Chapter 10 -

Special thanks to my beta VladImpaler.

Rather than storming off to Lord Rogar immediately, bringing a political explosion along with me, I decided to return to Eastwood and send a raven ahead of us. Also to allow Armon to tend to Edwell's injuries. It would be twice the shitstorm if I ended up responsible for his death and pit House Errol against me as well.

I had calmed down a lot after the initial battle and the torture and execution I had delivered. I attempted to keep it from my mind, it was disturbing to think about just how much Westeros had changed me over the years I had been here. Yet this different world holds different laws and different customs, this problem with Buckler proved that I could not allow myself to show weakness or risk the vultures come circling.

I also decided upon getting back that the standing force I had been preparing would need to be improved. I held no illusions that Lord Rogar would have a quick fix for this situation. House Buckler is an old house and likely already spoken to other lords about the supposed wrongs and slights I had heaped upon them. This would require me to make my own allies, I was confident that after my time Ser Edwell, and with Buckler men injuring him, that I could count on their support if only in combating Buckler's likely smear campaign with the other Stormlords.

I knew that Buckler was a very proud man, if he heard I was at Storm's End, he would most likely come bounding through after me. Though I could use that to my advantage, as long as he definitely came across as the aggressor and I the victim Lord Rogar would likely favour me. He was a fair man if a less than strictly competent ruler. He would favour whichever side caused him the least trouble. I needed to tell my side of the story first.

I decided to check if Edwell was ready to travel, no point turning up without a key witness. I began to wander towards the yard, expecting that if he was up and about he would be down there with Morden, training some of the new men.

As I emerged from the keep, some of the men in the Century began to salute, a much better alternative to bowing in my opinion.

Ser Morden turned his gaze towards me, he had seemed to perceive me differently after the battle at the road. I was worried I had gone too far, hanging a rapist is rather different to torturing someone.

I stopped next to him, considering what words I would say. This issue needed to be sorted out sooner rather than later.

I cleared my throat somewhat awkwardly, "Ser Morden, I hope you do not see me in a different light after what happened with Buckler's men."

I hoped I didn't come across as weak but it is difficult to be strong against a man who had been at my side since I had assumed my lordship.

Morden laughed at me.

I stood looking confused, and he began to speak, "You think I care that you took the arm off a criminal who killed good men? No Aelon, I look at you with pride. You are no longer a child growing into a man, but a man growing into his lordship. You've nought to be ashamed of, this world is a harsh one and you must be ready to meet it head-on."

Oh. It was often a human failing that we expect others to react and think the same way we do. I had done so now. Of course, a knight in a medieval shithole wouldn't blink an eye at removing someone's limbs. I am possibly the only noble in Westeros who would.

There was more conviction in my voice as I responded, "That is a relief to hear. I feared I had gone too far with them. I should know better than to second-guess myself, those men deserved justice no doubt."

Morden nodded, "Indeed, it is your duty to defend your people from their enemies, by any means within the law. That includes death for murderers and removing hands for thieves, those men are both."

I nodded, feeling much lighter. We stood together watched Ser Edwell beat one of the recruits rather badly with his shield before kicking him on his arse. Even with broken ribs, the man was a beast in battle.

"Ser Edwell!" I called out. His gaze met mine and he nodded as he walked over.

"Lord Aelon, how are you?"

"Very well, the real question is how you are feeling, though after that display I think I have my answer." Ed's mouth twisted in a smile.

He grimaced, "Other than humiliated by a horse? I am feeling much better."

As I was about to respond I was interrupted, "Lord Aelon, a message from Storm's End."

My head whipped towards the source of the voice. I saw Armon moving with deceptive speed towards us. A reply from Lord Rogar, well that was faster than expected. The raven had only been sent the day before, though the distance between Eastwood and Storm's End was short.

As Armon reached us I extended my hand to receive the message. I unfolded the rolled parchment and began reading.

Lord Aelon Eastwood

The allegations you have made are serious. You are requested to attend Storm's End immediately with your witnesses and the captured bandit. If I deem your evidence substantial, Lord Buckler will similarly be summoned to face a fair trial.

Lord Rogar Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End

Well, here we fucking go. I didn't want to think about what would happen if my evidence was seen as 'insubstantial'. I passed the message to Morden and Edwell in turn since they were my witnesses.

Edwell smiled in satisfaction, "It goes without saying that I will testify on your behalf after the fucking bandits caused my broken ribs. If Lord Rogar needs an incentive to grant the trial, I am sure my cousin would be glad to kick up a mighty shitstorm over my injury."

"I will too, of course, come with you. I have known Rogar for years, a fair man if nothing else I am sure he will grant the trial."

I smiled at the words of encouragement. Knowing full well this was not likely to be as simple as that.

Maybe I should introduce cigarettes and give them as gifts to people I don't like.

Trials were a mighty boring affair. The proceedings had been going ahead for an hour at this point. In the quiet points I began to wonder at the impact I was having on Westeros. How many future events had I irrevocably changed due to my involvement?

House Buckler was a good example. This trial had never taken place in the original Westeros. Yet if it went in my favour I expected their reputation would be tarnished for a very long time. How might that one act change the future? How much of my knowledge might be irrelevant or inaccurate from this point onwards? How would spirits affect the life expectancy of many important lords?

I could only have hoped that some amount of events went the same as in the original timeline, but I feared that the longer my presence remained the more would be changed.

I turned my attention back to the trial, Edwell had already started giving his testimony.

"As we charged down the hill towards the Buckler men, my horse tripped on a stone and I was thrown from the saddle. I am sure Lord Aelon can give you a better account of the events of the battle than I can." Edwell finished giving his statement in the impromptu court, and my liege lord's eyes turned to me.

Lord Rogar nodded and his voice boomed across the hall. "Lord Aelon, I would have you give your testimony now. Please step forward."

I did as asked, and so began my tale.

I straightened my back and cleared my throat before speaking, "Shortly after returning to Eastwood, I received word from a survivor of an attack on my road building operations, who's name is Miles. He came through the gates ragged on a half-dead horse, minor scrapes inflicted by arrowheads were his only injuries, fortunately. He told me and Sers Morden and Edwell that the camp had been beset by what he had thought were bandits." I paused for effect.

"Heeding his words, I gathered a troop of men on horseback to investigate the camp and route the bandits were they to be found. Upon reaching the site of the camp, we found the corpses of the workers and the road materials nowhere to be found. A strange motive I would think, I cannot imagine the value placed in building materials by mere bandits." I took a moment to survey the room, a few of the lords closer to Storm's End were in attendance, many frowns were to be found.

I made eye contact with Lord Rogar as I said this part, knowing that he shared a friendship with Morden, "So I consulted with Ser Morden and Ser Edwell, we decided that it would be best to lay a trap to see if the attackers would return were they to see more workers. I had half my men stripped of their arms and act like regular road workers under command of Ser Morden. The other half remained with myself and Ser Edwell atop a hill, out of sight from the valley. A few days of such and the workers were beset by the attackers once more, the unarmed half of the men had orders to bait them out and then run towards us up the hill to make the men give chase. After that my men and I charged down the hill, allowing my men through gaps in our formation, and brought all but five of the so-called bandits down."

I turned and made a motion at one of my guards, the man nodded and left the room. Coming back into view with a shackled man. "I later extracted a confession from one of the attackers, I have brought him here to give confession."

Lord Rogar turned his attention to the raging Buckler, "Lord Buckler, what do you have to say about this?"

Buckler wisely chose to bite down his anger and spoke with calm as he replied, "House Buckler of Bronzegate has served faithfully for centuries. We kept our vows to the Durrandons and we have kept it to House Baratheon since the Conquest. My uncle served as your castellan for a decade. Surely you cannot think that a Buckler would break the King's Peace."

Lord Rogar looked pensive, "Lord Aelon, bring forth your next witness."

I nodded and signalled for Number One, whose name I now know to be Jon, to be brought forward.

Lord Rogar spoke, "What is your name man?"

"Jon, my lord." Jon looked like he was going to piss himself.

"And who do you serve Jon?"

Jon looked down as he spoke, likely avoiding looking at Lord Buckler. "I-uh-I serve House Buckler, my lord."

Murmurs erupted across the room and Lord Rogar's eyes swung in Buckler's direction. The lord was looking rather nervous now.

Rogar looked back to Jon. "And did you, under Lord Buckler's orders, murder the workers of Lord Aelon and break the King's Peace."

Jon looked terrified and stuttered as he replied, "I only did as ordered, my lord. All men do as their lords command for they know disobedience means treason."

"Answer the question!" There was a rage in Rogar's eyes now.

"Yes, yes I did. He sent fifty of us to harass the workers, my lord. Have mercy I beg you."

Rogar took a deep breath, all eyes were on him and Lord Buckler. Varying degrees of sneers and outright disdain were aimed at him.

Buckler turned to Jon. "You worthless coward, I gave you no such orders." He turned his gaze to Rogar, "You cannot believe the lies of a peasant over one of your most loyal lords, think of the precedent this sets to your other vassals."

Rogar would not be moved. "Think of the precedent it would set were I to allow my vassals to fight amongst themselves, the King's Peace is a law created and enforced by House Targaryen. Would you have me fight dragons fool?"

Buckler paused at that before a slight smile graced his face.

"If you will not believe the honesty of my words then let the gods reveal the truth. I demand a trial by combat."

Oh for fuck's sake, I thought to myself.

The court erupted at that, asking for a trial by combat was akin to admitting you were at fault and therefore relying on martial skill to carry through.

"Silence!" My liege's furious roar was like a clap of thunder through the storm of shouts from the court and as he finished the room turned deathly silent.

Lord Rogar looked angry, "Lord Buckler, will you fight yourself or choose a champion?"

"I can fight my own battles, I will fight the boy." Lord Buckler glanced at me with a smirk.

Rogar nodded and turned to me, "Lord Aelon?"

What a choice, Lord Buckler certainly looked no slouch. I had no doubt that if I asked Morden he would fight on my behalf, but in the Stormlands a lord who cannot fight his own battles is no lord at all. That's probably the exact reason he hasn't offered to be my champion, he knows better than to publicly undermine me.

Could I actually beat Buckler? He may be past his prime and a bit out of shape but still has decades of experience over me and some good muscle left.

After some deliberation, I replied, "I will fight."

I stood in the courtyard of Storm's End. Quite the congregation of nobles and knights surrounded Lord Buckler and I. I had adorned my armour, a simple yet finely made set of plate with the Aquila displayed on the chest plate. My silver hair was pulled up into a ponytail beneath my helm, I didn't want it getting in the way during the fight.

Morden approached me, "Aelon, it is not too late to choose a champion. I would be glad to fight him in your stead."

"I thank you Morden, but the lords here would never respect me if I do not fight my own battles. There is no place for weakness here." I gave a sad smile to Morden. The chance of Buckler inflicting a serious injury or even killing me was not as low as I would wish, but this was no time for cowardice.

Lord Buckler stood across from me, similarly prepared, he struck a rather intimidating sight. Despite being in his early forties and slightly overweight the man was certainly of a powerful build and quite tall.

Buckler grinned and spoke loudly across the yard, "I would rather fight a real man than a child and a bastard at that, it's not honourable to beat children you know?"

Buckler was certainly an arrogant bastard, I took a deep breath and calmed myself. He would not get a rise out of me.

Lord Rogar stood between us, having calmed down during the time it took us to prepare for battle.

The Septon stepped forward to give his monotonous speech, "We are gathered here to witness a trial before the gods. Lord Buckler has requested the right to have the gods guide his hand and prove his innocence. The winner of this duel will be claimed innocent in the eyes of the gods. May the Warrior guide the arm of the innocent and may the Father see justice done."

The Septon stepped back and Rogar said his piece, "This will be a duel to death or submission. Are you both ready?"

We both called out our agreement and Rogar stepped back. I took a moment to steady myself and brought my shield up.

Buckler wasted no time and soon closed the distance between us, taking a mighty swing with his greatsword I jumped back and moved to his side. This would not be a battle I could win with strength.

I jumped away from another overhead swing of his greatsword, the blade barely missing me. It looked as if I would need to channel my inner Bronn for this fight.

Buckler growled as I took a step back away from him. He advanced and I figured it was about time I tried to land strikes of my own.

He closed the distance, heaving his greatsword back up. I took the opportunity and made a quick thrust towards his vulnerable armpit, one of the only weaknesses in a suit of plate. He stepped back and continued his swing, the blade barely missing my shoulder as I twisted out of the way.

Not giving him time to prepare I launched myself towards him, feinting a strike to his left knee before twisting around his back and slashing at his neck. He moved away but the tip of my blade cut a fine line between his helm and armour. Buckler made no sound but span quicker than a man of his size had any right to.

I grunted as he slashed at me once more and I was forced to take the blow to my shield, the wood splintered but the shield luckily remained intact. Throbbing pain erupted in my arm and I could only hope he hadn't managed to crack my bone. The man hit fucking hard with that monster sword.

I ducked the next slash and barely managed to jump away from the next two. I was hoping he would tire himself out with his massive swings. I pushed forward as his barrage of attacks slowed and stabbed at his throat, only for him to move to the side and swing down at my hand.

I couldn't move in time and watched as the sword struck my gauntlet along my ring and pinky fingers and felt the metal cave in on my fingers. Sucking in the scream to preserve my dignity I stepped back, attempting to ignore the throbbing pain spreading through my hand.

Buckler laughed at me, "Ready to give in, bastard?"

Armon was going to fucking kill me when I got back to Eastwood.

I didn't dignify him with a reply, instead steeling myself as I held my sword in my fucked up hand. Buckler decided to make his next move and dashed at me with surprising speed. I brought my shield up and tried to move backwards but my foot slipped in the mud, I had about enough time to think 'oh fuck I'm going to die' before his greatsword smashed against my shield once more, the swing definitely hit harder than the last, my shield gave way and I found myself pulling my left arm out of the straps and tossing it to the side.

Buckler had a manic grin on his face and came at me again, I ducked under his swing and swung my sword at his side, pain lacing through my hand as it made contact with his less protected side. Buckler growled and turned around but I didn't let him have any time and slash for his neck. With a broken hand, this was no time to mess around, I needed to aim to kill.

He tried to dodge but my sword rang on the side of his helm, I capitalised and sent another swing at his knee, he stepped out of the way but was on the defence now. I pushed him back, trying to get him to step into the patch of mud I had slipped in previously. Managing to push him back far enough, I sent another attack at his neck causing him to raise his arms, he stepped back but his foot found no purchase and his eyes widened. I made eye contact as I stabbed my sword into his armpit causing him to howl in pain and drop his sword.

I then move my sword from his armpit to his neck and announce, for all in the yard to hear. "Do you submit!"

There was a fire in his eyes and for a second I thought I would have to remove his head. I twitched my sword arm.

The man tried to move away, but I moved before him and pressed the blade harder against his throat, just enough to draw blood.

I commanded, "Yield!"

He finally ground out through clenched teeth, "Yes, I yield."

I let out a sigh of relief.

Lord Rogar's voice boomed across the courtyard, "Lord Buckler, you asked for your trial, you have had it, and you have lost. The gods have witnessed you and deemed you guilty. Guards, take Lord Buckler to the cells. His punishment must be discussed."

Rogar turned to me, "Lord Aelon, would you follow me to my solar?"