Game of Thrones: Winter's Fire

Baelor Breakspear

War had come to Westeros; it had come on dark wings. Baelor's bastard uncle Daemon Blackfyre had declared himself king and was rebelling against the Iron Throne. Baelor suspected that the rebellion had more to do with the constant whispering that Bittersteel and Fireball had done in Daemon's ear than any actual desire on Daemon's part to be king, though with Daemon it was always hard to tell. Even when they were all much younger, Daemon was always slightly more reserved around Baelor and his siblings, and only truly seemed to show off his more charismatic side when he was with his brother Daeron Stark or when he was with Danaerys. That all changed though when after the tournament in which Daemon was knighted by Baelor's grandfather, after that tournament the charisma that Baelor knew his uncle had began to shine through, and more and more people began to flock to him.

Looking back on it now, it does seem as if that day when Daemon was knighted, was the day when the rumours about whom Baelor's grandfather truly wanted to be king started. Baelor's father was by no means a warrior, for as long as Baelor could remember he had never once seen his father lift up a sword in practice or otherwise, not that Baelor minded much, for his father was a lovely, kind hearted man and was a good king, and an even better father. However, there were some courtiers, Baelor knew, who had feared that his father's academic nature would lessen the influence that they enjoyed during his grandfather's reign, people such as Lord Massey, who had been Baelor's grandfather's right hand man.

The rumours of Baelor's father's illegitimacy Baelor was convinced were not true, he knew, he had to believe that they could not be true, otherwise his father had no right to the throne, and despite being king, Baelor knew that his father if he truly believed that he had no claim to the throne, would step down, and accept his bastard status, thus allowing Daemon and his descendants onto the throne. Despite it being treason to think so, Baelor knew that Daemon himself would not be that bad of a king- he was smart and charismatic- it was just that his advisors were Bittersteel and Fireball, both of whom held grudges against wider Westerosi society, Bittersteel for his bastard status and the fact that Shiera Seastar did not love him, Fireball simply because Fireball had always been an angry man.

When the raven had come to King's Landing announcing what Daemon had done, there had been uproar and chaos and panic in the streets and in court. All of the court had waited and watched with baited breath to see what Baelor's father would do, Baelor himself had not been sure what his father would do. He knew his mother wished for his father to declare war on Daemon, but his mother had never truly taken a shine to Daemon, like his father had. Baelor knew that King Daeron saw Daemon more like a son rather than a brother because of the age gap between them, he also knew that despite whatever he might say in public, it had pained his father to have to give Danaerys to Prince Maron, even though the marriage agreement had been made many years before, Baelor knew that if his father could have had his way, he would have allowed Daemon and Danaerys to marry. But alas, politics dictated otherwise, and so Daemon was married off to a Strickland girl, and sired sons with her- seven if Baelor remembered correctly- and as such the Stricklands, Osgreys, Reynes, and countless other small but powerful houses had declared for Daemon when his initial raven had come. Baelor's brother Maekar, and uncle Bloodraven had been all for fighting Daemon- it was the only thing that they had really ever been able to agree on- whereas Baelor himself had pushed for a pardon for Daemon and the rebels, not Bittersteel or Fireball though, for they all knew that the rebellion truly was their idea not Daemon's. Baelor had been overruled, and so the banners had been called and they had begun the preparations to march for war.

There had been only one small snag, the Starks had not answered ravens from either King's Landing or from Daemon's base in the Reach. Whichever side Winterfell declared for, could possibly end up winning, simply because the houses of the North would follow Winterfell to hell and back if asked to do so, due to an age old loyalty to the Starks, and Baelor knew because of the insults King's Landing had done to Daeron Stark's father and half brother, Daeron Stark himself was a formidable warrior- on par with Daemon- and if he said march, the north in all its glory would march. Countless ravens had been sent to Winterfell, and no response had come, and whilst they dithered in King's Landing waiting for response from Winterfell, Daemon and his army had gone plundering and pillaging through the Reach. Lord Tyrell had been slain, as had his heir, and Highgarden was asking for help still, as Lord Strickland continued destroying their armies with the sizeable force that Daemon had managed to assemble.

Quellon Greyjoy had called his banners and had set sail for the Westerlands, burning the Lannister fleet at Lannisport, and attacking the coastal areas of the Westerlands, whilst Lord Reyne and Fireball led the land armies and attacked Lannisport and the Golden Tooth. By the time the Royalist army had finally assembled in King's Landing, Lord Lefford was dead, Damon Lannister had been grievously injured and close to death, his eldest son dead, slain by Quellon Greyjoy. Lannisport was in flames, as was Fair Isle. Baelor, Maekar and Bloodraven had marched from King's Landing the same day word came from Casterly Rock of the burning of Fair Isle. They took their host and marched through the Riverlands, waiting for Daemon and his army to come, the aim had been to cut them off from Fireball and the Ironborn, when they had marched there still had been no word from Winterfell, and so it had been assumed that Winterfell was remaining neutral throughout the conflict though Baelor had his suspicions that, that was not, could not be the case.

Sure enough as they approached Riverrun, word came from the Twins, writ in Lord Frey's slanting hand writing that Daeron Stark and 20,000 northmen were camped outside his walls with two banners- the red three headed dragon on black of House Targaryen, and the black three headed dragon of Daemon's house- and that Daeron Stark dressed in full plate mail had ridden on a black warhorse with a flaming torch in hand, and had burnt the Targaryen banner. That raven had come some four days ago, since then there had been no news from the Twins, but scraps of information had flown down to Riverrun, but it was all a jumble. Some of the news said that Lord Frey was dead, and that Daeron Stark had sacked the Twins. Other information said that Daeron Stark was dead, killed by his uncle Artos. Other news said that Lord Frey had killed Daeron Stark in single combat, other news said that the Twins had been burnt to the ground and that the northmen were marching south with great haste.

It was all quite confusing, but one thing was for certain, Daeron Stark would not rest until his half brother sat on the Iron Throne, Baelor knew that much about his cousin. Even when they were children, once Daeron had set his mind on something he would not stop until he had achieved it, and so if he had called his banners and was marching south, there was only one thing he could be set on doing- putting Daemon on the Iron Throne- and he would not stop until he was either dead or Daemon sat the Iron Throne, and that was something that Baelor could not allow, and so he, Maekar and Lord Tully sat and made preparations for when their scouts finally saw Daeron Stark and his army. Bloodraven had taken 2,000 men west with him to help Lord Damon and the Westerlands fight off the Ironborn, whether or not they would be successful was a completely different matter entirely. Their spies reported that Daemon and his army were still on the march north, approaching the Riverlands with great speed, something that did quite worry Baelor, because he knew that if Daemon and Daeron's armies joined together, then the royalist effort would be finished. So they sat and planned and waited for more news on Daeron Stark's movements.

Eventually, their scouts reported that Daeron Stark was marching with his army at a great pace. Their scouts also reported that the Twins had surrendered, Daeron Stark had laid siege to it, but had then offered Lord Frey terms- if he surrendered he got to keep his life and his family lived- something about that offer smelt of Lord Artos Stark- Artos Stark was known for being very practical and politically minded, whereas Daeron was not- and so the Twins had surrendered and had added their army to Daeron's giving him an extra 2,000 men. The tidings kept getting worse and worse, as the scouts kept speaking. Armies had been assembled by Lords Blackwood, Vance and Piper, and all had been destroyed by Daeron Stark's northern army, at the battle of Oldstones. Lords Vance and Piper were both dead- slain by Daeron himself- and their armies scattered. To make matters worse, Daemon's army was closing in on the Trident, which would give them a free route to King's Landing unless something was done to stop them.

So it was decided that Maekar would march east to deal with Daemon and his army, with him would go the hand of the king Lord Hayford and the army of King's Landing (some 5,000 men) with him would go Lord Arryn and the armies of the Vale (some 25,000 men). Baelor and Lord Tully would march north to meet and try and stop Daeron's advance. The plans were made, and if they were successful, though it pained him to think of it, both Daeron and Daemon would be dead and the rebellion would be over.

The days ticked by and then it came to the battle day. Baelor put on his armour, said a quick prayer to the seven for guidance and to keep his family- his father, mother, his brothers and sister, his wife and his sons- safe and then mounted his horse. He turned to face Maekar who was also mounted on his horse, lifting his helm he spoke in a deep voice. "Be safe brother, do not do anything too stupid or foolhardy."

Maekar chuckled, the sound resounding. "You as well brother, be safe, and I shall meet you in King's Landing."

And off they marched, Maekar for the east, Baelor for the north. They rode largely in silence, and stopped only when they could see the oncoming mass of men and armour that was the northern army, within the forestry of the Whispering Wood they had the perfect cover, the sun was just about to set. "The plan should work, Your Grace." Lord Tully said.

Baelor said nothing but merely nodded, and then a few moments later several horns sounded in the distance, signalling the beginning of the battle, or ambush. Baelor drew his sword from its sheath and charged. He swung and hacked his way through men bearing various sigils- the flayed man, a merman, a roaring giant, a white sun and a black wolf- he hacked and swung his way through the northmen, cutting a bloody path, behind him he knew the white cloaks of the Kingsguard knights were close behind him.

A giant of a man wielding an axe came charging at him through the trees, Baelor brought his shield up just as the axe came swinging down. He managed to push the axe away and then brought his sword up in time, as the man brought the axe swinging down once more. Sparks began flying off of both weapons, as sword and axe clashed against one another, again and again, around him the battle crashed, men cut and slashed other men to pieces, horses neighed in distress, or in their death throes, men screamed and cried out for their loved ones.

Still Baelor kept his attack up, swinging and hacking at the man, sometimes connecting with his axe, sometimes his shield and other times striking his armour or flesh and drawing blood. The great giant of a man had the same luck with Baelor, and when Baelor finally managed to deal the killing blow they were both soaked through with blood, rain and mud.

He looked around the battlefield and inside his helm grimaced, it seemed there were more northmen still standing than there were Royalists. He turned around when he heard a horse draw up beside him, lifting his helm he saw Ser Willem Wylde of the Kingsguard there before him, concern etched on his face. "Your Grace," he heard the white knight say. "Your Grace we must retreat, they are overpowering us."

Baelor was about to shake his head, when suddenly he saw someone with auburn hair get cut down not so far from himself, he squinted to get a better look at whom it was that had killed the Tully, and found himself looking at a man with a wolf's head helm, a ice white greatsword in his arms coated with blood. Baelor pulled down his helm, sheathed his sword and shouted out for his men to retreat, they would be slaughtered if they kept fighting. As he turned his horse around and spurred it back to Riverrun, he could hear Daeron Stark shouting at him, calling him a coward.

Bittersteel

It had been twelve years since his father had died, twelve long years of hate, pain and heartbreak. Twelve years of injustice, Daemon should have been king when their father had died, not their craven of a brother, the man whom preferred books to swords, the man who went back on all his promises, the man whose wife had insulted Aegor's best friend and his father. No Daeron the good was not worthy of the crown he wore or the throne he sat, even their father had known that, that had been the reason why he had knighted Daemon and had given him Blackfyre upon his death, Blackfyre the sword of kings, given to Daemon a bastard and not to Daeron Targaryen, the heir apparent at the time. Daemon should be king, he would be king, their father had foreseen it that had been why he had had two wills drawn up, one which named Daemon king and the other which didn't. Lord Massey the craven that he was, had torn up the first will and had had it burnt, but not before Aegor had seen it.

Daemon had been reluctant to rebel against their brother, had claimed that Daeron was a good king and that Baelor Breakspear would be the best king Westeros had ever seen. Aegor was not convinced, and had been about to point out all the injustices their brother's family had done to Daemon's adoptive family the Starks, when news reached them in the Reach of their sister Daenaerys' marriage to that Dornish savage. That had set Daemon off, that had been the final straw for Daemon, that had been the thing that had pushed him into agreeing to rebel, to accepting being made king, crowned in the home of his wife's family.

The martially inclined courtiers of their father and brother's courts had flocked to their cause when Daemon had formally announced his rebellion. Men like Robb Reyne (who brought with him some 3000 men) Ser Eustace Osgrey, the Greyjoys had joined their cause, though Aegor knew that was more to do with the fact that Daemon had been fostered in Winterfell, and Quellon Greyjoy viewed Willam Stark as a brother and was married to Daeron Stark's aunt. Daeron had not responded to their first few letters asking for his help, something that truly Aegor thought he should have offered regardless. The longer Daeron's reply took to come, the more frustrated Aegor became, he questioned Daeron's commitment to their friendship, and to his family, considering Daeron and Daemon were brothers. Throughout it all Daemon reassured Aegor and Fireball that his brother would join their cause, it was simply taking him longer than the others because, in the north they were full of honour and duty, and Daeron would be conflicted over what to do.

Whilst they waited for Daeron Stark to decide where his loyalty lay, they began the rebellion with a battle at the Mander. Their army containing some 10,000 Reachmen and some 1,000 Dornishmen courtesy of Mikkel Yronwood fought against Lord Tyrell and his much bigger host. Lord Tyrell though was no tactician, nor were his commanders' warriors, Lord Strickland- Daemon's goodfather- was the most warrior of the whole of the reacherlords, and knew the land around the Mander better than most of his fellow Reachmen. This allowed them to dig pit traps in the mud around the Mander, and when the fighting broke out they kept pushing Lord Tyrell and his men back against the banks of the Mander and toward the traps. Lord Tyrell was slain by Daemon, Aegor slew Lord Tarly, and Lord Strickland slew his foe Lord Florent. The Tyrell heir, Mathis, being the fool he was thought to challenge Daemon to single combat to decide the battle, needless to say that fight lasted very little time and ended with Mathis Tyrell's head rolling in the banks of the Mander.

After the heir to Highgarden's death, the rest of the army led by Lord Rowan surrendered, and they marched further north. There was fighting between the border of the Reach and the Stormlands as Lord Edric Baratheon brought his men down from Storm's End. The fighting did not last too long though, their greater host easily dealt with Edric Baratheon's host, Baratheon, two of his sons and his brother were all killed during the fighting, Daemon then sent Lord Strickland and 3000 men off to lay siege to Storm's End. The main army continued marching north, as they camped on the border between the Riverlands and the Reach; a rider came from Daeron Stark's camp. With him he brought a letter written and signed in Daeron's own hand. The letter spoke of how the Twins were now part of the north, and how he was marching south with great haste to put Daemon and his family on the Iron Throne, it also spoke of the battle Daeron had fought against some of the Riverlords at Oldstones, and the victory he had won there, and of how his uncle Quellon Greyjoy had burnt Fair Isle and the Lannister fleet to the ground, and of Lord Damon Lannister's grave injuries.

After the raven came, Daemon decreed that they would march east to the Trident, to draw Baelor and Maekar away from Riverrun, and to allow Daeron the chance to take Riverrun. Then once that battle had been fought and won they would meet up in the middle and march on King's Landing. And so they marched, they marched through the rain and snow, and through storms and mud, but morale was high, they were winning the rebellion, Daeron the Good's armies were spread thing, Bloodraven had according to their spies gone west with some 2000 men to help the Lannisters deal with the Ironborn and the Reynes, though whether or not he would actually make it to the Westerlands was a completely different question once he heard of what was happening on the Trident. The chance to be the one to kill that albino freak was something that Aegor Rivers deeply cherished and looked forward to. Victory was so close, he could almost taste it.