10) Blackwater Bay.

It was raining when all the men lined up in the courtyard ready to depart. The dark gloomy sky reflected the mood of the people trudging in the mud. They were leaving. To face their fate in battle, they kept saying. It had become a mantra among them.

"Are you going to kill Joffrey?" Sansa asked her father.

"I don't know. Hopefully it won't come to that."

"Kill him!" yelled Arya.

"I will!" yelled Robb. "After what he put my sister through he will get no mercy from me."

"And Cersei!" added Arya.

"I don't care much for Joffrey and Cersei, but Prince Tommen and Myrcella were nice to me. Please father don't kill them" pleaded Sansa.

"We'll see" replied Ned.

"And Tyrion, he was nice too. He stopped Joffrey's beatings. He was kind to me."

"It was actually Tyrion who made the exchange for Sansa" interjected Catelyn.

"It's a war, we cannot choose who we kill. If it comes to them or me, I'll choose me!" exclaimed Robb.

"Oh, because you're so experienced" Arya mocked him.

"Arya, stop it!"

"I will try to help Tommen, Myrcella and Tyrion, for your sake, my darling" Ned promised his daughter.

"You know, when I was at the court, people kept talking about a possible attack from the sea by Stannis" Sansa suddenly remembered.

"But I'm sure they're not expecting us all to join Stannis and attack by land as well, are they?" said Robb very sure of himself.

"Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to be too careful" Ned said trying to curb his son's overexcitement. "Sansa, when you were King's Kanding, did you happen to hear anything about how they were planning to repel Stannis's invasion?"

"I don't know. They didn't share those details with me. I know Tyrion was trying to make a very long chain, but he never told me what it was for. I know he had many of the fishing stalls and propped-up shops removed from the walls facing the bay."

"All right. I'm sure that will be helpful, Sansa."

Suddenly a horn was blown and it was time to go.

"Goodbye Arya, Sansa, Mother. I'm going to say good bye to Roslin. See you outside father"

Catelyn, who had remained quiet during the whole exchange, just couldn't take it any longer. "Oh, come here" she said and hugged her son tightly.

"Mother, you're smothering me" he complained.

"I don't care. It's my right as a mother. Oh, please Robb be careful."

"I will, I promise"

"Go. Go to Roslin" she said and gave him a kiss.

"Oh, Ned" Catelyn turned to her husband. "I have seen you leave on many occasions, to join a war, a rebellion, or simply a hunting party, but it's never been this hard."

"I know. I love you."

"I love you too. Please be careful. And take care of Robb."

"I will, I promise."

A second horn interrupted them.

"Go. Go and come back to me."

.

It took the Frey-Tully-Stark army four days to reach Harrenhall. There they met up with the Boltons. There was an envoy from Stannis in conversation with Lord Roose Bolton when they walked into the solar.

"My Lords" started Roose Bolton. "I trust you had a pleasant journey. This is Ser Estermont, he comes from King Stannis's court. The attack is already in motion. There are forty ships ready to depart for Blackwater Bay in five days. That will give us time to get there so we can coordinate the attacks. Any word from Lord Edmure Tully and Dorne?"

"Yes" answered Ned. "Right before we left, there was a raven. Everything is in motion as well. The Martell army will be at the gates of King's Landing by the end of the month. We should all get there together."

"Then let us not waste any more time. We have a war to win" said the Blackfish.

.

When they finally made it to the outskirts of King's Landing, they were surprised not to find any signs of the Martell army. Could they be delayed? Were they actually coming? Could something have happened to them? They sent a rider to the coast to signal Stannis not to attack yet.

It was almost nightfall when a group riders sporting Martell banners approached.

"Sers, sorry for our delay" the leader said with the typical exotic southern accent of Dorne. "But we decided to have a little bit of fun on the way here."

"We are waging a war and you decide to have fun" grunted Roose Bolton.

"Lord Bolton, let him explain. I am Lord Ned Stark, this is my son, Robb" said Ned greeting the envoy.

"The King in the North, my pleasure. I am Prince Oberyn Martell. Lord Bolton, if you'll give me a minute I'll tell you about our little fun. On our way here we happened upon a Lannister party led by none other that Tywin Lannister himself. Tywin and I go way back. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, don't you, Ned?" and he looked at Ned accusingly. "After they surrendered, I decided to have some quality time with Lord Tywin."

"I am aware of the history between you two" said Ned calmly not wishing to reopen old wounds. "Can Lord Tywin be questioned?"

"I'm sure you can ask him questions. I don't think he'll be able to reply. Not unless he has found a way to reattach his head to the rest of his body" he replied much to the enjoyment of his audience.

When the laughter died out he continued "The Lannisters were on their way to join forces with the Tyrells, but we stopped them. The Tyrells have been warned not to interfere. King's Landing will not receive reinforcements from outside. You can tell Stannis to approach with the ships so we can start the siege. I can't wait to set foot in the Red Keep."

"Did you suffer many losses in your battle against Tywin?" asked Brynden Tully.

"Just a few deaths and wounded. I regret to inform you that your nephew Edmure has suffered a grievous wound to his side. He's being tended to by my own daughter. She's famous for her miracles on the field of battle."

"My family appreciates that, Prince Oberyn."

"Well, then, without further ado, I shall go back to my camp. We'll await your signal. Good evening gentlemen".

"Good evening Prince. We attack at sunrise"

.

Before the break of dawn, Ned set out to inspect the grounds. When he reached the coast, he started to inspect the landscape. Just as Sansa had said, the coast was clear of shops and stalls; the walls were practically bare. But that was not what caught his attention. Dotting the coast at regular intervals were short wooden towers, and there was a man on each and every tower. He noticed the same pattern on the opposite shore. To what possible end, he could only take a wild guess.

The sun finally rose and the men charged towards the city. Soldiers were rushing the gates from all directions and the City guards posted at the wall had no idea where to shoot. Mayhem ensued in the battlements when they noticed Stannis's boats looming menacingly just a few leagues from the city walls. When the ships were within shooting distance, the archers started shooting arrows of fire to the boats. No, it was not arrows, it was fire itself. The water was on fire. Green fire. How could that be? thought Ned. "Wildfire!" somebody shouted. The boats were trapped in the bay surrounded by fire. They needed to retreat. The chain! Ned realized suddenly. He headed towards the coast and brought four men with him. They went to the towers Ned had seen earlier that day and killed the men. Now he saw it clearly, they were mounting a chain to prevent the ships from retreating. Very clever, Tyrion; setting the water on fire and then trapping the flaming boats with a chain. After they took care of the chain on their side of the bay, he sent the four men to the Martell camp to warn them to do the same on the other side of the bay.

Meanwhile, all the allied forces combined had been able to breach the wall. The Martells took care of the archers so that Stannis's ships could reach the port undamaged, and the northern army took care of the foot soldiers. The Lannister forces soon found themselves outnumbered and soldiers were starting to surrender by the hundreds. Steering the ships around the floating pots of fire, Stannis made it to the port and stormed the castle. While most of the soldiers had surrendered and put down their weapons, he was suddenly challenged by Joffrey.

"Uncle, you are a usurper! Not only will I kill you, but I will have your body dismembered and I will send your heart to your widow."

"Stand aside, boy. Lay down your weapons or I will kill you, nephew or not. You're a bastard and have no claim to this throne. I am the rightful heir as King Robert's younger brother."

Joffrey charged at him but Stannis was waiting for him. He pushed the boy swiftly to the floor and warned him again. As Joffrey attempted to get up again, Stannis planted his foot on his chest. "Stay down boy, I will not warn you again."

"Joffrey, do the smart thing for once in your life and stay down" yelled Tyrion.

"Round up the prisoners, take them to the dungeons" Stannis ordered his soldiers. "Those who yield will be pardoned. Those who do not lay down their weapons will be killed." A resounding clang echoed all over the battlements as the soldiers dropped their swords and battleaxes.

"We yield, Lord Stannis, the city is yours" said Tyrion defeated.

"You!" cried a loud angry female voice coming from one of the doors. "You wretched little vile creature. You orchestrated this. You're not my brother. You planned this with Stannis so my son could be defeated"

"Cersei" Jamie Lannister came out behind her. "Tyrion did not do this. We were beaten, pure and simple. Tyrion had great ideas, but they thwarted our efforts. Let us surrender in dignity."

"No, you will not take us alive. I will not allow my children to become prisoners" she started rambling. "We are Lannisters, we do not surrender."

"Cersei, have you been drinking?" her twin asked.

"So what if I have?" she continued stumbling until she reached Stannis. "Step away from my son" she said forcefully.

Stannis complied and Joffrey got on his feet.

"Honey, take this" Cersei said as she handed Joffrey a vial. "They will not take us prisoner."

"Cersei don't do this" pleaded Jamie.

"What do you care? They are MY children!" she spat back.

"They are MY children too" he blurted to a captive audience standing in the battlements.

"Myrcella and Tommen are already beyond your reach, Stannis, and soon you will lose Joffrey too! Drink it my love. We will all be together for eternity."

After Jamie's revelation the people standing around them were too dumbfounded to act; only Tyrion sprinted to get a hold of Joffrey's hand but he was too late. Joffrey swallowed the contents of the vial in one big gulp and almost immediately started retching and coughing. His face started to go blue as he started choking and gasping for air. His battle for his life lasted only a few short minutes, but it was enough to shock all the men who had witnessed it.

"Cersei, where are Myrcella and Tommen?" Jamie asked apprehensively, dreading the answer.

"They are with Joffrey now" she replied calmly with tears in her eyes. Suddenly she locked eyes with Ned. "No! You! You are dead, I saw you die!" she started raging again.

"No" replied Ned. "I'm very much alive. You were duped. It was not me who was executed that day at the Sept of Baelor"

"It was Tyrion, I know it" she said as she turned to her younger brother. "You freed Ned Stark, you tricked Joffrey, you let Sansa go without my permission, you betrayed my son and conspired against him with the usurpers!"

"Cersei, please stop it" Jamie Lannister begged his sister. "Let's surrender with dignity."

"No!" she yelled "No. I will never surrender!" she continued as she ran towards the wall and jumped off onto the rocks below. Her yells could be heard for a few seconds until they were silenced by a sickening thud.

"Lord Stannis," started Tyrion again after a long uncomfortable silence "we surrender, the city is yours"

.

Just two days after the battle, Stannis was being crowned King Stannis Baratheon. Most of the Lannister forces had been either taken prisoner or killed. Myrcella's and Tommen's bodies had been found in their bedrooms and had been buried with all the honors befitting of a royal family. Stannis argued they had died while their brother was still King, so they deserved a royal funeral and no one contradicted him. The same honor was granted to Joffrey.

Only once order was restored to the city and Stannis felt his hold on the realm secure, was the northern army and the Dorne men allowed to go back home. It was to cheers and chants of victory that they bid farewell to each other.

But Ned couldn't leave, not yet. He had to see about his brother in law. Catelyn would never forgive him if he didn't. He made his way to the Martell camp and was stopped right outside a tent by an attractive tall young woman.

"You're Eddard Stark, aren't you?" she said in a sultry southern accent.

"Yes" he replied apprehensively.

"My name is Nymeria Sand. I have been taking care of Lord Edmure Tully."

"You're Oberyn's daughter. How is my brother in law doing? Your father said he had been grievously wounded."

"He was, but he is making a speedy recovery and, under my care, should be back to full health sooner rather than later"

"Does that mean he is staying with you?" Oh, Cat will not like this at all.

"No. It means I'm coming with you" she said matter-of-factly. "I will never abandon my paramour."

TBC

.

Note: I took the liberty of using Nymeria Sand. I really don't know much about her. She hasn't appeared on the TV show yet and in the books I'm halfway through A Feast for Crows and not much has been said about her. I just wanted a Sand Snake for my story, and based on her age and a little information I read about her on the web I thought she might be appropriate. She'll play a bigger role on my next chapter. I apologize if she is out of character. If she is OOC, just pretend it's another Nymeria ;)

Thank you very much to everybody that's been reading the story. We're getting close to the end ... just a few more loose ends: getting back to the North, dealing with Theon, etc ...

RE-EDIT NOTE: This story was written long before season 5 aired. After seeing what a mess Benioff and Wise made of Dorne and the Sand Snakes in particular, I was tempted to remove all traces of Dorne from the story just out of spite. But then I calmed down and realized I actually liked them in the books. I like my Nymeria and I liked her with poor Edmure ... As for Dorne in the TV show, well, everything just sucks: cheap inside settings (amazing castles, though), bad storyline, hackneyed lines, lousy writing and really really bad acting! The only plus is Bronn ... I wish they had left it the way it was: smart and fisty Sand Snakes (they would never attack in broad daylight in the middle of a heavily armed yard), a more prominent Myrcella, and most of all NO JAMIE! I like Jamie in the Riverlands acting as a sort of peace ambassador fixing all the mess. It was the only glimpse we had of the war-torn Riverlands. Now apparently in the TV show, save for the North, the war is over in the rest of Westeros. No Jamie in the Riverlands means no Blackfish, no Edmure, no Lady Stoneheart (but we knew that already), and basically forgetting there was a war going on in this area for the first four seasons!