THE TURNING OF WHEELS

by anvilhammer

Forty Two years after the Finale Westeros still has no permanent peace. Kingslanding is threatened on the east by the Naharis Mukhtars and on the South by the Bronn Brothers. Rheddard Snow - Son of Jon Snow with the Giantsbane Brothers waits for death of the Queen to march to take his place. Tyrion and Sansa realize they made a huge mistake and wish they could turn back the wheel

25. The Winds of War Part 2 : CH 25

Chapter 25 : The Winds of War Part 2

WINTERFELL, GREAT HALL

Lady Catelyn Stark sat in the middle seat, a spot normally reserved for her husband Lord Ned Stark while to her left was Theon Greyjoy and to her right Maester Luwin. The Seven Commanders who were in charge of Three Hundred Men garrisoned at Winterfell were also in the great hall along with Sandor Clegane and Lady Sansa Stark who was regarded grown up enough when it came to a battle where the odds of survival were so low.

The men of winterfell had just been informed that their liege lord and his eldest son and heir had been betrayed and murdered by Roose Bolton and the rest of the Northern families. They had also been informed that Jon Snow - the Bastard of Winterfell was in fact the True Heir to Westeros - the King. They had been given the opportunity to make a decision whether they would still want to fight for Winterfell or to leave. Every one of the Commanders had put it to their men and had received a resounding yes. They would fight on to the death. They would fight for Lord Stark. They would fight for King Aegon. After all - Targaryen or not - Jon was one of them. Something that made Sansa wonder - why when common soldiers could feel this way about Jon - the so called Seasoned Leaders of the North could not.

Sansa had replied to Tyrion. She was staying put at Winterfell along with everyone else. Tyrion had to ensure Jon was safe and so the Three Thousand Strong Garrison at the Wall of Stark Men would be better off there instead of marching to Winterfell. It was likely that Sansa and Tyrions story would once again be incomplete. All she hoped was that at least this time around Westeros would be better off but she knew it would not be. If Jon died - the Night King would be invincible and nobody could defeat him. This meant the end of Westeros, the end of the Realm. There was no way around it.

The Council at Winterfell were examining the replies to their requests for assistance. House Arryn had refused. Lady Lysa Arryn had begged her sister to acknowledge the treason of her husband and beg protection of Peter Bayelish, their old friend. She guaranteed that Lord Bayelish would protect her and her children and bring them to her at the Vale. Lord Edmure Tully had written the same. He offered safe passage to Cat and her children to Riverrun asking her to leave Winterfell and leave it to its fate. The Iron Islands had promised neutrality as had Walder Frey of the Twins and Doran Martell of Dorne. They would wait and see the present outcome before making a decision.

"How many days can Winterfell withstand a siege? With the entire population inside Winterfell Castle? Basic Rations for each man, woman and child?"- Catelyn asked of Luwin and Theon and her Commanders.

"About Twelve to Fifteen days - My Lady"- Luwin said.

"And How many fighting men can we muster from the villagers - men and women between sixteen and sixty?" - She asked

"Around Eight Hundred...Twelve Hundred at the most"- Luwin replied glancing at the Commanders who nodded assent

"And what about the Horses and the Armor? Can we equip so many men?"

"We have the Bolton Armor- so yes - we can equip Two thousand men with Armor and we have enough to ensure that each fighting man had a Longsword, a shortsword, chainmail, helmet and shield. We also have Four Hundred Horse" - Luwin said.

There it was. There it lay bare. Winterfell would at the best have Fifteen Hundred Fighting men - Three HUndred Seasoned Knights on Horse and Twelve Hundred Villagers with little or no fighting experience with provisions and supplies that could keep them alive for a maximum of Fifteen days.

"Any hope of reinforcements?"- Catelyn asked Theon

Theon shook his head - "No solid promises my lady. Highgarden and Horn Hill are bare. Riverrun and the Vale refused to send any troops. The Iron Islands, The Dornish and the Twins have all promised and pledged neutrality. Lord Stark had Three Thousand Men left at the Wall, presently under the command of Lord Tyrion Lannister who has resigned as Master of Coin. They are pledged to protect Aegon Targaryen from any enemies that the King might send"

"Sandor Clegane!"- Lady Stark said and the Hound raised his head from his Goblet. "I am afraid this is the end of the road for Winterfell. I am afraid every man has to take arms and fight. Do you fight for Winterfell or do you wish to leave?"

Sandor growled - "I fight till i drop dead. I wont fight you or your people" - it was the closest anyone could get the Hound to admit.

"Any news from Storms End?"- Catelyn asked Maester Luwin. Luwin nodded -"Lord Stannis says he cannot go against his brother. He assures us that Bran is safe and sound and that Bran willl not be delivered up as hostage to anyone and will be thoroughly protected"

Lady Catelyn rose- she faced her commanders and the few men who were in the great hall - "So there it is. The Kings army is in Whiteharbor waiting to join up with Roose Bolto and march on Winterfell and we have few men, few supplies to fight it out. We fight to the death with the only prayer being that each of you can take down ten of them. Are you with me?"

A huge resounding roar of approval sounded in the great hall. The men of Winterfell had made their decision.

WHITE HARBOR

Lord Renly Baratheon - Commander of the Kingsguard looked at the communication from his Brother Stannis. It was simple enough.

Renly

I hear you are in Whiteharbor now following Roberts orders.

Whatever you do - act first as a human being, then a brother, then a Knight and finally a Commander. Ensure that the Stark family are given every single opportunity to surrender without bloodshed. It is what Robert wants though he does not know it yet.

Love

Stannis

Love? Stannis? The message had been delivered to Renly but Renly himself was certain that this was not the entire message. Stannis Baratheon would never use the word Love to anyone since he had been six years of age. Stannis also did not give a damn about what Robert wanted. It meant that the message carried a more secret message. For centuries - Stag men had sent secret messages on yellow tabyrthe tree scrolls that could contain secret writing that would open up with red wine. True enough when Renly splashed red wine on the scroll- he could read the translucent secret message.

Renly

I believe Robert has been insulated at Kingslanding and has no idea what is going on there. I also believe that the Maester at Kingslanding is Bayelishs creature. Also Bayelish and Olenna Tyrell are conspiring against Westeros and against the Iron Throne.

I am going to put an end to it all but i want you to delay your attack on Winterfell on some pretext for at least ten days.

On my Honor as a Baratheon

Stannis

This was it Renly Thought. On his honor meant Stannis was staking everything to be believed in this letter. Stannis was many things but he was also a honorable man and Renly believed every word that he said. It all made sense. It was why - he did not receive any reply from Robert although Renly had sent five messages to him. Delaying the attack on Winterfell was easier said than done. The men were ready and the Northmen were two days away at the best. It meant that the army would march to Winterfell no later than five days from today which was at least five days short of what Stannis had requested Renly to do.

The Crownsmen were not Baratheon men - they belonged to the Crownlands and as such did not know Renly Baratheon much. He could not persuade them to delay their march. The only way to delay the march was to create some trouble or another. It would be a huge challenge for Renly but he would do it ...because he had to do it.

KINGSLANDING

Robert Baratheon stumbled against the Iron Throne - slurring as he asked "Is there any news from Bayelish? Where is Ned? Is he coming here?"

Robert was no longer in control of his own senses. A few days ago - a servant of Lord Bayelish of the name Rawlins has been sent to make sure the King had a sufficient supply of wine. The wine was spiced with a special powder that was available only in the east and which was certain to make the King thirstier and more senseless by the day. Maester Sylvan who was the only person who had access to the King - was confident enough to walk in fearless. The Kings famous rages were a thing of the past. It looked likely that the King would die of his own accord by drink. Every day was the same - the King seeking information but getting none.

Sylvan had slowly but surely got the entire City Watch and the remaining Goldcloaks left in Kingslanding to Bayelishs side with promises of knighthoods, lordships, fair maidens and wealth. Those who could not be swayed had been included in the army which Bayelish took with him to Whiteharbor. Those who were not loyal to Bayelish or even those who were neutral were either murdered and dumped or imprisoned and left to starve in the Citys vast dungeons. There were some issues though - Tommen Targaryen had disappeared and Sylvan believed that it was Varys who had ferreted the boy to some secret location within the city. The Spymasters entire network was missing and Sylvan had still not been able to crack anything down.

Robert Baratheon could not leave the Red Keep and was virtually a prisoner there. All the ravens were handled only by Sylvan. Any messages for the Kings eyes were censored by Sylvan who would destroy any relevant messages and keep only the irrelevant ones. The King had sent some personal messages but none of them had been sent. They had all been destroyed.

"Your Grace"- Sylvan replied - "Lord Ned is offering strict resistance in the North. He stands for the False King Aegon Targaryen. He stands against you. Lord Bayelish and Lord Bolton are assembling an army to finish off Lord Stark"

"Eh!"- Robert slurred again - looking at his Servant - who was continuing to pour the King his wine. "You mean...You mean Ned turned against me?". "Of course he did"- Sylvan said to Robert Baratheon talking like he would to a child. "Lord Stark turned against you. He wants you dead. Your brother Stannis is expected to join the War on your side. Once Stark is defeated and the traitor Targaryen is killed - Westeros would belong to the Baratheons again"

Robert stood up and began to stumble as he walked to the table - "Why is renly ...not replying to my ravens?"

Sylvan smiled - "He is busy your grace. When he sends a raven - i will be the first to inform you".

Robert swayed lightly and sat down heavily on a seat - "And...Stannis...you ...say Stannis supports Bayelish"

Sylvan nodded - "He does your grace, with all his heart"

Robert nodded and gently began drifting off to a drunken sleep. Soon the room was full of his gentle snores. Sylvan gave a disgusting snort before looking at the Servant. "This is good stuff...best to keep him either asleep or unconscious all the time until he dies"- he told the servant who nodded.

"Why do you want the King asleep or unconscious?" - Rawlins asked Sylvan. Sylvan gave an impatient whine. Rawlins was alright. He carried with him a letter of introduction from Lord Bayelish. He was Bayelishs man and so could be trusted.

"Fool!" -Sylvan said - "I thought Lord Bayelish had instructed you to ask no questions. You are to do nothing but to keep dripping this wine into his goblets, making him more and more drunk and more and more asleep. Thats your job and thats what you will do"

The servant gave a thin smile. It was not exactly a subservient one. Sylvan rose to leave but heard a noise behind him. He turned around to see Robert Baratheon standing upright, straight and completely Sober. His face was red but not because of the wine. In a trice Robert Baratheon was out of the chair and striding over to Sylvan faster than Sylvan had ever seen the king move. Roberts blow connected to Sylvans jaws and the Maester crumpled to the floor. As the Maester weakly tried to rise - Robert caught him by his vest and lifted him off the ground - "You fucking bastard. You drugged your king. You conspire against me. You would have be holed up here eh?"- he snarled. "This is not Rawlins- His name is Podrick Payne and he is not bayelishs creature. He has been making me drink a special antidote with Pepper water for the past four days to cure me of my drunkenness. He told me the truth but i needed proof - i have the proof now. I have heard it from your own foul mouth"

Sylvan squeaked in fear. Bayelish was a thousand miles away and Sylvan was all alone in the Keep. He had been so confident of handling the king that he had even stopped bringing any guards with him. He tried to shout but he could not. The King of Westeros slammed him on a chair and hit him twice on the cheek, a small trickle of blood dripped down the Maesters mouth.

"You fucked up Sylvan. You were so arrogant of your prowesses and cunning that you underestimated Varys. This man Payne belongs to Lord Varys. He came to you as Rawlins and you did not bother cross verifying with your master. Your man Rawlins was fifty five and suffered from gout. He is dead now" - Robert snarled.

Sylvan howled in terror and fear and tried to dash out of the Keep but Podrick Payne blocked his way and pushed him back to the setee. Robert walked to the Maester and hit his head twice. Sylvan howled in terror but his arrogance was so much that there were no longer any men around the keep. He was so sure that the King would never leave the red keep that he no longer bothered with guards.

"Now! Sylvan the Truth. What the fuck is going on?"- Robert asked his bear hands inches from Sylvans face. Sylvan urinated in terror and howled in fear. "Mercy your grace...Mercy...It was Lord Bayelish...I ...only followed". Robert hit Sylvan again - "Relevant facts only you bastard. I dont care how sorry you are. I dont care if you are a Maester. TELL ME NOW"

The doors were still closed and Maester Sylvan slowly blurted out Lord Bayelishs plan including the Boy. It took a long twenty minutes. Roberts eyes closed when he received confirmation of Ned and his boys death. He had hoped it was only a rumour that Podrick had brought him. Robert had as good as murdered Ned Stark and Robb Stark.

At the mention of the Boy - Robert became incredulous- "Cerseis son? He is Gendry? Are you bastards playing games again?"- He rose to hit Sylvan again when the Maester shrieked in fear- "Your Grace! Your Grace! I beg you - Gendry is your son with Cersei. He is all yours".

"And you wanted to kill me and replace me with Gendry? To make him your puppets? You wanted to play us all against each other huh? Baratheons, Starks, Lannisters, Tyrells and watch us destroy each other so that common bastards like Bayelish would usurp the power of Westeros? Thats what they always want - Common scum - just because they outnumber us hundred to one -they think they are fit to rule. Instead they destroy everything in their sight!" - Robert growled.

Sylvan found himself literally gibbering with terror.

Robert pulled out a Dagger from his hip - it was the only weapon he still had with him. This animal Sylvan had removed every other weapon in the room. Somehow he had forgotten the Dagger - a Valyrian Dagger. Robert pulled Sylvan towards him and Sylvan cried - "I am a Maester...It is forbidden to kill us". Robert laughed and cleanly cut the Maesters throat as blood shot out leaving the keep pillars splashed with streaks of red. Sylvan tried to hold his throat but could not and he sank to his knees and slowly crashed to the floor and lay there still.

Robert turned to Podrick - "I will send a message to Renly. Take me to the Maesters Towers"

Podrick Payne had his clear instructions. "Your Grace. You are a prisoner here. You may be able to overcome Sylvan but not the guards or men of the watch who follow Bayelishs orders now. We cannot be sure of their loyalties anymore and if you die - all hope is lost. There are no ravens anymore except those in Sylvans chambers and they are watched by Bayelishs men. Bayelish does not trust Sylvan completely so he has his own men oversee his other men"

"How did the fucker become so influential and so powerful?"- Robert asked. The answer to this was probably himself. He had made Bayelish his hand. He had probably allowed Bayelish to conspire against him. Suddenly the King felt a lightheadedness and began swaying for real this time. "I dont feel too well"- He told Podrick.

Podrick plucked the courage to speak - "You are dying your grace. Your wines have been poisoned with an eastern drug for the last month. It increases your thirst for wine and the more wine you drink, the sicker you become. You are very sick now"

Robert asked - "How am i sober then?"

Podrick told Robert - "The Antidote allows you to be Sober for sometime now but eventually the alcohol that ravaged your body will return back to finish its depradation and you will go into a long sleep from which there is no more waking up"

"How the fuck did you get here Podrick?"- Robert Baratheon asked.

"Lord Bayelishs whores have long since been unfaithful to him in more ways than one. I have been Lord Varys conduit with these women. I ...er...seem to have some...natural talents to keep these women happy. They in turn have been reporting to me about Bayelish and about Rawlins. Rawlins is addicted to them and so during one of his visits - Rawlins had with him a letter of introduction to Maester Sylvan and the women were able to drug him and steal it. With Lord Bayelish busy marching off to war - it was easy to ...er...dispose off with Rawlins and take his place"

Robert chuckled and found it painful. "So what would have happened if i had kept on drinking and you had not given me your antidote?"

Podrick paused and then answered - "You would have lived in a drunken stupor for a few more days and then died anyway. Without the time to make any amends?"

Robert nodded- tears streaming through his eyes - "Thank you Podrick Payne. Let me use my last minutes alive to send some messages. I trust you can deliver them. I am hoping Lord Varys left behind some more efficient methods of communication"

Podrick nodded.

The King sat on his desk with a lot of effort and began penning messages and affixing his seals to each one of them. He was feeling very sleepy and somehow knew he would not wake up this time around. He slowly got up with an effort and handed three sealed messages to Podrick. One of these was addressed to Stannis, one to Olenna Tyrell and one to Aegon Targaryen.

Robert rose from his desk and collapsed on to the soft warm setee that had been installed in his chambers. He felt his eyes closing and smiled at Podrick - "Thank you for your service to ...to the crown..."

In ten minutes time Robert Baratheon went into the deep sleep from which there was no more waking up. His body would continue to act as living for a few more hours or days but the Robert Baratheon was long gone. Gone back to the days when he ws young and fit and on a horse and riding up and down the Vale with his closest friend Ned Stark and his mentor Jon Arryn scoffing responsibility of any king and being perfectly happy.

Almost half an hour later - Podrick payne followed Varys instructions to reach the secret beach through Maegors Holdfast and found the small boat waiting for him as promised. Waiting to take him to Dragonstone where he would soon reunite with Lord Varys.

THE WALL, JON AND TYRION

"She is so stupid"- Tyrion lannister growled. "Your sister...always the martyr"

"Take the men... I order you to take them and defend Winterfell" - Jon Snow said. He did not give a damn about any future of Westeros or the legend of the night king. He wanted them to live. He did not want Rickon or Arya or even Sansa to die.

"We cant. Even if i could - the men may not be enough, the men may be ambushed on the way, Those bastards have twenty thousand and we barely have three. We have to keep them here for you" - Tyrion said.

"I wont sit here while my family is in danger at Winterfell. I dont care for anything else right now. I will ask the men to march with me to Winterfell no matter what"- Jon said. His voice hard and his mind made up. He did not care what the others would advise him to do now. If they said he was their King - he would command them. And then he remembered Lord Starks word - A True Leader thinks first about his people and then about themselves. Was it fair to think only about his own family? A True leader had to think about the people, all his people, about the entire realm. He trusted Jeor Mormont, Barristan Selmy, even the Bearded priest Thoros and of course Uncle Benjen and Tyrion. Every one of them believed that he had a greater role to play for Westeros. Could he let them down and go to his death just for satisfying his stabbing guilt. Probably not.

He sighed and stamped his feet hard. Some King he was and some followers they were. Out on a lonely wall and fighting a losing cause.

"We have no options then"- Jon told Tyrion and the Dwarf nodded angrily. "Traitors! Edmure Tully is the worst. Catelyn is his own sister. And there is the mad bitch of Vale - who fucks bayelish and does whatever he tells her to do. That old dolt Royce- with no spine or backbone to defy that halfwit Robin and his mother. The lepers Frey and Doran who sit on the wall like spectators at a tourney. Is this what Westeros has come to? Was my father indeed the last lion of Westeros? Are these lords all mice and rats?"

Tyrions face fell- "Sansa. Your family...they could have left Winterfell and come here. They would have been safe"

Jon actually felt sorry for the Dwarf - "I am truly sorry"

Tyrion nodded. He watched as Barristan, Thoros, Beric and Alliser Thorne approach them. "Well?" - said Ser Barristan - "Do we march to Winterfell?"

The others looked at Jon. Except for Tyrion - all the others were in favor of a march to Winterfell even though they all knew the chances of a victory was next to none. Typical Fools - Tyrion thought - a breed of heroes who were slowly and surely becoming extinct in the realm and being replaced by treacherous snakes like Bayelish and Bolton or whining cowards like the Northern Scum and Edmure Tully.

Jon slowly breathed - "No. We dont. We have no chance of winning and we lead these men and ourselves to a sure and certain death"

Barristan was angry now - "So we leave winterfell to itself?"

Jon found it so painful he could not talk but he had to think about the larger picture now - "Yes. We have no choice. If it is the question of the realm then we cannot take such chances. Lord Tyrion is right. We will be defeated and Winterfell will suffer its same destiny. We need to find a way to get more men. We need to use more diplomacy"

The others glared at Tyrion who glared back at them defiantly. He had tried. He had tried more letters, more messages to every realm but while all the realms offered advise not one of them offered men to the assistance of winterfell. They all advocated Lady Catelyns surrender but the chances of Lady Catelyn surrendering were lower than the odds of Lord Varys managing to sire a child

Just as they were about the behin another exhaustive fight - one of the men of the watch came towards them carrying a small message scroll - "My Lor...Your Grace...Mance Rayder says he has no more news of any parley and believes that the Parley is not happening. He is going to retreat even farther to the North and wait"

Barristan gave an impatient growl and a shrug - "Fuck him then". Tyrion looked at the man with menace - "Here we are deciding about the course of our lives and you come to us with Mance Rayder and his Parley...you can ask Mance Rayder to shove..."- and then he stopped - "Oh Fuck. Oh Fuck. Oh Fuck. Tyrion Lannister you are such a stupid fucking bastard...your father was right...you are a brainless dwarf indeed"

The Others watched Tyrion curiously. Why the hell was he suddenly cursing himself and referring to himself in the third person. Tyrion turned to Jon with a smile - "Your Grace...Forgive me for being such a stupid idiot. How could i not see it earlier? We have an army...an army of five hundred thousand men to our North. Its leader and King waits for Parley with Lord Stark. The Army of the Free Folk ..."

There was a long silence. Alliser Thorne broke it - "Huh! No way they will fight for us. Mance wants no part of his army South of the Wall...he wont spare a single man for you"

The others seemed to agree. Then Jon Spoke - "I shall meet Mance Rayder. I shall keep the Parley and i shall ask Mance for his army to defend Winterfell - whatever be the cost"

The others were quiet but nodded. Jon turned to Alliser - "I know you love the wall and the watch but without the wildlings Westeros as we know is ruined. I want you on my side fairly and truly. If not - you can leave the wall right now and wait for the outcome of this battle"

Alliser Thorne swallowed and nodded- "I will follow a Targaryen wherever he wants me to"

Jon looked around at his advisors and friends - "Prepare for an immediate Parley with Mance Rayder on the North of the Wall. We shall go to him...no ...request him to stay put"

WHITEHARBOR - RENLY BARATHEON

Lord Roose Bolton and his men had arrived at Whiteharbor where they were greeted with greatest affection by Peter Bayelish and his army of Crownsmen. Roose Bolton personally felt his own Northern forces of Seven thousand were enough for Winterfell but Peter Bayelish disagreed. He insisted on marching ahead with his entire force of Twenty Thousand Men - Thirteen Thousand of his own men and Seven thousand northerners. Like many men who had never commanded troops and who were called armchair generals- Peter Bayelish did not know much about battle strategy and always thought more numbers meant more efficiency. In reality - a sesoned general like Roose Bolton would have taken Winterfell with a force of as less as Five Thousand Troops but he did not want to fight Peter Bayelish.

At the Great Hall of Whiteharbor - Bayelish and Bolton sat together at the great table. Lords Smalljon Umber and Lord Manderly had been relegated to support staff and they were glad not to be a part of the bigger picture. The letter from Theon Greyjoy or Greystark had humiliated them all across the Northern realm. They had not realized how serious things had become. They had not realized Roose would execute Lord Stark. They had not realized that Bayelish would command such a huge force of men to raze Winterfell to the ground. All in all - they would have been much happier to have been left behind.

Ser Renly Baratheon - Commander of the Kings Forces sat aloof on one of the side tables. He was not too keen on attending this meeting but he had to find out what these two rogues intended to do. He seriously believed Bayelish had somehow taken advantage of his brothers anger and malice and had spun a web around Robert that Robert was stuck in too badly to free himsel.

Lord Bayelish stood up to make announcements in the name of the King. Lord Roose Bolton was named officially as the Warden of the North. On a date of the North's choosing - Six months from the day Winterfell collapsed and Jon Snow was killed - The North would have their independence and they chould choose amongst themselves their own King. Everybody in that room knew who the next King of the North was going to be though. Roose Bolton was the most powerful of them and he would be the King in the North. The men cheered loudly though Renly felt the cheers were half hearted. Every Northerner in this room - except for the Boltons felt uncomfortable at the events that had transpired.

Lord Bayelish looked straight at Renly as he made his next announcement - "The realm can never be safe as long as any stark lives. Ned Stark committed treason. He kept a Targaryen hidden in the North. He wanted a Targaryen on the throne - a Targaryen! A family who have humiliated, raped and pillaged the North for as long as one can remember. Anyone with his blood is a potential traitor and the realm cannot take a risk. The Young Lord Rickon Stark may be only seven years old but he can still be a dangerous pup. He has to be killed. The stark line has to be exterminated. There will be no offer of surrender."

There was an uneasy rumble...but Roose Bolton rose and shouted - "The North will not put up with traitors. Any traitor has to die for our unity and welfare. We wont accept any surrender. "

Lord Renly rose - "Stop!"

Roose Bolton turned to look at the Commander of the Kingsguard as did Bayelish. Renly straightened up - "Are you actually justifying murdering a seven year old child? Is this what the North has come to? Murdering a young kid? Seven Thousand of you with your great beards, your fur coats, your caps and your pride - all for taking the life of a child?"- He turned to look at the other Northmen - "You sir"- he pointed out to one of the Seniormost Manderly Commanders - his name was Nobbs - "Have you ever participated in a war where it was on the agenda to kill a child?". Nobb stood up shamefacedly - "No Sir".

Renly looked around - "Anyone else? Are you that bloodthirsty to take the life of children?". Not one of them stood up. Not even the Bolton men.

Lords Smalljon Umber and Lords Manderly rose in unision - "Perhaps we should allow the Starks an opportunity to surrender"

Before Roose or Bayelish could object - the other men - even the Kingsmen moved by Renlys speech murmured their assent. They should all be given a chance to surrender.

Bayelish gave a furious glance at Renly Baratheon and turned to Roose Bolton. Nothing that they could do there. The bastard had somehow gotten his way. A surrender would have to be offered. Bayelishs only glimmer of hope was that Catelyn Stark would be too stubborn to accept such a surrender.

Lord Bolton rose and raised his hand to quiten the crowd - "Lord Renly is right. I had forgotten myself in my anger at Ned Starks treason. Lady Stark will be allowed an opportunity to surrender and if she chooses so - she may surrender and all her children will live. However if she does not - it is war all the way"

The men nodded and rumbled this time with satisfaction. A Number of Kingsmen , even Northmen raised their glasses to Renly Baratheon. It gave him a chance to hope to delay the march to Winterfell.

However it was soon dashed. The men were ready and well equipped and he had no excuse to hope to delay a march. The old Maester of Whiteharbor predicted that the sky and the stars were aligned in a favorable position to begin the march immediately.

Renly sat down- all his hopes evaporated. They would be marching for Winterfell at Dawn.

DRAGONSTONE

He watched as she woke up from her sleep. She looked beautiful to him and he loved her. She was always his special princess but today was something else. As Shireen woke up - she was startled to see her father looking at her and got up nervously. "Anything wrong papa?" - Shireen asked.

Stannis wanted to weep, to hold her and to cry. He had listened to Varys entire tale and he now believed every word of what the eunuch had told him. That he had literally allowed his daughter to be burnt to death as a sacrifice for his win and for his destiny. It was as low as any man could sink. How could power corrupt that easily? Allow a man to sacrifice his own blood - for power?

He had kissed her gently and told her the entire story. She had listened wordlessly and smiled - "At least i was useful to you in some way father"

Stannis smiled at her through his tears- "Never will i do anything to hurt you again. I will die before i allow you to be hurt. I will take on the Lord of Light himself if only to ensure you grow up to be a good and trusted woman"

It was a lesson. He was not to be trusted with power. None of them were to be. In the entire story narrated by Lord Varys - only one man could be trusted with power and that was Jon Snow. Nobody else.

He read the letter that Robert had sent him which had been delivered to him by Podrick Payne when he had landed at Dragonstone last night

Stannis

I shall be dead in a few minutes time. I was a fool to trust Bayelish and i paid the price as did Ned Stark.

You were right. I never deserved to be King. If Ned believed in Aegon - then so do I.

Let Storms End declare for Aegon Targaryen - the True King of Westeros.

Forgive me for everything else

Robert Baratheon

Last Baratheon King of Westeros

Stannis knew neither Robert nor himself nor Renly deserved the Iron Throne. He had wanted to send troops to the assistance of winterfell but Varys had stopped him.

"Your Grace! Even if you could assemble an army of your men - they could never reach winterfell fast enough. I trust Tyrion Lannister and I trust in destiny. They will find a way. They always do. You should take Kingslanding in the name of King Aegon Targaryen"

Even Davos agreed. Kingslanding was leaderless at the moment and neither Casterly Rock nor Highgarden had enough men to challenge Stannis. Only Edmure Tully would have sufficient resources to challenge Stannis but it would not be enough.

"Prepare for the Fleet to land at Kingslanding - Ser Davos. I shall take the Kingsroad and i shall claim back Kingslanding" - Stannis said.

"In the previous timeline - you were badly defeated"- Varys said but Stannis continued to smile- "This time i fight for the right reasons. I shall win and i am sure of it"

THE WALL

Lord Jeor Mormont received a letter from Dragonstone - delivered to him from Maester Aemons quarters addressed to Jon Snow

Your Grace

I Stannis Baratheon formally bend the knee to acknowledge you as True King of Westeros on behalf of Storms End and Dragonstone

I believe you are chosen by destiny to guide Westeros to a better future and to save mankind from extermination. I also believe that destiny and fate shall deliver you a victory against your enemies in the North.

I shall take Kingslanding in your name and keep your throne ready for you when you come here.

Stannis Baratheon