Chapter 12

The Stormlands

Edwyn 

Another week passes as the army marched down to the Stormlands, Roberts homeland and territory of control. Currently under siege by the final standing loyalist army belonging to House Tyrell. The rebel army currently stands on 110,000 men, a Redwyne ship came and told them that the loyalist stand at 80,000 strong and ready for battle, surprising that they hadn't tried to take it yet, he thought that maybe they would have tried something but seeing as the Redwyne fleet was aiding Storm's End he can see that they wouldn't. That and the fortress has never fallen to a enemy force, the last time was with Orys but he won it in a duel of combat.

The Stormlands were a beautiful sight, nothing like the swamy Riverlands, abundant with wood and water. No, the stormlands held rolling hills, harsh mountainous areas, stony shores from what Robert said and verdant forests that aren't at all like the ones home. It also rained and stormed most days which hindered their march somewhat but past in three to four hours time. He also saw a few ruined places where castles must've been along with the castles still standing that belong to Roberts bannermen.

Over the journey, Robert and he grew to become a little more friendlier as the vow to duel one another is still intact. He made sure that whoever won would have Lyanna's heart, he would let her go if he truly loses and go to the Wall as his uncle had commanded that he do. But he also drew his own terms, if he wins the duel then Robert will allow him to be with her and pardon him from serving the realm at the Wall. He is going to try his hardest to win or at least if he loses then he will leave Westeros with Lyanna in the cover of darkness.

He wished that he and few could go south already, he has to find her and embrace her, to feel her warmth and the feel of her lips on his own, but with Robert having him so close as a leader of an army he couldn't possibly leave for a few days and return, or leave the continent. He remembered just a day ago that Lord Rickard took him aside and gave him a stern warning against attempting to leave with his daughter, he said if he tried then there would be no where to run from his wrath.

The only Stark besides Benjen who was back at Winterfell that wasn't giving him the cold eyes were Brandon. He actually likes the idea of him becoming apart of the family, they had even spent a number of times training with one another, and yes, the man wasn't thrilled when he eloped with his sister without having given him notice, or consent for that matter but over the course of these many months and the battles fought together had brought a camaraderie like relationship he has with Robert Baratheon. Brandon told him that battles brings more together than marriage could ever do and he slightly believes it.

He would die for any of these men, all the battles they fought brought them together in unity and whether or not the bond of war will stand even after everything is over, only the future can tell. For one thing is very clear here, every father, every son, cousin, friend, even brothers will be changed once the war finally ends here in the coming hours before getting to Storm's End, whether that's for good or bad, it will happen either way.

Riverrun

Blackfish

Brynden Tully, son of Lyle Tully and brother to Hoster Tully sat within his brother solar, or his nephews solar since his brother had been sent to the Stranger to rest with House Tully's ancestors. Its been sometime since the battle of the Trident and the mourning of his brother, surprised to miss the man who caused him so much stress over the years, he sat writing a letter to his son who was riding south with the armies of Baratheon, Tully, Stark, Arryn, and Redwyne. He sits writing a letter containing a pardon for his son, and by the Seven Hells it was hard to get from that stubborn twelve year old nephew of his.

Flashback Start

It was a day prior and right now the first court session of his nephew had ended, the boy kept to all concessions his father had made intact, even that damned order for his son to go to the Wall when the war was finally won. Everyone had dispersed except for Edmure, himself, Cat, Lysa, his wife, and Maester Vyman. His expression showed how disappointed he was in the boy he helped raise alongside the family.

"Are you mad?!, it was Edwyn's blood that helped us in this bloody mess! And you want to send him to the Wall?!" He shouted in anger, not only as a man, but as a father that doesn't want his boy to be sent to the Wall, which is filled to the brim with either disgraced men, rapists, and murderers. His nephew grew red-faced with anger as he stood from his seat like he was his father reborn.

"I am Lord of Riverrun now, you need to- " Edmure began speaking but he cut the boy off with heavy words.

"I know what you are, and if I want to smack upside your head for doing something idiotic, then I will!" He stated and exampled this by storming up to the boy and doing exactly like he had just said he would. "You need to realize, that if your father had kept his words to heart, then he and I would have never reconciled. And we did." He added as his nephew stopped tearing up from that light slap upside his head "He never meant to what he said to Edwyn, and by the Seven Hells he treated the boy like he was second son of his own... Do the right thing." He uttered the last words softly before stepping back and letting everything sink in Edmure's mind.

The great hall was silent, only birds chirping and the sound of the wood crackling in the fires made noise. Catelyn held her unnoticeable pregnant belly as she and Lysa watched with worried and hopeful expressions. His wife, Bethany smiled softly as she must be impressed at how much he is fighting for his son, he's his blood after all?, why wouldn't he. The Maester didn't seem fazed as if he already knew what the result would be, like a man the age of thirty would know about the future. Edmure sniffed from being shouted at for a moment until he looked him in the eyes and spoke.

"... sigh Maester Vyman, make it known to my cousin that his condemnation to the Wall is now revoked. And, tell Ed I'm sorry." Edmure walked away in silence with Lysa and Cat in toe, leaving the three within the great hall. Before the Maester could leave, he halted him by words.

"Belay that, Vyman. I, will tell him myself." he stated and Vyman finally smiled and bowed before leaving to his quarters.

"You did well, my love... " He heard Beth utter sweetly and felt her slink her arm around his and he smiled lightly as well because for once he doesn't at all mind his wife's company, he could almost want to make love again.

"Of course. Now, lets get our son the good news!"

Flashback End

And now he finishes the letter that will bring his son the greatest news one can have. He smiles as he put the letter into a capsule the ravens carry, just the other day a raven came reporting that the army was moving towards Storm's End and that is the same raven he will use to send the message to his son. He also hopes that he brings his new daughter-in-law home too, for once he prayed to the Seven to protect his son and his wife out there.

'Please be safe, the both of you.'

Storm's End

Stannis

The second born son of Steffon Baratheon stood above his castle walls to stare into the vast camp of Tyrell men. It was fortunate that Lord Redwyne brought food and supplies into the castle because if they hadn't, he and all his men would have definitely starved within the very walls. He stared into the enemy camp and watched them scurry around like they had been since they had arrived outside the gates, no siege weapons or assaults, just planted a vast camp far enough from the line of sight from his archers.

He wished he could send or receive letters from his brother. Get word that he needs men to come and lift the siege since The Last Dragon hasn't come to aid the Tyrells, he assumes that Robert pulled a victory over the Targaryen's and must be sieging the capital by now and should have no trouble taking it unless the Mad King had Lannister help them in their troubles, either way a portion can be sent to help them, the Redwyne men could help but then that would leave their ships at risk of being taken by the Tyrells if defeated.

"Lord Stannis!" Someone shouted his name and he looked below the gates to a an emissary from the Tyrell camp by his gates. He frowned at the spite in the mans tone as he spoke his name.

"Who goes there?, What is your business, besides bothering my day." He inquired and the soldier below held a white flag and pulled out a message.

"Lord Tyrell, wishes to parley with you... He believes its time to end this silliness." The Soldier said to him and Stannis thought long and hard on this.

It had to be a trick!, the only logical answer to this 'parley' that Lord Tyrell wishes to treat with him. To get him out of the castle and away so that they could outnumber him and capture, or kill him before going to sack his home that he was born within, he would not have it, not while this war rages on, and not whilst he stands alive and confident that he can and will outlast the Tyrell's in this siege.

"Go and tell your lord that I will not be trifled with!, tell him to attack or leave with your tails between your legs!" He shouted fiercely which rallied the men atop the walls that were side by side of himself.

"Tch Fine! Let it be your doo- " The soldier was saying until the sounds of far away war horns could be heard and Stannis turned his head northwest to see a force coming over, the size was extraordinary and massive, and that's just from a long glance as he could imagine what the Tyrell camp must be thinking right now. Whether it is Robert, or Rhaegar... The siege ends today.

Some Hours Later

Edwyn

They finally made it!, The Tyrell Army was vast to be sure, but theirs was larger and battle-hardened from the many fights they went through throughout this campaign of rebellion. Robert wanted to rush and attack, smash them to bits and keep moving south to where Lyanna might be, he agreed and wanted to cut a swath through the enemy force before them, but Eddard convinced Robert to wait and parley with these men before getting to any violent conflicts. They both supposed that it was the better option and sighed before going with the Quiet Wolfs plan of action, to see if the Tyrells will either bend...

Or break!

The Tyrells took the initiative to set a pavilion up some twenty feet from either force, the terms were to bring only ten men each, most of them were high lords, on Roberts side was him, Eddard Stark, Denys Arryn, Paxter Redwyne, Rickard Stark, Brandon Stark, Tywin Lannister, Kevan Lannister, Jason Mallister and Gulian Swann. On House Tyrell's side besides Lord Mace was Randyll Tarly, Mathis Rowan, Leyton Hightower, Tanton Fossaway, Martyn Oakheart, Orton Merrywhether, Garlyk Footly, Igon Vyrwel, Alester Florent, and Humfrey Hewett. All sat in chairs around one large round table that looked made in a rush.

"It is good to finally see you again, Baratheon. The last time was at Ashford when I smashed your army and sent running." Tarly started rudely and at a different time would insult someone, but both sides hated each other as it is. Robert only responded with a smile and a chuckle at Randyll's insult to his only defeat in the war that the people at now calling the War of the Usurper since the battle of the Trident.

"Uhh Lord Robert, I would like to welcome you to this meeting, as you can see this is very important situation we are in right now. I am ordered by the King to stop you, I would you to surrender here and come into my custody before any violence can occur, so please." Mace started and ended by telling them to surrender the fight, this made him assume they don't know about the situation with what's left of the capital, it made him and Robert laugh a little at this and that made Mace and his lot become confused to his and Roberts laughter, "Is what I said, funny?" Mace asked and Robert chose this time to speak.

"You don't know?, The only King here is me... Aerys is dead." Robert revealed and it shocked them slightly by the news. Mathis Rowan went to speak next.

"W- What do you mean!, How!?" The Reacher asked impatiently, this time it was he to respond to the mans question.

"He lit wildfire all throughout the city. All the capital is all but gone, ruined and dead." He said with a serious expression and tone, it wasn't something to be happy about. As for the Reacher Lords, they all looked visibly shaken now, for moments they spoke amongst themselves until Tywin stood from his seat, took a dagger and dug it into the wood table, getting their attention again.

"Listen!, I saw defeat when it happened... Will you not follow suit?, or be destroyed by the combined might of not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, but six great houses." Words spoke truthfully out of Tywins mouth as victory had already been decided at the Battle of the Bells. Mace looked sweating and the others seemed a little panicky besides Randyll, he seemed ready to follow whatever decision his liege lord goes with, just like a true soldier.

"So what will it be?, bend the knee... Or have it broken." Robert said with a grin on his face, almost daring them to fight back. It only took a moment before Mace stood before the lords gathered and turned to Randyll.

"Lord Tarly... Tip the banners... "