The Eyrie, the Vale of Arryn, 282 AL

Send me their heads! Send me their heads, Arryn! I am the king, send me the heads of Stark and Baratheon, I command it!

Jon Arryn crumbled the letter in his hand and stood up, with his hand coiled around the hilt of his sword.

"Lord Arryn?"

It was Ned who came walking into the solar, followed by Robert.

"Robert, go tell Colemon to send all the ravens. I'm calling my banners"

Two months later

Outside Gulltown, the Vale of Arryn, 282 AL

Ned gazed over the banners of the Vale. Royce and Lynderly, Elesham and Egen, Belmore and Donniger, Hunter, Redfort and Ruthermont, Waynwood and Hardyng. The burning tower of Grafton was not to be seen, nor the ravens and hearts of Corbray nor the coins and falcons of the Arryns of Gulltown.

The missing had declared for the crown, whilst the others declared for the rebels. Soon there would be battle, the Valemen would soon storm the walls of Gulltown.

A few hours later, the host was gathered and armed. They charged.

Eddard climbed up the ladders that the rebels had placed up against the walls. Once atop the battlements, he cut down a Corbray and kicked a Grafton man off the walls. No more than ten minutes past until Ice was red to the hilt.

Three men fell before the Valyrian steel, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.

Eddard thrust Ice through the belly of a Grafton spearmen and looked down to the ground. He saw Robert in his golden armor and antlered helm, crushing skulls and caving in ribcages with his giant warhammer. Ned turned around to see a party of Corbrays and Shett men charging at him. Eddard began to run before he saw the large company of Royce, Hunter and Redfort soldiers coming to join him. They charged at the enemy. It was a bloody clash. Ned cut down a knight wearing the coin and falcon badge. After an hour of battling atop the walls, the three remaining Shett men and the ten remaining Corbray soldiers turned tail and ran. Ned led his men in pursuit, and threw another two Shetts down from the wall. Ned heard a large crash of steel to the west and turned to see Yohn Royce lead the main part of his host in battle against Grafton's forces in the square in the middle of the town. Eddard led his men towards the battle.

Two hours passed, but the battle was far from done. Ned and Lord Royce were battering the gates of the Grafton palace with a ram, Robert and Jon Arryn were fighting outside the city with the Eleshams, Waynwoods and the rest. Suddenly the gates crashed open, and the men flooded into the castle, cutting down men where they found them.

After three more hours the battle was won. Ned removed his helm and felt the sweat trickle down his face. Suddenly he started panting with exhaustion. He was considering how many men he had killed. He had lost count at eight-and-forty, but suspected it was at least twenty more.

As Eddard walked the battlefield outside the city, inspecting the aftermath he saw the broken corpse of Lord Marq Grafton, lying at the foot of the wall. His breastlpate was caved in and his face was smashed, no doubt by Robert's hammer.

Eddard's armor was red with blood.

The sun was setting, a red sun it seemed to Ned, and a sadness settled over him.

Lyanna...