The old man wasn't the only surprise that Jon received at Riverrun. The following morning word reached the Northern forces that Renly had been assassinated by Brienne of Tarth, who had been apprehended by Ser Loras Tyrell. The news came with an envoy carrying the seal of House Tyrell. The messenger also carried one more letter, a letter that told of The Reach Lords and Ladies and whatever Storm Lords present submitting to Jon Targaryen. Jon read through all the names and also found himself being offered the hand of Margaery Tyrell. The talk of marriage was pushed back when another envoy made himself known, this one carrying the seal of none other than House Baratheon.
"Stannis Baratheon has suffered an illness that has taken most his bodily controls and all his wits. He is now bed-bound with no guarantees of recovery" Jon placed the letter in the hands of his uncle, who read it before passing it to the person on his left, who in turn passed it to the one on their left and it went on as such until every last person had read it.
"And who might you be, good Ser?" asked Robb, leaning forward against the table.
"Ser Davos Seaworth" Jon answered for the man. The man in question looked at him with some surprise. "Any ideas how a healthy man as Stannis Baratheon had come to such a state?" he asked.
"Your Grace," Davos bowed his head slightly and Jon had to help his eyes from narrowing. So the Onion Knight already had given up on Stannis. Much before anything had been done to Shireen. "It is all the work of the red witch!"
"Explain Ser Davos" Ned spoke gently. And explain Davos did. He told them about the black magic and the demon's birth. He also told of how the red woman had tainted Dragonstone. By the end of his tale, all present were up in arms.
"That man show me killed for the acts he's committed, and that too to send a demon after our king!" Greatjon Umber roared, slamming his fist on the table.
"The Gods have punished him well enough Lord Umber," Jon told him soothingly, looking at the man with a small smile.
"Renly was unlucky he had no dragon to protect him" Rickard Karstark spoke grimly. "And our King lucky he had two and a direwolf."
"Aye, the gods favour us more than our contemporaries" Jon looked to Lord Karstark with the same smile. Then he turned to Ser Davos, looking grim. "What of the witch? What happened to her?"
"She's" Davos pursed his lips. "She had been raving madly about how the red god had abandoned her before jumping into an open pyre. She burned to death before us all."
A grimace passed over Jon's face while the others either snorted or remained silent. "Good riddance" Edmure Tully muttered softly.
"The Stormland Lords have bent the knee to you, your Grace. As have The Reach families that stood with Lord Stannis" Ser Davos said after the people had calmed down.
"We accept their pledge of allegiance" Jon informed him with a smile. "Tell them to remain on Dragonstone and join the Velaryon, Massey and Celtigar men. They are to not attack until they receive my orders, only make sure nobody escaped through Blackwater Bay and the lands around it. Understood?"
"Your Grace" Davos stood a little straighter and gave a nod that he understood. Jon dismissed him with orders to leave as soon as possible with the news. He then turned to the other messenger. His orders were much the same. He will inform his Lords to hold the South to prevent any escapes or any incoming help, and their naval number would be joining the blockade at Blackwater Rush.
"With both Stannis and Renly gone and their armies flocking to us, the war is practically won" Edmure Tully spoke, proudly stating what was on everyone's minds.
"Aye," Maege Mormont spoke, a smile on his face. "With all their roads blocked away, they'll have no way to escape should we descend on them."
"Almost all their roads. The Westerlands and the road to and from it is still quite open" pointed out Galbert Glover.
"Not for long" Jon spoke, "how many men do the Westerlands have?"
"Forty thousand in total, your Grace. But At present, they will have far less with five thousand going to the capital with Tywin Lannister while the remaining men had been dealt with here" Brynden explained.
"That would leave The Crownlands with thirteen thousand men able" Jon hummed. He then turned to Robb. "You have proven yourself an able fighter, my cousin. You will lead an army of thirty-five thousand of our men and block the western path. Do not attack until your receive a message from me."
"Your Grace" Robb stood a little straighter. Discussions went on to divide the men. In the end, barring the Riverlands host and armies from Houses Bolton, Dustin, Cerwyn, Manderly and Tallhart, the rest would be going with Robb, including their Lords and Ladies. The room soon emptied, leaving just Ned Stark and Brynden with Jon.
"We've almost done it" Jon spoke casually, a smile on his face. The smile mimicked Ned Stark's face as he ruffled the young man's hair affectionately and agreed. Then the smile fell and a groan escaped his mouth. "Do I have to marry Margaery Tyrell though? They can swear their oath without her and I marrying."
"It would bind The Reach to you and you'll have a strong and loyal host backing you" Ned advised sagely, hiding his humour at the scene. "You'll grow to love her. Like I grew to love my Catelyn."
"I'd be lucky if we end up like the two of you" Jon informed him with an affectionate smile. "Speaking of loyalties, we need to bind House Frey to loyalty. I was thinking of Roslin Frey, maybe a marriage between Robb and her. But the Northern Lords might not approve of it. Maybe Lord Edmure? It would bind the two houses and cow any chance of The Freys acting as they did."
"Thinking about all that already?" Ned asked with a small smile on his face.
"As King, I have to think about all of this" Jon pointed out to him. "I want to look as if I'm thinking about my people as well. So, as my hand what do you think?"
"Hand?"
"Of course! You think I'll never not ask you for advice before doing anything?" Jon asked with a hint of amusement.
Ned recovered from his momentary shock before humming in thought, "I think Edmure will protest but once he sees her he will calm down" Ned spoke. "And what about Robb? If you've thought Roslin for him, you've for sure thought about someone else."
"Two actually" Jon held up two fingers. "One is Dacey Mormont, daughter of Lady Maege. But the problem is that she is older than him by quite a bit. The second is Alys Karstark. She's his younger and someone who I feel is better suited."
"I see" Ned murmured thoughtfully. "I'll have to talk to Catelyn about this before I come to a decision."
"Of course" Jon dipped his head. "Will you be kind as to let Lord Edmure about his possible betrothal and to come to talk to me about it?"
"I will" Ned stated, dipped his head and walked out.
"Things are going smoothly" Brynden commented.
"A little too smooth for me" Jon muttered. "I can't help but think about the next big problem that will smack me in the face."
"I can think of two."
"Tywin Lannister and Euron Greyjoy" Jon muttered gravely. One of them was already cornered and Jon did not doubt what the old lion could or could not do. It was the other that worried him more, the one with that blasted Valyrian horn. "Is our friend still around?"
"The one from Kings Landing?" Brynden asked and Jon nodded, "Aye, he is. He's settling as a cook at the moment."
"Tell him about Euron Greyjoy," Jon said seriously. An unreadable expression passed over Brynden's face before he reigned it in and left with Jon's leave. Not long after Edmure came rushing in with an outraged look on his face.