The Game Has Changed

by gdog1

Update 3/11/18: This is my first shoot at writing story on anything so take it easy. My story is about what would happen I Lelouch was reborn House Stark in the Game of thrones world and how he would change the fate of the Seven Kingdoms. I am now doing this story till the end and all chapter are being over look one more and will be updated. (this is now a harem)

24. Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Oh my god I just looked and its been 3 months sense I updated this story and funny enough three years sense I started lol.

Anyways here is the next part of this story. Thank god.

And lets go ahead and move to the A&Q part of the chapter.

TheLordOfWinter not really. I read about that and while you have a point I am now committed and let's face it looking back a lot of things to really make sense anymore. So I am just having fun with it at this point.

DarthMaine nailed it.

TehStorm we will be seeing that next chapter I believe along with a catch up on what is going on with Sansa. I think still working on the details of that one.

Edward4555 thank you I know I suck. But I have fans and the guts to write my own story and post. Not trying to be mean but if your not offering to beta I don't care.

AnimeA55Kicker thank you. I just like I could have given him more face time but at the same time Lelouch is a strategist above all else. And while he won't shy away from fighting hand to hand in a battle I just don't feel its were he belongs. So I am kind of conflicted about it.

chimera629 she did but they never really went into detail about how much she really did and with Cornelia being very overprotective, I have no ideal how much.

Grievousrommel I am happy you agree. I like his character and want him to take on bigger roles down the line.

Command Unit seeing as she is on the other side of the known world she won't find out for at least another chapter or two. Most likely less.

ZeroSenpai I have no idea I am kind of going with it at this point.

x-x-TheBurnedMan-x-x there will be no muskets. Really I shouldn't have even put the cannons in the story. Lelouch is OP enough with out them so adding them kind off push a bit much. Personal opinion now that I look back. As for the giants I really haven't found a way to introduced them right. In the TV show I only remember two of them in the book however there were if I looked it up currently over 100. So, I am kind of trap on that subject and really need to introduce them soon.

Akakiru I never thought of that paring. I have to give it some thought.

azrael09876 you got ass laughing on that man. I could so see it.

chm01 he should have just killed Suzaku. Up to the end of the show he was useless in my opinion.

Why bother, most of this story came from the ideas of people from way back. We are just so far in now that its hard to add things at this point. But the opinions I get now I can use in my other story or just gets my mind moving with I am having writers block.

KingZeRoPL I am really thinking of doing Star Wars x CG. If you like to talk over some ideas hit me up. In fact, that goes for all of you. And thanks for understanding, but I can't give up on it. I may not love it anymore, but you guys and girls deserve a ending. And I am going to work towards one come what may.

InfinityMask we will see. As for Belon the guys like up at the top of the stupid tree and one of the greatest moments in show to me was when Euron tossed him off that bridge. God, I wish I didn't kill off Euron so early.

Savitarsurffer the only reason why I am sending Bran, North is well it would spoil a few things but nothing really important. If you like to know send a PM.

With all that said I what to inform you all that anyone who wishes has by blessing to rewrite this story as they see fit.

Now on with the story.

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-Winterfell 300AC-

Waking up with a start Bran clenched his chest to still his beating heart. His dreams had been disturbing over the last couple of years, but it was not till after Lelouch left to go to war that they had gotten as bad as they currently were. His dreams were filled with creatures' long sense thought dead rising again from the cold wastelands of the far North. Dragons flying through the sky burning cities, and worst of all his brother Lelouch walking down a road made of blood and corpses that stretch farther than the eye could see. And they all came from the same source. The Three-Eyed Raven.

Bran didn't know what the man wanted or if the Three-Eyed Raven could be called a man at all, but it was clear he wanted something from him. What that was again he didn't know but Bran felt a deep desire to find out. He was curious by nature and was all ways looking to learn and explore new things. Plus, he felt that not going and finding out what he wanted would be a mistake that he would come to regret.

There was only a couple of problems with him wanting to go seek out the man and one of them was that he was pretty sure the Three-Eyed Raven was Beyond the Wall. A place that was not only dangerous to go to but also very far away. Bran loved to think of himself as a brave fearless young man but being the brother of Lelouch he had no delusions of invulnerability. While he didn't have to suffer Lelouch's training like his older siblings, he knew all too well that he would die one day. A fact that was hammered all the more into his head when his father died.

The other problem was his sister Arya who was the current Lady of Winterfell with Lelouch and Sansa gone. Lelouch didn't really care for tradition, often calling many of them little more than excuses to be lazy and stupid. So, it didn't come as a surprise that he ignored tradition when after their father died, he named Sansa his heir and she in turn named Arya hers. He didn't mind really his sisters being above him when it came to inheritance seeing as his mind turned more to the academics than the political side of life. Yet right now he really wished Lelouch had stuck with tradition seeing as there was no way Arya would allow him to leave Winterfell none the less travel pass the Wall.

Ever sense their father had passed away Bran had noticed a slight change in his sister. While still just as temperamental as she had always been, she had become more protective of him and Rickon than she use to be. While his skill with the bow and sword were decent for a boy of 12 it was nothing when compared to hers. The difference in skill led her to believe him to weak to leave Winterfell and gave the guards orders that he was not allowed outside the castle grounds with out her permission. Orders that the guards would follow to the letter seeing as they were all Northern Army soldiers who were trained to follow orders above all else.

This left him little choice but to sneak out. So, getting out of bed he went to the trunk that held the climbing gear his brother Lelouch had custom made for him. Inside it were ropes, ice axes, boots, helmets, gloves and everything else he would ever need to climb up almost any terrain. If he could, he would take all of it, but seeing as he was going to sneak out, he would have to pick only what he believed he would need. The guards of Winterfell were hard enough to sneak pass when he and his siblings made a game of it when they were not on war time alert. Now that they were it would be next to impossible to do so if he took too much with him.

As he is grabbing his stuff the noise wakes up Rickon who looks over at his brother and asks, "Bran what are you doing?"

Hearing his brother's voice Bran looks at him in surprise and says as quietly as he could, "I am leaving."

"Leaving? Leaving to where?" Rickon asks.

"Beyond the Wall." Bran says with a strong voice that shows he is dedicated to going there no matter what.

"Beyond the Wall? Are you going to go visit big brother Jon?" Rickon asks cutely.

Shaking his head Bran says, "No, there is something I must do there and Rickon you can't tell anyone were I have gone."

Now with a upset look on his face Rickon says, "But..but you can't go. Lelouch has told us to stay in Winterfell till he returns home."

His brother's voice being louder than he like Bran goes over to him and covers his mouth with his hand. "Rickon be quiet before you wake everyone up. Now listen I am not leaving because I want to go pass the Wall. But something is telling me that if I don't than our family could be in grave danger. And you don't what that right?"

Hearing his brother say this Rickon looks down and with his mouth still covered he shakes his head no.

Seeing this Bran smiles and removes his hand and says, "Good now I have to go before dawn brakes."

"Wait Bran." Little Rickon says and gets out of bed. "I am coming with you."

"No, you're not." Bran says to his brother.

"Yes I am. And if you don't let me, I will tell Arya." Rickon threatens.

Knowing how stubborn his little brother could be Bran just says, "Fine but you have to keep up. Now hurry and get dress we have to go get the wolves up."

Once his little brother was dressed and took some of the climbing gear out of the trunk, they both quickly went to the training yard were the wolves slept. Normally they would sleep in the same room as them but with the North being at war, they stayed outside patrolling the entrances into the castle both during the day and at night. Lelouch was taking no risks that their enemies wouldn't send assassins to either kill or kidnap them. But with dawn about to brake both Summer and Shaggydog should be in their pen sleeping till Hodor came by to feed them.

Which met they had little time before he showed up. So quickly they moved to the pen and opened it. Finding both Shaggydog and Summer sleeping with Nymeria no where to be seen they let out a sigh of relief. The she wolf must have been in the woods right now hunting which was good because if she was here than sneaking out of Winterfell wouldn't be possible. That wolf only ever obeyed her mistress and Lelouch and would have given them away in a heartbeat.

Checking one last time that Hodor or Nymeria were not around the boys start to call for their wolves. "Summer, Shaggy come here boys come here."

Hearing the call of their masters the wolves wake up and look towards their masters. Blinking their eyes for a bit than giving a yawn both wolves turn their backs on them and quickly go back to sleep. It was to early for whatever it was their masters wanted and they didn't even have any food with them, so they felt no need to get up.

Seeing this both Bran and Rickon frown at the wolves. Really, they have been spending to much time with Nymeria and Fenrir.

"Shaggy, Summer come here now." They both order in a louder voice.

Hearing this both wolves get up reluctantly and make their way towards their masters. When they pass them, they both hit them in the face with their tails to show their displeasure of being woken up. Their attitudes take a turn however as soon as they spot Hodor who had just walked into the yard with their food and quickly run up to him.

Both boys who were at first upset at being hit with their wolves' tails quickly pale at the site of the gentle giant. They watched as the look of happiness on Hodor's face quickly changed to one of confusion. Though not very smart Hodor knew the boys were not to leave Winterfell by order of his lord and if there was one thing Hodor would not do it was disobey Lelouch who he feared. So, pointing at the packs the boys have Hodor says the word everyone calls him as if asking what they were doing.

Knowing that it wouldn't take Hodor long to put two and two together and go fetch their sister Bran says to him with as much command as he can, "We have to go on a journey Hodor and you are to tell no one."

Hodor hearing this just shakes his head no and says his name. His orders wouldn't allow him to let them leave and while he wouldn't even think of physically stopping them, he would go tell Lady Arya about them trying to leave.

But before he can walk off and do so Bran adds in, "Hodor there is a threat to my family that is coming soon and if we are to stop it I must travel Beyond the Wall. Do you understand that?"

To be blunt no he couldn't understand that. While he could obay and carry out more complex orders then other half-wits, such things remained above his ability to understand. However, he did understand the word threat. Over the years Lord Lelouch had taken the time out of his day when he could to teach him many useful things. Such as helping him learn to read letters or books based off of children stories. He was also taught by Lelouch on how to recognize threats to the wellbeing of the Stark family and what to do in order to prevent them from happening.

That is why when Bran said the word threat he stopped and gave his little lord's words some thought. In the end after taking longer than Bran would have liked Hodor still didn't understand what he was told but nods his head anyways. Bran was a Stark and the Starks were his lords. If the boy said there was a threat to his family than it had to be true.

Letting out a breath that he didn't know he was holding Bran says, "Thank you Hodor. Tell me do you know of a way out of Winterfell that would let us pass the guards without them knowing it?"

The gentle giant again takes a long moment to think over the question asked of him. Once that moment passes, he leads the boys to a covered wagon. Pulling the cover off of it both boys have to cover their noses at the horrible smell of the trash that filled the back of it.

"You must be joking Hodor?" Bran says to the giant but sees just a confused expression on his face.

Looking back at the trash filled wagon Bran says to himself that he did ask for a way out of Winterfell without anyone being the wiser. And this definitely was one way to do that. Still he wished it didn't have to be so disgusting.

A while later the guards of the Northern gate see Hodor pulling the cart towards them with two of the three wolves that were still in Winterfell following behind him. While to some it would seem like an odd site to see it was one, they had grown use to over the years. But just as he was about to pass them the guard captain walks in front of the little giant.

"Halt right there Hodor. Where are you going this morning?" A guard captain asks of him.

Taking a moment Hodor looks at the man than says his name and points at the cart. The guard captain takes one look at it and his face gets a disgusted look on it. "Alright than move along than. Open the gate."

At that Hodor starts to pull the cart again but before he can take more than a few steps the guard captain stops him again and says, "Wait a moment Hodor. Where are your weapons?"

"Hodor?" He asks in confusion.

"Come on Hodor you know the rules. You are not allowed to leave the castle grounds anymore unarmed. We are in the middle of a fucking war for crying out loud. Now go get them." The captain all but yells at him.

Looking back at the cart for a moment in worry Hodor doesn't want to leave it behind, but at the same time he knowns he won't be allowed to leave without his weapons. So, he reluctantly leaves it behind and starts to make his way back home to go get the shield and mace that was gifted to him by Lord Lelouch along with his armor. As he does that all Bran and Rickon can do is wait inside the cart with the trash from the castle and worry about being discovered underneath it.

When the lumbering giant finally returns after a bit the guard captain and his men have to calm their nerves at the site of him. While everyone knew that Hodor was so gentle that he wouldn't hurt a fly without orders from a Stark he still cut an awe-inspiring site. With his heavy infantry wolf steel armor, two handed mace that he could use with just one hand and heavy full body shield he looked fucking unstoppable. Of course, that was not the case and anyone of these men could beat Hodor in a spar easily seeing as they had more skill than him. But at the same time most of them lost to him at least once do to underestimating just how strong he really was. Hodor's strength was so great that even the likes of Sandor Clegane had trouble standing up to him and even commented once that only his dead fuck of a brother and that monster Jeremiah Gottwald could truly do so.

As soon as Hodor puts his weapons in the back he picks up the cart once more and quickly moves along. It would be hours before anyone even noticed that the boys were missing or that the giant never came back.

-The Reach Bitterbridge 301AC-

Prince Oberyn Martell was feeling a bit disappointed in himself as he sat in the keep of Bitterbridge. In the span of a three months he had accomplished what none had believed he could in conquering the four castles of Ashford, Cider Hall Longtable, and Bitterbridge. Even with his good-son's cannons it was believed it would take a least half a year to do so but he had proven them wrong. So why was he feeling disappointed? Well because he had failed utterly in his self-imposed goal of doing it before the start of the new year.

With the utter defeat of Lord Ashford, it was simple to conquer Ashford, Cider Hall and Longtable. Often it only took one volley of cannon fire to make the defenders of those three castles give up but the men of Bitterbridge and their lord had proven to be made of stronger stuff. Which was surprising considering that when Oberyn had met Lord Caswell he had come off as a bit of a wimp. But Lord Caswell had in fact proven to have more courage than he had thought and held out for a week before Oberyn had gotten tired of waiting for Lord Caswell to surrender and just sent his men in to attack.

Such courage was to be commended and honored with the sparing of Lord Caswell's life. Yet his brother's orders would not allow him to do so and the best he could do was keep Lord Caswell's children from losing their lives.

"Father I have the reports on the state of the battlements." He hears the voice of his daughter Shirley call out.

Looking up he also sees his daughter Obara who says, "And I have the scouting reports."

"Wonderful girls, tell me what you have." Oberyn says to them with a smile.

He had mixed feelings about his daughters being on the battlefield. Even though they were both highly skilled and trained he was still their father and worried constantly for their safety. Though at the same time he probably couldn't have accomplished all he has so far without them. Their brutal honesty and willingness to slap down his more reckless ideas was a sharp contrast to those of the lords and knights who made up his war council.

"Well first I have to say father you may have over done the bombardment by a bit. The whole Southern wall and gate are completely destroyed along with most of the town." Shirley says to him in a scolding voice.

"Now, now my Queen you don't have to be so upset. It was Lord Caswell's fault that happen for not surrendering quickly enough." Oberyn says with a cheerful voice.

Shirley huffs in annoyance at her father. She hated when he called her Queen because he always said it in a teasing tone that bordered on mockery.

Before her sister can say some smart-ass thing back to their father and start their little playful spat Obara speaks up, "Our scouts have spotted Lord Tyrell and his army about two weeks away from Bitterbridge father."

Hearing this Oberyn smiles and says, "So the fat fool is about to show up. Now we can end this war with the Reach once and for all."

"Careful father you need victory before you can claim you have ended a war." Shirley says to him like he is a child.

Glaring at her Oberyn says, "I know my Queen but let's face it Mace Tyrell isn't even a good lord none the less a commander of men in the field of battle."

"That maybe so father but even a fool can win a battle where he outnumbers the enemy three to one." Obara jumps in and says.

Not liking how his children are ganging up on him Oberyn frowns and says, "I know girls I know. Gods you to are being to uptight. I don't remember raising you two like this. Perhaps it's because you both have not been fucked in a while."

Both girls just glare at their father and give him a look that makes him very happy that they don't have their spears on them. As good as he was, he was not so sure he could take them both on in a fight and live to see tomorrow.

"Whatever father. What are our plans for dealing with Lord Tyrell?" Shirley asks as she takes a couple of deep breaths to calm her anger.

Oberyn has to actually think about this for a bit before he can answer. He may be acting all carefree right now but in reality, he knew exactly what kind of position he was in right now. What was giving him the edge right now and allowing him to move so quickly were the cannons. Their sheer shock and awe effect were what allowed him to take four castles in the span of a few months with little casualties. Their draw back however was that they needed black powder to fire their deadly payload and he was running low on it right now. His resupplied of it would arrive once Lord Yronwood showed up with the rest of the army, but he was at least 4 or 5 weeks away still. So, the question was does he use the rest of his supply of black powder to deal with Lord Puff Fish or not?

"What do you think the chances are that Lord Puff Fish knows about the cannons?" He asks as he keeps thinking about what his next move should be."

After thinking on it a bit Shirley says, "Hmmm I have to say around 50/50. If we were dealing with a halfway decent foe than I would say 100 percent."

"But we are not dealing with one. Lord Tyrell is an idiot, and his history shows that clearly. Even if he had heard about them, he will most likely dismiss them as little more than a mummer's tail till he is actually faced with them." Obara says, showing that her time in the North was not well spent. While for the most part she spent her time training with the soldiers of the Northern Army, she has also spent a far amount of time around the likes of Jon André and Ros. Both of whom had taught her how important it was in gaining intelligence on one's adversary.

Oberyn was inclined to agree with his daughters, but the question remained. How did he take advantage of the fool's idiocy?

"It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, defend against them; if weaker, be able to avoid them." Oberyn says to himself as he thinks of his good-son's book. But did he want to defend or avoid a fight all together?

No, he couldn't give up Bitterbridge now that it had been taken but there was another book Lelouch had sent him not about a year back that may hold the answer he was looking for. But would such a plan work on the fool? The answer was clear, yes, yes it would.

"Shirley you said that the South gate and wall were completely destroyed correct?" Oberyn asks.

"Yes father." She answers him.

"Do you think we have enough gunpowder to destroy the East gate and wall as well while still having enough to fire the cannons?" Oberyn asks.

Shirley has to think on this for a bit and then answers, "I believe so father. Why what are you thinking?"

Smiling at his two children Oberyn says, "I am thinking that I have a plan that only a fool like Lord Tyrell would fall for."

-Two weeks later-

It had taken more than 4 weeks of hard marching and pushing the men to their breaking point for the army of the Reach to make it to Bitterbridge in what they had hoped would be in time to stop the Dornishmen from taking it. Yet all that pushing was for nothing as they came across the scene of what could only be called its utter destruction. Even from the distance they were currently at they could clearly see that the south and east gates were broken and that the walls were little more than rubble now. Obviously, the defenders of Bitterbridge had given up one hell of a fight before its fall, but fell it did. But one question remained as they looked on. Where was the Dornish army?

"I don't understand. Where are those Dornish fucks?" Mace Tyrell asks out loud as he looks around the scene in front of him. It didn't make sense to him. The castle had fallen so why were they not here guarding and preparing for a siege.

"Perhaps they realize that with the castles outer defenses being what they are that it would be unwise to try and defend it." Ser Baelor Hightower his good-brother said to him.

"Maybe so uncle but I don't like the looks of those walls. It must be the work of the new weapons we got reports about from Ser Emerson." Loras says to him. While at first, he thought like many others that the reports Ser Emerson had sent them were little more than the ravings of a mad man. Now that he saw the shape Bitterbridge was in Loras was more willing to believe them.

"Bah mummer tails boy that is what those were. This could have been done by a trebuchet easily." Mace says to him. Unlike his more superstitious men or those easily frighten Mace was not about to believe in some fantasy weapon that somehow no one had really seen up close. It was little more than a preposterous lie made up to cover one's own failings.

"Now enough of this nonsense. The Dornish army has clearly retreated after seeing the amount of damage they had done to Bitterbridge. Which how small their army is it would be stupid to try and hold it as is. So, we shell move to occupy it and then make plans to pursue them tomorrow. Ser Baelor you lead the men." Mace orders without another thought.

"Yes milord." Ser Baelor says and commands the army to follow him.

Elsewhere inside the main keep looking down at the approaching army Shirley just said, "Unbelievable, how does a man like that have children like Euphy and Margaery?"

"So, he took the bait, did he?" Oberyn asks as he hears his child say this.

Giving a sigh Shirley says, "Yes he did."

Oberyn nods his head at this answer. He too felt more than a bit disappointed at hearing the fat idiot took the bait so easily. His plan for the battle today was both simple and easy to see through if you only took the time to look. The strategy he was using was based off of a book his good-son had written sometime after the Art of War. The book was called, the Thirty-Six Stratagems and as it was called was about thirty-six simple yet effective strategies that one could use both in war and in politics.

The strategy he was using today was called the Empty Fort Strategy which was more or less a bluff. What you did for this strategy was take a fortified location and purposely leave it under man or completely unguarded. By doing this you create the illusion that said location is full of traps and ambushes that any good commander would believe was waiting for him. Hell, he was sure he would think such a thing if he was faced with something like that. And like any good commander he would do one of three things. Move in slowly to take the base so as to not fall for the traps he believed was waiting for him. Hold off on attacking the base altogether till scouts could determine if it was a trap or not. Or retreat from the battle completely. As the commander did this however the enemy would have time to set up a real ambush at a different location of his choosing.

On paper it was a good and effective strategy. In practicality however it was one he would never even think of using. The strategy relied too much on a number of different things to go right and no small measure of luck, and while he believed himself to be fairly lucky, he was not willing to test his luck that much. That was unless your name was Mace Tyrell. That fool not only made this plan possible but easy to pull off. Not because he would fall for it but because he wouldn't even think for a moment it was a trap. He would see an empty fort and take it at face value. Just like he was right now.

So, in actuality it was a Reverse Empty Fort Strategy. Perhaps a new name is in order? Oberyn thinks to himself.

Down below him on the ground inside the buildings, behind the rubble and under it were 5000 men of the army of Dorne waiting impatiently for their pray. It was impossible to hide the full 20,000-man army inside the walls of Bitterbridge despite it being a pretty sizeable town, but a small number was possible. As was hiding the cannons inside the same places along with a few inside the keep. The ones on the ground level were only to be fired once so none of the cannoneers were not with them them. The time it took to reload a cannon was to long for the type of fighting he had planned and seeing as they only need to be fired once he would not risk them in this fight.

As the enemy made their way inside the town without a care in the world the men who were to fire the cannons felt themselves become extremely nervous. The plan called for the enemy to me almost on top of them before they open fired with the cannons and right now, they were doing everything they could to calm their nerves. If they fucked up this plan would go to hell very quickly, so it was easier said than done.

On the other hand, Ser Baelor who was leading the men from the front into the castle town was feeling uneasy. While the men behind him were in good cheer he couldn't help but feel like they had just walked into the proverbial vipers' pit. Then that could just be to all the blatant destruction he saw around him. There was hardly a building spared during the attack by the Dornishmen and rubble strewn the ground. Worst there was not a single towns person in site. Did the Dornishmen kill everyone and if they did where were all the bodies.

As he is wondering a shine from under a pile of rubble catches his eyes and he looks over at it. Squinting his eyes, he can just make out the shape of a man and he yells out, "To arms!"

It is the last thing he ever says before the cannons fire at point blank range right into the lines of the army of the Reach. Chaos quickly follows as the men who are not cut down by the iron ball of the cannons grapeshot don't' know what is going on. All they know is that many of their brothers in arms are dead and Dornish soldiers are coming out from behind and inside buildings attacking them from every which way.

Fuck they fired to early. Cannoneers fire." Oberyn yells out from inside the keep.

On his orders the cannons on top the keep start to fire into the men that are still outside the wall with regular round shot. While not nearly as effective as a grape shot fired at close range the rounds shots do their job well. The men of the Reach quickly fall into chaos not knowing what was hitting them. Only that the ground was exploding around them and men were being blown to pieces.

Things inside the wall only got worse from there and soon the sounds of horns are heard and Dornishmen who were in hiding charge out at them from their hiding spots. Any semblance of order that may have been left for the Reach men who were inside the walls is quickly lost and they are slaughtered by the more discipline Dornishmen.

Outside the wall's things were not faring any better. One moment everything was fine than the next moment all hell broke loose, and Mace was struggling to understand why. The ground was heaving up, men were dying, and disorder quickly became king. And when all seemed like it couldn't get any worse, it did when a man to his side shouted out "Enemy! The enemy is behind us."

"What?" Mace yells out and turns around to see the banners of the houses of Dorne charging in from behind him.

"Pathetic amateur warfare." Obara says out loud as she charges in with the rest of the cavalry.

As she impales her first victim, she can't help but think how her father's plan realistically should never have worked. So many things should have gone wrong and yet nothing did. For fucks sake she and the rest of the 15,000 men of the army were hiding me behind a small hill and should have been spotted by enemy scouts easily if they had been sent out like they were supposed to. But clearly Lord Tyrell had felt overconfident in his numerical superiority and felt no need to do so. A foolish decision on every level and one even the most unexperienced commander would ever make. And yet it was one Lord Tyrell had made.

This was not warfare she again thought. This was a grown-up picking on children. It was wrong and was leaving a bad taste in her mouth. But whatever she had a job to do and killing this dumb ass motherfuckers was it.

For Mace what was happening was both unacceptable and unbelievable. His mind not able to come up with a reason for how he had been both tricked and outmaneuvered was having a panic attack. If something was not done soon he would die.

Loras on the other hand understood perfectly well what was happening. He had told his father at the start of the day to send out the scouts to look for the enemy and he had known Bitterbridge being abandoned was too good to be true. But his father would not listen and was now clearly panicking.

"Father order the retreat?" He yells out to him.

"What?" Mace asks in confusion.

"This fight is lost. We have to retreat before we don't have an army left to defend the Reach." Loras says to him.

Looking at his son at first in stunned disbelief that he would say something so preposterous Mace's face goes red. "Don't be daft boy. We still have the numbers; we can turn this around."

Hearing his father say this Loras can't help but believe he has gone crazy. They have lost and it was clear to see for anyone. Their men were in complete chaos and there was no way they could rally them at this point. So, for the first time in his life he stands up to his father and yells out, "Father you are speaking madness. Look at the state of our men. We can't win this fight. We must flee and regroup at Highgarden. The Reach will fall other wise and our house with it. If we are to survive we must have an army to defend the rest of the Reach from the Dornish till negotiations can take place."

Mace is thrown off balance by his son yelling at him but does look at the state of his army. Men were already fleeing from the field. Whatever those weapons were that the Dornish were using against them were still firing into their ranks making reorganizing impossible. But worst of all the Dornish cavalry was cutting straight through his men and getting closer to his position.

"R-retreat. Retreat save yourselves!" The coward in Mace finally wins out over the prideful fool. Before he turns with his guards and flee from the battle.

Loras doesn't however and just watches as his father runs away without even trying to organize an orderly retreat. He doesn't follow however and instead stays behind to at least try and get as many of the men out of this alive as he could.

As the battle starts to draw to its conclusion Shirley watches on from the top of the keep. This was really quite sad to watch. Because she loved her friends Euphy and Margaery she had ordered her cannoneers to fire well away from their father and brother but as the battle kept going on she had to wonder if she wouldn't have been doing them a favor by killing him. The way he had lost this battle and walked his men into her father's easily avoidable trap was damn near criminal in of itself. But to also leave your men behind to die as you retreated from the battle by yourself with only a few guards was in her mind the most heinous of crimes. Lord Tyrell deserve to die in her mind for what he had done and the only reason she had not fired on him when she had the chance was because of the love she held for her friends. Killing their vassals she was sure they would forgive, but killing their father she was sure they would not.

"My Queen the retreating Reach forces have just exited beyond our 50% line. Should we stop firing?" A cannoneer captain asks.

"Yes, go ahead and cease firing. There is no need to waste what little is left of our black powder on shots that may not hit our enemies." She tells the man.

"Yes, my queen." The man says and starts to give the orders for the cannons to stop firing.

As the man goes to do as she says Shirley wonders how her daring Lulu is doing. Unless she missed her guess as soon as he got word of their victory here, he will begin the final stages of this war. And when that happen the world they knew would come to a permanent end.

-Riverrun, Riverlands 2 month later-

It had finally come to pass Lelouch thought to himself as he stood next to the Red Fork and watched as his brother Robb shot a flaming arrow into the boat that was carrying their grandfather Hoster Tully. Years of battling sickness had finally taken their toll on him and he passed on from this world just a few days ago. While he was never that close to the old man and had rarely even spoken to him outside of letters, Lelouch still felt a bit sad at the man's passing. In a world that seem to have stagnated and reached its intellectual peak Hoster Tully was a beacon of intelligence that rivaled his own.

While he didn't have the ability himself Hoster saw the changes Lelouch was trying to bring to the world and while not fully supportive of all of them was willing to accept more than a few. Such as their long-term plan to strip the power of the Twins by building the now almost complete Winter Rose Bridge. He had also been instrumental in setting up the fall of House Frey from behind the scenes, among other things. In truth like his father no one would ever really know how much Hoster knew, didn't know or simply chose to ignore. Well know one but Lelouch himself that was.

Now with his death Robb was the new Lord of the Riverlands which at one time had worried Lelouch greatly. His brother didn't have the mind of a politician despite being able to play one at times. He was a warrior and military commander not some noble lord who sat on his ass all day looking over paperwork, but with his marriage to Talisa that had changed. Talisa was quite the politician herself and more than able to cover for Robb's own short comings when it came to politics. The only problem was she and him didn't really get along that well. While they both shared a similar hatred for slavery they didn't get along on much else. In her own words she saw him as a manipulating ass that wouldn't think twice about sacrificing those around him to forward his goals. A smart woman really.

Other than his grandfather's death little else had changed over the last month. The war had slowed to a crawl now that Mace Tyrell had suffered a humiliating defeat at Bitterbridge. By all reports the man had fled back to Highgarden and hid away from everyone in his bedroom refusing to come out. It was only due to the efforts of his son that the Reach had even a semblance of an army left. From all report's Ser Loras had pulled off a magnificent retreat from the battlefield in the face of overwhelming odds. A retreat that Lelouch was not too sure he himself or any of his brothers could have done in his place.

On the other fronts' things had gone more or less as expected. The Northern Army under Commander Harriosn Karstark that was sent to attack the Stormlands had met great success at first with Stonehelm, and Crow's Nest falling rather quickly. Though that was most likely due to the loss of their lords and most of their men at Blackwater. It was only when they reached Griffin's Roost that they started to have some semblance of resistance. The current lord of the castle Ser Ronnet Connington had survived the Battle of Blackwater by switching to Joffrey side and was there forward at the castle to defend it. And defend it he did with the desperation of a man who knew the moment it was taken he would be put to the sword. It was too bad the man was smart enough to realize that seeing as Griffin's Roost was located and build in the perfect way to render the cannons almost useless.

With that said it would be sometime before Commander Harriosn reached Bronzegate. Though now it hardly mattered for the victory at Bitterbridge had changed the whole war. Knowing that the fall of King's Landing was inevitable Tyrion Lannister had shown once again he was one of the most intelligent men around and had abandon it for the more defensible lands of the Westerlands. Reports had stated that Joffrey and Cersei had tried to go against him on that but with Ser Jaime there they were able to force them to leave. Which was sad because now Lelouch would have to wait a bit longer on getting his hands on them. A wait that was going to be made even longer by the fact that Tywin Lannister was digging in for a defensive war from now on.

While others had dismissed the reports of the cannons used at Ashford as nothing more than a tall tale, Lord Lannister seemed to have not. Which wasn't a surprise seeing as he had already known about the boom-sticks used Wayfarers Rest and for a man like Lord Lannister accepting that something like the cannons could exist as well was easy. It was frustrating for both Robb and him, but they would have to accept that there would be no baiting Lord Lannister out now. They would have to take it slow and conquered the Westerlands a bit at a time. That was however only till the Ironborn were dealt with. Which should be soon if the reports were to be believed.

As Lelouch keeps thinking how the war is going Jeremiah comes up to him, "My apologies my king but your brother Lord Jon has just been spotted about an hour out from Riverrun."

Looking up at his knight Lelouch says, "I see, when he arrives tell him I am in my grandfather's office."

"Yes milord," Jeremiah says to him than walks away.

When Jeremiah leaves Robb walks towards his brother, "What was that about."

"Jon is back." Lelouch says simply to his young brother.

"Ah I see. He is early." Robb says.

"Yes, well he has been waiting a long time to find out the answer to the only question that ever really mattered to him. So, it's no surprise that his feet have wings on them. I hope you don't mind me using your office for the conversation I am about to have with him." Lelouch says to him with a frown.

"I don't mind at all brother but tell me who is Jon's mother?" Robb asks wishing to know as well.

"Ask Jon when I am done speaking with him brother. For it is not my place to tell you." Lelouch says than walks toward Riverrun. Preparing himself mentally for the no doubt emotional conversation he was about to have with Jon.

-An hour later-

As Jon stood outside the office were his brother Lelouch was waiting for him he took a couple of deep breaths before he opened the door. For years he had waited for this moment and now that it was here he was somewhat hesitant to walk through the door. Not because he was afraid of finding out the truth but because for good or for ill the dreams of what he thought his mother was like would be gone. During times when he was feeling at his lowest it was the dreams of a loving mother and a kind smile that kept him going. He would miss those dreams very much but were in reality a small price to pay for the truth. So, steeling his nerves he walks in and sees his brother sitting down behind a desk waiting for him.

When Jon closes the door completely Lelouch says, "Hello Jon how are you?"

Jon is a bit surprised that there is no smartass comment about how he should have knock before entering nor did it seem like one was coming. It just proved to him that Lelouch knew exactly why he was here and knew it was a serious matter. "I am fine Lelouch. How are you?"

"I am well enough I suppose. When you consider everything that has happen since you have been away, I could be better." Lelouch says with a small frown on his face.

"Yes, I suppose father's death and the current war going on would be a heavy load to bare even for you." Jon comments as he sees Lelouch looks more tired than normal.

"That it is brother, but such is the burden of being a true king." Lelouch says to him as a matter of fact.

"That it is brother. I do not envy you." Jon says to him.

"As you shouldn't. We all have our roles to play and mine just so happens to be that of a king. But than you are not here to talk about that are you?" Lelouch asks.

Taking a deep breath Jon says, "No, no I am not."

"Then shall we get down to it?" Lelouch asks and makes a gesture with his hand for his brother to sit down.

"Let." Jon says than takes a sit and lets a moment of silence pass than asks, "Lelouch who is my mother?"

The room is silent for a while till Lelouch stands up from his desk and goes to a box on a table and opens it. Inside is a bottle of some of the finest whiskey made in the North. Grabbing a single glass Lelouch hands it to his brother then precedes to pour him a drink.

"You know despite creating it I never much cared for whiskey, or wine for that matter and I definitely frown on it being drunk during important meetings. But for today I will make an exception seeing as the occasion calls for a strong drink. With that said to answer your question your mother is the women you have always suspected to be your mother." Lelouch says to him

Jon closes his eyes and covers them with his hand as his brother continues, "Your mother is Lyanna Stark sister of Eddard Stark the man who we call father."

The blow from the answer he is given is like that of a war hammer to the chest. Yes, he had suspected her as his mother. After all, with Lelouch as his brother he had learn things like deductive reasoning and had narrowed down who his mother was to two people. He just was hoping it would not be her.

"You aright Jon?" Lelouch asks.

Looking up at his brother for a moment Jon then looks back down at the glass of whiskey in his hands and downs it in one go. Then says to Lelouch, "Honestly brother I was hoping it would be Ashara Dayne."

"Hmm so you knew about her did you." Lelouch says.

Jon give a low humorless laugh, "It was that hard to find out. Just get Ser Rodrik Cassel drunk enough and he will tell you about it."

"Yes, well sadly if that was the case father wouldn't have had to hide who your mother was from anyone. House Dayne wouldn't have been happy about it, but they are Dornish and wouldn't have denied it or felt slighted to the point of needing to hide you. Hell, with your skill with a blade they probably have named you Sword of the Morning." Lelouch says to him.

"Yet I had to be hidden for those who would have seen me harmed would be numerous." Jon says.

"Too numerous for the North to fight off at the time Jon." Lelouch says to him.

"True and yet all my life I have wondered who my mother was only to find out I am the product of rape. Perhaps it was best never knowing." Jon says to Lelouch as he pours him another drink.

"There are only two tragedies in life brother. One is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it. All your life you wanted to know who your mother was believing it would give you some sense of who you are. And now that you have the answer you are unsatisfied."

Looking at his brother with anger in his eyes Jon says, "Well wouldn't you be Lelouch? If you found out, you were the product of rape wouldn't you feel unsatisfied?"

Shaking his head at his Jon, Lelouch says, "Jon that is a pointless and stupid question to ask. It's like asking a man what it's like giving birth or how does a peasant feel when a noble comes and takes everything they have just because they can. We don't have that experience and neither do you when it comes to the matter of being born out of rape."

"What do you mean Lelouch? That I wasn't the product of rape." Jon asks giving his brother a question look.

"No, what I am saying is its highly improbable that that is the case. From what we know about my aunt and your mother is that she was much like Arya is. Wild and head strong with a will that could bend steel if I recall correctly. Do you really believe that someone like that would have been abducted so easily and then rape? I find it a little hard to believe." Lelouch says to him.

"That maybe so Lelouch but we both also know that she didn't receive the same training as Arya." Jon points out.

"True but let's look at the facts concerning the circumstances over her abduction shelf we? From what we know she was taken somewhere around Harrenhal, but there lies the problem. What was she doing near Harrenhal? As far as we know around the same time our uncle Brandon Stark was to marry my mother at Riverrun. But you don't need to pass anywhere near Harrenahal to get to Riverrun. And an even bigger question is where were her guards? A noble lady even one as highly trained as my sisters wouldn't be allowed to go anywhere without at least one guard. Yet no bodies were ever found" Lelouch says to him.

"She could have ditched her guards Lelouch. Arya does that all the time." Jon says.

"Ture but if that was the case way wasn't her going missing reported right away. As far as we know our uncle Brandon was the first of our family to find out she was missing and that was not till the several days later. Then comes questions about Prince Rhaegar himself. How did he find our aunt before the anyone else did?" Lelouch asks his brother.

Jon's mind tries to come up with an answer and speaks it openly, "He could have been invited to Uncle Brandon's wedding and could have been staying at Harrenhal for a night or two on his way to Riverrun. But that only explains how he could have been in the overall area my mother was not on how he found her. Even if he had set out to kidnap her in the first place, there were a number of places she could have been. Chief among them being castle Darry, and the Crossroad Inn. If she wasn't in one of those two locations than her traveling party and her could have been camped in any number of locations as well. There was no way for him to know where her party was staying at any given time and that is beside the point seeing as we know she wasn't taken in any of these locations anyways."

"And what does this tell us Jon?" Lelouch asks.

"That it would have been highly unlikely that he would have found her before anyone else had even known she was missing unless…." Jon doesn't finish what he is saying at first and just lets it hang in the air.

"Unless what Jon?" Lelouch asks.

"Unless they had planned to meet up in the first place." Jon finishes.

"That's right Jon. No matter how you look at it the possibility that Prince Rhaegar kidnap my aunt without anyone noticing till a day later is highly unlikely. Unless your mother planned to run away with him in the first place." Lelouch tells him.

"But…but why?" Jon asks Lelouch than takes another drink having trouble processing this all.

Again, Jon asks a stupid question that could easily be answered if he just thought about it for a bit. But then Lelouch can't blame him for asking it seeing as there was little doubt that Jon's mind was not working at its best right now. "Come now brother we have both met King Robert and know what he was like. He was hardly husband material and would have likely kept up his ways even if he had married you mother."

"But I thought you like King Robert, Lelouch?" Jon asks.

"Oh, I did Jon, but we are not talking about me. We are talking about your mother and who knows what she was thinking. Perhaps she fell in love with Prince Rhaegar, or maybe she just saw him as the better option to Robert. Whatever the reason it doesn't change the fact that you were born Jon." Lelouch tells him.

Looking at his brother with hopeful eyes Jon asks his brother, "Do….do you think they loved each other?"

Leaning back in his chair Lelouch makes up his mind to take out some documents and toss them over to Jon, "That Jon I cannot answer for you. All I know is that before her death your mother made my father promise to keep you safe. So, I know she loved you. As for your question all I can give you are these documents."

Picking up the documents Jon starts to read them with wide eyes and looks at Lelouch than back down at them. The first document was an annulled of Rhaegar's marriage to Elia Martell and the second an official marriage document to his mother. It is enough to drive Jon to tears at seeing it. While it was true that he would never know if the two loved each other he at least knew he was no bastard born of rape. And that little bit of knowledge was worth more than gold.

But past those tears was the analytical part of his brain, the part Lelouch had trained all his life and forced him to ask, "How many people know of my true parentage?"

"Just me, you, my mother and Lord Reed. I am sure Robb has his own suspicions, but he has never given voice to them. As for everyone else who knew or I thought knew about it, well let's just say they will never speak of it." Lelouch tells him.

"You really covered everything didn't you Lelouch." Jon says in a cold voice. He knew his brother was afraid of stooping so low as to murdering people to keep certain things secret. Even if those people were innocent bystanders.

"I am a murderer and a liar Jon, but above all other things I am a big brother. Protecting you against those who would use you or kill you took priority over my own consciousness." Lelouch states to him.

"Like father?" Jon says in a sad voice.

"Exactly like father. For regardless of who your real parents where he was the one to raise you and love you. He was also the one who gave me all the names of those who potentially could have known the truth. He couldn't do what needed to be done, but he knew I could and in the end he could live with that." Lelouch says to him with a hard tone.

Jon has to take a moment and even gets up to pour himself another drink after hearing all this. Though he very much doubted there was enough alcohol in the world that could get him drunk enough to deal with this. To think his honorable lord father was really his uncle and loved him enough to put his honor aside to protect him was enough to bring more tears to his eyes. Not to mention an older brother who was really his cousin who was willing to murder innocent people in order to keep him safe. It was funny he didn't know if he was blessed or cursed.

Looking over at his brother after he takes another drink Jon asks, "So what happens now?"

"What do you want to happen now Jon? If you wish to tell the world that is fine. House Martell won't be happy to find out about this, but I am fairly sure they won't try and kill you at this point. As for any claim that you have on the Iron Throne, I will happily give it to you though the power that goes with it will no longer exist. There will be a few who try to use you of course for their own benefit but times or changing. They will either change with it or die." Lelouch says to him.

At his words Jon thinks for a moment on what should be done. Truth was despite how Lelouch put it there would be some trouble if it came out who his parents really were. Trouble that while manageable could easily be avoided. There was also the unknown factor to consider. Just because he wouldn't be willing to go against his family didn't mean other people wouldn't try and use him to their own ends. Lelouch he was sure would make short work of those people, but the end result could be to horrible to think about. After all he was well aware of what Robb had to do to bring the Riverlands into line. What Lelouch would have to do to keep the whole of Westeros inline could be far worse. And while this war could be considered justified by the injustice done to the man he still thought of as his father. Jon was not sure his situation could be called the same thing or that he could accept such a thing on his conscience.

With his mind made up Jon walks towards a lit candle and holds the documents over it till they catch on fire. Then with a heavy heart he drops them to the stone ground to watch them burn.

"Are you sure about this Jon?" Lelouch asks as he too watches the only real proof that he was the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen burn away.

With tears in his eyes but resolve made of steel Jon says, "The past….the past is dead and gone. The future is all that matters and takes precedence over selfish wants and what could have been."

Nothing more needed to be said between the two of them as they just continue to watch the dream of a little boy burn away.

-A few days late-

Once more in his grandfather's office Lelouch along with his brother Robb stood and greet three particular individuals who were being introduced to him by Jon. As Jon does this Lelouch takes a good look at him. While the few days he could spare were nowhere near enough time to come to grips with the things Jon had learned he did look better. He didn't look as depressed as one would think he would be and unless his eyes deceived him it was all do to this young wildling girl. By the way his eyes looked at her and how he tried to stand closer to her with out making it too obvious spoke of attraction. And seeing as she looked at him and tried to be as close to Jon in turn told Lelouch it was a mutual attraction. How very interesting he thought to himself.

But putting his brother's love life aside for now Lelouch looked at the most important person of the three wildlings. His first impression of this so-called King-Beyond-the-Wall was that he was no uneducated barbarian. Well probably uneducated but by the way Mance Rayder took in his environment and subtlety measured him up it was clear this man was very cunning and worst adaptable. He showed that by letting his most dangerous men and women die in their ill-fated attack on Hardhome. That one act told Lelouch this man was truly dangerous and not to be underestimated no matter how desperate he was to get his people pass the Wall.

"It is an honor to meet you King Mance Rayder. I am Lelouch Stark King in the North and I welcome you to Riverrun the ancestral home of my mother's family and my brother Robb's castle." Lelouch says with a small bow of his head in respect.

From the very start Mance had found Jon to be an impressive young man. Jon was smart, skilled with the blade and braver than most men and women he had ever met. Those early impressions of the young man had only increased during their travels south. His impressions on his older brother however were quite different. Lelouch Stark's words may have been kind, gentle and even sounded sincere but Mance was not fooled. You don't survive the cold embrace of the True North without being able to recognize a predator when you see one. And right now, every hair on Mance's body was standing up as if to scream at him to not trust this man. It was a feeling that Ygritte and Tormund seemed to be in agreement of seeing as they were on guard and ready to attack.

"As it is meeting you King Lelouch." Mance says with a bow of his own head. It was best to keep things cordial for now. After all, even if they could kill the man before them, they wouldn't get out of this castle alive and there was no telling what would happen to their people who were camp outside the walls of Hardhome.

"Let me also introduce Lieutenant Commander Jon Umber better known to most as Smalljon. He was the one in command of the small detachment of men who had built the wall surrounding Hardhome and who's family's lands is closest to the Wall." Lelouch says to him.

Lelouch knew It was a gamble to let Smalljon in on this meeting. His hatred of the wildlings was the reason Lelouch had to send Jon to replace him. Yet ever sense Lelouch had informed him of the Others Smalljon had been more willing to work with those wildlings that pledged allegiance to the North. Now while most would have dismissed what Lelouch had said as pure nonsense Smalljon had fully believed him. The reason why was because when he was there in that frozen land, he had always felt like something was watching him from the darkness at night and had begrudgingly admitted to Lelouch that he was always afraid when night fell. For a man like Smalljon to admit to being afraid was not something easily done but because he was the type to trust his instincts over what his eyes could show him it was not surprising.

Mance greets the man with the same amount of respect he did Lelouch but even when he did, he could tell this Smalljon didn't like him or his companions. It was like when he had met with some of the more savage of his people except this man had more control over himself. Which in turn just made him all the more deadly.

"It is truly an honor to meet you all, but perhaps it would be best to do guest rights before we start this meeting." Mance suggests knowing that what ever they are going to talk about will most likely get very heated.

"Of course." Lelouch says and picks up a basket of bread and salt.

Everyone in the room takes a piece of bread and some salt and eats it. Though in Smalljon's case does it with more than a bit of anger. With that done Lelouch leads them to some seats and beckons them to sit so they can start.

Once everyone is seated Lelouch starts off by saying, "Well now that we have all taken part in guest rights let us begin this meeting. My brother has already informed me that he has given you my offer already. Can I assume your being here means you have doubts?"

"That is correct King Stark. My people have no reason to believe you and while Jon here has acted with great honor during our travels, I can't just take his word for it." Mance says to him.

"That is understandable and let me just say right now that my offer is indeed genuine." Lelouch says to him.

"And we will get no trouble from the rest of the southerners?" Mance asks as he looks straight at Smalljon.

"I would expect some trouble yes, but it most of that would be directed at me and I will deal with it accordingly." Lelouch says to him.

It does not escape Mance's notice how Smalljon along with Jon and Robb flinch just a bit at Lelouch's words. It makes him wonder with some worry on what dealing with something accordingly means to this young man.

"And what of those who come after us instead of you?" Mance ask.

"If you are attacked by any of my vassals or their men you can be assured it was not on my orders. And in that case may deal with them as you see fit. Or you can send me a complaint and I will either take care of it myself or send them to you to do with them as you may." Lelouch says plainly.

"I would prefer you send them to me." Mance says not trusting that Lelouch would deliver justice on his behalf.

"Very well but you do realize that I would expect you to do the same as I if any of your people attacked my own." Lelouch says to him.

"Of course, but that brings up the question on whether or not I can trust you to keep your word on any bargain we make?" Mance asks with suspicion.

"I could ask the same thing King Mance." Lelouch says back to him in a calm and cold voice.

The room is silent for quite a while as both men just look at each other. It is Mance who is thinking the hardest on what to do, however. While Jon had already told him that his brother had no desire to deal with him or his people any longer it didn't mean he was in any position of strength. Those cannons as Jon called them that had massacred his most violent followers guaranteed any attack on Hardhome or the Wall would be met with failure. That would quite literally trap him and his people behind the Wall and at the nonexistent mercy of the Others. That however would increase the unknow number of wights the Others could bring to bear. Something Mance had a feeling Lelouch didn't wish to do.

"Let's say I agree to this deal what do you want from my people in return?" Mance asks from him knowing that in order to get something you must be willing to give something in return.

"Well I of course expect your people to fight with mine when the Long Night begins. No offense but my people will have trouble enough giving up Hardhome and letting those they consider a bunch of savages in the first place. If you are also unwilling to fight when the time comes than they will think you all cowards and definitely not agree to what I am proposing." Lelouch says to him.

"We are no cowards," Tormund Giantsbane stands and yells out.

"I never called you or your people cowards Tormund Giantsbane. I am simply pointing out what my people would think if for some reason you all choose not to fight." Lelouch says trying to calm the man down. Yet is also ready to use his geass to kill the man along with Mance and Ygritte.

Lelouch's words however don't calm Tormund down at all. He didn't like this boy. He like Jon and found him funny and easy to get along with but this boy made him feel uneasy and dare he say somewhat threatened. It was a feeling he did not liked and one that had seen him kill more than a few men.

"Calm down Tormund. King Lelouch has a point if we do not fight how can we expect to be given anything." Mance tells him.

Looking at his leader Tormund sits back down all be it still angry. It is only because he thinks so highly of Mance that he does as told but he is still on edge. Especially seeing as while everyone else reached for their weapons to ready for a fight Lelouch had just sat there calm and cold like a block of ice.

When he sees Tormund calm down, he looks back at Lelouch and says, "I find your terms acceptable King Stark. Now I must ask do you have a plan on how to defeat the Others. Because if you don't than this agreement will matter little in the end."

"Indeed, I do King Mance and now that we are in agreement, I will lay it out for you." Lelouch says than starts to go over the strategy he has come up with in order to deal with the Others.

-Hours later-

Lelouch was unsure how many hours had passed as he talked overall strategy with Mance on the war with the Others but needless to say the sun was almost down in the sky. While not a well-educated man Mance Rayder had shown how he united so many clans under one banner so to speak. The man had picked at every part of Lelouch's strategy and had argued on a number of things but overall Lelouch was pleased by the man. He could not have asked for a more competent leader of the Free Folk as they liked to be called.

"Well that went better than I thought it would." Robb says to his older brother as he goes over to pour himself a drink now that the Free Folk and Smalljon had left the room. He had his doubts about any type of alliance with them but had a change of heart during the meeting.

"It only went so well brother because Mance Rayder is a reasonable man who can see reality for what it is. If that fool Tormund Giantsbane was in charge, I doubt this meeting would have ever happen none the less ended well. But than if that man was in charge than he most likely would have charged in with all his might at Hardhome and died along with the rest of his people. Making the need for such a meeting unnecessary." Lelouch comments.

"Come on Lelouch, Tormund is not so bad. Bullhead yes, rude definitely, but he is no idiot. The man is if anything cunning and a great warrior as well. You would do well to remember Lelouch that to survive up there you need to be both of those things not just one." Jon says to him from where he is seated.

Looking at his brother with a knowing look Lelouch says, "I wonder Jon how much of what you said is how you really feel and how much is because of your feelings for that wildling girl."

"So, I was right about that. I was wondering if I had just imagined the looks the two of them were giving each other or not. Well good for you Jon." Robb teases as he hears that.

"Shut up lord fish and her name is Ygritte not wildling girl Lelouch." Jon says with some anger and a lot of embarrassment in his voice.

"I meant no offense baby brother. I am genuinely happy for you, but might I suggest you do what Robb did and marry her as soon as possible. Otherwise there is going to be trouble." Lelouch says to him.

"Why would I do that Lelouch and who says I am going to marry her?" Jon questions his brother. His relationship with Ygritte was well in a word complicated and marriage so to speak didn't exist for the Free Folk. Well not in the way those south of the Wall thought of it.

"Come Jon we both know you're not the type to fuck and run. Your try and work something out with the woman before you accept dishonoring her." Lelouch says to him.

"They have a different culture than us Lelouch. Yaritte doesn't see us having sex out of wedlock as dishonorable." Jon says just wishing to point that out.

"She may have a different culture brother but that doesn't make you a different person. Face it Lelouch is right you are not the type to fuck and run. And I agree it would be best to try and marry her quickly if she is the one you wish to have before the lords of the land start sending their marriage proposals. Trust me you don't want to deal with those when they start to arrive." Robb says to him remembering the sheer amount of proposals he was offered and how careful he had to be about turning them down with out insulting anyone.

"Huh?" Jon says in confusion.

Both his brothers laugh at that and Lelouch says, "Jon come now did you really think you would escape the game just because you were a bastard or not set to inherit anything. Everyone knows the love Robb and I hold for you and let's not forget you are an accomplished warrior and explorer. Those last two things alone would guarantee a fair number of offers and once you add in the other two well, I am sure you can see where I am going with this."

Jon just groans at this. "Yes, yes brother I see were you are going with that."

Both Robb and Lelouch chuckle at their brother's woes for a bit before Robb turns to Lelouch. "Tell me Lelouch any word from Prince Doran yet? Has he made his decision on whether Dorne will become part of the new kingdom you are building, or will he break away?"

"I have received word just last week Robb and he has agreed to bring Dorne fully into the fold so long as the Dornish Marches are returned to Dorne along with the castles Prince Oberyn has taken." Lelouch says to them.

"That is a lot of territory and key strongholds Lelouch." Robb says not liking the stipulations Prince Doran is giving.

"Yes, it is brother, but I believe his terms are just a faint. What Prince Doran really wants is the Dornish Marches and will most likely be willing to give up all the castles my good-father has taken in exchange for it. After all Prince Doran is the type of man who thinks about what is good for his people in the long term not the short. Breaking away now for short term benefits would be pointless." Lelouch says to them.

Both brothers nod their heads at this. The alliance with Dorne had always been about mutual interest and benefits, but with the war drawing to a close some of those interests would be gone. The benefits however would remain largely intact. Benefits that Doran would have to be foolish to give up in exchange for four castles in hostile territory. Even with their newfound riches and strength Dorne just didn't have the manpower to safeguard those castles and protect their core lands right now. They could with the Dornish Marches seeing as a large amount of the population was a mix between Stormlander and Dornishmen. But the people of the land that the four castles sat on was all Reachmen. Rebellion and unrest would be highly likely.

"Alright if that is taken care of whats our next move? Do we march on the Westerlands and bring this war to a close?" Robb asks as he looks at the map.

"Not yet brother. Lord Tywin is no Mace Tyrell. The very moment the news of what happen at the Battle of Ashford was made known did he retreat back into the Golden Tooth and start fortifying it. We can expect the Deep Den to follow suit soon enough as well." Lelouch said with a frown on his face.

It was the worst possible thing that could happen at this point in the war. Once the two castles of those roads were fortified his cannons would become next to useless and while he had stolen the secret on how to make Wildfire long ago, he was not about to use it. Not for any moral reason mind you but because it was simply too unstable for his liking. He had started a project on making napalm but while he had a working understanding of chemistry that was well beyond anyone else's the technology just wasn't there. He may have indeed reached the limits of how far he could push his knowledge at this point in time.

"Why not just use the Navy to attack them from the sea? Lannisport should make a good target and will force Lord Lannister to split his army in half in order to defend it. If he doesn't than he would lose his only major port and way to get grain in from the Reach to feed his army." Jon says as he too looks at the map.

"That is the plan Jon but first we must deal with the Iron Born. While weak and led by an incompetent leader they still have the ability to become an annoyance if left unchecked." Lelouch says to him.

"What about the fleet at White Harbor?" Jon asks.

"Busy supplying the army under Commander Harriosn who sadly won't be done subjugating the Stormlands for some time." Lelouch says to him.

"I would think that with Renly dead and Stannis captured they would have surrendered by now." Robb says as he wonders why they have not done so yet.

"They are a stubborn people brother, and their lords know that they fucked themselves over when they sided with Stannis even after it was announced that he assassinated his own brother. Most of them will continue to fight to the bitter end even if I offered them favorable terms." Lelouch says to Robb.

"Will you be giving them favorable terms brother?" Jon asks.

"Well they won't all be hanged if that is what you're asking Jon." Lelouch says with an evil smile on his lips. The truth was that he was only planning to hang a few of the stormlords after the Stormlands were subjugated. After all it would be far to trouble some to rule it without them.

"What about the Reach? Where do we stand there?" Jon asks.

"That is my only major concern brother. While Lord Tyrell has suffered probably the most humiliating loss in the history of House Tyrell it wasn't a total one. Ser Loras was able to pull off a magnificent retreat from the battlefield does saving the lives of over 30,000 men. With those numbers and the Redwyne fleet they could still potentially put up a fight depending on who leads them." Lelouch says to him.

"You mean if Lord Tarly takes command." Jon says to Lelouch. While like Lelouch he held no respect for a man who tossed away perhaps one of the greatest intellectual minds of their lifetime in his son Sam. Jon would be remiss to not recognize the man's ability when it came to warfare.

When Lelouch says nothing, it is Robb who speaks up, "Well if that indeed happens, we may have to accept that this war could drag out for another year. That is unless the Reach surrenders or the Iron Born are defeated quickly."

"One of those may actually be possible Robb. If things go according to plan than the Iron Born fleet should be sailing towards Cape Kraken right about now. Where Theon and the fleet from Bear Island is waiting for them." Lelouch says with a smile.

Robb frowns at what Lelouch says. While he trusted Theon with all his heart Robb didn't like the idea of his best friend having to do battle against his own family. "Lelouch I still don't know how I feel about using Theon this way. To make him fight against his own family. It doesn't feel right.

Looking over at his brother Lelouch says, "And I have already told you Robb, Theon volunteered for the position. I didn't make him or even ask him to do it."

"He did?" Jon asks with a look that says he doesn't believe him.

"Yes, Jon he did. His exact words in the letter he sent me were if the Iron Born are to die this year than let it be I who hammers in the final nail." Lelouch says to him with a smile.

Of everyone Lelouch had seen grow into their own person it was Theon who surprised him the most. The arrogant little boy who didn't know who he was or what to do with his life was now gone and in his place was a man who had ambitions of his own. An boy was Theon's ambition a fitting one for his character. To wish to circumnavigate the world was not a task taken on by the light of heart especially considering that those who had tried before him had all fail and were never heard from again. But Theon believed he could do it and had resolved himself to make the attempt come what may.

"That is not really surprising I guess considering Theon has told me many times that he no longer wished to rule the Iron Islands. He said that they were to small minded and limited in their ambition for him now." Robb says to them.

"Well if that is so than I guess we covered everything." Jon says.

"Actually, there is one more thing you both need to know. Bran and Rickon have gone missing." Lelouch says as both brothers look at him.

The room is silent for a bit till both Robb and Jon stand up and yell out, "What!"

- Cape Kraken-

Standing at the bow of the Grizzly, Theon looked out over the waters of Blazewater Bay. The waters were relatively calm today despite what was going to happen soon. It was kind of fitting in his opinion that he would be the first naval commander in history to use cannons in an actual battle and that he would be using them against his very own people. It was morbid as hell but still strangely fitting none the less. It was also kind of sad if a person thought about it. He was of the Iron Islands, the son of its so-called king in fact. So, it kind of had all the traits of a tragic tale, and yet he didn't feel sad one little bit.

To him the Iron Born and their iron price no longer held any interest to him. They were a small minded people with even smaller dreams. To do nothing but loot and rape was all they thought about and his father was no better. Wishing to be a king for only a moment was no better than being nothing at all. He would not live that life or let himself be dragged into it. Especially seeing as Robb and Jon had already carved their names into the history book. What with Jon being the first person to actually bring back proof of exploring the Valyrian Peninsula and Robb having won the Battle Under the Gold Tooth. He was behind them now and while he had long since accepted that he would never catch up to Lelouch he refused to lose to them as well.

He needed to do something great, something grand, something amazing and this battle was his first step. His first step to being allowed to attempt to circumnavigate the world. It was a dream that could see him die but if he did it, he would carve his name into history as well. Sure, the Iron Born would be remembered as well but as little more than a nuisance that at one point had conquered the Riverlands for a moment. But that was all they had really ever accomplished.

"Lord Theon, ships have been spotted coming around the cape." Vice Admiral Preytan Cannion told him.

Looking up at the 30 plus year old man Theon smiled. He didn't know a lot about Preytan other than that he was once a sailor who fought under Admiral Ser Royland Dogore during his father's failed rebellion, but the man knew his stuff. A seaman through and through the man could read the wind and the sea better than most Iron Born could claim. Theon honestly respected the man and could see them becoming friends if it wasn't for the fact, he was here to watch him and kill him if he tried to betray the North.

"How many ships?" Theon asks.

"Maybe 150 or 200 ships." Preytan answers him.

That was almost 3 times more ships than he had at his own command Theon thinks to himself. Not that it would matter seeing as of the 52 ships he had at his command two of them were 44-gun frigates, ten 18-gun brigs and the 39 refitted longships carrying 3 small falconet cannons each. That gave him over 300 cannons to use in this upcoming battle and that was not counting the true power of his fleet. That honor belonged to the Grizzly despite it not being complete. While missing half its cannons, some of its rigging, a mast, and its pump system it was a miracle the crew even got her here. But even as is the sister ship of the Northern Star was still a beast and even though it was missing half its guns he could still use her to full effect. All he had to do was move the guns to one side of the ship and all the supplies and ammunition to the other as a counterweight.

Looking up at the flags above him Theon sees that the wind is blowing in a south eastern direction. Which would normally favor the Iron Born who were coming from the North but in this case not so much. "It looks like the wind favors us today. Have the signal flags set to fire as soon as the Grizzly does than be ready to switch them to fire at will."

"Yes milord." The Vice Admiral says then moves to give the order.

Soon the enemy fleet will be within range of the cannons and at the worst possible position. The crossing of the T and with the wind behind the Iron Born there would be no retreating once Theon gave the order to open fire. Gods he just hoped his sister was not among the ships in the front.

And as if the Gods were answering his prayer, she was indeed not at the front of the fleet like she normally would have been. Ever sense her brother had given her that warning Yara had become more than a little cautious. While his warning didn't make any sense to her it did remind her that a lot of Iron Born ships had gone missing around just North of the cape over the past few years. A fact that she had shared with her father who had of course dismissed it as nothing. Luckily enough her uncle Victarion Greyjoy while also thinking her a fool for worrying took her words seriously.

There was also something else that was very wrong. The way the enemy fleet was lined up with their sides facing them in a crescent moon formation wasn't right. It left their sides completely vulnerable to ramming. It was a stupid thing to do unless it was a trap.

Looking down from on top her ships mast Yara commands, "Slow up."

Looking up at their captain like she has lost her mind one of the men says, "But captain we are already falling behind everyone else."

"Shut up you stupid cunt and do as your told. Look at those ships and tell me you don't see something wrong. Even the most brainless fool wouldn't line up their ships like that." Yara yells at the dumb fuck who had questioned her.

Doing as their captain says the crew does look at the strange formation that the enemy has taken. While not the sharpest of men even they knew you didn't face your ships in the direction they were in when an enemy fleet was attacking. With that knowledge in hand and the fact that their captain had their full trust they started to pull up the sails and row backwards to slow up. And they didn't not a moment to soon as right when they didn't Yara heard the sounds of thunder coming from the enemy ships.

A few moments before Yara's crew started to slow up Theon watched as the enemy ships entered within 300 feet of his own ships. It was a risk to let the enemy get this close to his own ships, especially seeing as he had no idea if they had ballista's on bored them like his uncle Euron's did. But it would seem it was a risk worth taking for not ballista bolts have been fired as of yet.

So with a smile on his face Theon yells out, "Open fire."

The Grizzly literally shakes with the awesome power of its cannons and the sound is deafening but it is the damage they case that is truly awe inspiring. He had already seen what the lighter 6-pound cannons could do to a longship and of course the bigger 24's of the Black Pearl, but 32's of the Grizzly seem to left the longships off the water for a moment when they hit with their terrible payload. Perhaps that was just his imagination but regardless as soon as the Grizzly fired all the other ships did as well. Blowing the enemy's front line of ships to pieces.

If what was happing from the Northern Fleets perspective was awe-inspiring than from the ironborn's side, it was a fucking nightmare. Victarion Greyjoy the overall commander of the Iron Fleet had taken his niece's words to heart and had placed his own ship in the 3rd line instead of the first just in case. And it was a fucking good thing he did because almost all the ships of his 1st and 2nd line were now sinking or completely destroyed. Fuck what were those Northern cunts firing at him he wondered as he heard the sound of thunder sound out once again.

"Hard to starboard and raise the flags for a full retreat. Get us out of here." Victarion Greyjoy commands calmly despite water splashing him in the face and the site of his ships getting hit by whatever it was the enemy was firing at them. It was a good thing he was staying calm too, seeing as it allowed him to notice that the enemy ships didn't seem to be aiming to sink his ships so much as trying to cripple them in the water. That could only mean one thing.

"My lord the enemy has risen their sails." One of his men says.

Gritting his teeth Victarion just knew it fucking knew it. The reason why they were not trying to sink his ships and were in a crescent moon formation was so they could trap them from the front than swing around to attack their sides. This would trap his fleet between the cape and the enemy ships leaving the only way out behind them. And with the wind blowing towards the south east it wouldn't be easy to sail backwards.

"Son of a whore!" He yells out and climbs the mast of the ship to get a better look at the enemy ships.

When he was at the top, he immediately saw that none of them had any oars just sails. That would mean they would be slow in swinging around to his side. "Send a signal to the longships on our starboard side to attack the enemy on the left. We have to stop them before they get into position."

It was a desperate gamble and one that would lead those ships and their men to their deaths. Their lives mattered little however compared to the whole fleet. A few stupid cunts were in fact a small price to pay to save the rest of them. Was what he thought right before he heard a whistling sound coming towards him than a loud boom followed by his ship rocking hard on one side. The impact is so great that it was impossible for him to hold on to the mast and he falls from on top of it. Luckily for him he falls to the deck and not the water.

"My lord we been hit on the port side and we are taking on water fast." A man yells at him as Victarion takes deep breaths in an attempt to catch his breath.

"Fucking idiot I don't need to be told that." Victarion all but growls out as he gets up slowly and sees the water spilling over the side of his ship. That one look told him all he needed to know. This ship was going to sink in less than a few minutes and while he didn't fear drowning, he wasn't going to die with out even being given a chance to fight back.

"All of you sons of whores abandon ship. Move to one of the other ships before we go under." Victarion yells at them. He needed to get his men and himself off this ship as quickly as he could and back to the Iron Islands. If he could save half the fleet than perhaps, they could put up a defense against these monster ships. All he really knew was that attacking the North was now impossible.

From her own viewpoint in the back Yara watched as the Iron Fleet was being decimated with ease. So, this was what her brother meant when he told her to flee the moment, she heard the sound of thunder. Shit this was not good. Whatever it was those fucking ships were firing at them they had just changed warfare at sea forever and it was a type of warfare the ironborn were simply not prepared for. Regardless if they were prepared for it or not Yara knew her father would foolishly try and fight those ships head to head anyways. A scenario that would see not only herself, but her crew killed for nothing.

That she would not allow to happen, "Turn the ship around men we are leaving."

One of her men looks at her with no surprise on his face and just asks, "We head back to the Iron Islands captain."

"Don't be stupid. We are head to the Summer Seas." Yara says to him.

"Captain?" All the men at say not believing she wishes them to run away.

Seeing the looks on their faces Yara says, "Listen what do you think my father is going to do once we return to the Iron Islands?"

"He is going to fight." One of the stupider men says.

"Exactly. Now tell me do you believed we can beat those things?" Yara asks them.

Looking back towards where the battle is still on going, they all see how one sided it is.

When she hears no answer Yara goes to the helm of the ship and starts to turn it away from the battle. "I am not about to die for his foolishness nor am I about to sacrifice my crew. Let that fucker die challenging those monsters. We will seek out calmer seas and if we are lucky find away to get in contact with my brother and switch to the winning side."

Now Yara understood all to well why her brother would no side with his family. The time were the ironborn were masters of the see were over. Be it a year, two years or ten years raiding the lands of Westeros successfully was over. Now it was time to look outwards and dare she say change their ways if they wished to survive.

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And end chapter.

Ok that was hard to write. I think this may have been the longest and hardest chapter I have written to date. And I have a headache lol.

Anyway I need some help with Tywin. Despite people telling me over and over again that I was backing myself into a corner or that he wouldn't do this and your going to trap yourself. Well it seems like I didn't listen and ya now I am trap. I mean he has to die but fuck how do I kill the guy. I mean up in till the point he got himself shot by his own son because he couldn't shut up it was actually a smart guy. Thought please send them.

Other than that like always reviews are welcome and till next time stay safe everyone.