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Check the end for an A/N.
Chapter Ten – Age 27-28
X
Dear Hed,
Just came back from my first ranging.
You were right. No one can stop me from going beyond the wall if I feel like it, since I never swore to follow anyone's lead but your own, and you have released me to the wild, so to say.
Don't worry, I followed your advice. I went by sea and took plenty of men – all volunteer adventurers such as myself.
Hardhome was interesting, but completely devoid of life. I think next time I will go by land to visit the heart tree the brothers swear on.
The problems I told you of on my last letter are still evident. I really think you should do something about it.
On another note, the Ironborn you sent up here are doing as well as can be expected. That guy you got there as Overseer seems to be doing a good job.
…
Dear Jeor,
I hope we can Keep ourselves from falling into formality, after so many years of knowing one another.
I received troubling letters from my brother on the state of the Wall, and I hope you can clarify some of those issues by writing me a formal report on the state of the Nights Watch and the Wall in general. Please leave nothing out.
If not, I plan to visit you in the next few months, as part of a progress I am organizing.
There is no better way to make your subjects loyal to you then to make yourself remembered after all.
…
…
As per your instructions, I have dispersed the various Ironborn uninterested in anything but the sea though several ships of the Manderly fleet and the Company of the Rose. Many of them gave up after realizing the amount of work they would have to put into it, now that they didn't have thralls to do the more menial tasks. Euron and Victarion Greyjoy have been put under one of the Companies most trusted Captains and seem determined to regain their Captain positions eventually.
A word of caution on Euron though. The man is ambitious. Very ambitious. And while that is not necessarily a bad thing, it could potentially cause problems in the future.
The launch of the Iron mines is going well, considering the work needed to get them going. The presence of the Company is keeping the tempers in check. Things have considerably calmed down now that the Lords understand they won't need to dig the mines themselves. On the same note, the smallfolk are also calmer now that they understand they will be properly recompensed for their work and that they will not be used as substitutes for the Thralls.
On the issue of Thralls, the last ones to choose so, have been sent on their way to Essos to find their way back to their own lands, as have the last salt wives. An effort has been made to pay the way for those from the farthest reaches of the seas, within reason, of course. They already ow their freedom to Your Majesty, there is nothing else our great Kingdom should be obliged to provide them. Those who decided to settle in the North have also been settled across the land. As per your instructions, we made sure that they were spread out so there were not too many in the same place. The local populations will keep an eye on them to ensure good behavior.
As to the position of Regent, there are a few men that have been leaving a good impression, chief of them Rodrick Harlaw, uncle to Balon's children. However, it is still much too soon to leave the Ironborn to their own devices, so this is an issue that should be left on the shelf for now.
I would advise you to foster the possible heirs, my Queen. Bolon's children are in the care of their uncle, and they would turn out alright, but the secondary branch of the Greyjoy Family, from Quellon's siblings could prove a different matter. They will be salivating for the position. Better to keep an eye on all of them.
Loyally,
Karon Snow,
Lieutennant of the Company of the Rose,
Overseer of the Iron Islands
"I don't like this, Rohar" His wife said, once they were alone on top of the wall, Rodrik and Jon, the only children they had brought with them on their progress, having followed Benjen further along the structure as they admired the sights.
"What do you like the least, Dara?" He asked with a sigh, agreeing with her on the mater. "The low numbers? The low skills? The low morals?" He shook his head in exasperation at the terrible state of what was once an incredible warrior order.
Heddara sighed, rubbing her forehead with her gloved head. Taking a step, he brought her closer, so they could share their body heat as they looked over the wall and to the icy plains beyond it.
"All of that and that man, Mance Rayder. When Benjen told me about him I could not believe it. What could Lord Commander Qorgyle have been thinking, raising a child at the Wall?"
His wife seemed incredibly upset at the notion, and he could see why that was. "You ache for the boy he once was, and the choices taken from him."
She nodded, her head against his chest. "Yes. And I fear for when he finally tries to find a different life. I don't see an outcome where he doesn't become a deserter. He seems to driven for anything else."
He sighed again, turning his head at the raised voices of his children.
"Write to your secretary Rohar." Heddara asked, as they turned to join the boys and her brother. "The measures we discussed should be given priority."
Parek,
The state of the Watch is worse than we feared.
That they only maintained three castles we already knew. But they have so few members that they no longer patrol along the Wall itself, but only in the immediate areas to their Keeps.
This is obviously the reason for the increase in attacks of Wildlings on Bear Island and the coast.
Prepare the measures we spoke before our departure from court and have them ready for the first Council meeting after our arrival.
Rohar Stark
Prince Consort, Master of the Order of the Army and the Royal Guard
... and we have seen an increase in the number of people coming from the Riverlands. Most of them are leaving Frey land, unhappy with the way the Late Walder Frey runs his lands and in the tax they must pay.
I can give them work, but I don't know if I should trust these smalfolk, even with the new trade agreements we celebrated with the Riverlands. Not to mention that I have no way to control how many of them actually come up from the border. I guess that if they try to go further North they will either be found by the Cragnomen or have to pass through the Moat, so they are not a danger to the rest of the Kingdom, but I become restless at being so exposed.
I await your advice and orders.
Your loyal subject and cousin.
Lord Daron Flynt
Dear Heda,
I hope everything goes well in your pregnancy. It is a joy to know that another Stark will soon join the realm.
I received your proposal to foster my younger daughters with delight. When they reach the right age, I will gladly send them to Winterfell, so they can become as close to your children as we are to each other.
I hope your goodbrother sends you his child too. The boy has lost his mother and will need a woman to teach him about the good things in life. Gods know his father wont.
Speaking of Roose Bolton, your idea of a progress through the Kingdom was masterful. In one move you showed interest in your subjects, got to know said subjects and the difficulties of the people, and drained the coffers of all possible contenders to your crown. I hear Bolton threw such lavish feats during your visit to the Dreadfort that he will surely have no money for revolts for the next decade. Well done my friend.
On another matter, I have interesting news about my brother. Jorah as decided to marry this Hightower he met in Higharden when he went there for trade talks in your name. I must say I worry for this union. Bear Island has seen many great things since the end of the war, but life as a Mormont doesn't compare to life as a lady of a Southern House. I hope the woman is prepared for the difference.
With wishes for good health and a strong babe.
Your friend,
Maege
Dear Cousin,
Thank you for your report, and for your understanding on the impossibility of my visit at this time.
I understand your concerns with your border with the Riverlands. You are the most exposed to an attack form the south, as you have little protection for those coming North from west of the Greenfork. An unusual route, but a smart one for those avoiding the twins, the swamps of the Cragnomen and the Kingsroad, or for those coming from the Frey's Lands. You are right to worry. Never trust a Frey, I would say.
I believe you should accept those that come to you asking to stay in the North, if they agree to work for you at a cheaper coin than normal for, let us say, one or two years at least, and they must live only were you let them during that time. Make sure that they are spread out and that they are never in a bigger number than your local smallfolk. If their numbers become too much, we can move them to the Stoney Shore, were there is a need for fishermen.
I remember that your land is full of rocks and stones, not very good for much of anything but forests. Have these people gather the rocks in carts and howl them to the border. Then have them dump them in a semblance of a wall.
They don't need to make any engineering project out of it. In fact they can make it as uneven and treacherous as possible. To build a full wall in that area would be very difficult, due to it's geographical location. And the size of the wall itself. We can, however, make the job very difficult for anyone trying to come in by horse or carriage, by making it impossible for them to cross except on very specific points. And also make it difficult for the Freys to attempt to steal any land. It will also have the added benefit of clearing some fields that you can use for farming.
I leave it to you to choose those passage points in locations that will be easier to keep an eye on by your men.
Please don't forget tha…
"Let's get out of this city already!" The captain shouted out, ordering the sailors to raise the anchor and get on their way towards the open sea.
Euron glanced towards the city of Bravos and the gigantic statue that greeted them as they departed it.
Bravos, Pentos, Myr, Tyrosh. Highgarden, Oldtown, Lys. So many different cities with such riches had thought him many things.
The most important of all?
His brother was stupid as fuck. May he rot... wherever he was.
What is dead may never die. Blah. He wouldn't mind his brother rising again so he could burn his sorry ass, like in the stories of his ship mates.
Why the hell had his brother contented himself with raiding the summer islands and the shepherds that lived along the coasts of Essos, when he could have raided all these rich cities?
In the first five minutes in Pentos he had already seen five different ways of taking the city by sea. These Essoci were so worried about the Dothraki and their squabbles on land that they had started to loosen up on their defenses against intruders by sea.
His new Queen had been right. His brother was a craven fool.
However, even though his instincts still thought out ways to raid any port city worth its salt, his new position demanded other things.
After a year following instructions to the letter, he had finally climbed his way up in the ship hierarchy, even though he was still a long way from being where he wanted – a captain of his own vessel and a commander of his own fleet.
Living without thralls and salt wives had been strange. Especially when slaves were so common in most cities in Essos and everyone in the Northern fleet was completely forbidden from taking any slaves into their service, even while in Essos, unless there was no other possible alternative. Still there was something about taking a willing woman and paying for your own ale with coin that had been given to you as payment for a well-executed work.
The first was certainly more satisfying.
But in the end, there was one thing that had definitely cemented his belief that the Iron Islands were better off under the Norther Crown.
He was now certain that as a member of the Northern fleet, he would never again feel hunger.
And neither would the people of his homeland.
Twentieth Law Decree of the year 290 AC by the Council of The North
Article 1
By order of Queen Heddara, first of her name, The Order of the Dawn is hereby created as a branch of the Northern Army.
Article 2
The Order of the Dawn is hereby given the responsibility of patrolling along the Wall, from the Shadow Tower to Castle Black, and from Castle Black to Eastwatch by-the-Sea. The Order must cooperate with the Nights Watch, but not overrun the other's responsibilities and Keeps.
The Order of the Dawn is also given the responsibility of protecting and restoring the defensive walls of the villages of Mole's Town and Queenscrown.
Article 3
The Order of the Dawn must not go beyond the Wall under any circumstances that do not include defending from an attack on itself or on the structure and the realm it defends.
Article 4
The members of the Order of the Dawn will serve in rotations of four months and cannot serve for more than two straight rotations.
Commandment of the Order of the Dawn will be served under appointments of five years, and no commander can serve more than two straight appointments. Any commander of the Order of the Dawn must have previously served more than three rotations with the institution.
Any other high ranking official of the Order of the Dawn will be appointed for two-year tenures, after having served for a minimum of six months.
Article 5
The members of the Order of the Dawn must swear to follow the duties of the members of the Order and to uphold the honor of the institution.
As members of the Royal Northern Army, the members of the Order of The Dawn are not obliged to follow the vows of the Nights Watch, such as celibacy and abnegation of all family heritages.
Article 6
By order of Queen Heddara, first of her name, every soldier in the Norther army must serve a rotation under the Order of the Dawn, before their third year of service. Any soldier wishing to be elevated to an officer rank must have served more than three rotations in the Order of the Dawn.
A lot of people talked about incorporating the Thralls into the North, but I figured most of them would not want such a thing. They would rather try to make their way back to their own original homes, and I don't see Heddara refusing. She would rather get rid of people that could cause problems in the future, rather than keep them around. Those who chose to stay in the North would be those who have nowhere else to go.
Things are coming along now. Only 3 more chapters after this and then the Epilogue.