Chapter 23

Once again, I have to say wow, wow this chapter took far longer to write then I thought it would. This chapter is definitely in the top 5 biggest pain in the ass chapters I have had to ever do. With that said lets get to the Q&A.

This-Mickey-Seems-Iffy don't worry I don't plan on dying anytime soon lol

s.k.f.f.f I had a few sleepless nights but am good. Family not so much be we all recovered.

TehStorm now that I look back I did forget to add that part. My bad.

Judedota ya I really do like Stannis and most of his fuck ups can be placed at Melissandre's feet. While I do believe he was ultimately responsible for his actions in this story he never had a reason to go down the same road as the TV show. Ture Lelouch would never had allowed him to become king but just from his standpoint he had every reason to believe he would be king. As for Jon I am happy you like it. All the Stark children except for the younger ones are not nearly the same as they were.

Azuredivinelegacy it takes so long because I suck out writing. Really you should see what I write before I do my rewrites. It's embarrassing.

Ikasuki I agree I believe it made sense. I mean I looked everywhere and couldn't find out if it would or would not work.

Manuel Barrios I will always wish I had added Kallen but I am thinking of a Lord of the Rings x CG with her and Lelouch. Give me your thoughts.

Nysk that was my bad. Did the same thing to Sansa and I think Ned to. Have to keep an eye on that.

x-x-TheBurnedMan-x-x thanks for agreeing you going to see the Giants in the next chapter I believe.

Dopeenight you have no idea how long I spend trying to put a lemons together. It's the same way with battle scenes that is why I am opening up the story for anyone who would like to rewrite it. I mean I will be doing this story till the end but if someone wishes to take it and see if they could do their own spin on it then they are welcome to it.

Command Unit agreed. That's all I am going to say agreed.

chimera629 Jon offered them something that he reasonably believes he could get Lelouch to give them. If he doesn't offer them something, he gets stuck in a war or attrition with he doesn't want. He has bigger things to worry about. The cost of the city is minor thing when compared to getting stuck in such a war. As for Margery she doesn't play a big role right now. I don't think I put it in the story but she and Euphy are fraternal twin. While they look somewhat a like they don't look nearly enough to affect him.

Zathol he has it but its weaken to a point it is all but useless to him at this point. Most of the more important people are just smarter than the rest. They are willing to look deeper than you very day noble who is to stuck up or an ass kisser to look deeper.

KingZeRoPL I had thought of making him immortal and keeping the story going to added in other words but really I lost a lot of interest in this story. There are days I just what to just do one more chapter and end it. Even if the chapter would in no way make any sense. But I have fans of the story and can't bring myself to do something so shitting to you all.

Warlover1015 Gustavus Adolphus is one of my favorite historical people even before I read the Ring of Fire books. He was a military genius that is often overlooked but when you look at his accomplishments he should be thought of at a high level.

DarthMaine I was going to added them but having never read the book it was just too hard at this point. Ariadne and Domeric were easier because Domeric I just need for a short time and I never liked Trystane so Ariadne was a perfect replacement after I read up on her.

azrael09876 now that I look back at it I agree. I could have done so much with that especially if I had Lelouch play it off like debilitating injury to give his enemies a false sense of hope. But I only thought of that after I posted the chapter so it was to late at that point.

With all questions or most questions answer lets get on with the story. Fyi some of you may not like this chapter and you see why. Just putting it out there.

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-The Eyrie in the Vale 300 AC-

Conflicted, that was what Jon Arryn felt right now as he sat in his office thinking over the recent events that had taken place. It had been one month now since he had gotten news of the assassination of Renly Baratheon by his own brother Stannis Baratheon. It was a tragedy to say the least and an outcry to say to worst. In all the long years he had known Stannis Baratheon he had never thought the man capable of something like this. The man was in his mind a more rigid version of Ned and there forward incapable of such a horrible crime, but then he also believed that the North would never be more than what it was before Lelouch Stark was born. And there was the other thing it was Lelouch Stark who had informed him of the assassination in the first place.

Unlike his lords Jon had learned long ago that Lelouch Stark was not one to be trusted. While on the surface he seemed like a very likeable and charming young man Jon saw the real man behind the mask. He saw the cold, cunning and ruthless person that Lelouch hid from the world. Though to be honest it wasn't easy for him to spot and he had in fact doubted on many occasions that what he believed to be true was in fact true. That was how good the young man was at hiding his true face. But the mask Lelouch had on his face completely came off the second he had declared the North's independence from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms.

Now many of his own lords believed it was a justifiable separation seeing as over the last 20 years House Stark had been victimized by who sat on the Iron Throne, but Jon felt this was Lelouch's plan all along. The young man never did seem to be the type to kneel to anyone and as far as Jon was concerned, he wouldn't have put it pass someone like Lelouch to have a hand in Renly's death. But he couldn't make such a blatant accusation without any proof. If he did, he would quickly lose standing with his own lords who were deeply indebted to Lelouch for all the help he had given them over the years in enriching their own lands. He was sure his lords would still side with him even if he decided to move to stop the North from separating from the Seven Kingdoms but that would have its own set of consequences.

On one hand if he supported the North in its separation, the kingdom could see an upheaval of catastrophic events that could cost the lives of many of the smallfolk. Though that was only if Lelouch's allies didn't bend the knee to him. Once his grandfather died Robb Stark Tully would be the next Lord Paramount of the Trident and would most likely bend the knee to his own brother despite rumors that the two of them didn't always get along well. He had seen the two brothers with each other and while he could see they had a tense relationship with each other they were still close as any two brothers who loved each other could be. So, he had little reason to doubt that Robb would take his older brother's side and with the political support Lelouch had in the Riverlands the lords there would also side with him. It did help that Robb just recently killed or subjugated all his would-be enemies as well.

Now Dorne was slightly more complicated. Ever sense the crippling of Gregor Clegane, House Martell had been Lelouch's strongest and main ally. But now that he had declared the independence of the North there was a good chance, they follow his example and become their own kingdom once more. That was unless Shirley Martell Stark, Lelouch's wife used her own influence to bring them under House Stark's banner. She may not seem like it, but that young woman had just as much or more influence in Dorne than even her uncle. It was for that reason that years ago he had convinced Robert to try and set up a marriage between Joffrey and her. A marriage that Prince Doran seemed very interested in at the time but never happen due to Prince Oberyn objecting over the match with fervor. Prince Doran may have been the ruler of Dorne but he was not Shirley's father and had no say over who she married. Not to mention that few would dare anger a very protective and violent Red Viper who would see men dead before such a marriage would happen.

Regardless of the past and what could have been it was the present that he had to think about right now. Lady Shirley was to his knowledge back in Dorne right now as her husband's representative and if she convince her uncle to bend the knee to Lelouch he would have effectively checked the bored. That left the final move in his hands. A fact that Lelouch clearly knew seeing as he had moved his troops extremely close to the High Road. Though he had informed him it was just so his forces could meet up with his own quickly it was clearly a just in case move. With how quickly the Northern army could build onsite fortifications Lelouch could seal off the only main road in and out of the Vale with ease just in case he didn't side with him.

It was a smart move which showed once again how dangerous Lelouch was. From military tactics to the spreading of information that only ever put him in a good light. The young man truly knew how to fight a war. Just in the way he made himself and his allies seem like just and honorable men to the smallfolk was just brilliant. Only fools ignored the smallfolk and how dangerous they could be. Especially during war times when many of them were on the move and saw armies coming and going. They were in many ways the perfect spies, but no one was ever able to use them in the past. That was till now with how Lelouch was winning them over with how he narrated his enemies as evil unjust men who committed the worst crimes conceivable. A narration that was easy to do seeing as in reality they were not far off the mark. And it was a narrative that he would get as well if he didn't side with Lelouch. His lords maybe loyal to him but the smallfolk were another thing.

So, after thinking about it some more Jon picks up a quill and starts to write a letter to Lelouch. In it he states his willingness to bend the knee to him provided that some demands are met. The old aristocracy was going to die if Lelouch won but it was better than continuous warfare that would most likely see the Vale lose against him eventually anyways. He would apologize to Robert when he met him on the other side for siding against his last living brother, but he had to think about his own house, his son and the men who had sworn loyalty to him. While it was a crime to have a hand in the death of his old ward's brother it would be a far worst one to sacrifice his people in an unwinnable war against a man such as Lelouch.

-Dorne -

It had finally come, the declaration of independence of the North from the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Doran had known this day would come sooner or later and long before King Robert had even died. It was the only logical result that Doran could think of when he put everything that Lelouch had done so far in his life together. There was no way someone like him would ever let Stannis or Renly Baratheon become king. Did Lelouch have a hand in the assassination of Renly? Most likely not seeing as it was done so sloppily but then at the same time he wouldn't be surprised if he did. The story was just to outrageous however to have been Lelouch's work. The thought that some shadow monster that was conjured by dark magic had shown up, yelled Stannis's name and then proceeded to kill Renly was all to convenient. It was only when the Tyrell's backed it a few weeks later did Doran somewhat believe it had indeed happened.

Still regardless of how outrageous the story was or if he believed it or not the fact remained that Renly was dead and all pretenses of support for Stannis as king was over. Now it was time for him to decide on a question that had been on his mind for years. Does Dorne follow the North's example and become its own kingdom once again or does it join Lelouch and see what type of kingdom rises out of the ashes of the old one?

"Uncle there you are. Where have you been, I have been looking all over for you." The voice of his beloved niece calls out to him and interrupts his thoughts.

"My dear niece you over exaggerate. There are few places I can go or be in my condition." Doran says to her.

Giving a pout Shirley says, "Regardless, you missed the celebration in the banquet hall."

"Oh, I didn't know you were throwing a celebration. Was it for the declaration of independence of the North and your rise in position to that of a queen?" Doran asks her with a raised eyebrow.

"Noooo, I am celebrating the end of the pointless political war that my husband has been fighting and the soon to be end of the war overall." Shirley says with a mocking face. Her uncle knew she was not so shallow as to celebrate something that was just a byproduct of something that was going to happen anyways.

"An end to the politics and war? Are you not jumping ahead a bit too soon?" Doran asks her.

"Not at all uncle. There are only two political decisions left to be made at the moment. The first being is the Vale going to submit to Lulu's rule or side with Stannis Baratheon despite his crimes. And the other being whether or not you will join my Lulu in creating a new kingdom or declare Dorne its own kingdom once again." Shirley says to him.

And there it was the viper hidden in the grass. Doran thinks to himself as he hears his niece point out exactly what was left to be done on the political spectrum. It never ceased to amaze him how keen her mind really was.

"And what do you believe will happen?" He asks her trying to get a sense of where her mind was at.

"Hmmm well if I had to wager a guess, I would say the Vale will submit. All be it with a few conditions that Lord Arryn would want met beforehand." Shirley says in a matter of fact voice.

Raising an eyebrow at her answer he asks, "What makes you believe that?"

"You mean other than the North's clear military superiority?" Shirley asks.

"Yes." Doran answers.

"Well really its just the best option Lord Arryn has. Despite my Lulu's vast information network, we still get information at a slower rate than our other allies be it only by maybe a few weeks. But in between those few weeks Lulu most likely would have already spin the story of Lord Renly's death to suit his needs. And with his standing among the lords of the Vale they will be ready to believe his claims over Lord Stannis's. The only way they won't is if the Tyrell's decide not to back Lulu's story which I doubt they will do. If they did, they would lose all credibility and even an oaf like Lord Tyrell isn't that stupid." Shirley says to him.

Thinking over his niece's words Doran has to agree with most of it. The military superiority was an absolute fact even if Lord Arryn didn't know exactly by how much. The boom-sticks alone had proven the uselessness of gates at Wayfarer's Rest and he was sure Lord Arryn didn't have a clue about the cannons. Sure, many of the castles in the Vale would still be hard to take, especially the Eyrie but Doran had a feeling Lelouch already had figured out how to take those. After all the Twins was thought of to be near unconquerable but that was proven to be false.

But even if Lelouch didn't have a way to conquer the Eyrie all he would have to do is have his army build a fort in front of the High Road to keep the Vale's army at bay. That was something easily done as proven over at the River Road with the now Lord Robb was holding back Lord Tywin. Lord Arryn could of course try and move his army by the sea but that wouldn't be a good idea. While they did have many ships available to them most of them were little more than trading ships. During the Greyjoy's Rebellion they had lost most of their warships and were never replaced due to Lord Arryn being in King's Landing and none of his lords wishing to pay the cost of replacing them.

The North on the other hand had a good number of warships that could make short work of the Vales trading ships. And that would have been before they were all fitted like the frigate ship Grey Wolf that brought Shirley back to Dorne. He had never believed in the existence of sea monsters till Shirley gave him a demonstration of just how powerful the 48-gun frigate was. While slow on the sea the hull of the ship was strong enough to take a hit from a ballista with no problems. But what truly made it a monster was the 24-pounder long guns that lined both sides of the ship. There wasn't a ship on the sea that could fight that thing in a head up fight. The biggest war galley in Westeros wouldn't even stand a chance when faced with weapons that could blow holes into it like it was nothing.

"While I agree that siding with Lelouch is clearly the best option, if they were to turn against him, he would still have trouble bringing them to heel." Doran says to her.

"True uncle but give me some credit. I know as well as you do that by simply building a fort in front of the High Road, would render having to invade them a moot point." Shirley says to him in good cheer.

"Hmmm it would seem your husband has been teaching you a bit about military tactics." Doran says with a smile.

"Please uncle learned that much from you and father when I was just a little girl." She says with a smile.

"Yes, that maybe but I would say more so from you father." Doran says to her with an eyeroll.

"Oh, come now uncle I am not that bad." She giggles.

Shaking his head Doran says, "Sometimes I wish Arianne was more like you, when you show your brighter side, but then I remember what you're really like and thank the gods she isn't." Doran says and laughs a bit at the pout that comes to his niece's face.

"But enough with the jokes for now my dear niece you said between me and Lord Arryn. So, I am guessing you are unconcerned with the Reach?" Doran asks.

"Are you concerned with them?" Shirley ask back.

"Hmm I guess you have a point there." Doran says to her.

It really was a pointless question to ask her. Like himself Shirley knew that Lord Tyrell had sent Lord Tarly home after a disagreement over whether or not to bend the knee to Lord Stannis after Lelouch had sided with him. To send your best field commander home just because of a disagreement on the eve of a possible war was the stupidest move one could make and was the reason Doran was not concerned with the Reach.

Doran gives a little laugh and says, "Truly my dear niece you are both the grass and the viper."

"Ah, uncle you're too sweet." Shirley says too cheerfully.

"I guess that only leaves me to decide what to do now." Doran says to her.

"I have no comment on that uncle just so you know." Shirley says to him.

"Really?" Doran asks with a look that says he doesn't believe her.

"Really uncle. I don't care what you decide. So long as you don't turn on my Lulu you have my full support on making Dorne its own kingdom again or if you wish it to join the new one that Lulu will build." Shirley says to him with a smile.

"That is good to know," Dorne says and sounds like he doesn't mean it, but he really does. While he would never say it, he did worry about were his niece's loyalty lie. He knew better than anyone how much the Dornish lords and people loved her and wouldn't dream of moving against her unless he absolutely had to.

"Well than that only leaves one thing left to talk about my dear niece and that is why are you really here?" Dorne asks in a commanding voice that makes Shirley's back go ramrod straight.

Giving a small laugh at being caught Shirley asks, "H-how you know I was here for something uncle?"

"Easy my dear niece. Whenever I don't show up for one of your little parties you always assume it is either do to me being busy with something else or because my gout is acting up too much to attend. But tonight, you sought me out to talk anyways. Which can only mean you want something." Doran says to her.

Puffer up her cheeks like a child at being read so easily Shirley says, "Here take it."

Seeing her passing him a letter Dorne opens it and starts to read it with interest.

-Flashback the Reach two week earlier-

Shoving open the doors that lead to her favorite part of Highgarden, Euphemia Tyrell stomps her way towards the pavilion were she normally takes her tea. It was hard to believe that for the 2nd time in less than a year her family and people have pissed her off to the point where she shows her anger. But really was it such a surprise seeing as what had just happen in her father's hall. She had always known her father was a fool but now she knew her own grandmother who she always thought was wise was just as much a fool as him. To side with the Lannister's now that Renly was dead. What the fucking seven hells were they thinking. Granted many of the lords of the Reach didn't like Lelouch do to him cutting into their overall profits which all his inventions, but that was not a good reason to go to war with him. And it sure as hell wasn't a good enough reason to side with the people who killed his father.

Did they really think they could win against the same army that cracked the Twins like an egg and took Wayfarer's rest like it was nothing? Oh, and let's not forget how they held the line on the left flank against the Lannister army when it was number two to one at the Battle under the Golden Tooth. What was she asking herself of course they did. Her people were so arrogant sometimes that it baffled the mind. Plus, the Lannister's held King's Landing and as far as everyone else was concerned that was all that mattered. Fools capitals could be moved, castles torn down, all that mattered at the end of the day was who won the war and it was looking like that would be Lelouch Stark.

Alright, calm down, calm down she told herself over and over again taking deep breaths. She wouldn't be able to think straight if she was angry and she needed her wits about her if she was going to figure out what to do. News had come down already that the Vale had officially sided with the North. Making it four great houses against two seeing as Lord Stannis was now on his own. She didn't like those odds especially seeing as one of those allies was House Martell who had been slowly amassing their bannermen at the border for quite some time now. Their numbers from what the last messenger said had increased from 5,000-men from just a few months ago to over 15,000-men as of last week. Clearly, they were ready for a war with the Reach though her father and grandmother remain unconcerned. He had simply moved 20,000 of his own bannermen to Ashford in response.

It was a smart move that even someone like her who had no real knowledge of warfare could see. There was only one problem. Instead of giving command to Lord Tarly who was hands down the best military commander in the Reach her father gave command to Lord Ashford. It was the wrong thing to do as far as she was concerned. She may not have liked Lord Tarly that much herself seeing as she treated her dear friend Sam like shit, but she was not so proud as to deny the man's skills when it came to war. There was a reason after all he was the one to give Robert his only loss during the rebellion.

Lord Ashford on the other hand was to his credit a competent lord but from what she had heard was a poor field commander. She couldn't find out much about how the man did during the rebellion but according to Ser Garlan he was a by the book commander who lacked the ability to adjust to any given situation that didn't follow traditional military thinking. Something that was proven during the Battle of Ashford when he was under the command of Lord Tarly. Despite her father's best efforts to the contrary it was a well-known fact that Lord Tarly and the vanguard were the ones responsible for the victory that day. A victory that most likely wouldn't have happen if Lord Ashford was in command. When Lord Tarly and the vanguard had ran in to Robert's army unexpectedly that day Lord Ashford immediately suggested a retreat despite the enemy army being in disarray. His reasons were simple, the vanguards main duty was to find the enemy army, which they did and then secure ground for the main army. Lord Tarly however recognized an opportunity when he saw one and despite traditional thinking chose to attacked even though he was clearly outnumbered. His ability to read the situation and adjust to the given circumstances was what won that day.

That was the type of thinking that Euphy believed the Reach would need to survive the onslaught that was coming. But sadly, her father was a petty man who couldn't or worse wouldn't see that till it was far too late. So, picking up a piece of paper and quill she starts to write a letter to her friend Lady Shirley.

Once she was done, she stands up from where she was sitting and says to the servants who were in the room with her. "I know one of you is a spy for Lady Diana. Whoever it is step forward now. I have a letter that I need delivered to her with the up most urgency. Do not worry about facing any punishment for it is more important that this letter reaches her then anything else."

While her grandmother, sister and herself had suspected that Diana was a spy in the back of their minds for years it really didn't hit them till the moment she had up and disappeared from the Reach. It kind of hurt to be honest but then it was also kind of impressive as well. The woman really was quite the mummer.

It took even lesser time to realize that said women most likely had placed her own spies around the castle as well. But it was again surprising when one of her oldest and most loyal servants stepped forward and said. "I will see that it reaches her milady."

"Thank you. Do you know away out of the castle safely?" Euphy asks.

"Yes milady, do not worry we spies know all the quickest route in and out of the castle." She says then bows her head before leaving the room letter in hand.

-Flashback end-

"To my dearest friend Shirley

I write this letter to you today in not good cheer as you may be thinking right now but instead in worry and fear. As you no doubt will come to know soon enough my family has decided to take the side of the Lannister's over that of your husband in this war. A foolish decision to be sure and one I had tried to convince him was folly but to no avail. So, I write this letter in the hope that you don't start to think poorly of my sister and me and remember us with fondness and care. Perhaps when this is all over, I can come and visit again in Dorne and we can play in the Water Gardens once more. And perhaps if that day comes sooner than I think you will open the doors for me and let me speak with your husband or uncle. I am sure we would have much to talk about.

Forever your friend Lady Euphemia Tyrell"

After reading the letter Doran folds it back up and gives it back to his niece. It was easy to read in between the lines of the letter and gave him much to think about. He had only gotten to talk with Lady Euphemia for a short amount of time during her visit here and had found her to be a very intelligent and engaging young woman. A fact proven by how she wrote this letter. By not putting a date on it and wording in such a way that she assumes they already know about her fathers plans she could calm she was innocent of giving information that betrayed her family. That or she really believed they already knew which was not out of the realm of possibilities seeing as Lelouch did indeed have spies in Lord Tyrell's camp.

Looking at his niece Doran says, "Your friend is quite the interesting woman."

"Isn't she, and so pretty to." Shirley says getting a perverse look on her face.

Shaking his head at his niece Doran says, "And you wish for me to agree to meet her if it comes to it?"

"Yes." Is Shirley's simple answer.

"Why should I do such a thing? And don't tell it's because your friends with her or that it would be a shame to make such a pretty maiden cry. We both know that would be a lie." Doran says to her.

"Well those are still two pretty good reasons uncle, but your right they are not the real reasons for why I wish for you to meet her. The fact is that when this war is over my Lulu will be king of, if not all the Seven Kingdoms then the vast majority of them. With that said we both know winning a kingdom is far easier than keeping one together. The conquered lands will not exactly be happy about it and that will be before Lelouch strips the current aristocracy of much of their power." Shirley says to him.

With a knowing look on his face Doran says, "And that is where Lady Euphemia comes in."

"Exactly uncle. While Lelouch wouldn't have too much trouble controlling places like the Riverlands and the Vale who will be able to negotiate better deals for what they get in exchange for any lost of power they feel will be taken away. On the other hand, places like the Westerlands, Crownlands and Stormlands will not be so lucky and the nobles who survive the war will cause trouble down the road. The Reach on the other hand could be kept from becoming a problem if we have the Twin Roses who are loved by both the smallfolk and the nobles alike by our side." Shirley tells him.

"So, your basic plan is to have them marry into the Stark family or one of their bannermen and hold them hostage so that the Reach will do as he whats." Doran says thinking it was not a bad plan.

"Oh no, no uncle I don't plan to do something so crude. No, I plan to have them marry Lelouch and become my sister wives." Shirley says with a smile.

Feeling a headache come on do to thinking the perverted side that she got from her father was coming out now Doran says, "Please tell me your plan isn't just so you can have sex with them."

"Uncle I am shocked you think so little of me." Shirley says with a pout.

"You could hardly blame me Shirley seeing as I know who you take after most." Doran says to her.

With a pout still on her face Shirley says, "While I will admit such a fun outcome would be most welcomed that is not my objective uncle. The simple fact is that whichever lords of the Reach survive will be more inclined to not cause trouble if you put the title queen in front of Euphy and Margaery's name instead of the title lady. They would probably end up feeling that do to them being so close to Lelouch that they would be able to get them a better deal in the end without risking their lives in fighting him."

Doran thinks over this for a bit and says, "While I grant that what you say is somewhat true, I have to point out the flaws in your plan. First is the faith which will most likely not accept a multiple marriage and second how do you know the lords of the North themselves will accept it."

Giggling a bit at this Shirley says, "While that would be true in most cases uncle you as well as I know that the faith is split right now. The current High Septon is unbelievably corrupt and incompetent as shown by his crowning of Joffrey as king knowing full well, he is a bastard. Something that has been used to great effect by the High Sparrow who just so happens to be a great supporter of Lelouch and very firmly against Joffrey as shown by the chaos he is causing in and around King's Landing. It's now only a matter of King's Landing falling before the man can fully take over the faith and use it to Lelouch's benefit."

It wasn't surprising to Doran that Lelouch had control over a faction of the faith or that it was currently the one that had the most sway over the smallfolk. If there was one thing, he had learned about the young man it was on how to manipulate information to benefit one's self. His book the Art of War detailed information manipulation in great detail that it could even be used during peace time. So long as you controlled the places that people trusted most as their source of the latest news or rumors you could make yourself look as good as you liked.

"And what about the lords of the North and your husband?" Doran asks.

"The lords of the North love Lelouch and won't bite the hand that feeds them uncle. As for my husband well, he will be harder to convince." Shirley says knowing that was an understatement if there ever was one. Gods she loved her husband, but she really wished he would stop being such a prude about inviting other women to their bed.

Doran had to keep himself from laughing at the frown that his niece has on her face right now. He knew as well as anyone how faithful Lelouch was to his wife. After all he had seen the letter his niece had sent both to Ellaria and his brother asking for advice on how to make him quote loosen up a bit. Clearly the look on her face said she wasn't having any luck in that matter.

"I will think it over my dear but first we must win the war." Doran tells her.

"That won't be a problem uncle. If I know my husband, he is already making his final moves that will send the war towards its end. I well be surprised if any of our enemies last pass another year." Shirley says with a carefree smile on her face.

-Iron Islands-

What was home? What was family? These were questions Theon had found himself asking himself over the last couple of years. Was his home with the Stark's in Winterfell, with Robb at Riverrun or with the Northern Army? He didn't know to be honest but what he did know it was on these little shit hole islands. It was funny that not too long ago he had dreamed of being the Lord of the Iron Islands, but now it was little more than the distant memory of the child he used to be. He had seen the world; no, he had seen the future in what Lelouch was building and time were the Ironborn raiders was over. That was why he was here he guessed. To give them the chance to save themselves or that was what he wished to believe. His more rational side however knew the cold hard truth of why he was here. He was here to bait his father into a fight so Lelouch would have a reason to wipe out the Ironborn once and for all.

The fools in the south thought the Northern Army numbered only 25,000 men at most and that Lelouch had spared every one of them to march south. Idiots all of them. It was more like 45,000 at this point if not more and half of whom where bastards or poor men who traveled to the North for a better life. One they found in the army where they were given food, shelter and pay. The rest of the regular men who use to make up the levies were still on their farms or at their shops applying their trade. Gods if Theon's guess was right Lelouch had somewhere up to 80,000 strong, harden and near fanatical men who would rather die than see all they had gained lost at his disposal.

What did his father have? A bunch of thieves and pirates who's glory days died with the Hoare dynasty long ago. True they were still the greatest seamen in the known world but that would matter little when faced with cannon ships. One hit from a 12-pound long gun would tear through a longship's hull like a hot knife through butter. A fact that was proven when the Black Pearl's old 12-pounders fired on his uncle. Now replaced with 24-pound long guns he didn't wish to think about what would happen if a long ship was hit by just one shot. These weapons made the old way of ramming into an enemy ship's side all but impossible to accomplish now. That was of unless you had a ship to match them which the Ironborn didn't.

He could try and warn his father about them he guessed but really there was no point. While he was no longer part of the Northern Army, he did get to see the intelligence reports that Robb saw. So, he knew that his father's old ambitions had not died away. The old man would most likely try and use the chaos of the war on the mainland to once more try and declare himself King of the Iron Islands. Which would only lead to his defeat once again but this time at the hands of Lelouch who would not accept his father's inevitable surrender. This really was a pointless journey, but he was not so much a villain as to not at least try and save his kin.

That was why when the ship docked, he showed no hesitation of getting off the ship. He would either get his father to side with Lelouch and see him live or he would not and see his father die. That was if his father didn't kill him. Which in that case he would see the old man in hell.

Seeing a small group of men walking towards him that was led by a woman Theon looks towards the men who came with him and says, "Stay with the ship. If I don't return by night fall leave without me and tell our king I am dead or been taken hostage."

"As you command milord." One of the Northern Navy men says to him.

With that said Theon starts to walk forward and as he does the men and women on the dock move out of his way. Even the so-called warriors of the sea got out of his way due to the way he held himself and walked towards them. It screamed at them that this was a warrior who was both use to leading and killing men in equal order. An image that was helped by the long gash on his face that he had gotten at the Battle under the Golden Tooth that made his handsome face look more menacing than charming.

From the opposite direction Yara who was coming to greet her brother had the same feeling as she saw him walk towards them alone. At first, she had plan to pose as a commoner to get the measure of her brother. But she now knew that was just a waste of time seeing as her brother didn't look anything like the weak will brother, she remembered as a child.

When the two meet face to face Theon is the first to speak and it is not with the same cocky self-assured tone he is known for but the one he uses for when he is addressing his men, "Hello sister it's good to see you again."

Raising an eyebrow at her brother Yara says, "You remember me?"

"No, but I have read reports on you and knew what you looked like based on those. And may I congratulate you on being name father's heir." Theon says to her admitting that both didn't remember her but still knew about her taking his rightful spot as heir to the Iron Islands.

Her eyes narrowing Yara says, "You have been spying on us?"

"Of course, sister. My king even as a child never trusted the Ironborn so when he was able, he sent spies here to keep an eye on father just in case he got it in his mind to betray the late King Robert." Theon says to her in a no-nonsense way that throws his sister off balance.

Theon had to fight his more arrogant and cocksure side down least he laughed at the face his sister was making right now. While he wouldn't call it a fish out of water look it was still clear she had no clue that they were being watched or that he knew about her replacing him as heir. It gave him a strange sense of satisfaction to know he had caught her unaware. Robb said it was because growing up with someone like Lelouch had made them a little twisted in their personalities. Because they were always trying to outwit each other and often failing to do so it made him, Robb, Jon and Sansa strangely happy to do so to others.

Upon hearing this Yara wasn't so much surprise as she was caught off guard. She knew the Southern loved their little spy games, but she had thought the Stark thought themselves above such things. It would seem she was wrong, and this led to the question what else was she wrong about and did the Starks already know how her father's plans. That was not all that unbalanced her, however. By the way her brother said my king it was clear where his loyalties lied and that made her feel somewhat angry.

"So, you have become a whip dog for the main landers then brother? Wish I could say I am surprised, but father has always said you were weak." Yara says trying to hurt his pride.

A few years ago, such an insult may have indeed made him respond angerly, but he was no longer a little boy who question his place in the world. While true he didn't know where to call home he did know where and to whom his loyalty lied at this point in life. So, stepping right into her personal space Theon says, "Better a whip dog to a wise and powerful master then a mongrel tied down to a fool. Now are you going to lead me to our father or should I find my own way sister."

Not taking a step back and with an angry look on her face from being called a mongrel Yara aks, "What is the rush brother?"

"I am on a tight leash sister and am expanded back before the next half moon. If I am not, then my king will either think I have been killed or I have betrayed him. Whichever the case he will see me not returning as an act of war by the Iron Islands and respond accordingly." Theon answers her.

"War?" Yara asks in surprise at hearing Theon's answer.

"Yes, sister war." Theon says than walks pass her and goes to a man who is standing in front of a horse and orders him to move out of his way. The man being taken a back and feeling somewhat afraid quickly does as told and even hands Theon the reins. Taking them from the man Theon quickly mounts the horse and starts to ride towards the Pyke without his sister.

Seeing her brother take off without her Yara quickly follows after him with her mind in a rush. While she at first supported her father's plan to attack the North while Lelouch Stark was busy with the South she now realized that he had in fact never taken his eyes off them and like her brother said was ready for a war with them. If that was the case perhaps it was best not to provoke the wolf in his own den or at all.

-A few hours later-

Standing across from his own father Theon thinks about how disappointed he is in seeing him. Where once he had seen a strong and wise man, he now saw an old gray-haired man who was clearly if not fully than half crazy. He knew this by the way his father read the parchment with at first disinterest and now with a crazed look on his face. Granted having read Lelouch's terms beforehand they were not very fare, but it made it very clear Lelouch knew about his father's plans to attack the North and was ready to deal with him.

As for Balon Greyjoy when he saw his son, he couldn't help but notice the changes in him. The way he stood and the way he spoke told him his boy was used to commanding and leading men into battle. There was not a hint of fear or respect in his son's eyes. He would have felt proud of that if it wasn't for that last part. The look of absolute disrespect in his eyes told him how little he thought of him and in angered him greatly, but not nearly as much as what was written on this parchment.

"Is this a joke boy?" Balon asks his son.

"I fail to see the joke father. My king's terms are fairly generous all things considered." Theon says to him.

Standing up for his seat angerly Balon takes the parchment and tosses it at his son. "Generous, you call this generous boy. He is demanding that kneel before him and fight on his behalf in exchange for being allowed to stay Lord of the Iron Islands."

"That it does and yet still generous seeing as you father were planning on attacking the North while he was away. You should count yourself lucky that my king is even willing to offer you this." Theon says to his father.

"Your king is it? So, you have already betrayed me, and your family have you Theon." Balon states.

"Betrayed my family?" Theon asks him like he was stupid. "As far as I know my family is on the mainland or have you forgotten where I have been all these long years father."

"I did what I had to boy and besides I am still your blood." Balon says to him.

"You are nothing to me, but a faded memory that I have long sense stop caring about." Theon says to him without a care.

Balon grinds his teeth at hearing this but before he can say anything Theon says, "Now are you going to bend the knee to my king or not. And be warned father there will be no bending the knee this time. It this or death, there will be no in between."

Balon having had enough of his son's insolence slams his hand on the Seastone Chair. "Don't you dare to threaten me boy. I care not if he knows about the attack and I will not be made to submit to a boy barely away from his mother's tits."

Theon scuffs at this at first but then starts to laugh.

Being both angry and confused at his son's laughing Balon says, "Whats so funny boy?"

Waving off his father question Theon says, "Nothing just that I am pretty sure uncle Euron said something very similar just before my king killed him."

Everyone including Balon and Yara who asks, "Uncle Balon is dead?"

"Yes, dead in the sea. But you know what is really shocking dear sister? It is that he died while not even giving up much of a challenge. One moment he was trying to attack Lelouch's ship the next he was in the sea dead with the rest of his men." Theon says to her.

"You are lying." Balon says to his son. While he may not have cared for his brother Euron he was not about to believe some wretched child killed his brother.

"Do I? Well it doesn't matter if I am or aren't. You will find out soon enough seeing as you seem to want war with my king. Goodbye father." Theon says to him then turn around to walk away.

When he sees his son turn his back on him and start to walk out Balon says, "And who says you get to leave son?"

Looking back at his father Theon says, "Really father you what to playthings like this."

"Why not son. You just stated that your family is on the mainland. As far as I see it you will make a wonderful hostage to keep them at bay." Balon says with a mad look in his eye.

That is till Theon starts laughing at him once more as his hand goes to his sword hilt and says, "And what makes you think I will take me alive."

"Big words boy but I don't think you have it in you to go through with them." Balon says but keeps a close eye on his son.

"Now you're just fucking underestimating me father. So, let me let you in on something you most likely don't know. Before Lord Robb became heir to the Riverlands and I joined him we were both part of the Northern Army's Wolf Pack Divisions. In that division we are trained in one thing. Accomplish the mission at all cost and never be taken alive. My mission was to get your answer on whether or not you were willing to bend the knee to my king. Now that I got my answer my mission is complete and all that's left is to get out of here alive or die." Theon says as he rolls around the glass capsule that contained the poison all members of the Wolf Packs or ex-members in his case were given and ready himself to break it.

Looking at her brother Yara can tell he means it. Her brother was ready to die but not before he tried to kill their father. Something that was indeed possible seeing as her brother was close enough and her father unguarded and unarmed. So, thinking quickly she says, "Just let the dog go back to its masters father. That way he can die with them when we raid and pillage the North."

Hearing this Balon turns to his daughter with a crazed look in his eyes and finally realizes how close he was to dying at the hands of his own son. He had no weapon and the guards were too far away to stop his son from killing him. And while he had no fear of death being killed now would end his ambitions very quickly. So, in a strong voice he says, "Your sister is right boy. Go back to your master and tell him it doesn't matter if he knows about my plans are not. They cannot stop me for what is dead may never die."

Narrowing his eyes at the foolishness of his father Theon removes his hand from his blade and walks out of the throne room without another word.

Once he reaches the front steps of the castle Theon hears the voice of his sister saying, "Are you sure about this brother. Betraying your own family, your own blood."

Turing around looking at her Theon walks back up to her and says, "You saved my life sister so I will return the favor. When you meet the Northern Navy in battle and hear the sounds of thunder run. Run away as fast as you can for there is no shame in running from a fight you can't win."

With that said he turns once more and leaves his confused sister alone on those steps as he heads back to his ship to report to Lelouch. As he does, he hopes beyond hope that she listens. For there was no stopping the storm that was coming to the Iron Islands.

-1 month later Black Water Bay day after the Battle of Black Water Bay-

Sitting on the step of his ship the Fury Stannis Baratheon thought about how things had gone from bad to worse in the last month. Starting with the murder of his younger brother at the hands of that witch Melisandre to his failed attempt at taking King's Landing he had never felt so low. He was a fool to put his trust in that witch and often wondered if he was bewitched by her. But that would be a lesser man's excuse for what had happen and he was if nothing else a man who believed in taking responsibility for one's own actions. Now all there was left to do was return to Dragon Stone and wait for Lelouch to come for him.

"My king I must insist again that we cannot return to Dragon Stone. You should flee east to Essos." Ser Davos Seaworth says to him.

Looking up at his loyal knight and hand from where he was sitting Stannis says, "To what end Ser Davos, to what end?"

The defeated look on his king's face cuts though Davos's heart who had never thought he see such a look on the man's face. "You can go in to hiding there. Bide your time till you can raise an army and come back and take your rightful place as King of Westeros."

Giving a hollow laugh Stannis just says, "Like the Beggar King Viserys Targaryen did?"

"My king…" Davos is about to say that he was not like the Targaryen boy till Stannis cuts him off.

"I know what you are going to say my loyal knight, but it matters little if I am like that boy or not. Lord John Andre the Lord of House Andre has great influence in Essos. So, I have little doubt that the moment I land in Essos will be the same moment an assassin's knife finds my back. That are some sellsword will capture me and sell be back to Lelouch Stark in exchange for a handful of gold coins." Stannis says already predicting what would happen to him if he went to Essos.

In fact, he already knew that the outcome of his plan to take King's Landing would most likely end in failure. His plan was little more than a desperate attempt in taking King's Landing before Lelouch Stark could finish playing politics with the Vale. If he could take King's Landing and capture that bastard Joffrey and his bitch of a mother, he could have hoped to offer them to Lelouch in exchange for peace. If that was not enough, he was also willing to fully acknowledge the North and Riverland as a separate kingdom if need be. But like he said it was a weak plan and one that was more or less doomed to fail seeing as Lord Lannister had the presence of mind to reinforce King's Landing with more men. With only 20,000 men of his own he knew he didn't have the manpower to take the city and only tried it because like he said he was in a desperate situation and the city was in complete chaos.

Daily riots and well-armed smallfolk had turned the city in to a small battle ground and he had plan to use that to his advantage. The plan had work at first despite the wildfire attack, but than that fat fool Lord Tyrell had shown up and attacked his rear. After that everything fell apart, and he was forced to retreat with what little men he had left. Now he was down to 36 ships out of the 200 he had and less then 4000 men. Worst however was that of those 36 ships only about 22 were in fighting condition with the rest carrying injured men who were in no shape to fight.

"Ships at the bow!" A voice yells out.

Hearing this both Stannis and Davos quickly move towards the bow. What they see is a small fleet of ships numbering no more than 20 heading towards them. Neither one could recognize what type of ships they were but the banner over them was that of a direwolf. So, they knew who they were and most likely why they were here.

Seeing Davos and a number of his men putting their hands to their blades Stannis commands, "Stand down men."

"M-my king?" Ser Davos says wondering if he heard right.

"You heard me Ser Davos, stand down." Stannis says once again.

"But my king…" Ser Davos starts to speak again only to be cut off once more.

"Ser Davos you are a seaman you are you not?" Stannis asks.

Seeing the man nod his head Stannis then asks another question, "Than tell me do you believe we can win a fight in the condition we are in?"

Hearing his lords' question Davos looks around at the men around him and at the ships they have. The men are battled and broken. Many of them had not slept since the night before last and morale was low. You could not win a fight with men like this and if it was like this on this ship then it was most likely the same on the other ships as well.

Yet still Ser Davos says, "My king we are with you to the end."

A ghost of a smile comes to Stannis's face as he looks in the eyes of the men around him. All brave and good soldiers the lot of them. Even now tired and weak they would fight for him. That was why he gave his next order as, "Raise the white flag the war is over for us men."

The men around him are shocked to hear this from their king. Stannis can understand their surprise but really, he was done, and he knew it. He had made his bet and lost it. The only honorable thing left to do was to make sure these lads got back home alive. Then maybe he could make up for his younger brother's death. If only just a little.

On the opposite side on board the frigate Sea Wolf, Ser Royland Degore now Admiral Ser Royland Degore looked up as he heard the sailor who was in the crow's nest yell. "White flag spotted admiral."

Hearing this Royland just says to the captain of the Sea Wolf, "Raise our flag of truce as well captain."

"Yes Admiral." The captain says before he starts to bark out orders to his men to raise their own flag.

As the captain does as he is told Royland thinks about how easy it was to complete the first 2 of the three orders he had been given by his king. Really it was a testament to how frightening his king really was. To be able to accurately predict that Lord Stannis would attack King's Landing and leave Dragon Stone more or less unguarded was amazing in of itself. But to also predict that the man would most likely lose most of his army in the battle was pure frightening. And now in one move his king controlled both Dragon Stone which was the entrance to the capital and unless he missed his guess had captured Stannis Baratheon.

Though the latter was not his second order. No, his second order was to eliminate both Stannis Baratheon's fleet and if possible, the man himself. But the man had done something unexpected and had risen the white flag. Royland had expected that if he ran into the man as he was fleeing that he would fight to the last man. Then again, he had also expected the man to take King's Landing, especially with the shape it was currently in. So, he was wrong on both accounts, but this left him with a dilemma. What was he to do now?

On one hand his order was very clear, but on the other it would not be right to attack a foe who was clearly going to surrender. This is where he liked being the Admiral of the Navy. Despite the monster of a headache it brought him on a daily basis as Admiral he could go about commanding the Navy as he saw fit. So long as he was not breaking any laws or completely disobeying his king's orders, he would be well in his rights in deciding to take Stannis captive instead of killing him out right. So, with his mind made up he gave the order to bring the Sea Wolf up to the side of the enemy flag ship but have the cannons ready just in case.

-An hour later-

It had taken a little over an hour for Stannis to get word to the other ships to not attack the Northern fleet. While he knew he would most likely not survive for much longer once he became a captive his men would most likely be able to go home. Whether that was after the war or during it he didn't know but the North was known for their honorable ways when it came to things such as that. It was probably why his men were willing in the end to raise their own white flags instead of fight. The knowledge that they wouldn't be killed out right was a powerful reason not to attack.

Now boarding the Northern flag ship, he prepared himself to meet its commander and as he did, he took note of the ship itself. It was in a word impressive to look at. While he didn't recognize its design, it was clearly a ship that was fully depended on sails for movement. It was also heavy, very heavy in fact and those oddly shaped metal rods gave him a bad feeling. They must have been some kind of new weapon but what it did he did not know.

When he was on bored, he saw a man he had not seen in years walk towards him and he greets him first. "Ser Royland Degore so are you the one in command of this vessels?"

"That I am Lord Baratheon and I must say it is with some regret that I am the one that is to take you captive." Royland says to the man.

While it somewhat makes him angry to not be called king as was his title in his mind, he was not surprised to not be address as such.

"Not as much as I regret surrendering Ser Degore but I have lost enough men as it is. Can I assume my men will be treated with the same mercy as the North is known to give to surrendering men? Stannis say to the man.

"Of course, Lord Stannis you have my word not a single one of your men will be ill-treated so long as they obey all orders given." Royland says to him.

Nodding his head Stannis just follows the man as he leads him to the ship's holding cell.

-King's Landing-

It had now been a few weeks since the conclusion of what many were calling the Battle of Blackwater Bay and still Tyrion was feeling on edge as he sat with his family. It had been a marvelous victory if there ever was one and yet he was not happy. And why was he not happy? Well the answer was matter easy to figure out. The North had been eerily quiet in over the last month. It didn't make any sense to him, the news of Lord Arryn bending the knee to Lelouch Stark had already reached them a week before the battle and yet Lelouch did nothing except move his army back to Maidenpool. Why was he not going on the offensive, what was he planning?

His fool of a sister thought that after the attempt on his life and the death of Renly the black wolf was too scared fight anymore. It was idiotic thought that only a complete moron could believe. Even if Lelouch Stark was afraid of going into battle himself that didn't explain why his army was not moving. He could easily appoint someone to fight on his behalf and yet all was quiet. No there was some greater plan at work right now. Tyrion for all his cleverness just couldn't see what this plan was, and the Iron Curtain of the North made it impossible to find out. And that worried him so greatly that said worry was showing on his face.

"My Lord Hand is everything alright?" The sweet voice of one Margaery Tyrell calls out to him.

Looking over at his nephew's new betrothed Tyrion says, "Everything is finding milady. Why do you ask?"

It was a lie of course and one that Margaery could see from a mile away but did not voice it. While she may not have fully agreed with this alliance, she had gone along with it none the less. Unlike her sister she wasn't willing to go against her father's or grandmother's wishes despite not agreeing with them. She also saw the point in agreeing to this alliance seeing as her family was more or less being strong armed into it. She had always known the lords of the Reach were petty when it came to anything that they felt slighted their honor but holding a grudge against Lelouch Stark for the bettering of his home was too much. With each one of his inventions they saw less and less coin in their coffers and didn't like it. So, they wanted a war with the North if only to put things back to how they believed they should be. Which was a North completely dependent on them for their food.

Short-sighted imbeciles the lot of them. Sooner or later Lelouch's inventions would come to the Reach and it would benefit greatly from them. But it was like her sister said people don't care about the future. They are only concerned about the comforts of the moment. A person could invent something that would revolutionize and better the world as a whole in 20 years but if it inconvenienced them for but a moment, they would reject it with all their might. The same thing could be said if someone was to go to a group of people with evidence of an impending disaster that would happen if they didn't change their ways. If it wasn't happening right now, then they simply didn't care. Such was the human mind, or the human mind based off her sister's own beliefs.

She didn't believe in that herself at first but now finding her family being strong armed by their own bannermen into an alliance with a clearly losing party had changed her mind quite a lot. That and she finally got to meet the man her sister so admired. Lelouch Stark was in a few words an intriguing and frightening individual. On the night Renly died he had spoken to her ex-husband with a voice that was both friendly and regretful. Like he was saddened by the fact that he and Renly had ended up on opposite sides and now all he was doing was trying to save a friend from the folly of the path he was headed down. It was quite impressive to watch really and she had almost believed that Lelouch did indeed see Renly as a friend. But what stood out most was how he held himself when Renly had been killed by that shadow monster. To her ever-lasting shame she had screamed in complete terror, but to some credit was able to keep her wits about her enough to notice Lelouch's own reaction. Which was only a slight widening of the eyes in surprise before they went back to normal. And that was before Ser Jeremiah Gottwald had dispatched the monster. It was like the man was unafraid of death or was prepared to die at a moment's noticed. Both of which told her how dangerous he really was and how over matched her family may have indeed been.

Luckily for her she didn't have to say anything for Jaime had noticed his brother's troubled look as well. His brother despite his son's wish to take credit had won a great battle and should be proud and happy but was far from being so. And Jaime could wager a guess why but said none the less, "Come brother tell us what is on your mind."

Looking up at his brother Tyrion couldn't help but smile at seeing him back on his feet again. It was not well known and in fact hidden from public knowledge, but his brother's life was touch and go for a while. The injuries he had suffered at the hands of Lord Eddard Stark, that unknown man from the Northern Army and the rest of said soldiers would have killed a lesser man. Injuries that showed themselves in the ugly scar on his brother's face and an equally ugly scar that was on his inner thigh. In total his brother had suffered a gash to the face, a stab wound to his inner thigh, a broken foot, hand and busted ribs before the day was out. In return for those wounds the Northern Army guards that had been in King's Landing had died to the last man. But not all in combat for a few were found dead of self-administered poisoning after burning much of the city's food supply.

"Í am worried about how quite the North has been as of late brother." Tyrion says to him.

Nodding his head Jaime understood why his brother was worried. He had been told about what had been happing around the kingdom since he had been for lack of a better word laid up. From a commander's perspective the Northern Army had the upper hand even with their new allies. So, they should be on the attack but were strangely enough not. It made even him wonder why.

"Ha you worry too much my Lord Hand. Most likely that wolf pup Lelouch Stark ran back North the second we beat that false King Stannis Baratheon. There is no way he could hope to beat an alliance as strong as ours." The fat fool says and starts to laugh.

Cersei and Joffrey of course agree fully with him, but the people of real intelligence do not. None say anything however seeing as before they can even think of something to say Loras Tyrell who was strangely not present during their gathering rushes into the garden with a pale face and more or less screaming for his father.

Standing up in anger at his son's behavior Mace says, "What is the meaning of this interruption Loras? What is wrong?"

Loras takes a moment to catch his breath then says something that shocks everyone to the core, "Father Ashford, Cider Hall and Longtable, they have all fallen to Dorne"

"What!" Mace shouts out.

-Flashback the Reach a week before the Battle of Blackwater Bay-

It was truly amazing how efficient his good-son's information network was, Oberyn thought to himself as he marched out of the Prince's Pass with his 20,000-man army. To think that no sooner had the Lord Puff Fish agreed to an allegiance with the lions did his brother find out about it. In all it took maybe a little over a week to hear about it from two different sources. One being from Shirley's friend Lady Euphemia herself and the other from an unknown source from inside the fat fool's camp. The very same source that had let his brother know of the exact date the fat fool would move his army to go help the lions in King's Landing. Which in turn allowed his brother to know exactly the right moment to unleash him on those idiots of the Reach.

Oberyn never did have a high opinion of the lords of the Reach but even he didn't believe that they would be so stupid as to go to war against four of the great houses of the land. The combined might they could bring down on the Reach was so staggering that Oberyn had fully expected them to bend the knee to his good-son rather then face such a force. But once again his good-son was right when he predicted that the lords of the Reach would call for war against him do to their general dislike of him. Despite how insurmountable the odds their pride and greed would never allow them to submit without a fight against the one who they perceived as the person who was stealing their gold from them. They wanted the North back under their thumb so they could charge unreasonable prices for their food once again. And it was that greed that would lead them to their doom.

Before he had left Sunspear his brother had ordered him to show no mercy to their enemies. If a lord stood against them than they were to be put to the sword upon defeat. It was an order that surprised Oberyn since his brother was never the bloodthirsty type, but once his brother explained why he gave him such an order he understood it. Doran and Lelouch had agreed in secret that if the Reach went to war against him than Dorne would get to keep every other castle they managed to take before the wars end. It was a good deal seeing as that by simply following Lelouch's overall war plan Dorne had a good chance of adding Ashford to their lands at the least, and Cider Hall if he was able to take Longtable and Bitterbridge. To that end letting the defeated lords live would be counterproductive seeing as they would have to allow them to keep their lands while making them swear an oath of loyalty to their house. An oath they wouldn't be able to trust in for several generations. It was simply easier to rid themselves of those lords and give the castles to the second sons of loyal dornish lords.

That reason may have been all that was needed to fool most people but Oberyn could tell it was not the real reason for that order. The truth was as plain as day to the Red Viper and that was that his older brother's mask of patience and caution had finally cracked. In his heart Oberyn always knew his brother's heart burned for vengeance just as much as his own, and now that they were so close to it, he wouldn't let anyone stand in his way of getting it. Which was the Reach lords were doing right now. That was why he was being unleashed to fight this war at his own discussion with only his good-son above him in the alliance.

"My prince we have spotted the enemy army that is under Lord Ashford's command dead ahead." One of his scouts says to him.

Hearing this Oberyn smiles. According to the information given to him by his good-son Lord Puff Fish had taken the bulk of fighting men of the reach with him to King's Landing leaving only 20,000 men behind to guard their rear. That made their numbers even, well that was if you didn't count the ten 12-pounder cannons, two 24-pounders and cannoneers his good-son had sent them. With those on his side a traditional army and tactics wouldn't work on his army, but the enemy didn't' know that. And according to what he knew about Lord Ashford he was a very traditional type commander.

Looking over at Lord Ladybright, Oberyn asks, "Lord Ladybright did your scouts have time to get a lay of the land."

"Yes, my prince." Lord Ladybright says back to him.

"Good then perhaps you know a spot that will fit our needs." Oberyn says to him

-Army of the Reach-

"Milord our scouts have spotted the Dornish army." Lord Ashford hear Ser Emersen Rowan say to him.

Looking at the man Lord Ashford asks, "Already?"

"Yes milord. The vanguard ran into the enemies about a hour do southeast of here." Ser Emersen says to him.

"Any loses?" Lord Ashford asks.

"A few men on both sides milord. The vanguards did a battle for a shot time then quickly retreated." Ser Emersen says.

Nodding his head Lord Ashford says, "Good, good give the signal to move the army southeast. If we are fortunate, we will be able to draw the Dornishmen into a pitch battle."

"Yes milord." Ser Emersen says then gives the signal.

As Ser Emersen does this Lord Ashford thinks on his enemy and about how angry he was at them for this treachery. While he knew that Dorne and the Reach would be at war soon he didn't expect an attack by them to come so quickly. The decision to ally with House Lannister had only been made a short time ago and there was no way they could have known about it already. This told him that Dorne and by extension the North never had any attention of allying with them in the first place. What was worse however was that an official declaration of war never came. It was a heinous crime if ever there was one and he would teach these Dornish cunts a lesson they would never forget.

After a few hours another scout rides towards him and says, "Milord the Dornish are headed towards the hills just east of the river Cockleswent."

Hearing this Ashford says, "Ah I see Prince Oberyn has already studied the land and wishes to have a pitch battle already."

"What do you mean Milord?" Ser Emersen asks.

"The lands east of Cockleswent is full of hills that are relatively small in height with steep slopes making it hard to make use of heavy calvary. Seeing as Dorne uses mostly infantry so long as Prince Oberyn places his army on one of them we won't be able to make full use of our calvary."

"Ah I see milord. A smart move by the Red Viper." Ser Emersen says to him.

"That it is Ser Emersen, but I know those lands better than him and if we move quickly enough, we can claim the one hill that will give us an advantage that the Red Viper is sure to not know about." Lord Ashford says to him.

"Understood milord. Should I give the order to increase our pace?" Ser Emersen asks.

"There is no need. My son is commanding the vanguard and knows those lands as well as I. He should know were to go." Lord Ashford says to the knight and rides on.

-Back with the Dornish Army-

If something seemed too good to be true than usually it is. This is a saying that dates back to the very dawn of man or if it didn't then it should have. Oberyn thought to himself as he watched the enemy army move in the exact way that he wanted them to. Before this war had even begun his good-son Lelouch had known that he would have trouble invading the Reach do to not knowing the lay of the land as well as those from the Reach. Secret hunting paths, shallow water crossings, higher and lower elevated hills could change the outcome of a war if you knew about them. Information that three years ago they indeed didn't have, but now knew a good amount about.

That was why he chose these hills to fight in. While his enemy would no doubt be thinking that it was just simple good fortune that he had moved his army here. The truth would be that Oberyn wanted a battle in the very hills that his enemy will believe he has the upper hand in. On that note it was a good thing that it was Lord Ashford he was facing and not Lord Tarly. That man would have probably thought that something was up if he was here. The fact that the vanguards had only fought for a moment before retreating with him towards the hills should have given his enemy reason to be suspicious. But it would seem that Lord Ashford was indeed as much as strictly by the book commander as Oberyn had heard. The man most likely thought that Oberyn was simply heading towards a place where he could restrict the Reach's heavy calvary the most.

It was a simple thought from a sadly even simpler mind. And it would cost the Lord Ashford dearly if he did what Oberyn believed he would do next.

-The Battlefield-

Once he and his army got to the top of the western hill Lord Ashford took a moment to look out over the enemy on the opposite side. He could make out some 13,000 infantry, 5,000 archers and 1000 light-calvary lined up. On his side he had 14,000 infantry, 2000, archers and 4000 heavy calvary. Even numbers with him having the upper hand in terms of calvary strength and position. Though his enemy didn't know that yet. All that was left was to give the order to attack and seeing as the enemy didn't know yet about the terrain advantage, he should be able to win this by the end of the day.

"Milord all units are in position." Ser Emersen says to him.

"Very well all unit's forward." Lord Ashford says.

At his word the men of the Reach start to march forward at a steady pace. Lord Ashford doesn't wish to take the chance the Dornish army would beat his to the top of the middle hill, so he has his men move quicker then necessary. At the same time, he doesn't what to overextend his calvary, so he holds them back for now. Seeing that the Dornish army is moving later then his own he now knows he will reach the top of the middle hill before them. Which will allow him to use his calvary to their maximum effect. Victory was going to be his.

Standing and watching with the Northern cannon units that she was put in command of Shirley really had to give her father credit for the plan he came up with. As she watched the men of the Reach make it to the top of the hill in front of their lines, she realized how simple yet affective it was going to be. To line up all ten 12-pound cannons with grapeshot down the lines of their infantry was just plain brilliant. True it would never work again once what was about to happen here got out, but it would serve its purpose.

"It looks like fathers plan is going to work out sister." Obara says to her as she stands by her side with her set of Valyria armor on.

"That it does sister." Shirley says as she watches the men from the Reach start to charge down the hill believing they have the upper hand. It was sad that they were about to die such quick and, in some cases, horrible deaths but such was the price they would pay for getting in the way of her Lulu's ascension.

Looking at her sister's face Obara says, "Little sister your evil and blood thirsty smile is showing."

"And so is yours big sister." Shirley says back as they both look like the personification of wicked and evil women.

When the enemy gets halfway down the hill Shirley says, "Hold your fire men till I give the command. Hold, hold. Fire!"

And at her command all 10 cannons that line the infantry walls open fire one at a time in quick succession. Unleashing their terrible package of palm size iron balls into the unassuming men who were charging their lines. Even with their shields up the devastation that the deadly payload causes are immediately seen as limbs and bodies go flying back in a spray of blood and guts. It is a gruesome site to behold, but their horror has just begone. Due to their tight formation and the speed in which they were charging downhill the men who made up the front and 2nd lines trip the ones behind them do to how quickly they fall down or back into them. This allows the Northern cannon units to load and fire one more time into the now chaotic lines of the Reach's army before the Dornish phalanx closes around them and moves to finish them off.

Up on top of the western hill Lord Ashford watched this with unbelieving eyes. It was like his men had hit an invisible wall and the only signs that they were attacked was the white smoke that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere along with a sound of thunder. But to his credit he was able to keep a leveled head despite not knowing what had happened and says, "What sorcery is this. Ser Emersen."

"Yes milord?" The knight says when he hears his name yelled out waking him from his daze.

"Take 1000 of our heavy calvary and go attack the Dornish light calvary. Keep them away from our infantry no matter the cost. My son and I will take the other 3000 and attack the left flank. We have to get our men out of there before the Reach no longer has an army to defend her." He roars out.

"Y-yes milord." Ser Emersen says as he goes to do as he is told.

As Ser Emersen goes and does as he is told Lord Ashford looks back down at the slaughter of his men. What ever evil sorcery the Dornish dogs had used on his army he knew this battle was lost. Now all he could do was get as many of his men out of there as he could and retreat to Highgarden. It would mean leaving his own castle along with much of the eastern part of the Reach vulnerable to the Dornish army but that was better than leaving all of the Reach undefended. So, looking down at one of his men he says, "Sound the retreat, and you men, with me."

On top of the western hill Oberyn watched as things fell into place. The cannons had worked even better then he had thought and now all that was left was to let Lord Ashford retreat. Whether that was to the west or back towards Ashford it didn't matter. The goal of this battle had been met and by its conclusion the enemy army of 20,000 men would be significantly reduced. But before that he had one more trick up his sleeve before this battle was drawn to an end. So, giving the order for his cavalry to attack he rides off to go meet the Reaches 1000-man cavalry that is attacking at the right.

As he rode towards the left flank with his 3000-men cavalry Lord Ashford was trying desperately to get his horse to go faster. He was only about halfway down the hill when he saw his infantry turn in a panic and start to run. They were in a full rout now and if he didn't draw off the enemy's attention quickly, they would be all dead before the day was done. But right when he reaches the bottom of the hill and starts to charge the right flank his horse gives out a painful cry and he is tossed from it to the ground hard.

When he gets his wits about him, he tries to get up but feels himself being pulled back down to the ground. In a panic he looks down at his body and sees that thin wires have wrapped around his arms. What ever this wire is it has gotten in between the plates of his armor and wouldn't let him move. Looking around he sees more and more of his men fall into the same trap as he did. And that is when he hears the sound of arrows falling from the sky.

Looking up he can't help but think of Lord Tarly and what the man once told him. "You are to fucking predictable in your thinking Lord Ashford. While you may follow the traditional ways of war that doesn't mean your enemy will. You have to fucking expect at all times that your enemy will do something you are not ready for. Otherwise your just end up dead. That is the true way of war."

-Flashback-

Taking deep breaths at his son's report Mace Tyrell asks, "How many are dead?"

"At the least more than half father. Lord Ashford and his son died in the battle leaving Ser Emersen in charge of what remained. He sent a messenger before he was able to get a full count of the losses suffered at the battle and even before he was able to do that Ashford had already fallen." Loras says to him.

Letting his father and everyone else that was present process this information for a bit Loras then adds in, "Father there is even worst news."

Looking at his son with his face purple in rage Mace asks, "How can there be worser news?"

Looking down Loras says, "Before I came to tell you this a messenger from the defeated storm lords arrived. They are under attack by the Northern Army and Stonehelm has fallen."

For a moment everyone in the room is stunned in complete silence upon hearing this. That is in till Joffery stands up and yells. "This is unacceptable Lord Tyrell what is the meaning of this failure?"

As Lord Tyrell tries to come up with some weak excuse to his nephew Tyrion's mind is racing a mile a minute to try and figure out what is happening. And as he does his face goes pale white as he starts to put Lelouch's plan together. The Black Wolf knew all along that Stannis Baratheon's only hope of winning this war was to capture King's Landing along with his sister and his nephew. With that knowledge he had planned for Stannis's defeat and taken the opportunity to attack the Stormlands while it was weak. But this was only a small part of his overall plan.

Looking over at his brother with that same pale face Tyrion says, "He plans to trap us in King's Landing."

"What?" Jaime asks in confusion.

"Think about it brother. Father is trap in the Westerlands and all the bridges leading to the Goldroad to the Riverlands have been destroyed. The Vale if they have done what I believe they have done has sided with Lord Stark and will hold the east part of the Riverlands. Dorne has attacked the Reach and if I am correct is headed towards Bitterbridge. And now the Northern Army is somehow in the Stormlands and most likely aiming to take the Bronzegate. If Bitterbridge and the Bronzegate fall the noose tightens." Tyrion says to his brother.

Hearing his brother words Jaime's eyes open widely. He had studied military tactics just as much as he practiced the sword so understood what his brother was getting at and says, "He isn't planning on taking King's Landing. He wants to isolate us and pick off the rest of the kingdom while we are unable to stop him."

"That is right brother. What use is one city if he has the rest of the kingdom under his boot." Tyrion states to them all.

"Stop speaking nonsense you little imp. He needs King's Landing if he wishes to rule the Seven Kingdoms." Cersei all but yells at him.

"Before creation there must be destruction. If my soul stands in the way, then I'll toss it aside." Tyrion says remembering a quote from a popular book Lelouch had wrote.

Margaery having read that book understands what Tyrion is saying and speaks up for the first time, "You believe he is going to destroy the capital?"

Looking over at her Tyrion says, "No milady he is going to destroy the very system of rule that we have come to know. And if it cost the lives of everyone in this city to do it then so be it."

"He…he can't do that." Joffery yells at his uncle.

"Why couldn't he. He is popular in the Riverlands, his wife is loved in Dorne, and the Vale has more or less bent the knee to him. As for the Stormlands they can't hope to put up a fight and will most likely surrender before long. The only things that are now standing in his way is the Westerland's army and the Reach's. Which won't be enough to hold him back if Dorne takes Bitterbridge. And if it should fall, we will have no choice but to abandon King's Landing or be slowly squeezed to death by three armies surrounding us on three sides." Tyrion says to them all.

"We can't abandon the capital." Cersei yells at him not fully understanding the situation they were in.

"No sister we cannot. If we did, we might as well admit to defeat and lay our heads on the chopping block and wait to be beheaded. That is why you Lord Tyrell need to make full haste to Bitterbridge and keep Dorne from taking it." Tyrion says to the man.

"Yes, Lord Hand I will see it done." Mace says as he starts to exit the room but before he does Tyrion says one more thing.

"Lord Tyrell, Lord Lelouch is hell bent on seeing my family destroyed for what happen to his father and will show no mercy to us. Don't think even for a second that doesn't go for those who have sided with us as well." Tyrion says to the man trying to make sure the man does not betray them now that the tables have turned for the worst.

"Y-yes Lord Hand." Mace says and leaves followed closely by his son and daughter.

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And end of chapter.

Before you all start to say anything yes Lelouch play no part in this chapter I know but I need to show the other players in the story. Plus, at this point Lelouch is playing the over all commander and general of the alliance. He is doing all the overall planning and leaving command to competent general.

Now I was going to have Stannis Baratheon fight to the bitter end instead of what happen in this chapter, but I wasn't feeling it. With Melisandre no longer around I felt he would have a moment were he was just tried. While yes he didn't love his young brother, with out her whispering in his ear he would realize what had happen. He killed his brother. He may not have commanded it or wanted it but he because he let her get close, he is ultimately responsible. On top of that with his lose at Blackwater he is just not willing to sacrifice more for no good reason. But perhaps that is my own sentiment for his character.

Yes the battle in this chapter resembles the one Jon had with the wildlings but hear me out the Reach didn't know about what happened up there. Hell even Lelouch doesn't know about it yet. After this battle however the same tactic won't work again. I mean you have to be the biggest fool to fall for something like this again. Wink wink.

Anyways reviews are all ways welcomed along with pm questions.