Author's note Yes I already posted this chaper but after rereading it a few times, part of it suddenly didn't feel right. So I reposted it ther changes are their is you pay attention.

The Sparrow Uprising

Myrcella's return was one of the most joyous private events in Roland's memory. Sansa was happy to have her friend back and Tommen was glad to be reunited with his sister. Mother hadn't smiled since Roland had confined her but when Myrcella came in her smile was the widest he had seen in a long time. Roland made a personal note to punch Tyrion for sending her to Dorne. His uncle's little idea nearly got his sister killed. But regardless, Roland still wished for his return someday.

As promised, Roland reinstated Maegor's Law forbidding the Faith from taking arms. It came as no surprise that the Sparrows chose defiance. Roland renamed his Renegades the Rangers and reformed the Royal Guard. The Kingsguard was disbanded and rebuilt into a much larger force. To fill the ranks of the new order, Roland called upon archers and hedge knights, due to his expierience with knights like Boros Blount and Meryn Trant, Roland was less trusting of other knights and felt that hedge knights would take honor a duty more seriously. Having nothing to loose it was little wonder that many Hedge knighta all across westeros rallied to Roland's banner. To temper his new force, Roland tasked his most seasoned Renegades, namely Sandor Clegane and Anguy with the training of the recruits.

Roland was fond of dogs seeing as his closest companion was one, He also understood how important they could be due to their sharper senses and near unwavering loyalty so another addition to the Rangers was the dogs from the kennels who often accompanied a guard or two. Due to the change in attire, the commoners were no longer able to call them Gold-Cloaks and now referred to them as Watchmen

The City Watch had also been drastically changed, by the time Roland had returned from his campaign in the North, the city watch numbered 4,000 men and only a fourth of them were true soldiers. Roland had increased this number to 10,000 strong, all had experience fighting. Most hailed from the Reach, Westerlands and Stormlands. For his service in rescueing Myrcella, Roland named Bronn the Lord Commander of the City Watch.

The order's infamous gold cloaks were replaced by less flashy brown ones with hoods. Their arms and armor was changed. Their chail mail was replaced by a breastplate and sallet helms. Their armament included a Longsword, a dirk, a round metal shield and a short stabbing spear with a long sword-like head.

Roland knew that the sparrows would eventually want to improve their weapons. The Great sept was dangerously close to the forges. So before he set out his declaration Roland marched into the street of steel and confiscated any weapons and the forges closed down. The armorers and smiths were compensated for their losses and urged not to give in to the demands of the Sparrows.

Once Maegor's law was reinstated The sparrows rose up in a frenzy. Omong the new faith militant, 100 knights had joined the Warrior's Sons they acted as the guards of the great Sept. Fighting had broken out evrrywhere in the city between the Sparrows and the new City Watch. Not Long after Mycrella's return The High Sparrow came to Roland. Accompanying him was Septa Unella, the woman he had struck when he liberated the Tyrells.

Roland put on a show, warmly greeting them and offering bread and salt. Once they took their seats, Roland poured each of them water."

"You don't drink wine?" The High Sparrow began curiously. "That is a rare thing for a noble

Roland shook his head. "Wine dulls the senses and slows the mind. After what it did to my father, well without wine my mind is clear to focus on other matters, like attacks from the outside." Roland took a sip from his glass, "in any case I lost the tase for it."

The High Sparrow smiled, "that is something we have in common. I always believed our minds are temples to the seven and should be kept pure."

Roland returned the smile, "If that was so that we would have no need for Septs now would we?" Roland took another draft, "how may I help you today your holiness?"

The High Sparrow's face darkened, "We heard that you are ordering the Swords and Stars to disband."

Roland nodded, "I have and I suppose you are here to decline my terms."

"You cannot disband the Swords and Stars your grace," objected.

"I can, I will and I believe I just did," Roland quipped. "Or does a decree from your king mean nothing."

"It means a great deal to me," the High Sparrow replied with a smile. "The Crown and the Faith are the twin pillars of the world. Do you know who told me that?" Roland rolled his eyes and smirked, "Your mother."

"Well everyone is entitled to saying at least one moronic thing in their life," Roland quipped

"We were armed by decree of your mother your grace."

Roland smirked, "my mother, is currently confined in her chambers until she has learned humility your Holiness."

This surprised the High Sparrow, "you would arrest your own mother?"

Roland shrugged, "arrest is a strong word, but she needs to understand she no longer wields power anymore."

"The Swords and Stars is a holy army that protects the bodies and minds of the common people."

Roland scoffed silently, "you people use words like Holy, and Sacred, Heresy and Pagan. But the thing is those words are matters of perspective. The Swords and Stars symbolize only violence and blood, they bring only death and destruction wherever they go. Holy men who practice violence are not holy at all. If you live by the sword you will die by the sword."

The High Sparrow sighed, "your are correct your grace," he said simply. Roland raised an eyebrow and the High Sparrow continued. "They are not holy men none of us are. We are all sinners in the light of the seven. Those men now atone for their sins by serving as protecters of the faith."

"It is good of you to admit that" Roland repied. "But those sinners are not worthy of representing the seven's army."

"That is not for you to judge."

"I could say the same for you," Roland quipped. He took a deep breath and continued, "I wish I had met you before turn turned into this. From what I understand you served food to the poor in the city and gave them your own shoes. Now I look at you and find it hard to believe you are that same man. As a gesture of respect for than man I will make the offer one last time. Disband the Faith Militant and you will remain the High Septon of the Great Sept, your men shall be pardoned and remain servants of the Seven. Go back to serving the smallfolk soup, and end this needless bloodshed."

The High Sparrow shook his head sadly, "That is a generous offer and I must admit I should accept it. But I cannot tell my men to lay down their arms until those who have broken the sacred laws are punished."

"Meaning the Tyrells?"

The High Sparrow nodded, "and your mother and wife as well."

Roland's face twisted in confusion, "what does my mother have do do with anything."

"Your mother is accused of fornication, treason, incest and the murder of your father."

Roland cracked a false smile, "and what proof do you have of such vile accusations."

"Testemony from your cousin Lancel."

To the High Sparrow and Septa Unella's surprise Roland threw his head back and laughed. "Lancel?" He asked, "that pathetic little wretch that you convinced into joining your little crusade? I fear you will have to do better than that."

"Lancel is your cousin, your grace."

Rland hmphed, "last I checked that insolent lamb has denounced his family in favour of you. He has made it clear that we are no longer his family."

"Your wife worships pagan gods, that is Blasphemy against the Seven Pointed Star."

"Sansa has done no wrong, your holiness," Roland said darkly. "So unless you have any real crimes to condemn her of, you will leave her be." Roland got up and leaned into his ear. Septa Unella got up but the High Sparrow stopped her. Roland gave the large woman a smirk before whispering. "Even if I was stupid enough to swallow you accusations against my mother, which I don't. I would sooner dance with the Stranger before I hand her over to you. Sinner or not she is still my mother, I love her, my wife as well and I will protect them. Especially from a cult of fanatical barefooted hypocrits."

The High Sparrow's face softened as he gave roland a sad smile, though he tried to remain calm, "Their is a great deal of falsehood in Cersei surely you must see it, Yet whenever she speaks of you or Tommen or Myrcella, the Mother's love outshines it all."

Roland frowned "I recognize no love from the 'mother above' High Sparrow. You people jabber on about how all love, justice and goodness flows from the seven. But the only source I have seen of those things came from man, not by any god."

Roland could see that his eyes were burning with anger, he relished in the High Sparrow's discomfort. "If war is your desire than you shall have it, but let it be known that I tried to resolve this peacefully. Now, are you sure you are ready to play this game?"

The High Sparrow smiled, "We have nothing to loose King Roland. Every one of us is poor and powerless yet together we can overthrow an empire."

Roland chuckled, "that is very poetic of you. I admit you are correct, together you could overthrow a great power. But you are forgetting something, their is a difference between what a person CAN do and what a person WILL do. The people are struggling to recover from one of the most devastating wars in the history of Westeros. With a long and harsh winter coming, you may have many on your side but I doubt the people will be in the mood for a fight?" The High Sparrow was silent not knowing how to respond to that. Roland continued. "But I'm in a generous mood, let's say that the people decide to join your crusade. How many would that be. Half a million people in the city, about a third of which are men 160,000, take out the old the sick, the fat and the weak, that would leave you with 100,000. A good number and it does outnumber my City watch, but numbers do not equal victory. It is better to have five Eagles than five hundred sparrows. You command many sparrows your holiness, but no eagles. You would be surprised how fast a herd of hundreds can scatter at the sight of a single predators. may only have 10,000 men but You forget it only took my grandfather 1,000 men to sack this city. And back then it was defended by the city watch and Targaryen loyalist forces."

Before the High Sparrow could reply a cluster of loud barking could be heard, The High Sparrow and Septa Unella stood up, "What is that?"

Roland calmly looked in the direction of the barking, "It seems the newest additions to the Royal Guard have caught some uninvited guests." Roland smiled malisiously, "still all manners dictate that I give them a proper welcome."

The High Sparrow and Unella followed Roland to a certain battlement. There, seven armed sparrows were facing a pack of large snarling dogs accompanied by Rangers with drawn bows.

Roland turned to the High Sparrow amused, "was this your plan Your Holiness? Sneek assassins into my home while I offer you peace? Is this how the Faith works now?"

The High Sparrow glared at Roland, "justice must be served your Grace, one way or another we will see it done."

Roland gave a curt not and the Rangers seized both the High Sparrow and Septa Unella." He smiled and approached the cornered militants. "Tell me little birds how do you wish to die?"

"You cannot kill us, the High Sparrow protested, "you gave us bread and salt, we have the protection of the Guest Right."

Roland smirked, "I have no intention on harming you, High Sparrow, I honor ther guest right." Roland turned to the sparrows, "they on the other hand have no such previlige."

Roland turned back to the High Sparrow and grinned before giving a short whistle. A soon as the dogs heard the whistle they lunged at the Sparrows. Roland made the High Sparrow and Septa Unella watch as their seven brothers were ripped apart and devoured by Roland's pack.

Roland then whispered in the High Sparrow's ear, "you were a great man once, when you stood for something true and just. Now you are corrupted, power has poisoned your thoughts. You started this game your holiness, now watch me finish it."

Roland dismissed the High Sparrow and the Septa , then he went to see the merchants and Brothel Owners encouraging them to reopen their businesses with assurances that they will be protected this time. Given Roland's reputation for keeping his word they agreed.

The next day the Sparrows awoke to fing merchants selling wine and statues of Idols as well as the Brothels back in action. Without hesitation they grabbed their weapons and marched to shut them down and teach the merchants a lesson. This was just what Roland was hoping for and set his traps. When the Sparrows entered the Market, the merchants hastily put away their merchendise. But when the sparrows closed in the area was swarmed by Roland's new city watch. The new recruits would have their first test against the Faith militant and an easy one. Outnumbered and poorly equiped, the sparrows were easy prey for their hardened foes. The Watchmen surrounded them and hacked them to pieces. The Sparrow Uprising had begun.

The same story was at the brothels, the Sparrows rushed in only to find that the 'customers were Watchmen and more were hidden in wait. Though the Watchmen did sustain a few casualties, the sparrows face only annihilation. Sparrows were easy to find due to their carved foreheads and attire.

All throughout the city the Watchmen ambushed Sparrows wherever they could be found. Their short spears made effective tight quarters weapons. In response to the attacks, the Sparrows marched through the street of steel to obtain weapons. But all they could get were mere hand fulls. seeing as Roland had cleared them out earlier. Once it was realised that Roland was using these places as bait to kill their brothers, the sparrows became wary of entering and soon Merchants and brothels were able to conduct their business without incident.

In one ambush, Roland personally confronted his cousin Lancel. Lancel and Roland came face to face, Roland grinned as Lancel's eyes widened in fear. "Hello cousin" Roland drawled. After a brief struggle between the two parties, Roland grabbed Lancel by the throat and dragged him back to the Red Keep. "It seems I will have to teach you a lesson about family values," Roland sneered

The mood of the commoners was divided, all over the city the people chose sides. Those that supported the High Sparrow believed he was a man of the people and genuinely cared for them. These men all ended up joining the Sparrows and were completely loyal to the cause. Those that supported the king said he was only trying to safeguard his family and was doing his best to correct their mistakes. Many remembered the retribution Roland gave the Ironborn and the Freys.

Most of the populance however just wanted to stay out of the way, and not get involved for fear of being victimized by either side. When the High Sparrow called on these people to help fight with the Faith militant, most simply asked "Why?" The Lannisters were hated but what cause did they have to fight Roland. He never wronged them, he didn't usurp the crown and he certainly wasn't a bastard. But his best atribute was his independence from Cersei's control. "Better a singled Baratheon, than a Cersei pawn like Tommen." They also pointed out.

Across westeros, the seven kingdoms eyes the conflict in the capitol with interest, most supported their King. The North and the Riverlands of course thanks to him dethroning their hated overlords. The Westerlands ans Stormlands due to his family ties to them and the Reach after he had rescued their beloved Lady Margaery and Ser Loras.

The High Sparrow realized that this would not be as easy as he once believed. The people were tired of war and wanted to prepare for the coming winter. The Faith militant was loosing soldiers faster than the High Sparrow could recruit them. If this pace continued this Faith Miliant would soon face the EndGame.