the Lannisters behind you is folly.'

With that Loki stood up and left. I still remember when they first came into my employ. Twenty years ago I was ambushed by House Reyne while on a hunt.

As I rode to safety I came across Loki as he sliced a man in half with his greatsword. He turned to me and asked,

'Do I even want to know why they are attacking you?'

First thing the man ever did was be disrespectful to a king but I wouldn't have it any other way. After we escaped from them I declared war on House Reyne and raided their lands. Ser Loki slaughtered alot of men and left the war with a lot of gold dragons.

Since then I always have him in my council. He goes and comes with his partner Lady Malenia . After some years I realized they hardly aged and mostly stayed the same. I asked them about it.

They are from the continent of the West called Asgard. That it is very hard to go there with the storms and chaotic magic fueling it as a barrier from the rest of the world. That dragons and all sorts of magical beasts live there. By consequence of breeding between them and some children of the forests almost all humans there can live for a long time they don't know how long exactly because most die from combat never from old age.

Of course I was skeptical about it. Loki proceeded to create ice and completely freeze the room. He explained magic is necessary to survive on Asgard. Without magic you were prey.

He even has a dragon. He's the dragon rider of an Ice Dragon.

Anyways I must go to my generals to prepare. Lets go take as many dragon heads as possible.

The trials and perseverance of House Gardner after the Field of Fire- excerpt from Maester Liddle Flowers

The Field of fire was the battle that finalized Targareyan supremacy in the seven kingdoms. King Mern Gardner IX and King Loren Lannister were attacked by Orys Baratheon by land and Queen Visenya by dragon.

Before Queen Visenya arrived the two forces already clashed. With the Gardners and Lannisters almost taking the day. King Mern IX cut of Orys left hand in a duel before he was carried of injured to be treated.

When it seemed the day will be theirs Vhagar came swooping down from the clouds and burnt every man on the alliance sides. The flames were said to have spread to all corners of the battle.

Earning it its moniker. The field of fire.

King Loren managed to escape with a small retinue in the chaos. Where he rode straight for Casterly Rock.King Mern IX and all his retinue died. It was initially believed all his heirs died on the battlefield field.

It was later discovered this was false. Prince Luthor, Prince Garen and Princess Janissa were smuggled out of their keep during the storming of Highgarden. Which led to the Tyrells being named Warden and Lord Paramount of the Reach.

The Gardners will resurface in their second and now only castle, Castle Dustonbury. It is from there House Gardner would bend the knee to the Targareyans and rebuild their house legacy.

They repaired the castle and expanded on it. It took five years to finish the construction. Some people said where did the Gardners have the coin to finance the endeavor. A rumor was heard that Lady Malenia along with Ser Loki took as much gold and silver from the treasury as they could. Even their Valyrian steel sword Paletthorne was recovered.

Because of this House Tyrell that were expecting to inherit a full treasury were forced into financial struggles to maintain the castle and enforce their authority on the Reach with their meagre funds. Eventually they grew strong but that was later.

Lord Luthor Gardner himself said without Ser Loki and Lady Malenia thwy would be dead. The Tyrells led a disguised mutiny against them and succeeded. Mere stewards brought his house low but they are the bloodline of the greenhand.

House Gardner improved themselves and by 27AC were back to the strength they were before the Field of Fire. Some called them and the Hightowers the unofficial paramounts of the Reach….