The Golden Tooth

[barker520]

The Golden Tooth is placed so that it can control the one large pass through the mountains that allows direct travel between the riverlands and the west. It is the ancestral seat of House Lefford.

[barker520]

The outriders from Deep Den arrive and inform the castellan of the orders. 1,000 men march to Lannisport, 1,000 stay at Golden Tooth, but 5,000 march to Deep Den.

[Quenton Baratheon]

The peasant force sent from Sarsfield, lead by Ser Walter Sarsfield, finally arrives at the Golden Tooth and joins up with the other men assembled here. The force amassed so far is not huge, consisting mainly of the men house Lefford has managed to raise. It is expected to swell over the next week or so however as more and more men arrive from outlying keeps.

Ser Steffen Lannister is trying to hold a conversation with Lady Lysa when Ser Walter comes up to him, his expression awkward.

"Good ser, could I have a word in private?" he asks.

Steffen scowled. "I suppose," he said. "What is this about?" He climbs up from the seat he is occupying and follows as Walter beckons him into a hallway inside the Golden Tooth.

"Ser Steffen, I have been thinking," he said, a little embarrassed. There was a pause for a moment as he tried to find the right words. "I wish to come with you to Riverrun ser. I wish to ensure yours and the Lady Lysa's safety. Truth is ser..." again he looked embarrassed. "I wish to enter into your service."

Steffen looked taken aback. "Why on earth would you want to do that? You craven? The war is that way," he said pointing in a southerly direction, "not at Riverrun. I am an elderly man, I have an excuse." Steffen knew full well that hundreds of men older than him would die to the invaders, but he did not say this now.

Walter blushed. "I am not craven," he insisted vehemently. "I served in Dorne. I have fought at tournaments with the finest swordsmen in the land."

Steffen did not look impressed. "And so have hundreds of other green boys your age. It's called luck."

Walter looked aghast. "Perhaps I have made a mistake," he said, beginning to turn.

Steffen stopped him. "Wait a second," he said. "Tell me, why do you wish to serve?"

Walter turned back to Steffen, his face downcast. "I just feel that you have very similar beliefs to the ones I hold. Your attitude... I think we are very much on the same layer. You have ambition ser, that is clear. So do I. I feel that by serving a man such as yourself, I might be able to realise some of that ambition." His face rose up as he spoke, his eyes bright. When he finished, he went back to looking awkward again.

Steffen regarded him in silence for several moments. Eventually he began to nod. "Then so be it. You shall serve me. Though Gods only know why you'd serve a penniless old man like me, I mean, you do realise that when Lannisport burnt, so did all of my wealth..."

Walter nodded. "I realise this, yet you do not seem worried. You know that by some way or another you'll be back where you were soon. Possibly higher."

Again, Steffen nodded. "Perhaps." he agreed.

The two went back into the Golden Tooth's main hall. Walter remained quiet for most of the evening.

[Deleted]

There were hooves out in the yard, and voices. Then a girl of about fifteen marched into the main hall, where Walter Sarsfield and Steffen Lannister sat. She was petite and curvy, with wild black curls, but her appearance belied her strength. She carried a wicked-looking morningstar that hung from a long flail, its spikes sharp and gleaming.

"I come from Deep Den," she said, looking between Steffen and Walder as if wondering who to address. "A messenger from Lady Aranya and Ser Cedric."

[Quenton Baratheon]

Steffen rolled his eyes.

"So come on, out with it, what does my nephew want?"

[Deleted]

The girl looked at him coolly, black eyes glinting. "The Lord Protector of Casterly Rock commands the forces assembled here to march to Deep Den's aid. You won't get there before the foreigners do, but you have to hurry."

[Quenton Baratheon]

Steffen looked at Walter, who looked uncomfortable, but stood and addressed the girl.

"Follow me," he said. "I will take you to Lord Lefford. He will handle this."

The two wandered off in search of the Lord of the Golden Tooth, whilst Steffen smirked at Walter.

[Deleted]

"So you're not in command, ser?" The girl smirked, following. "I suppose nobody wanted a repeat of Lannisport, did they?"

[Quenton Baratheon]

"Cheeky fucking whore," Steffen retorted, his nostrils flaring. "Be on with you, take your message."

[Deleted]

"Yes, ser," she said sweetly, and knocked on Lefford's room.

[The Stranger]

Tall, and ravishingly handsome, Philip Lefford was in his solar, with his knights, looking over a map of the surrounding area.

"If Casterly Rock falls, which it will, we'll need to hold out or we'll never keep the invader's penned up in the West, and they'll be free to plunder all of Weste... Oh, hello, who is this young lad?" Lefford ask, as he examined Cerenna.

[Deleted]

"I'm not a lad," The girl said coolly, eyeing Lefford. "I'm Cerenna, the swor - a messenger from Deep Den. They are about to be attacked by more than forty seven thousand invaders, and need help. They've sent ravens to King's Landing, but I was told to come to Goldentooth."

[The Stranger]

"Forgive me, I had not expected... someone... nevermind. In war we all most serve." Lefford said. "I am aware of the peril miss, what message does Lord Lydden have for me?"

[Deleted]

"This message is from Ser Cedric Lannister," Cerenna said. "To march for Deep Den at once."

[The Stranger]

Lefford raised his eyebrow but didn't speak for a moment.

"Where are you from... Cerenna? Originally?"