Acorn Hall's "Name Day"

The smoke of battle outside High Heart had not yet cleared when Daemon's army, along with the forces of the House Bracken and Blackwood families, slowly made its way along the muddy Riverlands.

The direction of Pinkmaiden was hidden deep in the mist, while at the fork in the road ahead, the leader of the House Smallwood of the Acorn Hall —a young knight in a yellow cloak—was waiting, his horse reined in. The six brown acorn emblems on his cloak were particularly conspicuous in the morning light.

"Your Highnesses, Prince Daemon Gael Princess Gary," the young lord dismounted, curtsied, and spoke with just the right amount of enthusiasm, "I am Eddard Smallwood, heir to the Acorn Hall. My son, Joseth, is celebrating his first Name Day today, and we are currently hosting a banquet. I humbly request that Your Highness and Princess rest here, and we may proceed to Pinkmaiden tomorrow."

Daemon reined in his horse, his gaze sweeping over the castle surrounded by stone walls in the distance. The oak gates were open, and the noisy figures inside could be vaguely seen, the acorn emblem on the yellow banner fluttering in the wind.

"The House Smallwood?" He suddenly recalled the famous Hand of the King, known for his courage but a failure as Hand of the King for Jaehaerys I. His name, Myles Smallwood, was recorded to serve as a warning to future generations. "Descendants of Earl Myles?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Eddard's eyes, then he bowed and replied, "It was indeed my late grandfather. My father often said that when my late grandfather was Hand of the King, he most Jaehaerys the Dragonfire and justice of the Targaryen under His Majesty Jaehaerys." He stepped aside to let him pass, his tone becoming even more respectful, "Lord Vance of Atranta and Wayfarer's Rest, as well as representatives of House Goodbrook, are already waiting in the hall; they are all respectable men of the Riverlands."

Gael gently patted Dreamfyre's neck, and the pale blue dragon let out a low growl, as if in agreement. Daemon glanced at the tense standoff between the House Bracken and Blackwood clans behind him—Sir Henrik House Bracken's red horse banner and Sir Torrhen Blackwood's raven banner remained taut—and nodded in agreement. "In that case, I apologize for the intrusion."

The stone walls of the Acorn Hall bear the marks of rain, and the oak doors are engraved with the family motto. "From These Beginnings."

Passing through the porch, the courtyard was already bustling with activity. Monks in green-patterned white robes were praying for the Name Day, children were chasing after round, acorn-shaped wooden balls, and the air was filled with the aroma of roasted wild boar and ale.

Myles, son of the current Earl of the Acorn Hall, Barring ton forward. Several faint scars were still visible on his face, said to be a testament to his father's bravery.

He moved among the guests, his loud laughter carrying just the right amount of warmth, showing a greater degree of tact and diplomacy compared to his father, Myles Smallwood, who was known for his uprightness. "Your Highness's presence truly honors my humble abode."

The Earl laughed loudly, leading the group through the corridor. "My father often said that if it weren't for King Jaehaerys's later support and leniency, the House Smallwood would have already fallen and perished in the Battle of Battle Beneath the Gods Eye due to His Majesty Maegor's harsh punishment."

Myles Smallwood's story is almost universally known in the Riverlands: he accompanied Earl Alyn House Stokeworth in the hunt for the outlaw Heron the Redhand, defeated "the Woodcutter" Wat in a one-on-one battle at the Battle of Stonebridge, and even stood by Aegon the the Uncrowned against Maegor Targaryen in the Battle of " Under the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye".

This knight, renowned for his courage and loyalty, later served as Hand of the King for Jaehaerys I, but his service was not entirely successful, and he was recorded by later generations as a "wake-up call." However, the dozen or so scars on his face from savage battles, and his portrait displayed in the main hall, remain a symbol of the House Smallwood's valor to this day.

Inside the banquet hall, long tables were covered with brown and yellow tablecloths, which complemented the House Smallwood crest.

Count Earl of Atranta held a wine glass, the white dragon on a green background with a checkered coat of arms floating in the candlelight;

Lord Vance of Wayfarer's Rest spoke with the representative of House Goodbrook at the end of the long table. Ser Clayton Gorbock sat at the end of the table, his cloak adorned with a striking blue wave emblem on a gold background, a constant reminder of his status as a direct vassal of Tully of Riverrun.

House Goodbrook and House Smallwood share adjacent fiefdoms, and their generations-long geographical ties have forged a close relationship between the two families. House Tully, as the lords of the Riverlands, while not possessing the vast territory or powerful army of the House Vance, has always been a key player in balancing the various forces.

Sir Clayton glanced frequently in the direction of House Bracken and Blackwood, his eyes scrutinizing them—after all, Daemon's purpose in coming to Pinkmaiden was to arbitrate between the two families, and Riverrun obviously did not want the conflict between the two major lords within its territory to get out of control.

"This is Lord Myles Vance, of the Atranta," Earl Barring ton introduced in turn. "And that is Lord Robert Vance, the pride of Wayfarer's Rest. Sir Clayton of House Goodbrook is a trusted lieutenant of Lord Tully of Riverrun."

Daemon nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze lingering briefly on the coats of arms of the two Vans—historically, these two Vans had split over a struggle for dominance in the Riverlands, yet now they were drinking together in harmony, which was quite a strange sight.

House Bracken and Blackwood's men were placed in a corner, and although Henrik and Torrhen still didn't exchange a word, they both restrained their hostility.

After a few rounds of drinks, the Earl Barring ton carefully brought out a swaddled baby, whose bright, dark eyes were taking in its surroundings. "This is Joseth," he said, handing the child to Daemon and Gael, his voice filled with expectation. "If His Highness and the Princess bestow their blessings, he will surely live a long and healthy life."

Gael gently touched the baby's cheek, and the Dreamfyre outside the window let out a soft chirp, as if in response.

Daemon, recalling his young son who died young in his previous life, felt a slight stirring in his heart. He then took a Dragonglass pendant from his waist—the very amulet given to him by Gael. "May he be like an acorn, taking root wherever he falls," he said. His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears. The Earl was overjoyed and quickly instructed his wet nurse to put the pendant away.

Rayford, Rupert, and others raised their glasses, and Myles Rivers even sang a Riverlands toasting song.

Henrik and Torrhen, also out of consideration for the occasion, raised their glasses in a gesture of respect.

After a few rounds of drinks, Daemon certainly didn't "disappoint" anyone. He took his glass and walked over to the women's table at the Vance family's table, where a few jokes made the young ladies smile radiantly, their silvery laughter echoing throughout the hall.

Earl Vance of Atranta shook his head helplessly, but did not stop it—on such a day, no one wanted to offend this prince with dragon blood.

Lord Vance of Wayfarer's Rest exchanged a glance with Ser Clayton, as if to say, "The Targaryen ' nature has never changed."

"The Rogue Prince is still the same as ever," the Earl Barring ton chuckled softly, without a trace of displeasure in his eyes. "Targaryen blood, indeed, is always tinged with fire."

In the depths of night, in the Acorn Hall, the candlelight flickered. The Earl Barring ton, in his study, perused his father Myles's diary. On the yellowed pages lay the bewilderment he felt when he served as Hand of the King: "The courage of a warrior alone cannot sever the threads of the court."

He recalled his father's dying words, "The House Smallwood's roots are in the Riverlands. When the wind blows, they must not only stand firm but also know how to bend." Outside the window, the camps of House Bracken and Blackwood were some distance apart, and the light of the campfires flickered in the darkness, but the tension of the daytime had vanished.

The next morning, the Earl Barring ton finally allowed the prince and princess's party to leave for Pinkmaiden.

As Daemon's party prepared to depart, the Earl Barring ton insisted on gifting him another cartload of acorn wine. "The arbitration in Pinkmaiden is sure to be tough," he said, patting Daemon on the shoulder affectionately. "This wine will warm you up and give you courage."

Daemon looked back at the Acorn Hall, where yellow flags fluttered in the morning breeze. The procession slowly left Acorn Hall, the stone walls and oak gates gradually receding into the distance.

House Bracken and Blackwood's men maintained their distance, but the tension in the air had noticeably eased.

Daemon turned and took a deep look at the yellow flag fluttering in the morning breeze. Perhaps the Earl Barring ton intended to use this Name Day celebration to ease the conflict that was taking place near his own fiefdom, to give both sides a chance to save face and catch their breath, and to provide a buffer for the disputes in the Riverlands.

The fog gradually dissipated in the direction of Pinkmaiden. And the story of the Acorn Hall, perhaps, will be like those fallen acorns, sprouting new branches someday in the future.

After all, the House Smallwood motto has long proclaimed: "Start from here," and everything is new.