Ancient History The beginning of time, but not recorded history, in Westeros was known as the Dawn Age

(I: 616) This time !eriod, of indeterminate "ength, found Westeros !o!u"ated by the chi"dren of the forest, who for time#uncounted "i$ed a"one throughout the continent of Westeros, e%ce!t !erha!s for the giants (and maybe one other race, if the "egend of the &eastone 'hair on ("d Wyk in the Iron Is"ands is true (II: )*+)) They worshi!!ed the gods of forest and stream and stone whose names were secret (I: 61+) ,o one knows how "ong it was that the chi"dren "i$ed a"one in Westeros, nor where they themse"$es came from We do know, howe$er, when they came in contact with the first outsiders This was about 1),--- years ago, and these in$aders were the .irst /en (I: 61+) The .irst /en crossed into what wou"d be Dorne from the eastern continent, using the "and bridge that connected the continents The chi"dren shattered this "and#bridge in a futi"e attem!t to end of the in$asion (I: 01*, 61+), the resu"t being the 2roken Arm of Dorne and the chain of is"ands named the &te!stones (&&': 13) The .irst /en brought with them bron4e, great "eathern shie"ds, and the first horses They a"so brought their own gods, but these they e$entua""y !ut aside for the gods of the chi"dren (e%ce!t in the Iron Is"ands, where the re"igion of the Drowned 5od was in$ented (&&': 36)) They warred with one another at first, as the chi"dren fought the .irst /en for cutting down and burning the weirwoods to c"ear "and for themse"$es The .irst /en continued to cut them down after this, but for fear that the chi"dren cou"d watch them through the eyes of the car$ed trees (I: 61+) After centuries of fighting, when it seemed a"" was going in fa$or of the .irst /en, a !eace was forged (which we s!ecu"ate to ha$e ha!!ened 1-,--- years ago, rough"y in the same !eriod as the raising of /oat 'ai"in (II: 6+0)) The 7act was commemorated at the Is"e of .aces, where e$ery weirwood was car$ed with a face and they were a"" guarded by the order of the green men The 7act began 0,--- years of friendshi! between men and the chi"dren, and ended the Dawn Age to begin to the Age of 8eroes, during which times "egendary figures such as 9ann the '"e$er and 2randon the 2ui"der were re!uted to "i$e The 7act ga$e the coasts, high !"ains, meadows, mountains, and bogs to the .irst /en In turn the chi"dren were gi$en the dee! forests, and the !romise that no more weirwoods wou"d be cut down (I: 61+) The 7act sur$i$ed e$en the 9ong ,ight (I: 61*), which took !"ace some *,--- years ago (I: 60+) In this time night seemed to "ast for a generation, and there was terrib"e co"d The (thers came from the co"d "andsca!e in the far north and near"y destroyed a"" men in the &e$en :ingdoms The 9ong ,ight was ended at the 2att"e of the Dawn (II: )0)) when the ,ight;s Watch rode out to face the (thers and defeated them The Wa"" was raised at this time (I: 3+), re!uted"y with the aid of giants and the "egendary 2randon the 2ui"der (III: 061) 2randon the 2ui"der is a"so said to ha$e gi$en the ,ight;s Watch <2randon;s 5ift<, a stretch of "and )6 "eagues wide, but maesters argue it was some other 2randon (III: 06), 063) 7ossib"y re"ated to the 9ong ,ight and the founding of the ,ight;s Watch is the a!!arent founding of the &tark "ine (II: 66)), with 2randon the 2ui"der as !art of the "ine (and !erha!s e$en its founder) (I: 6+*) It is suggested that Winterfe"" itse"f is some 1-,--- years o"d (I: 1*), but this is "ike"y an e%am!"e of the Westerosi !enchant for rounding rough"y and we s!ecu"ate that the raising of Winterfe"" began more or "ess at the same time as the beginning of 8ouse &tark .or many thousands of years the &tarks were not the uncontested :ings of the ,orth, and their !rimary antagonists the 2o"tons of the Dreadfort did not bend the knee unti" some 1,--- years ago (II: 63-) A notab"e e$ent in the mi""ennia of ser$ice of the ,ight;s Watch is the ru"e of the 13th 9ord 'ommander of the ,ight;s Watch, known now on"y as ,ight;s :ing after a"" records of his name were destroyed 8e had bedded a strange, !a"e <cor!se woman< and !roc"aimed himse"f a king and her his =ueen Terrib"e things were done at the ,ight .ort by his &worn 2rothers, who were ens"a$ed with sorcery .or thirteen years he ru"ed this way unti" the &tark in

Winterfe"" and the :ing#beyond#the Wa"" >oramun ?oined forces to defeat him (III: 6)1, 63-) This same >oramun was re!uted to ha$e sounded the 8orn of Winter, waking giants from the earth (II: )+6) During the Age of 8eroes the &e$en :ingdoms were su!!osed to ha$e first been founded (I: 61*) According to "egend, 9ann the '"e$er wink"ed 'aster"y @ock from the 'aster"ys (I: )31) and re!uted"y the kings of the @ock c"aimed descent from him e$en into the modern era (I: 6*-) &imi"ar"y the most famous king of the @each was 5arth 5reenhand, from whom the ru"ing 8ouse 5ardener (and many other houses besides) c"aim their descent (I: 6*6 III: 6+) In the storm"ands the &torm :ings arose, a "ine founded by Durran who su!!osed"y constructed &torm;s And to withstand the fury of the gods of the sea and the wind, who hated him for marrying their daughter (II: 306) In the Iron Is"ands, the 5rey :ing re!uted"y married a mermaid and ru"ed not on"y the western is"es but the sea itse"f (I: 6*+) A!!ro%imate"y 6,--- years ago (I: 36-) , the Age of 8eroes and the !eace of the 7act ended when the Anda"s in$aded from across the sea, "anding in the Ba"e (III: ++-) and bringing a new re"igion and stee" with them (I: 03), 61+#61*) .or centuries they warred with the .irst /en unti" the si% southron kingdoms fe"" to them and they destroyed a"" the weirwood gro$es and ki""ed the chi"dren of the forest where$er they cou"d find them The chi"dren of the forest may ha$e hidden themse"$es beyond the Wa"" at this !oint, and were su!!osed"y ne$er seen again (I: )-1) (n"y the :ingdom of the ,orth remained ru"ed by the .irst /en (I: 61*), a"though Dorne seems to ha$e been more a confederation of !etty "ordshi!s than a !ro!er rea"m gi$en what is said about /ors /arte"" defeating his ri$a"s for so"e ru"e (I: 61-) The &e$en of the Anda"s may be the reason that s"a$ery has not e%isted on the Westerosi main"and for thousands of years (III: )60), a"though the ironborn !ractice it with their thra""s and sa"t wi$es (II: 1)0, 13)) and the wi"d"ings sti"" kee! thra""s beyond the Wa"" (II: 06*) Among these fa""en rea"ms was that of 8ouse /udd, who were :ings of the @i$ers and 8i""s They were the "ast of the .irst /en kings of the Trident and had ru"ed for 1,--- years before the Anda"s (III: 6)- &&': ))) 7erha!s one of the se$en Anda" kings who defeated and ki""ed :ing Tristifer IB in his fina" batt"e was Arreg the :ins"ayer who cut down the great weirwoods at 8igh 8eart and s"ew many of the chi"dren of the forest who tried to defend the ancient gro$e (III: )01) A"sewhere, the Anda"s estab"ished themse"$es as :ings of /ountain and Ba"e and from them descends 8ouse Arryn, one of the o"dest "ines of Anda" nobi"ity (I: 6*)), whi"e Anda" ad$enturers founded 8ouse 9annister and made themse"$es kings of the wester"ands (I: 6*-) and Anda"s swe!t o$er the Iron Is"ands 0,--- years ago to end 8ouse 5reyiron, the "ine of Crron @edhand which had ru"ed uncontested for 1,--- years (II: 13+) but un"ike in the other regions they were assimi"ated to the nati$e be"iefs of the ("d Way and the Drowned 5od (I: 6+*) A"sewhere in the wor"d the eastern continent was dominated for the most !art by the em!ire of ("d 5his which e%isted at a time when the Ba"yria in the 9ands of the 9ong &ummer (III: /a!) was said to sti"" be young and sa$age (II: )66) .i$e great wars were fought between ("d 5his and the .reeho"d (II: )66), wars which Ba"yria won with its dragons At the "ast war some 6,--- years ago the .reeho"d fina""y con=uered 5his (II: )6+) .rom here Ba"yria went on to con=uer much other "and as shown by the many straight roads (I: 113) that they made, a"though it seems to ha$e focused !rimari"y on coasta" regions The most westward ho"ding of the em!ire was the c"uster of is"ands about Dragonstone where they raised a citade" at an unknown time in the days of the em!ire (I: 61) III: 6-3) The ,ine .ree 'ities were c"ear"y under Ba"yrian sway due to the bastard Ba"yrian they s!eak nati$e"y (I: *0), a"though 2raa$os, and !erha!s others of the cities, did not e%ist at the time of the founding of the Ba"yrian em!ire (&&': 16)) Interesting"y, the .ace"ess /en ha$e their origin in Ba"yria, a"though in a time !rior to the e%istence of the .ree 'ity of 2raa$os (&&': 16)) It is not im!ossib"e that this is re"ated to the other ma?or e$ent so far written about: A4or Ahai and the !ro!hecies about him

It is not unreasonab"e to assume that A4or Ahai e%isted at about the same time as the 9ong ,ight, some *,--- years ago, gi$en the "egend of his forging his sword to batt"e a darkness that was u!on the wor"d (II: 116) The fate of his @ed &word of 8eroes and of himse"f is unknown, but it is said that he did win his war with the aid from others (III: *61) 8owe$er, rough"y at about the same time as the ec"i!sing of ("d 5his and the rise of Ba"yria, a !ro!hecy dated to 6,--- years ago was made c"aiming that A4or Ahai wou"d be reborn to sa$e the wor"d against a new darkness (III: +11) At some !oint after the :ing#beyond#the#Wa"" >oramun there came other wi"d"ing kings, such as the 8orned 9ord and the brother#kings 5ende" and 5orne (II: )+6) 3,--- years ago the brother managed to e$ade the ,ight;s Watch and infi"trate the ,orth in great numbers using a network of tunne"s that e%tended under the Wa"" With the aid of the :ing of the ,orth and the Cmbers the Watch was ab"e to crush the wi"d"ing army, a"though the :ing of the ,orth was ki""ed by 5ende" who in turn was ki""ed by the new king Wi"d"ing "egend ho"ds that 5orne and those who managed to esca!e the s"aughter sti"" wander the tunne"s (III: 3--) Another notab"e :ing#beyond#the#Wa"" was 2ae" the 2ard, who e%isted at some time when the 2o"tons were sti"" hosti"e to the &tarks A song 2ae" wrote c"aimed that he seduced the daughter of the &tark in Winterfe"" and had a chi"d by her, who grew u! to be heir to his grandfather The wi"d"ings say that the son s"ew 2ae" in batt"e when he sought to break !ast the Wa"" ,e$er knowing that 2ae" was his father, he brought the head to Winterfe"" at which !oint his mother threw herse"f from the wa""s in grief at the kins"aying 8is f"aying at the hands of a 2o"ton was reckoned as the $engeance of the gods (II: 600#606) The "ast ma?or migration into Westeros wou"d be the coming of the @hoynar 1,--- years ago (II: )33) They were a !eo!"e who "i$ed in cities a"ong the @hoyne ri$er on the eastern continent "ed by the warrior#=ueen ,ymeria, and stories c"aim that ,ymeria;s host were most"y women in a f"eet of 1-,--- shi!s (I: 61, )-3 A8') Taking 9ord /ors /arte"" to husband, ,ymeria ga$e him the strength to defeat a"" of his ri$a"s and become the first 7rince of Dorne (a tit"e deri$ed from the @hoynar custom of not using king or =ueen) The @hoynar married with the nati$e !eo!"e, "eading to three distinct grou!s of Dornishmen "i$ing in the mountains, the deserts, and on the coasts (III: 03-) The @hoynar brought their own gods with them to Dorne, but they ha$e "arge"y disa!!eared in fa$or of the .aith (n the other hand, many @hoynish customs, inc"uding inheritance regard"ess of gender, ha$e been absorbed into Dornish society (A8') After this time no tru"y huge e$ents ha!!en unti" the Doom of Ba"yria a!!ro%imate"y 06- to 6-- years ago (I: 61) &&': *6) The !recise nature of the Doom is uncertain, but it was a catac"ysm that destroyed the .reeho"d of Ba"yria and was !owerfu" enough to shatter the Ba"yrian !eninsu"a, "ea$ing the strait through the ruin a smoking, demon#haunted !"ace (III: )1*) The sur$i$ors f"ed on shi!s to Dragonstone, where the Targaryens (descended from high "ords of Ba"yria (I: 61))) took command and a!!ear to ha$e abandoned the o"d gods of Ba"yria in fa$or of the &e$en (II: 1-1) 8a$ing few natura" resources on Dragonstone, it is "ike"y that they so"d many $a"uab"e goods that they brought with them on the main"and, es!ecia""y Ba"yrian stee" swords, which are often dated to ha$ing been in Westerosi fami"ies for 0-- to 6-- years (I: )-, ))6, 60+) The on"y ad$antage they had o$er a"" other !eo!"es in the wor"d were the dragons that they had with them (I: 1-)) C! to and after this time intermittent wars ha!!ened between Dorne and the kings of the @each and the &torm"ands (II: )33), and no doubt between many other rea"ms (southron armies threw themse"$es at /oat 'ai"in for 1-,--- years, for e%am!"e (II: 6+0)) About 66years ago the &torm :ings took contro" of the Trident u! to the ,eck (I: 6*0), :ar"on &tark defeated sea raiders from the east and founded 8ouse :arstark some 1,--- years ago (III: )31, )3)), and :ing @ickard &tark s"ew the /arsh :ing and married his daughter at some unc"ear date (I: 613) A"so in this time, the &tarks "ost their strength at sea after 2randon the 2urner burned his father;s f"eet after :ing 2randon the &hi!wright disa!!eared e%!"oring the

&unset &ea (I: 613 II: 1*3) :ing Tommen II of the @ock went on a foo";s =uest to Ba"yria and ne$er returned, "osing the Ba"yrian greatsword 2rightroar (III: 361) (ne of the ma?or mi"itary forces in Westeros at this time were the kings of the Iron Is"ands, who terrori4ed a"" the western coasts About 1,--- years ago an ironborn king butchered the ca!tured sons of the @i$er :ing, sending him the !ieces (II: 133) In the time of :ing Dhored, ("d Town, the Arbor, 2ear Is"and (re!uted"y "ost in a wrest"ing match to :ing @odrik &tark, who ga$e it to the /ormonts (I: 613)), and many !arts of the coast was under the contro" of the ironborn 8is successors gradua""y "ost many of these !ossessions o$er the centuries &ti"", by the time of 8arren the 2"ack, 3-- years ago, the ironborn contro""ed their is"es and the who"e of the Trident from the ,eck to the 2"ackwater @ush after 8arwyn 8ardhand (8arren;s grandfather) defeated Arrec the &torm :ing and won the ri$er"ands (I: 6*0, 6**) The on"y ma?or e$ent of note on the eastern continent so far, after the Doom of Ba"yria, was the coming of the Dothraki out of the Dothraki &ea This took !"ace 0-- or more years ago and it can be assumed that the fa"" of Ba"yria and the chaos that fo""owed it is what !rom!ted (and !erha!s a""owed) the Dothraki to attack with such !ower 6-,--- Dothraki, at "east ha"f of them warriors, were "ed by :ha" Temmo and they sacked and burned e$ery town and city before them (III: 16) When they came to the .ree 'ity of Dohor, 3,--- Cnsu""ied eunuch s"a$e#so"diers awaited them Temmo, his b"oodriders, his kos, and a"" of his sons died with more than 1),--- Dothraki screamers .rom that time Dohor has ke!t a standing guard of Cnsu""ied to guard it, each carrying a b"ack braid of hair on his s!ear in honor of the Three Thousand (III: 1+) The War of the Usurper @obert;s @ebe""ion, a"so known as the War of the Csur!er (&&': 3+), was s!arked by the a!!arent abduction of 9yanna &tark by 7rince @haegar Targaryen (I: 36, II: 6*)) 8owe$er, the roots of the rebe""ion were first !"anted at the tournament at 8arrenha" in the year of the fa"se s!ring when Addard &tark was 1* years of age 8a$ing won the tournament, 7rince @haegar "aid the winter rose crown of the =ueen of beauty in 9yanna;s "a! rather than that of his wife, the Dornish 7rincess A"ia (I: 6)6) The on"y &tarks !resent at 8arrenha" were 2randon, Addard, 9yanna, and 2en?en (III: )*1) This action, which caused some scanda", was taken !oor"y by those who might be concerned about @haegar;s intentions towards 9yanna &tark According to 5@@/, he be"ie$ed it took !"ace a year or two !rior to the beginning of the war (&&': )3)), a"though he was c"ear about not being certain Two years seem im!ossib"e, as the war itse"f "asted a year, meaning a s!an of three years wou"d ha$e !assedE but >aime 9annister was 16 at 8arrenha" and 1+ at the time of the &ack (ne year is not im!ossib"e, howe$er, es!ecia""y gi$en the uncertainty as to when the beginning of the war is dated Another notab"e e$ent which wou"d im!act the war was the entry of &er >aime 9annister into the :ingsguard at Aerys;s command (to re!"ace &er 8ar"an 5randison, who died in his s"ee! FIII: 1)*G), which had "ed 9ord Tywin 9annister ## his 8and for many years ## to resign his office (III: 1)1) At some !oint after the tournament (&&@: 31), 2randon &tark;s im!ending marriage to 'ate"yn Tu""y is announced 9itt"efinger cha""enges him for her hand, des!ite being <scarce"y< 16 to 2randon;s )- (I: 101) 'ate"yn herse"f wou"d be "ate 1+ or ear"y 1*, whi"e her sister wou"d be a!!ro%imate"y 16 or 16 years of age (I: 310, 661) 2randon defeated 9itt"efinger, "ea$ing him sore"y woundedE 9ysa Tu""y he"!ed to tend to him unti" 9ord 8oster cou"d send him away (I: 101, 36+) At some !oint, !ossib"y immediate"y after the due", 2randon swore he wou"d return to 'ate"yn soon from some errand that wou"d not kee! him "ong (I: 6*1) There is some ga! fo""owing this !oint, !ossib"y se$era" months "ong, during which it;s !robab"e that @haegar;s son Aegon was born some time !rior to this, as he wou"d be rough"y a year o"d at his death (&&&: 0) The ne%t we hear of 2randon is that he was on his way to @i$errun (!ossib"y after ha$ing gone back to Winterfe"", as it is mentioned that @ickard and two hundred of Winterfe"";s swords had come south with him ne$er to return FI: 0-1G) to wed

'ate"yn when he "earned of 9yanna (II: 6*)) 8a$ing heard the news of 9yanna;s a!!arent abduction, 2randon rode south to :ing;s 9anding with se$era" com!anions: his s=uire Athan 5"o$er, >on Arryn;s ne!hew and heir A"bert Arryn, :y"e @oyce, and >effory /a""ister (II: 6*)) 2randon and his com!anions shouted for @haegar to show himse"f and die, "eading the king to arrest them on the charge of !"otting to murder @haegar (II: 6*)) The fathers of those who stood accused were summoned and were ki""ed with their sons, with on"y Athan 5"o$er sur$i$ing (II: 6*)) @ickard and 2randon were e%ecuted at the same time, @ickard being roasted in his armor by !yromancers (inc"uding the !yromancer @ossart FIII: 01*G) whi"e 2randon strang"ed himse"f to death attem!ting to sa$e his father whi"e at "east some of the :ingsguard (&er >aime 9annister and the 9ord 'ommander, &er 5ero"d 8ightower) "ooked on (II: 6*), 6*3) 2randon was on"y )- years o"d at his death, !"acing it at "ess than a year after his due" with 9itt"efinger 8e was to ha$e married 'ate"yn on"y a few short days afterwards (I: )-) :ing Aerys fo""owed his murders by demanding that 9ord Arryn gi$e him the heads of @obert 2aratheon and Addard &tark (I: )1), suggesting that they were !resent (or at "east be"ie$ed to be !resent) in the Ba"e at this time >on Arryn refused and raised the banners of rebe""ion, which touched off fighting in the Ba"e and other regions (&&': 3+), which may be considered the officia" beginning of the war It can be assumed that once ab"e, both Addard &tark and @obert 2aratheon de!arted the Ba"e for their "ands to raise their own banners The young 9ord Addard disa!!ears for a time, and the ne%t we hear of 9ord @obert is his three batt"es in a day at &ummerha"" (III: 0-*, 6-6, 6-+), where he defeated the roya"ist storm"ords .e"", 'afferen, and and 5randison in succession as they each came to &ummerha"" to ?oin their se!arate forces @obert s"ew 9ord .e"" in sing"e combat and defeated his famous son, &i"$era%e &i"$era%e and the sur$i$ing 9ords 'afferen and 5randison soon became fast friends with @obert It is !robab"e that these batt"es took !"ace "itt"e more than a month or two after his de!arture from the Ba"e It is "ike"y that the efforts of these three minor "ords were s!urred on by Aerys;s 8and, the e"der"y 9ord /erryweather, who had been chosen for that office after 9ord Tywin 9annister renounced it 9ord /erryweather treated the rebe""ion as a minor matter and ne$er stirred out of :ing;s 9anding, on"y to see it boi" o$er into a greater conf"agration (III: 01* &&': 11)) 2e"ie$ing 9ord /erryweather so ineffectua" as to !ossib"y be doing it to aid the rebe""ion, he was stri!!ed of his "ands and tit"es and e%i"ed (II: 01), where he was to die in !enury 9ord >on 'onnington, a com!anion of @haegar;s, was Aerys;s ne%t 8and and wou"d !ro$e to be more acti$e and a much greater threat to @obert;s rebe""ion (&&': 11)) 8owe$er, before 9ord 'onnington;s forces a!!ear on the scene, 9ord @obert is ne%t said to batt"e the Tyre""s at Ashford (III: )11) 8e was defeated there for the first time, "arge"y due to 9ord @andy"" Tar"y and the $an he "ed as the main host was s"ow arri$e The $ictory was indecisi$e, howe$er, as @obert esca!ed the batt"efie"d (a"though others, such as 9ord 'afferen who was cut down by @andy"" Tar"y and &er Duentin Tyre"" on /ace;s side, did not FIII: 0-*, **0, 163G) It is an o!en source of s!ecu"ation why @obert might ha$e been so far afie"d from the storm"ands (ne !ossibi"ity is that he was fighting to secure a firm border (in this case, the 'ock"eswent, whose fording Ashford commanded) against the @each, suggesting that he intended to ho"d to his "ands as his base of o!erations If this is the case, there must ha$e been a number of other batt"es between @obert and roya"ists forces in the storm"ands There is reason to doubt this, howe$er, as the !ace of e$ents seems to suggest that there was no time for @obert to "inger in the storm"ands before he a!!ears ne%t at the 2att"e of the 2e""s Another !ossibi"ity, which can be reconci"ed with the s!ecu"ated time"ine handi"y, was that he was seeking to de"ay coming to gri!s with the Tyre""s forces by sei4ing Ashford and forcing them to march around the 'ock"eswent to engage him This wou"d a""ow him to continue westwards towards a crossing of the /ander with the intent of continuing northwards to ?oin his forces with those of 9ords &tark and Arryn, something which (by the 2att"e of the 2e""s) was c"ear"y his ob?ecti$e (III: 3)+) This may ha$e been moti$ated in !art by the news that

9ord 'onnington was gathering roya" forces at :ing;s 9anding and wou"d seek to act in concert with the Tyre""s to bott"e @obert u! in the storm"ands It;s unc"ear whether @obert actua""y he"d Ashford at the time of the batt"e, but he may ha$e been besieging it when 9ord Tar"y;s $an came u!on him faster than he (and 9ord Tyre"", it seems) e%!ected It is unc"ear as to what the !ro%imity of e$ents are, but it seems !robab"e that after this $ictory the Tyre"" host ad$anced direct"y on &torm;s And, as we know that the siege of &torm;s And "asted rough"y a year (I: )33)E if there had been months more of batt"e in the storm"ands before this this cou"d not, in fact, be the case &tannis 2aratheon, @obert;s brother, was "eft to ho"d the cast"e against this besieging force "ed by 9ord /ace Tyre"" and his good#brother 9ord 7a%ter @edwyne, whose f"eet cordoned off &torm;s And from the sea (II: *#1) Houng @en"y 2aratheon was a"so !resent at &torm;s And during the siege (II: 366) That the Tyre"" host went on to a siege suggests that @obert;s esca!e was one that they cou"d not !ursue, either because they were directed otherwise or because @obert;s force was mere"y too fast Whate$er the case may ha$e been, it seems !robab"e that 9ord 'onnington and his host took u! the chase It;s !ossib"e that a sort of running batt"e was fought between the two hosts, which wou"d e%!"ain @obert;s in?uries by the time his forces reached &toney &e!t with 9ord 'onnington ni!!ing at his hee"s (III: 3)+) With @obert being tended by friends in the town, 9ord 'onnington;s "arge host stormed the wa""s and began to search house by house for him 8owe$er, before he cou"d find 9ord @obert, 9ord &tark and 9ord Tu""y "ed their forces and besieged the besiegers The !recise reason for 9ord 8oster;s entry into the conf"ict is unc"ear, gi$en that 9ady 'ate"yn suggests that the betrotha" of 9ord Arryn and 9ysa Tu""y was not arranged unti" after the death of his cousin (III: 3)) It may be that 9ord Arryn at "east entered negotiations a"ong these "ines to recie$e 9ord 8oster;s tem!orary su!!ort, with 9ord 8oster assuming that he cou"d a"ways turn roya"ist and recie$e a !ardon 5i$en @obert;s certainty that 9ord Addard won the batt"e for him, howe$er, it may be that Addard &tark !"ayed a more !i$ota" ro"e ## !erha!s by asking for he"! on the basis of his intention to wed 'ate"yn Tu""y 9ord 'onnington fought back fierce"y, "eading the se!tons of the town to ring their be""s, from which the name the 2att"e of the 2e""s come from @obert came out of hiding and ki""ed ha"f a do4en men that day, inc"uding &er /y"es /ooton, a famous cham!ion and friend and former s=uire of 7rince @haegar 9ord 'onnington gra$e"y wounded 9ord 8oster and s"ew &er Denys Arryn, 9ord Arryn;s cousin and and <the dar"ing of the Ba"e< (III: 3), 3)+) 'onnington esca!ed without e$er ha$ing come to gri!s with @obert himse"f, but was !rom!t"y stri!!ed of his "ands and tit"es and sent into e%i"e as 9ord /erryweather had been In the aftermath, &er 2arristan &e"my and &er >onothor Darry of the :ingsguard were dis!atched from :ing;s 9anding to gather what they cou"d of 9ord 'onnington;s scattered forces whi"e 7rince @haegar returned from the south to take u! command of the roya"ist forces (III: 01*) 7rince 9ewyn of Dorne was ordered to take command of the 1-,--- Dornishmen coming u! the kingsroad who had been sent grudging"y by 7rince Doran, as the Dornish did not a!!reciate how A"ia had been treated by @haegar (&&': 0-) :ing Aerys used 9ewyn;s niece, 7rincess A"ia, as a hostage to insure his "oya"ty @haegar con$inced :ing Aerys to swa""ow his !ride and summon 9ord Tywin 9annister to his aid (III: 01* ) A"" of these e$ents "ike"y took !"ace not much more than within four or fi$e months after the deaths of @ickard and 2randon &tark @etiring to @i$errun, it seems c"ear that 9ord Arryn negotiated with 9ord 8oster to win his fu""#f"edged su!!ort in the rebe""ion, with the !rice being his marriage to the young 9ysa Tu""y whose ferti"ity has been !ro$en when she c"aimed to be carrying 7etyr 2ae"ish;s chi"d (III: 113) which 9ord 8oster !rom!t"y made her abort (III: 3)) With 9ord Addard fu"fi""ing his brother;s ob"igation to 'ate"yn Tu""y, 9ords &tark and Arryn became brothers through their marriages to 9ord 8oster;s two daughters (I: )1) 9ord Addard stayed with his new bride "ong enough to see her concei$e and then returned to the war (I: 60#66)

.o""owing this there seems to be a great, "engthy undocumented !eriod before the 2att"e of the Trident This !eriod may ha$e "asted as many as se$en months 7resumab"y, roya"ist forces ## inc"uding ri$er"ords who refused to fo""ow 9ord Tu""y in su!!orting @obert;s rebe""ion, such as @yger, Darry (who wou"d "ose three sons of its "ord in the war FI: 1)1G), /ooton, and 5oodbrook (I: )01 III: 01+) ## continued to fight throughout the &e$en :ingdoms (e%ce!t Dorne, where the on"y fighting may ha$e been minor border skirmishes F&&': 0-G, and !resumab"y the Iron Is"ands which are ne$er s!oken of as ha$ing been in$o"$ed to any degree) against those who su!!orted the rebe"s) It may ha$e been decided by the rebe" "eaders to await the coming of @haegar;s reconstituted force in one fina", great batt"e Whate$er the case may be, we know that near the end of the war &er 5awen Wy"de and three other men attem!ted to e%it &torm;s And through the !ostern gate (II: 366#366) They were caught and, rather than being f"ung off the wa""s with cata!u"ts, they were he"d ca!ti$e on the !ossibi"ity that the garrison (a"ready des!erate for food after e%hausting its su!!"y of food, inc"uding horses, cats, and dogs FI: *G) wou"d be reduced to eating human f"esh to sur$i$e .ortunate"y, Da$os &eaworth, a notorious smugg"er, s"i!!ed through the @edwyne f"eet;s "ines and entered &torm;s And with a shi! "oaded with onions and sa"t fish .or his crimes, 9ord &tannis remo$ed a ?oint from each of the fingers of one of his hands, but for his great deed &tannis raised him to knighthood after the siege was ended and ga$e him "ands and a sma"" kee! on the 'a!e of Wrath (II: 1) These e$ents "ike"y !receded the 2att"e of the Trident, or at "east the &ack of :ing;s 9anding The ne%t ma?or e$ent was the 2att"e of the Trident, fought at what wou"d come to be ca""ed the ruby ford The rebe" host was sma""er than the roya" host, which inc"uded contingents from the @each and Dorne and was said to ha$e numbered 0-,--- strong with a tenth of them being knights and the rest archers, freeriders, and foot (I: 3)6), but the rebe"s were more <batt"e#tested< (&&': 3+) There @obert and @haegar fought one another in sing"e combat whi"e batt"e raged around them When @obert dro$e his warhammer through @haegar;s ruby# encrusted breast!"ate, members of both armies rushed to co""ect fa""en rubies from the ri$er whi"e the rest of @haegar;s forces routed (I: )6, 36, 16) Among the dead on the roya"ist side were two of the three :ingsguard !resent (&er >onothor Darry F&&': )0G and 7rince 9ewyn /arte"" F&&': )1G) and numerous bannermen (inc"uding three cut down by 9ord >ason /a""ister FI: )0+G) &er 2arristan &e"my was so grie$ous"y wounded that he might ha$e died of his wounds had @obert not sent his own maester to treat him, e$en though he had cut down a do4en "ords and knights at the batt"e and men "ike 9ord 2o"ton argued that his throat shou"d be cut (I: )16) 9ord 5randison, who had once fought against @obert, was wounded at the Trident whi"e fighting for his cause and died of that wound a year "ater (III: **0) 8a$ing been wounded by @haegar, @obert ga$e command of the !ursuit of the routing forces to 9ord Addard, with the goa" of his beginning the siege of :ing;s 9anding which was be"ie$ed to be he"d by se$era" thousand men (I: 16) 9ord Wa"der .rey;s host ?oined the rebe"s we"" after the batt"e was won, after ha$ing s!ent the !re$ious year a"oof from the war (I: )01) When news of @haegar;s death and the defeat of the roya"ists reached :ing;s 9anding, the new"y#!regnant Dueen @hae""a and her son 7rince Biserys were sent to Dragonstone (I: )6) 7rincess A"ia and @haegar;s chi"dren, inc"uding his heir 7rince Aegon, were ke!t at :ing;s 9anding by :ing Aerys, howe$er, due to his !aranoid be"ief that 7rince 9ewyn must ha$e betrayed @haegar on the Trident and that if he "et them go out of his gras! Dorne wou"d do the same to him (III: 011) During this time, :ing Aerys had been !"otting with the !yromancers to "ay stocks of wi"dfire throughout the city so as to destroy it if a"" seemed "ost, a bruta" and !etu"ant act that wou"d ki"" hundreds of thousands for no better reason than to s!ite @obertE though the !ossibi"ity is raised that Aerys, the /ad :ing, be"ie$ed the wi"dfire wou"d turn him into a dragon (II: 611 III: 01*#011) When his "atest 8and, 9ord 'he"sted, "earned of these !"ans and ob?ected so forcefu""y that he threw down his chain of office, Aerys had him sei4ed and burned a"i$e in wi"dfire @ossart, one of Aerys;s !yromancers and com!"icit in the !"ot, was made 8and and took the sty"e of "ord (III: 01*)

2efore 9ord &tark;s host cou"d arri$e outside of the city, a host 1),--- strong "ed by Tywin 9annister a!!eared outside of the city 9ord Tywin c"aimed to ha$e fina""y answered Aerys;s summons (I: 16) 5rand /aester 7yce""e con$inced the !aranoid :ing Aerys to throw o!en his gates, e$en though 9ord Barys argued against it (II: 3-1 III: 011) What fo""owed was the bruta" &ack of :ing;s 9anding, as the 9annister troo!s s"aughtered, "ooted, and burned their way through the city whi"e 9ord Tywin rode for the @ed :ee! with the intent of taking ho"d of it (II: 16) The king ordered the !yromancers to destroy the city and commanded &er >aime to bring him his own father;s head, but he decided to refuse the order (III: 13-) Instead, &er >aime sought out and ki""ed @ossart as he tried to s"i! out of the @ed :ee! to carry out the king;s orders, and then he came u!on the king in the throne room and murdered him The fina" moments of this deed were witnessed by se$era" 9annister bannermen who had burst into the room, as the 9annisters had somehow (!erha!s through treachery) gotten into the @ed :ee! with "itt"e de"ay (III: 13-, 01*#011) &er >aime seated himse"f on the Iron Throne to await who might come to the throne room (III: 13-) 8e was unaware of the fact that 7rincess A"ia and her chi"dren, whom he had sworn to kee! safe before @haegar de!arted the city, were in morta" danger &er Amory 9orch and &er 5regor '"egane were sca"ing the wa""s of /aegor;s 8o"dfast, fo""owing 9ord Tywin;s command to find @haegar;s chi"dren and murder them (III: 13-, 610#616) 7rincess @haenys was found hiding under a bed by 9orch When he dragged her out, she kicked him and wou"d not sto! screaming, which "ed to his stabbing her ha"f a hundred times (I: 631 III: 13-, 610#616) &er 5regor was e$en worse, when he found 7rincess A"ia with Aegon 8e !u""ed the chi"d away and dashed his sku"" against a wa"" before ra!ing, and then murdering, the Dornish !rincess (I: )63) 9ord Tywin "ater c"aimed that he not thought to gi$e any orders regarding A"ia, and had not intended for her to die (III: 610) It a!!ears that e$en as this was taking !"ace, 9ord &tark;s host had arri$ed and he himse"f a!!ears to ha$e entered the @ed :ee! on"y a short time after Aerys;s murder (III: 131) @iding through the city and e$en into the throne room, 9ord Addard confronted &er >aime, who "aughed about his being seated on the Iron Throne and remo$ed himse"f from it (I: 1+) In the fo""owing days, &er >aime "ater hunted down and ki""ed the other two !yromancers, 2e"is and 5arigus, who were !rinci!a"s in the wi"dfire !"ot (III: 011) To those knights who had defended the city, 9ord Tywin offered the choice of death or ?oining the Wa"" ## many men, such as &er >aremy @ykker and &er A""iser Thorne, took the "atter o!tion (I: 1+)) When @obert arri$ed in the city, 9ord Tywin submitted himse"f to him As a token of his "oya"ty, he dis!"ayed the bodies of A"ia and the dead Targaryen chi"dren (I: 13, 0-3#0-0) @obert was g"ad of their deaths, which caused 9ord Addard to =uarre" with him C"timate"y, 9ord Addard de!arted the city in a co"d rage, to "ift the siege of &torm;s And and fight the "ast batt"es of the war (I: 13#10) The reach"ords bent the knee when Addard arri$ed (I: 366), and it seems "ike"y that not "ong after this 9ord &tannis ?oined his brother, as he was to be gi$en command of raising a new roya" f"eet and using it to take Dragonstone, the "ast Targaryen strongho"d (I: )6 II: 1-#11) .rom here, it seems 9ord Addard went to the !"ace that @haegar ca""ed <the tower of ?oy< where 9ord 'ommander 5ero"d 8ightower, &er Arthur Dayne, and &er (swe"" Whent were waiting 9ord Addard had brought on"y his c"ose com!anions ## &er /ark @yswe"", 9ord Dustin, Theo Wu"", 8ow"and @eed, /artyn 'asse", and 2randon;s former s=uire Athan 5"o$er (I: 360#366) (n"y 9ord Addard and 8ow"and @eed sur$i$ed the fight that ensued (I: 366) Antering the tower, 9ord Addard found 9yanna &tark in her <bed of b"ood<, dying (I: 360) &he begged him to make her a !romise, which he did (I: 36, 366), a"though what that !romise was is sti"" o!en for s!ecu"ationE many be"ie$e it re"ated to a chi"d that 9yanna may ha$e had 9yanna;s death reconci"ed Addard and @obert in their shared grief (I: 10) 7u""ing the tower down so that the stones cou"d be used for cairns for the fa""en (I: 366), 9ord Addard rode to &tarfa"", the seat of the Daynes, to return the "egendary greatsword Dawn to &er Arthur;s sister, 9ady Ashara, whom it was rumored 9ord Addard had fa""en in "o$e with at the 8arrenha" tournament (I: 66 III: 016#016) 9ady Ashara is said to ha$e "ea!t to her death from the 7a"estone &word, a tower of &tarfa"", after this but her body was ne$er reco$ered

(III: 016 &&': 11-) A"" that remained to c"ose the war was to take Dragonstone, which harbored Aerys;s =ueen and her son 8owe$er, Dueen @hae""a died gi$ing birth to Daenerys during a terrib"e storm a"most !recise"y nine months after the death of @haegar and the &ack of :ing;s 9anding With the remnants of the Targaryen f"eet destroyed outside of Dragonstone by the same storm that hera"ded 7rincess Daenery;s birth and 9ord &tannis a!!roaching with his f"eet, guardsmen of the citade" were ready to se"" the Targaryen chi"dren to 9ord &tannis (I: )6) 8owe$er, &er Wi""em Darry (master#at#arms of the @ed :ee! and the brother of the "ate &er >onothor Darry FIII: 11 &&': )0G) and four "oya" men f"ed with them to 2raa$os and its safety (I: )6) At his coronation, which "ike"y !receeded Dragonstone by many months, @obert had 5rand /aester 7yce""e, 9ord Barys, and &er >aime knee" before him and asked @obert;s forgi$eness before they cou"d enter his ser$ice (II: 6*3) &er 2arristan &e"my was made the 9ord 'ommander of the :ingsguard (III: +6)) 9ord Addard had argued that &er >aime be made to take the b"ack for his crimes but 9ord Arryn !re$ai"ed on @obert to retain him (III: 011) @obert;s brother &tannis, who had he"d &torm;s And for a year and then commanded the roya" f"eet, was rewarded Dragonstone for his own seat, !erha!s because it needed a strong hand to ru"e it and with the intention of indicating that &tannis was @obert;s heir unti" he had a son but &tannis took it as a s"ight (II: 11, )10) @obert;s youngest brother @en"y, who was sti"" a chi"d, was gi$en the ancestra" "ands and ru"e of &torm;s And (II: 11) 9ord Addard wou"d e$entua""y return to the ,orth after his reconci"iation with @obert and his attendance at @obert;s coronation &tart"ing"y, he wou"d bring with him a chi"d, >on &now, whom he c"aimed as his son The chi"d was born eight or nine months !rior to Daenerys Targaryen (&&': 30), and 9ord &tark seems to guard the identity of his mother (I: 66) To @obert he has a!!arent"y c"aimed that >on &now;s mother is named Wy""a, who a!!ears to be a ser$ing woman and nursemaid for the Daynes (I: 1) III: 010) >on &now and his wet nurse were a"ready insta""ed in Winterfe"" by the time 9ady 'ate"yn came there with her firstborn, @obb &tark (I: 66) 2en?en &tark, 9ord Addard;s on"y sur$i$ing sib"ing who had !robab"y been in Winterfe"" throughout the war (based on Addard;s ma%im that <there must a"ways be a &tark in Winterfe""<FI: 63G), ?oined the Watch short"y afterwards (&&': *1) 9ord >on Arryn became @obert;s 8and (I: 3+) and con$inced him to wed the beautifu" 'ersei 9annister to bind that !owerfu" house to him (I: )6-) In Dorne, 7rince (beryn /arte"" !"otted to raise a re$o"t to a$enge the murders of A"ia and her chi"dren, but a $isit from 9ord Arryn to the @ed Bi!er;s e"der brother 7rince Doran !ut an end to that (III: 613) &ome "oya"ist houses such as Darry, 'onnington, and /erryweather found themse"$es great"y reduced in wea"th, "ands, and inf"uence ## the Darrys were stri!!ed of more than ha"f their "ands and most of their wea"th (III: 11*), the 'onningtons were gi$en back their cast"e but "itt"e more (&&': 11*), and the /erryweathers were restored their "ands and tit"es but not their si4ab"e treasury (&&': 11*) 9ord 5oodbrook;s son, who had ascended to the ru"e of his ancestra" "ands, reconci"ed himse"f with 9ord 8oster (III: 01+)