NOVEL WEB Chapter 40: Chapter 38
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(Third Person POV)
The crowd began to cheer as Daemon Targaryen rode into position, his trademark smirk fully visible on his face. His horse strutted into position, the feathers on the top of his helm bouncing up and down as he looked across the lane and saw Harwin Strong sitting on his own horse.
It was the second and final bout of the semi-finals, Daemon Targaryen faced off against Harwin Strong to determine who would advance and face off against Aerion. While it was exciting to even think about having a Father-Son Jousting match, many believed that Harwin, a constant champion of Tourneys, would probably have the edge when it comes to this.
Daemon took in the sounds of the cheers, closing his eyes as he smirked, "It is a good day for blood, eh?" He said as he opened his eyes and looked at Harwin, "Stupid cunt...."
Harwin's horse shifted as he was holding his lance, looking ahead, "The Prince, huh?" He said, "This one does not like me one bit."
The official raised his flags, signaling that the bout was going to start. As this happened, Daemon shifted on his saddle, preparing himself to take off the moment it started. Harwin did the same, a focused look on his eyes was seen through his helm.
The official swung his arms down, signaling the start of the bout. The moment this happened, both riders burst into gallop, heading right for each other as they readied their lances right at each other.
They instantly clashed, both of their lances connecting against each other's shoulders and shattering as they both recoiled hard. The crowd erupted into a cheer as this happened, watching as both of them made the turn, immediately replacing their lances and going for the second tilt. The crowd didn't stop cheering as they galloped towards each other once again.
Viserys was watching this with a bit of excitement and as was Lyonel Strong. Both of these men were unaware of the obvious aggression the two combatants had for each other.
Daemon and Harwin clashed again, this time, their lances shattered on their chests, nearly toppling Daemon and leaving Harwin jerked back as their horses galloped towards the end of the lanes.
"Shit..." Daemon said as he composed himself and made the turn, grabbing the second lance he replaced, "Fucking hells..."
Over with Harwin, Breakbones had gotten his lance and made the turn, proceeding with the third tilt and galloping fast across the lane as Daemon did the same.
"Fall..." Harwin muttered as he closed in
The crowd cheered hard as they clashed for the third time, this time, their lances connected against their shields, the tips shattering as Daemon recoiled hard while Harwin was unfazed. He was sturdier than Daemon, even if it were a little. Rhaenyra's logic of dragonriding had some truth to it, and the only reason the Rogue Prince was not instantly dismounted by Breakbones was simply because of Daemon's experience in both Dragonriding and Horseriding.
They made the turn for the fourth tilt, grabbing their lances and kicking their horses for the gallop. The crowd was cheering loudly as they clashed for the fourth time.
This time, Daemon was struck hard in the chest by Harwin's lance, causing him to hit Breakbones in the shoulder. The blow was powerful enough to topple Daemon off his horse, causing him to crash against the ground hard.
There was a loud gasp in the crowd, causing Viserys to get on the edge of his seat as he looked at this with surprise. Everyone watched as Daemon slowly got to his knees, there was nothing but shock and surprise as Harwin slowed his horse down, turning around and slowly strutting back to the center, in front of the royal stands.
Over to where Aerion and Rhea stood, watching, the Bronze Dragonlord was unfazed by his father's dismounting.
"Hm." He said, "He lost."
"Well...." Rhea said as she leaned on the railing, "I would not count him out just yet."
"Right." Aerion said without much of a reaction
Daemon spat on the ground and straightened up, walking over to Harwin's horse. Everyone watching knew exactly what was about to happen, and a loud cheer erupted.
Harwin was not paying attention, simply looking over at the stands, specifically Rhaenyra who did not want to make eye contact with him.
"Rhaenyra...." Harwin said with a serious look
Daemon reached him and reached for his waist-belt, pulling him as he smacked the horse on its rear, causing it to stand on its hind legs. This caused Harwin to fall on his back, hitting the ground hard as Daemon stepped a few steps back, drawing his sword.
"Daemon!" Viserys exclaimed
"You should already know." Daemon said with a smirk, "Get up."
Harwin stood up and drew his sword, "M-My Prince..." He said, "You dare do that to me while I was not looking?"
"Shut up." Daemon thrust Dark Sister at him
Harwin parried the attack and tried to counter, only for Daemon to dodge and shoulder-tackle Harwin, stumbling the Knight as Daemon followed up with a swing of his blade.
Harwin dodged the blade by stepping back and parried another follow-up. He then blocked yet another swing and pushed Daemon away as he wheezed, still feeling the fall from his horse.
Daemon kicked his knee, causing him to buckle and swung his sword at his neck, clearly going for a kill.
Harwin was able to parry the swing and stumbled to the ground, immediately getting back up as he assumed a stance, panting slightly.
Daemon then lunged at Harwin and thrust his sword again, but Harwin dodged the blow, immediately rushing Daemon and shoulder-tackling him, causing him to stumble back. Harwin tried to gain the upper hand by swinging his sword, but Daemon easily dodged it and was about to swing his sword at Harwin's leg when Breakbones hit him with a punch to the face that caused him to recoil.
The blow caused Daemon to spit out some blood, stunned by the impact of the punch, combined with the steel gauntlet. He staggered back and Harwin stepped forward, punching him again in the jaw, causing him to buckle to his knees, spitting out more blood.
"Is that what you want?!" Harwin bellowed as he was about to swing his sword
Daemon immediately got up and swung his sword upwards, cutting Harwin through his chainmail. Harwin staggered back as he grunted in pain.
Daemon was about to follow up when he was stopped by Viserys bellowing.
"ENOUGH!!" Viserys shouted
Daemon stopped and looked up, blood on his mouth, "What?"
The King was standing up, a serious scowl on his face, "I will not have you two fools kill each other in this Tourney, where no casualties have been had so far." he said, "No blood will be shed voluntarily in front of my granddaughter.....our granddaughter, Daemon!!!"
Harwin was clutching his side as he looked over to the king, saying nothing.
Daemon spat on the ground, "So what?"
"Harwin dismounted you, he wins this round." Viserys said
"What?!" Daemon scowled, "What do you-"
"I have spoken!!" Viserys cut him off, "I am your King, you shall do as you are commanded, Prince Daemon!!!"
Daemon spat on the ground again, "Tch...." He said as he stomped away, "This is nothing but shite....."
As the Rogue Prince stormed away, Harwin Strong stood there, a bit confused by the turn of events. He said nothing, still, merely taking in the moment. He was to go against Aerion Targaryen in the finals, whoever wins their bout shall be the champion of the Tourney.
He looked at his father who had a serious look on his face. His gaze then set upon Rhaenyra who had a far more serious one.
"Hm...." Harwin said as he bowed slightly, "Thank you, Your Grace."
"Go get your wounds treated, Ser Harwin." Viserys said, "You want to be physically capable of participating in the final round."
"Of course." Harwin said, "It is nothing but a scratch."
As Breakbones left, Viserys sat back down.
"Why did you do that?" Alicent asked, "Daemon was going to beat him."
"He was going to kill him." Viserys said, "This would have been a perfect opportunity for him to do so. Everyone here knows of his animosity towards Ser Harwin. I do not want that kind of shite in this Tourney, not from Daemon."
"That is the last thing I need."