PART THREE: A Kingdom Divided

We have entered the one-hundred-and-thirty-fifth year of Targaryen rule over Westeros, and the thirty-second year of King Viserys Targaryen, First of His Name's reign.

Despite the realm seeing a long and bountiful peace, undisturbed since the days of Maegor the Cruel, it is plain to see that the peace shall come to an end. When the peace shall end is up to the gods, or plainly speaking, when the gods decide it is time for King Viserys, once dubbed "The Young King", to pass. That day edges closer, with the once young king now nearing his fifty-eighth nameday and in poor health.

What once began with King Viserys' decision to keep his firstborn child, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, as his heir has now spiralled well beyond his control. A division in his court, between the party of the Princess, named the "Reds", and the part of the mother of his eldest son, named the "Blues", has escalated into a continent-wide rift, with divisions along the very borders of its nine regions, and often within those regions.

Amongst Princess Rhaenyra's most prominent supporters is House Lannister, due to her first husband and mother of his first (and legally, her second) son being Lord Jason Lannister, the former Lord of the Westerlands. Ser Tyland, Lord Jason's younger twin, rules the Westerlands as a regent in the name of young Lord Joffrey, the Princess' second son. Ser Tyland's two daughters, the Ladies Cerelle and Tyshara, are to marry Prince Baelon and Lord Joffrey, the Princess's first two sons, respectively.

The Princess also enjoys the support of House Arryn of the Eyrie, who is headed by Lady Jeyne Arryn, the Princess's first cousin. She also receives support from various houses from the Crownlands, Riverlands, and Reach, including that of the Houses Celtigar, Bracken, Rowan, Tarly, and Florent.

It has not been all plain sailing for the Princess, however. Her marriage to her uncle, Daemon Targaryen, commonly dubbed "the Rogue Prince", may have been fruitful in granting her three children, the twins Prince Viserys and Princess Visenya, and Prince Aegon, but it has also angered many across the realm. King Viserys has only so recently ended the Princess' exile from King's Landing, which he decreed in a fury twelve years ago.

Meanwhile, despite Princess Rhaenyra being the ruling Princess of Dragonstone and the named heir of King Viserys, King's Landing is now firmly in the control of the Blues, and their supporters and allies.

Queen Laena Velaryon's faction pushes the claim of her firstborn son with King Viserys, Prince Daeron, and gains its most significant support from Driftmark, the seat of Queen Laena's father, Lord Corlys Velaryon, who also looks to mend what he deems to be a miscarriage of justice, when his wife, Princess Rhaenys, and her blood, was passed over years before King Viserys ascended.

House Hightower of Oldtown are also ardent supporters of Prince Daeron, with the Prince having married Lady Jocelyn Hightower, who is the granddaughter of Ser Otto Hightower, Hand of the King, and niece of the current Lord of Oldtown, Ormund Hightower. Their marriage has already proved fruitful, bearing them a healthy child, born no less than a year ago.

Driftmark and Oldtown also boast further ties due to Ser Laenor, son of Lord Corlys, and Lady Alicent, daughter of Ser Otto, binding their blood in matrimony.

The Blues also gain support from houses throughout the Crownlands, Riverlands, and Reach. The most prominent of these houses is House Tully of Riverrun, whose heir, Ser Kermit, is betrothed to Princess Baela, Queen Laena's only daughter. House Redwyne and House Blackwood are also prominent supporters due to betrothals with Vaegon and Valaena Velaryon respectively, the children of Ser Laenor and Lady Alicent Velaryon. Other notable supporters of the Blues include the Houses Strong, Massey, Bar Emmon, Fossoway, and Peake.

Whilst the majority of houses across the realm have donned their desired garb and declared their loyalties, there are still some notable exceptions. House Baratheon of Storm's End, along with the Stormlands, have not yet declared for either side, but the memory of Lord Borros Baratheon's feud with Lord Corlys remains fresh in people's minds. The Iron Islands and House Greyjoy have also not been courted by either faction, whilst the North remains nominally neutral despite sharing close ties with Dragonstone. House Tyrell of Highgarden, at the behest of the young Lord Lyonel's mother and regent, has also made the decision to remain neutral for the time being.

Away from Westeros, the Stepstones does remain a royal protectorate, but there have been talks of the Triarchy, an alliance consisting of the three Free Cities of Myr, Tyrosh, and Lys, launching an attack in the hopes of taking the islands. The Triarchy has also entered into an alliance with Dorne. Moreover, they happen to share close trading ties with Lannisport, and an influx of Tyroshi shipbuilders have aided Dragonstone in building their own fleet. Further north, the Braavosi have chosen to avoid meddling in Westerosi affairs but have also not forgotten their disagreements with Prince Daemon some years ago.

Peace still remains, but first blood was already drawn years ago, following an altercation between Prince Aemon, Queen Laena's youngest child, and Prince Viserys, the Princess' third son at Dragonstone, which saw Prince Viserys lose an eye.

Other minor conflicts have occasionally scoured the realm, too, and though they remain minor, they have started to become more commonplace. While reconciliation may have been possible once, it is now much too late, with nearly the entire realm now being dragged into this conflict.

It is not a question of "if" war shall occur, but more so a question of "when".