Robar Baratheon II – The Reach

His father's fight for the throne was going better than anyone expected already their allies in the north had secured numerous castles and towns in the Westerlands bringing many Lannister bannermen to their cause. Here in the Reach things couldn't have been going better the entire northern and eastern lands were under their control as well as most of the castles in the central and southern Reach. The rest would soon fall to them sooner rather than later especially now that his brother Steffon and Samwell Tarly had gone south to secure Highgarden.

At first Robar had been confused as to why his younger brother was given such an important task but his father explained that the Tyrells will have no other choice but to send forces back to the Reach to attempt to regain control of their homeland and when they did it would be left to Robar to deal with them. His father had told him that he would one day be king and as king he would have to lead men into battle and that by destroying whatever Tyrell threat comes their way then the realm would see that he would be a strong and capable leader.

With this in mind he suggested to his father that he himself should head out from Cider Hall where they had been camped and bring more towns, keeps and castles under their control and further weaken the Tyrells. His father agreed on the condition that should their scouts report that the Tyrells move from Kings Landing then he would return immediately.

That had been many weeks ago now and since then Robar and his 5000 men a mixture of Stormlands and Reach men had caused immeasurable damage to the Tyrells and in turn the usurper Joffrey. He had taken countless small towns and keeps sparing all those that bent the knee and putting those who refused to the sword. For the most part the small folk and those minor lords that remained within the Reach bent the knee willingly. From what Robar learned from Ralph Merryhill the new lord of Longtable most of the minor lords within the Reach were unhappy with Mace Tyrell because the man had raised taxes slightly in order to loan money to the crown.

It was at one of these keeps 100 leagues west of Cider Hall when he heard of his brother's successful capture of Highgarden. He couldn't have been prouder of his brother and organised a feast to celebrate the Tyrell's diminishing power. The morning after the feast he was woken with a loud knock on his chamber door and was pleased to hear from one of his men that a rider had come from his father ordering him back to Cider Hall.

Giving orders for the men to muster and break camp he remained in his chamber for another hour or so making use of a particularly beautiful camp follower. Normally he would not partake in such things as he didn't want people to think he was like his uncle Robert but he couldn't help himself the girl was beautiful and he was still in a celebratory mood. However unlike his uncle he made sure the girl took moon tea so as not to father any bastards.

Returning to Cider Hall Robar expected to see their massive army breaking camp and preparing to march but to his surprise they were not. Entering the Fossoway castle he went straight for the Lords solar which his father had taken as his own. "Father is all well the army is still camped" he asked after they greeted each other.

"I have not called you back to talk about the Tyrells we will discuss this later. I have called you because it is time we talk about your future" his father said all the while Robar felt like a child again about to be punished for something.

"My son you have done both myself and your mother proud and have done everything that was asked of you. You have won battles and beaten men with twice the years and tremble the experience but what is needed of you now is more important than anything else" while his father spoke Robar was on the edge of his seat longing to hear what could be so important. "At the start of the war your uncle Rickard wrote to me about a possible match for you that would secure our families hold on the throne and possibly bring many lords to our cause. It was because of this that I consented to the match"

He always knew he would have to marry but what he didn't know was who could do everything that his father spoke of. At first he thought of Arianne Martell but a match with her would only bring swords and wouldn't secure his hold on the throne. His next thought went to Margery Tyrell but that thought didn't last long as he knew his father would never forgive Mace Tyrell for all he did. After much consideration he couldn't think of the bride his father had in mind and said as much "who is it father"

"You will marry Daenerys Targaryen bringing together Baratheon and Targaryen lines and securing our families hold on the throne once and for all" his father said stern as always.

Daenerys Targaryen the mad king's daughter had his father lost his mind. The Targaryens were a thing of the past they held no power now, his father had fought to achieve this why were they being brought back to the fold now after so many years.

His father must have sensed his anger and confusion as he spoke once more breaking the deafening silence. "Marrying the girl will bring an end to the whispers that Baratheons are usurpers and bring further legitimacy to our rightful claim to the throne."

"The girl will bring nothing but her name, we do not need her. What we need is more men and she brings none with her" he shouted back getting to his feet.

He watched in frustration as his father simply sat there shaking his head like he had done countless times when Robar was a child. "The lords of the Crownlands and Narrow Sea are known to be fiercely loyal to the Targaryens as are the Dornish such loyalty could prove to be invaluable to us" his father said coming to his feet also. Before Robar got the chance to respond tho his father spoke again "this is not a discussion Robar you will marry the girl and ensure that our family is secure is that understood"

All he could do was nod in anger and storm out of the room. After leaving the solar he went straight to the castle training yard where he took up a training sword and went through countless men bloodying each and every one. When he could lift his arm no longer he went to the tent where he had the camp follower Jane waiting for him. By the time he was done with her they both were panting for breath and unable to move with exhaustion.

He spent the following day and night within the tent forgetting the war and his family and concentrating everything he had on Jane. It was the second day after his father told him he was to be married did he actually think carefully on what his father said and to his disgust he knew that his father was right. Marrying Daenerys could win his father the throne and would also allow them to sit comfortably without having to worry about the girl marrying some Essosi or a conniving Westeros Lord who had dreams above his station.

Feeling regret for everything he had done in last couple of days he made his way to his father's solar once more to apologise for all he had said. On his way he was approached by Ser Balon Swann one of the knights that were acting in his father's personal guard "my price, his grace requests your presence in the castle" the knight said bowing his head slightly. Nodding to the man he walked side by side with the man towards the castle occasionally looking to the knight. Robar couldn't help be impressed at his father's decision to not name a kingsguard until he sat the throne, it meant that every knight and second born son was fighting harder and fiercer with the knowledge that they could may be named to the kingsguard.

Walking into the lords solar he was disappointed that he and his father weren't alone but were joined by Randyll Tarly and numerous other Storm and Reach lords. He nodded to his father before taking the seat to his right hand side smiling as he sat down.

"My lords' thank you for coming so early this morning, it has been over a week since we have last met and in that time much has happened for our cause. Robar has made many of the lords still within the Reach see the error of their ways and now what little support the Tyrells had is all but nonexistent" his father said bringing a chorus of approval to go throughout the room.

His father brought his hand up to silence the chatter and spoke once more "there has also been a raven from Oldtown from Lord Hightower he too has joined our cause. My son Steffon and Ser Samwell Tarly came to the man's aid preventing the Ironborn from sacking his city. From what Lord Hightower said my son is sailing to the Arbor to defend it before bringing the end to the Ironborn threat once and for all."

Robar was speechless he sat there in silence while the gathered lords cheered and clapped loudly before he too joined in the celebration. "Your grace I have also received a raven just this morning from my son he has promised that when the Ironborn are beaten they will return and join with us on our march to the capital" Lord Tarly said making his father nod in response.

"Good and with the Ironborn defeated we will be able to turn our full attention to the Lannisters. Now it is time for us to move also too long we have waited while the capital has done nothing but sooner or later they will march. Robar you will take 5000 men and head to Bitterbridge hold the castle and await whatever comes your way. Lord Tarly you will head to the east to Grassy Vale camp there and stay hidden for as long as you can kill any rider or man that may gave away your position. I will head west with the bulk of the army and await for the traitors to come and when they do, together we will destroy them."

That had been a couple of weeks ago now and within that time forces under Garlan Tyrell had left the capital in an attempt to retake the Reach. This had proven to be pointless tho as the combined strength of Tarly's, his fathers and Robar's own host had attacked Tyrell from three sides destroying the Tyrell army. Robar had slashed and hacked his way past countless men that day earning the name the Angry Stag from his own men a title he was more than pleased with. Robar brought an end to the battle when he made Garlan Tyrell fall to his knees and surrender and with his surrender countless others lives were spared.

The forces under Mathis Rowan and two other knights Robar couldn't remember were beaten as well by his father and Tarly prior to the battle of Bitterbridge which left the Tyrell cause all but lost. His father had been the one to meet and crush Lord Rowan's host the man had lost more than half of his forces before he surrendered. He sat now in a cell deep within Bitterbridge while his men had been welcomed into their ever growing army. Of the two knights they suffered for their loyalty to the false king Joffrey, Randyll Tarly and his fellow loyal Reach men went on a bloody rampage sparing none.

He pushed the thoughts of the battle and all its death from his mind and concentrated on the matter at hand. He stood now in the great hall in Bitterbridge while his father sat in the lords chair accepting the fealty of those who had bent the knee after the battle.

"My lords I have accepted your oaths of fealty and I promise I will be a just and fair king to all those who stick to their word. For those who don't remain true then they shall suffer for it. Bring forward Lorent Caswell" his father said loudly silencing the hall.

The lord of Bitterbridge was dragged before Robar's father bloody and chained. "Your grace I beg of you mercy please I was only following my liege lords orders" the man said between tears.

"Lord Caswell when my son and heir Prince Robar took Bitterbridge from your family at the outbreak of the war he ordered your mother to send a raven to you asking you to abandon Joffrey Waters and join my rightful claim to the throne. Did you receive this raven?" his father said all the while glaring at the broken man.

"I did your grace but there was nothing that I could do I was within the Tyrell camp if I fled then I would have been killed" the man said regaining some semblance of composure.

Robar stepped forward then tired of listening to the man "you say you would have been killed yet we have had reports that Lord Redwyne fled the capital joining with my brother to the south. As well as many others leaving the capital"

The man was at a loss now he didn't have any response which caused his father to stand up and call for silence. "Lorent Caswell for your disloyalty and treason you have two choices either death or the Wall, choose now" his father said bringing a smile to a number of the lords gathered.

"The Wall your grace" Caswell said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Very well hold him in a cell until he can be sent north. Bring forward the man's family" his father said once more sat upon the lord's chair. It wasn't long before Lorent Caswell's mother and two daughters were knelt before him and his father leading his father to nod for Robar to speak.

Clearing his throat he spoke much kinder than he had previously "my ladies you are not responsible for your son and fathers actions as such ye will spared and the lands your family have held for so long will remain yours. A match however will be arranged after the war for you both with men who have proven their loyalty to my father" he said the last part to Caswell's two daughters who thanked him for his mercy and generosity.

With that done he looked to his father receiving a nod of approval before his father called for silence once more. "Lord of the Stormlands, Lords of the Reach this war has dragged on for far too long, its time we brought an end to the Lannisters hold upon the throne. The forces under Ser Samwell Tarly and Prince Steffon will be here before the end of the month and when they have joined us we will march in full strength to Kings Landing destroying the Lannisters and Tyrells once and for all and bringing justice to the realm"

When his father finished speaking the entire hall erupted in a massive cheer almost shaking the very walls around them. War was coming for the Lannisters and Joffrey would know what happens to those who cross his family as Ours is the Fury and the Fury was coming for Joffrey.

Notes

Another chapter as always I own nothing but the Frosts and the more reviews the better.

Also I'm aware some people aren't happy with the fact that Stannis and his allies are having nothing but success but this is the way I want the story to go at this point so I'm not going to change that. I will say they won't remain unscathed forever.