I apologise for the delay. Real life got in the way and then I learned that leaving your laptop near your toddler niece even if you are going to bathroom is not a great idea.

Thanks to@Preierfor beta reading this chapter.

You know when I heard of smallfolk uprising, my mind immediately went towards the French Revolution.

I thought that this was like this, people fed up with corrupted nobles and rising up for their rights.

But I was wrong. Oh, these bandits did spread tales about nobility's corruption and wanted people to rise but it did not seem like they had any idea about what they would do if the highborns are toppled.

That did not mean they were not organised. They were, remarkably so.

They recruited youngsters, especially the ones from remote villages. They filled their heads with the idea that their lives would be better if it weren't for Lords.

They were trained in their village by only one trainer. That trainer was their only connection to the organisation. The trainer himself knew only enough for him to do his job.

Even before the attack on Jeyne I had sent men to try and infiltrate this group. But even after a year they could not provide me any worthwhile information because they were not trusted much.

But they were able to tell me why Jeyne was attacked.

The Rat, the Hawk and the Pig used the greed and corruption of the Lords to get the smallfolk to work with them.

And I was a problem.

Despite my own less than stellar reputation, my schemes were well received by the people.

They said the Lords hoarded all the gold but I poured money like water on my projects, with roads and new fleet for all to see and also increasing employment.

They said the Highborn didn't care about anyone else. But Jeyne used Casterly Rock's gold to build septs and orphanages not only in Lannisport but also in the lands surrounding Casterly Rock and Marbrand lands.

They said that Lords taxed them unjustly but I had removed a lot of unnecessary taxes levied upon poor people. Which was easy actually. It was obvious the Masters of Coin were appointed for political reasons and seeing how a lot of Lords looked down on 'counting coppers'...

In fact most of the economic reforms were done during the reigns of Jaehaerys I, Aegon III, Viserys II and Daeron II.

But back to the matter. The Westerlands were prospering, though at a slow rate. The trade had increased, the new fleet and the Western Guard gave people a sense of protection. The life of smallfolks was only going to get better and the word was spreading.

So not only was I proving them wrong but my schemes were also affecting their recruitment and plans.

The attack on Jeyne was a desperate gambit. They rightly assumed that if something were happen to Jeyne, I would become ruthless, cruel or reckless in order to get revenge and thus reinforce my cruel image.

But they failed. The people of Lannisport were especially angry at them for trying to harm their beloved Lady Jeyne.

But while I had left my father to rule and organised an army... I still had no idea where they were operating from.

So I turned towards sellswords. I knew the bandits were hiring them, though I wondered where they got the gold, so it was easy to get them in. Seeing how they already knew how to fight, it would only take some time to get an important position.

But, from what I got, the Rat was apparently in charge and was a paranoid bastard.

In the meanwhile I started improving my public image.

I visited every town and village in Westerlands that was on the map.

The people at first were scared but their fear often subsided after a while. I dispensed justice, settled disputes, talked with the person in charge and listened to people's problems.

Hells, after giving the same speech again and again I could recite it in my sleep now.

Also my tour encouraged local Lords to visit their lands and clean the house, so to speak.

Meanwhile Ser Rupert and Aubrey led the Western Guard around to make sure the terrible trio received harsh responses.

And then finally, after months, I got the word from my sellswords.

"They are hiding in one of the dried mines near the border." I said to all the occupants of the room while pointing the location in the map.

I was currently in Lord Brax's home at Hornvale.

"Aren't those the lands of House Drox, bannermen of Braxs?" Ser Rupert said snidely while looking at Lord Brax.

Flement Brax was a tall man with long grey hair and blue eyes. The former Master of Laws had a leaner build than his son and heir Wilbert, who stood beside him.

The man did not deem fit to reply to the Crakehall Knight. I knew he and the old Knight were not very fond of each other.

But his son replied, "If they know about this, they will certainly be punished."

It seemed like Ser Rupert was about to say something but I intervened before things got out of hand.

"How did we not know about this?" I asked everybody.

"Those mines have been abandoned since before the conquest, my lord. Records of them are likely lost." It was Lord Brax's maester who responded.

"Not only that but they have also apparently dug another exit, from which they can access Riveroad." Aubrey informed everyone.

"Is there any chance we can lure them out? Fighting them in the mines will be bloody." Lord Brax spoke.

"No, we can't. After the recent setbacks the Rat has apparently become paranoid. He keeps all his experienced men close." Ser Rupert answered.

I sighed as I said, " It seems we have no other choice. There is no way I am letting them-"

"Can't we just seal of the mines." All the eyes turned towards the figure beside Aubrey.

Jason looked at me with a conflicted expression.

"We can." I began before anyone else could say something. "If they are nice enough to let us choke them to death. Or maybe the Gods would be nice enough to cause a landslide."

I know I was being rude.

"Back to the matter. We will gather men in small groups in different areas. Our man in the inside was nice enough to give us the location of their watchtowers."

"I will lead the main force myself in Drox lands while Lord Brax will move through the hills with Leffords to block the other exit and cut of their retreat." I looked towards the old Lord who, by the look on his face, understood that he and I were going to have long talk about his bannerman.

"We attack at dusk in a fortnight." Seeing the assent of everybody in the room, I said, "You all may leave. Jason, stay behind."

The moment everybody else had left the room Jason stood up with a determined expression and said, " Brother, I know I was out of bounds. But all of you were talking about sending men to their death so easily, I had to-"

"Sit down." I said as I moved to grab a bottle of wine. Jason shut up and sat down.

I plopped down on the chair opposite him and asked, "What do you know about the role of our family in the Battle of Wendwater."

"Well Tion, as our elder brother, was one of the commanders. He was forced to engage the enemy flank but he died. You then led the men against the Blackfyres' forces and killed Bittersteel." He rattled off.

"That version is full of shit." I told him as he spluttered.

"Tion and I were too inexperienced to be given a meaningful command, so we were told to stay put, wait for the battle to end and to cut down tired and beaten men when they would try to escape." I told him as I poured myself some wine.

"But Tion, in his infinite wisdom, decided to ignore this and charge into the enemy flank, leaving me no choice but to follow him." I took a sip of the wine while Jason looked at me with wide eyes.

"Without that, the casualties of the battle would have been at most a hundred. But in the end I lead nearly 200 men to their death. And that haunted me for more than a while."

I licked my lips and said something cringe worthy that I had always wanted to say.

"With Great power come great Responsibility."

"Being a noble gives you great power but even your smallest decision can affect the lives of hundreds or thousands of people. Your one mistake could lead to the death of all those under you. That is one thing most noble don't realise."

"And that is something we must get used to."

I drank the rest of wine in one big sip and got up.

"Unlike me you don't have a reputation to uphold, nor do you have to prove yourself to a bunch of old men. So you don't have to be there if you are not fine with it"

I patted his shoulder, leaving the room with Jason deep in his thoughts.