- 282 AC -
- Eyrie -
(Robert POV)
In retrospect, I should have seen it coming. But who would have thought that he would do it before the tourney was fully completed? It was a special day, a day to be remembered, the day I claim absolute superiority over the lizards and their white cunts. I had entered the jousting just for the sake of embarrassing Rhaegar and to give some attention to Elia. It was a show of power, not just economic, that the realm already knew House Baratheon for, but a physical one which they will know me, Robert Baratheon, for.
And in a way, I achieved what I wanted.
I unhorsed everybody, no matter who it was. The Kingsguard and then finally the Prince. The one the maidens swooned for when they saw him smiled and got wet when they heard him sing. He may have appeared as a prissy, but I have to admit he is a Prince. A cunt Prince, but a Prince nonetheless. I unhorsed him, and then it was time to crown the Queen of Love and Beauty. I could not have made a bigger statement as I rode towards Elia and crowned her. I saw her smile and was content with it. I knew our lives would never be as they were after the tourney, especially with my show, but I didn't expect this to happen after returning to the Vale.
When the tourney was over, I had collected all the gold, and asked Ned to send Lyanna back to Winterfell a bit early, so that the cunt Prince wouldn't get any ideas. I saw his interest and threatened him, but I saw the look in his eyes. The coin of psychotics had landed, and he didn't come out clean. Stannis went back home to Storm's End, and I wanted to follow as well, but decided not to. The relations between the Vale Mountain Clans and me were splendid. I had worked hard to get here, but now I was not where I was supposed to be, which was back home.
I look at the note in my hand and the raven that brought it. I am about to explode in anger. I can feel it bubbling just beneath the surface and wanting to get out, to be released into the world, to be set free. I feel terrible bloodlust materialising and almost taking on physical form.
"Robert... please calm down."
I hear Jon's voice, but I don't answer. I see Lyanna's face in front of me and hope she is still smiling. I hope she did this of her own free will and not because he grabbed her by force. Ned doesn't look much better, but he is the quiet type anyway; he always keeps his emotions to himself.
"Robert..."
After I hear Jon's voice again, I look at him. I look him deep in the eyes.
"Well? What are you going to do, Jon? Will this turn into a bloody occasion, or what?" I ask.
"Heavens, Robert. I wouldn't ever send the Mad King your heads. I love you two like I would my own sons. He has gone too far. I am deeply sorry for your loss, Ned. Truly." Jon says and tries to console Ned for the loss of his father and elder brother, and the abduction of his sister.
Ned just nods his head absentmindedly and then looks at me for guidance. He has started to depend on me for ideas. When we first met, he didn't like my ideas. They were outrageous and dangerous and usually ended in a reprimand from Jon. But now, he seems lost and in desperate need of help.
"What should we do?" he asks me.
"Follow the King's command, is what we should do," I say.
"What?!"
"He wants our heads in King's Landing, does he not? Well, then we give him what he wants. Our heads will make it to King's Landing. I'll do him one better and even gift him my hammer. First row seat of death, from yours truly." I say.
"Robert, let us think about this calmly, we-"
"I WILL NOT! We're way past fucking calm, Jon. This is a declaration of war, and I am more than ready for it. I have been for a while now, and the stunted fool just gave me the reason to do it. I will bathe the realm in his and his progeny's blood. He should never have laid a hand on my parents... and Ned's parents. He will die!" I say.
The time for peace is over. While my enemies draw breath, there can be no peace.
"Into the fires of battle and unto the anvil of war."
.
- 281 AC -
- Gulltown -
War, a rebellion, battles, bloodbaths and death. The time had come, sooner than I expected, for the Targaryens to be eradicated and replaced by someone better. I have been planning for a war for years now. I have been planning to take revenge on the King for years, and did all I could to get there. And now that this has happened, I am, of course, overprepared. Because Stannis and I have been preparing to face all of the other 7 Kingdoms... at once. I was willing to go to war with the entirety of Westeros, just to feel the warmth of my fists drenched in Aerys' blood. I have kept calm, not reacted openly, swallowed all of my anger at him harming my parents and dealt with the shame and heartache of him taking away Elia.
I'm done with that now. No more of this and no more playing nicely. My blood has been screaming at me for a real fight, to not allow someone to waltz over me like that. And the time has come.
I overlook the city of Gulltown, the biggest harbour in the Vale and effectively also probably the only one big enough to be useful. If I were in charge of the Vale, I would have changed that long ago. Because if you give someone you don't have under control that much power, then he will take a chance to stab you in he back when it's the least convenient. Lord Marq Grafton has called his banners and declared for the loyalists.
Ned has left the Eyrie to gather his bannermen in the North. But since Lord Grafton has chosen to fight us, Ned had to go the long way, across the Mountains, which will take longer. But it doesn't matter to me. Not yet. The other houses will take time to decide on a side and then raise their banners as well, so this gives me a great tactical advantage. Time is a powerful tool in these times. The first to raise his banners and ready his troops wins. And I know that after hearing the news, Stannis sent out ravens to raise the banners as well. Jumpstarting our plans, we had laid out a while ago.
"Do you have a plan, Robert?" Jon asks me as we all look at the map of Gulltown in the war tent.
"I do indeed have a plan. It's called an attack." I tell him.
"I'm talking about a good plan. Not just a brute force plan." Jon sighs.
"And I don't think you understand me. I worked hard here in the Vale. The people of Gulltown know me, and they know you, as Protector of the Vale. They will be quite cross with him when they find out that Lord Grafton is barring us from entry and support because he is supporting the Mad King. If we attack, I believe we will find that the people of Gulltown are more on our side than their Lord."
"Hmm, that is not a bad thought. But we can't be certain of this. Attacking blindly won't get us anywhere." Jon says.
"I know, but that doesn't matter. We would have to lay a siege anyway, and by doing that and showing our faces, I am certain, we will shorten it." I explain.
"Very well. We will use the time of the siege to gather all of my bannermen who are supporting us. Once Gulltown has been taken, we will move on from there. You can sail south, to Storm's End and call your banners, while I will deal with the remaining Vale and then join up with you after Ned arrives." Jon says already planning far ahead.
Jon is an impressive strategist, but what he says is more or less the standard tactic, and most people would do it that way, since it's also the safest way. I wouldn't do it that way. I would take the bannermen who arrive here at Gulltown and attack the Crownlands because I know that my home of Storm's End is safe and secure.
"Very well, let's do that, Jon," I say and walk out of the tent, taking my Warhammer into my hands and feeling its lightness.
I am 19 years of age. 19 years of messing around, playing pranks on Stannis, training, preparing and turning Storm's End into the most glorious place in all of Westeros. Fuck Casterly Rock, it can't hold a candle to Storm's End. Preparation is key, and I have used my time wisely.
I make my way to my tent and see one of Tommy's men waiting for me.
"How is it?" I ask.
"Good. As you suggested, we have started spreading the word about what is truly happening and why. The smallfolk are not happy, to say the least. I'd say a week tops until the rioting or chaos starts. That's the window, I'd reckon."
"I see. Well done, Henry. Carry on with the good work. I'll write to Tommy and Arthur myself to get them up to speed; don't waste resources on that." I tell him.
"Thanks. See you later." Henry says and then leaves.
.
Truly, Henry was right. One week has passed, and I can tell that the security is having trouble keeping up with the siege. The rioting has begun in Gulltown, the smallfolk are protesting against House Grafton, and the men he has used are having to keep up with our siege and the smallfolk. Today is the day I'll make it into the city. And if I have to smash the walls using my fist, I'll do it. I am dressed in green war armour with a massive Warhammer and a war axe over my shoulders.
"Are we ready?" I ask the men, and they all nod.
"Yes, my Lord."
"ATTACK!!" I shout and start running towards the walls.
The siege has been going on for a week, and a route up the wall has been created but destroyed again. I'll just climb, it's easier that way. I jump into the air, something that should be impossible and grab the stones in the wall. I use my monstrous strength and start pulling myself up the wall, ignoring the shouting and warnings of the men behind me.
I feel stones fall on my head and body from above, and hot fluids as well. But nothing stops me, and by doing this, I distract the soldiers above, giving my soldiers below time to finally attack as well and come up the wall. With powerful pulling, I reach the top of the wall. I move my head to the side, dodging a spear pierce and then pull the man forward.
"AAAAAHHH", he shouts as he falls off the wall.
"Hello, lads. Good news, I made it. Bad news... I made it."
The soldiers shout their battlecries and start attacking me. I grab hold of my massive Warhammer and take it into my right hand. Again, this shouldn't be possible when you think about the fact that it weighs about the same as a horse. I swing my Warhammer in a horizontal swing...
*CKCKKRRUUUNCHHHH*
I don't even feel the impact of the hammer on their bodies. Their rather bad armour bends and breaks under the monstrous force of my swing, and blood splashes all over the area, killing dozens of soldiers instantly. I ignore the blood fest and move forward, swinging my War Axe in my left hand and bisecting bodies left and right. With the force of several storms, fitting for my name, I crush the enemy... literally.
The Vale soldiers have also made it over the wall and started helping me. All of them have the strict order not to touch the civilians in the slightest. Those who do will be executed, and seeing me in action, they will think twice about it. I cut and crush my way through Gulltown and finally reach the castle where Lord Grafton is hiding. The guards shake when they see me, like a gazelle that is surprised by a tiger walking past it and freezes up. They drop their weapons and fall to their knees as I walk past them. I kick open the door to the main hall where Lord Grafton and his closest soldiers and family are waiting.
"Lord Grafton. The time has come." I say as I move forward.
I see the fear in the eyes of his wife. I admit, seeing a 6-foot-7 giant with bloody armour enter the room with a massive Warhammer and War axe in his hands, I might also raise an eyebrow.
"I will not die without honour. I ask for a tri-"
*BOOOOOM*
I smash my hammer on his head, causing it to explode and his entire ribcage to splinter and shoot all over the place.
"There's your trial."
_________________________________
It has finally begun.