Building an Empire in Game of Thrones (REWORKED VERSION)-Chapter 81: A Failed King

Within weeks, Stannis had managed to gain the support of the majority of the lords in the Stormlands. His victory over his brother's army, proved just how capable of a commander he was. It was human instinct to want to follow a man who could win. And in his lifetime Stannis had won numerous famous battles.

By the end of the month, ravens had flown to all corners of Westeros bearing the news that Storm's End had fallen, Renly had fled back to Highgarden, and Stannis Baratheon now ruled the Stormlands. Some said it was sorcery, others disciplined, but it didn't matter, he had proven himself and gained a lot of support for it.

Margaery Tyrell remained a prisoner, though treated with respect. She was allowed maids and fine clothes, and though her movements were limited, she was given the comforts of a lady. Her family would come for her, but when and how was uncertain.

Stannis had already begun writing terms to House Tyrell. They could bend the knee, recognize him as King, and retain their holdings, or they could be branded enemies of the realm and face his sword. He wasn't bluffing as the Tyrells had seen what he did to his own brother's army.

In Highgarden, Renly had just arrived back alongside a few hundred soldiers who managed to flee the battle as well. Lord Mace Tyrell came to greet Renly as the Hand of the King. "Your grace," he greeted as he bowed. "I am glad that you returned safely to Highgarden."

Renly dismounted with the help of a guard, his armor still dented and covered with mud and blood. His cloak was torn, his pride even more so. "We lost everything, Mace," he muttered. "The field, the men, the momentum. Stannis crushed us."

Mace Tyrell, dressed in rich green velvet with golden chains, gave his son-in-law a concerned frown but quickly hid it behind a forced smile. "Losses can be recovered. Highgarden is still behind you. The Reach is still behind you." But not all in the Reach shared his optimism.

Inside the hall of Highgarden, Lady Olenna Tyrell waited with her usual sharpness. When Renly entered, she rose from her seat. "So," she said, "the would-be king comes home without a crown or an army. Just smoke, shame, and a wounded ego."

Renly stiffened but didn't respond. He knew better than to try his wits with the Queen of Thorns. Mace chuckled awkwardly, trying to ease the tension. "Mother, please, the man's just returned from battle."

"A battle he started," Olenna said, "And couldn't finish."

She walked toward Renly, circling him like a hawk sizing up wounded prey. "You had every advantage. Men, money, lords, my granddaughter. And what did you do with it? You charged into a trap like a fool."

After all that Renly finally spoke, "I was betrayed. Stannis had help, sellswords from Essos, mercenaries. He struck when we weren't ready." Renly was telling a lie as nobody present was on the field with him.

Olenna raised an eyebrow. "A king should always be ready. And if he's not, he shouldn't wear a crown."

Mace looked between them, his mouth opening to interject, but Olenna waved him off. "We put our name, our gold, and our daughter behind you. And now Margaery is a prisoner. Tell me, Renly, how does it feel knowing your queen is being held by your enemy while you sulk in the gardens?"

"I will get her back," Renly said clenching his teeth. "And I will retake what is rightfully mine."

Olenna snorted. "Not with dreams and pride. We need strategy and options."

She turned back toward her seat and gestured for her maids to bring wine. "It's clear now you are not the one to win this war. You've shown promise but not results. The realm will not bend to charm alone."

Mace hesitated. "Mother... what are you suggesting?"

"I'm suggesting," Olenna said, pouring herself a cup, "that we stop putting all our apples in a bruised basket. Stannis may have won a field, but he's still not loved. The North has risen. Eddard Stark lives and there are whispers of Imperial support in their ranks."

Mace frowned. "You mean to ally with the Starks?"

"Not yet," she replied. "But it would be wise to make inquiries. And as for Margaery... if Renly cannot secure her return through war, then we will secure her through diplomacy or trade."

She sipped her wine. "This war is about positioning. And our position must shift."

Renly watched Olenna not sure if she meant what she said. "You'd cast me aside just like that?"

"I would," Olenna said, without hesitation. "If it means protecting this house. And you should thank me for it."

Renly didn't know what to say. He had lost thousands of soldiers and now Stannis had an advantage over him. He would need a lot more soldiers in order to win. That's when a thought crossed his mind, he wondered if he could convince the Dorne to help him in exchange for recognizing their independence would they send soldiers to support him.

———

Back in the North, things were also changing.

Robb Stark now shared command with his father, Eddard. The lords of the North had always respected Robb for his bravery and resolve, but Eddard's return brought strategy, experience, and the weight of old oaths. Together, they had rallied the Riverlords and strengthened their positions along the Trident.

With the support of Imperial supplied siege engineers and new tactics, they had established a strong presence in the region. The Lannisters, for all their gold, were losing ground.

At Harrenhal, Tywin Lannister's patience was thinning. His army was large but stretched. Raiders hit supply lines. His outriders vanished into woods and never returned. He was facing more than just the northerners; he was facing a new kind of war.

"The boy king has his wolves," Tywin muttered to Kevan over a map of the Riverlands. "But the wolves have learned new tricks."

Kevan nodded grimly. "If the Imperials are helping the Starks, we're not just fighting a rebellion." he stated.

"And if we lose here," Tywin said, "Then the lions of Casterly Rock will be remembered as the prey." The meeting lasted a while as they made their next move.

Meanwhile, Robb had found himself increasingly drawn to a young noblewoman named Jeyne Westerling, the daughter of Gawen Westerling from the crag located in the Westerlands, who had joined the Northern host after tending wounded at the Battle of Riverrun. She was nothing like the courtly Frey daughters. She spoke plainly, carried a dagger, and once stitched a wound on Robb's arm herself.

The love grew quickly, and soon, dangerously. Catelyn returned from her failed mission to Renly to find her son in love, already speaking of marriage. When she reminded him of his betrothal to a Frey, Robb was defiant. "They will understand," he said.

His father reminded him that a marriage should not be broken so easily especially when their position was so strong at the moment. "I've made my decision," he said, "I won't become a slave to the whims of Walder Frey."

Eddard sighed, the weight of his son's statement touching his heart. His son's happiness was paramount to him but so was his life and the lives of the soldiers following him into battle.

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"You've always been strong-willed," Eddard said, "And that has made you a great leader. But a great leader also needs to make sacrifices for the good of his people."

Robb looked at his father and nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Yet his heart yearned for Jeyne. The decision was not an easy one to make and Robb spent the night deep in thought, weighing his duty against his love.

In the end he decided to go through with his marriage to Walder Frey's daughter, but that didn't stop him from spending as much as he could with Jeyne.

The spies that Walder Frey had in the Northern army had informed him of what Robb was doing, and this did not sit well with him. He was an old man, shrewd and suspicious. The whispers about Robb and this Westerling girl made him trust the Starks even less than he already did. He didn't trust them entirely. And he trusted young Lords in love even less.

Back at Casterly Rock, Tywin had been informed of Robb's philandering by his own spies. He saw it as an opportunity and had quickly devised a plan to turn this situation to their advantage. "We will use this chance to sow discord," he told his brother Kevan, "We'll feed the Freys information that Robb Stark has no intention of honoring his oath."

Kevan raised his brows, "But it's mere speculation," he argued.

Tywin stared back at him as he responded. "Some men are born with a taste for power and others with a taste for gold," he began, "Walder Frey has both in equal measure. Fear of losing those precious things will make him act impulsively."

Kevan understood but still had doubts. Tywin moved forward with the plan and began to try and get Walder Frew on their side. If he could, then he would be able to end this Northern Rebellion and go defeat Stannis to end another.

In the Eyrie, a large number of Lords and Ladies from both the Vale and Dorne gathered to celebrate the marriage of Artys Arryn and Aegon Targaryen. Surprisingly the two sides got along well, though Maximus figured that it might be because he was present, and they were scared to cause problems.

As he was sitting down at his table with Arianne sitting on his lap, a Shadowhand agent had Whispered in his ear about the plans being made by Tywin Lannister and the risk it posed to the Northern cause.

Maximus nodded his head, "Since I'm here I'll deal with it myself, just keep watching them and make sure that no member of the Stark family dies." The Shadowhand agent nodded and disappeared to carry continue carrying out his assignment.