"My lord, we have arrived at King's Landing," reported Mark Ryswell.

"What is the state of the city?" Ned asked.

"All gates are tightly shut, a chain has been drawn across the harbor, and entry and exit are completely forbidden. The city walls are filled with soldiers. Without a doubt, they are preparing for a long siege."

Ned let out a deep sigh and dismounted his horse. "Understood. We will rest today. Tomorrow, we will begin constructing the siege camp and building the siege equipment. Send word to Robert about the situation. He must come here immediately and join the siege. I just hope Mace Tyrell doesn't do something foolish like supporting the Targaryens, or this war will drag on much longer."

The lords and soldiers around him immediately gave their approval and began preparing the camp. As the commander of the army, Ned's tent was naturally the first to be set up. His tent was large and comfortable, easy to erect and dismantle, and made of fine fabric brought from Myr. In certain places, the three-headed dragon sigil of House Targaryen could still be seen. Of course, the tent did not originally belong to Ned. It had once been the property of Prince Rhaegar, who had been slain by Robert at the Battle of the Trident. After the battle, Ned had taken the tent as spoils of war. He planned to eventually replace the dragon sigils with the direwolf of House Stark.

He stepped inside comfortably and sat at the table. Spreading out his maps, he took small sips from his ale as he began strategizing for the siege.

Though the rebel army had won the Battle of the Trident, the victory had come at a heavy cost. The Stormlands' army was nearly shattered, while the Vale's armored cavalry had lost almost half its numbers. The strongest forces remaining were the Northmen and the Riverlanders under Ned's command, which was why he had led his army ahead of the others to lay siege to King's Landing as soon as possible. The rest of their allies would join later.

He studied the map of Westeros, trying to predict how the other kingdoms would react to recent events. Dorne would likely continue supporting the Targaryens, as their priority was ensuring the safety of Elia Martell and her children. However, considering the heavy losses their army had suffered at the Trident, their aid would not be particularly significant. The real concern was the Tyrells. They still commanded an army of sixty thousand, while the rebels could muster only half that number.

Prince Rhaegar dead, if the Tyrells chose to continue supporting the Targaryens, they would be fighting to uphold the rule of a mad king. Many Reach lords would be reluctant to do so. In fact, if they searched hard enough, they might even find some traitors willing to aid the rebels.

And what of the Westerlands? What would the new Lord Paramount of the West, Jaime Lannister, do? Ned was uncertain, but it seemed unlikely that he would support the Targaryens.

Everything had changed just a week before the Tourney of Harrenhal. The previous Lord Paramount of the Westerlands and former Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister, had been inspecting the port of Lannisport when a terrible accident occurred. A ship's mast had collapsed on top of him. It was said that his head had burst like a melon, and only his bones had been recovered.

While all of Westeros was shocked by this news, King Aerys the Mad was overjoyed. He had invited Jaime Lannister to the Harrenhal tournament and, in front of the people, declared him the new Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. During the ceremony, he did not hold back from recounting how Tywin Lannister had died in such a pitiful manner. Ned was watching the ceremony from a distance but had personally seen how Jaime Lannister's face turned red with anger, and how he bit his lips so hard that they bled to stop himself from speaking. After the ceremony, the new Lord Lannister immediately left the tournament with all the Westerland nobles.

When the rebellion started, Robert and Ned had hoped that the Lannisters, insulted by the Targaryens, would join the rebellion, but Lord Jaime – most likely encouraged by his uncle Kevan – decided to remain neutral. He responded to calls for support from both sides with complete silence. Meanwhile, he had gathered a 12,000-strong Westerland cavalry army at Golden Tooth.

Some rebel lords feared that the Lannisters would strike them in the back, but Ned personally didn't believe in this possibility. After being publicly humiliated at the Harrenhal tournament, if the Lannisters had continued to support the Targaryens, they would have been treated like dishonorable nobles. Jaime Lannister had sympathy for Prince Rhaegar and had been knighted by Arthur Dayne; however, there was no reason for him to remain loyal to the Targaryens. Even if Jaime wanted to support the Targaryens, his uncles wouldn't have allowed it.

After the Battle of Trident, another envoy was sent to Lord Lannister. Various privileges were offered to the Westerlands in exchange for joining the rebellion, and Benjen's hand was offered to Lady Cersei. It was unlikely the marriage proposal would be accepted, but among the Lord Paramount families, there were no other suitable bachelors. Ned hoped that Jaime Lannister would join the rebels this time, which would mean that five of the Seven Kingdoms would raise their banners against the Targaryens. This would seriously make the Tyrells hesitate in maintaining their loyalty.

After a while, one of Ned's deputy commanders and mentors in the war, Brynden Tully, entered. The two of them began discussing siege strategies. For now, the Mud Gate seemed to be the most suitable target, and they would have to build as many siege towers as possible before the allied forces arrived. The Reach army remained a threat, and Ned had to stay prepared for a possible attack from behind.

The two debated throughout the night and finally decided how the preparations should be made. Ned, exhausted, took off his armor and, as soon as he laid his head on the pillow, fell asleep. Even though it only lasted five minutes, he enjoyed the peace of his sleep.

"Ned! Ned!" He realized someone was trying to shake him awake forcefully. As Ned got out of bed, he muttered a curse to himself.

"Howland, I just fell asleep," he said to his friend, sighing. "I hope this is really important news."

"Come outside, you need to see this," Howland said, practically dragging Ned by the arm. "It's urgent."

Ned didn't say much. He calmly got out of bed, drank a glass of cold water to calm himself, and began to follow his friend, Howland Reed.

He stepped out of the tent and, upon seeing the view of the city, his mouth dropped open in shock. The city gates appeared to be wide open, and all the torches at the gates were still burning, clearly indicating the gates were open. Ned was watching from a distance, but there appeared to be no guards.

Other northern and Riverrun lords started emerging from their tents as well. They saw the same sight as Ned and reacted with the same astonishment.

"All the city gates are open, and there are no guards," Howland Reed reported.

The lords and soldiers in the area began to discuss this unexpected situation in confusion. However, most of the responses were positive.

"The Golden Cloaks must have betrayed Aerys," Jonos Bracken suggested. "They didn't want to serve a mad king. Quite normal."

"I agree," said Tytos Blackwood. "We should enter the city while we have the chance. If we execute Aerys, this war will end immediately."

Ned noticed in shock that a Blackwood and Bracken were agreeing on something. Is a meteor about to fall?

"If the Golden Cloaks have betrayed Aerys, they should have sent an envoy to inform us of the city's surrender," said Roose Bolton. "This situation is not as simple as it seems. We should approach with caution."

The lords began to argue animatedly. The majority demanded that the entire army gather and assault the city, while a smaller minority argued that this could be a trap. The discussion between the two sides grew more heated, and voices rose.

"Enough!" Ned slammed his fist on the table. "I've made my decision. Uncle Ondrew." He turned to the elderly man beside him. Ned's great-uncle, Ondrew Locke, was the brother of his grandmother Marna Locke and had been the Lord of Oldcastle for a long time. Though old and not as athletic as the younger men, he was the most experienced commander in the army. "Take two thousand men and enter King's Landing. Once inside the city, I want you to head straight for the Red Keep without wasting time. Elia Martell and the children are to be taken to safety, and not a hair on their heads is to be harmed. As for Aerys…" Ned gritted his teeth. "I want that dragon monstrosity in front of me, and I will personally execute him. After taking the Keep and ensuring everything is secure, send a messenger to us."

Ondrew Locke, one of the lords who had advocated for a cautious approach to the city's invasion, did not object to Ned's orders and immediately approved them. He began issuing orders to the soldiers to prepare for the mission.

Ned hoped everything would proceed smoothly while his great-uncle entered the city with two thousand men. He felt guilty for sending him into a potential trap, but he trusted Lord Ondrew. This was the move that had to be made.

An hour passed. During that time, Ned had the army ready for action. He issued strict orders to avoid pillaging the city and to not harm the civilians. As he prepared the army for an assault position, he waited for the messenger.

Before long, a group of soldiers entered the camp. Ned recognized the Locke seal on their uniforms and ordered that the messenger be brought immediately.

"The orders were carried out exactly, my lord," the messenger reported. "We encountered very little resistance entering the city. The Golden Cloaks surrendered immediately and laid down their arms. Elia Martell and the children are secured in rooms within the Red Keep. King Aerys was being protected by Gerold Hightower, and we had to kill him. The king, now chained, is waiting for your judgment in the throne room. He has completely lost his mind, screaming 'Burn them all.'"

"Very well," Ned said. "I suppose our concerns were unfounded. No honorable man would want to serve a mad king." He continued, "Tell the army to immediately—"

At that moment, a huge thunderous noise shook the ground. As the earth trembled, many lords, including Ned, fell from their chairs.

"What the hell is happening?" shouted Rodrik Ryswell, struggling to lift the table that had fallen on top of him.

Ned quickly got to his feet. Another thunderous noise followed, and the ground shook again, but this time, Ned was ready and didn't fall.

"Get out of the tent, you fools!" Brynden Tully yelled, lifting the table off Rodrik Ryswell. "The tent's going to collapse on us!"

Ned immediately grabbed his sword, Ice, from the corner and ran toward the entrance of the tent. Just then, the ground trembled once more. He passed Lord Piper, who was kneeling and praying for mercy, and exited the tent to witness a scene he would never forget for the rest of his life.

King's Landing had almost turned into a ghost town. A green mist covered the city, settling over everything like a deadly shroud. Wildfire spread through the city, slowly consuming everything in its path. Flames engulfed the area within seconds, but the green smoke that followed felt like the silence after the fire, a foreboding sense of impending doom. As the wildfire concentrated on the city, people screamed, struggling to escape, but no matter how far they ran, the green fire relentlessly pursued them.

The eyes of those watching the fall of Baelor's Sept seemed to lose focus for a moment under the green light. The magnificent dome and majestic walls were torn apart by the force of the explosion, and the green smoke that enveloped the city seemed to drift through the air like a dying scream. It began to slowly swallow everything alive, erasing every life, every dream.

The effect of the wildfire spread like a blanket, signaling the end of an era. As people failed to escape, the air they breathed in their final moments only showed them the truth of their end. King's Landing wasn't just a city; it marked the end of a civilization, and the death of a belief.

As Ned was shaken by another explosion, he watched the Lion's Gate completely disappear. At that moment, only one thought passed through his mind.

One million people.

One million people lived in this city. One million men, women, and children were dying in front of Ned's eyes, burning and screaming.

The North's population was about five million. Ned was witnessing the death of a fifth of his country's population.

For several minutes, he did nothing. He only etched the scene into his memory, a sight he would never forget. Lords and soldiers around him were shouting, some praying to their gods, while others, like Ned, simply stared at the devastation.

"Ned! Ned! Lord Stark!" he felt someone grab his shoulder and shake him violently. Without reacting, he looked at the man who was shaking him with a stoic expression.

"That green smoke from the city," Howland Reed said, pointing toward the city. "That smoke is poisonous, and the wind is blowing toward us. If we stay here much longer, we'll be exposed to the poison. We need to retreat. We must retreat immediately."

Upon hearing his friend's warning, Ned immediately sprang to his feet and shouted to the soldiers to pull back as he raced toward his horse.

The army's discipline had completely broken down. After witnessing such a scene, it was impossible for them to remain calm. Men were shouting at each other, and in panic, they scattered to random points, fleeing to the opposite side of the city.

Ned, galloping away from the city on his horse, was quickly followed by the other lords. After a while, he turned around and checked the situation. The city was now just a faint outline, but it continued to glow like a green star.

The city was burning, the screams carried away by the wind, and Ned Stark knew that this was neither the end of a war nor the fall of a king — this was the end of an era.