Game of Thrones: The Road to Pirate King

Chapter 152 Arrival at Harrenburg

Led by the crimson banner of the Lannisters, the golden sea monsters of the Iron Islands, and the sun-piercing banner of Dorne, three massive armies, without the slightest hesitation, did not turn southeast toward King's Landing at the intersection of Rose Road and King's Road, but instead set off straight north onto King's Road.

These three factions, each with their own reasons, tacitly chose to avoid the capital: Lord Tywin Lannister had long since broken with the "Mad King" Aerys II, and the dignity of Casterly Rock would not allow him to set foot in that humiliating place again, unless in another way; Euron Greyjoy had no respect for the Iron Throne and its master, and was too lazy to bother with pretense, and did not want to be burned at the stake for no reason; Dorne's forces, because of the cold treatment and contempt Princess Elia Martell had received at the Red Keep, collectively showed their resistance to King's Landing and preferred to take a detour.

This mixed army, which brought together the forces of the Westerlands, the Iron Islands, and Dorne, became an invisible guiding light for those who followed, with its immense power and illustrious banners.

Many smaller caravans, wandering knights, free riders, and merchants, also heading to Harrenhal, converged at the rear of this massive procession, like streams flowing into a great river. The further north the caravan traveled, the larger it became, the dust rising, the clatter of hooves and the roar of horses shaking the land along the way, like an unstoppable torrent surging toward Harrenhal.

On the final stretch of the road to Harrenhal, a dazzling figure in pure white stood silently by the roadside awaiting him—Ser Arthur Dayne, a member of the Kingsguard. He had come specifically to welcome his sister, Ashara Dayne, and Princess Elia Martell and Princess Rhaenys, wives and daughters of Prince Rhaenyga.

Ser Arthur Dayne first exchanged a formal greeting with Lord Tywin Lannister, exchanging a few brief pleasantries. Then, his gaze shifted to the dashing Jaime Lannister, the young knight whom he had personally knighted. He gave Jaime a slight nod, casting a look of approval and greeting.

After handling the necessary formalities, Arthur's primary concern remained his sister and the princess who needed his escort.

He walked toward the carriage, just as Princess Ilya Martell gracefully leaned out of the carriage, carrying her daughter.

Not seeing his beloved younger sister, Arthur politely inquired about her whereabouts from Princess Ilya.

Upon hearing Arthur's question, Princess Ilya's pale face broke into a gentle, slightly teasing smile. She replied softly, "Of course, with my fiancé. The two of them are getting along very well." Her gaze drifted to Euron and Ashara, who were still standing together in the distance, her tone carrying a hint of good-natured teasing. "They're always together, either gazing at the stars and moon side by side or strolling and whispering, enjoying the romance of life. You can rest assured, your precious little sister is being taken care of perfectly."

Not long after they were informed, Euron and Ashara arrived immediately.

When Arthur saw Euron and Ashara walking side by side, their fingers intertwined, a gentle smile appeared on his handsome face, known as the "Sword of the Morning."

Arthur Dayne didn't look at Euron, but spoke directly to his sister, his tone carrying the characteristic air of a brother...

With a slightly teasing yet affectionate tone, he said, "Alright, my dear little sister, it's time for you to return to your brother's side for now." He sighed wistfully, but his eyes shone with warmth. "The future is long. Before you're officially married, spend more time with your poor brother. Otherwise, once you're married, I'm afraid there won't be any place for me in your eyes anymore."

This joke made Euron and Ashara burst into laughter.

A faint blush rose on Asara's cheeks. She gently released Euron's hand, like a docile and shy little rabbit, and quickly walked to her brother's side, affectionately taking his arm, and whispered coquettishly, "Brother—"

Before the sun sank into the shimmering waves of Lake Divine Eye, the massive allied army finally reached the end of their journey, Harrenhal.

This colossal fortress is the ultimate manifestation of the mad ambition of "Blackheart" Harren, the self-proclaimed King of the Iron Islands and Riverlands.

He built this castle to commemorate his "immortal achievements," determined to make it the most magnificent and awe-inspiring castle in all of Westeros, to put it above all other kings.

He spent a full forty years realizing this cruel dream in order to build this castle.

Thousands of prisoners of war captured from other kingdoms either exhausted their lives in the quarries or died from exhaustion on the scaffolding used to build the five towering towers; their flesh and blood also became part of the city wall. Countless ancient weirwood trees were felled and turned into rafters and beams supporting the halls.

Harrenhal was built before Aegon's Conquest and is located in the Riverlands, on the northern shore of Lake Godeye.

It is undoubtedly the largest fortress in the Seven Kingdoms, but since the War of Conquest and the annihilation of Harren and his family in the dragonfire, it has always been shrouded in a dark and oppressive atmosphere, resembling a huge and devastated ruin.

The castle has five enormous towers, and matching walls that are incredibly thick.

These walls were thick enough that giants could live comfortably in the rooms within. Their scale was so vast that almost no other buildings could compare; the stables could easily hold thousands of warhorses, the sacred woods were as expansive as a small forest, covering a full twenty acres, and the kitchens were even comparable in size to the entire main hall of Winterfell.

However, much of Harrenburg is now in deep ruin.

The current owners, the River An family, only use two-thirds of the space beneath the five towers, while the upper levels and many areas of the castle have been abandoned for decades, left to gradually decay and become a nest for bats and shadows.

Harrenhal's thick, steep walls rise abruptly from the ground like cliffs, and from the ground up, the catapults between the crenellations at the top of the walls appear tiny as insects. Its gate tower is enormous, though the stones on it are cracked and faded.

Looking out from the gatehouse, the towering walls block out most of the view; only the spires of the five giant towers pierce through the walls and come into view.

Even before officially arriving under the enormous shadow of Harrenhal, the sight before them was already deeply awe-inspiring to the visitors.

Outside the giant fortress, the once open fields have been completely covered by a vast sea of ​​tents.

There were so many families coming to participate in the grand event, and countless nobles, knights, squires, and free riders from all over the country. Even the ancient Harrenhal, with its astonishing size, could not contain such a surging crowd at this moment.

As far as the eye could see, all sorts of colorful family banners fluttered in the wind, like a surging ocean of brocade, announcing the presence of the lords from all over the seven kingdoms. Countless tents were densely packed together, stretching to the horizon.

Many of these are cleverly arranged in a square or circle, with multiple ornate tents forming a private public area in the middle. The tent doors all open inward, creating self-contained, heavily guarded temporary manors that showcase the status and power of their owners.

The sheer size and bustling atmosphere of this makeshift "tent city" made it the most breathtaking spectacle before the start of the martial arts tournament.