A/N: I did mention the battle would take place over more than one chapter. The next chapter will contain more of the action. I preferred this time to show the three POV's and try and capture a little more complete picture rather than what I have done in the past where you have one POV but only get parts of it. I referred to chapters and a map of Kings Landing during the writing but if errors remain please tell me. I am no expert on battle strategy, you can probably tell :D

Chapter 78: Connington | Aegon | Arya

Connington

Jon Connington woke with the sound of those infernal bells still ringing in his ears and the image of the whore before his eyes. Seeing her had made something snap inside him. The stupid girl was so proud that Robert had been in her mother's bed while Jon had been looking for him. She represented everything he hated about Stoney Sept. She looked like him and even though he knew his own pride had contributed to his failure, her mother and that town had sheltered Robert. If they had not been traitors Jon would not have failed. His stiff fingers still twitched as he remembered her struggling.

She should have stayed in Stoney Sept. If I had not seen her I would never have...

He shook his head to try to clear his thoughts. Aegon had not asked him but Jon saw the suspicion on his face. It did not matter at the time. The other men did not care. Nobody cared about the unacknowledged bastard daughter of the usurper. Robert Baratheon and his descendants, bastards too, symbolised the enemy. Only Arya Stark made a stand over it. Aegon had been wroth about their exchange. He came to Jon, livid about the Stark girl comparing him to Robert.

He did nothing to mend the rift. He encouraged it and felt no guilt. The prince was nothing like the usurper. The comparison was ludicrous. Aegon needed to pull away from Arya. He would be King. It was so close now that Jon could see it. He could almost picture Aegon on the throne that should have been Rhaegar's. The image was tinged with bitterness at the current situation. They had proceeded well until Harrenhal. He remembered Arya Stark confronting him. He underestimated her once again. He wished he never stopped her to tell her she must leave soon.

She manipulated me. She knew Aegon was there.

The prince would not forgive what he saw as a betrayal. That girl is his weakness. Every time they spoke Aegon's tone held poorly concealed bitterness. The other men heard it. They questioned what the problem was but thankfully the prince did insist on proceeding with the attack on King's Landing. Arya had not returned to him, Jon had seen that.

It will not be much longer. He will not continue to bear the grudge once we reap the fruits of our labours. The throne is almost his.

Doubts still nagged at him though. Before the girl, Aegon was focused on the task. Taking back his rightful crown was the utmost priority. He still became incensed about the Lannisters. He still had that fire, that drive to root them out but he also did not care for the crown as he once did. It was important to him but it didn't hold quite the same charm. It was no longer his only aim. He wanted the girl too.

Jon needed him to move past it. He did not have the time he once thought. Death no longer just crept up his arm. It had gone further than that now. It was becoming much harder to hide it and he saw by that one glance that the Stark girl knew. He worked hard putting preparations into place for the assault on the city. They needed to take it and quickly, with minimal damage.

Aegon cannot take charge of a city by destroying it.

Harry Strickland was his same cautious self. They did not have time for caution. The Dornish plans on the other hand tended towards recklessness. Connington tread a fine line between both courses. The city would fall, that much was certain. The men were guiding the rams they fashioned closer to the city in the strategic places he chose, ready to act on his command. A buzz spread through the camp as the others readied themselves, eating, farewelling the camp followers and donning armour for battle.

Jon steeled himself as he strode towards Aegon's tent. He paused before pulling the flap back and stepping inside. Aegon didn't notice him. He was locked in a passionate embrace with Arya Stark. Connington knew instantly she had shared the prince's bed that night. Her arms were around his neck and she was standing on her toes. Her hair was an uncombed mess. Aegon had one hand clutching her waist and the other at her buttocks. They didn't even part when he cleared his throat. He fumed at being made to feel like an intruder.

They finally separated with clear reluctance, Aegon trying to force some promise of restraint from the girl. Connington managed to hold back from snorting. She will do what she wants. He watched the person responsible for his rift with the prince reach up and touch Aegon's jaw tenderly.

"Make peace."

Aegon frowned at Connington as Arya slipped out of his hold and began to make her way to the exit of the tent. She pulled her hood up and gave a small nod in his direction but he could not accept the peace offering.

"You could have cost him everything being seen like that."

Arya narrowed her eyes. "Do you really think I did not hear you coming my lord?"

Jon opened his mouth to respond but Aegon cut in. "That is enough my lord." The prince watched until the Stark girl was gone. He turned his attention to Connington once she left their sight. "How go the preparations."

Connington paused a moment, taking in the prince's tense body language. "Everything is in place."

Aegon cleared his throat and paced a little. "Tell me the plans again." When Connington gave him a sharp look the prince clenched his jaw. "I value your counsel in these matters my lord" he said stiffly. Each word seemed grudging. "I always have."

Grudging or not, Connington accepted the offering. As he spoke he saw Aegon calming. The prince nodded at intervals, adding his own input. Jon watched the prince move to sit on a stool and followed his lead. He declined to comment on the love bite visible on Aegon's neck. The prince appeared happier than he had been even with the usual signs of agitation from impending battle.

This is her influence.

Jon knew the girl was the reason Aegon made this effort. Her prodding him helped but the grudge had been caused not just by Jon's counsel but also her distance. Now that she was close again the prince was warmer. It still cannot be. He held his tongue but it did not change what must be.

When Aegon stood, Connington knew they were done.

"Have you broken your fast?" Aegon asked.

Jon nodded. "What of you?"

Aegon shook his head. "I have no appetite for food."

Connington tensed and got to his feet. "It is time then." He hesitated before extending a gloved hand. Aegon paused before clasping his arm.

"Be safe my lord."

Connington saw him reach for his helm before echoing the sentiment. He looked back into the pavilion as he left, passing Nymeria Sand. With the helm in place Aegon was the image of Rhaegar in his armour.

He must not share his fate.

Aegon

Aegon knew there would be some time yet before his turn in combat came. A squire held the reins of a chestnut stallion, keeping the horse still for him to mount. Once ahorse he kept his visor raised so that he might see, not that there was anything to see yet. Aegon would command from the rear. It was the place Lord Connington knew well and his counsel rang in Aegon's ears still.

From a distance Aegon could not see the ram being brought up to the gates of the city. He did hear it though. The sound was faint but distinct, the crash of wood on wood. It had been determined that there would be three points of breach into the city, the King's gate, the Gate of the Gods and the Iron gate. Aegon knew what he heard was the assault on the King's gate. Similar scenes would be underway at the other gates, a strategy aimed to divide the forces within the city.

His attention wandered briefly to Arya as he rode along the line of men who would join the assault when the gate gave way. He exchanged words with each, taking in the sigils they wore. The Stark banner flew somewhere in the distance, within the group targeting the Gate of the Gods. Arya would be with them likely doing the same thing he was now. The men each offered him smiles and boasts but he barely heard them with the blood pounding in his ears.

A messenger approached quickly, breathless and blustering.

"Your grace, the gate will not hold much longer but Lord Connington has requested the next wave of men. The forces within have begun taking action to disperse the attack."

Aegon nodded. It was not at all unexpected. He shouted the command and heard it echo down the line. The men did not hesitate and even with the day being cloudy, their armour glistened as they rode forth, their colourful cloaks whipping and flapping in the wind as they picked up speed. He watched them shrink into the distance and began to prepare the next wave of reinforcements. It was difficult. They wanted action now rather than later and Aegon shared the sentiment.

Time seemed to pass slowly. His initial lack of appetite passed and he gave in and ate from the minimal food on offer. Messengers came and went. They described the scene at the wall of the city and Aegon's mind wandered again briefly trying to imagine what it looked like. They had lost men already he knew. The city defenders were strategically placed to attack those they could reach as they tried to breach the gates. The attempts to disperse his men would fail. Lord Connington had especially selected them. They would not break and run.

He heard the gate give way. The cracking sound of splintering wood echoed over the distance and the cheers from the men travelled down the lines until it reached those around Aegon. He felt his heart beat a little faster. He took a quick swallow of water and dropped the visor on his helm. At his shout, his battle guard drew closer. Nymeria Sand was amongst them despite his initial protests. Connington had been displeased too but she would not be denied.

"My father trained me to fight. I am going to fight with you cousin."

She and Arya both weighed on his mind. Both were to keep to the rear and he hoped it meant minimal chance of them being caught up in combat. War was no place for a woman, even women like Arya and Nym. Personal guards might keep them safe but if the enemy reached them, death was not the only fear Aegon held. He knew what happened to women when cities fell.

Even our own men may not be innocent in that regard.

He watched and saw the men breach the city. The warhorn sounded, a long low blast to signal not only to Aegon that they had broken the gate but also to send the signal to those at the other gates. He heard men shout his name. The sound was a familiar one. This was not his first battle but it was the one which would make him King in truth.

He nudged his horse forward, not to enter the city as yet but to gain a better vantage point for command. They were too far away. He saw the men more clearly as he drew closer, rushing through the broken gate to kill those within or die trying. The clash of steel on steel echoed, he heard cries of "Lannister" as well as "Targaryen".

The warhorn sounded again and this time, after only a short delay there was an answering blast. It carried faintly on the air but it was unmistakeable. Another gate has been breached. He wondered briefly if it was the Dornish or whether it was the Northern and Riverlands crew. When the wolves howled he knew. The sound sent a shiver through him and he imagined what it must sound like to those within the city.

The messenger arrived not long after and Aegon braced himself for the news. He recognised the young man as one from the Northern army.

"They broke through the gate, your grace" the young man said proudly.

"What of Arya" Aegon prompted, forgetting titles for the moment. "I heard the wolves." The young man hesitated and Aegon tensed. "Tell me" he demanded.

"The queen still has her battle guard" he said slowly.

Aegon did not need to hear the rest. "She has joined the battle."

The messenger raised his head proudly. "She said her father and her brother would not hide while the men fought and died."

Her words Aegon knew. He dismissed the messenger and nudged his horse forward, giving the command to advance. He had been patient long enough. He saw Nym grin under the half helm she wore and the Targaryen banner whipped in the wind as they approached the fray.

Arya

Arya had sat motionless in her saddle as they rammed the gate. She summoned her training, restraining herself to watching until the time came to act. The Blackfish remained close by her side. She could not see his face and his voice was muffled under his helm. She did not need to see him to know his thoughts.

They wanted her to command from a distance and she agreed to it at first. Her guards kept close. The Skagosi looked wary and she knew the city must seem foreign to him. She reassured him in the old tongue. Thoros looked very grave but he stayed close too. Her uncle advised her that she must speak with the men, let them see her and hear her so they were reminded who they were fighting for.

"They fight for my father and my brother" Arya replied. "They fight for those no longer here."

The Blackfish nodded and she sensed he smiled under his helm. "That is so but they also fight for you. You represent House Stark."

Arya said nothing in response but the first seed of doubt took root in her mind. She rode amongst the men, speaking with all she could in the time that remained. There seemed a lot of time until suddenly there was none. Those wielding the ram were mostly Golden Company men under the command of Lord Connington. Once their part was done, her own men had to act. The splintering of the wood as the hinges gave way signalled the beginning.

She heard the sound of the warhorn a little before the ram finished its work. The Blackfish told her what it meant. There should have been an answer from the men stationed at the Gate of the Gods but those within the city chose that moment to launch more stones over the wall. Even from a distance away Arya heard the crunch of impact. She kept her face still.

"They will not break" Ser Brynden told her. "They are too seasoned for that. We have numbers on our side and once inside the city we will have the advantage."

We have numbers on our side. Her uncle did not sound cheerful but neither was he particularly bothered either. Arya wondered whether those lying under those stones were men she had japed with, whether she had sparred with them or had dinner with them. They might even have pursued her at one point, telling her of their wish for a home in Westeros and offering to make a home with her. Her refusal of their suit did not make it feel any more wrong.

The final crack of the wood as the ram finished its work was followed by shouts of "Winterfell" and "Targaryen". Arya gave the command for the first reserves of her men to join those entering the city. Keeping her distance was becoming increasingly difficult and as the raven took flight, Arya found herself looking over the city from the skies. She did not see for long but it was long enough.

She felt the jolt of Bran's connection and the heightened emotions that came with it. On top of that she saw the carnage within the city walls. Kings Landing was not as she remembered. It had been ravaged and she recalled what she had heard from Sandor of the conflict between the gold cloaks and the Faith Militant. War had begun long before they had arrived.

Outside the city she saw Targaryen banners in one direction and knew Aegon was safe and showing restraint in his command. The third point of assault where the Dornish joined the remaining forces was well on their way to breaking through their own gate and finally she saw the wolves. They were circling and they were waiting, waiting for her.

The Blackfish called her name when she returned and she heard his concern.

"You must not worry uncle" she said calmly though her mind felt anything but calm. "The Dornish are about to break through. The city is very damaged inside though. I fear it will be a hollow victory for Aegon."

Ser Brynden yanked his visor up just as the warhorn sounded again from the Kings gate. "Arya what do you mean child? We have no reports from the Dornish or within the city yet."

The horn blew to announce their entry into the city, to notify the others. "You will see it uncle" Arya replied. She felt Nymeria and closed her eyes, hoping not to fall from her horse. The remains of her connection to Bran lingered but it faded as she joined the wolves. They needed little encouragement. They had been waiting for her and Nymeria threw her head back and howled. Her brothers and sisters joined her and they began to stalk closer to the men, following the scent of fear.

She had slumped in her saddle when she came back to herself again and her uncle looked even more worried. She heard him shout as she dug her heels into her horse, urging it on. Her battle guard moved forward with her and the Blackfish quickly moved to keep pace.

"Robb did not command from the rear" she told him. "I cannot do it either. I am a wolf and if my pack is hunting then so am I."

Ser Brynden frowned. "Is there anything I can say to make you change your mind?"

Arya shook her head. "Take the command outside the city uncle. I will see you when the battle is done."

More men joined her as she neared the city, the Stark banner flapping by her side where one of the squires held it aloft. A messenger pulled up alongside her as she approached the broken gate, asking if she wished to add to the message he carried to prince Aegon. She passed on some quick words feeling a twinge of guilt as she pictured Aegon's reaction.

She could sense the wolf pack quickly drawing closer. The cry went up again when they entered through the broken gates. "Winterfell!"