A/N This is a chapter change people. I am trying to reduce the size of my chapters to make them more comprehensible and I have some new plans. In the chapter the battle of the Eye, Varys scheming, aftermath and in the next chapter the Sack of King's Landing and aftermath of the rebellion.

Chapter 4

Robert's Rebellion: Part 2

283 AC

God's Eye

Rheagar looked across the gods eye, the rebel force of thirty thousand men was assembled on a fortified hill, stakes were planted facing out with the Riverlands infantry on the left side of their forces near the lake, with the Vale infantry holding the center and the the Northmen and their cavalry on the right flank. He could see the Vale and Riverlands cavalry assemble with the Northern heavy cavalry on their right flank, 'I only have to defeat them, then I can fix the mess my father has made of the country,' Rheagar thought.

He regretted that he would have to send his beloved's brother to the wall with her father, but he had decided to make her Nephew Lord of Winterfell and warden of the North after they had subdued them.

He also regretted that he had had to force his beloved after she had heard of her brothers death, her screams had hurt him very much but it was necessary, the Dragon must have three heads...

The battle would be over quickly, the cavalry would crush their right flank while the infantry would crush the center, he knew the Northman would fight strongly but they would be surrounded. He had ordered that all northern lords be captured, his beloved's nephew would need them if he was to rule the North well.

Varys had come to him with the proposal of holding Eddard's son as a hostage until he came of age while appointing a regent to rule over the North then allowing Eddard's son to return to take up his seat as Lord of Winterfell. All the while raising the Stark child Jon with his own children to fully tie the Stark's to the south and ensure Jon's loyalty to the crown.

'A well though of plan,' Rheagar knew, as Jon could become friends with his son and the cousin that would soon be born to him by his beloved Lyanna and give his son support to the North when the Son of Ice and Fire was to be sung and the threat came from deep in the Lands of Always Winter.

'But now battle, then to fix the damage his father had done,' Rheagar thought.

Ned looked across the water, he could see the far off isle, the place that the Age of Heroes began, thousands of years of peace. 'Before the Long Night came,' he thought. Ned turned away towards the Targaryen force. He could see Prince Rheagar at the front, surrounded by his Kingsguard, he could here Robert growling from nearby at the sight of Rheagar. He remembered the Robert before the war, before his father had died, and before his hatred of Targaryens.

The Robert from the Vale, with his smiles, less drinking, sparring together. Ned smiled nostalgically at the memories, 'I suppose this war has changed us all,' Ned thought, Even his father had been effected, before he had heard of Brandon's death he had been happier, and somewhat gentler, but now it was as is a great fire for vengeance burned within him. Before Brandon had died, his father would never have considered ridding down fleeing enemies.

Ned still kept to his honor, 'Without honor, what can a man be,' he reasoned.

Horns began blowing across the field Targaryen forces moving in, 'So now it begins,' Ned thought.

He heard his father yell and an opening salvo of catapults opened fire into the Targaryen lines to minimal effect. The infantry charged the center and brutal melee fighting began, both sides, Ned led his lords forward Robert by his side, cutting down man after man from horseback, blood flew and the men of the North drove hard into the men sent against them.

Then the horns sounded, the Reach cavalry was charging. They drove the wedge hard into the Riverlands men driving them back, cutting down men left and right as the drove the men of the Riverlands back, hacking and cutting their way through the army to break the lines. The Stormlands infantry were holding, with their pikes keeping horses at bay, all the while waiting for the signal.

The battle was swinging in their favor. Rheagar new this as soon as the Reach cavalry charged and pushed the Riverlands infantry back forcing them into an inverted crescent. The knights of the Vale and the North's heavy cavalry were causing the men attacking the rebels left flank difficulties, but when the left flank fell, they would be outflanked and cut off from their infantry.

Then horns on the left side of the rebel army by the Gods Eye sounded, Rheagar looked on in horror as the men of the Stormlands turned on the Reach cavalry that had forced the Riverlands infantry so far back that they were behind the Stormlands infantry; who turned and began mercilessly cutting down all that opposed them.

The finest knights of the Reach were forced in so tightly that they couldn't even swing their swords to fight back. The men of the Riverlands rallied and joined in on the slaughter of the Reach's cavalry. Eight thousand cavalry were cut down in the slaughter, few escaped before the trap was complete.

Rheagar then heard horns from the other side of the rebel army to see that their heavy cavalry was charging with the North's infantry following them in a encircling movement. Rheagar looked to the side at his Kingsguard, all of who looked horrified as they watched the rebel army surge forwards, smashing their lines and crushing any and all resistance. Looking into the distance he could a group of cavalry charging at him, Robert at the head of the charge swinging left and right with his massive warhammer.

Drawing his sword Rheagar lead his Kingsguard and the reserves forward, intent on killing Robert, 'He is their leader, without him they will break and flee, victory can still be ours,' he thought, "Fire and Blood!" Rheagar yelled, and the cry was echoed by the men who followed him.

Ned knew that Robert had seen Rheagar, he was leading his Stormlords with the Northern lords following close behind them, Ned heard the war cry, and heard Robert let out his own, "Ours is the Fury!" he bellowed with a volume and anger it seemed to shake the earth.

Ned let out his own, "Winter is coming!" he yelled echoed by Winterfell's banners.

Robert drove his horse right into Rheagar's horse knocking them both to the ground, most of the men with them engaged the reserves while Ned and Roose Bolton engaged Barristan Selmy and Lord Corbray attacked Lewyn Martell. Robert stood from where he had fallen, and let out an almost feral growl at the sight of the three headed dragon on Rheagar's breastplate, with this fury driving him Robert attacked.

Robert swung his warhammer with a fury that had Rheagar retreating before him step by step towards the lake. Robert swung his hammer at Rheagar who use his sword to parry the blow, and then dogged the next blow from the side. Rheagar countered striking like a viper and opening a cut on Robert's leg. With a roar of fury Robert quickened his strikes driving Rheagar back till he was only a a few meters from the Gods Eye.

While Robert traded blows with the crown prince, Ned and Roose were working together against one of the greatest fighters in Westeros; Barristan Selmy was quick and precipice with his blows, never being off balance. They traded blow for blow with Ser Barristan holding them both off. Roose was bleeding from a cut on his shoulder, and Ned was tiring. He had already fought the against the infantry charge attacking their left flank, and then fought his way through the melee to get to Rheagar. Hissing in pain as Ser Barristan's sword made it through his guard and nicked his shoulder, fueling himself by the promise he made his son; that he would return.

With renewed energy Ned drove Ser Barristan back with a rapid flurry of attacks putting him on the defensive and taking some pressure off Roose Bolton.

In the battle around them Lord Corbray had been cut down by Lewyn Martell in full view of his son Lyn who took up his fathers swords and lead the men of House Corbray on an attack through the Dornish lines to claim a blood price from the knight; cutting him down with the sword of House Corbray; Lady Forlorn.

By now Robert had forced Rheagar into the lake and they were fighting knee deep in water which slowed the effectiveness of Rheagar's evasions forcing him to counter with his shield or sword. Robert had somewhat recovered from the mindless fury that had overtaken him, and fainted a blow to the head, Rheagar who had not seen Robert use any trickery on their fight fell for it, and Robert's warhammer went under Rheagar's sword and smashed into his chest, the shattered rubies that made the dragons on Rheagar's armor fly through the air and land far out in the lake.

Seeing Rheagar fall allowed Ned the opportunity to disarm and defeat Ser Barristan.

As Rheagar's limp body hit the waves, the rest of his army broke and fled, of the forty thousand men Rheagar had lead, ten thousand escaped, the rest being either killed or captured.

From the isle out in the lake, the Green Men of the Isle of the Faces, the guardians of the Weirwood groves watched the great battle, they watched the blood of tens of thousands wash towards the roots of the Weirwood tree's, the blood of First Men, Andals, Rhyonar, blood of the religions of Essos, and the Blood of Old Valyria watered the roots, restoring the power of the Old Gods and their gifts in the realm's of men.

The Great Weirwood tree that stood at the center of the isle, the one the pack had been signed before and sealed in blood, glowed brightly, then a flash that was only seen on the isle but was as bright as the sun, and heralded the return of the power of First Men.

Before the tree stood the Green Man, the leader of all Green Men, beside him to both sides stood small figures, so small they could be mistaken for children, "Perhaps theirs hope after all," the Green Man said. The children beside him nodded in agreement.

Bloodraven's Cave

Far beyond the wall, in one of the few remaining sanctuaries of the Children of the Forest, the Three Eyed Raven looked out through his thousand and one eye's. He could feel the power returning to the earth, "Everything has changed..." Bloodraven said.

King's Landing

Varys knew the war was lost, Rheagar's forces were defeated and the crown prince had been killed by Robert Baratheon; now being proclaimed as King of Westeros by right of birth and conquest. The Lannister army was sacking the city behind him.

Lord Tywin had come to take the city as an offering of fealty to Robert Baratheon to ensure that his daughter will marry the queen. 'The royal family must be made safe,' Varys thought. Tywin Lannister had been ruthless enough to slaughter the Reynes when they had rebelled against him, and he would most certainly remove all threats to his daughter's children if she married Robert Baratheon.

It was too late to save the Royal family here, but the prince and queen on Dragonstone could still be saved. The dragons would return to take up their rightful throne and bring new peace and prosperity to Westeros.

Pulling aside a tapestry, Varys vanished into the walls of the Red Keep to hide until the sack was over, and then put the first steps into place of ensuring the return of the Targaryen's.

Gods Eye

Death, death as far as the eye could see. That was what he could see as he looked over the field of one of the greatest battle's in all of Westerosi history; The Battle of the Eye. Ned had seen the aftermath of the battle in the vision from the Old Gods, but the vision could not convey the true horror of looking out over thousands of dead bodies, the cries of the wounded and dying that still remained on the field, the smell of death on the wind, and the blood that turned the lake red.

Ned looked at the lake, the blood had mostly dissipated overnight, and the normal water had returned, lapping gently against the bank that men were already calling Ruby Shore; where Robert Baratheon killed Rheagar Targaryen and where Rheagar's rubies fell into the water. He looked further out, to the far off isle, he had felt the change, the change in the earth, in the wind and water and the stone. His fathers lords had felt it, and his men to a lesser degree. All those who had the blood of the First Men felt it to some degree, for Ned and Rickard it had been like a punch to the gut.

Howland Reed had been the most effected of all and when he had asked Howland had simply replied that old ways lived on in the Neck.

He knew something had changed, and the answer lay on the Isle of the Faces, his father knew too, but they had to finish the war first. The Northern army was the only one ready in any shape too continue the war. They had lost two thousand killed or wounded in the Battle of the Bells, and another six in the Battle of the Eye, but they still held seven thousand, enough to lay siege King's Landing and allow the rest of the forces from the Vale, Stormlands, and the Riverlands time to recover.

They had also heard that Lord Tywin was marching from the Westernlands with twelve thousand men, and so they had to reach King's Landing before they arrived.

Ned heard boots walking up from behind him and turned to see his father, who was also looking across the water to the Isle of Faces, "Yes, the answer to what happened lies there," Rickard said, "But first we must end this war and get justice for Brandon," Rickard said.

"But at what cost, do we sacrifice our honor for victory?" Ned asked, recalling what he asked his father about honor after the Battle of the Bells.

Rickard sighed, "Sometimes honor can hold you back from what needs to be done," Rickard said.

"So honor means nothing," Ned asked angrily.

"That's not what I said," Rickard told his son, "If we had left those men escape at the Stony Sept, they would have been part of this army, which could have turned the tide of the battle in their favor. How many more children would be without their father if that had happened? Honor means a great deal in peace, but not in war. Our ancestors made peace with the Bolton Kings of old, and yet they rose up again and again. Each time they bent, and each time we refused to end their line as we should have. Honor was a problem, and so it cost many men of the North much heartache," Rickard said.

"So you must have honor in peace, but not in war?" Ned asked.

"No, there must be honor in how you conduct war, but not honor on the battlefield, ambushing an enemy is dishonorable, or attacking their camp at night, but it is easier, and saves the lives of your people." Rickard said.

Ned still looked unconvinced, but nodded.

"Good, now we must eat before we lead our forces to King's Landing, and drag that mad fuck down from that throne of swords." Rickard said. Robert had declared his intent to take the Iron Throne after their victory in the Battle of the Eye.

Ned nodded and turned to return to the camp. He saw the banners of the Twins, the late Lord Frey, as his good-father had named him. And he cursed the name, the Frey's reinforcements could have meant less of their men dying, but he waited, like a craven. 'Probably hoping that we would fail, then he could claim Riverrun,' Ned thought.

he Golden Tooth, two weeks ago...

Tywin looked at the city that had been his home for many years while he was Hand of the King. The city he was here to sack, and present as a token of fealty to the new king; Robert Baratheon. Finally, Robert would marry Cersei and she would be queen. 'A Lannister on the Iron Throne, we can never rise higher then that. Soon House Lannister will again be the true power of Westeros, not the Tyrell's, the Tully's or even the Stark's.' Tywin thought.

They great pit that his father had put them in would be filled at last, and the lion would take its rightful place as the greatest of all houses in Westeros.

Had known that Robert's army would be so successful he would have joined them at the start of the rebellion. He had heard of the Northern army which made up the majority of Robert's forces. He had thought that they would be of little use in the south, as no Northern army had set foot south of the Neck in over a century. But they had proved him wrong.

The gates before Tywin opened, 'Pycelle did well.' And the Lannister army,

- Flashback -

Tywin watched his army encamped outside the Golden Tooth, on what little land there was to camp on as the Tooth was the guard of one of the main entrances to the Westernlands and passed through the mountains of his land.

Tywin had heard of the Rebel's victory at Summerhall, and then their defeat at Ashford and in truth, he had thought that would be in for the rebellion. But the Fat Flower lay siege to Storm's End instead of pursuing, giving Robert time to escape.

Then the news of the Battle of the Bell's came, were the North's armies smashed the Crown forces, riding them down with a brutality that had quite frankly surprised him. He had thought of the men of the North as honorable fools that would never go far enough to achieve victory. But clearly Rickard had not followed that trait, riding down his fleeing enemy with the North's heavy cavalry.

The northmen were a people made strong by the harshness of their land and their winters, that he knew, unlike most who thought of the North as unwashed barbarians and pagans.

As hand Tywin had dealt with Rickard as Hand of the King, his constant efforts to secure betrothals for his children in the south and fostering his second son in the Vale. He was wary of them growing too powerful as they could rebel and no force could breach Moat Callin once it was rebuilt. He had curbed the North's power subtly. By refusing them a warfleet, or a right. But as his relationship with Aerys soured, the king would often overturn his efforts to spite him. Rickard had thought and that appealing to the King to spite Tywin if he every tried to interfere in the North.

'Low cunning and foolishness. You cannot try to use a mad dog. They must be put down,' Tywin thought. But Rickard's naivety and hopes of the King's protection were what a Northman would think with their inexperience in the south.

Rickard was known as a kind man, and an honorable man, one who would never run down fleeing men, 'The death of his son must have opened his eyes,' Tywin thought. 'Only fear and strength keeps people in line, not honor, or loyalty, fear, fear and blood.' But Tywin was mistaken in thinking that the North operated with coin and threats like hearing the Reynes of Castamere

Tywin knew that Rickard had alienated his bannermen with his southern ventures and also knew of the much discontent that it had brought them. If Rickard was ever a threat to his ambitions, well the Stark's would be replaced. But that may not have become necessary, with Rickard's desperation to tie the North to the south a Royal match would satisfy them and secure their loyalty.

Tywin had thought that the Northern army would fail, as no Northern army had set foot down the Neck since the Dance of Dragons, but they had not, they fought with a strength and ferocity that he knew that Aerys, by burning Brandon Stark alive, had awakened the slumbering giant of the North.

Tywin turned as he heard a knock on the door, "Come," he said curtly.

The door opened to reveal Tywin's brother Kevan, "A raven from our scouts, you need to read it," Kevan said, with a still shocked expression after having read the scroll.

Tywin took the scroll from his brothers outstretched hand and read it. The only indication he was surprised was the slight raising of one eyebrow before turning to Kevan, "Get the men ready to march, we leave a first light for King's Landing. We must present a token of fealty to the new king," Tywin ordered.

Kevan nodded and then left as Tywin returned to the window, 'Soon my old friend, you will learn why the lion is feared,' he thought, 'And I will have my heir, my legacy will be secure,' Tywin thought.

- Flashback End -

Tywin's brother Kevan rode up from behind him, "Brother our rearguard report that the Stark forces are approaching the city, they will be here within and hour."

Tywin resisted the urge to look over his shoulder at the approaching but out of sight army, "Push forwards to the Red Keep, kill all in you path." Kevan nodded and spurred his horse forward to take command of the vanguard to smash the remaining Goldcloacks and house guard of the Royal family.

'Gregor Clegane and Amory Lotch must succeed,' Tywin thought, without Rheagar's children dead, the stag dynasty would never be secure and once his daughter married Robert Baratheon, his dynasty...

To be continued...

Author's note

Okay, as I said at the start of this chapter I am trying to make the chapters shorter and more comprehensible for you guys. So what do you think?

I had planned of saving baby Aegon but he didn't really fit in with the story plan I have in my head, so sorry. But hey if you want to see a really good story with Aegon alive, check out Riptide04's story the Eighth Kingdom. Supper great story it is a Percy Jackson - Game of Throne's crossover so if you like Percy Jackson this is the story for you. (Just not the movies, those were s**t).