:-[Chapter 27]-:
Without another word, Rhaegar plunged his sword thought King Aerys, Second of his Name's neck. The man gasped in pain but couldn't say a word. His crown felt from his head to the stairs, falling from them until it arrived at the bottom of it, broken in pieces. The new kinslayer sat down the Iron Throne, covered in the blood of his now departed father.
"This kingdom is now mine. And from it shall arise a new one. I declare the crusade against the heathens of all the known world has officially begun." said King Rhaegar, First of His Name.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Silence. Not a sound was heard except for King Aerys' blood pouring down the stairs. Ser Gerold was speechless. He never saw coming the blow from Rhaegar to his father. He could only look at the man now sitting on the Iron Throne. He knew the man since he was a small babe. How could something like this happened? He knew Rhaegar had been traumatized by his torture during his captivity in Duskendale but he never had shown any tendency toward killing his own father in cold blood.
The Reachman was staring at his new king. A crusade? No king in the Seven Kingdoms before him had ever attempted such a thing. Sure, the Stepstones had been conquered and lost many times in the past but Essos? Even the Valyrian weren't able to do it.
"My Prince... how..." started the man.
"This is your king, Lord Commander. King Rhaegar Targaryen, First of His Name! Mwa ah ah ah!" laughed the Smiling Knight. "He is the one to lead us toward glory and a new era of prosperity."
While he was speaking, Rhaegar's troops placed themselves between him and the small crowd of nobles. All the older kingsguards member had grim looks in their eyes. Simon Toyne didn't look to have a care in the world, only smirking at all the commotion. Ser Arthur Dayne didn't even manage to look at his Lord Commander in the eyes, as if he was ashamed of what was going on.
"I am here, as your new King to guide you toward a prosperity the Seven Kingdom haven't seen yet. My father was a weak man. I will lead you in a Great Crusade against magic users and heathens. I won't lie to you all, our work will be long and hard. We need to start purifying our own lands. Right now, we have an open rebellion of at least two kingdoms, the Starks in the North and the Martells in Dorne. Those barbarians and snakes to the Crown must be cleansed sooner rather than later. After which, the Seven Kingdoms will be united under the Seven Gods."
"King... Rhaegar!" screamed one of the noble. "King Rhaegar!"
The crowd began to chant his name. Many of them were already participating in the High Septon's many religious sermons. The old man, who had been brought by the now new king, was present for all of it. He walked toward the Iron Throne, turned his back from the King and faced the now roaring crowd.
"The Voice of the Seven as spoken! War has begun! Train your men! Train yourself! Pray to the Gods! Every family must offer a least one son to the war effort. Send ravens to every forts, every towns in every kingdom loyal to the Crown. The Holy War has begun!"
:-[T.A.B]-:
Steffon Baratheon had his head in his hands and didn't like what was coming in the Seven Kingdoms. War. He had hoped to pass the rest of his days in peace and eventually pass on the tile of Lord Paramount of the Stormlands to his eldest son, Robert. But now, two kingdoms were in open rebellion, not that he could blame them in the least. If the raven from his now ex-friend was true, the Crown had asked for the head of one of his children in retribution for the uses of magic.
The Martells were asked something similar and had refused every order since. The Old Stag had his orders. He was to keep the frontier between Dorne and the Stormlands by land and sea with the Royal Fleet while the Tarlys, Hightowers and Redwynes were doing the same on the western side. Steffon knew why him and the Reach couldn't attack the Dornish. His grace, King Rhaegar Targaryen wanted to be the one to do it with all the might of the Iron Throne. First, the king had his eyes on the North, where two of his father's kingsguards defected. Rumors of a powerful sorcerer who had apparently casted an evil spell on both of them, forcing them to renounce their vows to their king and gods.
This sorcerer... Harry Winterstorm. His son Robert had vehemently defended the man with all of his fury. When the letter about war came out, his Heir was so beyond furious that his came back from his fostering with Jon Arryn. The Lord Paramount wasn't mad at this. He was able to see all of his sons at the same time.
'Truly a gift from the gods' thought the man in his personal solar. His wife was beyond herself in joy to have her 'babies' with her. Steffon smirked slightly at this. Robert was everything from a baby. He was a man, a born warrior who would be a fine lord when the time would come. Harvest Hall was given back to him by King Rhaegar and Steffon had the intention of rebuilding it to give to Stannis. Renly would either become a knight or would go to become a Maester at the Citadel.
A soft knock got him out of his thoughts. He knew that knock from anywhere.
"You may enter, Cassana." said the man, a smile appearing on his face.
His magnificent wife entered his solar with her natural grace. Event after giving birth to three strong boys, she was still a gorgeous woman.
"My lord husband. It is too much like you to stay up late in the night. What is keeping you from our bed I wonder?" said Cassana with her soft voice.
"The Realm, my dear wife. We are at the beginning of a civil war and a future crusade that will probably last for a generation." sighed Steffon.
"His grace really wants to expunge the Starks and the Martell from their home?" asked Cassana, worried about all of the implications.
"Aye. By having refuses our new King Rhaegar's orders, the two Houses brought upon them this doom." explained Steffon. "His grace has decided to fight against the North first, however. He wants to make an example of the Starks and eradicate the Old Gods."
"All those people..." gasped the Lady of Storm's End.
"Aye. But we must focus on our own kingdom. The Stormlands lord are becoming restless about a fight with Dorne. His grace has given me temporary control of the Royal Fleet and we must presented a united front for when he arrived after his war north."
"Do you think he will win? The North has never been invaded before. Only because of the Kneeler the Targaryens didn't have to try." said Cassana, remembering her lesson with her Maester years ago.
"The army will be made of the Westerlands, Riverlands, the Reach and the Targaryens direct bannermen. I cannot see how Rickard could..." tried to finished Steffon but was unable to do so. Rickard was his friend and didn't want to see him or the northerners all died.
What they both didn't know was that Robert was outside the solar and heard everything. He knew of course of the Stormlands mission to prevent any outside skirmish with Dorne but didn't knew about the Crown's plan for the North. Even if his fostering with Eddard Stark was cut short, the man remembered fondly his time with him. The Stormlander knew he had a decision to make, and also knew he had to made it quickly.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Doran Martell was sitting with his brother in his solar, in Sunspear. Their uncle's decision hadn't been a big surprise in their mind. They didn't see it as a betrayal on his part, but more on the Crown's. Now those fuckers wanted everything. King Rhaegar was nothing more than a murderer and a kinslayer but had promised too much to too many lords and was able to keep power. Tywin Lannister finally got what he wanted, his daughter on the Iron Throne and his eldest son promised to the elder daughter of Hoster Tully.
The Lord Paramount of Dorne had many spies within the Realm and all of them were saying the same thing. War was coming and was going to the North and then them. Doran couldn't honnestly understand the Targaryens. How could they think they would be able to successfully invade the North and Dorne was beyond him. They were the two that was impossible to invade and then keep long term. Dragons couldn't take Dorne and mere men wouldn't be able to do so.
"We need to do something." said Oberyn, making Doran quit his inner musing. The northerners cannot fight against the combine force of four kingdoms. The Reach alone has around 120.000 men. The Westerlands have around 60.000 plus theirs conscripts. The combine force of the Tullys and the Crown would be around 100.000. They are about to face 300.000 men. We will face even more once they are beaten."
"Then you shall go, my brother. Tonight, you shall leave with two thousand men and leave for Essos. You shall follow the coast so that the Iron Throne wouldn't dare attack you so close to the Free Cities. I will send a raven to Lord Manderly and Lord Stark explaining them my offer of an alliance."
"Then why must I leave now, brother?" inquired the Red Viper.
"Simple, Obe. I know they will accept. Two thousand bowmen from Dorne, free of cost is too good of an opportunity for them. You are to defend whatever place they send you as if it was Dorne itself, as if could very well be." answered Doran. "I trust no one else to lead this host than you."
"I sure hope so. Two thousand, huh?"
"Yes. If the rumors are true, Moat Cailin will most certainly be your destination. Go prepare yourself brother."
:-[T.A.B]-:
Harry Winterstorm was training hard in his personal courtyard in company of the Stark children. Ever since they heard about the very potential invasion, they all decided to train even more. The younger Lyanna and Benjen decided to train in the art of archery since they didn't have the strength to fight with the sword yet. Eddard and the young lord were currently in the middle of a long sparring. Both were solid warriors in their own right, if Barristan and Lewyn had any right to say so. Ned had decided to live permanently in Moat Cailin as a personal guest of Harry himself, as he didn't want to live in Midgard. The stronghold's lord decided to make him an advisor for his northern relationship with other lords.
"So, Harry. How are things coming?" asked Eddard while swinging his sword at his sparring partner's legs.
"Very good and some bad." answered the young wizard. "My garrison is almost complete due to the massive income in refugees. Volunteers are flooding and the only problem I now have is I can't arm them all yet. Your brother Brandon is supposed to send me a bunch of bows and arrows pretty soon." he finished.
"Aye. His letters are telling me the same. It takes time to make the quality bow you requested. Those long bows will certainly do a lot of damage." said the Stark man while trying to make his friend lose his balance.
"Longbows are better for defensive purposes." said Harry while pushing Eddard away with his shield. "They are harder on the arms sure, but we will be able to pin down many enemies with it."
"And the swamp in front of the Moat will be our greatest defense. Enemies will not be able to move well and that's without speaking of siege engines. Siege towers will never be able to arrive at us."
"Ser Barristan says the same. Only ladders will be able to arrive at the walls. By then, my archers will shower them with thousands of arrows. We have installed many catapults to help against range siege weapons."
"I see you have thought of everything, my friend."
"Well, to be fair, your father was the one who thought about that last thing. The man had a lot of ideas for Moat Cailin and even Midgard. He helped with the architects, as you know."
The spar between both friends was interrupted by Torrhen and Lord Rickard, who came together from the Direwolves Tower. Eddard's father had a smile on his face, which was rare since he decided to openly revolt against King Rhaegar orders to kill one of his children himself. Even the gruff Torrhen had a small smile on the corners of his lips. 'A feat in itself, I believe' thought amusedly Harry.
"My lord. Important news from Dorne. Lord Stark himself wanted to give you the news." said Torrhen.
"Indeed. Prince Doran Martell, the ruler of Dorne, has also revolt against the Crown for similar reasons like us. He offers an alliance and reinforcement already of their way. I believe he understand the gravity of his situation and ours." said Rickard. "I've of course accepted it immediately."
"How many men are coming from Sunspear, father?" asked Eddard, breathing heavily from the spar.
"Two thousand spears and bows." answered the man.
"Who will lead them, my lord?" asked Harry.
"Prince Oberyn Martell himself. It seems Prince Doran is most serious when he wrote that he truly wanted to stop the Targaryens here in the North. It makes sense since he doesn't want to see his lands in fire and blood."
"The Red Viper himself? I thought he was banished due to his killing of Lord EdgarYronwood?" said a surprise Harry, not that he was disappointed with the chose of Dorne's leader.
"Aye. Well, the situation is grave enough for the southern kingdom to grand leniency to one of their favorite men. Oberyn is very popular among the smallfolk, helping them with bandits roaming the desert. They should arrive in a fortnight in White Harbor as they are longing the coast of Essos." answered the Lord Paramount of the North. "Now, Eddard, go find your brother and sister. We must talk as a family. Lord Harry, would you be so kind to offer us your solar atop your tower?"
"Of course, my lord. Moat Cailin is yours, as I said when you arrived."
:-[T.A.B]-:
The Starks were all assembled in Harry's solar. The lord himself wasn't present but since Hedwig was personally invited by Lady Lyanna, the raven-haired wizard would know everything anyway. Only Brandon was missing, since he was in Winterfell, ruling the capital. Of course, he exchanged a lot of letters with his lord father, wanting his council on the war to come. But overall, the young man was doing a great job.
"Why are we here, father? Lady Maege was training me with the mace today!" said a very happy Lyanna.
"We have much to discuss, my Lya." started the Old Wolf softly. "The might on the Iron Throne is coming. They will be here in a year, maybe two at the most. Arranging such a massive army is not a small feat, even for the Crown, let alone different kingdom. Anyhow, this isn't what I wanted to talk to you about. As the Lord of the North, I've decided to stay here to defend Moat Cailin against the southern invasion. You both however should..."
"Definitively stay here." said Benjen.
"No, my son." said Rickard. "You need to go back to Winterfell with your sister and help your brother Brandon."
"Father, I may be young, but you need everyone to help. If the Iron Throne manage to pass Moat Cailin, they will rape and burn our lands. As a Stark, it is my duty to lead the men here."
"Benjen, you are barely ten years of age." tried to insist Rickard.
"Being ten years will not stop them to cut my head off in they found me. I am not asking you to let me lead the charge, father. Only to stay and at least help the warriors who will do it." said Benjen, his voice steady and firm through his speech.
Rickard stayed silent. It was only his instinct as a parent that tried to protect his children. He knew for a fact that Lyanna would also refuse to leave. His little girl had the wolf blood inside her veins. He only took a quick look upon his daughter face and saw the pure determination in her grey eyes.
"Don't ask me to leave, father." said Lyanna Stark. "I will run away and found a way to come back here. Our ancestors have defended this place as it was their duty. Brandon is the future of House Stark due to his marriage to Lady Barbrey Riswell. That is why he need to stay in Winterfell. I will defend the North here, at Moat Cailin with my family and my friends. Harry and Hedwig deserved all the help they can have." finished the young girl while petting a happy direwolf.
The Lord of Winterfell looked at his three children, proud of their will to defend their home. Even if he wanted them safe, as any parent should, he now knew he couldn't keep them away from this.
"Very well. I shall make arrangement with Harry concerning your protection. I will assign Ser Barristan and Ser Lewyn to both of you and that is not debatable, do you both understand?"
"Aye, father." chorused his two youngest. Benjen was beyond excited to have two legends to help him with the sword. It was like a dream come true for the third son of Rickard.
"Good." sighed the man. He was getting tired by the day. The stress of all that was happening was getting its toll on him. "We will split the North army in three groups. One on each coast, preventing any naval entry. Winter is still far, and we cannot count on the sea freezing to help us yet. Our main hot will be held here under my direct orders. Harry will be one of the three generals, and you are to help him in whatever way you can."
:-[T.A.B]-:
Mace Tyrell, Lord of Highgarden was proud of his new standing within the Realm. His son was was the good brother to the brother of the Queen which in fact made him far more important than the simple normal lord. He was ready to lead his armies for the King by himself, which was what contrary to what his mother told him to do. She wanted him to let Lord Randyl Tarly lead the Reach army but no. He was a Tyrell and Tyrells don't let mere lords join the lead of the biggest army Westeros had seen in centuries.
"You bloody oaf. Why did you send Randyl Tarly of all men away? He is our greatest military assest and you, you moron, send him away to guard a kingdom that doesn't even want to come out or the fucking sand!?" almost screamed the Queen of Thorn.
"B-But Mother! Surely you see the wonderful opportunity that is presented to us. King Rhaegar has given us..." stuttered the Fat Lord.
"Rhaegar hasn't given us anything! We had to marry Willas to a second daughter! You could have become the next Hand of the King but no! You are content with the crumbs that the Crown gives you. You just force our kingdom to years of futile war. We will be forced to feed entire armies for years for almost nothing." informed Olenna Tyrell.
"I intend to demand from the king..." wanted to start the man but was interrupted first.
""Demand? Demand!? Demand what from mad people? They are burning people of pyre inside the Red Keep, Mace! What don't you understand you bloody baboon?"
Now the Queen of Thorne was becoming livid. It seemed that her son was only good for making good children and nothing else. His stupidity was beyond anything she could have imagine.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Tywin Lannister, Lord Paramount of the West wasn't happy. This stupid war against what the Crown called heathens was beyond stupid. What was the point of exterminating the northerners? Who would rule then? Southerners on north lands? And whom shall they rule? Corpses and ashes that was what.
Still, the Lion of The Rock was getting his men ready for war. His armies were assembling at the border with the Riverlands under Kevan. Tywin didn't know if he wanted to fight himself or go to that gods forsaken land that was the North. His own son was of course going, as the squire of Lord Sumner Crakehall. Of course, duty was compelling him to do se, even if he wasn't the Hand of the King anymore, not that he cared. After all, his goals to put his blood of the Iron Throne was accomplish with his daughter marrying the king.
The royal wedding was to be set on Harrenhal, just before the war against the North. Cersei was beyond happy that her dream was coming true. Himself was satisfied with his two eldest. Jaime was set to marry Catelyn Tully as soon as he becomes a knight. The war should easily provide that, he thought to himself.
Even in all of his madness, Rhaegar was showing more cunning than his father ever did. He was the one who came to Tywin about marrying his daughter, even after his own father had already refuse once, to his great anger. The Targaryen was the one whom organized all of the marriage for this great alliance. He even managed to keep the Stormlands in his grasps by giving the Royal Fleet to them.
But this last raven gave him pause. Initially thought to be neutral in the war, Jon Arryn was given the position of Hand of the King in the hope that his could convince the Starks and Martells to surrender peacefully. His spies in King's Landing told him that if he was to fail, the knights of the Vale were to fight in the war. Tywin was convinced everything was a ruse from King Rhaegar to simply have more men to spend on the war. There was no way the North and Dorne would ever agree to kill one of their own.
:-[T.A.B]-:
Author Note : Another kingdom join the Alliance! How many men do you think the North will face?
Thank you everyone for reading Chapter 27 of The adventure begins! Please let a review in the comment, letting me know what you think about my story of what you would like to see.
If you are interested in becoming an Alpha or Beta reader, contact me!
Criticism is always welcome as long as it is constructive.
To Ptool: Yep, Rhaegar is gone with is Gollum personality!
To Qhristian: En realidad, esta fue mi inspiración para esta escena. ¡Bien encontrado mi amigo!
To Sheploo: All Hail King nutcase!
To Mark1: Well.. For this king atleast!
To Narim2001: I don't think our Harry is ready yet for this kind of spell, but I appreciate the support!
To RRW: Thank you for your review! Always great to see these! Hope you like this chapter.