[Alneyan]

Alas, I believe you can pull out to besieged provindes without trouble, so long as you still own the siege; and a single unit is required to do so (I can never recall if you need a commander). So not taking a Hill fortress would only prevent you from being able to run behind the walls, among other things, and not taking a fortress in the vicinity of the Hill would have no consequence in your attempt to get the Hill. Of course, if the Independents could break your sieges... now that would be so much more funny.

Dibs for you Yvelina if/when someone withdraws before game start.