With weirwood trees suddenly appearing all over the Vale, many smallfolk started converting to the Old Gods. To them, the trees were a physical manifestation of the divine, and proof of their existence. Without any clear way for someone to have moved the weirwoods, it seemed only logical to believe it was something more religious. The Faith was already in an uproar, and several septons demanded that the weirwoods be destroyed, and any worshippers be guided back to the "one true path." Jasper quickly realized he needed to step in, or a crusade could break out. He made it illegal to desecrate any place of worship in Vale and threatened any Septon who started preaching for violence. Tensions were still high, but thankfully no one tested the law or his resolve.

The spread of the weirwoods continued to follow the roads, and after eight months of work, nearly a quarter of Vale was completed. Wide enough for three wagons to pass abreast and made up of fused-stone sitting atop layers of cement and crushed gravel. They were cambered to allow for water to flow off the shoulders, and into ditches running along the flanks. It was the most sophisticated road system in Westeros, and trade had already tripled in the places where the roads were implemented.

Ever since Jon left for war, Jasper had been forced to take over many matters of state. It was what led to him dealing with the mountain clans, and even designing the network of roads. But the longer he spent in this position, the more he realized Vale had many problems that needed to be addressed.

Nearly all the smallfolk were illiterate, and until recently, were typically isolated in their holds because travel was too difficult, and maps were too expensive. On top of that, medical care was practically a foreign concept, and many smallfolk suffered in the past because they had nowhere to go when they got sick or injured. Unless you were near a lordly keep, septons praying on your wounds was usually the closest thing to a doctor you could expect to find.

He needed a way for the cost of books and maps to go down. They would help encourage knowledge and travel, and the cheaper it was to make books, the more smallfolk would be able to afford them. Not only would this help the smallfolk, but he knew it would boost trade across all of Vale.

It seemed to him that the obvious solution was to "invent" the printing press. He knew he couldn't conjure one, because it was too complex to do wandlessly, at least for something he had never actually seen before. But he was able to modify a wine press enough to design one on his own.

It was an extremely simple design, essentially just a plate that could rise and fall. However, the plate wasn't flat, but rather made up of a series of rails, each designed to hold a set of pre-cut blocks. It would be time consuming to set up, having to spell out every word on the entire page, but this way you could print several copies of the page at a time. Things like maps and pictures would have to be individually etched on to a separate plate, so those would be likely only included for the most important/sought after books.

The entire process was still extremely inefficient, but it was far better than copying by hand. Besides, if you had several people working on different pages simultaneously, you could produce a whole set of books in a fraction of the time it used to take just to make one. While he was at it, he also decided to "invent" fountain pens and clocks (sundials were the current standard)- although that was as much for him as it was for Vale.

Quills were great when they could be charmed to be self-inking, but as that wasn't an option, fountain pens were a very simple solution. Clocks were largely for the same reason; he would never get used to measuring time by the bloody candle and it just made his life significantly easier to go back to minutes and hours.

He had been forced to conjure pens and clocks at Hogwarts several times for Transfiguration practice, so thankfully, he already had experience working with them. Being able to tear an item apart and see how it was made was a lot easier than designing something from memory. And he gave both the models and schematics to local craftsmen for them to be reproduced.

Unfortunately, while they were quickly able to make the pens, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't match the precision needed to make the clock. Ultimately, he decided he would have to make those himself, and started designing a set of runic arrays to automate the process. Essentially, what he ended up doing was creating a self-casting duplication charm using runes, and all he would have to do was etch the array for permanence on whatever models it ended up producing, lest they disappear when their magic faded.

He carefully designed several sets of clocks, both as pocket watches and wall clocks, and used them as "master versions" to copy whenever someone would order them. They were rather extravagant, with golden inlays and various designs carved along the face and sides. Supposedly, they would be hand-crafted by him, so it needed to reflect that level of detail and craftsmanship.

Once everything was finalized, he immediately started several companies that sold his new creations throughout the Vale. He made sure that most of the more detailed maps of the Vale and Westeros were already etched (Or transfigured using magic) and available so that the first books his company produced were atlases. He also was sure to gift a set of wall clocks to every noble House in the Vale, along with instructions for their operation. He knew they weren't something people would start to buy until he made it more of a common system, so he hoped that with everyone having one, it would help stir up at least some of interest.

It wasn't long after that Jasper decided to contact the Citadel and convince them to help carry out some of the other projects he had in mind. In Snakewood, Runestone, Wickenden, and Strong Song (The North, East, South, and West) he would have both a school and hospital built to serve each respective region. He hoped the hospitals would cut down on the death and disease that were common from wounds being left untreated or ignored. As for the schools, they wouldn't be covering much, but the smallfolk would learn how to read, write, and understand a clock. It was a tricky balancing act where he hoped to educate his people, but not to the point where it could upset the balance of power.

Despite the war, the Citadel had agreed to help him with his request. They were considered neutral in any conflict and, at least officially, served all sides equally. They would send maesters to staff his new institutions, along with the many books that would be required. As they already had Maesters in every castle in Vale, he didn't feel that this was that much greater of a risk.

Of course, their support wasn't cheap, and it ended up costing him nearly eighty thousand dragons and a printing press. The Citadel was nothing if not reasonable, even with the war on. While the very idea of schools was quick to generate a lot of complaints from the nobles, Jasper's response was sharp and blunt. "I have no desire to rule a kingdom full of dullards and simpletons. If just giving the smallfolk the ability to read and write puts your power into question, clearly, you're not ruling well. It is my duty as an Arryn to guide the realm, do not forget you rule through my name."

Although the roads weren't completed, Jasper started making preparations to elevate the mountain clans to a masterly house. They would become House Moon and eventually be given Whiterun as their seat, a holdfast only twenty miles West from Coldwater Burn. They would also be given leave to form a council in lieu of a master, and practice whatever traditions they chose. Technically, nothing would really change for the clansmen, as they were still prisoners until the roads were completed. But it would be proof that Jasper was keeping to his word, and that they would eventually get those titles and privileges. While relations were still somewhat strained between the Moons and the rest of Vale, things had eased considerably since their initial surrender. He hoped that by the time they were pardoned, most of the commoners would accept them as citizens rather than criminals.

o-O-o

The war had raged for nearly a year now, and the Riverlands were affected heavily by it. Without the threat of the mountain clans haunting the border, traders and smallfolk alike started travelling to the Vale for safety and supplies. Jasper had yet to hear from his new lady mother, but apparently many villages had been razed and banditry was becoming a problem. After the Targaryen forces had suffered a major defeat in the area, one which resulted in Rhaegar's death, the army became fractured, and several groups started harassing the local smallfolk. Remnants of the Loyalist Army had already attacked several villages around Harrenhall, and the Tullys had few troops to spare in order to deal with them.

In response to all this, Jasper had the patrols doubled along the border and sent his personal guard to lead them. Most were veterans from the Ninepenny War and the recent campaign against the mountain clans. They managed to repel two attacks on Saltpans, and even led a raid against the bandits themselves, before the River Lords were finally able to step in.

It wasn't long after this that the Rebel Army had managed to reach King's Landing, and it was hoped the war would be coming to an end. This soon was mired in confusion though, and while the reports were conflicting, it was clear the capital had since been taken and the King was now dead. Apparently, the Lannisters had joined the rebels shortly before they started sacking the city and opened the gates for Rob's forces. The war, however, may have just been intensified. During the city's sacking, Elia Martell and her children had been brutally murdered and possibly raped by a group of Lannister bannermen. They had been Targaryen hostages since the start of the war, and likely the only reason Dorne had sided with them to begin with. Even worse, the newly named King, Robert Baratheon, had publicly praised the murders and had even decreed they were to be left unpunished. Jasper had never been fond of Ned's ward, but he had never thought him to be this dishonorable, nevermind so shortsighted. Both Dorne and the Reach still had considerable forces, and they weren't likely to let this go ignored.

He couldn't believe his father had allowed this to happen. He had always talked about the importance of honor, but allowing those knights to live went against everything he believed in. Jasper vowed to personally kill Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch, for Dorne and for Elia. Jon may have lost his honor, but Jasper wouldn't do the same.

i {o,o}
i /) ')
i -"-"-

AN: So, if anyone's wondering what he will do to explain how he makes the parts for the clocks, he doesn't, it's a trade secret. And before anyone asks, the reason Jasper doesn't use the duplication on things like food are because of GAMPS law, which states that it's impossible to conjure food/living things (Water is an exception to this- and although water is not a living thing, it is food), not to mention he would have a hard time explaining where all the food came from.

Now, as this has come up a lot, I decided to address it here. In regards to the Lannister's, you have to take into consideration that they quite possibly intensified the war by killing Elia Martell. Not only was she well-liked by her people, but she could have been used to broker peace with Dorne or even Dragonstone (Or both). With Rhaegar and Aerys dead, she became Queen regent for Aegon (Her Son). Most of the people who joined rebellion did so because Aerys was insane, with his death along with his son (The same son who supposedly kidnapped Lyanna and cheated on his wife Elia, leaving her behind with his "I burn people for fun" father.), she could have been used to sue for peace with Dorne and the Reach.

That aside, Jon or Robert could have demanded Gregor's head for killing prisoners/hostages or for the rape. That they did not makes them without honor in Jasper's eyes. You also have to consider that the Lannisters have a lot riding on this. The Loyalists would never ally with them now, so Tywin needs to get the support of the rebels- it was for that very reason he had Elia killed in the first place, to show his support. He wouldn't really be able to refuse, and he'd likely kill Gregor anyway, before he could tell the world Tywin ordered everything.

Notes. For those that know one 'verse, but not the other:

[1] Septons are male priests for the Faith, Septas are female nuns.

[2] A dragon is the highest level of currency in Westeros, it's made of gold. Both Stars and Stags are silver pieces and a penny is made up of copper.

[3] A Masterly House is the lowest level of nobility, they are equal to a knight who has been granted land and a keep.

[4] GAMPS Law (my interpretation of it at least) is that any living thing that is conjured wouldn't have whatever properties it gained from its living state. So, food would have no protein/nutritional value, it would essentially just be some good tasting air. Things like conjured animals and even wood follow these same restrictions, leaving a rather good imitation, but if you try to break it down do its base components, you'll notice they are fundamentally lacking.- I completely disagree with JK giving a work around for this using the duplication charm, as to me they are essentially the same thing. So for the sake of this story, they fall under the same restrictions.

Edited 3-13-22