What If Tywin Lannister Was Captured INSTEAD of Jaime

What if Tywin Lannister was captured instead of Jaime? Let's explore the depths of it in the video. The attack begins at dawn. For some time now, the Lannisters had known about the Stark forces nearby. They had come rushing down the neck to confront Tywin, just as he had predicted. Rob was a young commander and eager to free his father. But this presented an opportunity. If properly prepared, the forces could fight a defensive battle that would bleed Rob's forces dry. The only problem was that Rob wasn't in command of his host. While Rob took a smaller army to Riverrun, he left the foot and portion of his cavalry under the command of Roose Bolton. The leech lord decided not to wait for Tywin to dig in or to come to him. Instead, he launched a forest march when he was half a day's ride from Tywin to launch an ambush. Now, just as the Lannister camp is waking up, they wake up to find an army of Northmen right on top of them. The first to reach their lines are skirmishers who work to remove the wooden stakes, calrips, and other obstacles Lord Tywin had placed around his camp. As they work, they hear the sound of Lannister men shouting, trying to raise the alarm. A few even charge them. But as they scream out of the camp, they find themselves face to face with 500 heavy horses that smash into their lines. The hastily organized Sorier is beaten back just as the main strike arrives. Wave after wave of Northman infantry. With a path opened up, they rush into the camp and begin their assault. Men are butchered in their tents, and animals are loosed in the camp. Someone even sets fire to a lord's pavilion, and the flames soon spread. Tywin and Kevin stumble out, watching as the inferno grows around them. The pair desperately tries to rally their men, but they have no way of organizing them. Any horns and trumpets they blow are drowned out by the chaos. Even the men who hear it are more concerned with their safety than joining them. The last to enter is Roose and his contingent. He is happy to leave the fighting to the rest of the soldiers and systematically go from tent to tent, butchering everyone inside. Soon enough, they find a group of men circling Tywin under the command of Sir Kevin and Adam Marbarbrand. These men are knights and men at arms, hastily dressed and still half asleep. Roose Bolton steps forward and regards them thoughtfully. A poor bodyguard, Lord Tywin. I hope you do not place your hopes too seriously on them. They understand duty, Lord Bolton, and they will fight to the last. I hope you understand that more than you realize. I am a man of duty as well, and my lege lord has instructed me to capture you. However, your men need not die. Surrender peacefully, and I will ensure you are treated with full honors. Then you'll need to go through us. Very well, then. He waves his hand, and the northern archers loose a volley of arrows at them. Several men at arms and knights fall immediately. They did not have the time to dawn armor, so the arrow pierces through their clothing and drops them to the ground. The survivors instinctively step back, huddling closer and clutching their weapons tightly. They look at their leech lord wearily, wondering if he truly wishes to continue. A few begin to look uncertain, but Tywin handles it well and maintains his composure. He lowers his sword and offers it out to Roose, hilt first. As the Lord of the Dread Fort takes it, his men all cheer around him, and the battle becomes a simple cleanup. The remaining Lannister men are left leaderless and confused. It is an easy matter to gather them and force them to yield. Those who do not are simply executed. Some managed to escape into the wilderness, leaving Roose victorious. Many highborn captives include Lord Tywin, Sir Kevin, and Tyrion. But as the northern infantry rest and celebrate their success, Rob and his horsemen rush down across the Red Fork, gathering whatever allies they can find in preparation for the Battle of Riverun. Yet, when they arrive, they are greeted by the most startling news. Jaime is starting to pull out. His forces are abandoning their camps and moving southward. At first, the Northmen are confused until a message from House Bolton arrives with the news. The Battle of the Green Fork was won and Lord Tywin was captured. This news is met with cheers and applause from the gathering northerners in Riverfolk. While they are slightly dismayed to not have a chance to battle Sir Jaime, this campaign turned out better than expected. Tywin is a valuable hostage and they preserve their forces in the capture of Riverrun. Rob pursues Jaime for a time, chasing him out of Riverrun entirely and picking off stragglers, but leaves his army intact to secure the seat of House Tully. There, they gather all their leaders to plan their next move. Even Rose Bolton arrives, fresh from his victory in the Green Fork, where Rob gives him a hero's welcome. Unfortunately, there is success is far from complete as more troubling news arrives from the capital. Ned Stark is dead. Though he might have been a valuable hostage, Joffrey still had him executed before the Sept of Bor. While it satisfied his blood lust, it left the Lannisters with virtually nothing to trade, save for his daughters. This ignites a fury in the Northmen, who all curse the Lannisters until they make a decision to declare Rob King in the North. Soon, other Northern Lords begin to join in. Their anger towards Ned's death continues to fuel them. And then the Riverfolk, who had just suffered from Lannister reprisals. Yet, one person does not seem to join them. He lingers in the shadows and strokes his chin thoughtfully. Rob takes notice of this and gestures for him to step forward. Lord Bolton, you do not seem as excited as everyone else. What's on your mind? Simply considering the possibilities of this course of action, Lord Stark. To do this will make an enemy out of the remaining kings, most of all the Lannisters. Are you prepared to fight for your throne? Let them come. I'm looking forward to giving the King Slayer a good beating. He may have fled now, but he has nowhere to hide. And yet my point stands. We still have a war ahead of us. The Baratheonss will not take kindly to this declaration. Both wish to rule the seven kingdoms and will not settle for six. Not unless we have leverage. We have Lord Tywin. Tywin Lannister is only valuable to his family. Neither Stannis nor Renley will lose any sleep if he is executed tonight. No, we need something else. Something that will give them no choice but to recognize our claim. King's Landing. You wish to capture the capital. Was that not our original plan? March to the capital and force them to free Lord Eddard. Though we can unfortunately no longer save Lord Stark, we may still yet secure our independence. It would be a poor claim for a man to call himself a ruler of the realm without the Iron Throne to sit upon. However, they cannot fully ignore the threat that Sir Jaime poses. He still has a large enough army to threaten their rear and attack the Riverlands. He may even be able to force his way to the Crownlands if left unchecked. They agree to keep the army divided with Roose remaining in command of his larger force that will march upon King's Landing. Rob will remain in the Riverlands and keep Sir Jaime occupied with the Riverlords. When he marches out, Roose is granted permission to do whatever he deems necessary to save Ned Stark's daughters. Rob decides the best course of action is to lure Jaime out to the Riverlands. He charges Edmure with protecting the region while Rob takes a picked force of several thousand men to begin attacking the Westerlands. Meanwhile, Roose marched his army east towards King's Landing. Though the Crownlands try to halt his passage, the guides he brings from the Riverlands allow him to bypass and ambush their forces, which are illprepared and inexperienced in combat. Soon he reaches the very outskirts of King's Landing, where his army begins to lay siege. Rather than try to storm the walls immediately, Roose instead focuses on a slow siege, knowing that the city is not prepared to hold out for very long. As his men dig in, the Lord of the Dread Fort offers terms to Queen Cersei, the same terms Rob instructed him to present. In exchange for Tywin Lannister, the North demands Sansa and Arya Stark, as well as the immediate secession of hostilities and the recognition of their independence and control over the Riverlands. Not only that, but the Lannisters must pay for the rebuilding of the Riverlands and punish Sir Greor for his actions. They also list down other terms like exchanging of prisoners, providing hostages, and the return of Ned Stark's bones and his sword. Roose stresses that Tywin will only be released when all of these terms are met. They are steep, but neither Rob nor Roose expects the Lannisters to seriously consider them. Unsurprisingly, the response is insulting as Cersei and Joffrey double down and say they will accept no such things. Instead, they demand that the king in the north must bend the knee immediately and relinquish his crown, or he will be deemed a traitor. Joffrey takes it a step further and even demands that a portion of Rob's army be sent to assist them in the coming war with the Baratheonss. In their eyes, Sir Jaime remains in the field, and that means that he can ride back and rescue them. They even refuse to discuss Roose's suggestions of returning the prisoners he had already brought with them when he offers to ransom them back. In response, later that day, Roose gathers the prisoners he has taken, some 1500 men, and lines them up in front of the city gates. There he has them executed in full view of the city. As the queen has no interest in ransoming them, they are of no value to him. The last of these prisoners to die is Tyrion Lannister, something the Leech Lord had done intentionally. His corpse and those of others are then sent inside the walls as a gesture of respect, so the queen may bury them. But in reality, the message is clear. He is not afraid to kill Lannisters. Just as the bodies are paraded inside, Roose also has a letter read by one of the heralds. A message from Lord Roose Bolton of the Dread Fort. What you see here are the consequences of your queen's actions. I offer to return these men honorably, provided my terms are met. The queen and your boy king have refused. They will now claim that my people are savages who had journeyed south from the frozen mountains of the north. They are correct. And if I storm your city, I will not restrain my men. If I must be forced to storm your castle, then I will allow them to rape, pillage, and plunder to their hearts content. I do offer you all one chance to yield the city now. Save your own lives because the queen and her boy king will not. Back in the Riverlands, Sir Jaime Lannister sits a stride to restless Destrier, watching the slow procession of soldiers trudging through the soaked riverlands. The remnants of Tywin's army now follow his golden banner with grim silence, such strict faces, burnt standards, ragged columns. Yet they march, still loyal. After spending days picking them up, he prepares to lead them eastward to reinforce King's Landing. But as they draw closer, they hear the sounds of hoof beatats from behind. A rider approaches at a gallop, mud flying behind him. Jaime can tell from the expression on the courier's face that the news is dire before a single word is spoken. My lord, he's bypassed the Golden Tooth. Stark rides west. He's burning the countryside. Ashmark, the crag, Silver Hill. All taken. Rob Stark in the Westerlands. How? I, sir, unopposed. No one knows how he managed to bypass our defenses. Our scouts say he split off from Bolton's host. He rode hard with cavalry and and picked men. King's Landing is under siege. We must relieve it and abandon our homes to fire and ash. Sir Jamie, we cannot abandon our people to wolves in northern steel. The Westerlands bleed and the capital will burn if we don't act. But already Jaime sees the look in their eyes. Lord sworn to Castle a rock, not the Iron Throne. They pull his sleeves. They plead. They reason. Jaime closes his eyes and sees Cersei trapped behind the Red Keep's wall. He knows what he must do. We ride west. Stark has forced our hand. He puts up a hard pace, forcing his men to march without much rest. Barely a chance to eat and refresh their horses as they stream past the Golden Tooth. Only then does Jaime begin to relax and start searching for Rob. He sends scouts under the command of Adam Marbrand to search for Rob's army and soon rides back, finding 6,000 or so rebels in a narrow valley near Ashmark. Jaime crests a ridge and sees them, banners of the direwolf flapping in the wind, riders aligned in tight formation. The terrain is cursed. Steep slopes, thick woods, uneven ground. Fighting here would be difficult. And yet, he had no choice, as waiting Rob out would leave King's Landing at risk. No, he must end this quickly and began organizing a charge. A large force of infantry is sent with a force of archers. These bowmen move through the uneven terrain, letting them use it as cover before starting to fire arrows at them. These do cause some casualties and open some gaps in the northern lines, but arrows alone are not enough to truly break apart the Northmen, so he sends his infantry forward. The western lock shields and lower pikes, starting to march on ahead. Though they are bogged down in the mud, it would have been far worse if he had sent his horsemen. By the time they reach the crests of the hill, the Lannisters are winded and facing off against axes and spears of the Northmen. Hundreds fall across these slopes as the battle swings back and forth. Sir Jaime leads his men from the front, his sword whirling back and forth as he cuts through the men at arms before him. He continues to rally his men and organizes several charges that nearly break the Northmen several times. But then arrows whistle through the air. Northern traps spring from hidden ditches. The blackfish strikes not with brute force, but with cunning, hit and run, flank and faint. The lion is outmaneuvered. Jaime fights at the center, sword flashing, cutting down a dozen men with his golden armor gleaming in the stormlight. But it is not enough. By dusk, his lines have shattered and Sir Jaime is slain. When nightfalls, the Westerlands are in open route. His army is broken. Rob stands victorious again. Word reaches King's Landing by Raven. Roose Bolton waits patiently outside the city gates. When the Gold Cloaks learn of Jaime<unk>s defeat at the Westerlands fall, morale crumbles. Food is run out. Riots break out in the streets. The queen is nowhere to be seen. At dawn, the gates open. Roose enters without resistance. True to his word, the small folk are spared. He executes men who break discipline, dragging rapists and lutters into the street and hanging them from the walls. His control is absolute. He marches into the throne room and finds the royal court trembling. The nobles beg for mercy. Roose grants none. The queen regent vanishes into the chaos. Pycel is torn apart by angry mobs. Sir Boros and Sir Mirin are gutted where they stand. Only one person is saved. Roose finds Sansa Stark locked in her tower chamber. She flinches when the door bursts open, expecting another torment. Instead, she sees the flade man of House Bolton on the soldier's breastplate and the cold gray eyes of the man who saved her. Your brother sends his regards. With this, the war in the north is over as Rob now controls King's Landing and the Westerlands. Tywin remains a captive and Sansa is now saved. But his victory is not complete. And he is far from pleased for two reasons. One of them is Arya. He learns from the surviving cortes that Arya was never taken. She had somehow managed to escape the Red Keep in all the chaos, meaning that she cannot be returned. The other is Roose Bolton's conduct in the war. Rob had never approved of his execution of prisoners, nor his threats to allow his men to rape and plunder the city when it was taken. He sees both his actions as a slight upon his honor. The only thing that saves Roose is his reputation as a hero. He had won two of the greatest victories in the war, and he is widely regarded as one of the North's best leaders. Even if Rob were to order his execution, many of his bannermanmen would not approve. They all see his actions as what led them to victory. All he can do is harang the lord in private for what he deems to be foolish actions. But even then, he cannot turn his attention away from the war. Though the Lannisters are in tatters, the Baratheonss remain. The most immediate threat is Renley, who sees their success and realizes he must act quickly. Although he had been moving towards King's Landing at a snail's pace, he now begins marching in earnest, riding through Bitterbridge and the Stormlands to reach it. By the time he arrives, though, it is too late as Rob and the rest of his army have arrived. With the Stark army almost completely intact and the Riverlands reinforcing it, they now boast over 40,000 men. While Renley still has more than twice that number, a siege would be long and drawn out. None of this is even factoring in Stannis, who is just a stones throw away. With such a massive army in the gold of the Westerlands, Renley must seriously consider terms. He sends out emissaries to Rob Stark, and the two discuss what terms they can agree to. The ones given out are much the same as the ones Roose Bolton gave Cersei independence for the North for peace. To hammer this point in, Roose begins a series of night attacks using the few mountain clansmen who joined their army. They slip behind enemy lines and ambush some sleeping men and burn supply wagons. When Sir Loris tries to launch another attack to try and beat back the northern army, he is outmaneuvered and ambushed by Roose Bolton in a surprise attack. The Knight of Flowers manages to escape, but many young knights and lords fall before this assault. These were the same men who had proclaimed themselves ready to win glory in the war. And yet, all of that amounts to nothing as not only are they crushed in this guerilla warfare, but the chance to slay the likes of Sir Greor and Tywin is gone. All that remains are the Northmen who seem less willing to give them the battle they wish for. This adds further pressure to Renley. Reluctantly, he agrees to these terms and recognizes the North's independence. However, he extracts some concessions. While they might be independent, they must agree a pact of mutual defense, vowing to not make war on the crown's allies and defending the crown for foreign policy. They must also pay what Renley calls tariffs, essentially a demand for tribute to allow him to save face. It is a harsh stipulation, but Renley has far more bargaining power than the Lannisters, so Rob must agree to it. Once the ink is dried, the Northmen vacate King's Landing and begin marching home. Yet, as they begin their slow march, Rob decides to confront Roose. Lord Bolton, it seems you've been busy on your campaign in the Crowns. And yet, I have heard troubling rumors about what happened. Some of the men say you would have threatened the population of King's Landing with rape and murder. You even executed prisoners. to make your point. Is that true? If you expect me to deny it, I will not. Yes, I believe such tactics would be the most expedient to achieving victory in the war. Victory? What kind of victory is it where we treat our enemies like animals and butcher innocents on the street if they do not do what we want? I will remind you, Lord Bolton, that you were acting in my name and what you do reflects on me as well. The kind of victory that lasts. I understand that, your grace. And now your name will be spoken of in fear and hatred. The Starks built their name with honor, temperance, and duty. If we start behaving like briggins, my kingdom will not last. That is where you are mistaken, your grace. Sometimes cruelty and brutality are indeed unwarranted. But not here. We have declared independence and the population of King's Landing are no longer fellow citizens. To them, we are traitors and rebels, and nothing we do will change that perception. So, I decided to make the most of it. Honor is all well and good, but it only matters when your opponent feels shame or is compelled to return it. Otherwise, it is just a handicap that will drag you down. That is not how I intend to rule. Really now. Begging your pardon, your grace. But if you believe that, then you may be as blinded as your sister. Tell me, did we not declare you the king of winter? You did. That is not just some title, your grace. It is a warning. Your ancestors kingdom was built through frost and steel. They didn't use honor to bring their men to heal. They brought winter upon those who defied them and humbled those who resisted. The dragons brought fire and blood. The herand brought salt and iron, and the storm kings, lightning, and fury. You made an enemy of the other kingdoms when you declared independence. And it will not be honor or chivalry that keeps them at bay. It will be strength. Rob opens his mouth to protest. He wishes to give a retort to Lord Bolton and tell him he is wrong. But there is something oddly compelling about how he talks. He cannot truly find a way to challenge him. Instead, he just bows his head and nods. Very well. I will consider your words, but in the future, I advise you show some restraint. Very well. I will endeavor to restrain myself, but I advise you on one final thing. Tywin Lannister, he is your captive. I advise you keep him that way as insurance. Insurance? We cannot be certain of what Renley or Stannis might wish for us. Should they decide to go to war, Tyron could be a valuable prize. They want him dead as much as we do, and keeping him around might discourage them. Soon enough, the Northmen return up the neck, and the Riverlands begin rebuilding. With that, Renley effectively has control of the remaining kingdoms as the reach Stormlands and Westerlands all yield to him. For a moment, it seems like he will at last take full control of the Iron Throne. But the quiet barely lasts half a year as Stannis at last set sail. This takes the realm by surprise as Stannis had largely remained silent for the duration of the war. So much so that many had just assumed that he would not press his claim. But with the royal fleet under his control, no one can truly stop him. As he lands in the Stormlands and begins an offensive, he brings only a few thousand men, but with Renley's army in the Crownlands, none can truly challenge him. As Stannis begins raiding across the region, he captures minor castles and gathers allies. Some houses are forced to submit, and others are convinced by his victories. Though his army is small, his men speak of the ruler of Dragonstone as Aegon come again. They insist that he will soon sweep across the seven kingdoms. Although Renley holds King's Landing, Stannis has a far better military reputation. Queen's men go from town to town, reminding everyone that Renley did not even win his crown. He bartered for it and parcelled out his kingdom to achieve it. Far from seeming like a victory, many portrayed as a defeat. Renley had humiliated the crown for meekly agreeing with the demands of the north. They did not even try to fight for the throne, and whispers were that under Renley, more houses might try to rebel. No, right now the realm needs a strong ruler, and Stannis is far more experienced. Though many paint Stannis as hard-handed, in this situation that may work in his favor, as he will not accept the demands of Rob Stark. That is enough for some of the men in the Stormlands who cross their banners. Soon, Stannis's small army grows while Renley is forced to march out. For many of his men who had been denied the chance to win glory in the war against the Lannisters, they now see an opportunity in the Stormlands with Stannis. To them, the elder Baratheon is a traitor who was jealous of his younger brother. This makes it easy for them to rally against him. Many urge Renley to strike out and punish him. Chief among them, Loris Tyrell. Renley, who never cared for his brother and was eager to prove himself as a military commander, obliges. His army soon marches out, numbering some 25,000 men, just as Stannis lays siege to Storm's End. Thunder rolls over the Stormlands. The fields outside Storm's End are slick with rain. The sky thick with dark clouds. Rows of sharpened stakes and trenches span the lengths of Stannis Baratheon's position. Dug deep into the soft earth, creating a brutal killing field between his camp and the rolling hills beyond. The banners of the fiery heart and crowned stag still hang in the damped air. They will come soon. Renlay has too many men to ignore an open challenge. They outnumber us more than two to one, my lord. Then let them come. The field will even the odds. He says it without pride, only certainty. Behind him, Melisandre watches the storm through the tent flaps. The Lord of Light has shown me what is to come. Steel will not win you this battle. Stannis does not reply. Not yet. Renley Baratheon rides out in gleaming green and gold armor, laughing as he surveys the field. He thinks to trap me behind ditches and mud. I should have known. My brother builds walls instead of bridges. Give the order. Let us ride them down before they remember how to run. Not yet. Let's make a show of it. The drums beat and Renley's knights begin to form up. Cavalry on the flanks. Heavy infantry in the center. Archers drawn behind. His men chant his name. 25,000 strong, gleaming in polished steel. The first wave surges towards Stannis's lines, but the cavalry never reaches its target. Horses scream as they plunge into hidden ditches. Riders are impaled on stakes buried in wet grass. The ground gives way beneath hooves. Trap pits and calrops lay hidden just beneath the surface. Arrows arc from Stannis's side. The heavily armored cavalry and infantry struggle to deal with these attacks. Their armor shrugs off most of the blows, but find a few weak spots, and others kill their horses from underneath them. It slows them down, but they continue to advance. As they reach the stakes and earthworks, they begin to batter them down and rip up the stakes to clear a path for them. Still they press on. The second and third waves follow only to meet the same fate. But soon gaps begin to form and they stream through. The soldiers rush forward. Their weapons ready and shouting their battle cries. Though weakened, they remain as furious as ever and the army stands ready. At the crest of the hill, Stannis's men lower spears and brace themselves. Soon the hill becomes a ferocious melee. The heavier knights begin to push the narrow seammen at center points, forcing them to give ground. At these points, the battle begins to turn as the Reachmen and Stormlanders batter their way forward. Yet, while it seems like things are working, Stannis brings forth a squadron of light cavalry. Mounted men at arms and cells swords come galloping down from heightened edges. Many expect them to strike at the enemy's rear, but instead they ride towards the enemy camp. Renley's rainbow guard springs into action, rushing to stop these attacks, and they drive the enemy back. These free riders are not nearly as well equipped and begin to retreat, but defending them is not the point. Among those who journey down is the red woman who secretly births a shadow baby. Meanwhile, Renley watches all this from his pavilion, seeing the cells swords being driven off. He is about to smile when the tent flutters once then again. Inside, Renley bolts upright and a shadow takes form in the corner with Stannis's face. Twisted and smoke wreathed. It glides forward. Renley screams. A second later, the rainbow guard bursts inside. Swords drawn, but it's too late. Renley lies slumped. Blood spilled across the furs. There is no sign of an assassin, just cold air and a scent of ash. That evening, as both armies fall back to tend to their wounded, word filters in about Renley's death. The nobles panic. Some blame Stannis's sorcery. Others cry treason or assassins. The army, lacking a clear air and commander, begins to fracture. Many of them had come because of Renley, and Renley is dead. Some of them see no reason to remain there. Some begin to filter their hoff home. Others simply wait for someone else to take command. Eventually, Loris and Randall take command and try to restore order. They put many traitors to death and try to reorganize the camp, but they do not have long. Stannis wastes no time. He marches forward, hammers the panicking host with a surprise morning assault. Half of Renley's forces scatter or surrender. Others die trying to hold formation without orders. Among those who fall is Loris Tyrell. By dusk, the battle is over. Storm's End falls. not to siege craft, but to fear and fire. Stannis raises his standard over its walls. The castle is his. The realm stirs. As Stannis marches across the Stormlands, he tours the castles, and this time he finds many more castles opening their gates to him. They no longer see any reason to fight and declare for him. Some houses in the Reach follow. Those whose lords had been captured in the battle, those who see where the winds are blowing, and those who see opportunity. Even Ma Styell cannot say no to him. Without any other king to declare for, he does not want to end up as another Tywin Lannister. They bend the knee, but continue to smart over it. With the Stormlands kneeling to him, Stannis marches to King's Landing, which is soon captured. Unlike Renley, who rules gently, Stannis is a stern king who seeks to bring justice to the realm, which includes reforming the court and removing those he deemed troublesome. Among them are Littlefinger and Varys, and he replaces them with his allies. But while he might control some regions, Stannis works on strengthening control over the rest of the seven kingdoms. Ravens are sent to the Veil who eventually bend the knee, followed by the Westerlands, where Sir Lancel, the last remaining heir of Castle A Rock, is pressured into yielding to them. This leaves only the Riverlands in the north. While emissaries are sent to King's Landing, reminding them that Renley had agreed to recognize their independence. Stannis rebukes this. He had never agreed to such a thing, nor does he do so now. Even if he did, there's no way he can truly recognize it. He had built his reputation on the idea that Renley was a weak leader for allowing the North to demand its independence. To recognize it now would make him a hypocrite. So instead, Stannis prepares his forces for war. And within months, the war drums sound again. This time, the army marches north towards the Riverlands. Stannis calls on troops from all across the Seven Kingdoms. Soldiers from the Reach, the Westerlands, and Stormlands all converge on the Riverlands, intending to take it through overwhelming power. He takes command of the eastern army while the westerners are placed in command of Sir Adam Marbrand. As they march, villages burn and castles are seized. Houses Vance, Piper, Mutin, and other riverlords raise their banners once more. But they are wary, their men half spent from earlier wars. After weeks, Maidenpool has fallen. Harrenhal is besieged. Stannis pushes ever forward, methodical, unrelenting. Every town that yields is spared. Every lord who resists is hanged or worse. Ravens scream through the sky. In Riverrun, Rob reads the reports with a clenched jaw. He splits his strength. That's a mistake. If we move fast, we can strike at the western host before they link. It's not a mistake. He expects us to do that. Rob rides south again. He finds a different kind of war waiting. Stannis does not rely on bluster or brute force. Instead, he remains patient and watches Rob's movements before sending more men to confront him. He strikes where Rob is weakest, seizing supply lines, turning would be allies with offers of pardon and law. While he is harsh, he is not mindlessly brutal like Tywin and can win allies over. Eventually, the two clash near Derry. The battlefield is chaos. Wolf banners charge through the dusk only to beat only to meet disciplined shield walls and volleys of Stormlander arrows. Stannis rides among his men, stern and implacable. Balisandre's chance follow behind him, calling on Rolar for victory. The battle ends in stalemate, but only a name. Rob is forced to withdraw. Stannis refuses to break, no matter what assaults are launched. More castles fall behind him. The Riverlands are bleeding out, and the North stands alone. But it isn't the end of it. The two continue to clash as Rob strikes at both columns from unexpected points. He proves to be an excellent guerilla commander and keeps both armies on their toes. Yet, Stannis does not rise to the bait. He is cautious and doesn't rush headlong into battle. Instead, he plans his routes out well, studying the best course to advance and avoiding unnecessary battles. But fighting is unavoidable. Each time they do clash, Stannis meets him with iron discipline, allowing his forces to hold firm until an opening presents itself. This leads to a set of inconclusive battles. While neither side can claim a definitive victory, Stannis begins a slow advance across the Riverlands and takes more castles. Eventually, Rob returns to regroup in the Riverlands after a failed offensive. Roose Bolton watches the fires burning across the horizon. Ravens spring fresh news. Liechester lost. Raven tree hall threatened. He won't stop. Not until he has the Rivalence. And then us. We knew this was coming. And we are not without weapons. I won't release him. I won't let Tywin Lannister walk free again. He will open another front, buy us time, and force Stannis to move forces west. and we would be letting him walk out as if nothing had happened. You speak of being pragmatic, but this is too much. I told you once that we could only survive through ruthlessness, that we could not rule like your father ruled. Tywin is no friend. But he is a threat to Stannis. Release him into the Westerlands. Let him draw Stannis west. Let them bleed each other. He has no claim to the throne or the support. All he can do is retake his seat. And when he returns, then you kill him if needed. Rob closes his eyes, and when he opens them, the wolf in him is awake, wary, tired, but alive. From the dungeons of Winterfell, Tywin Lannister is brought forward. Though his family had tried to ransen him back, the Starks had refused all proposals, citing them as insufficient and saying Tywin must face justice. But now he is escorted under heavy guard to Riverrun, where he greets Rob with a hard look. I was wondering when sense would prevail. Don't mistake necessity for trust. I don't, but I imagine your little alliance is strained. How many riverlords have died now because you hesitated? You want to draw Stenis away? I will, and I will reclaim my lands. The Westerlands are still mine, boy. The rock stands. And if you try to turn this into another war, I'll send your head to Stannis myself. We all play the game, Stark. Just remember, you've made a move today. A move you can't take back. Soon enough, strange reports circulate in the Westerlands of Taiwan Lannister, reappearing just west of the Golden Duth. He is accompanied by a small force of loyal retainers and cell swords, but their numbers soon grow as the battle drags on. Former batterman of Tywin, those who had admired him, never fully supported Stannis, crossing over to his side. They can use chaos in the Riverlands to begin taking castles one by one. Lancel tries to have him arrested, but any men he sends out either ends up dead or crosses over to his side. Before long, they are threatening Castly Rock itself and lays siege to it. Lancel prepares himself for a fight, but Tywin instead offers terms. He reminds the Lord of the Rock that he has lived in that place since before he was born. He knows every nook and cranny of the castle and can infiltrate it whenever he wants. However, Tywin doesn't want to slay his kin, especially not Kevin's eldest son, so he offers to take Lancel as a household knight if he surrenders the castle. Many of the garrison in the household declare for Tywin, and Lancel soon opens the doors for him. In less than a month, Tywin has once again retaken his position as Lord of the West. Stannis hears about this, too, and realizes that he cannot leave a threat like this unchecked. Rather than send the Westerman, he places an army under the command of Godri Fairing, who must put down the rebellion. He manages to force his way through the reach where Mace Tyrell provides him with additional troops. But as these troops depart, Rob takes this chance and goes on the offensive just as the column slows down. Here he is met with more success. While he cannot destroy the army outright, he brings their advance to a halt and begins to whittle down the column under the command of Siratam. Soon Seagard is saved and Pink Maiden is recaptured. While in the east, Stannis's army is kept in check, and Roose Bolton contests his control over lands west of Blue Fork. In the west, Sir Godri soon runs into trouble, as although the Lannisters are badly weakened, they still managed to raise a formidable host. This allows them to challenge Stannis's rule and retake more castles. The battles they fight are inconclusive, but this just means continued delays to the Baratheon cause and fewer troops they can send east. For weeks, the war has continued to drag on without break in the deadlock. This leaves Rob fighting with a weakened Stannis in the Riverlands. Even though he controls far greater resources, he cannot rely on them fully. The Westerlands and Reach have reasons to be disloyal. Meanwhile, the Vale have always had friendly relations with the North, making their dependability in this endeavor dubious. So, Stannis must only rely on the Stormlanders and picked men from other regions. What follows is not a quick victory, but a long grinding war of attrition. And this does not favor Stannis, who is seen as an effective military commander. But with each delay, his enemies get ammunition, and his allies begin to question him. And these enemies are not limited to Westeros. Beyond the Seven Kingdoms, other forces question whether the time to strike is now. Among them is Daenerys Stormbborn. She had kept a close watch of the Seven Kingdoms from her position in Meereine, and now sees that this constant grinding war of attrition is a sign that her time to strike has come. Stannis is unpopular and the continent is more divided than ever. When emissaries from Dorne arrive, proclaiming all of these things and offering an alliance, Daenerys immediately takes them up on this offer and begins her invasion. She sets sail past Dorne and lands in the marches. Facing the Reach, where she lays siege to the seats of houses Peak and Tarly, the army she brings consists of cells swords, unsullied, and freed men. They are soon bolstered by hordes of Dornish men whose light infantry, spearmen, and cavalry join up with her in siege. The attack opens yet another front and forces Mace to turn most of his forces to confront this threat with the Reach not having fully committed to the war in the Riverlands. Stannis has them handle their own defenses as his forces are spread thin. At first, Mace tries to fight them off, meeting their armies with his own. Even with the arrival of the Dragon Queen, his army still outnumbers them nearly 2 to1. But what he does not have are dragons. As the first armies clash on the outskirts of Oldtown, his reachmen initially gain the edge, unleashing the full fury of their spearmen and cavalry. But as the Dornish and Cell swords break, they organize a faint retreat that lures the Reachmen right into the waiting jaws of the dragons as they unleash fire upon them. The Reachmen are caught up in the brush and their armies are thrown into chaos. Though Randall Tarly manages to rally their men and launch a fighting retreat from the Unsullied held in reserve, the army is mauled. This is just one of the many battlefields across the Reach that show themselves barely able to hold the dragons from fully breaking through. And yet those flying beasts are a weapon unlike any other. No matter what weapon Mace unleashes upon them, the dragons shrug it off and continue their attacks. Eventually, as they threaten major strongholds like Gold's Grove, Oldtown, and even approach High Garden, he realizes that he cannot hold this back on his own. More importantly, he feels less reason to even bother with it. He has little love for Stannis, and now he cannot even protect them. The only aid he gives is allowing raiders from the march to strike at Daenerys's supply lines. Just as the Targaryen forces appear, Mace decides to open negotiations with Daenerys and agrees to supply her armies, addressing Stannis's raids. In exchange, Mace is allowed to remain Lord of the Reach, and some of her small council seats are granted to him and his allies. And just like that, the second kingdom falls to the Targaryen. One person who takes notice of this is Rob and Roose Bolton. The queen is advancing more rapidly than I predicted. I suspect the Westerlands may fall next. With that, Stannis will lose most of his kingdom. Perhaps it is time we consider how we can best exploit this opportunity. What do you propose? Stannis has proven to be incredibly stubborn in recognizing our claims. Perhaps Queen Daenerys might be more willing to accept our terms, especially before she has fully conquered the seven kingdoms. That is a dangerous proposition. One may begin questioning our dependability when we support so many different claimments. That is assuming Daenerys does not hold the Iron Throne. Something I find unlikely given she has dragons. More importantly, we must act quickly. So far, she must contend with many foes, and we have bargaining power. If we hesitate, she may strengthen her position and question why she must listen to us. Very well. But what will she say when she learns we allowed Tywin to go free? Nothing. at least not when you offer to help hunt him down and feed him to her dragons. A proposal is sent out and Daenerys is initially unsure of what to make of it. She fully intends to conquer the seven kingdoms, including the North and Riverlands, but some of her advisers, particularly Sir Barristan, advise against it. He says that the North are honorable folk who will follow whatever treaty they make. This decision is particularly motivated by guilt over leaving Ned Stark behind. So he does not want to leave Rob at her mercy. But he does sincerely believe it and learns how he managed to defeat Lord Tywin and Jaime Lannister. Even Mace Tyrell concurs with this and points out that Stannis had been so weakened because of the drawn out war with the North. If she continues it, there is a risk it may drain her resources too. Daenerys does manage to secure some concessions, demanding that they reaffirm their pledge to Renley, which essentially means remaining a client state that surrenders its foreign policy and pays tributes. She also demands that they hand over hostages and help hunt down Tywin Lannister, things Rob agrees to. Smoke curls over the fields of Duskondale, where wheat once grew and roads bustled with merchants. Now the roads churn under the boots of two great armies. Stannis Baratheon retreats towards the Blackwater Bay, battered, grim, and surrounded on nearly all sides. From the towers of Maidenpool, as Stannis battles and pushes from the Blue Fork, he hears that the great Targaryen army is marching from the Reach, dragons flying overhead. Stannis realizes he cannot remain there in the Riverlands, lest he risk being surrounded by the Starks and Targaryenss. So instead, he takes his forces back towards the Crownlands to await his foes. He organizes the army in the Crownlands trying to wage a guerilla war against Daenerys and manages to score some minor victories and a delaying action. Yet none of these efforts can stop the dragons and he is slowly pushed back until he is at the gates of King's Landing itself. We hold here. I still have men. I still have a claim. They outnumber us four to one. The wolves harass our rear. The dragon leads our van. And the reach floods the coasts. We cannot win here. There is still hope, your grace. You have one gift they do not understand. Shadows. The battle begins under gray skies. Daenerys rides on Dragon Back at the head of her vanguard. Sir Barristan in the center and Greyworm watching their flanks. The first lines come rushing and crashing against them. These are hastily assembled leveies from the Crownlands and Veil who tried to overwhelm the enemy with surprise and numbers. The clash is ferocious and Stannis has them hug enemy lines. The men preferring to face the spears of the Unsullied and the swords of Westeros than the dragons. Overhead, Drogon circles once, then dives low. Fire rains down upon the fringes. After hours of fighting, their lions begin to give, and they are forced to retreat. But as the Targaryen forces are wounded from this battle, Stannis sends in his veterans, lowering their spears and raining arrows from behind. They batter the tired forces and rush through the Unsullied. They fare far better and actually give Sir Barristan and Grey Worm a run for their money. Cracks begin to show in their formation and Stannis continues to press them. Unfortunately, the cavalry battle does not go so well as the Dornish light cavalry skirmishes and harasses the army's flank. They drive back the royal cavalry and begin tightening a noose. To the west, Rob's Northmen strikes the Baratheon flank. Bannermanmen from House Mormon, Glover, and Tully press through the mud with ice in their blood and fury in their hearts. Sir Godri shouts for a rally, but the men no longer respond with zeal. Some begin to drop their weapons, others flee. Then it happens. As Stannis is surrounded, a shadow peels itself from a tent in the rear, slithering like smoke and hate made flesh. It leaps through the trees and lunges towards Drogon. But before the shadow reaches, Drogon unleashes fire. The shadow shrieks without sound and is burned away, unmade by the very thing no shadow can withstand. Light and flame incarnate. Daenerys stares silently, then nods. Burn them. Stannis watches from the rear, seeing the dragon fall upon his forces. His bannermanmen scatter. Stannis doesn't follow. He draws Lightbringer, but it is only a sword. No fire glows along its blade. No savior stands among the ashes. As Daenerys, his soldiers overrun the camp. Stannis stands to meet them. Eyes blank. His body drops to the earth before the blade does. He dies where he stands, surrounded by a dozen dead foes before succumbing to his wounds. By nightfall, the Baratheon banners a rash. Rob Stark stands beside Daenerys on the ruined walls of Stannis's camp. You have your kingdom. Keep your oaths, send your hostages, and help me clean this realm. If you do that, the North may keep its crown. Soon enough, King's Landing falls, and they soon turn their attention to the last loose end, Tywin. Without support from anyone else and threatened by the rest of the seven kingdoms, he is eventually hunted down and killed. This leaves Daenerys in control of the Seven Kingdoms and soon all that matters is fulfilling their alliance. When Daenerys demands her hostage, the solution is unexpected as Rob hands over Roose Bolton. The leech lord can only look in surprise, but Rob offers a smile. It is as you said, Lord Bolton. Do whatever it takes to secure my kingdom. That's our theory. Westeros is a land filled with exciting stories and possibilities, and we love exploring them. If you want to accompany us on this journey across the seven kingdoms and beyond, then please like, share, and subscribe to our