The war to restore the Night's Watch was going well, Redbeard's armies were scattered, The Reach and the Tully forces had crushed his forces and were laying siege to his lands and the King himself, unpopular with most, was causing men to cheer whenever his forces arrived in the field to help crush these Wildling upstarts. Before long, Redbeard had fled back North of the Wall, and the Night's Watch was free to guard the realms of men once more.

Dickon Tully headed back to Riverrun and was about to depart for Pyke once more when a raven came from King's Landing, calling all banners. Aerys Blackfyre had landed and taken a holding in the Vale, and had declared a war for the Iron Throne. Dickon, seeing his forces had fought numerous wars in recent years, elected to remain independent for now. King Daeron Targaryen was furious atTully, demanding he fight for his King. With the Baratheon's and Martell's declaring for Blackfyre, and all other LP's declaring neutrality, the Throne was alone in its war.

A year later and all that had happened of note in the life of Dickon Tully was that he had gotten older and fatter. His wife, Shiera Seastar, was found to be sleeping with the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Bloodraven, and Dickon used this to humiliate her at every opportunity, his rage was that terrible to behold.

Once Tully's armies were ready once more, he looked at the war raging within the Vale. The Targaryen King, whilst hated by most, had marshalled his forces and was turning the tide of war in his favour. Knowing he had to save the Realm, and ensure the realm would not plunge into war again within the next few years, Dickon Tully declared for Aerys Blackfyre and marched on King's Landing.