Building an Empire in Game of Thrones (REWORKED VERSION)-Chapter 80: Brother’s at War

Approaching the Port of Lorath, the 2nd Imperial Fleet responsible for patrolling the Northern part of Essos under the command of Admiral Vaella was carrying soldiers and food.

The Council of princes, who used to be ones who ruled Lorath had sent a message to the Imperial Union secretly requesting Imperial aid for the island. Currently they are going through a famine caused by the Council of magisters policies and the common people were suffering.

In exchange, the Princes wanted Lorath to join the Imperial Union while they were able to keep their positions. Maximus accepted this offer and proceeded to send the necessary soldiers to take the city and food to feed the people.

As Admiral Vaella's ship docked at the port, a representative of the Council of Magisters had arrived with a group of guards to meet the leader of the Imperial Fleet. Their arrival was unannounced, so the Council were curious as to why they were here, especially during a time like this.

Walking down the ramp of the ship Admiral Vaella approached the group accompanied by her own guards. The representative bowed his head respectfully as he was in the presence of Imperial soldiers who could kill him in an instant if he misspoke. "I bring greetings from the Council of Magisters to find out the purpose of your presence here, Admiral," the representative said, forcing a smile on his face.

His guards stiffened behind him, uncertain whether they were meant to stand their ground or make way. The harbor around them had grown silent, fishermen paused what they were doing, dockworkers stopped stacking crates. Eyes were drawn to the banner of the Imperial Union waving on the ships.

Admiral Vaella didn't smile or offer greetings. "We're here to feed the people of Lorath and to remove those who made them starve."

The representative's face turned pale at this response. His mouth opened, closed, then opened again. "Admiral, this is highly irregular. You can't simply arrive..."

"I can," Vaella interrupted. "And I have."

Behind her, Imperial soldiers were already disembarking. Crates marked with the seal of the Imperial Union were rolled down ramps, grain, salted fish, dried fruits, preserved meat. Dockworkers watched, split between suspicion and hope. Then, seeing no resistance, a few ran forward to help.

The magisters' guards felt uneasy as they could sense the atmosphere was turning tense and they didn't want to die defending a stupid council that made their lives worse.

"You will take me to the Council," Vaella continued. "Now!"

The representative swallowed, then turned without a word and led the way. His guards followed, but their eyes kept watching the growing Imperial presence at the port.

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By midday, word of the fleet's arrival had spread. In the outer districts, people were already lining up for food being distributed from hastily set-up stations. Imperial soldiers kept order, but the crowd was not angry, they were hungry, tired, and curious. Most had no loyalty to the magisters, whose policies had emptied granaries and raised taxes while hoarding supplies for themselves.

In the Hall of Lorath, the Council of Magisters met in emergency session. They had heard the rumors, and now they watched as Admiral Vaella entered followed by two towering Imperial guards. She walked to the center of the chamber as the magisters began to shout. "You are not welcome here," one of the elder magisters shouted.

"You've made sure of that," she replied. "By turning your city into a tomb."

"You have no right to interfere in the internal affairs of Lorath," another snapped.

"I have every right," she said. "The Princes of Lorath, rightful stewards of this island, have petitioned for entry into the Imperial Union. They've named you tyrants and parasites. Their claim has been reviewed and determined to be true by his excellency."

The magisters gasps at this statement. One magister rose to protest, only to be yanked back by another who had already seen where this was going.

Vaella raised a scroll and unrolled it. "Here is the signed declaration. Lorath is now under Imperial protection, effective immediately."

"You can't..." one of the magisters tried to protest but he was cut off. "I can," she said, "And I already have."

The chamber erupted in shouts and protests, but Vaella didn't flinch. She nodded once to her guards who arrested the council. Some came peacefully while others tried to fight and ended up getting beat half to death.

Outside, Imperial banners were being raised across the city. The Princes of Lorath, escorted by Imperial officers, walked freely once again into the palace. The people began to gather in the streets as the grain carts rolled in, and food was handed out in the open.

The Council of Magisters were led out of the Hall in chains. Not one citizen lifted a hand to stop it. Lorath had been taken without a single sword raised.

After a few days passed, the Princes were brought to Heaven's Reach to go over what was going to happen to the city and them. They were brought to a room where Arin and Olorin were waiting for them. Once they took their seats, a servant brought a document and placed it in front of them.

"This document outlines all of the things that will happen to the city and yourselves. As agree upon, you three will retain your titles as the Princes of Lorath and will be granted the authority to rule over the city as you previously had. In return for this, Lorath will follow Imperial laws and will be subject to improvement to Imperial standards." Olorin explained.

The Princes skimmed the document carefully, each of them eyeing different sections. The eldest of the three, Prince Maeron, ran his finger down the lines detailing military oversight and trade restructuring. Prince Daryn focused on the economic clauses, taxation, grain flow, and tariffs. The youngest, Prince Laevan, seemed more interested in the parts concerning their personal status and the security of their families.

After a long pause, Maeron looked up. "So, we are to remain rulers in name, but you'll have soldiers stationed in the city. A governor to 'oversee' us?"

Arin, arms crossed, leaned forward slightly. "Not a governor. An advisor. She'll ensure compliance with Imperial law, assist with the rebuilding process, and keep an eye out for any...old habits. You remain rulers because you asked for our help. That help comes with structure, not chains."

Laevan smirked. "Just gold shackles instead of steel."

"No shackles at all," Olorin replied. "You have your city back. We're giving you the tools to keep it."

Daryn spoke next. "And the Council of Magisters? What happens to them?"

"They'll face trial in the Imperial Court," Olorin said. "Their fate will be decided according to the laws they denied others. When found guilty, they'll never return to Lorath."

Maeron exchanged glances with the others. "Then we accept."

Arin nodded, satisfied. "Good. The people of Lorath need leaders, not parasites. We expect food distribution to continue, trade routes to be restored, and the port cleaned up. The famine will end, and so will the complacency."

A servant stepped forward with ink and quills. One by one, the Princes signed.

When it was done, Olorin rose. "You'll return to Lorath tomorrow. The people will see you take your place again, with the full backing of the Imperial Union."

Back in Lorath, the mood was changing fast. With the Magisters gone and food flowing, the people were beginning to speak again, openly and hopefully. Soldiers of the Imperial Union remained visible, but they didn't harass or patrol unnecessarily. Instead, they worked with dockworkers and citizens, helping to repair infrastructure that had crumbled under years of misrule.

The old slums around the port were already planned to be surveyed by Imperial architects. As an Imperial city there was a certain standard that it needed to meet. The current Lorath was well below those standards and that would need to be fixed quickly.

———

With the year 299AC rolling around, the War had started to intensify. Eddard Stark joined Robb and his army as they marched to war against the Lannisters. The lords of the North were surprised when he arrived as they thought he was dead. The entire army was in an uproar that their lord had returned alongside Sansa and Arya.

Now the Northern cause was reinforced not only by the newly crowned King in the North, but their former Lord who they thought was dead. Catelyn was down in the South, trying to convince Renly to form an alliance with the North against Tywin Lannister, so she didn't get to see her husband return.

As the news spread throughout the continent, many thought this was a lie created by the North to keep the fighting going and hide their losses. Or a way to gain more support from other noble houses. Nobody would truly believe it until they saw it themselves.

Tywin Lannister wasn't like the others when he heard this news. He knew that there had to be some Imperial intervention for this news to be flying around. He knew some of things that the Imperials were capable of, and faking a person's death was definitely one of those things.

But he also saw this as an opportunity to take out two birds with one stone. With both Eddard and Robb being in the same army, all he needed to do was defeat the army and he would take out two of the most important people for the North. He gathered the lords of his army in Harrenhal and began to strategize on their next steps forward.

In the South, Stannis and his forces had arrived at siege Storm's End which ruined the North's chance at an alliance.

A thick mist surrounded the fields around Storm's End as the sun rose over the sea, casting light across the battlefield. The banners of House Baratheon waved in opposite directions, Stannis' black stag against gold, Renly's golden stag against green. Brothers in blood, now enemies in war fighting over succession.

Renly's host was massive, lords from the Reach and the Stormlands stood behind him, thousands of armored knights ready to fight for their King. His camp was vibrant and confident in their ability to win the battle. Many believed Stannis wouldn't dare attack with such inferior numbers.

But Stannis dared because he had the Sellsword companies of Essos with him. He always dared to do something, especially when it was hard.

Atop a hill overlooking the battlefield, Ser Davos stood at his king's side, watching as the vanguard formations shifted in preparation. His army was outnumbered, but tighter, more disciplined, with battle-hardened veterans of the Stepstones and the Blackwater.

The plan was simple: break Renly's left flank early, use the narrow terrain to bottle the larger force, then grind them down with superior positioning. But there was risk, always risk such as unexpected variables.

As the horns sounded from Renly's side, the green army began to move. Heavy cavalry took the lead, charging forward with banners flying. Renly himself sat atop his stallion in bright green armor trimmed in gold, laughing with Ser Loras at his side. "He's come to die, and I'll send him back to Dragonstone in a box," Renly said, more amused than angry.

Stannis watched his brother from afar. "He was always a fool," he muttered, then raised a hand. "Signal the scorpions. Break the charge."

Flaming bolts tore through the mist as the scorpions unleashed their payload. Horses screamed, men were flung from saddles, and the front line of Renly's cavalry broke apart before it could reach Stannis' shields. Soon after, the first line had reached, causing the first clash between the two sides.

Steel met steel as the first lines collided. Stannis' men held tight formations, spears locked, and shields overlapping with each other. Renly's army, while larger, fought with less coordination, each lord eager for glory, each knight charging where they pleased. That chaos favored Stannis and gave him a chance of victory over his brother's army which was filled with green boys who never saw war.

On the flank, Ser Davos led a detachment through a narrow-wooded path. With him were a handful of mercenary tacticians helping reinforce the siege and advise Stannis' commanders with their knowledge of warfare from Essos. Davos struck from the side just as Renly's knights began to press. The flank began to buckle as some of Renly's men tried to rally while others broke entirely.

From the rear, smoke began to rise, fires spreading in Renly's camp, ignited by saboteurs sent by Stannis during the night. Horses panicked, supply wagons were set ablaze, and morale started to unravel. Shouting turned to screaming as orders went unheard amidst the chaos.

Renly's command tent, too close to the battle, was suddenly vulnerable. Ser Loras ordered a retreat, calling for Renly to fall back to Storm's End, but Renly refused. "I am the king. I do not run." He thought himself invincible with his Rainbow guards, but kings bleed like any man.

A stray bolt struck his horse causing it to throw Renly to the ground. Before he could rise, a group of Stannis' knights charged swords at the ready. Ser Loras screamed and fought with all his might, barely managing to drag Renly out of the fray. They vanished into the smoke with a handful of Tyrell guards.

When word spread that Renly had fallen, or at least fled, the collapse was swift.

Men dropped their swords and banners, lords called for retreat. Stannis' army, exhausted but intact, advanced. Within an hour, the field belonged to Stannis. Storm's End itself opened its gates soon after.

The garrison, disillusioned and leaderless, surrendered without a fight. Stannis entered the castle he had once starved defending, now claiming it not as castellan, but as king. In the great hall, Stannis sat beneath the banners of his house. A black stag on a gold hung high behind him.

A messenger entered and bowed. "Lord Renly escaped. He rides toward Highgarden and the Tyrells are with him."

Stannis' jaw tightened. "Then he'll bring war to his own house's doorstep. Let him flee, I have the Stormlands and need to prepare for what comes next."

"Send word across the Stormlands. Storm's End has fallen. My claim stands, and I will not stop until the Iron Throne is mine or destroyed." the messenger bowed and ran off to start sending the ravens.

With Storm's End in his hands, Stannis wanted to raise more support for his cause with the surrounding lords of the Stormlands. He would also go to those who he captured and offer them a choice to join him and swear fealty for their life, or be beheaded.

The fates of war were harsh, but Stannis was a lawful man. He would not have traitors in his midst, and saw the lords who followed Renly, not traitors but misguided as they thought Renly had a chance to win against Stannis.

A few moments later, his guards had brought in the wife of Renly, Lady Margaery Tyrell. 'She's going to be a good negotiating card' he thought as he ordered to give her a room and put her under house arrest. He was no barbarian and would treat her with the respect she deserved in order to negotiate with the Tyrells.