Chapter 16: Road to the rebellion

Sadly before I could use it for anything news broke our in the seven kingdoms. Prince Rhaegar had absconded with Lyanna Stark without anyone knowing where she was.

Speculations were flying up and about especially since the brother, Brandon Stark was said to be on the way to the capital to demand answers instead of completing his wedding to Catelyn Tully.

[Entry 1115,282AC]

Brandon Stark arrived at the capital alongside his friends, Ethan Glover, Kyle Royce, Elbert Arryn, and Jeffory Mallister,I was there watching and surprisingly despite rumors of his behavior Brandon was not a hot headed brat who put his head into the maws of the dragon.

He requested an audience with the king bidding his friends to wait for his news outside the city. I believe they were told to flee if any harm came on him.

And that is what happened. Brandon petitioned the king to recall Rhaegar and his sister and if any harm came to her he requested justice.

Aerys spat on all the oaths he had sworn. Ordered Brandon be arrested for accusing a prince. That he should be glad his sister was a whore for a dragon. When news of this spread his friends swiftly escaped the city to bring news back to their families.

Ethan Glover had to be knocked out by Arryn cause he wanted to storm the Red Keep and rescue Brandon. As they made their way back to Riverrun, a missive was sent to Lord Rickard Stark to stand trial for his son.

With Aerys madness and rumors of execution by wildfire that have been around for some time I was not feeling confident at all. But it seems my case was all but forgotten… for now.

Regardless there will be no institutional religion on my island if I had any say.

As I was waiting for the trial, I decided to rent one of the manses in Rhaenys Hill. I decided to practice the magic I had learnt in the books. Mostly blood magic and sacrifice as I had already understood my northern heritage.

It turns out, I couldn't use the runes or spells right now as the magic in the land had waned considerably. What woukd have been easy two hundred years ago like was exponentially more difficult now.

From what I could tell I had enough special magical blood to do one big ritual and that was it until magic returned in full strength. The reason is I am an outsider. An inter dimensional interloper. One of the few in this world making my blood a bit above king's blood.

I decided I would use it on the weirwood tree to increase its size and growth and using my blood as a medium and sacrifice disconnect its connection to the old gods while still keeping its magical properties. And connect it to the Faceless One instead.

He was the one that brought me to this world. Say what you want about elderitch beings he is one I trust since he already has interest in me. If I can communicate with him even if its not often he might help me to be able to leave this world eventually.

That itself is important to me. I would need my full attention to achieve it. Because of that I decided on Aemon's twentieth nameday I would vacate the seat of Limgrave to him and my children. By then I'll be free of most responsibilities and be able to travel once more.

[Journal entry 1116, 282AC]

Rickard Stark arrived at the capital and all hell broke loose afterward.

The Red Keep

There were a great many people in the hall. Nobles, servants, small folk, royals were all here to see the trial. This all began with Rhaegar's folly.

Even on earth running away with another man's fiance is abhorred. What does he want with the girl? A mistress?

She can be the lady of the stormlands but… she might prefer being a mistress to the dragon prince. Maybe its the proximity to the throne. You never know with teenagers.

'Bring out Brandon Stark!' ordered Aerys as his guards went to the black cells and fetched him to the hall where his father was waiting.

Brandon looked worse for wear. He had obviously been treated harshly. He still retained his dignity and pride as a scion of The Builder.

After a quick bow the trial commenced with Brandon explaing what he had done and what he had heared. That Lyanna was last seen near Maidenpool with guards on the way to Riverrun.

The prince and some kingsguards approached them and started speaking when she did not want to leave with him he attacked her guards. Slaying five of them and one managed to escape with significant wounds.

He and his horse eventually reached Riverrun where he told his tale before succumbing to sleep where he was treated by the Maester there.

He came to Kingslanding to find his sister and demand justice for the harm the prince had brought on House Stark.

Some psychopants decided to speak against him. Shouting about disrespecting the king. As it was going on I could finally see it.

I understood.

'This is where it all begins. My dreams… the war starts now.'

And as usual I was right. Aerys began his tirade. Saying drivel about Lyanna calling her the dragon's whore. She should be glad that a dragon is taking her to mate and not a stag.

Brandon was incensed and asked for him to take back the sentence. Lord Rickard was angry but his face was made of ice.

Rickard asked for release of his son and that Rhaegar be called to answer for his crimes. Aerys decided he had heard enough and sentenced Brandon to death for questioning a prince of the blood.

Rickard requested a trial by combat. Rickard chose steel… Aerys chose wildfire. Rickard was assaulted by guards and strung up above a flaming barrel of Wildfyre which burnt him and cooked him in his armor.

Brandon in his desperation to save his father strangled himself on some Tyroshi contraption around his neck while a sword was placed outside his reach.

Rickard died.

Brandon died.

Aerys requested the heads of Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon.

He would instead receive a declaration of war!