Should've Said No // Jaime Lannister (0.5)

3. Raise the Banners

When King Aerys sent a message demanding that Jon hand over Ned and Robert to the crown, Jon raised the banners of the Vale in revolt rather than allow his former wards to be killed. Jon and Ned had both suffered the unjustified deaths of family members, including the Lord of the North, while Robert's betrothed had been kidnapped, apparently against her will. They agreed that this justified that action be taken against the king.

House Stark, House Arryn, and House Baratheon all called their banners and began assembling armies. Jon and Ned entered into negotiations with Lord Hoster Tully, whose daughter Catelyn had been betrothed to the marry Brandon.

After some discussions, Ned married Catelyn in his brother's place whilst Jon married her sister, Lysa. House Tully then joined the war on the rebels' side, ordering a full call to arms.

All the Tully bannermen answered the call with the exception of House Darry, who declared for Aerys, and House Frey, who did not declare for either side until shortly after the Battle on the Trident, when the war was all but won.

Realizing what was happening, King Aerys summoned his banners. The houses sworn directly to House Targaryen responded, as did the forces of House Tyrell, which commanded the most populous region in the Seven Kingdoms and hence the largest army. However, whilst House Martell vocally pledged support, privately Prince Doran was furious at the insult to his sister's honor, and mustered his troops with extreme lethargy. Disturbingly, Tywin Lannister refused to answer Aerys' summons and did not muster his forces, although he also seemed unmoved by requests from the rebels to join them as well. As always, House Greyjoy chose not to get involved in the affairs of the mainlanders.

While on paper the rebels enjoyed a slight numerical superiority as long as Houses Greyjoy, Lannister and Martell chose to remain out of the fighting, their strength was divided, with the Baratheon armies mustering in the Stormlands many hundreds of miles from where the Stark, Arryn and Tully forces were gathering in the northern Riverlands. Robert managed to return home safely, but found gathering his forces close to the hostile Reach lords and those of the Crownlands problematic. The situation was not improved by some of the storm lords and river lords rejecting their liege lords' commands and instead declaring for the king.

However, Robert was a charismatic leader, a strong warrior who led from the front and also skilled tactically. The Tyrell armies posed the greatest threat to the rebel cause, but due to the size of the Reach would take some time to assemble. He decided to go on the offensive, leaving his brother Stannis to hold Storm's End. Intelligence revealed that forces commanded by Lord Grandison, Cafferen and Fell were planning to attack his army after gathering near the ruins of Summerhall. Robert surprised them by attacking each army as it came upon the field, defeating it in turn and then waiting for the next to arrive. Winning three battles in one day added to Robert's reputation, and his charisma won the three lords and their men to his cause.

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''Are you going to send the red coats uncle tywin?'' Taeylor questioned

''No my dear, focus please.'' tywin pointed at the book in front of them 

''Why not?'' Taeylor questioned

''My sweet girl,'' tywin brought a hand to her cheek, ''it is mayhem and madness at the capital we need to protect our home.'' Taeylor nodded looking back to her book.

''Are you not worried about Jaime?''

''Are you?'' Tywin countered ''He's finally gone and you want him?'' Tywin mused and taeylor shrugged

''I didnt think this war would go on forever.'' Taeylor remarked

''Me either love. Next chapter,'' tywin pointed at the page again

''I bleed,'' Taeylor told him it was a drop or two and might have been a nose bleed but she figured if her uncle thought she could be wed Jaime would come back and she wouldnt be worried. "When Jaime gets back when the war is done...''

''Yes. That sounds like a wonderful idea.'' Tywin agreed..  Taeylor nodded focusing on the book again but her heel bounced nervously. ''My dear you dont need to worry-'' but a raven was deliver to tywin he read it over quickly and his smile faltered

''Uncle tywin?'' Taeylor questioned

Jaime had went to discuss peace and unions for the crown and the lannisters but instead Aerys had assigned him to the kings guard, Tywin did wonder why it had been moons since he wrote but to join the mad kings guard?

''Whats wrong?''

''Nothing''. Another raven. The rebels were winning. ''You are right my dear it is time to take a stand. Save the day.'' Taeylor watched him go

''Does that mean lessons are done and I can go practice the strings!'' Taeylor called after him

''Stay inside my dear the soldiers will be marching soon enough.'' Taeylor nodded and ran to the window as she watched tywin gather the troops. Once Robert baratheon won his rebellion jaime would come home and marry Taeylor and all would be right in the world  tyrion was not to be the legacy of his house.