Eddard's POV
Petyr turning to help them had been unexpected but as Renly said he sides with one, whom has more powerful and after seeing him turn on the Lannisters like a Sharp knife cutting into the weak meat he had no love or trust for a man who has no honour. It had been a 2 days since the events in the throne room many changes had been made. Cersei and Joffery had been thrown in a cell awaiting trial, along with all Lannister guardsmen who did not resist, the ones who did were killed, the hound along with all the members of the Kingsuard apart from Ser Barristan Selmy who surrender without fighting and King Renly accepted him as Lord Commander of his Kingsguard and Immediately appointed Ser Loras as another member. Tommen and Myrcella Waters have been confined to their rooms and placed under guard. He had made it quite clear to them and to Renly that no harm shall calm to them while he lives.
He was meeting Renly in small council chambers to help decide upon positions, plans and alliances, he had just sent another raven to Robb ordering him to march south as soon as the banners arrive at Winterfell , he will receive more orders at Moat Catlin. Eddard knew it would take at least 2 -3weeks to reach the north of the Riverlands
"Any news from the Tyrells?" he asked approaching King Renly and Lord Jason Mallister, the only member of the previous small council to be asked to remain by King Renly.
"They have agreed to our terms but demand that Lord Mace Tyrell have a seat on the Small council along with another of their banner men, they also suggest another betrothal to strengthen our alliance," replied Lord Mallister
"Whose betrothal would that be?" he asked concerned already knowing the answer.
"Sansa's, I know she has just got out of an awful betrothal with Joffery but the heir of Highgarden is Willas Tyrell a wise and kind man whom has a pleasure for breeding hawks and Horses. I can make this royal order we need to make our alliance with the Tyrells as secure as possible."
"I accept the offer on the condition that I meet Willas beforehand but I am sure she will enjoy Highgarden but she will remain in Kingslanding for a while to recover from this ordeal," he agreed confidently
"Excellent now down to matters at hand, positions on my small council and our strategy in the war ahead, I have already written to the Citadel at Oldtown asking for an appointment of another Grand Maester as I won't have one who is loyal to the Lannisters and not the realm. There is a matter of deciding the Master of coin, Master of Laws and Master of Whispers as Lord Varys is nowhere to be found."
"Question I know he cannot be trusted but Littlefinger did come to our side with the goldcloaks, if we don't keep him or reward him some other way how will it look to other lords and knights," summarised Mallister.
"I agree in principal but I won't have him on the Small council maybe a Lordship of one of the smaller seats in the Westerlands when we conquer them from the Lannisters," agreed Renly
Ned did not like that idea at all but held his tongue knowing it was better than him on the small council.
"I suggest Lord Tyrell as Master of laws and Randyll Tarly or Matthis Rowan as Master of Whispers or Master of Coin or even my Lord Roose Bolton as Master of Whispers. I would suggest Mace Hand but he will have no good advice of his own, this might be out there but Oberyn Martell would make a good hand," he offered knowing the last one would not go down well.
"I agree with all those suggestions, Matthis Rowan will make a good master of coin and it would be good to have someone from the North but Oberyn Martell from Dorne are you mad, they supported the Targaryens and he hated my brother for the murder of Elia, Aegon and Rheanys," exclaimed King Renly sounding annoyed. "Why will you not accept the hand's position, I trust you."
"No your grace, I may be trusted but Cersei said something to me saying that when you play the game of thrones you win or you die. I'm not good at the game of thrones. Anyway the Tyrell's also fought on the side of the Targaryens but here we are with an alliance with them strengthened my 2 marriages. We need to unite the 7 kingdoms; Dorne is the one that will be the hardest apart from the Greyjoy. Yes they hate Robert and the Tyrells have a long and large rivalry with them but you are not Robert and the Tyrells should have no reason to complain if we appoint Oberyn, they will have a Queen, and 2 lords on the Small council as well as a steady alliance with the North. Oberyn wants vengeance for his sister and her children; we can give him that with the defeat of Tywin Lannister and the head of Ser Gregor Clegane." He urged then sighed knowing there was only one way to secure the alliance, "We can offer a betrothal between my daughter Arya and Prince Trystanne, they are about the same age I think." Arya may hate him for this but they needed the Martells not necessarily for the war but for afterwards to hold the peace and maybe he could convince her of the good side, she would need to get betrothed eventually and she had always loved the tales of Dornish ladies hopefully she can see this is the best option.
Renly laughed "Arya she is a wild one they will love her down in Dorne. I will take this matter under advisement, but enough about my council on to the war plans I have my Stormlords mustering our troops, 10,000 will arrive here within a week to strengthen defences and secure my claim on the throne and the other 30,000 troops will meet at Bronzegate, Lord Mallister what news of the Riverlands?"
It's not them loving Arya he is worried about; it is her loving them he thought, but he put that thought to the back of his mind and listened intently to Lord Mallisters report.
"Your Grace it is grave news, Tywin Lannister mustered his 40,000 troops at Catserly Rock and split them up into 2 hosts. The first host of 25,000 commanded by Tywin himself, he smashed Lord Beric's Dondarrion tiny force at Mummersford, we believe none survived, then has lead his forces taking voer the south of the trident and Lady Whent surrendered Harrenhal due to lack of defenders he is now amassing at the Ruby Ford. The other host of 15,000 marched to the Golden tooth and destroyed the riverland force of 4000 guarding the border led by Lord Piper and Lord Vance. The force was so small due to the confusion created by Ser Gregor Clegane's raiding force, many lords were taking troops to mass at Riverrun when the Mountains force raided the lord retreated back to their lands to defend them, Clegane has burned out Pipers and the Brackens at Pinkmaiden Castle and Stone Hedge respectively slaughtering their small folk. A the moment the smaller Lannsiter host commanded by the Kingslayer has attacked the force amassed at Riverrun and scatted them capturing Edmure and many other lords, Lord Tytos Blackwood managed to get some forces in Riverrun and they are being laid siege too. Lord Piper is leading guerrilla attacks against the Lannisters. The situation is dire the only 2 remaining Lords with enough forces are myself, my son is currently retreating back to Seaguard with our 1,500 men and the Freys at the twins who have yet to answer any ravens and have not moved their force of 4000 strong," he concluded finishing his report.
The Late Lord Frey lives up though his name, he thought, then spoke, " My force and your force will be the first ones to get into the fight, the reach will be at least a week or 2 behind us, I suggest that my force cross at the Twins instead of meeting Tywin at the Ruby Ford which he will easily be able to defend, Robb can then send a token force to attack Tywin while the main force of cavalry leads a sneak attack on Jamie's forces and then lifts the siege of Riverrun they may have to adapt this plan depening on Lannister force movements by the time they get there, Jason your son can lead Seaguard forces to join up with Robb's at the Twins. The Stormlords can attack Tywin's forces from behind while we distract him with a token force and I suggest the Reach march up the Ocean Road and attack Crakehall, although well defend reach will have superior numbers they will then be in striking distance of Lannisport and Casterly Rock, Redwyne should take the Arbor Fleet and move to attack Lannisport."
Renly looked at Eddard and he could tell that Renly had no experience when it came to battle tactics and all he said was "Excellent Plan, Lord Mallister make the arrangements and send the raven, you will take the royal fleet and meet up with Redwynes fleet and lead the navy attack. Stark send a raven to your son and I will send raven to the Reach accepting their terms and announcing the small council and one to Dorne propping an alliance."
"Your Grace out of Interest who will command the stormlords now you are king and who will take your seat at Storm's End," he asked wondering what the King's plans were.
"You Lord Eddard will lead the Stormlords into battle you will leave to meet the at the Bronzegate as soon as able and with regards to Storm's End and the Stormlands I have a couple of ideas, I will leave a Castellan in charge for now as Blackfish looks after Dragonstone for me but I have thought of legitimizing either Gendry or Edric Storm as long as they give away all claim to the throne or I will keep ti for one of my children or award it to a Lord's second son who distinguishes himself in this battle"
Eddard only nodded and bowed and was about to leave to send Ravens and talk to his daughters when Ser Loras cam running in shouting "My Grace my Grace a reply from your raven to Lord Tywin."
Renly took the letter in his hands opened it and read it and simply laughed.
He recalled the terms Renly had sent to Lord Tywin straight after seizing the Throne, telling him the news of his daughters and grandchildren capture, Renly's rise to the throne and orders to return his army to the Westerlands and then bring himself, his 2 sons, Ser Gregor Clegange and Ser Amory Lorch to the capital to answer for war crimes and give tribute to the Riverlords for the loss of their land, he wondered what Tywin had said to make Renly laugh, he knew Tywin would never surrender unless defeated, he was one of the most feared lords in Westeros but even he must know the odds are against him.
King Renly handed him the piece of paper and simply said "the fool."
He looked down at the parchment and saw only 4 word they read:
"The Rains of Castermere!"
He found his 2 daughters in the tower of the hand Sansa was still annoyed at him for ending his marriage to Joffery even though she had found out he was truly and Arya was practising with Syrio Florel her dancing master.
"Sansa I have some good news you have a new betrothal."
She perked up at that he saw "Who is it, is it Renly will I still be queen?" she asked excitedly.
"No Renly has been bethrothed to Margaery Tyrell, any way that would be a loveless marriage, you have been betrothed to the heir of Highgarden one of the most powerful houses in Westeros, I hear he is a kind and educated but he does have a bad leg but can still walk. You will stay here for a few weeks then when it safer on the road I will personally accompany you to Highgarden or he will come here first."
"Thank you father, I love you, she said getting off the chair and giving him a hug.
Well that went better than he had thought it would but defiantly if Arya's betrothal was accepted she might not take it as well.
Author's Note
I hope everyone is enjoying my story please offer any feedback or suggestions or mistakes I have made also so people know Shireen Baratheon was never born and here are the ages of certain people I have raised a few of them to make it easier for me to write for them although they are younger than their counterpart sin the tv series, I will add more when it is necessary;
Renly 21
Willas 23
Garlan 20
Loras 17
Margery is 16
Robb is 17
Sansa 15
Arya 12
Bran 10
Rickon 7
I am also looking for a beta reader if anyone knows anyone or is interested pls let me know