Kurt gritted his teeth as he heard the report from King's Landing. Apparently, Aerys wasn't happy about Rhaegar's failure to reappear, though he had thankfully not blamed his Spartans. Instead, he had decided to take matters into his own hands. Such matters apparently included seizing Rickard Stark as soon as he entered the capitol and killing the man's guards. The lord of the North had been thrown into the black cells alongside his son waiting for the king's justice, as the proceedings were called.

Jane had unfortunately been unable to convince Rhaegar to return peacefully and had so reported the events of his and Lyanna's desertion to Shane, who had in turn reported Rhaegar's insubbordination to Aerys.

Shane had only just finished reporting to Kurt about Brandon's fate in the aftermath of Rhaegar's decisions. Apparently the wolf heir was senteced to be burned alive by wildfire, while the man's father was forced to watch. Aerys had taken Rhaegar and Lyanna's elopement as a failed coup by the Starks. One that was meant to seat the Starks of the throne by seducing Rhaegar into betraying his father. According to the king's mind it had not worked, and Lyanna was now what he called Rhaegar's 'latest brood sow' since the 'sandy bitch' had become sterile.

The strange, warped senses of the king had decided that Brandon's threats upon Rhaegar's life, combined with his father's haste to reach the capitol, was all part of a larger plan to seize control of the throne and install a Stark as king. Instead, according to the king, Rhaegar's seed would supplant the line of wolves with that of the dragons, and now all Starks were to be turned over to the crown to be excecuted with the exception of the now Targaryen lady Lyanna, who would produce the new Targaryen heir to the north.

It seemed though that Aerys was not finished with his cruelty however, in addition to making lord Rickard Stark watch as his eldest child and heir was burned alive, he demanded that the man be kept prisoner so as to watch his other two sons share the same fate. Already the country was in an uproar. Many sided with the king in declaring the Starks as traitors, all too eager to believe whatever they needed to in order to survive the king's fury, but others it seemed were less maleable.

Jon Arryn, lord of the Eyrie and the Vale, had refused the orders of his king and had declared rebellion to protect his two wards. It seemed that in addition to the demand for the head of Eddard Stark, so too had the mad king demanded the death of his own first cousin Robert Baratheon, though for what specific reason Kurt didn't know. Satellite imaging was already showing movement around the Eyrie in the week since the declaration had been sent out. Armed groups of men were gathering all across the Vale and as well as in the North, Stormlands and Reach. The other kingdoms had been docile so far, without cause to move given that they likewise lacked the information of Kurt and the supreme authority of the Westerlands.

Tywin had made no moves to let on about the information he was recieving though. He ordered his household guard be brought up to par, but beyond that he made no moves to assemble his bannermen and the greater forces of the Westerlands. The anti-Targaryen forces led by the Arryns and Robert Baratheon were already massing in the mountian passes of the Eyrie. However, it seemed that not all of lord Arryn's bannermen were adhearing to the orders of their leige lord. Most notably, the Graftons of Gulltown were assembling their own forces and seemed to be standing against their lord paramount.

Kurt looked over the satelite images from his solar in Casterly Rock. He had been offered rooms close by the Tywin's own, a grand showing of the closeness of his people with the lords Paramount of the Westerlands. Tywin and Kevan were with him, pouring over the images, having joined him in his solar so as to provide as few possible leaks of information.

"This is no small defiance." Kevan said, picking up a picture of the Arryn army gathering. "This is the seed of rebellion."

"A word not used lightly." Tywin warned his brother. "Rebellion of any kind against Aerys can only end in one way. Obliteration of one side or the other. The mad king will allow for nothing else."

"What is to be done then?" Kevan asked. "We could raise our banners, commit our forces to a side."

"For now it is too dangerous." Tywin warned. "The first sparks are only beginning to scatter over the realm, We will have to wait for a time before we know who to back."

His eyes flickered over Kurt.

"And we must make sure that none of our own are lost should we back the wrong side early on."

Kurt nodded his affirmation.

"It might take time, but I can have Spartans in range to terminate any leadership on either side."

"More concerning is the marriage of Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark." Kevan said. "No king with children by different wives has had a smooth succession. Wars have been fought more than once over such things."

"Indeed. The faith will not sit quietly either, not since Maegor has a king dared to keep two wives at once."

The comparrison was not a flattering one for the silver prince, that Kurt knew for a fact. The histories of the seven kingdoms was filled with bloodshed, but rarely had their wars been so bloody as when Targaryens went to war with each other. Quietly Kurt almost mourned the loss of dragons, as the histories recorded their appearences and even domestication in the last three centuries. He himself had seen the massive skulls beneath the Red Keep, the people of Westeros had no technology to fake such things. Dragons would have been a nuisance to deal with, but in Kurt's opinion, well worth the deployment of aerial forces for the chance to see such a widely mythologised creature. As it was he had been content with merely bringing back bone samples from the capitol and handing them to the biologists on the 'Plataea'."

"For now, signal lady Jane to return to King's Landing with or without Rhaegar and Lyanna, I want to ensure that Jamie is given every protection available."

"Of course Lord Lannister. I have Spartan teams India and Sierra on standby to infiltrate and terminate after Wolf Pack extracts and exfiltrates Jamie if things go wrong."

"Good, I want your Spartans to be within range to assassinate the rebel leaders as soon as possible."

"Understood."

Rhaegar watched as Lady Jane emerged once again over the crest of the sand dune. She had been with them for almost a week and had been a nuisance for every moment of it. She had made no attempt to stop perstering him about returning to King's Landing, and once she had recieved news about the fates of Brandon and Rickard Stark had made no efforts to keep such distressing news from Lyanna. His new wife had fainted upon hearing of her brother's death, and he had had to be with her almost always to console her. She blamed herself of course, which Rhaegar assured her was not right. She had no control over his father's crazed actions, and he promised her revenge for her family once the time was right.

Even as he promised her the safety of her family he cursed Jon Arryn silently. He could have given up his two wards and saved the realm the cost of a war. Not to mention the weakened forces in the aftermath of this unneeded rebellion would only aid the great others when they came from beyond the wall. The Vale might be able to hold out against invasion, but actual rebellion was impossible, not when the crown controlled The two wealthiest kingdoms, both of which could field the largest armies on the continent.

Instead, he would have to fight and kill his own good-brother, something he did not relish but would do if the need came, and his cousin Robert, who he had fewer qualms about killing considering that his death would not truly sadden Lyanna. Lady Jane neared from wherever it was she went to speak to her runners or ravens, however it was she was getting messages to King's Landing and back.

"This is your last warning prince Rhaegar." She said.

The kingsguard tensed and readied themselves from where they stood flanking him.

"I have been ordered to return to King's Landing, so far my commander has forbid me from physically forcing you to return due to concern over your fathers reaction, or likely his violent over reaction. However, as it is now I must return with or without you and so I am required by my mission to request that and your companions accompany me back to King's Landing."

"I'm sorry my lady." Rhaegar said, though he truly wasn't. "But as I said, our presence would only serve to flare tempers, It would be best that we-"

"I'll go with you." Rhaegar and the kingsguard turned around sharply to see Lyanna Stark, who was staring blankly at the ground with tears in her eyes.

"My love." Rhaegar tried to say. "You are grieving, perhaps it is best-"

"My brother is dead, my father is a prisoner. I need to go back and tell them. I must fix this." She clutched at Rhaegar's tunic, pressing her face into the fabric and crying. "I have to explain. I know that if I do, if I just tell them that what we feel in our hearts for each other. If we show them how much we love each other, this will come to an end. Your father and mine will see reason and then we can have them talk."

Neither Lyanna nor Rhaegar could have known about just how far things had gone however. The prince knew of the defiance of lord Arryn, but neither knew of just how far things had already gotten. Jane had not been ordered to share any such information with people who could in time be considered enemy combatants, and in fact she had been ordered to keep much of the information she had recieved from the new royal couple.

Rhaegar was whispering into Lyanna's ear, something that Jane could barely pick up with her Spartan hearing.

"Of course... child... ice and fire... return..."

A few more words were exchanged but Jane was unable to hear it as the desert wind picked up and the sound drowned out the muttering of the prince and new princess.

"We will make ready to travel." Rhaegar ordered, though his face looked like he was swallowing a lemon.

Lyanna looked up at him with a smile, leaning forwards to kiss the prince and wrap her arms around him.

"Thank you my love. I promise we can fix this." She kissed him again before retreating into the tower.

Rhaegar watched her retreat until the door of the tower was firmly closed before rounding on Jane.

"You have been a thorn in my side since you arrived." He snarled. "You and your lord cannot see it yet, but this is what destiny demands. Our survival depends on Lyanna, and the distress you have inflicted on her will be of no help in ensuring that she is capable of fulfilling the role that fate has in store for her."

Jane offered the prince no response other than a raised eyebrow. Without a word, she placed her helmet over her head, tucked her hair in, and sealed the metal and glass covering.

"Goodbye, prince Rhaegar."

Jane dug her foot into the sand and took off at a sprint, clearing nearly thirty-five mph as she took off and left a cloud of dust in her wake. Rhaegar and the kingsguard were left in shock as they saw her clear the massive sand dune in seconds, something that had taken them near on a minute given the poor footing.

Rhaegar watched in awe as lady Jane disappeared from view, leaving him and his kingsguard alone in the sands surrounding the tower. For the last week, lady Jane had made more than one move that looked like it might lead to violence, but had stopped from what Rhaegar assumed was fear of the white-cloaks who were always on guard. Now, seeing her dash faster than a galloping horse, he wondered it was really fear of his guards, or fear of her own commander.

The dragon prince shook his head, clearing it of thoughts about the Spartan lady. She would be of little consequence in the long, run. So long as Lyanna bore his second daughter he knew that fate would lead him to victory, no matter what obstacles stood in his way.

Rhaella watched her son return to King's Landing more than two months after his disappearance, riding with Lyanna Stark next to him and three kingsguard surrounding the man and protecting them. Rhaegar would normally have recieved the welcome of a man beloved by the people, now though his reception was less enthusiastic, though not by much. What few people did not cheer were those who had lost family to the war that was now raging. Rhaella watched with Viserys by her side and Jane standing just behind her. Jane had provided her with a good amount of information since her return from negotiating with her son, and the queen had more than once been aghast at the impetuousness of her son and his new bride.

Lyonel the laughing storm's rebellion was not even fifty years ago. Her own namesake had married into the family and Robert was Rhaegar's own second cousin. To steal the man's betrothed, and to take her as his wife, was something Rhaegar should have known would incite the legendary wrath of that house that was so closely tied to both her own, and the ancient Storm Kings who had fought the very winds and tides for the women they loved. Robert had already won glory with the taking of Gulltown in the Vale, and was gathering forces in the Stormlands to face off against the loyalist armies that her husband and his courtiers had begun to gather.

It seemed though that Robert's rage was no longer simply born from fury over lady Lyanna kidnapping. The unlawful death of Brandon Stark, and the inprisonment of Rickard Stark when he had come to peacefully offer terms, had turned much of the realm into a bonfire roaring against Aerys. Rhaella herself, in the privacy of her own mind, agreed with their sentiments, however the rebles had over the last two months declared their intent to topple her house from the throne that her ancestors had built. Aerys' madness might disqualify him from rulership. That much Rhaella understood, and even supported, but to dethrone the Targaryen dynasty was something she knew would mean the deaths of her, her children, and the grandchildren that Elia had given birth to.

Speaking of the dornish woman, she had replied to few if any of her messages. Her son's first wife's grief over his abandonment of their family had struck her hard, and Rhaegar had even asked her to write to his wife as she seemed unwilling to respond to his own letters. Rhealla had at the time been cold to her oldest son, making more than one snide remark about Lyanna her place as his second wife. Once she had even likened any children she might have to Maegor or Daemon, something she had later regretted. She might not have appreciated Rhaegar and Lyanna's decisions or the consequences that came with them but should they ever produce children she had no right to judge them so harshly. She had written to Elia since then, as a silent form of apology for the insult, and had managed to engage in regular correspondence with the dornish princess.

Aegon and Rhaenys were well, though Elia herself was lonely since the departure of Rhaegar and her closest friend Ashara Dayne. Apparently Elia's lady in waiting had left on personal business nearly three months ago and had not had the chance to return. Rhaella had hoped and prayed that the beautiful dornish maid had not been waylaid by the growing conflict across the seven kingdoms, but if she had been, Rhaella assured her good-daughter that Ashara could take care of herself and would return soon to her.

Rhaegar was so far dealing with the unrest as best he could. Her husband seemed to care little in the actual planning of battles, leaving most of it up to his generals and advisors, but Rhaegar had been attending war meetings when he was not comforting Lyanna. According to rumours, the young Stark princess had descended into the black cells to see her father, and had emerged some time later bawling and sobbing. She had locked herself in her chambers and had only allowed Rhaegar inside after much begging on her son's part.

Part of Rhaella wanted to offer the girl comfort, after all she was but a child, only a year older than she was when she had given birth to Rhaegar, but she had not had much chance as she was forced to take part in many of the queenly duties she had been teaching Elia to take up. She had once asked Rhegar to have Lyanna join her, so that she might get to know her new good-daughter. It had been an attempt to reach out to her son, one that he was all to happy to recognise and accept. Lyanna on the other hand had deemed these activites trivial and pointless, sitting in solars and discussing issues with ladies bored her, as did hearing the concerns of the various common women Rhaella held audiences with. The Stark girl seemed much more happy to converse with the stablehands and ride her horse whenever she felt sedentary.

The queen of the seven kingdoms sighed, resting back in her chair as she and Jane watched Viserys practice his numbers. Lady Jane of house Terra had become a near constant companion of the queen, someone who Tywin had originally sent to guard Jamie. However, it seemed that having a woman publicly guarding his son was a mark against the boys reputation that neither father nor son would tolerate, and so her 'squadmates' as she had called them, rotated duty guarding the young kingsguard. That left lady Jane with an amount of free time that she did not know what to do with, outside of training with whichever of the two was off duty at that moment, she seemed mostly contented with keeping Rhaella company, and helping her in her endeavours.

Rhaella was of course aware that Lady Jane was using their closeness to gleam information on the war for her lord and lord Tywin, but she was far more upfront about it than others might have been, and Rhaella found that even if she was being used, that she enjoyed Jane's company when she was not fishing for information. Rhaella had begun to turn it into a sort of game with the woman, to see who could be the more subtle and coniving in hiding or retrieving information. The queen found herself greatly enjoying it, more than she might have thought.

Kurt watched the replay of the battle, or battles, of Summerhall with Tywin, Kevan and Tygett. Apparently In the month that Robert had been back in the Stormlands following his month traveling home from the Vale, he had managed to rally a considerable force. The armied levied by the Crownlands would not have been able to take him on immediately and so Owen Merryweather, the hand of the king, had incited rebellion amongst Robert's own lords. Kurt admired the strategy, had it not fallen apart so quickly. The three forces of the lords Cafferen, Fell and Grandison were to meet and combine into a force large enough to challenge Robert, but had missed their opportunity through sluggishness, treachery or sheer bad luck.

Robert Baratheon had caught wind of the meeting, and rushed to reach Summerhall before any of his rebelling lords could. There, at the castle once beloved by the very family he was fighting to overthrow, the very caslte when Rhaegar had been born, Robert Baratheon had defeated each lord's force as it had arrived, dealing enough damage to force a surrender before absorbing them into his own force.

If Kurt had been impressed with the mutiny lord Merryweather had incited from the capitol, he truly admired Robert's ability to keep his men going. Fighting three battles, even if they were more skirmishes, in a single day was a tiring thing for any army, that they had not only won all three battles but had absorbed them with minimal casualties was even more admirable.

"He's a capable commander." Kurt said, looking over the army at it retreated from Summerhall and made its way back to Storm's End.

Tygett nodded, watching the projected screen with a wary eye. All three Lannister lords were agitated with the realtime projection of the battle happening hundreds of miles away, though Tywin of course kept his face mostly composed. Judging by the lack of reation on Tywin's face one would almost believe that the display was nothing special, and in truth it wasn't, so long as one had a comprehensive understanding of the world. As it was the old lion's eyes showed only a hint of the panic that he felt as he watched the incredible display of technological superiority. Such things were so close to magic he almost hadn't believed Ambrose when he had tried to explain it, but his insistance that he could have people explain it and have his own people replicate the technique one day had done enough to calm his nerves that he allowed the issue to pass. For that moment, the lion of the rock had larger problems on his hands.

Ravens had come demanding his aid and his arms, ravens he had had go unanswered. He felt no obligation to aid in fixing any more of Aerys' mistakes, not to mention that should he take action against Robert Baratheon, it would leave the Westerlands vulnerable to attack from the openly rebel North and Vale, at least should the Riverlands not take the brunt of that force. Then again, the riverlords might just allow the rebels through their lands given the fact that Brandon Stark had been all but married to Catelyn Tully.

No matter the opinions or actions of the other kingdoms, Tywin's responsibility was to the safety and prosperity of his house, and by extension, his people. A plan would have to be made, something that would see his house through this latest test of their legacy, and the lord of the Rock knew that his new bannermen would be useful in the creation of that plan.

So basically, my timeline goes like this (most of it is actually travel because this is medieval times)

281 September: tourney of Harrenhal

281 December: Aegon VI is born

282 March: Lyanna and Rhaegar run away together. Brandon arrives in King's Landing, Jane finds Rhaegar and Lyanna, Rickard Arrives in Kings Landing, Brandon dies and Rickard is imprisoned (I know it's not how it goes in the books/show but stay with me on this one.), Jane returns to King's landing.

282 April: Rebellion begins with Arryn defiance, Buildup of Vale forces, Taking of Gulltown.

282 May: Robert arrives in Stormlands and builds up forces. Ned instructs Benjen to call the banners, northern banners gather slower than Stormlands or Vale, Ned returns to the North.

282 June: Battle at Summerhall.