Chapter 23

War of Five Kings

Moat Cailin, Year of the Realm 874/312 AC

Two weeks had past since the riots in Kings Landing began. Within a day or two they had been quelled but the damage to the kingdoms that had a hand in the riots had yet to be repaired. War was coming. For the life of him, Robb Stark could not fathom how things had gotten so horrible so quickly. The banners had been called, as was expected of him Robb called the banners and had them assemble as he and his father agreed at Moat Cailin. But there was just one flaw in this plan.

Robb had never led troops into battle before.

Hunched over a map in the command tent, Robb Stark kept trying to anticipate the enemy formations he may encounter in the Riverlands. Theon by his side was a great help but even he was not experienced in warfare like this. His knowledge was solely focused on naval engagements. "I don't see how we can win this…and neither do you."

"We know they can't get to the North without coming through the Neck." Theon places his finger on the map, right over the Twins "Tywin would be trapped here engaging with old Walder Frey, that's something everyone knows."

"But what about what we don't know?"

Theon shrugs "I'm just the ward, what do I know of war?"

Robb swats him upside the head "Enough of that, you've been treated fairly Theon, like a son even. And you've seen how the Lady Warrick was treated by the Rosfield's, can you say truly that you were treated any less than she was?"

"I can say I know how I would treat her all things considered." The lecherous smile on his face did not help matters as Robb smacks him again "Oi! What was that for?"

"You should keep those thoughts from your head Theon, unless you want Clive to take it from your shoulders."

"Fair enough…"

Robb studied the map once more. Everything about a North defense rest on the knowledge that Walder Frey would be a stingy old man that no one in the land wanted to deal with. A horrible defense, but a sound one when the Frey's controlled the only route that wasn't the Kingsroad. As his eyes scanned the western portion of the Riverlands he heard the shouts in the camp. One word caught his attention above the cacophony. Riders.

"Theon, with me." He says as he storms from the tent. Outside in the camp, things were getting lively as the other northern lords gathered some of their men and approached the command tent. Standing at the center was his mother Catelyn Stark, the wolf Greywind by her side as Robb approached "What has them all so excited mother?"

"Riders, Robb…quite possibly your father." Cat kept her eyes on the horizon, a small group of horses making its way to the camp "If it is him…"

"Then we will depart for war." Robb places a gentle hand on her shoulder "You don't have to be here for this mother, you can go back to Winterfell where its safe."

Cat shakes her head "I cannot rest in a cozy castle while my countrymen in the Riverlands will be subject to war…Family, Duty, Honor…those are my houses words, and I shall live by them to my last."

The sharp whiney of a horse cuts Robb off before he can press further into the issue with his mother. As he looks up, he feels the corners of his mouth tug upward as he sees his father riding at the center of the group. Just behind Ned Stark is the mounted form of Clive Rosfield, both men returning alive and well to their home.

"Father…we feared the worst when we received word of war." Robb steps forward, pulling his father into a hug "I did as you asked, you didn't leave me with much to go on though."

"Apologies my son…we were in a hurry, but there is much to discuss." Ned motions to the assembled men "See to the horses. My friends, I am grateful for your support in answering the call…war is upon us, and there is little time to prepare."

As Ned and Robb approach her, Cat smiles, nodding her head but once. There's a scuffle, a gasp, and the drawing of swords. Ned turns back sharply, Robb's eyes wide in surprise. Jill is being held back by men bearing the sigil of House Umber while those of House Bolton are holding Clive down on his knees. House Karstark and Mormont meanwhile surround the rest of their group.

"What is the meaning of this? Put your arms down! All of you!"

"That wont be happening." Ned's confused eyes find Cat as his head turns "By order of the king, the one known as Clive Rosfield is to be brought in chains to the capital to receive punishment for kidnapping the betrothed of his grace, King Robert. Lady Warrick is to be returned to her betrothed and be made Queen of the Seven Kingdoms."

"Mother…there was no order given. The only raven I received came from father about the war." If Ned looked hurt by his wife's actions, Robb was broken by it. Despite the years he was still but a boy to the world, no experience to the politics or the southern way of life…the Young Wolf was now seeing the truth of how the world worked in the worst way. By his own mother's acts against family.

"Stand aside Robb." She orders "If the rest do not raise a sword against us, they will be free to go, but Clive Rosfield is now our prisoner and Lady Warrick will be escorted south in due time. Now, we can begin to plan for the war."

"Cat!" Ned's shout startled the former Tully "Release them at once! Lay down your arms, and I won't see you sent to the wall."

When no one made a move, Clive chuckled "I'd do as he says. Lord Stark does not take so kindly to those who disobey a direct order."

"Quiet dog!" one of Lord Bolton's men snaps, backhanding Clive "Lord Stark! This man attacked the King, should we not be taking him prisoner?"

"Lay down your arms, I won't ask again." He snarls, glaring at the knight "Pray that he doesn't seek retribution for I will not punish him for it."

"My lord?"

Roose Bolton nods his head. Slowly his men release Clive, stepping back as he stands up and walks ahead. The other men do the same, swords sheathed, Jill released, and step back into line. Ned nods his head, turning his stern gaze onto his wife. "What possessed you to do this Cat?"

"There…there was a raven." She stutters, fearful eyes on Clive "He tried to kill the king, ran off with his betrothed…we were told that you might be a hostage too…forced to go along with them."

"I am no hostage…and they…mostly are innocent of the crimes Robert accuses them of committing."

"Mostly?"

Clive rubs the back of his head "I…may have attacked King Robert."

The look Cat gave Ned had him slowly regret just how much like his mother Clive really was. Lyanna would have done the same, just like Arya does when she gets into trouble. None of them could truly lie about their actions. "That may be true but that is the only truth. Robert threatened to deny an alliance with them should he be unable to marry Lady Warrick, against her own wishes…and where have we all heard that tale before?"

There was a grumbling amongst the older men and women of the North. They all knew the story of Lyanna Stark, how no man would ever lay claim to her not even Robert Baratheon…and no one present could deny that she hated that man with a passion.

"I was a fool to believe that Robert had changed," Ned mumbles "I went south to be Hand of the King, to keep the kingdoms at peace, functioning…I did this because my king asked it of me, and I was happy to do it. But I cannot keep doing this. Robert Baratheon that sits on the throne is not the same Robert I marched to war alongside against the Targaryen's in the rebellion. He is no king of the realm, he is just a fat man who sits on the throne and slowly sinks the kingdom into debt with his incessant need for tourneys, feasts, and whores."

Cid lightly nudges Joshua "Did you teach him some of those fancy words?"

Joshua gives his mentor a harder jab in the side for the comment.

"No more. We have asked him for funds for too many years to restore the Night's Watch in the wake of larger hordes of wildlings gathering on the other side of the wall…we were denied time and time again." Ned sees some heads nodding to his words, perhaps some minds were being changed as he had hoped "We have always fought for the realm, done more than any can ask of us…we need a new king, one who will honor the North's sacrifice, a king that will not sacrifice us for his own greed…I know not if such a king exists just yet, but we will not fight this war for the one who would rather we all starve so long as he has his vices to sustain himself."

"Then who do we fight for Ned?" a voice not unlike a brass rumble of a sound speaks up. Clive singles out the largest man he has ever seen, easily a match for the Mountain in size…maybe even for Hugo Kupka as well "There's no children of Robert's blood besides his bastards, and we won't fight for one of them to claim the throne. All that's left are Targaryen's and none of them are fit to rule."

"Then we fight for our own honor," Ned says in response "I won't kneel to any king, but a king born of the North, but I wont put any of my children or myself on a throne. So…if I won't do that, then I'll gladly fight to defend our lands and our allies, and right now our allies in the south are going to be caught in the crossfire of war."

"Ned's right," a shorter man dressed in a shirt of bronze scales steps forward. His voice was gruff, gruffer than Clive expected a man his size to have but the look of him was fiercer than many in the North. "We should be focusing on the war itself, better to plan in the tent than out here in the cold."

"Howland has the right of it," Ned motions towards the tent "Come my lords, we shouldn't delay."

Clive and Jill share a look as Cid, Cody, Rex, and Joshua move past to follow the other lords into the command tent. Clive leaves Jill in the care of Thorn and Colt, but just as he is making his way past Lady Stark, she stops him with a few choice words. "I was wrong."

"My lady?"

"About you…about all of you." She sighs "Your mother accused me of being cruel…of punishing my husband's…child, instead of him. She defended you; you know…from myself and our septa, Mordane, but she didn't stop there. She challenged me and my belief that all bastard children were born of sin, would only commit sin...that they were all cruel and horrid creatures. Not children innocent of a parent's crime of sex outside the marriage. Do you know what my House words are?"

"Family, Duty, honor."

Cat for a moment pauses, looking at Clive with such scrutiny "Yes…I have my family, I have my duty to be a good wife and mother, and not just mine but my husbands honor all hanging in the balance with my every action. I have upheld all and yet I have failed them all. So, I tell you this, Clive Rosfield, your mother Anabella was right to defend you."

"If you are asking for forgiveness, Lady Stark…it is not mine to give, because it was never something you need seek." Clive moves past her, feeling his left arm trembling as he thinks back to her treatment of him…what little of his life in Winterfell he could remember. Jon Snow was just a bastard to her, a stain on her husband's honor, on her marriage…the truth would shatter her version of reality. If she ever found out.

The command tent was packed, in a word, with people. Ned and Robb were at the head of the table, a map of Westeros laid out before their eyes. To the left were the lords of the North. He could make out Roose Bolton with the sigil of the Flayed Man on his chest, the Greatjon Umber just behind him. The little woman, giving him the same feeling that Charon does when she was in one of her moods, that was Maege Mormont of Bear Island. There were more, even little Howland Reed, but as Clive took his place on the right with his own people, he couldn't help but feel a bit of loneliness as he stared down the people that his mother and his uncle's so fiercely called friend.

"Now that we are all here…we can begin." Ned starts, leaning forward with his hands on the table "Robb…what have you planned thus far?"

"All I really know is holding the neck is easy, but actually planning for what our foes may do…I do not know how to proceed."

Ned hums in thought "Clive, Cody, what do you make of this?" There was a slight commotion, mostly from the boisterous Greatjon. Ned slams his fist on the table "Enough! I will have no arguing like children when there is a war to plan for. Whatever your differences, let them be buried here and now."

"Lord Stark, we have no grievances with you, but these foreigners…" Roose Bolton looked like he might have swallowed a lemon as he spoke "They are not of the North or any lands in our kingdoms. They should not be here for this meeting."

"They are here because they have agreed to fight alongside us in this war." Ned slowly explains "Though they have no army to speak of, they have plenty of experience in warfare Lord Bolton, you'd do well to remember that should you offend them. Cody, Clive, your input?"

Clive and Cody share a look, Clive nodding his head as Cody steps forward, inspecting the map. "We should take the Kingsroad south, it's the fastest route without having to negotiate with the Frey's."

"The main road? Why would we do that?" Greatjon asks "Might as well dip our men in honey and offer them up like a smoked ham to Tywin!"

"Precisely why we take the main road." Cody points at a section opposite the Green Fork "Right here, we can cross the river and make for Fairmarket across the Blue Fork. A smaller force will ride ahead of the main host…a few hundred, maybe two thousand men. Should Lannister forces already be there when we cross, those men will engage the enemy and hold them there while the rest of our forces come up behind them. This way we can draw the lions out of the town and limit fighting to the rivers edge, but we'll have a scouting unit behind their lines beforehand."

"Cid will be apart of that unit," Clive volunteers the older Dominant "He's used to missions like this, he'll ensure the route ahead is clear and that the enemy plays into our hands."

Ned nods his head, mulling over the plan "And what of the rest of our foes?"

"It's likely that Stannis will have turned against his brother Robert," Cody says tactfully "He had every opportunity to have us followed or even apprehend our ship when we fled the capital, but he chose not to. As for Renly it is unlikely that he will be an ally of Robert, he is friends with the lords of the Reach, they'll no doubt try to persuade him to pursue the throne in exchange for one of their own being his queen."

"Not to mention the Vale and Dorne have either been quiet as of late or are downright hostile to Robert's reign." Rex supplies, inserting himself in the conversation "At best we will be fighting against just three other kingdoms instead of five. Better odds if you ask me."

"Good…but what will the others be thinking?"

Cody smirks "I have a theory on that, Lord Stark."

"Let's hear it Ser Cody."

Casterly Rock, the Westerlands

"Kevan will take a host twenty-thousand strong to Crakehall," Tywin indicates to the map "You'll hold whatever force the Reach sends here, should you be somehow pressed into a retreat then Casterly Rock will provide all you shall need for a defense."

Kevan nods his head slowly "Most of the men will be green, we'll have to train them up before they can be good enough for battle."

"Then drill them," Tywin responds swiftly "Drill them from sunup till sundown, drill them in the rain for all I care. Long as they serve their purpose, you can do with your army as you please. But remember the plan."

"What of our eastern borders Lord Tywin?" Tywin regards his nephew Daven Lannister with the faintest hint of respect, if only for his relation to his late wife Joanna.

"Jaime will lead another host, twenty-thousand men, up the River Road to Wayfarer's Rest. From there he will march on Riverrun." Tywin places a model of a lion on the capital of the Riverlands "Taking that castle will ensure we draw all eyes where we want them. I shall bring forth another ten thousand to support his forces once they are properly gathered."

"And what of the king? Should he not be leading his men into battle?"

Tywin shoots his good brother a hard look for speaking out of turn "My grandson, your king, Joffrey…while his mother would wish him to stay here in the safety of Casterly Rock I believe he will be best served on the front line. Stafford, you and your son Daven will join Jaime on his march to Riverrun. Kevan, see to it that Joffrey is trained properly, will you?"

"It will be done Tywin. What should we do if we are unable to hold them all off for long?"

"The fools in Westeros are all going to be focused on us, they might think they know my strategy, but I have something they do not have." The smirk that came to his face was predatory, the thoughts dancing in his head were murderous "Allegiance's bought with our gold and exports, an entire company worth will be joining us in due time when the raven is sent out. If that is all, we have work to do."

Highgarden, the Reach

"We split our forces three ways," Randyll Tarly's gruff voice fills the room as the other lords and their newly crowned King Renly listen closely "Thirty thousand men will march to Old Oak, twenty thousand to Bittebridge with five thousand as a reinforcing detachment behind each force on the main roads."

"Why would we do this?" Renly questions "My brother Robert will be expecting us to join his men and attack the Lannister's promptly, he'll not hesitate to strike us for this treachery."

"The force deployed to Bitterbridge will be a token force your grace, to distract him into thinking us friends." Randyll indicates a section of the map, the river known as Blackwater Rush "We keep the roads clear; no food or exports will arrive at the capital from any location we can intercept. We'll eventually raise the levies, train them up and move north into the Riverlands. From there we can cut the capital off from the rest of the kingdoms by land…we need only hope that Lord Stannis will do the same by sea."

Renly laughs "Have no fear of that, my brother is not a man of the people, but he knows warfare. He won't let Robert get off so easy in this conflict."

"I will be happy to lead one of these hosts for you your grace," the ever-pompous voice of Mace Tyrell irritated Randyll to no end as the fat oaf spoke up "My son Loras in your kingsguard, you will have no finer men than us to serve you."

"I…appreciate, the sentiment Lord Mace. But I need you and your services here in Highgarden while I am on the battlefield." Renly says delicately "Loras will see me safe, home to your daughter Margaery, I have the utmost faith in his abilities. But I would rather we left the planning of the war to Lord Randyll. He is the military commander you recommended for me, is he not?"

"Oh! Of…of course your grace, you are correct."

"Lord Tarly?"

"I will personally join our forces at Bitterbridge," he says without hesitation "It will help sell the ruse, and should Robert try anything I can respond accordingly. And Lord Mathis Rowan will command the host at Old Oak."

"Excellent!" Renly claps "My lords, this will be the beginning of a new age in Westeros, and you all will be well remembered in history as heroes of it!"

There was a cheer from the assembled lords. All but one was so eager for the riches they'd acquire through the war. All but Randyll Tarly were foolish enough to believe war was so easily won. His eyes were focused on the one part of the map that concerned him, the one that by all accounts had the support of some peculiar knights. The North.

King's Landing

"Once Lord Stark is made aware of their treachery, we can expect him to march on Riverrun to attack from the east," Barristan says as he moves a model wolf to stand beside the trout model on the map "Lord Renly, with the armies of the Reach will march north, here…and if we can get in contact with Lord Stannis then the royal fleet will lay siege to Lannisport and Casterly Rock by sea. All told, this war will be short lived your grace."

"Very good…and what of the Vale?" Robert asks as he studies the map "Any word from Lysa Arryn?"

"None…it is concerning, though perhaps not unfounded. It is entirely possible that Lord Jon was murdered by the Lannister's, perhaps to cover up this secret that he may have discovered."

"Jon…always looking out for me even when I didn't ask for it," Robert sighs "I never deserved his love, nor did he deserve such an ungrateful son. How do we fare?"

"Fifteen thousand men," Barristan sighs "Not nearly enough to contribute significantly to the war effort. We would be relying upon Lord Stark and the armies of the Reach to help contain the Lannister's and fight the war for us your grace…if anything small skirmishes with bandits is all our men will see for combat."

"What of the gold cloaks?"

"Six thousand are ready to defend the capital. It isn't an overwhelming force but that should be more than enough to hold back an advance from Tywin until reinforcements arrive."

Robert balls his right hand into a fist. This was all he was good for. His best friend would be riding south to fight in the war, a war that he could not aide him in, and all he had was six thousand to defend his city. "We don't have the manpower…and without Stannis and the royal fleet, we don't have the ships to ferry the men to Casterly Rock…"

"If I may, your grace?" Robert barely gave Littlefinger so much as a grunt of acknowledgement "I have some contacts I could reach out to…possible allies are better than none as they say."

"These allies of yours…can they be trusted?"

"With enough gold, they can be." Baelish smiles "In fact I used one such ally to hire the assassin's you requested, very discreet and professional."

"Good…see to it then, Lord Baelish. Our very lives may just rest in your hands."

"Of course, your grace, I am your loyal servant."

Dragonstone

"We should attack King's Landing! If we don't strike while the iron is hot, while the armies are away, then we will waste this opportunity."

Stannis was a serious, proud man of Baratheon blood. He was a soldier, a warrior, a man of the armies but not of the people. He was also a self-proclaimed king who was tired of hearing the same argument from the same lord. "That is enough, Lord Velaryon, I will not be wasting my men's lives in a fool's errand such as that."

"How? How is this a fool's errand?"

"Because you cannot tell me from where you would attack." Stannis unfurls a map of the city "Show me where, which gate would you go for, which section of wall, where in that city would you think to strike?"

There was silence in response. Stannis stabs a dagger into the map, right over the Mud Gate.

"This is where I would strike. Shortest distance from shore to the gate itself, it would only be a matter of getting our ships close enough without being spotted for what we were." Stannis eyes shift to the map of the kingdoms "We know where the enemy forces will gather, where they will go…but we do not have the men to take the capital, not as we are."

"We need the Storm Lords," Ser Davos, one of Stannis best men, most trusted and blunt too spoke up "Renly still is their liege lord…convincing them will not be easy but if we can manage that, then we can take the capital. With men to spare."

"Quite right…what do you see my lady?" Stannis looks up, eyes settling on a woman in red kneeling by the fire "You've been quiet, what do the flames show you?"

"I see a great battle…" she mutters, eyes focused with such intensity on the flames "A growing Darkness all around…and…something…more?"

The fire billows, flaring to life as the flame enlarges, startling the gathered lords. A knight reaches for her, pulling the woman away from the flames as the fire dwindles to nothing more than embers. Stannis is by her side in an instant, taking in her terrified face, an expression ruining the beauty she portrays normally.

"What is it? What did you see!?"

"A woman…skin like snow, eyes of ice…" she looks Stannis in the eye "A Queen of Ice and Cold. I saw her, the Night King's own Queen and a sound…I heard the snarling of mighty beasts, three heads…but there was something else in the end."

"What? What was it, Melisandre?"

"A beast of fire…R'hllor's beast…I saw it in the flames," she smiles "We have a chance, we need but control the beast and kill the Queen."

Davos looks around, many of the gathered lords seemed to be more believing of her claims of what she could see after witnessing the fire erupt in such a manner. He was not one of those such men. "My lord…perhaps we should let her rest now? She looks like she could use it. This talk of beasts and queens of ice can wait until she has recovered from her ordeal."

Stannis nods his head, motioning for two of his men to escort her to her chambers. "We will discuss this further on the morrow my lords, we all could use the rest I think."

Moat Cailin

"And that's all I can think of…but that is assuming that Stannis waits to attack the capital." Cody was wrapping up his report "Splitting our forces is still the better option. Less likely to be attacked that way."

"Any specific places to send your people?"

"Lady Warrick will go with one host south, with Thorn and Colt as her escorts. Torgal too if he is agreeable to being away from his master." Cody shoots Clive a look.

"Torgal has always been more of her hound than mine," Clive smirks "Likes being spoiled he does."

"The main host will keep the rest, if that is agreeable to the other lords?"

There was a bit of grumbling amongst the northern lords. Ned nods his head as they all seemed to agree to the plans laid before them. "Very well, if there is nothing else, we'll begin breaking camp and start the march south to war."

Clive hung back as the rest in the tent slowly trickled out. He knew what was coming, Robb wouldn't stop looking his way and his uncle was no better. As the last lord and member of his party left the tent Robb made the first move.

"What was that!?"

"Robb!" Ned hisses, cuffing the back of his son's head "He is right…Clive, what was that?"

Clive sighs "Uncle, Robb, you both know I do not seek the throne."

"But you could be king!" Robb hisses at his cousin "You could rule the seven kingdoms. You could be where you belong."

"Except I do not want it, Robb," Clive gives his cousin a look, an almost sad gaze that Ned could recall seeing on another Targaryen prince long ago "I don't think I am worthy of it just yet."

Robb looked ready to protest, Ned cut him off with a look "Clive…with what I have seen since you returned, you are ready to be king. I would gladly bend the knee if you so asked it of me."

"Uncle…why must you Starks be so stubborn?" Clive shakes his head "We keep this between ourselves, alright? I don't want them to follow me because I said so or make a claim that I cannot back up. Until I can get the proof I require, I need to prove to them all that I am someone they can follow, that they can trust to lead them well. Ok?"

"Ok…if that is what you wish Clive," Ned bows his head, earning an eye roll from his nephew and an exaggerated bow from Robb. "Come on boys, lets go see if we cant help speed up this packing."

Sunspear, Dorne

"When you first arrived almost a month ago, I had first thought you to be a raving lunatic. But now I find that I might just have to thank you for this turn of events you predicted." Prince Doran Martell of Dorne was a subtle, calculating and manipulative man. Unfortunately for him, the man seated at his table was not one he could manipulate or coerce into doing his bidding. This man was something far more dangerous than even the dreaded Mountain of the Lannister's. "I have to say that your trade proposals were very profitable as well, is there nothing you cannot do, Lord Kupka?"

Hugo Kupka was seated in a modified chair made after his arrival. Sturdy enough to support even him, large enough too, it was a beautiful gift even if it was difficult to craft. "My dear Prince Doran, flattery and pretty words won't win you my secrets, you should know that by now."

"You'll forgive me for trying then, but even you must admit that it is strange. A man arrives at our door telling a tale of a coming war. That we'll see our enemies fall in short order, and that a man by the name of Clive Rosfield will be present?" Doran laughs "It's all fanciful…and yet now I find it is all true. A Clive Rosfield has angered Robert Baratheon and now the realm is thrown into war with the Lannister's."

"Were you not already gifted a chair fit for a king, I would have had one commissioned once the news reached my ears," the ever taunting yet charming voice of Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne, reached Hugo's ears "And lets not forget your promise."

Hugo smirks, leaning back in his chair "Dorne becomes an ever-present trade partner of Dhalmekia, and in exchange will offer an alliance but only if delivered the head of Gregor Clegane…the Mountain that will fall."

Oberyn matches Hugo's smirk with one of his own "And you claim that you can do that…is it still true?"

"All I require is an opportunity, just one. You will have his death right after."

"But to do this…we must allow the economic advisor of Dhalmekia to advise us on matters of war," Doran frowns "What do you suggest we do in the war?"

"You'll do nothing for now. Dorne ha snot the men to engage in war against any kingdom alone. You'll wait until I hear from my people and only then will we act."

"Your people…" Oberyn grabs an apple, inspecting it in his hand "Tell me…if your superiors are back in Dhalmekia, and you are here…who is it that could possibly give you orders that are followed without question?"

Hugo just smiles at the prince "Someone far more dangerous than even you, Red Viper."

The Eyrie, the Vale

"My lady won't you please reconsider? We cannot just sit idly by while our king demands we march to war," Yohn Royce, in his bronze armor stood in the High Hall of the Eyrie, pleading his case to Lysa Arryn, the regent of the Vale and widow of his liege lord Jon Arryn "Please, Lady Arryn, allow us to go and bring your husbands killers to justice."

Lysa Arryn was a woman Time had savaged. What once was a body many young ladies would be jealous of had been left to grow fat from years of pregnancy and miscarriages, resulting in but one child. One sickly child still tended to by the maester. All her life woes had accumulated within her mind for she was a paranoid, fearful, vengeful and hateful woman now. One with the authority to keep some of the best knights of the land within her kingdom's borders. "Absolutely not," she says sharply "We will remain here, safe within our borders while the other kingdoms fight and weaken themselves in a foolish war. Why should we waste our lives for a king that doesn't care about us, didn't care about my husband?"

"Why indeed?" There was a clacking sound that followed the sensual voice "A foolish war you said? I did not realize that fighting for one's king was foolish, or that fighting to keep usurpers from claiming the throne was also foolish."

"Who are you?" one of the Lords of the Vale asks, hand reaching for his blade but stopping as he takes in the form of the woman entering the hall.

"I am Benedikta Harmon, I was sent as an envoy of my King; Barnabas of Waloed would like to offer an alliance and a trade offer but if you are all so unwilling to even fight for the man you swore oaths of fealty to…why should I waste my kings time and generosity on you all?" Benedikta smiles at the assembled nobility "Unless of course, you were going to prove me wrong now?"

"You shouldn't be here…" Lysa was trembling, eyeing this blonde-haired harlot "Guards! Seize her!"

"On what grounds?" Benedikta's smirk was predatory "I haven't broken any laws, and last I heard wasn't it bad practice to arrest a guest who has come in peace? What would my liege think if he were to find out you did this to me? He might even raise his army and invade the Vale. Now wouldn't that be a shame, all this beautiful architecture ruined by one woman's paranoia. Oh…and I suppose the blood shed would be a problem for you as well."

"Lady Harmon…the Lady Arryn did not mean any disrespect, she is…afraid. Her husband, Lord Jon Arryn, was murdered you see."

"Oh, I know all about that," Benedikta sighs, giving Lysa a pitying look "Your husband was murdered, quite possibly for finding out about the king's bastard children by the queen, so now you sit here and hope to your gods that the war ends, and you survive. I don't know what I was expecting when I came here but cowards were nowhere near a thought in my head."

"Cowards? We are no cowards!" one knight shouts "We are the Knights of the Vale! The best mounted knights in the land!"

"Mounted knights, yes, but are you the best on foot?" Benedikta smiles at the man "You are shaking in your boots right now, I guess that's all the answer I need."

Yohn Royce had to agree, something inside of him was telling him to run from this woman. There was something in how she moved, how she spoke…she wasn't alluring like a young maiden smiling at a freshly knighted squire boy. She was alluring like a predator on the hunt, eyeing a potential victim too afraid to so much as twitch under her gaze. And worse yet, she knew that and more.

"What do you want, my lady, from us?" he asks with a nervous twinge to his voice "Lady Arryn may not be in a listening mood, but we lords see no reason why we cannot be civil."

"I offer trade of course," she says with a laugh "And…should this war drag on, a possible solution to your troubles as well."

AN: And there you have it. Probably the most perspective changes in this story, in a single chapter, ever. We've seen what each side is packing, what they are all thinking, and even better we've gotten some hints and the return of two characters who for the most part were loved and hopefully still are. We are still a ways out from some major things for them both so for now just enjoy the peppering of scenes you have here and coming up soon. Before anyone asks, the numbers for the number of troops comes from the wiki which cites the official sources circa 2005 as having confirmed the numbers as accurate. Granted the amount of levies they could muster would be different/vary but essentially this is their full military might being brought to bare. Should have warned you all this wasn't a hugely exciting chapter...this is quite literally the filler that is needed before we can get to the war proper...the last chapter before the war actually kicks off.

P.S. The poll is live, I fixed it after forgetting to make it public on my profile...that's my B.

Now…to the reviews!

RedAlpha22: There was never going to be any peace with Robert Baratheon. If Clive is Jon and we are using the show plotline of him being a hidden Dragon…there just couldn't be any peace. The trick was finding a reason as to the broken 'alliance' that would make sense. While Robert wanting to marry Jill would work as a trigger for this…there had to be something that sort of pushes Clive to do what he did. Which won't be revealed until that big 'finale' I have been hinting at since chapter 18 was in the works.

Jebest4781: Finally you and your predicting ways have been defeated! I'm taking this as my win until you start correctly guessing everything again and I have to wonder if you are secretly watching me type up each chapter. But no, really, that powder keg that is the politics of King's Landing was going to blow at some point in time, it was only a matter of when.

Goonies117: Give it maybe….7-10 chapters before that chat has to happen. TO be fair, I am a little ahead atm so it feels sooner than it probably is for you guys and gals reading this.

Drakon45: You aren't wrong there. Clive not holding back without Ifrit can kill Robert and practically every fighter Westeros and Essos could muster…but where would the fun be if I didn't throw in some quality matchups that could give more than he can take?

master of death12345: Doubly so with what's planned…there will be a lot of reactions to gauge at numerous points in time. Sadly, the first-time reactions will slowly run out, but the common man will still have a reaction when they are not from Valisthea.

Mxm124: Funny you should mention Benedikta…isn't it? Congrats on taking Jebest's role of predicting my next chapter before I even get it out. Though to be fair, usually I leave hints of what's next or try to if I remember to put them in. But still…this war is going to be a bit…bigger, than you might expect. One could even say it will be Eikonic...I'll show myself out now.

Robbler: Oh dear. Lacking the finer grasp of medieval politics? Catelyn Stark cannot have a Lady arrested on a whim without dragging Westeros into war? …gee, like she hasn't already done that in canon. I'll see your commentary on a fanfics use of Cat and raise you the canon use of Cat by having her arrest Tyrion Lannister and dragging him off to the Eyrie for a trial all because she did in fact feel slighted/attacked because of little more than hearsay. Anabella being threatened is more so in response to her decorum once her temper is lost…for reasons that will take a long time for me to explain/reach in story unless someone has already figured it out, in which case no spoilers folks. Back to you…if you had bothered to read the books, or watched the show you'd have known that is completely in character and follows the in-universe lore.

Guest 1 (Tom): Much wow

Guest 2 (Steve): Was he saved from a permafrost Shiva or was he saved from a very explosive Ifrit? Because remember…that eikon is technically still in play even if he hasn't YET made an appearance.

Guest 3 (Frank): I can't tell if that is a positive or negative statement on his portrayal…I also apologize that you were the latest review to appear and thus sadly you cannot be Steve, but thankfully you are not Tom, so Frank will have to do. Doing that solely for when guest reviews become too many per chapter and I don't want you all to get confused. Granted, you and the two above you may review before another or after another…and then it just gets confusing for everybody.