CHAPTER 1
Torrhen agreed to Aegon's terms, the Starks, would renounce their crown in return Torrhen's first born son would have a Targaryen for a bride, and in turn Aegon's heir would have a Stark bride as well. That was not the only deal that was made; the Crown should never interfere with the affairs of the Night's Watch and would regularly send men at arms to the Wall, there would always be a Stark at his Small council, as long as there would be a Small Council. What Aegon did not realize though is how influential were the Starks across the Narrow Sea, and how vast their lands were, their territories that stretched to from the Neck and extended to the Lands of Always Winter; Aegon would also pay all the Northern houses a reasonable amount of money for being annexed. But in turn Aegon would be able to call upon the Northern Army which amount to nearly seventy thousand strong.
This was a beneficial alliance for him because the Southern houses trusted the Starks, and they trusted him that would mean that he finally had control of all the lordly houses of Westeros. The Realm prospered in Aegon's rule, especially the Lannisters, and the Tyrells though they fought against them Aegon needed those houses in rebuilding the Kingdoms and ever since when the Crown is in need of gold, they turn to the Lannisters, if the Crown needed food they approach the Tyrells, for three hundred years they maintained this balance, with the occasional marriage to the Starks and Martells.
Everything was going well to for the Targaryen rule, but for the Blackfyre Rebellions, that was until the Mad King Aerys Targaryen and his heir Rhaegar did the unthinkable. Forcing the Starks and the Baratheons to rebel, with the help of the Vale and the Riverlands, the Crown however did not fight alone, the Martells and the Tyrells went to their rescue, along with various sells sword companies they manage to outnumber the rebel forces.
The battle at the Trident was the greatest Westeros has ever seen, a sea of blood ad men, Eddard and Robert led the vanguard, the Warrior incarnated, Robert with his antler helm and Fury, the Baratheon ancestral war hammer made from Damascus steel, black like the night sky, forged by the First Men of house Durandon, the Storm Kings of Old, Damascus steel is said to be stronger than Valyrian steel, but it is far heavier from it, made for strong men like Robert, this made him an unstoppable force in the battlefield.
Facing Eddard was like facing the Stranger himself, black armour with black cloak with grey furs adorning his shoulders, with him was the ancestral broadsword of house Stark, Frost ran red from point to hilt, unlike Ice which is only used for ceremonies, Frost was made for war, Damascus steel adorned its fuller while its edge and point was of Valyrian steel, a mixture of Old Valyria and the First Men, , it is however longer and wider than an ordinary Broadsword from the south as to fit its wielder which is normally bigger than a most warriors being a Stark, like in the case of Eddard although smaller than the Umbers, Karstarks, Robert and his brother Brandon is still considered a fairly large man in Westeros. Ned's armour was also a sight to behold, black as the nights of winter, he faced and defeated Ser Barristan on the field earning him the moniker the Knight of Death where he is said to have killed the most men in battle.
At the end, the rebel forces won, but with it came the death of over a hundred thousand men lost on both sides, he marched on King's Landing with the remainder of the Rebel forces, determined to face everyone who has wronged his family. Ned was surprised however when he found the Capital being sacked by none other than the Lannisters. He ordered his men to secure the city before the Lannisters kill all the remaining people of King's Landing, he gathered all his trusted Lords and rode as hard as he can towards the Red Keep.
They rode hard towards the Red Keep, as they wanted to end this quickly and to get revenge for their former lord. Once they entered the throne room they were greeted by the sight of Jamie Lannister sword in hand with a dozen of Lannister men scattered on the floor, and the king laughing as he saw those men die by his feet, a disheartened look in his face while wiping the blood from his sword. He clearly don't want this to happen, he only uphold his word and kept his honour while his King is raving mad.
"Ser Jamie," Ned said, while holding his sword in hand readying to fight the man who is only doing what his supposed to do "I do not wish to kill you, but I applaud a man who keeps his honour amidst overwhelming odds"
"I do not need your words Stark" said Jamie in a monotone voice that, expressed what he truly felt "my duty is to protect the King, and that is what I will do" he pointed his sword at the Northmen; he intends to fight even while facing five lords and their men.
"He is mine" said Ned; all the lords understood what Ned meant. He wanted to spare Jamie's life but did not want his honour tarnished and be known as the man who forsake his honour.
"I do not want to do this Lord Stark" said Jamie in a hush tone "I am only doing what my oath told me to do, I wish you good fortune in the wars to come" and with that he launched towards Eddard with the fury of ten men, all Ned could do was block the quick strikes that Jamie was giving him, Gods he was fast, faster than Ser Barristan but more predictable. Eddard was patient, Jamie was giving so many holes for him to strike but his speed is making Ned think twice of going on the offensive, he blocked another swing and with his free hand punched Jamie sending his helmet flying. This made the knight step back and gave Eddard the opportunity to go on offensive, although slower than Jamie, Ned made up for his strength, he can see indentions in Jamie's sword whenever he strike sending metal flying in the air. While their fight was going on more city guard entered the throne room, causing the remaining lords to join the fray; all of them however was being put off by the continuous laughter of the Mad King on his Iron Throne, the monstrous mountain of molten steel, forged by Aegon's dragon from the swords of his fallen enemy, the scene was straight out of a nightmare.
Ned was growing tired, his breathing was heavier, his swings are getting weaker but he could tell that even his opponent was also getting tired; he was not as fast as he used to, and his holes are getting more and more apparent. Ned gathered all his strength left and swung at Jamie sending his sword in to the air, Ned paused for a moment as he looked at Jamie, and green eyes met grey Ned knew at this moment that Jamie did not want to die, he recognise it from every opponent he stroke down, and the sad part about it is that Jamie did not want to be part of this war, he was only a pawn for the Mad King and his father. Jamie looked like he was about to pass out, he had cuts all over his armour, blood coming out of it, he had a bruised face and a looked of regret in his eyes, he was just there, standing, waiting to be killed, he did not fight anymore he just closed his eyes and waited.
Ned gathered his sword with both hands and plunge his sword on to Jamie's left leg, rendering him useless, Jamie dropped in agony under his feet. Ned the look on to where the Mad King was still laughing and made his way towards him, glaring with intent to kill, he slowly went up the stairs ignoring the chaos around him as he went face to face with the Mad King.
"Aerys Targaryen" he spoke as the King looked at him in rage "in the name of Robert first of his name, King of the Andals, the Roynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, I Eddard of House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North sentence you to death in the crimes you committed against the realm and my family" Ned raised his sword, hacked it sideways decapitating the Mad King and thus ending the three hundred year old dynasty of House Targaryen. Everything stopped at that moment, all the loyalist dropped their swords and the rebel men cheered for their victory, but all Eddard could think of was his family.
