Two months had passed since the Battle of Highgarden.
Yet the turmoil engulfing the Seven Kingdoms showed no sign of ending.
---
Storm's End
The Royal Fleet, which had once served under Stannis Baratheon, now surrounded the mighty fortress of Storm's End.
However, the fleet was no longer at full strength.
When Stannis openly challenged Karl Baratheon's legitimate claim to the Iron Throne, the Royal Fleet had split into two factions.
Many captains remained loyal to Stannis, believing him to be the rightful king.
Others, however, continued to recognize Karl Baratheon as the lawful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms.
Those loyal captains had followed Eddard Stark back to King's Landing immediately after the burning of the statues of the Seven, forming the new Royal Fleet under Karl's banner.
Among them were the fleet's greatest warship, the four-hundred-oared King Robert's Hammer, along with the Lionstar, Wildwind, Swiftsea, Lady Lyanna, and numerous other vessels.
Their duty was to defend Blackwater Bay and prevent any invasion by their former comrades.
Although they possessed fewer than fifty warships, they stood firm.
After rallying his supporters on Dragonstone, Stannis gathered every ship and soldier he could command.
Instead of sailing directly toward King's Landing, he led his fleet to Storm's End.
Before departing, he had sent letters to more than a hundred lords across Westeros, proclaiming himself the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms.
Very few answered his call.
Even so, the forces that remained loyal to him were still strong enough to surround Storm's End by both land and sea.
His objective was obvious.
His younger brother, Renly Baratheon, had returned to Storm's End.
And Stannis intended to deal with him first.
---
Stannis was not the only one who had arrived.
When Eddard Stark learned that Stannis had turned his fleet toward Storm's End instead of King's Landing, he immediately understood his intentions.
Without hesitation, the Hand of the King rode south with a small escort.
Accompanying him was the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Barristan Selmy.
At this moment, the two men stood atop Storm's End's colossal walls, watching Stannis's soldiers below cut down trees and construct siege towers and trebuchets.
Eddard's eyes reflected distant memories.
Time had passed quickly.
More than a decade had gone by.
Yet standing here again felt as though history were repeating itself.
The forests surrounding Storm's End had once been cut down during the famous siege years earlier.
Now they had grown tall once more.
Back then, he had achieved a bloodless victory.
He hoped history would repeat itself.
The direwolf banner of House Stark fluttered proudly above the battlements.
A cold sea breeze carrying the scent of salt blew continuously across the walls.
Beyond the fortress, the endless sea stretched toward the horizon.
Below, Stannis's soldiers looked tiny against the enormous stone walls, like ants preparing to assault a mountain.
Eddard sighed.
"Stannis has lost himself."
"That foreign priestess has completely bewitched him."
"Whether through ambition, old resentment, or blind faith, he's abandoned both reason and the gods."
Everything that had happened on Dragonstone had already been reported to the Small Council.
None of them could understand why Stannis insisted on continuing down this path.
Ser Barristan let out a quiet sigh.
The news from Highgarden had already spread across Westeros.
The rebirth of the Field of Fire had shaken the entire realm awake.
Everyone now understood Karl's overwhelming strength.
Everyone...
Except Stannis.
"If possible," Barristan said quietly, "we should end this conflict here."
He looked toward the camp below.
"Lord Stark."
"You once won a great victory at Storm's End."
"I hope you'll succeed again."
"The Citadel has already sent white ravens."
"Summer is ending."
"And the North needs you."
"If we don't settle this quickly..."
"...winter will arrive before we're ready."
Eddard nodded silently.
Storm's End was one of the strongest castles ever built.
Its towering outer walls stood one hundred feet high.
Even at their narrowest point, they were forty feet thick.
Facing the sea, they reached eighty feet in thickness and rose nearly one hundred and fifty feet above the crashing waves.
The walls consisted of enormous stone blocks filled with rubble between them.
There were no weak corners.
No arrow slits.
No hidden gates.
Each stone fit perfectly against the next.
Legends claimed ancient magic protected the fortress itself.
Looking upon those walls, Barristan simply couldn't understand Stannis's decision.
Years ago, Storm's End had survived a lengthy siege by the Reach during Robert's Rebellion.
Even overwhelming armies had failed to break it.
Did Stannis truly believe he could succeed where others had failed?
Barristan found himself remembering the ancient legend of Durran Godsgrief.
The first Storm King had challenged the gods themselves after they destroyed his castle and killed his family.
He rebuilt Storm's End again and again.
Six castles had fallen before storms and waves.
Only the seventh endured.
Some claimed the Children of the Forest had aided its construction.
Others spoke of forgotten magic woven into its foundations.
Whatever the truth...
Storm's End had stood unconquered for centuries.
Eddard frowned.
The troubles facing Westeros extended far beyond this single battlefield.
Fortunately, Karl had already stabilized the North for him.
But winter remained the greatest threat.
Like dark clouds gathering before a storm, it weighed heavily on his mind.
This summer had lasted far too long.
Every remaining conflict needed to end before the cold truly arrived.
"I'll find a way," Eddard said quietly.
"I only hope Renly finally comes to his senses."
With that, he turned and walked back into the castle.
---
Eddard and Barristan had not been at Storm's End for long.
Although Karl had already secured victory at Highgarden, Eddard still feared Stannis might attack King's Landing.
The madness he had witnessed on Dragonstone still haunted him.
He dared not gamble on Stannis's next move.
When he learned that Stannis had instead sailed toward Storm's End, he immediately rode south.
Because of the delay in communications, both men had reached Storm's End at nearly the same time.
Renly had received Eddard politely.
But after hearing his proposal...
He refused to give an answer.
Instead, he delayed the matter for several days.
He hadn't even agreed to another meeting.
Meanwhile, Stannis's demands continued to grow louder.
His latest letter had arrived only that morning.
Eddard knew there was no more time to waste.
Barristan watched him silently.
"Lord Stark."
"I don't think there's any need to worry."
"I believe Lord Renly has already made his decision."
He continued calmly.
"House Tyrell has fallen."
"His greatest ally has been defeated."
"Many Stormlands lords have begun questioning their loyalty."
"He has nowhere else to turn."
Eddard understood perfectly.
Karl's victory had already determined the outcome.
The moment dragons entered the battlefield, the game was effectively over.
Renly's delays were no longer strategic.
They were simply pride.
Soon afterward, the steward of Storm's End returned.
"My lord."
"Duke Renly will receive you in the Hall."
---
Inside the great hall, two men sat facing one another across a long wooden table.
On one side sat Eddard Stark—
Warden of the North, Lord of Winterfell, Hand of the King, and Regent of the Seven Kingdoms.
Opposite him sat Renly Baratheon—
Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Lord of Storm's End, former Master of Laws, and the self-proclaimed King of Westeros.
Behind Eddard stood Ser Barristan Selmy.
Behind Renly stood Ser Loras Tyrell, Lord Commander of the Rainbow Guard.
Only candlelight illuminated the chamber.
Their shadows danced silently across the stone floor.
After a long silence, Eddard finally spoke.
"Renly."
"House Tyrell has already fallen."
"They became sacrifices for your stubbornness."
"It's time to face reality."
Renly lowered his head.
The cheerful smile that had once defined him had completely disappeared.
Behind him, Loras looked equally devastated.
Eddard's words were merciless.
But they were true.
Karl had already offered Renly every opportunity to surrender peacefully.
As Hand of the King, Eddard had no choice but to speak plainly.
Seeing Renly remain silent, Eddard's expression softened.
He exchanged a brief glance with Barristan.
If possible...
He wanted to avoid more bloodshed within House Baratheon.
"I know what you're thinking," Eddard continued.
"And you still have one final opportunity."
Renly slowly raised his head.
Confusion filled his weary eyes.
Eddard continued.
"You already know what Stannis has become."
"If you truly wish to earn King Karl's forgiveness..."
"Gather your bannermen."
"Lead the Tyrell soldiers still under your command."
"And defeat Stannis."
"Bring this civil war to an end."
He leaned forward slightly.
"If you accomplish that..."
"I personally guarantee that Karl will spare both your life and Stannis's."
"And hasn't Stannis already requested negotiations?"
"If there's even the slightest chance he's willing to listen..."
"...this is the perfect opportunity."
Renly remained silent for a long time.
His eyes flickered with countless emotions.
Finally...
A bitter smile appeared on his cracked lips.
"I accept..."
"...your terms."
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