Rebellion part 1

In a room, you could see Max, Aurelius, and Cassius seated around a table, after hearing the news from Catelyn, Maximilian summoned his two counselors to discuss what they should do with the opportunity presented before them.

"should we get involved in this war? We have our own problems as to involve ourselves with their conflict". Said, Cassius.

"Yes but we still have a few years to act, it would be a waste if we don't if whichever faction we support end up winning we could make them pay this favor in the form of information and troops, there's much we still don't know of the other continents it may cost us a lot in the future if we don't know from where the wolfs are eyeing us, we could also ask for troops to support us when we go to our own war". Said, Maximilian.

"I agree with the information but it would be too risky to bring strangers to our homeland when we are at war, what if they decide that it may not be in their best interest to support us, they might follow their ambition and help those traitors who are throwing aside the very foundations of our empire just to put someone unfit in the throne. It is too much of a risk to take, I say we let them solve their conflict by themselves, it isn't our fight". Said, Cassius.

"Don't let your concerns be mistaken by fear, where there's risk there're rewards, while I share your doubts about them I still think we should participle in this war, in which side it is still something to decide, master what information you could gather in this time about the war?" asked Maximilian.

"You know that I don't know everything right?" asked Aurelius with an expression in his face as if asking if Maximilian was dumb.

"Yes I know, but I'm sure you probably heard a lot more than any of us about the current situation, if not the even your theories might work, you're rarely wrong after all". Said Maximilian while rolling his eyes.

"Well, as long as you aren't becoming dumber with time it is fine with me". Said Aurelius with a mocking smile on his face. "You know now the basics, the king arrested the son of Lord Richard stark for charges of conspiracy to murder the crown prince, but it was actually true, Brandon Stark go to the red keep and yelled to Prince Rhaegar to come before him and face his dead". When Aurelius said this Maximilian and Cassius started with a dumbfounded face as if asking if what they heard was right, how could someone be so dumb as to go directly to the capital and threat the prince, it doesn't if he was right but it was something extremely stupid. "then the king get him and his group arrested and then a letter reached the fathers of the boys, asking them to go and answer for the crime of their sons, Lord Richard Stark get there and asked for a trial by combat, the king agreed but named fire as his champion, chained Richard Stark and burned him alive while his son was tied to a torture device with a sword placed just outside his reach and the more he struggled to get the sword the device tightened more around his neck till he strangled himself to dead. After that, proving that he isn't completely stupid, he ordered the heads of Eddard Stark the now lord of the North and family of the people that he brutally murdered, and the head of Robert Baratheon Lord of the Stormlands and betrothed to the woman who escaped with his son". When Aurelius said this, Cassius stared for a moment till his brain seemed to connect the dots. "Wait! I thought she was kidnapped, how you know she escaped with him anyway?" Asked Cassius before looking at Maximilian and seeing his indifferent face he guessed Max already knew, at this, he could only curse under his breath wondering what else they were hiding from him. "Yes, we found them one of the days of the tourney, it turned out she was the mystery knight and the prince found her, after that they just stared at each other and the situation turned ambiguous, even then I never thought she would escape with him and hide even after her father and brother died, stupid little girl, so easily charmed by a married man to the point she would abandon everything for it, *sigh*". Said Aurelius while shaking his head.

"Then shortly after that Lord Jon arryn sent letters to everyone, including us, this letter arrived this morning, at the same time as the one sent to Lord Tully". Said Aurelius before showing a letter.

"in it, he explains the crimes committed by house Targaryen and asks for any house willing to join their coalition". Said Aurelius.

"those are the undercurrents, as for who will join who, I can definitely say that the rebels will be composed by the Starks, Arryns, and Baratheons". Said Aurelius.

"No shit, I thought they were going to let the King take their heads." Said Max sarcastically, just to make Aurelius glare at him with narrowed eyes, seeing that he just looked to the side feigning ignorance, thinking about it now it wasn't worth taking into account that now his training will increase.

"As I was saying, besides them it may be possible for the Tullys to join them, they were allies once so they could now, it may depend on how the war goes, in the loyalist side we have the Targaryens and the Crownlands, Dorne would surely send troops to aid the Targaryens after all even with all Rhaegar did his wife is still the mother of his children and it would probably end up badly for her if the rebels win, the Reach may or may not join the loyalist, they will probably try to remain neutral unless the king offer then something good enough, the iron island won't even bother with the conflict and the Lannister won't send any help, I highly doubt that a man so prideful would send help to a man who humiliated him for years, so the Westerlands will be out, from the looks of it the rebels seem to have a nice chance to succeed, especially with our help, our fleet could give them the mobility they need to transport their troops from a place to another and clean the path off the redwyne fleet, on the other hand, if we help the loyalist they gain a mobile and powerful force to clean the rebels before they could unite their forces, and of course we have to remember that there would surely be some that might take the risk in search for profits, they might join the loyalist in order to get in the good graces of the king. The option is yours, whichever side you wish to take or if you don't take any at all, but remember that we can't mobilize too many troops, we can't leave an opening, at much you could use ten thousand troops, but since now you might have to accompany the troops in battle, but that's just in case our numbers are equal or we have superior numbers, In any other case you won't be allowed to set a foot on the battlefield". Said Aurelius while looking at Max.

"I know I know, in any case, I think we should support the rebels, after all, what sort of songs would they made if we fight for a lunatic tyrant". Said Maximilian smiling just before Aurelius hit him in the back of his head while saying "Are you dumb? Fight for songs? It doesn't matter who you support as long as you win, the winner is king and the loser is the bandit, that's the truth of the world, just fight for what's best for our people, not because of some stupid sense of justice or morals, maybe you should visit your westerosi friends less".

"Why would you do that? It's not like they have done anything to me". Asked Max.

"But they did, they're influencing you with their ideas of honor and chivalry, they're making of you nothing more than a chained beast, it doesn't matter how much strength you have if you don't know the proper way to use it, but we will speak about that later, take a decision, one with a rational explanation". Answered Aurelius, and just for a moment you could see a flash of worry on his face, if all the work he had done to train the strongest warrior the world had seen fail just because of some children it would be a catastrophe, sadly he doesn't have the time to be a normal kid, those that rule has the duty to protect those under them, and someone in his position can't have the luxury of being weak or even being normal.

"Fine". Said Max while looking at the floor, not daring to meet Aurelius gaze at this moment, he knows his master and knows that the only thing he won't tolerate is someone abandoning his duty, and he had to admit that the tales of knights and heroes he heard were making him see things in a different light but that doesn't mean they are wrong, because while war might be horrible people fight for their justice, even when they invaded the summer isles they did it because of need and the citizens of the islands fought to protect their lands, no one was in the wrong, and now the rebels took their weapons to fight against a mad king that may kill any of them just because he feels like doing it, what's wrong in trying to be a hero for the people.

"We will fight in the rebels side, they are the ones that would probably value our help the most, and we at least know them, Lord Arryn is an honorable man and the fact that he sent a letter to us means he is willing to pay for it". Said Max.

"Fine, I will send an eagle to your mother requesting ten thousand soldiers, five thousand infantries, two thousand heavy cavalries and three thousand archers". Said Aurelius.

"Archers? The training program in the summer islands already produced that many?". Asked Max.

"You underestimate Cassius ability to train soldiers and it's not like we had to train them from the beginning, they already were good archers but now they are the best of the best". Said Aurelius while looking at Cassius. "they can shoot at more than two hundred meters while moving, and now they are just half bad with a sword, I'm confident that they could defend themselves from the levies of the westerosi, it certainly was a good idea to create a training method based on the one the islanders used to train their archers while making it much difficult but still our men were able to complete it". Said Cassius while puffing his chest, you could see that he was really proud of this achievement.

"Well, that's quite a feat for the amount of time you have been training them. We should start discussing what strategy we should follow while you write the letter to mother, the faster we do this the better". Said Max.

"I say we take half our warships with the transport ships and enough dried rations to stand two years, I doubt we would more than that and even if we do we could just buy it, when our ships set route to the Vale we should take the opportunity to attack the royal fleet and destroy as much of them as we can. We should sail in at much a week, that way we could evade the redwyne fleet if they decide to join the loyalist, they won't be able to mobilize their full forces fearing an attack by sea and the number of ships they would have in the eastern side of the continent would be less, even if we can't destroy all the ships of the royal fleet their combined forces won't be able to take our ships, doing this we would neutralize most of the advantage the reach could provide if they join the royalist, besides this the number of troops they could send would be at least halved, and we could even provide our ships to move the rebel forces". Said Cassius while gesturing at the map of western he just put on the table.

"Sounds fine for me, besides the letter to your mother we will write one to the Tyrells, they should be able to understand what our involvement would mean to their war efforts". Said Aurelius while writing in a piece of parchment.

"it sounds fine by me, I will go inform Lord Hoster about our departure, get everything ready, make sure that by the time we reach the summer isles the army and the fleet are ready, send the letter to mother tonight, the ones to the Tyrells and Lord Arryn should be sent when we reach the summer isles". Said Max while exiting the room.

After asking a servant to bring him to see Hoster, Max was brought to a room and after some time Hosted and Brynden came in the room.

"I guess this reunion is to ask about the news we got today, I'm sure Catelyn told you if you are here now". Said Hoster while taking a seat.

"Yes she told me, but Lord Arryn sent a letter to us too, in any case, I came to thank for your hospitality but we have to go, I don't think it would be a good idea to stay here while your people are at war, we depart tonight, after this I'm going to say my goodbyes to Catelyn and Edmure, and get my things ready". Said Max.

"Will you involve yourself in this war? Kid". Asked Brynden getting a sigh from Hoster after hearing his brother.

"Who knows, but I don't think that would change too much about what you are going to do does it, see you soon Brynden, Lord Hoster". Said Max while nodding his head and exiting the room.

"What we are going to do… Do you think he knows? Brother". Asked Brynden.

"He is smart, and the man that its always by his side, that Aurelius seems smarter, I'm sure they figured out that we will support our allies, after all, who would support a king that kills their vassals when they search for justice". Said Hoster, and hearing this last part Brynden just nodded in agreement.

"Then when you will call our banners?" asked Brynden.

"Not yet, when Arryn and Stark come I will ask Eddard to fulfill the promise his father made, my daughter was promised to a lord of Winterfell and she will marry one. Besides we need a guarantee that they are going to succeed before joining them". Answered Hoster.

At the same time, Max was walking to the field was Edmure was practicing with a training sword.

"I see you are training hard". Said Max.

"I have to if I want to defeat you one day". Said Edmure.

"I would like to see that". Said Max with a cocky smile on his face, because while he wasn't that good with a sword he has been training for much longer than Edmure and thanks to that he is better than him even with a sword at the moment. " I came to talk to you about something, I'm leaving today, things are getting difficult here and if I don't leave now maybe I won't be able to". Said Max, when he said this Edmure stopped swinging his sword and looked at him.

"And when are you going to come back?". Asked Edmure.

"I don't know but it might take some time, take care Edmure, grow strong my friend, bye". Said Max while clasping his shoulders, after that they speak a little longer and Max went to see Catelyn.

"I see that you are better Lady Tully". Said Max while seeing Catelyn praying in the sept.

"Max, what are you doing here?". Asked Catelyn.

"Well, I will leave in a few hours, so I came to say goodbye". Answered Max.

"I see, I knew you will have to leave but I didn't think it will be so soon". Said Catelyn with a wry smile on her face, clearly trying to make him think she wasn't sad for his departure.

"Don't worry I will come soon, don't tell your father or your uncle but I will gather my troops and bring them to help your family and their allies". Said Max while hugging her and stroking her hair.

"what are you talking about? my father hasn't called his bannermen". Said Catelyn.

"Yet, but I'm sure he will, he won't just throw their alliance in the mud, not when he knows they can win". Said Max.

"Then my father and uncle would go to war too? Wait you said you were going to bring troops, then are you going to fight too?". Asked Catelyn.

"Yes, I will, it is time for me to enter a battlefield, but don't worry I will be surrounded by the best warriors my country has to offer, I will be fine, besides I will fight alongside your father and your uncle if something happens to me you can keep nagging at them every time you see them" said Max while laughing, making Catelyn broke the hug and hit him in the shoulder.

"Stop laughing, this is something serious". Said Catelyn.

"You know, cat, I will be fine, I need to do this, the same way you will need to marry". Said Max.

"This is the first time you call me cat, even when I told you long ago to call me that, it doesn't make me feel any better, and what you mean by marriage? Brandon died already". Said Catelyn while lowering her tone at the end.

"No, but your father would probably continue with the pact both families made, there's still Brandon's brother Eddard, I can't know for sure but it is possible". Said Max.

"Have you met him? How is he?" asked Cat.

"Yes, if we are honest you will have a better chance with this one, Brandon was too willful, I even heard he had a woman already, Ned is more… Quiet, I'm sure you will be able to handle him". Said Max reassuringly.

"Ush don't talk like that about a dead man". Said Cat while hitting his shoulder.

"why? He was like that, I'm glad that at least you got the quieter of both brothers". Said max smiling while rubbing his shoulder as if hurt. "Cat I have to go now, take care". After saying this he came closer to her and gave her a hug.

After that Max reunited with Cassius and Aurelius, while the servants took their things into the ship, they set sail to the summer isles shortly after.

Going at full speed and without stopping and thanks to the favorable winds, they reach the summer isles in five days, leaving just two days to make sure everything was ready to fight a war. Since Max was too tired from the travel he just threw himself in a bed the moment they reached the mansion in the city that is being built where last lament town was.

The next day Max end up buried under a pile of parchments, he had to check and approve every detail of the deployment, while Cassius brought them in and Aurelius just stood close to him while seeing him work, from a detailed report about the amount of every type of supplies they would carry to every single soldier, their armors and weapons, it took Max ten hours to go through that amount of parchments, after doing that he went to his bed and didn't let the servants take him out of it for the rest of the day, even when they came to take him to eat he just threw them a pillow and told them to bring his food while he wrapped himself in his bed sheets making him look like a caterpillar shocking the servants when they came with the food later.

Next day he was dragged out of bed by Cassius at dawn, not without fighting before of course, but after washing himself and dressing he was greeted by the army before departing, five thousand myrmidons, half of the royal guard of Thessaly, he could understand why his mother would send the best-trained soldiers of the country, but still seeing the lines they made while standing in formation makes him wonder if this is not an overkill, he can't see how the levies from Westeros no matter how well trained would be able to stand against them. Here they were, standing row after row of black and white feathers in their crests, with their metallic cuirasses of a shining black color, while the alloy its actually of a golden like color, they have the honor of having their armors painted black, as well as their greaves and bracers while over their hips they wore leather skirts, with spears made from the wood of a golden heart tree while the tip was made from another alloy, different from the armor it wasn't made to be lighter and more resistant but to be heavier and sharper, while the commanders and captains had the privilege to have the tips of the spears with runes that made the weapons stay sharp forever, and wear red capes on their backs as a mark of all the blood they had shed, and their heavy metal shields made from the same alloy as their armor, but their shields while black had different red paintings with different images made by the soldiers. The cavalry was armed in a similar way respecting their armors, while mostly the same they didn't have the leather skirt covering their legs but under their armor are pieces of scale armor, making them be completely covered, apart from that their shields were small and triangular with a sharp edge, and their lances were made from common materials, from the wood to the metal in the tip, their purpose was to be used just in the first charge and then be abandoned, so all the members of the cavalry were great swordsmen and their swords were made from the same alloy as the spear tips of the infantry, and of course their horses, magnificent beasts that were specially bred to be the most powerful horses in their lands, fully armored with a bard made from the same alloy as the armor of the infantry, but instead of black their bards were red with white markings, these knights were armed with the best the empire had to offer, making the cavalry be four times more expensive even when their numbers were less than half. And finally, the archers, wearing green cloth with cuirasses, bracers, and greaves made from brown leather and armed with golden heart bows.

All in all the sight was magnificent, thousands of soldiers just waiting to go to war, you could even feel their craving for blood, for glory.

He just stood in the podium in from of them, they're the better-trained soldiers the empire has to offer, they didn't need a speech, they didn't need anything to raise their morale, they are killing machines made flesh, living for the glory of the empire with the only wish of one day get their names in the hall of warriors in the royal palace of Stargaze, the capital of Thessaly. He looked at them and all of them looked at him, seeing the future of their country before their eyes, the incarnation of the empire itself and the one who was blessed by the all-mother herself, their prince and future emperor, he did just one gesture, he rised his spear in the air and then hit the ground with its shaft "CLANK", even with so many men standing before him the sound his spear made was overwhelming, and he kept doing it "CLANK, CLANK, CLANK" with every hit their heartbeat increased and they were overwhelmed with a sense of euphoria making all the soldiers in the field hit the ground with their spear in a unison movement, every time they hit the ground this shook the earth itself making the citizens wonder what was going on while those who were seeing them just stared in awe at the aura they released, they could only feel sorry for those who would dare to fight these men.

"WAR" with this shout from Maximilian the soldiers stopped hitting the ground with their spears and instead their raised them in the air while roaring "AUUU, AUUU, AUUU".