"You mean..."
"Tywin Lannister alone caused such chaos in the North?"
"Not entirely, Your Majesty..."
On the road to Storm's End, Karl accepted several letters from the maester while listening to his report. Confusion was written all over his face.
The maester quickly tried to explain.
"I understand."
Karl impatiently waved him off, his brows tightly furrowed.
The maester immediately bowed and quietly withdrew.
Karl lowered his gaze to the letters spread across the table.
Some had come from the North.
Others were from Casterly Rock.
The rest were from King's Landing.
---
The reports from the North had been sent by Roose Bolton after his difficult escape from the Wolfswood.
The letters detailed the battle at Deepwood Motte and the circumstances surrounding Robb Stark's capture.
There were also joint reports from House Karstark and House Mormont.
Every one of them confirmed the same conclusion.
Robb Stark had been captured.
At first glance, the reports appeared unrelated.
In reality, they complemented one another perfectly, providing a complete account of the battle.
After securing Deepwood Motte, Lord Rickard Karstark remained behind to clean up the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Roose Bolton and Robb Stark had continued pursuing Tywin Lannister's retreating forces.
Instead...
They walked straight into an ambush laid by the Ironborn.
Robb Stark was captured.
Roose Bolton's army was shattered and scattered.
Only four days later did the survivors reunite with the Karstark and Mormont forces, who themselves had also been attacked by Ironborn raiders while defending Deepwood Motte.
Roose's letter explained that he had attempted several rescue operations.
Every attempt had failed.
Left with no other choice, he had retreated and begun regrouping his remaining forces.
He had already ordered House Bolton to gather reinforcements at the Dreadfort before marching toward Winterfell to resist the Ironborn invasion.
Karl quietly placed the reports on the table.
His expression remained grim.
Something...
Didn't feel right.
---
The report from White Harbor was much shorter.
No one had expected Braavosi mercenaries to launch an attack on the city.
Even more unexpectedly...
They had entered White Harbor disguised as merchant caravans.
Fortunately...
White Harbor had not completely fallen.
The Manderlys had withdrawn into their newly rebuilt stronghold—the Wolf's Den—and, together with the city's remaining defenses, continued resisting the invaders.
The civilians had been evacuated into the fortress.
Although the defenders could still hold their ground...
They no longer possessed the strength to launch a counterattack.
Their only hope was the Vale army that had already entered the North.
The Vale soldiers originally stationed in White Harbor to escort supplies to the Wall had already departed with their cargo.
The Manderlys requested that they return immediately to reinforce the city, as they were still relatively close.
As for the other Vale forces advancing through the North...
Their exact location remained unknown.
That concluded the reports from the North.
---
The letter from King's Landing contained little of immediate importance.
Varys summarized recent political developments.
There was also news regarding Randyll Tarly's appointment as Master of Laws.
Another letter...
Written in graceful handwriting stained with tears...
Expressed deep concern for a father and brother while also conveying longing and affection for Karl.
It was from Sansa Stark.
Yet Karl could clearly sense Catelyn Tully's influence throughout every line.
---
The final letter came from Casterly Rock.
Tyrion had written at great length.
Karl barely glanced at it before setting it aside.
Everything in the Westerlands had already been arranged.
Leaving Tyrion in charge was more than sufficient.
With Bronn secretly acting as another piece on the board, Karl could also influence the Riverlands whenever necessary.
Originally...
Tyrion's next responsibility had been dealing with the Iron Islands.
But after today's news...
Karl had changed his plans.
---
"I must go north immediately."
"The North cannot be allowed to descend into chaos."
He looked toward the assembled commanders.
"As for the rest of you..."
"Continue marching toward Storm's End."
"Join forces with the Dornish army."
"Completely surround the castle."
"But after the siege begins..."
"Do not launch an assault."
"Wait until I return."
Silence filled the command tent.
Everyone exchanged puzzled glances.
To them...
Although the North appeared chaotic...
Nothing truly disastrous had happened.
The northern lords would soon mobilize.
The Vale army had already entered the region.
With those combined forces...
There was virtually no chance the North would completely collapse.
Compared to that...
Storm's End was far more important.
Defeating Stannis would firmly establish Karl's claim to the Iron Throne.
Yet the King intended to postpone that decisive battle...
Simply to travel north.
No one could understand why.
Still...
No one dared question his decision.
Most of Karl's trusted commanders—Randyll Tarly, Jon Snow, the White Wolf, and others—had already been dispatched to important positions elsewhere.
Among those remaining...
There was no one capable of persuading him otherwise.
---
Finally...
Lady Ewyn Oakheart stepped forward.
"Your Majesty..."
"Wouldn't it be wiser to wait a little longer?"
"The Vale army has already entered the North."
"They're more than capable of restoring order."
"As for Robb Stark..."
"I don't believe his life is in immediate danger."
"Since Balon Greyjoy captured him alive..."
"He must intend to negotiate."
"At worst, he'll demand concessions."
Her analysis was calm and logical.
Given the strength Karl had already positioned in the North...
Nothing truly catastrophic should occur.
As for Tywin Lannister...
His actions resembled the desperate struggle of a man with nothing left to lose.
Once the proud Lion of Casterly Rock...
He now watched generations of Lannister power crumble because of a single disastrous decision.
It wasn't surprising that he had gone mad.
Karl listened quietly.
Then he slowly shook his head.
"My decision has been made."
"The meeting is over."
"When you reach Storm's End..."
"Carry out the original plan."
"And remember..."
"Do not act recklessly."
Seeing they couldn't change his mind, the assembled nobles reluctantly bowed and departed.
Just before they reached the entrance...
Karl spoke again.
"Lady Ewyn..."
"Remain."
"Baelor Hightower."
"Garlan Tyrell."
"You two as well."
Once everyone else had left and Alex confirmed the tent was secure...
Karl spoke again.
---
"Lady Ewyn."
"During my absence..."
"You will command this army."
"Ser Garlan Tyrell and Ser Baelor Hightower will assist you."
The announcement stunned everyone.
Lady Ewyn immediately knelt.
Allowing a noblewoman to attend military councils was already unusual.
Entrusting her with command of the royal army...
Was an extraordinary display of trust.
"House Oakheart obeys Your Majesty."
"I swear before the Seven..."
"And with my own life..."
"I will never betray your trust."
Karl smiled warmly as he helped her to her feet.
"I know you won't."
Then his expression grew serious.
"If everything goes according to plan..."
"I may remain in the North for quite some time."
"So after Storm's End is fully surrounded..."
"You must not attack."
"I need your promise."
"Renly's death should serve as a warning."
"I refuse to see another unnecessary tragedy."
Alex stood quietly beside them.
His eyes were filled with determination.
Baelor Hightower and Garlan Tyrell nodded solemnly.
They would fully support Lady Ewyn's command.
Lady Ewyn bowed once more.
"I understand, Your Majesty."
"I will obey every one of your orders."
Karl nodded.
"Good."
"Go and get some rest."
"I'll be leaving tonight."
---
After everyone departed...
Only Garlan Tyrell and Alex Oakheart remained inside the tent.
As members of the Kingsguard...
Their duty was to protect the King.
Karl looked at them.
"You should leave as well."
"When you reach Storm's End..."
"If possible..."
"Protect Lord Eddard Stark."
"Make sure Stannis doesn't treat him unfairly."
"If Stannis truly values justice..."
"He'll understand."
"After all..."
"Eddard Stark remains the lawful Hand of the King appointed by Robert himself."
"He deserves proper respect."
The unexpected order surprised both knights.
Still...
They accepted it without hesitation.
Before leaving...
Alex finally spoke.
"If Lord Stark is treated unjustly..."
"It will only happen over my dead body."
---
Karl's army had only recently departed Highgarden.
Their route would take them past Cider Hall, then Summerhall, where they would rendezvous with the Dornish army before marching together toward Storm's End.
That evening...
The army camped beside the Mander River.
Karl left his command tent alone.
Standing quietly beside the flowing river, he stared into the dark water.
His thoughts drifted back to the North.
"I warned both Eddard Stark and Robb Stark about the Ironborn."
"I also discussed the matter with Tyrion more than once."
"So..."
"What exactly happened?"
"How did Robb allow this to happen?"
Karl couldn't understand.
He had already made countless preparations.
To prevent exactly this sort of disaster...
He had deployed the Vale army under the pretext of reinforcing the Wall.
He had never relied on those troops during his own war for the throne.
Everything he had achieved...
He had won through his own strength.
Through his sword...
And through his dragon.
In other words...
He had prepared more than enough safeguards for the North.
That was why he hadn't worried about it recently.
Yet despite all those precautions...
The North still fell into crisis.
Robb had been defeated in the Wolfswood.
White Harbor had nearly fallen.
Together...
The Ironborn and the Braavosi mercenaries had effectively split the North in two along the White Knife.
Although the arrival of the Vale army meant the crisis remained temporary...
And Balon Greyjoy likely intended to bargain rather than destroy Robb...
None of this should have happened in the first place.
So...
What had gone wrong?
Why had the North reacted so slowly?
It was almost as if someone had blinded them...
And stopped them from hearing anything.
Karl knew Robb Stark.
Whether in the original timeline...
Or through their time together at Winterfell...
Robb had always proven himself capable.
Though still young...
He possessed remarkable potential.
Karl had even prevented the mistakes that once ruined Robb's future.
No honey trap.
No unnecessary division.
And yet...
The North still collapsed into chaos.
Tywin Lannister had only lit the fuse.
He wasn't the sole cause of the explosion.
That realization was precisely why Karl had sent the Vale army north in advance.
His eyes gradually sharpened.
"This time..."
"I'll eliminate every hidden threat in the North."
"Before winter arrives..."
"The North must know peace again."
"I won't tolerate any more surprises."
At that moment...
A golden dragon appeared in the river's reflection.
With a mighty roar, it descended from the heavens.
Dragonfire erupted across the night.
Moments later...
The massive beast landed beside Karl.
Its wings stirred powerful gusts that sent ripples racing across the Mander.
Karl looked up.
His short black hair fluttered wildly in the wind.
He turned toward his dragon.
"Let's go."
"First..."
"To Casterly Rock."
________________________________________
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