Chapter 22

Hello everyone, so here is the next chapter in a story that has gone on long than I ever thought it would lol. This chapter took far long than it really should of, but I have not been up to writing much lately. Both do to writer's block and because I stress. Just found out I have Coved 19 but looks like I am asymptomatic so strangely a lot of stress and worry have somewhat lessened. Of course I can't know this till 2 weeks pass but here is hoping.

DarthMaine, Melisandre was really one of the few characters I really didn't like. Not hate but like I don't care about what happens to her. You see what happens in this chapter.

Silver Water 7 I what to say yes because Lady is more well behaved than her siblings and could be shaved down a bit. As for warging/skinchanging I am not sure yet I have to work on that. Last is you will see more of Bran in the next chapter or maybe the one after that. Have to work on it a bit.

TehStorm I can't say what will happen without giving away anything. But Dany's and Cersei were really, really luckily to have made it as far as they did. I look at them kind of like the Forrest Gump's of the GOT universe. They shouldn't have made it so far but somehow they did. I love them both but really?

Liquidforest you know I have no idea.

chimera629 it is a thought. I am not sure maybe, but I have set Dany up as Lelouch's wife. Maybe tease her but don't know how far to take that.

chm01 right on the nose. I really wished he or she keep working on that story. I really liked it.

Judedota I really liked Stannis as well and will most likely give him a better ending in my 2nd story than this one but sadly at some point he has to go. As for Roose Bolton I have always like him as well. He was cruel and a sadist much like his son but had more control over himself. Plus up till Robb lost the war he gave Robb good advice but Robb wouldn't listen do to honor. So when he saw Robb was leading the North to destruction and his chance to take the North he took it. Understandable from a cruel way. But it's like the American General William Tecumseh Sherman said, War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over. Something Robb could never understand.

x-x-TheBurnedMan-x-x I suck at smut. I have tried many times. If you can do something that won't get me story kick off the site send it to me lol

Warlover1015 I really should have used Kallen. I should have and hate that I didn't but it's to late now. Some would say I could add her now, but I can't I need to give her a back story more time on screen so to say and I can't do that at this point.

EvanderAdvent I am happy you like that part. I am sure some find it odd for him to talk to her like that but its been made very clear you kill him and its open war with Lelouch. Something she couldn't hope to win at this point or really ever. Of course, she won't fully see that till later on.

Guest who wrote about liking what I did with Sansa. I am happy you like what I did with her. Out of all the characters she needed the most work. Now I never like her and still don't but she was to close to Lelouch's age to write off so I needed to do something with her. So I say who about we go this way and it just works.

1 love m4gic your ideas are crazy. I love them. Can't use them but love them lol.

Action scenes. I am just not good at them. I often delete any I have plan do to the simple fact they come out plan and dead in the water. And I am like this sucks I can't post this. It really is a problem I need to work on more.

Anyways on with the story.

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-Hardhome one day after the battle-

It had been exactly one day sense the massacre of the wildling army and now Jon found himself sitting across from the wildling's leader. Something that up till he had arrived here he thought would never happen. "May you live in interesting times." Jon thought to himself. It was a saying that his brother had come up with that on its surface seemed like a complement but in truth was a curse. To live in interesting times was to live during a time of hardship and unpredictability. While to live in uninteresting times was to live a life of peace and predictability. Oh, how he wished right now to live in such uninteresting times. For if he did his father would still be alive and he may never have had to kill so many men and women. Plus, he wouldn't have to be the one to discuss a peace deal with the very same people that the North had been fighting sense the building of the wall.

How did one go about talking peace with these people in the first place? The answer seemed to be when they are about to be wiped out of existence. The three wildlings that were in the tent with him hid it well, but he could still see the fear in their eyes. They knew they were on the brink of extinction and being made into the undead slaves of the Others. A fate that was in his own personal opinion worse than death itself. The three individuals whose names were Mance Rayder, Tormund Giantsbane and Ygritte seemed to be in agreement of that. If they weren't than they wouldn't be in this tent in the first place. Though he felt that even though they were scared they would not throw away their pride so easily and bend the knee to his brother.

"You raised a white flag and asked for a meeting King-Beyond-the-Wall. So, tell me what do you want?" Jon asks plainly and bluntly. He had learned that the only way to deal with these people was to be blunt.

Raising an eyebrow Mance Rayder says, "So you know who I am. Surprising most people assume that Tormund here is the leader."

"It's not really that surprising. The sheer number of deserters that left your army allowed me to find out what you looked like, so it was easy to pick you out." Jon says.

"I see." Mance Rayder says and thinks on a few things.

"Bunch of cowardly cunts can't even keep their mouths shut after we let them leave." Tormund says angrily.

Looking over at the red headed man Jon says, "Is it cowardly to run away from that which is chasing you and you have no hope of winning against if you try and fight it?"

"You know nothing of what chases us crow." Ygritte says aggressively.

Looking over at the only woman in the tent Jon can't help but find her uniquely beautiful. Beauty came in all shapes and sizes; he knew this well but still he had never seen a woman like her before. He was more use to the traditional beauties like his good-sister Shirley, Princess Arianne and Ros. This woman's beauty was more wild and untamed.

"I see, so I am wrong in believing that the White Walkers are what has been chasing you?" Jon asks in such a condescending way that it would make his brother Lelouch proud. In Ygritte's case it just makes her what to bash his head in.

When he hears Jon mention the White Walkers it just confirms what Mance had already suspected and gives voice to it. "So that is why you are letting my people pass the Wall. You already knew what was coming and wanted to eliminate any one left alive that the Others could use against you."

"Not I Mance Rayder, but my brother. It was he who knew about them the longest and is the one that has convinced the other lords of the North to let your people pass the Wall. I only found out about a year ago. But we are getting off topic. So once again I ask what do you want? My men have already reported to me that your army of around 70,000 men is now down to a total of maybe 30,000 after the battle. Hardly enough to be a threat to Hardhome or the Wall now." Jon says to the man.

Mance has to stop himself from scuffing at the word battle, as did Ygritte and Tormund. That was no battle and everyone in the room knew it but still he answers the question. "What I want to know is what would it take for you to allow the remainder of my army to safely pass the Wall?"

"Frist you attack us and now ask for safe passage. You have some balls on you boy." Commander Jeor Mormont says with a dry laugh.

"Yes, well that attack was necessary." Mance says in a calm voice.

"What do you mean by necessary?" Jon asks but can already somewhat guess what he meant.

"Sense the moment I found out that you were allowing some of my people pass the Wall I have been wishing to talk with you people. However, some of my more aggressive men didn't what to talk at all. So, to settle the matter I agreed to let them try and take Hardhome." Mance says to them.

"I see so you sent them to fight believing that if they lost you would still have a big enough force to threaten us with during the talks that would take place afterwards." Jon says with a nod of respect to the man.

"That is correct but trust me if I had known the battle would be so one sided, I wouldn't have allowed them to fight you." Mance says to the young man.

"Fuck one sided it was a fucking butchering." Tormund says. He was not exactly unhappy about what had happen earlier seeing as all the people killed in the battle were all cunts to begin with, but just the knowledge that it could have been him on that battlefield pissed him off. He wouldn't have even gotten a swing in with those fucking boom things these kneelers used on them.

Having to think on what Mance has told him Jon wonders were to go from here. On one hand he didn't like the fact that Mance had let an attack on him and his men happen, but on the other he understood it. The wildlings were a fiercely independent and aggressive people. So, it was no real surprise that there would me a large group of them that didn't want peace with the North. In fact, the deserters of Mance's army had informed him that two such characters would pose a problem if they were not killed. These two people being Rattleshirt and Styr who from what the wildling deserters had told him would be unwilling to make peace with him or if they did would stab him in the back at the first opportunity given. Lucky for Jon he didn't have to worry about those two seeing as from the reports he got in last night from the army those two were spotted on the battled field and had died in the first wave of cannon shot.

"I understand Mance. A wise man adapts himself to the circumstances he finds himself in and an unwise man doesn't and often finds himself brought down by those same circumstances." Jon says remembering one of Lelouch's very first lessons to him.

Mance just nods his head at this and says nothing. The circumstances of things had indeed changed in ways he did not expect and found himself ill prepared to adjust to. He could hardly be blamed for that however for he had no way of knowing that the North would open its doors to his people in the way that they had done. Despite the hostility he and his people felt towards the kneelers there would still have been some who would be willing to kneel for safe passage. And that was before the emergence of the Others who had made that number of people increase by a lot. Afterall pride often fell to the wayside when fear and desperation took hold.

"What I offer is this. Once the Others are dealt with and the long night is over, we will give you Hardhome in exchange for an agreement to not attack or at least an attempt to stop attacks on the North as a whole. Of course, it goes without saying that we expect you to fight alongside us when the Others do arrive." Jon says to the surprise of the men by his side.

Mance gets a suspicious look on his face but before he can ask any questions Ygritte speaks up and says, "You expect us to believe you would just give us back Hardhome without kneeling to you first? Do you take us for fools crow?"

Jon can't help but smile at the woman who had just question/insulted him and was about to answer her when Mance speaks up. "Ygritte that is enough we are not here to pick a fight."

The woman look's at Mance and narrows her eyes before she looks away and obeys his command. Then Mance speaks up again. "I am sorry for Ygritte's words, but she is right. Why should we believe that you would just give us Hardhome? Especially seeing as you have gone to all the trouble of building it up as you have."

With a look of respect for these people in his eyes Jon says, "You can't, but I can tell you this, my brother the new lord of the North is tired of having to deal with your people. The simple fact is even those who have agreed to kneel to us in exchange for safe passage have been giving us trouble. Trouble that he does not wish to deal with anymore. So, he figures he might as well give you Hardhome and help your people develop ways of getting your own food so that raiding the North is no long necessary. It is in his mind the easier alternative to anything else."

That was a lie, Lelouch as far as he knew was not willing to give up Hardhome to them and the wildlings who had come over to their side had not been too much trouble at all. But he didn't what to see another slaughter like the last battle and that was were this would most likely head if he didn't make a deal with these people. Even with the knowledge that most of the men and women that had died in the last battle were the worst kind of scum imaginable he still didn't wish to do it again.

Thinking over what Jon has said Mance has to wonder if this young man is telling the truth. He saw no lie in Jon's eyes but at the same time he felt like the young man was not telling the full truth. Still if what Jon said was true it was a way to get his people pass the Wall for the time being and save face at the same time. Surviving the Long Night was the most important thing right now, but his people wouldn't agree to bend the knee easily even after the slaughtering of over half their numbers. But if he went back and told them they would get Hardhome back in exchange for fighting with the kneelers they would most likely agree with little protest. It was a deal he knew very well he could not pass up with how things stood.

"I will agree to your terms Jon Stark so long as I get to meet this brother of yours and get an agreement in person from him. No offense but I don't trust you." Mance says in a dead serious voice.

"So be it. We leave for Winterfell as soon as all the dead are burned, agreed?" Jon asks him.

"Agreed." Mance says back to him and then gets up and leaves with his companions.

When the wildlings exit the tent Lord Commander Jeor Mormont says, "Governor Jon I don't remember you mentioning anything about your brother's willingness to give up Hardhome to the wildlings in exchange for anything."

Looking at the aging commander of the Wall Jon says, "That is because I didn't, and my brother didn't agree to anything of the sort. But like I said a wise man adapts himself to the circumstances he finds himself in, and the circumstances have indeed changed."

"How so?" Roose Bolton asks.

"They now know about the cannons." Jon says simply.

"Ah I understand." Jeor says to him. The original plan they had come up with was to catch the whole wildling army in the killing field they had set up and wiping them out in one go, but that hadn't happened. Only a little under half of their numbers were on the battlefield and the rest had stayed back and watched the horrible outcome of the battle. And now that they knew about the cannons only a fool would try and attack the same way again and this Mance Rayder didn't seem like a fool to him. That meant he would most likely change tactics and avoid a direct attack on them. Which meant an endless number of skirmishes that would take both time and manpower to deal with. Time and manpower they couldn't afford to waste on them.

"Now if you men will excuse me, I have to write a letter and inform my brother of the change in plans." Jon says as he stands up and starts to head toward his office hoping his brother wouldn't be against his plan.

-Winterfell-

"Well, well this is interesting. I didn't really think Lord Stannis would agree to a mediation." Lelouch says out loud.

"It's not like you gave him much of choice milord. You checked the board so well that any fool could see that he had little choice but to agree to one." Jeremiah says to his lord.

"True my knight but I had somewhat fully expected him to be a fool and do something irrational. It seems I have to reevaluate my opinion on the man. I would even go so far as to say I somewhat want to call off my plan and let him be king now." Lelouch says.

"Really milord?" Jeremiah asks not fully believing him.

"Yes, but only a bit my knight. We are still going with that plan." Lelouch says not willing to change his plans and also unwilling to take the chance that Stannis will be so easily led if he let him become king.

"When will you set it into motion milord?" Jeremiah asks.

"As soon as I am done meeting with Lord Renly. I still have to play the peacemaker for the time being. Which is fine seeing as all pre objectives for my plan have already been met. All that is really left is to play my part and let the pieces fall as they may." Lelouch says and stands up heading towards the door with Jeremiah close on his heels.

After they walk for a bit in silence Jeremiah says, "My lord I feel I should inform you that Lady Arya is becoming a little rambunctious as of late after not being allowed to go to Essos with Lady Sansa."

Giving a sigh Lelouch says, "I am not surprised. Her continuous progression with the blade has been making her quite arrogant. Lucky enough her teacher is keeping her in line for the time being."

"The key word my lord is for the time being. She has the same wolf's blood running in her veins as your siblings and it is calling for the blood of those who killed your father. If she sees an opportunity to help avenge your father while you are gone, she will take it." Jeremiah says to him.

Much like with his lord's sister Nunnally from their old-world Jeremiah knew his lord only wished to protect his siblings from this cold hard world as much as he could. But that was a losing battle and they both knew it. It was for that reason that his lord had trained them to be as deadly as possible. Sadly, unlike with Robb, Jon and Sansa who had been fully trained and ready to take on the world little Arya was not yet fully trained.

"Yes, will let's just hope her teacher can curve her attention towards other things." Lelouch says to him knowing that was unlikely.

Walking out to the walkway over the training grounds Lelouch spots the man he wanted to talk to standing there drinking a cup of wine. Walking up to the man and standing by his side Lelouch looks down to see his sister and Lady Wylla training down below.

"How goes the training today Syrio?" Lelouch asks.

"it is going well milord. Your sister continues to improve with each lesson. I would dare say she is now more skilled with the blade than her older sister." Syrio says as he looks at his very talented student who has just bested her handmaiden for the third time in a row using her nondominant hand.

"Really? I didn't think she would catch up so soon seeing as she couldn't give Sansa a decent challenge six moons ago." Lelouch says to him.

"And she still couldn't milord, but she is getting closer. Her skill maybe greater than her sister's but as you well know its not always the most skilled swordsmen that wins in a duel. Lady Sansa has had the benefit of having a full-time teacher and is older to boot. Which makes her more experience and in control of her emotions than my wild student. But given another 6 moons and Arya will be more than a match for her sister." Syrio says to him.

Lelouch nods his head at this and says, "I am happy to hear that Syrio. Things are about to get more complex in the coming year and Arya being able to defend not only herself but her younger brothers might be necessary."

"You are expecting some trouble here at Winterfell milord?" Syrio asks.

"No but I am more inclined to take the road of caution while I am away than not." Lelouch says to the man.

Nodding his head at this Syrio looks back down at his student. It had been a little over 7 moons sense he had come to the North in order to teach Arya the art of the water dance and he had gotten to know the man that was standing by his side well. Lelouch Stark was in many ways an enigma to Syrio and yet at the same time easily understood. Both cautious and bold Lelouch was a man who always seemed to be changing. Like water he took the shape of whatever situation he found himself in and adjusted accordingly. Yet at the same time he also seemed to be able to control said flow and predict which way it was headed. All of this showed in the young man's swordsmanship and was the reason why Syrio lost their practice duel. He could still see it in his mind's eye, how this young man deflected one of his attacks and countered by sliding his own blade towards his neck. It all happened so fast it was only after the fight had ended that he realized what had happen. It was a dangerous move on the young lord's part and one that could see him badly injured, but one that would have seen his opponent lose his head in exchange. He had a lot of respect for the boldness of the move and the man who made it.

"Can I trust you to protect my sister and brother's when I leave for the Riverlands?" Lelouch asks.

"Of course. I will protect them with my life you have the word of The First Sword of Braavos." Syrio says back to the man.

Such was his respect for the man that he would gladly protect Lelouch Stark's family for him while he was away, but even if he didn't, he would still do so. Young Arya was a once in a lifetime talent that he was sure he would never see again for the rest of his life. To see such a talent, go to waste or let it die on his watch would be a disgrace that he could never live with. He still found it funny how when he first arrived here, he thought it was Lady Sansa that he was supposed to train. life. He still had the letter he received from Lord Andre asking him to come to Winterfell to train a true prodigy in the art of the Water Dance. How he had gotten many letter and offers to train would be prodigies and had dismissed them all. But having known Andre from a mutual acquaintance at the Iron Bank and also knowing that he was the grandson of Joraquo Andre the Frist Sword of Braavos some 40 years ago he was willing to make the trip to the North to see this prodigy.

When he had arrived at Winterfell, he was at first disappointed and thought the trip a waste of time for it was one of the few days that Lady Sansa was training in the yard. He had of course seen her talent but would hardly call her a prodigy. Her skills were from nothing more than hard work and a bit of natural talent for the sword. She definitely had the basics down and used them to devastating effect but that was all. She would parry, thrust, feint and flick with great caution till she saw an opening and ended the fight in one decisive move. A style he would find out later she had copied a bit from her older brother Lelouch though with out his boldness and willingness to dictate the pace of the fight. Don't get him wrong even if it lacked compared to Lelouch's own style it was still a very effective style that left little to no openings. She would never be beaten by your average soldier or knight, but he could think of a number of ways he and other swordsmen of somewhat greater skill could overcome her style.

Still she was a cut above the rest and after watching her train with a number of other people he was about to leave figuring she was the best they had. That was when Arya came out to challenge her sister. Little Arya was beaten so soundly during the fight it was almost painful to watch but in those few moments he had seen the prodigy John had written him about. The girl was fast, flexible and accurate with her strikes to a level that few would ever match but he had also immediately noticed her weakness. She had a tendency to show where she was aiming her strikes before she even made her move. Whenever she made to attack her eyes would get a look of intense focus and her shoulder would dip toward the location she was planning to attack. Then there was her habit of falling into a pattern of attack when she found herself not able to overcome her opponent with her natural speed and flexibility.

It was all these habits that led her to stagnate in her progression with the sword. But they were habits he could easily fix and set out to do so once he had agreed to train her. Of course, it took a lot of hard lessons and a sound thrashing by Lady Wylla to get Arya to recognize her own weaknesses. Young Arya really was the definition of being bull headed. Up till the moment that Lady Wylla gave her one of the most humiliating losses of her life Arya had simply shrugged off all her other losses as nothing more than her opponents being older than her. But once she loss to Lady Wylla who she had completely surpassed a year ago she quickly opened her eyes to the hard truth. She had stagnated and needed to improve or else she would never be able to beat her older sister. A thought that to Arya was the worst thing in the world.

"I am thankful to hear that Syrio. I have not had time to train my younger siblings as much as I would have liked so knowing a man of your skill and experience is around to protect them comes as a great relief." Lelouch says to him interrupting Syrio's thoughts.

"There is no need to thank me milord. Though I may not be one of your bannermen as a sword master I feel it is my duty to bring out the talent that is still hidden away in young Arya. I cannot do that if something were to happen to her. So, I will strive to protect her till the day comes where she no longer needs my teachings." Syrio says to Lelouch.

"I am happy to hear it Syrio." Lelouch says than walks away not needing to say any more to the man.

- Dorne, Sunspear-

Walking down the halls of her first home with Princess Myrcella by her side Shirley was both ecstatic and upset to be back. Ecstatic because she had truly missed Dorne, its people and her family while she was away but upset because she knew Lelouch had sent her here in a veiled attempt to keep her away from the fighting. He had hidden it quite well in the excuse that Princess Myrcella was no long safe in the North but in truth she was perfectly safe so long a Fenrir. Even the most fanatical fool wouldn't dare to try and hurt the poor princess because of the fear of ending up as Fenrir's food. Really Lulu was just being overprotective of her and she could forgive that seeing as he had already lost so much more than anyone would ever realize. Plus, like she said she missed Dorne and was more than happy to have as much fun as she could at her uncle's expense. Already she had tossed her uncle's welcome home party for her into disorder when she took all the women away from the party and had them dress up in highly inappropriate animal costumes. Even for Dorne the costumes she made took things to far, but she couldn't help herself.

Plus, from the looks on her uncle's face she knew he had enjoyed what she had done even if he scolded her badly for it after the fact. If he was truly angry with her, he wouldn't have put on the cat ears she gave him after all. Sadly, not all things were going well. Princess Myrcella had fallen into a deep melancholy after the death of her good-father. Despite her sweet and innocent nature Myrcella was in fact a very intelligent young lady. An intelligence that had only grown during her stay in the North where she spent most of her time with Bran and the scientists of the Academy, where he had become quite adapt at mathematics. She was in fact so adapt at it that when Samwell Tarly sent his theory on the laws of gravity to the Academy and she saw it she sent him a letter on some mathematic equations in the hopes that it would help prove his theory. According to the letter she received back they had indeed helped in eliminating several things that were not adding up. So, if she could do that, she should easily understand she was for all intents and purposes a hostage now.

It was lucky for both of them that Myrcella was far too trusting and naïve to realize she was a hostage with no value. The girl was already stressed out as badly as it got and was only hanging on because she believed that her family was doing all they could to get her back safely. At least that is what Shirley believed and was not willing to take any chances on her finding out that her grandfather, mother and older brother had already written her off as expendable. Shirley was in fact so serious about keeping that fact hidden from her that when she overheard a sailor on the ship, they were on talking about it she had kindly tossed him overboard to drown. The sailor was fortunate that one of the escort ships was behind them because Shirley made it clear that the ship, they were on was not to turn around and pick him up. Despite how much Myrcella begged her to command the captain to do so.

Walking into the throne room of Sunspear Shirley sees her uncle, father, cousin and a number of their vassals standing around holding court. "Good morning everyone. I hope you are all well this morning."

Looking over at the late arriving ladies none of them are surprised to see Shirley here along with Princess Myrcella. Even if she wasn't the Lady of Winterfell and her husband's official representative to Dorne, Shirley still would have been here regardless. As for Princess Myrcella they had all noticed that wherever it was that Shirley went she was never far behind. But really did they have to keep them waiting so long?

"Good morning my dear niece. I see you have finally decided to join us this morning." Dorne says with a look that told Shirley she was in trouble.

But being who she was Shirley just says, "I am truly sorry for my late arrival uncle, but I have always found it hard to leave my bed when there is a lovely little maiden in it. Especially when said maiden just won't let go of me when she is asleep."

Seeing Princess Myrcella's face turning red Oberyn can't help but join in on the teasing and says, "Oh, has my daughter stolen her good-brother's betrothed? Shame on you daughter, but well done as well."

With an even wider smile Shirley says, "Father you wound me. I would never do such a thing to my good-brother. No matter how tasty his betrothed looks."

"L-lady Shirley!" Princess Myrcella cries out completely scandalized now. She knew Shirley's tastes in sex well due to the amount of time spent with her and was alright with that but had learned to never let her guard down around her. Sure, she would never do anything to her sexually, but Shirley had wondering hands when ever it was that they were awake.

Though he had missed his niece and brother's little shows of perversion Doran knew he couldn't let it keep going. For one Myrcella looked like she was about to faint from all the blood rushing to her face and two if he didn't stop it the meeting he was trying to have would never start. So, speaking up in a commanding voice he says, "Alright that is enough you two. Areo well you escort Princess Myrcella outside and wait with her till the meeting is done."

"Of course, my prince." The big man says to Doran and makes his way towards Myrcella.

Looking over at Shirley with a worried look Myrcella is about to say something when Shirley says, "Its alright Myrcella. Areo is one of the most trustworthy and honorable men in Dorne. He would die first before letting any harm come to you."

Simply nodding her head at Shirley's reassurance Myrcella bows to all the lords in the room before following Areo out of the room.

When they both leave and shut the throne room doors Doran says, "Well than let's get the meeting started. Lord Yronwood how goes it in getting the men ready for war?"

"It is going well my prince. Already we have risen over 20,000 men who are ready for war and have 5000 of those men at the border. If the Reach decides to pick the wrong side in this war, we will be ready to deal with them." Lord Yronwood says.

Nodding his head at the man Doran looks at Lord Yronwood and thinks he had chosen well in picking him to head up the logistics for their army. True his brother was in overall command of the army but outside of battle he didn't have the temperament to deal with things like logistics. Lord Yronwood on the other hand did. He was a loyal man and had a good head on his shoulders with his only fault being that he secretly didn't agree with his daughter being his heir. Though that fault had mostly gone away with Shirley's marriage to Lelouch. It was well known to all that Shirley fully supported Arianne's position and with her marriage she gave her cousin all the backing she would ever need to hold on to her claim. the greatest genius of their time. After all, like most of the other noble houses of Dorne House Yronwood had benefited greatly due to the help the Black Wolf gave them, and Lord Yronwood was more than willing to put his pride aside to keep it that way.

"Good the more men that we can gather the greater our chances of bringing this war to a quick end will be." Doran says to them.

Speaking up Lord Uller of Hellholt says, "That is if we are needed in this war my Prince. With the Young Wolf's surprising victory over the Lannisters and those traitorous river lords at the Battle Under the Gold Tooth we may not be needed. Any gains Lord Lannister had been all lost in that one battle and even now it is being reported that he is having trouble just getting the bulk of his army up the River Road."

"That is true gramps Harmen, but my good-brother suffered heavy losses at the Battle Under the Gold Tooth and has yet to be reinforced. And we have just gotten reports that Lord Lannister has just arrived at the Gold Tooth with over 30,000 men. He will no doubt look to regain the upper hand while my husband is preoccupied with the Baratheon brothers." Shirley says to him

Looking over at Shirley Lord Uller just nods his head. It was no secret that because Shirley saw Ellaria as her mother, she had kind of adopted him as her grandfather. It was more than a little annoying at first, but when a little 6 year old girl keeps running up to you calling you gramps and showing you the same love and affection most grandchildren show their grandparents it tends to wear you down. Now he more or less saw her as his own grandchild and treated her with the same love she showed him. A love that showed how strong it was when during her wedding he and his family were seated along with those counted among her true family.

"Princess Shirley is right. Lord Tywin will not be beaten so easily, and we have no idea if Lord Renly will accept his brother's peace offering." Lord Wyl says to everyone.

"He would have to be a fool to not accept it and Lord Tyrell even more so to support him if he doesn't." Ser Deziel Dalt says.

"When has Lord Tyrell not proven to be a fool? That shit for brains has sent Lord Tarly home after he disagreed with supporting Lord Renly's claim to the throne after it came out that Lord Lelouch supported his brother instead. His best battlefield commander sitting on his ass back in the Reach just because he could see which way the wind was turning." Oberyn says. He was no fan of Lord Tarly by any means and in fact would prefer to get kicked in the balls by an ox than come to the man's defense. But Oberyn would have to be a fucking idiot to not respect the man's battlefield ability.

"Yes, well that just makes things easier for us if we are forced to go to war with the Reach. Without Lord Tarly leading the army we should have very little trouble beating it if it comes to war." Doran says to everyone.

The very mention of a possible war with the Reach upsets Shirley deeply and makes her go strangely silent. She had always known that a possible war with the Reach was high seeing as many of their houses didn't like Lelouch do to him cutting into the coin they made. This was especially felt by House Redwyne who saw their overall profit plummet once Lelouch's drinks flooded the markets. Then there was House Hightower who also disliked Lelouch though to a lesser extent than the Redwynes. Their dislike came as a product of Lelouch's Academy that had been showing up the Citadel as of late. Time and time again the Academy had taken what was thought of as conventional knowledge that the Citadel said was true and disproved it. Then there was the Academy's own discovery's that the Citadel tried to dismiss but found they couldn't much to their shame. Now on the surface the problems between the Citadel and the Academy shouldn't affect relations between the HIghtowers and the North. However, people often forget that the Hightowers have always been the protectors of the Citadel and their biggest patron. If you made the Citadel look bad than you did the same to the Hightowers which was something they couldn't let, go.

All of that however didn't matter to Shirley. As far as she cared both those houses could go fuck themselves. What troubled her was that she may be at war with two of her best friends. She often wrote to Euphy and Margaery telling them about her life in the North and asking how they were. And they would write her back telling them about their lives in turn. But sense the fat fuck Robert had died those lines of communication had died and wouldn't be alive again anytime soon based on the Tyrell's actions. It still made her angry to think they had tried to seize her good-sister's lovers' property. Diana and Sansa looked so cute together that she had fully supported them even if no one else would. Not that anyone but her, her husband and maybe a few others knew about it. Still it pissed her off to think someone would try to hurt one of the two even if it was unknowingly.

But still she was not willing to go to war over it and was hoping that the Tyrell's do the smart thing and side with Lelouch if the time came. Though she had a feeling that would be the case and if that was so she would have to start making plans to make sure Euphy and Margaery survived it. Hopefully DIana wasn't bitter about the Tyrell's attempt on stealing her family's property. Because Shirley's help in getting them to safety.

-A few weeks later the Stormlands-

Sitting down watching the tournament he was having at Storm's End for his men, Renly thought about what he was to do next. After the new Lord Stark made it clear that he was going to support his older brother's claim to the throne things had steadily gone downhill. Starting with the news that Robb Stark Tully had completely thump the Lannisters at the Battle Under the Gold Tooth and had crushed the rebellion of the river lords in quick succession. Then it just got worst as his brother did the one thing, he never believed he would do and that was to capitulate to terms of peace that were not his own. This left him looking like little more than a common rebel who was not happy with what life had given him. And if he didn't step down then he would have war with over half the kingdom against him. It didn't matter if he had the Tyrell's on his side or not. He wouldn't walk away from such a war alive if he stayed the course.

Then again, he could try and stall for time and hope that the Lannister's could turn things around and weaken the North, the Riverland, and Vale but he doubted it was going to happen. From the latest reports he had gotten on Lord Lannister's army they were trap on top the Golden Tooth trying to find a way around a makeshift wall that Lord Robb had put up to block the River Road. From what the reports said the wall wasn't very big but anyone who knew anything about military tactics could tell you that defending even a small wall was easier than attacking one. By the time Lord Lannister found a way around that it would be too late for him. By the Seven he could just see his chances of being king running right by him.

"My king and queen Lord Stark and his men have just been spotted a few hours ride from here." An unnamed man says.

A few hours ride, a few hours more to play king Renly thinks to himself than says, "Thank you my good man. When he arrives make sure he is shown straight to my tent."

He didn't wish to drag this on any longer than need be. If his dream of being king was to die this day, then it was best to get it over with quickly. Looking up at the sky Renly notices how bright and sunny it is. Overall, it was a good day if not for him than for everyone else. Perhaps that was something to be happy about.

-A few hours later at sea-

Sailing in the dark near the seaside cove by the false king's camp Melisandre cursed Lord Stark's name over and over again in her head. The demon wolf, the murderer of the sun had somehow gotten into her king's head. He was no longer listening to her advice and could no longer see the true enemy for what it was. But she could still see it clearly and now knew that the real enemy wasn't in the far North but was in fact a demon in the flesh of a man. A demon that was worse than any other and she had to kill it at any cost. No matter if her king agreed with her or not. He would see the light when it was all over anyways.

"Row faster my loyal followers we most make it to shore before the enemy escapes." She said to the boat men who were helping.

-Back at Renly's camp-

Sitting inside of Renly's command tent Lelouch looked at the ex-Master of Laws and self-proclaimed King of the Seven Kingdoms. He looked like he had seen better days Lelouch thought to himself. Not that Lelouch could blame him seeing as the man clearly knew all his plans had come to not. A bitter pill to swallow if there ever was one. By Renly's side were two of his most loyal knights or Rainbow Guard as he called them. The best knights in all the land or the best he could find. Not that Lelouch thought they lacked in skill but from the way they were standing around with nervous looks on their faces they knew they stood no chance against Lelouch's own knight. After all Jeremiah Gottwald had become something of a living legend after he crippled Gregor Clegane. The last person in the tent with them and of course not the least was Lady Margaery sister to who Lelouch believed was his born-again half-sister Euphemia Tyrell.

So, this was Lelouch Stark is it? Margaery thinks to herself as she looks at the beautiful young man sitting before her. It was her first time meeting him in person and she had to say what she had heard and been told about in Shirley's letters didn't do him credit. He was far more handsome than Shirley had written and would even go so far as to call him beautiful to look at. For handsome seem like the incorrect word to describe him. That was where her compliments ended however for pass that all she saw was a very cold and calculating individual sitting before her. Sure, the warmth and care that was always on his face that Shirley wrote about was there, but such a look felt hollow when you added in the cold dead eyes that were looking at them right now. Her grandmother always told her that Stark eyes would turn cold as winter when enraged but she had a feeling this was just his natural look and she did not like it.

"Lord Stark it is a pleasure to see you once again. It has been too long." Renly says to Lelouch and means it. When Lelouch was in King's Landing for his short trip they had gotten along well and talked about all matter of subjects when they got the chance. So Renly's opinion on the young man was a good one even if he wasn't taking his side.

"The same to you Lord Renly it really has been too long. I have missed or conversation on the latest fashions of the court." Lelouch says with a smile.

"As have I, and once again thank your sister on my behalf for the doublet and trousers sets, she sent me for my name-day. They were truly wonderful gifts." Renly says with a smile.

"I well make sure to do so when I next see her." Lelouch says back with a smile of his own.

It didn't get pass Renly's notice that Lelouch didn't call him by his title as king. Which just showed that he had made up his mind and there would most likely be no changing it. That was disappointing but then he already knew that, so it was no big deal. Still he felt like he had to try and convince him to change his mind.

"Lord Stark I feel that we can skip the pleasantries and speak, candidly don't you?" Renly asks.

"I do. Deception is not necessary here seeing as we both already know why I am here." Lelouch says.

"Indeed, so let me start off by asking you Lord Lelouch, why are you supporting my brother? From our past conversations you made it very clear that you care for the people of the kingdom and therefore must know my brother could never make a good king." Renly says to Lelouch.

"I can't say in all honesty I don't agree with you Lord Renly. Your brother from what I have seen would indeed make a very poor king." Lelouch says back.

"Then why support him? Surely I would be the better choice between me and him." Renly says to him.

"Perhaps, but than this is not a matter of who I think would or would not make a better king. This is about paying a debt that I and the North as a whole owe to your brother Robert." Lelouch says calmly to Renly.

"What debt?" Renly asks in confusion.

"The debt of allowing the North to prosper as it has. If it was not for your brother, the North would have been made to share all we have accomplished under anyone else's rule. As far as I am concerned keeping you both from killing each other is a small price to pay in order to pay him back." Lelouch says to him.

Renly gave a huff at this and says, "Robert didn't love us or cared about us. We could have both died while he was alive, and he wouldn't have cared."

Giving a shrug of his shoulders Lelouch says, "True but while I may not have the same sense of honor my father had I can not allow one of you to die none the less. And if letting Stannis become king is the only way to accomplish that than so be it. After all we both know that if I was to support you, he would not lay down his arms."

"And I would?" Questions Renly.

"You are more sensible." Lelouch answers.

Something feels wrong Margaery thanks to herself. What Lord Lelouch is saying may sound true and sincere but his words do not reach his eyes. Those cold gray eyes show nothing but indifference towards Renly and his older brother. In fact, she doubted very much that he would care one way or the other if Renly and Stannis killed each other. So, why the act like he does? What does he get out of acting like he cares? Damn it she wished Diana was still around to give her more information on what was happening in the North. Maybe he was being made to support Stannis by his bannermen or maybe he had some bigger plans in the making. Whatever it was she and her family would have to walk carefully.

Sitting back down Renly says, "Robert cared nothing for me or my brother so there is no need for you to care about us killing each other."

"True, but then this is also a matter of my family's honor. I can't just toss it away even if I think you would make a better king or not." Lelouch says to him.

In a last-ditch attempt to change Lelouch's mind Renly says, "You know Stannis will not forgive you for this. He will take your interference and forcefulness in this matter as an insult. As soon as he is made king, he will look to take revenge on you for forcing his hand."

Lelouch just shrugs his shoulders at this, "Perhaps he will, perhaps he won't. It hardly matters seeing as he will need my support if he is to become and stay king. I on the other hand don't need his, and he knows that."

And there it is Margaery says to herself. He knows he has all the power needed to make himself king, yet he won't because he does not need to. There was more than one way to control the fate of a kingdom and with his allies he did control it. Still she wondered why he didn't just declare himself king. He had the power and the influence to do so. Well whatever the reason it looked like her family had made the wrong choice. They really should have listened to her sister and not made this alliance.

Standing up and giving a sigh Renly says, "Than I guess we have nothing left to talk about. I will inform my brother that I am giving up my claim tomorrow Lord Stark. There is no reason for us to waste the lives of our men on a battle that we both know will end in my loss."

It hurt to give up his dreams of being king like he was but Renly didn't what to see his men die for nothing. Plus, it was not like they could win anyways. No, only death waited for him down that road and he did not wish to die just yet.

But in his melancholy, he never saw the shadow creature behind him or felt it's talons stab him in his heart. Blood flies out from Renly's body and a scream is heard coming from Margaery as Lelouch's eyes open widely in surprise. Then the shadow cries out, "For father Stannis!"

It than tosses Renly's body to the side and the guards who to their credit moved quickly to kill the thing were just as easily tossed away like rag dolls. The shadow monster now free of the interference of Renly's guards makes to attack Lelouch but finds itself facing Jeremiah and his Valyrian steel sword that he had named Loyalty. With movements that could barely be followed by the naked eye Jeremiah uses his Valyrian steel sword to easily cut off the arm of the attacking creature. It cries out in pain and surprise not understanding how it has been hurt, but then it doesn't have time to wonder long for a quick flick of Jeremiah's sword cleaves the head off its body ending its life.

With the monster now dead and gone Lelouch stands up with a frown on his face, "Jeremiah we are leaving."

"Yes milord." Jeremiah says and starts to follow his lord out the tent. Leaving Margaery with the dead body of Renly Baratheon and two stunned guards.

-Hours later-

With all possible haste Lelouch left Renly's camp as quickly as he could and headed straight for his ship. From the moment Renly had died Lelouch knew it was unsafe for him to stay in the Stormlands any longer. For even with witnesses it was unknown if he would have been allowed to leave in peace or have been taken captive by what would soon be a lot of confused storm lords. Jeremiah was a great warrior and no man in the land could ever hope to match him but even he would fall to a mob and though him leaving would make him a suspect it was the best option. Now back on the frigate Little Bear with his loyal knight and personal guards Lelouch took a seat in the captain's room and thought about what had just happen.

After a moment of silence Lelouch says to Jeremiah, "It looks like I have underestimated Stannis Baratheon."

"That it does milord. I too didn't think Lord Stannis would lower himself to assassinating his own brother. Especially when he was on the verge of being made king. It doesn't make any sense." Jeremiah says back to his lord.

"That it doesn't I my loyal knight, but perhaps it was not him who did the deed." Lelouch says to him after taking less than a second to think of several different possibilities on why this had happened.

No matter how you looked at this assassination it was a desperate and stupid thing to do and Stannis was not a desperate man nor stupid. Prideful yes, single minded of course, but not stupid. He was about to be named king to the best of his knowledge so why would he risk and assassination attempt. The answer was he wouldn't. Which meant someone else did it on his behalf and there was only one person Lelouch could think of that would do this. That red woman who had killed all his spies on Dragonstone.

"You don't believe he did this milord?" Jeremiah asks.

Looking at his knight Lelouch says, "I don't, but it doesn't matter anyways. We can use this to our advantage anyways and not run the risk of looking like traitors. I just may have to think the person who gave me such a golden opportunity."

"Ah I see milord you plan to make sure everyone in the kingdom knows that Lord Stannis is now a kinslayer. Which would make him unworthy of the throne. But doesn't fleeing from the camp make you seem like a suspect as well?" Jeremiah asks.

"Only if the Tyrells take Lord Stannis's side but then we won't give them that chance. Donnal I have a task for you." Lelouch says.

Stepping forward a young man with brown hair, a long scar on his neck and about 26 name-days says, "How may I serve you milord."

Looking at the young man who had stepped forward Lelouch thinks about him and his comrades. Each of them was an ex-member of the wolf pack and were to put simply loyal and brutal fanatics. They were kind of like his King's Guard but far more loyal. In fact, they were the same men who were there the day Lelouch had killed Littlefinger and had known about Lelouch's geass for just as long. But they didn't care and only saw it as a gift from the OId Gods that would help make the North strong.

"I am going to have the captain drop you off along the coast. Once on land you are to head towards Harrenhal and meet up with Lord Andre. Tell him to put a stop to our original plans and instead start sending out propaganda about Lord Stannis killing his own brother." Lelouch says to him.

"Yes, milord I will see it through." Donnal says then leaves the room to prepare for his journey.

"We have to jump on this opportunity my knight before Lord Stannis has a chance to deny it." Lelouch says to his loyal knight.

"Would it even matter if he did milord?" Jeremiah asks.

"No, not really but we have to make sure that Lord Arryn and men of the Vale hear about what has happened from us before anyone else. That old man is to wise to trust me in anyway shape or form, but if I get the word out first about what happen than I could make his own bannermen to believe it. The men of the Vale love to pretend they are the most honorable in the land and we will make sure they don't even think about taking Stannis's side." Lelouch says to him.

"I understand my lord." Jeremiah says.

"Now all that is left to do is prepare for Stannis's next move which I believe I already know what it is." Lelouch says to him and starts thinking about how he should deal with it.

-Shipbraker Bay a few hours before daylight-

"You did what!" Stannis yells at Melisandre.

"I said I have killed your brother Renly and Lord Lelouch for you my king." Melisandre says with a smile on her face.

Standing up from his chair quickly and in anger he says, "And who ordered you to do that!"

"Why our god milord. They were your enemies and so were the enemies of the Lord of Light." Melisandre says to him.

His face red with anger he yells, "And what if you have failed, what if they both lived. You will set the whole of Westeros against me."

"My king you have no reason to fear anyone. You are our lords chosen one. You will conquer all who stand before you no matter the odds." Melisandre says with a crazed smile on her face.

Before he can say anything else to the clearly mad woman, Ser Davos Seaworth runs into the room and says, "My king we just got word that Lord Renly has been killed by some shadow monster and Lord Lelouch is reported to have fled on his ship."

Lord Stark was still alive, he was still alive and thinks I tried to kill him. Is what Stannis thinks to himself as he gets a look of worry on his face. He was now most likely at war with the North, the Riverland, Dorne, the Vale and most likely the Reach. The walls felt like they were closing in on him as he tried and failed to see a way out of this alive.

"It doesn't matter. With the Lord of Light by his side our king will win the day." Melisandre says.

Hearing Melisandre's voice Stannis looks over at her and a burning rage he had never felt before takes hold of him. With a yell of fury that could only have been matched by his older brother Stannis charges at Melisandre and grabs her by her throat pulls out a dagger he has at his side and stabs her in the stomach repeatedly. He says nothing as he keeps stabbing her in the stomach in cold fury as he watches the light fade away from her shocked eyes. Once she breathes her last breath, he lets the dead woman's neck go and lets her now dead body fall to the ground. Then he drops the dagger and goes to sit back on his chair.

After a moment of silence, he looks up at Ser Davos and says, "Hide her body than get the men ready to move into the Stormlands. If we're lucky the storm lords will swear fealty to me before news of what has been done comes out."

"Yes, my king." Davos says then goes and grabs the body of the red woman and leaves.

Now alone in the room by himself Stannis thinks about what he is to do next. If he moved quickly enough and denied having any involvement in the assassination, he could maybe get half the storm lords on his side. If he could do that than his next move would be to attack King's Landing while it's still undermanned. If he could take it than he could fortify himself inside the city and fight a battle of attrition. If he got lucky perhaps the Lannister's would pull off a surprise victory against Lord Robb and pull Lord Lelouch's attention fully away from him for a time. What he could do however was surrender and walk away from this. There was no way he would be able to convince the Black Wolf that he didn't try and have him assassinated. No, it was a fight to the death now and he would have to see it to its conclusion no matter what the end maybe.

- Northern Army main Camp -

It had been exactly three weeks and four days sense the assassination of Renly Baratheon and Lelouch had to say he was pleased about how things were going. If you took into account how long it normally took for news to spread around during this time period, you would really have to raise a glass to John Andre for getting it out there so fast. It had taken the man less than two weeks to make the news known in the North, the Riverlands and the Vale and the backlash was as he had expected. The North already saw kinslaying as a most heinous crime, but to do so by assassination was far worse a crime to them. If Renly had died in battle they would have been more willing to look the other way but that was not what had happened. Then when you added in the attempted assassination of himself you got the whole North against you. Any support that Stannis had in the North had completely dried up and now all that was left was a call for him to face justice.

As for the Riverlands and the Vale well they were a bit different. Robb would of course follow Lelouch straight to hell at this point and the Riverlands along with him, but the Vale not so much. Lord Arryn had taken the news that he had sent out with a grain of salt just like Lelouch knew he would. Until he could confirm Renly's death for himself and Stannis's hand in it he was not willing to turn against Stannis. Which put Lelouch in kind of a bind, but only a bit. The Vale had prospered with the help of Ned Stark and owed the Stark family a huge debt that Lelouch had used to turn many of Lord Arryn's men to his side years ago. Sure, at the end of the day they were more loyal to Lord Arryn than to himself, but they would put pressure on the old man to side with him in the end. On the off chance the old man did decide to turn on him Lelouch had plans on how to deal with him. But that was for later, right now he had to get this meeting with his bannermen over with.

"My fellow lords I like to thank you all for coming to the Riverlands on such short noticed. I know for some of you, you had to travel hard and fast with extraordinarily little rest to make it here as quickly as you did. And now before many of you had time to even rest, I summoned you all to a meeting. Truly I ask too much of you all, but I do not apologize for this meeting is of the greatest importance." Lelouch says to his lords as they simply nod their heads already knowing exactly why they had been summoned.

"As you have all been informed Stannis Baratheon has committed the most dreadful of crimes and I am not talking about the attempt on my life. No, I am talking about the murder of his own brother by the foulest of magic." Lelouch says with complete disgust in his voice which draws a grumble of the word kinslayer from the men in front of him.

Holding up his hands to silent the men before they can start speaking Lelouch continues, "It would have been one thing if Stannis had killed his own brother on the battlefield, but this deceitful cowardly crime cannot be forgiven. This crime must be punished in the name of both the Old Gods and the New."

"Here here." The men yell out in agreement with their lord.

Standing up one of Lelouch's most passionate and head strong vassals Lord Greatjon Umber speaks, "Milord I am in agreement with you, but I have to add one thing. You have acted with honor and supported Lord Stannis's bid to be king. You even went so far as to broker a peaceful end to his and Renly's little disagreement. And how does he repay you? He repays you in the very same way all those treacherous Southern cunts do. With betrayal and an attempt to shove a knife in your back. Well I say no more."

Another round of ayes and here, here are heard inside the tent that the meeting is being held in. Till Lelouch holds up his hands and they become quiet again. Such is Lelouch's influence that none dare to keep talking when he commands their attention.

"Lord Umber I am in agreement with you. I have tried to do the right thing, the honorable thing, but find that my hand was slapped away for my troubles. But no more. I will not allow the South to spit on my house or any house of the North ever again. That is why right here, right now I call for the complete independence of the North from the Iron Throne. Are you with me?" Lelouch asks in a passionate voice that grabs their attention like never before.

It takes less than a second for the lords of the North to jump to their feet and yell out, "King in the North! King in the North!"

And so, it has begone, Lelouch thinks to himself as he listens to the men who are in and out of the tent chanting. Though it has not happened exactly as he had planned things were coming together finally. Now all he had left to do was rid himself of all those who stood in his way. A far easier task to do than any of them realized.

-Beyond the Wall-

He has left. The demon wolf has finally left the North. Now was the time to reach out to the boy who was to take his place, but he had to be careful. The Black Wolf was more dangerous than any creature that had taken human form before. He had peered into the demon's past and saw things he would never wish to see again. If something happened to young Bran than the demon would burn the Old Gods and the New and scatter their remains to the wind. He didn't need to see into the future to know that, but the risk still needed to be taken. He just hoped those lesser demons were to slow to act to stop him from training the boy.

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And end.

Ok so to answer some questions before they are asked no I don't know if Valyrian steel could kill a the shadow creature made by Melisandre but I am guess it could. Never could find anything and sorry if I am wrong but I am going with it.

Other than that I hope you liked the chapter and please as always leave a review.