Chapter 23
Richard
"Tell us who you are, no games or I will call my guards," lord Tarly said, glaring at him.
"As you wish," Richard said and removed his yellow hood, all eyes in the room went wide as he did. Tarly immediately ordered the guard who was inside to leave and the man did as told with no hesitation.
"Ser Richard Lonmount," said Lord Oldflowers shocked.
"Rheagars squire?" asked ser Hyle looking at the old lord in an equally shocked tone.
"Aye, that's me," Richard said while looking at the lords, all were in shock even the stoic Lord Tarly.
"You were supposed to be dead, you died fighting at the Trident," Alyn said, looking at other lords in confusion.
"I almost did die, but I live and I'm here to offer my aid in your endeavor," Richard said.
Randyll looked at him with a careful gaze "You know?"
"About Rheagars son, yes I do and so do you it seems."
"We do," said Lord Jon.
At that moment Ser Alyn snapped out of his confusion enough to talk again. "Wait, how did you survive, people saw you fall to Lyn Corbray."
"I did fight him and I did fall while I was trying to reach the prince once I saw he was facing Robert Baratheon but I survived."
"Explain," Tarly said in a commanding tone.
"I was barely alive when a group of dornish bannermen pulled me out of the water. By the time I was healed enough to do anything the war had been lost and the Usurper ruled. I then wanted to reach Dorne but I heard the news about the fight at the tower and the babe lord Eddard carried with him."
"You knew the truth from the start?" asked Tarly.
"I did, I was one of the men who were with the prince when he and princess Lyanna met after the tourney, at the time of her supposed abduction."
"Princess?" asked Bulwer.
"Yes," Richard said.
"Explain," Tarly said.
"The marriage between the prince and princess Elia was not one of love you all know that, it was arranged by the king but one between Rheagar and Lyanna was. When Rheagar fell in love with Lyanna Elia supported him, she even agreed with having their marriage revoked. The prince and lady Lyanna married afterward. I was one of the witnesses to the wedding."
"So the boy is trueborn then," lord Jon said.
"That is right," Richard replied with a nod.
"If that is true then the rebellion was built on a lie, the prince never kidnapped her," Hyle said.
"Then why hadn't they sent any letters once the war started?" Alyn asked after a moment of silence.
"They did but the letters were intercepted by the same person who organized the spread of the lie in the first place. By the time they figured out that the letters were not reaching anyone, it was too late and the prince had to ride to face the rebels."
"Who did it, who was behind it?" Tarly asked in a cold tone but Richard could see the anger in his eyes.
"Tywin Lannister," Richard said and the confused faces of everyone in the room were now serious.
"How do you know that?" asked Tarly.
"It took me time but I did find out who was behind it all, Tywin was the man who was pulling the rebels strings from the shadow."
"Aerys and Tywin were not on good terms at the time but to go that far just for spite and some insults is excessive even for him," Jon said.
"Tywin Lannister is many things but he is not a man who ever likes to be insulted or denied and Aerys did both more than once. He enjoyed tormenting Tywin in any way he could until finally, Tywin had enough. I believe that the plan was formed sometime shortly after Duskendale but it changed once the king denied Tywins offer for his daughter to be the prince's wife. If his blood could not be on the throne beside the future king then he would remove him and put someone more suited to his needs."
"But he didn't join the rebels," Hyle said.
"No, the rebellion was a big gamble, if he supported the rebels and they lost Tywin would have lost his head. So he waited until his victory was assured with Rheagars death. Once he reached the capital he killed the children so the victory would be complete. The gamble paid off and he got what he wanted in the end, his blood on the throne and he got rid of Aerys."
"Why tell us all this?" lord Jon asked.
"Because I know what you intend to do and considering we have a common cause I say we join together. You might be loyal to the true king but you are few compared to the alliance that the Lannisters and the Tyrells make now. Even if you managed to get half of the Reach on your side they still have the other half, the Westerladns, and the Crownlands and most Stormlands are now under their control. You will need allies."
"And you have these allies?" Tarly asked.
"Some, I can get them to support the king, at least enough of them to give us a fighting chance."
"Dorne will not join us, they will see the boy as nothing more than a bastard and an insult, as you said we could probably get half of the Reach, maybe a bit more if we are lucky. The Vale was been neutral so far and judging from their history they will not support a Targaryen. The loyalist houses in the Riverlands and the lords of the Narrow sea yes but the North will be reluctant even if the boy has Stark blood," Lord Jon said and Richard had to agree. The task won't be easy, it all depended on them finding the boy. If they did then there was a chance the North might support them.
"The task is not an easy one but if we are to see the true heir sit on the iron throne then we must succeed. Can I trust you with this?" Richard said. Lord Tarly looked as if he was thinking if he could trust Richard.
"You can, you are with us in this now," Tarly answered after a moment of silence.
"I do have one more question to ask I you don't mind," lord Jon said.
"You may ask."
"Why now, why don't earlier. You could have told the truth and we would have fought and by the sound of it you do want to put the boy on the throne but you didn't get any allies to aid you until now, why is that?"
Richard sighed. "There was a plan but lord Eddard foiled it when he sent the boy to Highgarden. Once there we were too afraid to make any significant moves due to the king's proximity to King's Landing. He was too close to Robert and too close to Tywin. We did our best to watch over him but not to raise any suspicion."
"We?" asked Bulwer.
"Me and few other loyalists, I did manage to get some allies here but only those who could be trusted fully."
"You could have gotten the Tyrells on your side if you told them the truth," Alyn said.
"The Tyrell bend the knee far too easily to Robert, Mace Tyrell decided to sit out the war with his army while the prince died. He still could have continued the fight, the queen and the younger prince were still alive but he didn't. He just gave up. I do not trust the Tyrells and more importantly, I don't trust Olenna and I know you all feel the same," Richard said in a dismissive tone.
"We do," said Tarly and the other lords nodded in conformation.
"So I ask of you to stand with me, to stand for the rightful king once more. Times are hard and in times like these you need people who you can trust, I hope you are the people I came here for," Richard said.
"We are, we will fight for the king but we are going to need a plan if we are to topple the Lannisters. We don't even know where the king is," old lord Jon said.
"We do," Richard said and everyone looked at him waiting for the answer of the king's whereabouts. "The king has beaten lord Stannis's forces that were fighting the Hastys in the Stormalnds quite some time ago, since then he has been riding south."
"South?" Alyn asked.
"Aye," Richard answered.
"But why?"
"My assumption is that the king is trying to reach his brother. Robb Stark is at Riverrun, going through the Crownlands or the Reach is too big of a risk and the Stormalands are not much better. Dorne is the only place where he can get safe passage without anyone asking questions," lord Jon said, the Lord proved that he was as wise as he was old.
"So what do we do?" Bulwer asked.
"Hyle, Alyn and Richard will go after the king while we take care of things here. The Lannisters will want to take care of the Starks as fast as they can, we will do what we can to slow them down for a while without raising any suspicions. Once we get the king at our side we can make further moves," Tarly said and Richard agreed but he already had his own plans at work. He knew that he should trust more people, his friends always said so but after the rebellion, he found it hard. The ability to trust was harder to come by, the only people he trusted were the loyalists and his agents but sometimes he even doubted them, all but one.
If this plan of his went as it should by the end Rhaegars son will sit on the iron throne and peace will be restored to the kingdoms and Tywin Lannister and his keen will finally pay for their crimes.
"That sounds like a good plan for now," Richard said.
"Tywin has too many spies lurking around, Olenna as well, we are going to have to be careful," Jon said.
"I know," Richard said.
Lord Tarly sighed. "Its been a long night as it is, I suggest we all get some sleep before we continue in the morning. Ser Richard you will get a tent to rest for the night."
"I do have few people with me, my lord, they would need a place to rest too," Richard said.
"It will be arranged," Tarly said. Soon the men in the tent left, all going to their tents to rest for the night, all but Tarly who stayed in the commander's tent. The same guard who led him in lord Tarlys tent took him to the one where he would be sleeping that night. Once he left one of his men approached him.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice not hiding the skepticism.
"I am not, but they seem to want what we do, they are our allies now for the better or worse."
"I hope you are right about this. But you didn't tell them everything, why?"
"I told them what they need to know. Once the time is right they will be brought into the rest of it." Richard said as he took his yellow cloak off. "I would ask you to sit down and have a drink with me but I have something else in mind for you my friend."
"What?" the man asked looking at him interested in what he was about to say. Richard pulled a letter from his coat and gave it to the man.
"Take this to Riverrun, to Robb Stark, the young lad might be reluctant to believe but Brynden, that stubborn old goat just might. In here lies the truth about everything not just about the rebellion but this war as well. He is going to need it if he is to survive and he is going to need you. This rests on your shoulders now Raymun, be careful."
"I will, Leamoncloake," the lord of Darry said with a smirk.
"That is an alias I have to go by, why do you have to make fun of it?"
"Because you wear a piss colored cloak," Raymun said.
"Go and do what you are told, would you?" Richard said. Darry shrugged and left the tent. Richard hoped that this gamble would pay off, that they might be able to get at least two kingdoms on their side, three if the gods allow it.
Kings Landing
Olenna
Olenna and Aleire sat in the gardens of the Red Keep waiting for Margaery to bring Sansa Stark to meet them, she might have agreed to her granddaughter's scheme but that doesn't mean that she won't assess the situation herself or more precisely the girl who is to become her grandson's wife. She met the Stark girl a few times since she arrived at the court but only briefly and very few words were exchanged between them, mostly courtesies. Varys told her something about her and she heard disturbing gossip from the servants about what Joffrey did to the girl, but then again her father did try to overthrow the boy in these wary halls, men could become beasts when angry but they could also be controlled if they had the right handler, and so far it seems that her Margaery was just that. But she still needed to get the measure of the Stark girl herself.
"The gardens are nice, but still not as beautiful as ones back home," Alerie said as she seeped her tea.
"At least they mask the stench that comes from the city," Olenna said. The stench created by having half a million people crammed in this city, half would be more than enough if anyone asked her. Right now the gardens were a pleasant enough place even if Cersei spies would surely be watching them, but they won't be able to hear anything, their guards were all around and the servants that waited on them were their own. Soon enough Margaery arrived with Sansa Stark right at her back.
"Lady Sansa it is my honor to present my mother lady Alerie and my grandmother lady Olenna of House Tyrell," Margaery said, a polite smile on her face.
"Daughter, lady Sansa," said Alerie, a polite smile on her lips as well.
"Lady Alerie, Lady Olenna," Sansa said, performing a curtsy as she did. She knew her manners but Olenna already knew that.
"Sit sweetlings, have some tea with us," Alerie said and the two did as asked.
"So daughter how is your day?" Alerie asked.
"Good mother, I have spent most of it with my friends and Sansa, I have also spent some time with the king," Margaery said, she was trying to sound happy but Olernna knew that the last part was not something she was particularly happy for, but she will be in time. Aleire and Margaery exchanged more words before Olenna finally grew bored and turned her attention to Sansa.
"Let us talk dear, I'm not as boring as these two. First, let me offer my condolences for your father's death, it is a horrible thing to lose one's father."
Sansa looked at her nervously "Thank you my lady but my father was a traitor, as are my mother and brother."
"Yes, so I heard. It was always said that your father was an honorable man, one that always told the truth, now I need the truth from your child. We have heard some troubling tales about Joffrey and we would like to know if there is any truth to them. Have you been mistreated here, have you been hurt?" Olenna said but no answer came from Sansa.
"It is alright Sansa, you can trust us. My daughter is to be his wife, as I mother I want to know what kind of a man my daughter will be marrying." Alerie said in a caring tone. Sansa still did not give them an answer, she just looked at them, with fear in her eyes.
"There is nothing for you to feat here child, we are only women here. We wish to know if the king is kind, gentle, brave, merciful," Olenna said while Aleire handed Sansa a plate with cakes on it. Sansa made eye contact with Olenna, she could see that the girl was conflicted, probably too scared to say anything that would get her on the Lannisters bad side even more.
After a brief silence, Sansa finally spoke. "Joffrey promised my father mercy and cut his head afterward, he said that what he did was mercy. After that, he put my father's head on a pike and made me look at it. He ordered one of his kingsguard to beat me. He is a monster."
"Ah that's a pity," Olenna said simply but in actuality that could be a problem. Olenna knew that her granddaughter has it in her to sway Joffrey to her but there was still a possibility of failure. Men could be beasts at times but a monster is hard to control. For a moment worry started forming in the back of Olenna's mind but then she remembered that Robert was a man of hot temper and liked doing whatever he wished much like Joffrey. Maybe all that will take to help with that is a good woman at his side, something Robert didn't have with Cersei.
Her granddaughter will be queen soon and if Margaerys little plan works the Tyrells would be ruling over two kingdoms, the chances of Robb Stark keeping the North after the war was slim, if they surrender Tywin will surely strip Robb Stark of it and it would go to the ones with the next best claim. Olenna knew that the North wasn't like the other kingdoms, they were always more isolationist compared to the rest of the seven kingdoms and that the people of the North will only accept one of their own blood as its ruler. If everything goes well, Sansa will marry Willas and give him heirs, one of which will rule the Reach and the other the North. For that to happen they must make sure that Robb Stark loses the war but considering that so far he has done nothing but humiliate the Lannisters at every turn that might be harder to achieve than anticipated.
Stormlands
Jon
They have been riding long and hard for days now, stopping only enough to rest and immediately riding onward. Whenever night came he stood watch for most of the night, telling others that he could not sleep and so that they should let him take over their shifts. He could see that they knew something was wrong with him, especially Loras but every time he asked Jon only told him that it was because of how close they were now to get to his brother. It was a lie, the truth was that ever since the dream he had at Summerhall, he became reluctant to shut his eyes, the things he saw and heard made him start to question if he was sane or not.
The voice said to find Ser Arthur, a man that was long dead, killed by his father, a man like that could not be found. And yet a thought still lingered at the back of his mind, that maybe the dream was something more than a nightmare. The body of the wolf, the abandoned cities, the caste could there be a reason for it all. Once more he pushed the thought away, it was just another nightmare, like the ones he has been having more frequently now.
Few times he tried to sleep he dreamt of his father's death, of Arya and Sansa suffering at the hands of the Lannisters and then finally being killed, Robb dying on a battlefield alone and even Margaery, her motionless body on the floor with a crossbow bolt in her chest, her brown lifeless eyes starring at the ceiling. Jon shook his head, none of those will come to pass, including one with Margaery. They will join Robb and help him win this war in any way they can. Robb will live, Sansa and Arya will live and their father will get justice.
The next morning they set off once more, they reached Blackhaven at noon as dark clouds formed above them, the castle belonging to their friend Beric Dondarion. The Lighting lord was not here, by all accounts he was fighting in the Riverlands, leading a group known as the Brotherhood without Banners. The first news they received of him was that he was killed by the Mountain in a battle but later they heard that Beric was alive and well, still fighting the Lannisters with the group that was called the Brotherhood.
Loras suggested that they go to the castle and ask to rest there for the day, Jon almost immediately agreed but Robar then said that now the Stormlands either support Stannis or Joffrey and that didn't know to who house Dondarion owes fielty too. Jon was thinking about it, both had a point but Beric was friends with Loras and Jon, it would be against their lord's wishes for his people to attack them.
Then suddenly as they were discussing it further, the sound of hoofbeats was heard coming from behind them. Jon, Loras, Robar and Grenn looked back and saw a group of riders coming towards them. Both Grenn and Robar grabbed their swords.
"Maybe they are friendly," Loras said.
"Not our luck," Robar said as the men came closer. Now Jon and Loras were also prepared to draw their swords. Jon could now see how many men there were, seven, a man in the lead and three at each side. The riders saw them and slowed down, stopping meters away from them.
"Who are you and what business have you on these lands?" the leading man asked in an unfriendly tone, he had a noble house crest on his clothing, ten black pellets on a scarlet field, but not one that Jon could remember to who it belonged.
"You first friend," Jon said.
"My name is Philip Cole, my father is the steward of Blackhaven," the man said. "Now you tell us who you are."
The four of them looked at each other, not sure how to proceed. The Coles are loyal to the Dondarions but they were still loyal to the Baratheons as well. After a moment of hesitation, Loras was the one who spoke.
"I'm Ser Loras Tyrell, my friends here are Ser Jon Snow, Ser Robar Royce and Ser Grenn, we are only passing through."
"We are not looking for any trouble," Grenn said.
Cole looked at them carefully. "Ser Loras you say," then he straightened in his saddle. "Come, my father will want to speak with you."
The four of them hesitated for a moment but soon the sound of thunder in the clouds forced them to follow Cole and his men. It's better to sleep inside of a keep instead of in the open during rain. Robar still advised caution as they neared the keep. Grenn too seemed to be a bit on the edge. So far they had no problems on the road, it would be a cruel joke if the problems would start at Berics lands.
Once inside the courtyard, the seven men dismounted. "You can let the servants take your horses sers, they will be taken care of," Cole said.
"Forgive our reluctance but you said your father would like to speak to us, we would like to do that first," Robar said and the man's serious face frowned.
"My father will speak with you, I assure you. He is..." Cole started but was cut off by a voice coming from stairs that lead up the castle wall.
"Is here, my boy. Now tell me who are these fine-looking men you brought here," a man said. The four of them turned their attention to the man on the stairs. He was tall, with raven black hair with strands of grey. His face was clean-shaven and he wore a silver chain around his neck. While they were studying him he was doing the same to them.
"Knights father, we met them on the road near the keep," Philip said.
"I can see that they are knights, wealthy knights judging from their armor and weapons. Well at least three of them," the steward said as he looked at Grenn. "And judging from your colors and sigils I would say Loras Tyrell, Robar Royce and the reverse Stark sigil would make you Jon Snow. Forgive me but I don't see a sigil on your friend there so I don't know to which house he belongs."
"I don't have a house," Grenn said.
"Doesn't matter if you do or don't. Now tell me what brings you to Blackhaven?"
"The black clouds," Jon said and the stewards chucked.
"Aye, I can see that. Forgive me, I haven't introduced myself, I'm Ser Tristan Cole, steward of Blackhaven, and loyal servant to Lord Beric. You sers travel at a dangerous time."
"We know but traveling anywhere right now is dangerous," Jon said.
"Well said, ser Jon. What brings you to Blackhaven?"
"We are only passing by," Robar said.
"Ser, if I may ask if there have been any news about lord Beric, has he sent word to you?" Jon interjected, he really wanted to know any news about his friend.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you Ser Jon but we have not received word from lord Beric since he left the capital to bring the Mountain to justice," Tristan lowered his head and said with sorrow in his voice. "We did hear rumors about his death several times but those rumors have so far been false. I thank you for your concern, lord Beric spoke very highly of you Ser Jon and about Ser Loras, he said that he considers you friends so it would be rude and against my lord's wishes not to offer you to stay in our keep during the incoming weather."
"We thank you, Ser Tristan," Loras said.
"You are welcome. Let's go inside before the rain starts, a servant will bring bread and salt for you."
The four of them dismounted and left their horses to be tended by the servants while they followed ser Tristan and his son into the castle. Jon felt glad for the warm reception and could see that Loras felt the same. They would need to thank Beric when they next see each other. Maybe once in the Riverlands, they could come into contact with him.
Following the steward, they reached the great hall where a servant was waiting for them with offers of bread and salt to give them guest rights.
"Sers," Tristan said and each of them took the offerings one at a time.
Philip Cole
Finding four knights on the road near Blackhaven was not what he had expected when he first set off from Bennington, a small village two hours ride from the keep, his father had tasked him with taking care of the commotion that has been stirring in the town recently. He did as his father ordered him, taking a small party with him, which proved to be enough.
When the knights said who they were he knew that father would immediately want to have a word with them. Philip was well aware that Lord Beric had acquainted Ser Loras and one other knight while he was participating in a tourney a while back. That that other knight was a bastard did surprise him a bit, then again even people here had heard rumors about a northern knight from Highgarden.
It was obvious that they wary of strangers and Philip could not begrudge them that, in times like these any unknown face could be an enemy waiting to strike. They did follow him to the keep, the incoming rain seeming to be their main motivation to trust him. His father easily deduced who the men who just rode into the castle courtyard were and was happy to offer them a place to stay.
Once they were done with the guest rights, his father told the servants to have food brought and rooms prepared for their new arrivals.
"I hope your journey here wasn't hard," his father said taking a seat at a table.
"Not really, we did have an interesting encounter or two but nothing hard," ser Loras said.
"An interesting encounter you say, would that have anything to do with the Hastys?" father asked with a small smile on his face.
"The word has spread that quickly?" Jon asked.
"Well not that quickly, it's been what, ten days or so since you helped the Hastys defeat Stannis's forces," father said and Philip saw ser Robar look in his direction, his hand on his sword.
"You support Stannis?" asked the Vale knight.
"No we do not," Philip answered in a serious tone.
"My son is right," father said as he turned his gaze from him back to ser Loras. "We don't support either Stannis or Joffrey."
"But you didn't support Renly either," Loras said.
"No, we didn't."
"Why?" Loras asked, there was a hint of anger in his voice. Philip could understand why, by all accounts, ser Loras was named lord commander of Renly Baratheon's kingsguard and both Jon Snow and ser Robar were members also.
"As I said, we had not received word from lord Beric since he left the capital. I could have declared for anyone but I refused to do so without my lord's consent."
"And Stannis just accepted that?" Loras asked.
"He did not at first but he seemed to give up once I sent him a message that I could not do anything without my lieges permission. I'm just a servant after all not a lord, that until lord Beric does not send word I can not do anything."
"I'm surprised Stannis let you go that easily," Loras said.
"A surprise for us too but it seems that once he got himself the forces he needed he left us alone."
"And the Lannisters, they haven't harassed you?" Jon asked.
"They do send messages that we must swear fielty to the rightful king and that Lord Beric is a traitor but I don't pay them much notion."
"They will come for you once it suits them," Ser Jon said.
"They will but with lord Beric proclaimed as a traitor and stripped of his lands that leaves only young Manfred as the next lord of Blackhaven and he is in Dorne, squaring for lord Dayne. Until the boy comes home I can not do anything," father said.
"Manfred?" both ser Jon and Loras asked.
"Lord Beric's cousin, his great uncle's grandson," Philip said and the four men looked at him.
"Manfred is young, the same age as lord Dayne's son. Lord Beric and lord Dayne agreed that their heirs would be squires for the other until they receive their knighthoods," father said.
"Beric never mentioned he had a cousin," Loras said.
"And you never gave the real reason why you are traveling this far south. You are not with your family and by the looks of it you are either on the run or trying to get somewhere in a hurry."
"You are an inquisitive man Ser Tristan," Jon said.
"It pays to be inquisitive ser Jon," Tristan said with a small smile.
"Yes, but you won't be able to play dumb with the kings forever, a day will come when you will have to choose a side."
"When that day comes my lord will make a choice not me," father said in a serious tone.
"I hope you are right, for your sake," Jon said. Philip agreed with Ser Jon, his father will have to make a choice one day, he hoped that his father would make the right one. Making hard choices has been a touchy subject in his family for a reason ever since Criston Cole made the choice that sparked the Dance of the dragons by naming king Viserys's son Aegon as the ruler of the seven kingdoms. Their family has never truly washed off the stain of his kinsman's actions, but Philip knew that a choice will have to be made sooner rather than later, even if his father doesn't want to.
"Aye, me too," Tristan said. "You still haven't told us the reason for your coming here," For a moment all were silent, the four men looked like they were thinking if they could tell them the truth, then ser Jon spoke.
"We are going to Dorne to find a ship."
"A ship, where to?" father asked.
"We are trying to reach my brother in the Riverlands," Jon said.
"Ah yes, the Young wolf they call him. He has the Lannisters on the run if what I heard was true."
"That's what we heard as well," Loras said.
It was then that a realization hit his father. "Forgive me, ser Jon, I was so caught up with your arrival that I failed to offer my condolences, lord Eddard was an honorable man, not a traitor and an oathbreaker like some say."
"I thank you, Ser Tristan, its good to hear people still think of him like that."
"Lord Beric's father fought under Robert during the Rebellion. He was there fighting beside lord Eddard when king Robert killed prince Rhaegar."
"Beric told us that his father died during the Greyjoy rebellion," Jon said.
"That is true, lord Harmon died during the storming of Pyke, took an arrow to the throat, not a good way to die," Tristan said remorsefully.
They spent some more time talking about lord Beric and his family, Blackhaven and the events that transpired since king Robert's death. It was all a mess truly, almost every kingdom was for itself at the beginning and now the Tyrells and the Lannisters have joined forces. Stannis claims that Joffrey is a bastard which would make him next in line for the throne. In the beginning, he urged his father to make a choice, the war was upon them and they had to choose a side but his father would not hear of it, he would not support any king without lord Beric's permission. Philip loved and respected his father, Tristan is a smart man, dutiful, but unfortunately, lacks the courage to do things that are necessary in times of need.
Renly would have been his first option, Stannis might be the rightful heir if that was said is true but at the time Renly had the largest army and only a fool would decide to fight him with that large of a hoast at his back. When Roberts younger brother died Stannis would have been the right one to support but no bannermen of Blackhaven joined the king. All they did was sit inside the castle and wait, which frustrated Philip to no end. He wanted to fight, to prove himself, to find a way to atone for what he did to his mother.
AN: I know I should have said this earlier but it kinda slipped my mind, I feel like most already know but I'm gonna say it anyway. Not all the pov chapters take place at the same time. For instance, Margaery's pov chapters take place after Jon's, the Tarly ones are in between. This is mostly to allow me to flesh out the plot as much as I can. At some point, they will converge. Responses to the reviews:
Force Smuggler: I'm glad you like it, I do want to write them as kind of a brotherhood. I always intended to have a spy inside the keep but it being Pyper was almost a last-second decision, I was going to start writing the chapter when it happened. It's to get Sansa out and for Olennas benefit.
BioHazard82: As always glad to hear it.
denolotdn: Yes it's a common trope in the fandom because Arthur was Rhaegars best friend and one of the three knights at the tower, so it's the most logical choice. I do have spellcheck and I do use it, the thing is that I was rushing when I wrote the past several chapters, because of college, I had little time to do any writing apart from a day or two during two weeks.