Chapter 4: Preparing for War
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- Guys, this story would take some time to build up before moving deep into the timeline very fast. You should also know that I would describe some events from my perspective with some changes from what really happened.
- This story would have four-way main characters. Our MC, Eddard Baratheon. Me, the author and Lord of Darkness. The lord of Light. The Night King. But the last two characters would take some time to appear.
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The Targaryens were the cause of all this since not only did they mock the Band of Nine, but they also allowed them to grow to this point without trying to stop them. They should have taken action after those Nine managed to bring down Tyrosh under their rule.
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[The ninth moon in King's Landing]
King Jaehaerys, who recognized what kind of threat the Band of Nine posed and knew that they could bring him and the whole Targaryen dynasty down, decided to gather every lord he could find in the court to a meeting in The Great Hall where they would discuss how to solve this threat. Fortunately for the king, many lords in Westeros considered the Blackfyre as outsiders and foreigners. That meant that most of the lords in Westeros would unite behind the king and fight those foreigners.
In the Great Hall, The king was sitting on the Iron throne while his hand, Ormund Baratheon, led the group of lords from the Small Council and stood by the king's side.
"What do you think we should do, Lord Baratheon?" Asked the king, who did not have time to grieve his father, who died in Summerhall, since this danger threatened all the realm, and he would have to fight himself if needed, although he was sick for most of his life. He inherited the throne in the most chaotic and troubled time the realm witnessed since ages ago because of the rebellious Blackfyres. Not only would the Blackfyre attack the kingdom this time, but they decided to bring many foreigners and outsiders to fight for them.
"This time, the threat is real, and the realm is in danger, your grace. We have to ask the other lords to send men to help us in this war immediately because this time, the matter could not wait any longer." Said Ormund with a troubled expression as he looked at the king and gave his opinion. He blamed the previous king for all this, although he was his father by law. King Aegon V did not take action all this time and thought that his only solution to all his problems was the dragons. No one had seen a dragon since a century ago, and the king still insisted on doing what he did. Ormund's first grandson came to this world not long ago, and he did not get to see him much. His first grandson, Robert, was only one year and he saw him only once when the young Robert was born and just came to this world.
Ormund had just received a piece of good news from his son, Steffon, who was in Storm's End. Steffon said that his wife and Ormund's dear daughter by law, Cassana, was pregnant with Ormund's second grandson, and he should come to this world as well in the early months of year 260 AC. If it had not been for this mess created by the Blackfyre and their helpers from Essos, he would have ridden his horse and returned back to Storm's End where he could see his grandson, Robert, and witness the birth of his second grandson or first granddaughter. He wanted to name his grandchild this time and would not allow Steffon and Cassana to come up with his grandchild's name themselves this time. They already were the ones who chose Robert's name without returning back to him and ask for his advice. He was still angry at them for doing something like that. Although Robert was a good name for his grandson, he wanted to have a say in this matter. That was why he insisted on naming his second grandchild.
"I think we should take the war to them, your grace. We should strike them before they could land in Dorne. My plan is to attack the Stepstones with the royal fleet while another land army moves to the south. The two armies should meet before the final battle." Said Ormund as he gave detailed instructions about his plan. He hated those Blackfyre for appearing in a time like that without taking his circumstances into consideration. Could not they have waited for another year or two before they attacked Westeros? I pity the little one, who was in Cassana's womb right now since this war would happen during his birth.
After hearing his hand's suggestion, The king thought about his hand's plan thoroughly and found that it was the only logical and suitable solution. He nodded his head since he could not manage to come up with another idea and looked at the other lords in the court to hear if anyone had another opinion. He especially looked at Ser Gerald Hightower since he was the newly promoted Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and he trusted the man's judgment.
Gerald Hightower, who was in his prime at this time, and could face two Jaimie Lannister, was fierce in his style and his behavior and preferred to use force to solve those problems like always without hesitation. He had the same idea as Lord Ormund Baratheon and found that his plan could work. He agreed with what Lord Ormund Baratheon said and saw that it was the best idea to face the rebellion and put it down as fast as possible.
"I agree with what The Lord Hand's said, your grace. It is best to attack them before they could land in Dorne. If they did, they might manage to gather some loyalists that supported the Blackfyre's rebellion back then." Said Gerald as he looked at the king with fire in his eyes as he was ready to take action himself. He saw this war as his chance to prove himself as the new Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and gain more achievements for himself.
Although the two with the most prominent positions spoke earlier, the master of coins had another idea in mind since those two's words would not be beneficial to the realm since this war would cost a lot. He thought the cost of transporting the supplies and preparing for the war that would happen that far from King's Landing would be more costly, and the realm was already in trouble in the past few decades.