Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Kings Landing, 303
The king was dying, he had told him himself, and Ned would be lying if he said he wasn't worried for the future of the kingdom. Aegon was on dragonstone with his wives and children, while Viserys was here in King's Landing. Ned knew what would happen upon the death of the king. Both Aegon and Viserys would proclaim themselves king. As such Ned had taken measures to ensure the safety of those he cared about. Cat had been shipped back north with Ice, Ashara had left to return to Starfall and Ned had made precautions. He had contacted one of the Caiin agents in the castle.
"Send a message to Lady Clara and my son Robb, When the King dies, Clara is to call her banners to hold the Moat, Robb is not under any circumstances to go and swear an oath to either of them. Tell him to call his banners to Winterfell and see what they wish to do. Tell him to leave heavy garisions on both coasts as well." he said.
"It will be done, What of you my Lord?"
"I will not flee my duty, but my duty is not the duty of my son, I will stay and if I am killed then so be it."
"My men can attempt to get you out if possible my lord."
"If you can, but do not risk too much." He said and the man bowed and left.
Now it seemed like that was a good decision as tensions had risen even further after Viserys started ordering people around in the red keep.
"My lord the king had called the court and requested the presence of all nobility in the city." said Jory Cassel from the doorway.
"I see, get the men on alert for me just in case anything happens." he said. It was strange but Ned had learned that the king was a strange man. He walked down the halls and met Ser Arthur along the way.
"I would like to thank you Ned, for getting my sister out of this snake nest." He said in his neutral fashion.
"She is a good friend and when the king passes I am almost certain that there will be a civil war." He said gravely.
"Aegon is the rightful heir," said Arthur.
"He is but he is arrogant and stupid and you know it, he has made many enemies and most would be happy to support his uncle despite his madness." Ned said,
Arthur sighed but nodded his agreement. "What of the North, Aegon Has no friends there."
"Neither does his uncle, My son will do what he thinks is best and what his bannerman calls for."
"I see, what of you"
"I will do my duty to the king." he said as they reached the throne room. They walked in and they seemed to be the last, on the throne was the king, he looked decades older than her was, he was pale and gaunt and was just barely alive.
"My Lords and Ladys I have called you here to quell foul rumours that have been spread, My heir is my son Aegon, any man who says otherwise is a liar and oathbreaker." he announced, there was much mummering at this and many eyes went to VIserys who looked red with rage, he knew what his would do, there was no way he could claim that Rhaegar had made him his heir on his deathbed now and that would lead to him losing some power but nowhere near enough to damage his claim permanently. With that, the court started and ended an hour later when the king had a bad coughing fit and was moved to his chambers. He was found dead the next day.
Ser Barristan 'the Bold' Selmy, The Red Keep, 303
The KIng was dead, Viserys had taken over the Red Keep, many Lords had left in the night back to their castles probably to call their banners. Viserys had crowned himself king. He had called the banners and the Vale, Reach and Riverlands had answered the call. The Vale and Riverlanders had camped out at Harrenhal, Only Lord's Mooton and Blackwood had declared for Aegon. The crowlands were split with some going to join the Reach host. Aegon had Dorne, Portions of the Crownlands, the Stormlands and the Westerlands declared for him, Lord Velaryon had declared for Aegon and Lord Rykker and Celtigar had followed. Arthur, Oswall, Jamie and Lewin had gone to Dragonstone; he was here to protect princess Daenerys from her brother. His false brother Loras Tyrell had followed the Reach to side with Viserys. So far there had been silence from the North and Viserys had called Eddard to face his 'crimes'.
"Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North, I hereby call you to call your banners in support of the true king." Said VIserys pompusily.
"You are a pretender, just yesterday, in that very chair you sit on, your brother confirmed Aegon as his heir, you are nothing but a Tyrell puppet who also happens to be as mad as your father." Said Stark unconcerned apparently.
"Yet your Son has not joined Aegon's claim, despite calling his banners." Said Olenna Tyrell stopping the pretender from screeching at the insult.
"Winter is coming." Was all he said while wearing a grin that unsettled many in the room, many were reminded that there was a reason Tywin Lannister had called him the most dangerous man in King's Landing a few months ago. He was a man of Honour but was an extremely competent commander of men and a very intelligent man. This was the man that took Gulltown with just 2,000 Royce and Waynwood men while Jon Arryn rallied his men.
"You will die like your father for your insolence." screeched the pretender while grinning madly, many in the room paled, all except Lord Stark who just smiled.
"Exactly like your father, aren't you, You will kill me now, but Winter will come for the south, and with winter comes the Starks and with them come the Cailins, I will enjoy watching them from the grave, in fact it will give me a better view." He smirked, many in the room paled further at the reminder of just what they would face if the north marched south. But the pretender had his mind made up, Stark would die, a needless death that would bring ruin to the south.
"Your grace, I'm sure a normal execution will work just fine." Said a pale Margaery Tyrell.
"Yes yes, just lob off his head, don't give him the honour of dying like a dragon." He said delighted at his own genius, many shoulders sagged in relief. "And when the savages march south I will kill all your sons, rape your daughters and the Cailin whore and burn Winterfell and Moat Cailin to the ground with glee. Baristen felt sick, Threatening to kill someone's sons was one thing but threatening to rape there daughters and surrogate niece was another. Although Barristan was unsure if Viserys would be able to even touch Clara Cailin, 'as dangerous as they were beautiful' was something often said of Cailins and nothing was more true in Selmys mind.
"You can try, but I fear you will fail." Siad Eddard with confidence.
"Kill him." shouted the king and the Lord of Winterfell knelt in front of a block and an executioner came forward.
"Any last words Stark? Sneered the pretender.
"Winter Is Coming" was all he said again and the steel greatsword took the head from his shoulders.
Clara Cailin, Lady Of The Moat, Winterfell, 303.
Clara had left the majority of her forces at the Moat, led by her husband. 25,000 men were currently at the Moat, she took 2,000 men with her to Winterfell. 5,000 more warriors were left at keeps in the Cailins castles as a garrison. The banners had been called as per Lord Eddard's wish, They were deciding what should be done about the war. 80,000 men were gathered at Winterfell or the Moat with 20,000 as garrisons, mainly on either shore in case of an Ironborn attack as well as at the Northern most castles in case of a wildling attack.
"My father has been killed, sitting out on this war is no longer an option." Said Robb after the Lord suggested sitting out of the war.
"Aegon is the rightful King my lord and it would allow us to Kill Viserys" Said Rodrick Cassel, Lord Of Cassel Keep, what was once the Dreadfort.
"Why do we have to do either?" she asked, and the room went silent
"What are you saying Clara?" asked Lord Cerwyn.
"Why must we fight a southerners war to put a southerner on the southern throne and take it away from another one all so we pay northern coins so that the king can spend it on more southerners?" she asked and many lords nodded in agreement.
"Aye, There is the only king I will follow." said the Greatjon drawing his sword and pointing it at Robb. "THE KING IN THE NORTH!" he shouted and all the other Lords followed his lead.
"My Lord's this is a great honour and If it is your will I will accept."
"It is, your grace" said Dacey Mormont with a smile.
"Aye, I would bow to no other family." Said Lord Manderly.
Robb sighed but accepted.
"This still leaves the question, do we march south or do we hold the North.?" She asked.
"We march south." Said the new King "I would have my Lord's advice as to how."
"I say we March down and secure the Riverlands." said Lord William Dustin.
"Aye it makes sense." Said Lord Karstark and other Lords nodded.
"Clara?" asked Robb, noticing her intense gaze at the map.
"There are 50,000 Vale and Rivermen camped at the Riverrun, they are there so that they can respond to both us and the Lannister men, I say you allow me,Lord Dustin, Lord Ryswell and Lord Tallhart to march on them as a vanguard. This would give us a total of about 35,000 men, we would be able to beat the host if it marched on us and if not we can secure castles as we go." she said.
"Yes, that makes sense" said Robb and the others nodded their agreement. "You will march south with those men, take every castle you come across, The twins are priority as well as seaguard, while you are doing this we will march with the other 45,000 men under my command will march at a slower pace and clean up the other castles, we will also be able to respond to any other threats."
"Robb you cannot mean to attack my family!" screeched Catelyn, the lords glared at her and Robb looked at her as though she was mad.
"They Follow the man that killed my father and had his household guard killed!" he shouted at her.
"But they are family," she screeched.
"And yet they still follow the man who killed their family." Said Clara not showing the burning rage she felt although her Golden eyes showed it anyway.
"YOU!, you are turning my family against each other!" she shouted at Clara, and the Northern Lords had enough and started shouting at her, eventually Robb had her escorted to her chambers.
"My apologies Clara, she is grieving" He said.
"We all are, but I understand, now we should talk about the defence of the North." She said.
"Yes, who will hold the Moat?" asked Lord Glover.
"My husband has… agreed to do it." she said with a devilish smirk causing many Lords to laugh.
"A smart man then." laughed Alys.
"Aye, My brother Bran will hold Winterfell and along with your husband will respond to any threat, we will have strong garrisons on both coasts as well as in the Northern most Castles. Anything else?" Robb said and when no one responded he ended the council.