What if Ned Stark Became King Instead of Robert

The night [music] is dark and full of theories. [music] >> [music] >> What if Ned Stark became king instead of Robert? Let's explore the depths of it in the video. Rob finds Ned sitting amongst the trees in the red keeps God'swood. He ignores the condemning looks the weirwood tree gives him and looks at his friend who sits alone with his eyes closed. The king rubs the back of his neck and looks at his friend who does nothing to acknowledge his presence. If it were anyone else, it would have been a grave insult worthy of punishment. But for Ned, he would let it slide, especially given the circumstances. Lyanna was dead. Ned had said as much upon his return to King's Lending. Those were the first things he said to him in the last month. They had left on poor terms, as Ned couldn't fathom Robert pardoning Tywin for the murder of Elliot Martell and her children. He had called it murder, but Robert had called it a relief. It was an unspoken question in the back of his mind. If he were to be king, they would need to be removed. While politics was not his strong suit, he understood why Tywin Lannister did it. To remove an obstacle from him and to get in his good graces. At the time, Robert was happy to accept this gift without a second thought. But now, the only thing on his mind was Lyanna. The throne meant little more than a clipped copper to him. It was Lyanna he wanted, but she was gone, and the world feels much grayer as a result. You were right, you know, about those children. Am I your grace? When I saw Rhaegar, all I could see was red. Every time I looked into his eyes, I could feel nothing but hatred, nothing but anger. Those children have his eyes. And yet they are children, Robert. I They are. And I was too blind to see it. But now that Lyanna is gone, my whole world seems gray. The world does not stop spinning because of Lyanna. She would have wanted you to move on to see the beauty in the realm as she did. You are king now and the realm bows to you. N. And to pity us all. In my first test, I failed miserably. The crown is heavy, Ned, and I never cared for it. With her, it might have been bearable. But what is an iron chair and untitled compared to what was lost? I will be tested again, but I'm not sure how well I will do. You should not sell yourself short, Robert. You will learn, and you will heed my words now. That is a sign of something. I It's a sign that I'm not worthy of this. You saw the wisdom I lacked. You should be the one to rule. Not me, Robert. I have no right to rule. I have no claim. Claim? [laughter] What claim did I have? Oh, yes. We spoke of my grandmother and my ancestors, but let's be honest, that wasn't what got me my throne. Muhammad did, and it will always be ready to defend it. But not because I'm sitting on it. You deserve it more. I have no rights. There are many men more capable, more willing to sit on the throne like Tarwin Lannister. Look, Ned, I know I'm going to be a shite king, but I did learn one thing. Someone who wants this throne so damn badly. Well, doesn't know what it entails or isn't the sort of man we should be following. You though, you can set this realm right. I trust you, and I think it is what Lyanna would have wanted. Ned sigh and closes his eyes. Robert [music] was more right than he could have believed. The young Lord Stark still recalls his sister's dying words to him. It was not through anger or hatred, but faith in Rhaegar and his dream. Clenching his fist, he nods, "Then I will do it, and I will be here every step of the way." The court gathers early that morning to hear the king's surprise announcement. Many think it will be officially announcing his marriage to Cersei Lannister, just as Lord Tywin wanted. Among the quarter, large spots of gold and crimson as the Lannister bannermen gather. Robert sits upon his throne, looking down at them and taking some small, petty pleasure at what comes next. He waits for the hub-up to die down before leaning back and clearing his throat. And there he drops his hammer. He will abdicate the throne, effective immediately. In his place, he shall name Ned Stark as his successor. The quiet murmurings become shouts as the courtly etiquette is forgotten and replaced with stunned shouts. Dozens surge forward trying to get Robert's attention and to ask him about this. John Aaron stares in shock, but there is a hint of pride in his voice. Hoster Tully's jaw falls open and Stannis nods his head, wondering what his brother is thinking. Sir Barristan looks shaken as he wonders if Robert has gone mad. Yet Tywin Lannister is not among them. He remains where he is. His wide eyes is the only indication that he's heard this. His body goes rigid and he stares at the king. And just what is the reason for this? The reason is that I am ills suited to be king. Nor do I have the inclination to serve as one. I began this war to avenge the wrongs done by the Targaryenss and to rescue my betrothed. I've accomplished one, and I fear that the other is forever beyond my reach. Now, I'd rather spend my days remembering what I had lost in celebrating what I had gained. I shall leave the ruling to those who deserve it. I know this is a great change, but I am honored by my king's trust in me, and I shall do everything I can to set the realm right. And what of my marriage pact? Though I am no longer king and I would rather spend my days as a bachelor, I will be willing to marry Cersei Lannister, and she may serve as the lady of Storm's End. As you may know, King Eddard is already wed to Queen Catelyn. No, that will not do. Save me your empty courtesy. This marriage is over. Oh, no. Say it ain't so. All right, if you insist. Tywin's face reens at those words, but he does not like them. He hates what Ned orders next. As his first decree as king, he announces that Jaime<unk>s pardon is rescended and that he will be stripped of his white cloak and sent to the wall. Meanwhile, any honors bestowed upon Lord Tywin for his actions in King's Landing are also rescended, and their actions are condemned as acts of barbarity. Ned is only barely restrained from ordering Tywin to be punished by Robert, who recognizes the danger of that move. So instead, he must leave empty-handed. Ned also reshuffles the small court, keeping Stannis, Pycel, John Aaron, and Sir Barristan, but naming Weman Manderly as master of coin. As the crown's relationship with the Lannisters deteriorates, Dorne enters talks with Nat. They see how sternly he dealt with Tywin and welcome this hard hand on the Lannisters by offering their support to the new king. Oberin even volunteers to serve as master of whispers. The Tyrells soon follow reluctantly as they do not receive any reward for their service, but see nothing to gain by opposing the Starks. What is more surprising is Ned's next move. After the brutality of Tywin's treatment of Ellia's family, he offers a full pardon to the surviving royalists on Dragonstone and personally travels there to treat with them. He promises to keep them safe from harm and will not punish them for their father's crime. He even brings a maester to treat Queen Rela through her pregnancy so that when she gives birth, it is to a healthy daughter. While the process leaves her weakened, the additional medicine allows her to survive. [music] That is enough to convince Sir William Derry of Ned's honorable intentions, and he agrees to surrender under the conditions that he's allowed to watch over them. The king goes beyond that and names him master of law, completing his small council. Soon, the three remaining Targaryenss are brought before the royal co where they pledge themselves to the new king. But to their surprise, Ned reveals another secret that there is another one. Rhaegar's last surviving son, the child of Lyanna, Aes Targaryen. At first, no one can believe it. No one save Robert. The former king is thrown into a fury. But when Ned shows him the boy, he sees those deep eyes like Lyanna's, the same eyes he fell in love with. And slowly his anger abates, and he acknowledges why Ned kept it a secret. While his son Rob shall inherent Winterfell, Anise shall be the crown prince. allowing the Targaryenss to still rule. In effect, it is a solution that satisfies both problems, and John Aaron [music] watches this with pride, seeing the boy he had raised emerge as such a just king. >> Your grace, you honor us with your mercy. My children and I are grateful for your compassion towards us. I shall never forget it. >> You need not thank me. I only did what was just. You've done well, my boy. I've always known you would do great things, but I never thought you would rise this high. Your father would be proud. I wish you could have been here to see it. Not just him, also your nephew and cousin. I He places a hand on his shoulder and pushes their foreheads together in silent memory of those he lost. The rest of the court go silent, but after that, the two begin ruling. Ned begins the long process of rebuilding the Seven Kingdoms after Robert's rebellion, made worse by the fact that he no longer has access to Lannister gold since Tywin stingily keeps it to himself, demanding ridiculous interest payments and other cons concessions to obtain it. So instead, the king must resort to other means to fund the rebellion. The Martell's offer to reach out to their contacts in the free city. Rayella uses what wealth the Targaryenss have left, and lesser lords are granted concessions to free up their coffers. The latter proves dangerous as Lord Tywin begins to use his allies to worm his way into court. Many lesser houses secretly take money from Tywin in order to support Ned, serving as spies for him. It is slow work, but the realm begins to rebuild. Villages are restored, roads repaired, and swords turned into plows as the small folk return to their fields. After a few months, everything is looking back to normal. When the small council meets again, there is reason to congratulate themselves. Your work proceeds well, Nordst. The realm begins to blossom yet again. >> The credits not mine alone. It is thanks to the work of this council and all the laborers and lords who have offered their wealth in their skills to see that our kingdom is restored to the way it once was. An interesting way of phrasing it. It once was. Yet, is that truly what we want? >> I am afraid I don't understand. Do you not wish for the seven kingdoms to be restored? >> I am saying that the realm was torn aunder. Is it wise to build that faulty foundation? >> What happened was regrettable, but that was due to the mismanagement of the mad king. With his steadier hand, >> we may delay the rot. The Targaryenss had dragons to assert their rule. Without them, they had their name in their lineage. But even then, they had to compromise with other houses until they were mad enough to be destroyed. Perhaps we should consider taking steps to ensure that never happens again. I'm inclined to agree with the master of ships. While many proclaim the king's peace, the truth is that there still remains unrest. Many lords are unhappy with the way the war ended. Others feel resentment that their efforts were not adequately rewarded. And of course, there is Lord Tarwin. He has remained stubbornly uncooperative with financing loans. He only offers support for projects if we give him something in exchange. Just the other day, he offered to finance rebuilding the Lord of Holloway's town. If we consider the names he presented to the new commander of the Mudgate, Tarwin Lannister is the worst example of what I say. We are the small council and yet we must haggle and debate our policies with his lord, one who has no say in the rest of the seven kingdoms. I ask you this, my lords. The Targaryenss united the realm because they grew tired of the constant fighting between the kings. They sought to unify the realm. But here, it is fracturing before our very eyes. I understand your concern, my lord. Yet, we cannot simply begin stripping the lords of their rights and privileges. How do you even go about making these reforms you wish? We begin by strengthening the crown's hold over finances, over justice, and ensuring no great house has the power to challenge us. Are you forgetting that the only reason anyone here is still alive is that the great houses challenged the Iron Throne? Yes, that was once where our cause was just. But how many rebellions and insurgencies did the Targaryenss face before this? How many of those were just? The Peak Uprising, the Blackfire Rebellions, the War of Nine penny kings. Those were rebellions of opportunity, and we must prevent them from happening again. What say you, your grace? Me? I say you look far into the future. And while your foresight is welcome, my lords, we are not in a position to be planning that far ahead, it is, as you say. Though there may be peace, it is as fragile as these glasses we drink from. We must focus on solidifying that first. On that, there was grumbling, but no real disagreement. And for a time that same peace holds. There are still wars and rebellions, but these are small. They are disillusioned lords who hope to take advantage of the uncertainty and seize power for themselves. These are largely isolated, allowing Ned to deal with them with ease, especially since he has Robert. Without his crown, the Lord of Storm's End dedicates himself fully to the war. Whenever there is trouble, he is the first to ride out and crush the rebels. And when he does, nothing can stand in his way. He is usually joined by Sir William Derry, who rides out, flying the new royal banner, a gray dragon at top a white field. But though they rarely need any outside support, Oberin and Stannis are careful to take note of how the rest of the realm reacts. In these wars, they noticed how only the crown's most loyal vassels respond. Those from the north, Stormlands, or the Veil. When these rebellions take place in the Riverlands, most lords opt to remain in their seats and send as few men to support them as possible. It is just as Stannis warns. As though there now might be a level-headed king, the crown's power has long diminished, and its title does not carry the same weight as it once did. This becomes most true during the Greyjoy rebellion. 3 years after Robert's rebellion, Lord Balon Greyjoy decides to make his claim for independence. While Oberin has warned Ned ahead of time that he's received word that the Ironborn are building a new fleet, the king sends a warning to all the lords touched by the Sunset Sea. He tells them of the risks and urges them to strengthen their defenses and fleets. Few of them heed it. Without someone to enforce these commands, many simply ignore them unless they are ordered by their leech lords. Others request for funding from the crown or boast that their existing defenses are more than adequate. He does this by launching raids all across the seven kingdoms with his new iron fleet. Lannisport, the arbor, this and Seagard are just some of the places that fall victim to their attacks. Such a threat would normally be enough to unite the realm, but the response is muted. The Red Wine and High Tower fleets both send their ships to assist Stannis, but only after being granted a share in the plunder. The Lannisters and Malisters do not help at all beyond defending their coastal waters. When Ned and Willm try to coordinate the defenses of different houses, these lords struggle to work together unless their leege lords are there to maintain order. Even those who had heeded their warnings and strengthened their castles are happy to sit inside and wait out the storm. When the time comes for an invasion of the Iron Islands, Robert does not get the 30,000 men he has promised, but barely 20,000, most coming from the North and Stormlands, who are obliged to help them. Though they are finally victorious, [music] the battle comes at a higher cost and takes far longer to end the rebellion than Ned would have liked. Though he is respected, he lacks Robert's natural charisma, and many consider him too medalsome in their affairs already. As Ned surveys the ruins of Pike, having accepted Balon Greyjoy surrender, he finds Oberin lingering not too far away, he leans on his spear and smirks faintly. It seems that Lord Stannis was correct. These lords we rule over are fickle, and it seems not even the Ironborn are enough to put aside their squabbbling. Still, it is a victory. But at what cost? 5,000 of our men, not just any men, but those most loyal to you, the type you can't afford to lose. I know this conflict is costly. Ruling itself is proving more taxing than expected. I see why Robert was so keen on renouncing the crown. I feel like I will be worked to an early grave. Indeed. Perhaps it is time to begin working on those reforms that Lord Stemis suggested. Maybe. But do we have the means? Things are not entirely by your grace. You have won two great wars already. This at least shows you have the strength and many houses will not soon forget that. Strength means fear and respect. And I have some ideas as well. When the rebellion comes to an end, many expect the armies to melt away and leave the Iron Islands to pick up the pieces as they have done with every other war. But this time things are different. Many men do not return to their farms. But Sir Willm and the Red Viper reach out to the Hedge Knights, second sons and lesser lordlings, who have distinguished themselves in battle, and offer them positions in the royal household. They shall be given titles, gold, and positions in government. Each one is given special permission to begin writing contracts that recruit and agree upon a number of men to maintain armies for fixed periods of time. These include free riders, men- arms, and cells sorts. These are drawn especially from the crownlands where the royal influence remains [music] strongest. Men are given titles of captains similar to free companies in the east. They can be sent to patrol kings of the king's road, collect taxes, or be garrisoned in key locations. Sir Williams selects Harrenhal as one such place, providing Lady Went with generous subsidies for the use of her castle, ensuring she may live out the rest of her days in peace and that her remaining relatives position in the new military. The same is true for the Navy, as rather than vacating the Iron Islands, Stannis establishes a permanent presence there, using several demolished castles as his keep, but his forces do not consist solely of the Royal Fleet. He also begins recruiting sailors from the Ironborn themselves, particularly those who have distinguished themselves. Unlike the rest of Westeros, the Ironborn have surprising social mobility with thralls and common men able to rise high if they perform well. Because of that, Stannis's pick of warriors whom he begins to drill every day alongside the royal fleet. These men use the confiscated long ships of the Iron Fleet, depriving Balon of his strong assets as Stannis turns them from reavers to privateeers. But Ned does not focus on simply doing that for the military. He also begins to reform the law with Sir Willm, granting more powers to landed knights, such as allowing them to administer the king's justice instead of having to rely on local lords. In fact, they begin to establish outposts across the seven kingdoms where the crown can assert its influence in matters of law with landed knights serving as baiffs. These men also report happenings in the regions to Oberin. Meanwhile, unproductive villages of lords were brought out and converted into royal fs so the crown could invest in them, allowing Wyman to make them productive. Lastly, John Aaron reviews the reforms made by Aegon V to help the small folk and begins to revive them, allowing them to enjoy greater protections than before. This is done both for the sake of justice, but also to limit the powers of the local lords over the people with the baiffs they recruited ensuring that these laws are followed. Raela herself gives her support to these reforms and urges the Targaryen loyalists to back them, allowing those in the Riverlands in Kclaw Point to join Ned's rule. But while the small council handles this, Ned focuses on raising his son Anes, who grows up alongside his cousin Rob and his Targaryen relatives, Daenerys and Viseris. From a young age, Anus grows up to be observant and resourceful, being a fine swordsman and even matching his older uncle, Viseris. They [music] train, learn, and play together. Daenerys has little problem with her relatives as she grows up having never been called princess or treated as royalty. But Viseris is a different [music] story. He still recalls the time when he was called prince in the same halls he walks in. He recalls the dragon banners hanging from the walls and the promises his father made in his rare moments of lucidity. One of these days he shall rule the seven kingdoms. And even he once overheard him speaking of how he would put Viseris as his heir instead of Rhaegar. Rayela proves to be a calming presence in court, speaking to Viseris when he questions why they no longer rule. When he looks at his nephew, Viseris can't help but feel a pang of jealousy as he hears how he shall become the new king and wonders why his claim had been forgotten so easily. As a result, when the two of them play, things grow rough. And after one particular heated game where Viseris shoves an Anus to the ground, their parents pull them apart. Raila takes her son to his chambers and sits him on the bed, though the former prince continues to pout. The crown is mine, mother. The father promised it to me years ago. He said I would become the next king. Yet now we are simply supposed to accept this outsider sitting on the iron throne. >> Viseris, this behavior is beneath you. If you truly wish to be a prince, [music] then you must first learn to act like it. >> You mean by submitting to these outsiders while they rule our crown? >> We are ruling. Your nephew shall inherit the Iron Throne when he comes of age. He is still one of us. >> He doesn't look like one of us. He doesn't. But that doesn't make him any less of a Targaryen. >> And yet I am older than him. He should be mine. [sighs] >> You are so eager to rule, my child. And yet you do not know what that truly means. You see it as a right, just like your father. And look what happened to him. The realm knows him as the mad king. It is a lie. You said that he was simply ill, that he was misguided. >> I said that to protect you, my sweet prince. But you are old enough to know the truth. There was something wrong with him. He was ill, but not of the body. It was ill in the mind. I had seen it for years. Every time he came to our bed chamber, but I had my duty. >> Her voice breaks, and there's something raw in her voice that leaves the anger Viserius felt disappearing, replaced only by the love for his mother as he embraces her. >> Viseris, we have peace, and that is such a fragile thing. Please promise me you will respect it. >> I will. >> He soon begins to soften his behavior toward Anise, taking part in his training and watching him less as a rival and more as a comrade. He even asks the younger prince to show him some sword tricks while teaching the boy how to fight dirty when necessary. Soon, Viserius manages to earn his spurs and is even given a position as a member of the burgeoning royal [music] army. But even as they say this and the crown stretches its hands over the rest of the seven kingdoms, others begin to call it oppression and tyranny. Those are rumors spread by Tywin in part. While he swallows his pride and allows these new institutions into the Westerlands, he is just as wary of them as everyone else. The Lord of Castle Rock secretly fans the flames of descent, encouraging lords to challenge these rumors and warning that Ned may intend to consolidate power for himself. He uses whatever it takes to forward this, whether it be appealing to religious lords of Ned's foreign beliefs, those corrupt and greedy, or those who distrust the Northmen or Ironborn. [music] He also uses his proxies to begin placing allies in positions of power, those who can feed him information and destabilize the Stark Targaryen alliance. There is little he can do about Ned Stark, whose reputation is sparkling. Without a single blemish to exploit, he instead goes after Anes. Though the boy proves himself to be a gifted horseman and warrior, he is just and fair, raised just like his uncle, and many whisper that he is a boy that Rhaegar would be proud of. Yet, he also bears little resemblance to his father. The boy might have the same deep eyes and warnful gaze, but he lacks his piercing violet eyes and silver hair. And this is where Tywin begins moving one of his pieces, Geralt Dayne. The younger Dne was always jealous of his more successful cousin. And Tywin uses that as a way to slander his name. and by extension Sir Arthur. When Ned first presented his story of how Anus was sired, he used the testimony of others who were there, though midwives, the Septum, and the Maester, all who confirmed this. Due to the proximity of their lands, House Dayne provided these people. Sir Geralt begins to track them down and confronts them about their claims. He warns them that they had better begin changing their tune about what happened. With a mixture of bribes, threats, and blackmail, he begins to slowly change the narrative. Midwives write letters claiming they were forced to say that Anes was Rhaegar's son to justify a Stark takeover. One of them who lives near Starfall is even forced to spin a darker story. That Ned had forced himself upon Ashara Dane and that the and that Anes is actually his son. The maester is forced to burn all testimony of their marriage and pregnancy. The last person is Septan who married them, a kindly old woman who knew Sir Arthur since he was a boy. By now, the man hears of the threats by Darkstar and hurly scribbles a letter and sends it to Lord Edric Dayne along with his journal so they may know the truth. As the choir boy bearing this information runs off, Sir Geralt pulls up on a black horse. The knight abstantly fingers his sword as he approaches with a faint smile. In an instant, naked steel is bear, and he gives his terms. [music] Renounce any knowledge of the marriage or suffer the consequences. The elder septum draws himself up and says he had married Rhaegar and Lyanna. He had seen the love in his eyes and knew they would want Anes to inherit the throne. Darkstar smiles and cuts the old man down with a single stroke, dropping him to [music] the ground. Once Tywin is satisfied with this, he begins to leak this information first to trusted houses, then to allies and those not yet affiliated to either side. The news soon filters to Ned's court. The king denies such claims and many Dornishmen, Stormlanders, and Northmen are all disgusted by these rumors. Robert personally threatens to smash the hands of any man who says this in his presence. While most people do not believe any of the claims, once the word has been spread, there is nothing they can do to pull them back. The seed has been planted [music] and it can now become a cause for war by the greedy, the opportunists, and those who despise the Starks. Whether they believe it or not, Tywin realizes that they cannot rely on the nobles there alone. and begins to reach out beyond the seven kingdoms to Volantis where he has loaned money to the different archons. Tywin normally backs the elephants due to their being less belligerent and their trade preference which helps Lannisport. However, he now sees the potential in allying himself with the Tigers who are made up of warriors who seek glory through conquest and military victory. Tywin is happy to provide them with such opportunities. He reaches out to the leaders of the Tiger party and begins entering secret neg negotiations. He has long backed the elephants, and this is his leverage. He offers to cut off all funding and divert it to the Tigers if they back his rebellion against the Iron Throne. In exchange for their support, the Iron Throne will recognize their rule over the Stepstones and the Disputed Lands, and they will even send soldiers to help them conquer it if necessary. However, they will only be given these after the rebellion. The leaders of the tigers all agree to this and Tywin quietly pulls out his support for the elephants. And those same gold shipments pour into the coffers and bank accounts of the leading members of the tigers. With the flush of funds, they can now challenge the elephants openly, launching an all-out attack against the leading candidates, smearing their names, paying off their staff to expose their secret. [music] Town criers to slander their names and their rivals to go after them. The elephants are paralyzed by these movements, not expecting to face such a sudden attack, especially when their expected gold fails to materialize. When the time comes for the election, the entire city is shaken by the results. As through careful vote buying and bold campaigning for the first time in Volantis' history, all three archons come from a single party, the Tigers. The rest of the city can only watch in awe as three battlehungry generals are given the seat of power. They immediately summon Taiwan Lannister, who arrives in a golden plen bearing the seal of House Lannister with gold lions carved upon its base. The three privately offer their ranks while Tywin publicly offers his thanks for their support. With that, they agree to an alliance and begin gathering their allies. The Archons lovey fresh soldiers from their slave population, summon the lockstep legions from the new from Nugis [music] and hire cellort companies. Soon, an army of almost 30,000 is assembled. However, they did not attack right away. He continues to recruit allies in the Seven Kingdoms. While the Westerlands might follow him, he also reaches out to the Reach, which is largely neutral from the war. They were not rewarded by Ned or the Targaryenss for their services, but neither do they see Tywin being able to triumph alone. Though the Lord of Casterly Rock offers them a marriage pact with his daughter and their son and heir, Mace Tyrell rebukes this and keeps his sword close. However, once he lets slip that he has allies and an army across the narrow sea, they begin to change their tune, but they insist that they must find a new king as well. In the meantime, half the Valantine army begins to strike in the south, first seizing the Stepstones and making it appear as though that is their army. Ned watches this conquest wearily, wondering why they require such a large force for a few islands, especially having Jiskari in their forces, too. He isn't the only one who shares these worries as the Red Viper keeps close watch of the unfolding events and prepares to move ships from the Royal Fleet to protect them. And this proves to be a wise move as once a tenuous hold of the Stepstones has been established, the Valentine ships turn their attention to Westeros, using these rocks as a jumping off point. They sweep aside the smaller Dornish ships and clash with 50 warships from the Royal Fleet. This flotillaa is more than a match for them and serves to keep them occupied. However, the stepstones make a natural barrier, allowing the Valentine ships to slips slip into its cover, where fire support prevents Stannis from chasing them. The master of ships instead must order blockade around the islands to prevent them from attacking again. However, with his navy distracted, the second half of the Valantine army arrives. This one bears the lockstep legions, the Tigers recruited from Nugis. The elite warriors disembark on the sandy shores of Dorne, striking directly towards Planky Town while swift moving cells swords press inland, aiming to surround Sunspear and force the Dornish to deal with them. The Dornish spears rush to meet them. While they initially use a gorilla style tactic to deal with the slowmoving lockstep legions, the cell swords that Volantis selected are light cavalry and infantry, allowing them to keep up with the Dornish. This allows them to keep the [music] raiders away while the legion advance towards Sunspear in order to lay siege to this. With the capital of the Martell under siege, the Dornish must risk an open battle in order to relieve the attack. The initial relief efforts fail miserably as while the Martell are skilled spearmen, the lockep legions are drilled into perfection and manage to scatter them. When news reaches Oberin, he must leave the capital and ride south to gather more men and lead the effort. With Dorne embroiled in war, the Reach closes off its borders. Randall Tarly is sent to Dornis marches to oversee what is going on and to stop anyone who tries to cross the border. However, he's told not to help the Martell as the Reach declares neutrality. And while this chaos is unfolding, Tywin begins to march from the Westerlands, invading the Riverlands and overwhelming the undefended forces. The attacks take the Tullies off guard and forces Edmure to issue a hasty call to arms. He initially tries to assemble them at Riverrun, but as Tywin blitzes across the lands west of the Red Fork and realizes that they may reach Riverrun before the main army. He must instead leave Sir Desmond Grell in command of the castle while Sir Admir moves to east to gather troops and Seagar to prepare for a relief effort. However, not all houses answer this call. The Freys prefer to sit upon their castle as they have little love for Ned as the crown wishes to install a royal garrison in a critical location like the twins which will challenge their monopoly. Like the Tyrells, they declare neutrality. The same is true for Maidenpool, the Sulpans, and other towns which are bribed by the Volante and Tywin who offer lucrative trade deals and independent charters, things that Ned [music] has long denied them. This leaves Admir working with only half the promised army and without support from the north which remains cut off. Stannis can still transport soldiers by sea, but this will take time. However, Sir William Derry has the royal army in Harrenhal under the command of the Blackfish while John Erin mobilizes the veil. Even though the royal army is outnumbered more than 3 to one, they march out. The first clash takes place in the Ruby Fort where the Blackfish leaves 2500 men to stop an attempted crossing under the command of Andros Bracks with close to 4,000 men and many more across different crossings. Instead of facing a peasant rabble, they find disciplined soldiers and good mail and castle forged steel waiting behind tall shields. The horses and footmen flounder against the soldier wall as Lannisters face men just as well equipped as they are. The men struggle to make headway, especially with the Blackfish commanding them. The old knight rides up and down the lines, carefully directing men where they are needed and keeping the formation clear. He does not fight for glory, but for duty, keeping his men well disciplined, and thanks to years of drilling, they are. The same is true in the other crossings [music] as he scatters the royal army in. The Riverland allies watch in awe as these men, once ridiculed as cell swords and small folk dressed up in armor, now move with tight precision. Footmen following the commands of their sergeants, who in turn answer their captains, whether they be lowborn or not. After hours of fighting, the Westerman withdrew on most fronts. Even the mountain and his cutthroats made little headway as they faced a steady rain of arrows. It is only in one small bend in the river that the Westerman finally break through. This place is commanded by Sir Adam Marbrandt, who leads a daring charge against the defenders, who are spread thin. He finally cuts through their lines and allows the Westerman to begin crossing. The Blackfish responds well and begins marching the reserves to face them. But by the time he closes the [music] gap, Sir Adam and several thousand Westermen now managed to slip through their defenses and begin to raid the rear. With the contact cut off from the rest of Taiwan Lannister's army, this small army begins to raid the royal supply lines, burning wagons, sacking villages, and taking shelter in the towns that support them. All the while waiting for an opportunity to create an opening for Taiwan's army. While the royal army performance was impressive, they were still a minority, having fewer than 10,000 men. To gain more soldiers, Raela and Daenerys accompanied Sir William across the Crownlands and Stormlands, urging everyone to join the war effort and lend their support. In places where Targaryen support is strongest, men rush out in droves to answer their call. This allows the crown to raise reinforcements for the Blackfish as the first band of Northmen arrive under command of Rob Stark and for a third army to [music] form under Ned's personal command with him. He takes Ames and sends a letter to Viseris who is positioned in Bitterbridge. The prince was stationed there with a thousand trusted men to hold it and prevented any incursions to and from the reach. Although Viseris wishes to join the battle, these instructions were clear and came from Sir Willm himself. Instead, he must listen to reports coming from the east as Ned and Anes cut through the few rebel Stormlanders. The younger prince puts his sword skills to good use as he personally leads an attack on the marches and foils a plot by some rebel lords to secure them from the rear and allow the Dornish to attack. With how well things are going, Anes and his men are soon sent to the Riverlands to help the Blackfish. Meanwhile, Robert is rallying his army and joining with Ned as they prepare to reinforce Dorne as more and more troops arrive from the across the narrow sea. Viserius longs to take part in these battles and help grant them total victory in this conflict. However, Sir William promises to send word once the time comes. So, Viseris waits for these orders, even as he satisfies himself by cutting down a few isolated bands of fleeing Stormlanders. However, one day, a rider arrives and insists that he must speak to Viseris. The prince shot up and believed that they were at last having an opportunity to join the battle. To his dismay, the reports is that there are briggins along the south of the reach and requires the royal army's attention. Mace Tyrell insists that it is necessary to have the crown flexing its influence to entice the reach to join [music] the war, especially to defend their own interests. Viseris reluctantly rides out with 200picked men and finds the Brigins attacking a border village. The battle that follows is swift as most of the Brit bandits prefer to run instead of standing. However, a small group of them flees deeper into the woods. The prince is not keen on letting them get away and rides after them. However, as they reach a large clearing in the center of it, a hooded man is present. But when he lowers his hood, it reveals the face of Darkstar. Behind him, a dozen crossbows click into place as they take aim and prepare to fire. Viseris and his men freeze in place, but Sir Geral Dayne waves them off. Greetings, your grace. Apologies for the nature of this meeting, but I needed a way to contact you. You You are a bold man, just as my father had said. But he also says that you have often forgotten your place. Give me one good reason why I should not arrest you for all the trouble you have caused. Because that will not serve our best interest, young one. And why will that not be in my best interests? If I arrest you, it can end this war in a stroke and [ __ ] the main opposition. I will then become the hero of this war perhaps. And that much is true. You shall become a hero. But is that all you wish to end up as? To receive some words of praise and a pat on your shoulder from your nephew. Or is there more you crave? You sit here guarding a single fortress while the rest of your family fights this war. We all have place in this conflict. That much is certainly true. But you may have another opportunity to rise beyond that place. Ask yourself, what shall become of you after this war? Would you simply sink back into the shadows, content to watch as your nephew takes his place upon the throne when you can seize it for yourself? I have allies. These Valentine and Tywin Lannister's armies will back you. And if you allow me to negotiate on your behalf, I can convince the Tyrells to join you as well. The words hit Viseris like a physical blow. He stares at Geralt, trying to make sure he is serious and actually suggesting what he thinks he is. The chance to become king. Viseris thinks back to his old dreams, the [music] words that his father had pounded into his head since he was a boy. The dream now dangles right in front of him. And yet, he does not forget just who killed his father either. Those two emotions wore within him as he stands still, hearing the rustle of the forest around him. Tywin murdered my father. Now he offers me support. Why should I trust him? Because Tywin Lannister always joins the winning side. Yes, it was his army that sacked King's Landing. But if it hadn't been him, then it would have been Lord Baratheon. He was the final nail. But Baratheon wielded the hammer. However, if you distrust him so much, then you can depose him after the war. Name me a member of your king's guard, and I will do the deed for you. But at least you are taking action. What of now? Your family only clings to power because of Eddard and his lies. You've heard the rumors too about his bastard. Anes indeed. A convenient that that child happens to be born of his line and happens to be born from Leed Stark's family. Doesn't that strike you as convenient that his heir will also represent the Starks? What you say borders on treason, sir? To deny a dragon his right is a crime punishable by death. Then it is good that I only deny a wolf in a dragon's clothing. You need not even fight, simply to dip your banners and allow me to act. In 3 days, I will arrive at Bitterbridge with 2,000 men. If your banners are no longer flying there, I will take it as a sign of your support, and these men will march in your name. With that, the Dark Star disappears back into the forest, [music] his Briggins and tow. Yet as he leaves, there is parchment left where he was standing. Viseris does not read it until he reaches Bitterbridge. To his shock, he sees that it is testimony from the maids and servants who served Lyanna. They claimed that no such child was born in Lyanna's time in the Tower of Joy. Instead, the young star girl succumbed to a fever due to the unfamiliar climate. One of them, who lives near Starfall, claims that she believed that Aes is actually the child of Ned and Ashara Dane, both after Ned took her by force when he returned to the Tower of Joy. Viseris can hardly believe it. If this is true, it changes everything. It would mean he is the rightful king. While there have always been rumors like this, especially in the last few months, this is written proof that can change everything. It would mean he is the rightful king. But those thoughts are interrupted by another writer. This time it is from House Dayne of Starfall, and it is none other than Lord Edric Dayne himself. Though young, the boy composes himself well, standing tall and proud as he bows to Viseris. However, his face darkens when he sees the letter in his hand. >> I take it those letters are from my uncle. >> They are, little lord. Are you here to confirm what they say? >> Correct would be a better word. You should know my uncle is a liar and has often been jealous of the fame our branch has had. You cannot believe what he says. >> I do not believe what he said. I believe what is written to me on these documents. >> You think those words mean anything different? [music] His words written in another's hand. Surely you can see this. All I see is a squabble between relatives. You say he lies, and if I brought him here, I'm certain he would say that you are the liar. So, this leaves the question, "How do I know who to believe?" >> If you are willing to look at his proof, it is only fair you look at mine as well. >> He hands him the journal given to him by the choir boy. Viseris looks over the contents, his eyes narrowing as he speaks of how he organized the ceremony between Rhaegar and Lyanna, the coming weeks with them together, and how Lyanna soon fell pregnant. As Viseris reads this, his heart falls into his stomach while he stares at the young lord who can only provide him with a grim look. Viseris tries to deny it. Tries to say that none of this proves that Anie's is Rhaegar's son, that this could be a forgery as well. But Edric shakes his head. >> It may be the cause, but that also means that Lord Eddard is a liar. So tell me, is that also the case? Have you ever seen him lie? Those words leave Viseris speechless as he thinks back to any time Ned Stark has ever lied, but he can think of nothing. The two simply stare at each other as the castle grows unusually quiet. For the next few days, nothing seems to happen save for the occasional raven leaving. That is until the third day, they hear the sound of footsteps and a dark star arrives with his army. When he glances up at the battlements, the dragon banner of Viseris is taken down. Sir Geralt smiles and urges his men forward. For the first hour, everything seems to go according to plan. That is until twothirds of their army are cross the bridge when suddenly horns begin to blare. From the east side of the bridge, Viserius and Edric rush out from the hedges and gallop at them. They have over a thousand men with them and strike at the cell swords who struggle to form ranks. The Targaryen prince is in the thick of this fighting, sweeping his sword back and forth as he drives through the cell swords. However, Darkstar's men do not falter so easily as Sir Geralt rides around and rallies his men wherever he sees them. Those in the rear rush forward and try to cross the bridge and assist their comrades. But these horns begin to sound from the side as well. And in the distance, a banner unfurs to reveal the golden roofs of House Tyrell. Viseris breathes a sigh of relief as he sees them. He had sent letters earlier to try and warn the Tyrells of this and promised them rich rewards if they helped him, including a marriage pact if they would join him in this war. He barely notices Darkstar approaching and swinging his sword. However, Viseris parries it and offers him a smile. >> What did you do? What you said? taking charge of my destiny. >> As the Tyrells advance on their rear, most Cell swords break and run, ending this battle before they can even break through. Darkstar is captured by Viseris and detained in Bitterbridge, where he is forced to confess everything that Tywin asked him to do for him. With that, the Reach reaffirms its position for the crown and splits its army in half. Viseris rides out with Randall Tarly, rides south to Dorne to at last ride alongside Robert and Ned to relieve Sunspear. The crossing of the deserts is treacherous enough, especially for a large army. Thankfully, the Dornish come prepared and leave out supplies buried in the ground to allow them to pick up pick them out later. However, the real savior is the Tyrells, whose fleet and massive supply stores keep them going through the march until they reach Sunspear. The Jesus and Valentine forces are taken completely off guard by this sudden arrival of the army. But the lockstep legions respond by forcing their failings. But while they halted the Dornishmen, they cannot stop Robert. In the right flank, Robert barrels through their defenses, his hammer sweeping back and forth as he rushes through their flanks, while Ned follows close behind, commanding the infantry to rush through the gaps. Meanwhile, on the left, the Knight of Flowers batters the legions, keeping them in place as Robert wins on his side. Once the flank begins to buckle, Ned takes 2,000 men and hits the center, which remains held in place by Oberin. Seeing this, the garrison of Sunspear rushes out and joins the battle, taking the Shiscari and Valentine by the rear. When the dust clears, thousands of prisoners are taken captive. Soon, the surviving tigers all confess to being paid off and supported by [music] Tywin. And in the Riverlands, Anes joins forces with the Blackfish as Mace Tyrell advances from the south and the Veilmen alongside bands of Northmen from the east. Together, they now have the numbers to challenge Taiwan's army directly and begin a systematic push westward. While he tries to fortify the Red Fork, the sheer number of men already makes this a struggle. But the Blackfish knows of a secret crossing that allows a handful of men to slip behind the Lannister lines. Anise personally takes command and leads these troops towards one of the larger fords and ambushes the Lannister men from the rear. This opens a gap for them and the defenses begin to fall one by one until they reach Riverrun where Tywin makes his stand. But with the overwhelming disparity in numbers, there isn't much of a battle. Their forces are decimated and Tywin barely escapes. However, when he escapes the Westerlands, he finds it being ravaged by privateeers under the command of Lord Harlaw, who soon apprehends him. With all the confessions stacked against him, it is an easy thing to have Taiwan executed. Meanwhile, for his services, Viseris is married to Marjgery Tyrell and made the Blackfish's second in command, where he is hailed as a hero, while Ned continues his reforms with Anes by his side. That's our theory. Westeros is a land filled with exciting stories and possibilities, and we'd love exploring them. If you want to accompany us on this journey across the Seven Kingdoms and beyond, [music] then please like, share, and subscribe to our channel.