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Coming of The Red Anchor
Repercussions and New Ideas
283 AC 12 weeks after the fleet secured Stoney Shore
Kings Landing
In a city far to the south of all the goings on in the North, an elderly man with grey hair and a slow walk made his way through the red stone keep towards a tower clinking as his chains jangled. Making his way slowly up the stairs he knocked on the door, upon hearing a call to enter he opened the wooden door and came face to face with the Hand of the King Jon Aryn. Aryn was a middle aged man, though with rapidly thinning and greying hair, sitting behind his desk with piles of parchment split into neat piles upon it. The walls had shelves with a few books and tomes while on another wall hung the flacon of House Aryn. "A raven has come for you my lord Hand. Bares the sigil of House Stark. Marked urgent" the Grand Maester croaked out. Aryn looked up and a soft smile appeared at the mention of his old ward though it turned to a frown at the mention of its urgent nature.
"What could possibly of occurred now? It was only a few weeks ago he informed us of the new arrivals" he muttered as he tore open the letter breaking the wax seal. His face went pensive as he read before a small sigh of exasperation escaped his mouth. "Call the Small Council Grand Maester. It appears the Ironborn have caused some trouble. I do not know if we need to respond just yet but I want everyone to know."
"Of course my lord Hand, I will get it done." With that the old man walked back out the room at his slow pace leaving the hand of the king to wonder just what was going on up north.
An hour later six men and a woman were seated around a table patiently or impatiently waiting for Lord Aryn to start.
"Why am I here Lord Aryn I have my darling boy to look after so what is so important I have to leave him?" a beautiful and aristocratic golden haired woman asked angrily.
"Quiet woman and let Jon speak" shouted back a muscular lean man with dark hair and blue eyes from the head of the table.
"Thank you Robert and I think your grace will most want to hear this. I received a message from Lord Stark -"
"AH good old Ned, how is he? Popped out another kid has his wife?" asked Robert.
"I believe he is well Robert but that was not the message. It appears the Ironborn attacked the west coast four sennights ago, Stoney Shore specifically." Gasps of surprise were heard around the room.
"Is that not where the newcomers have settled? Do they request monetary aid to rebuild? I can offer them a good loan and can earn us some money from the interest, we re going to need it" spoke a slim fancily dressed man from further down the table.
"No Olyver they do not need a loan. Apparently they crushed the attack and carried out the Kings' justice. Ned was merely letting us know in case other attacks may occur."
"Bloody squids, Varys why didn't you hear of this? We can put them down surely Jon? They've been a threat to everyone along that coast. Isn't that right my dear?"
The golden haired woman sneered breaking her beauty. "The Ironborn are no threat to House Lannister though they try. I am told they occasionally raid the coast though rarely in numbers for fear of my father. I have no care for what occurs with those northern barbarians. The Ironborn can do what they like above the Neck." Jon Aryn gave her a look of disapproval at that.
"In any case your Grace I did not hear anything as my birds have been quiet in the Iron Islands. As for the North, well I have a few little birds there but not in Stoney Shore. From what I can gather the newcomers are tight lipped and monitor closely all who arrive which makes placing someone there difficult" explained a bald man in fine silks.
"Hmm well we don't need someone there just yet. Though it would be god to know how they are doing. As good neighbours of course" said Aryn.
"Of course lord Hand I will endeavour to do so" Varys simpered.
"I suggest vigilance along the coasts in case they try anything. It doesn't hurt and can show unity amongst us to deter them from anything else. We are not quite ready for a naval engagement with the Ironborn as I'm still building up the royal fleet" a young man suggested through his grinding teeth.
"Yes not a bad suggestion Lord Stannis, Grand Maester, write to Lords Tywin and Hoster, inform them of the attack and for them to be vigilant in case of others. Right well a think that covers the main issues, was there anything else?" Silence answered.
"Good! Thank the gods, now I need a drink!" with that shout Robert stood up from his chair and marched out accompanied by an older man in gold armour with a white cloak attached while the others bowed and watched him leave. As the room emptied Varys hung back looking out from the balcony onto the bay looking east, pondering the newcomers and their apparent thrashing of the Ironborn. The game is just beginning and these people just might decide who lives and who dies. With that he vowed to redouble his efforts to place a little bird on that shore line.
Pyke
"What do you mean no one has seen them!? It's been four sennights, they should've been back by now!"
"Father please calm-"
"Don't you tell me to calm down boy, I've paid the iron price and raided raped and pillaged, YOU have not. What do we know?" another man stepped forth.
"My lord our ships have seen no one return south since your brother Euron went north. I can see only three possibilities; One, Euron has one and started raiding more along the North's coast. Two, he has won and gone elsewhere, maybe west as he is mad and might want to try heading west. Or three, well, he may have been defeated."
"DEFEATED! Have you lost your minds?! We are Ironborn there are no better sailors than us. He had twenty vessels including his own, the north has no vessels on this coast and the newcomers while they may have had twenty ships according to rumours they would still be no match for us. We should have had at least one ship return if nothing else. Now go find them!" he yelled at the assembled lords and sailors who then made quickly for the exits to head out to sea. "Not you Victarion, wait" Balon called. A younger, larger and powerfully built man than the one seated in the throne held back till all were gone. "What is it Balon?" he asked calmly.
"We will have to delay our plans if he really is gone. Build enough to make up for the losses and surpass that. IF he is dead then I want the North to suffer for their murder of our brother. Then we will hit the rest of them like the Lannisters" his voice dripped with derision. "We will make all who look down on us regret what they have done and beg for our mercy which we shall not give. We shall reap reap what they sow and ruin them all."
"It may take another year to do so brother but I shall attempt to speed that up."
"Do it, I want nothing left when we are finally through with the Starks and the Lannisters. We shall have revenge if they have robbed us of Euron."
"By your command brother. For what is dead may never die."
"For what is dead may never die" Balon answered mournfully as Victarion turned and left to complete his tasks. "They will suffer most painfully for you brother. Most painfully" Balon muttered.
Stoney Shore
The port was a hub of activity as the captured vessels were repaired by the local shipwrights and naval engineers while building went up in organised blocks with a commercial district close to the docks to allow easy access to supplies while homes and living space were created to the south now numbering over 50 stone and brick homes with a weirwood planted in a fenced and gated area for those to pray nearby. In the mansion Lord Warrington was hosting a meeting of the senior people in his lands. "Alright Admirals, what's the latest on our ships?"
"We we have repaired two ships which were less damaged than others and started to get a few locals trained to operate it and the weapons. The rest still need a few weeks, maybe a couple of months for the worst. On top of that we will need to acquire the copper to plate the hulls. As for the fleet; we took no damage, a few dents or paintwork chipped from their ballistae or scorpions but they were easily fixed. We did expend more ammunition than predicted but we rationed it well. We will need to resolve it though" Gardner explained.
"What do we need for gunpowder then? Metal for bullets we have its just gunpowder right?"
"More or less, minister" replied Colonel Devonshire. "There's a few extra ingredients but essentially we need sulfur, charcoal and potassium nitrate. Our modern version of gunpowder is a modification to the mixture with other things added but we should, if we posses the main three, be able to work something up."
"I see, coordinate with Maester Barneby on where those three may be located and what to look for and we can arrange trade or mine it ourselves." The two men nodded in confirmation. "Now, fuel for the fleet, how low are we after the battle?"
"We can sustain the fleet for another year maybe two assuming low usage and we keep them moored though the carriers and subs will go for longer. We need a source of oil. The whale oil generator we worked up is alright for easy stuff like lights and a radio but for doing many things or a ship it isn't effective" Cosmo explained gruffly.
"Do we have an idea where we can get some?"
"HMS Enterprise is doing a survey of the ocean floor seeing if there's evidence of a potential oil field. Being at sea will make it difficult to get at but more likely to find than on shore here in the North. With our iron and wood resources we should be able to fix up a rig if we find oil though I don't know how easy it'll be."
"Alright we'll keep an eye out. Baker, anything security or intelligence wise we should know." Everyone then turned to the young but experienced MI5 spy who had come with the minister.
"As you now I have begun to set up a rudimentary network. Basically just a couple of people around Stoney Shore who can send a message if they see or hear anything. I've kept tabs on any new arrivals and so far there been no trouble but there is a kid who is hanging around no parents I can see and given what I've seen of northerns I don't think the kid is one."
"You're suspicious of an orphan kid?" Warrington said with surprise.
"Aye I know you'll think I'm paranoid but the kid just sits around, watching, occasionally doing a chore for the odd person so as to be seen doing something" He said defensively.
"If I may my lords, the Master of Whisperers, Varys, also known as The Spider is said to have many in his employ, the rumours say he calls them his 'Little Birds'. One could take that to imply children. Thus from that one could argue this child is a little bird of Varys'." Baker nodded in agreement and sat rather smugly at potentially being proven correct.
"Alright pick the boy up and ask a few questions then let him go. After that keep a close eye on him depending on what the kid says" Warrington decided after some thought.
"It was a girl actually but yeah I can send a couple of marines to go question the kid and see what she says."
"Next, the port is finished correct?"
"Mostly" Maester Barneby replied. "Your engineers and local craftsmen have progressed well with the sewers and homes built along with construction of the market area being completed. The sea wall is also done though your defences need to be put in place. They're just on the last homes and infrastructure plus my Maester's residence."
"Very good, so just the castle we need to decide on. Do we know what is useable and what should be replaced?" This time Colonel Marks spoke up.
"Well the walls need a total redo Minister" he said with his Texan accent. "The inner buildings like stables and barracks will also need replacing too though like the walls we can reuse most of the existing material. The keep itself is intact and cuboid in shape, much like the your White Tower in the Tower of London, though its flatter and has no roof access. We could add a small turret to each corner along with roof access to allow for more defences to be positioned up there. As for walls, we can build an outer and inner curtain wall. I'm thinking 40 foot high for the outer wall and 60 foot for the inner. The Keep itself is around 70 foot so that gives us the high ground regardless."
"Are you sure you want two walls? Can we afford to do that?" questioned Warrington.
"For the inner wall we can use the existing wall as a basis but rebuild it and improve it. The outer wall will surround that. In total about nine maybe ten acres of land will be held plus the moat in front of the outer curtain wall. My current plan is to have eight towers plus the gatehouse in the outer wall and 12 towers on the inner wall. These inner towers will provide positions from which flanking fire can be deployed against a potential enemy and they will also contain additional accommodation space for staff and soldiers not using the main barracks and servants quarters we will build."
"You've clearly thought hard on this Colonel I'm impressed."
"I like medieval history, it's one of the few reasons I visited Europe so as to see the castles. I took some ideas from Winterfell as a true northern fortress and took ideas from the Tower of London as neither of them have fallen."
"I see well, can we begin construction?"
"My lord, I would suggest waiting a sennight or so after finishing the port, this will allow workers a chance to visit families and relax before heading off to the castle. It will also mean you can deploy extra by waiting till everything else is done so you have a large and experienced workforce. Assuming all goes to plan, according to estimates on what we need and the timetable based on the designs Colonel Marks has handed to me, you should be finished in around six or seven years. Depending on weather conditions, resources, changes to the plan and if winter comes or not the schedule may change." The people around the room nodded in agreement as the designs for the castle were laid before them.
"Very well then we will wait for them to finish the port though those who wish I think we can start some early preparatory work surely?"
"Possibly we can get some thing started with a small group if they are willing to start."
"Good do so, we need defences and a large home to house our many people. Plus it will be useful in winter to have the large cellars to store food." With nods of agreement the design was confirmed an initial timelines drawn up.
"Finally my friends I have had one other thought-" "We're doomed" someone said to a few chuckles "-yes thank you for that, my ideas aren't that bad" Warrington said with mock hurt. "We need a presence in King's Landing. I was thinking a trade group based there to show off some of our wares. We can use the warehouse or whatever building we acquiree as a base from which to monitor the capital for anything of note while earning some money in trade." Baker nodded as did the Colonels. Barneby was more hesitant but nodded.
"Yes if we get a spot near the docks we can come and go as we like and set up a radio post in the upper floors to relay news home" commented Baker.
"We should earn a fair amount from your steel and iron, you could earn a bit more from other things you may sell such as glass or ships if you wish my lord" Barneby said. "But I do say you should be careful if you plan to place agents in King's Landing. The Spider is ever present and I have heard tales about the Master of Coin."
"Understood Maester. Baker, Barney, set up a group that can go trade in the capital along with the personnel necessary for radioing back here and monitoring the capital" Warrington said and the two men nodded. "Right then, if we are all done, I'm heading off for some riding practise. It's quite freeing just you and the horse riding out there, you lot should learn too." There were a few grumbles at this suggestion as everyone departed Warrington's solar.
The next few days passed as the final tasks were completed in the port and the workers were given time off before the next big construction work began. The port had come alive quickly once the building work was done and trade ships from the Westerlands and from Bear Island began appearing as word of Stoney Port's superior steel and decent glass making became known. While the glass itself was of a lesser quality, for now, than that in Myr, that it was cheaper and made locally rather than from afar made it more cost effective to many northern houses for their own glass houses and for decoration in the wealthier southern families. The steel they made was of three varieties; the best quality was for House Britanican for use in construction, weapons or armour etc. The next level was for any northern house and finally the lowest quality was for those outside the North. That said, the steel sold southward was still better than almost any other southern house could make but priced a bit below Lannister steel so as to get more customers. To help with trade in the North plans were made for three roads to be built heading north towards Deepwood Mott, south and east towards Barrowton, via Rill Fort home of the Ryswells, and finally a third road taking the most direct and straightest route to Winterfell. While construction would take time they had spoken to the Ryswells and Glovers for their routes and both had agreed in principal for the road to continue into their lands if House Britanican provided the materials and additional funds while they provided workers and some funds. The roads would not begin construction until some progress had been made on the castle though dirt tracks were created following along the routes chosen which were enhanced with some pebbles to stabilise it and improve grip. For the port as another defensive measure a wall around it was planned for the future much like Lannisport though nothing had been settled on nor would any construction of it occur until after the castle was complete.
It was a sennight later in another meeting when they discussed a more personal problem they now had to face. "There aren't enough of us. Or rather there aren't enough women in the fleet to make every man and woman paired and that's not taking into account those with...er...other...er...inclinations?" Cosmo stumble through uncomfortably.
"So just let nature take its course with the locals. We have homes built with more underway surely that will help?" Warrington suggested.
"Aye but perhaps an official statement on relations between shipmates and locals should be issued?" Gardner said.
"Perhaps a way around it would be to continue the standing instruction of no relations between those under their command but allow for those on other ships or assignments or locals? That would allow for relations to develop but also mean they don't harm command decisions or the like."
"If you're sure admirals, you know current regulations better than I and I do want to help and you do raise a valid point about personal relations and that sorta thing. Ok get your aids to draw up a new regulation and we'll announce it to the fleet. Anything else you need to discuss?"
"Well the locals and the Maester have mentioned you and when you were going to get a Lady of the House" Cosmo coughed lightly, "Minister."
"Uh huh. And just what do they say about that Admiral?" Warrington asked both teasingly and out of curiosity.
"Well they er well,-" "They wondered when you'll marry and who it will be. The locals and the maester both believe it should be someone of the north" finished Gardner taking over from his uncomfortable superior.
"I see" Warrington replied in a steady voice. "In all honesty I haven't even thought about it. Have either of you?" Both men shook their heads.
"I had a wife and two kids back home" answered Cosmo.
"Same but just a son" replied Gardner "and we probably aren't the only ones. I don't know how many were married back home, we might have to check it and see."
"How many women are there in the fleet?"
"I think it was about 15% to 20% of the fleet are women give or take a bit."
"Alright see what we can do with relationships and everything, we are going to have to integrate more with the locals over time. As for marriage well unless I find someone I like I don't plan on it just yet."
"Yes minister" the two admirals chorused.
As time passed Warrington took the time out each day to practise with his sword and do some archery drills with the others of his men. While he had no formal teacher he could still go through some motions and work on building some upper body strength to improve his ability to use a sword and shield or just the sword alone. As for other things like foot work, it was just a play by ear method of learning and based on scenes from various films or TV shows, none of which is entirely helpful. Those learning sword play as an addition to their marksmanship with their rifles would occasionally help James as he practised fighting one on one and against groups. Of course this was all amateur training and not anywhere in the leagues of a master-at-arms or a knight. It was due to this that James wrote to Ned Stark requesting someone to train him and his men who wanted to learn.
Winterfell
Ned Stark sat next to his boy as he helped him learn to read. Rob was coming along being able to say a fair few words now and being almost three name days old. Jon sat opposite trying to do the same and while he could talk as much as Rob he rarely did being a quite and thoughtful child in contrast to Rob's exuberance. His wife, Catelyn, sat knitting while watching on though occasionally glancing hatefully at Jon. A knock came a the door as they sat in the Lords solar. "Come in" Ned called in his deep northern voice. Maester Luwin came in holding a piece of parchment. "A letter for you my lord."
"Of course, thank you Maester, why don't you help the boys with their reading while I deal with this."
"Of course my lord." Ned took the letter handed to him while Luwin walked over to Jon to see how he was, as the nearest to the door, before moving to check on Rob. Ned looked at the letter and read it a few times while thinking over how he could answer it.
"Is everything alright my lord husband" Catelyn said with some worry as he sat there staring at the letter.
"Oh yes nothing to worry about. It was a request for a sword instructor. Lord Warrington and some of his men wish to learn and they can only do so much by themselves and so asked if I knew of anyone who could instruct them."
"I see, not an unusual request, though most lords would be familiar by now wouldn't they or they have been to war so know by experience. Who would you send?"
"In part I m tempted to send Ser Rodrik. As master-at-arms here he would teach my guards how to fight but as you say most fought in the war so know mostly what to do."
"Pardon the interruption my lord but you could send Ser Rodrik for a few years to get them started and leave instruction for how to proceed and he can return when your sons are of an age to begin learning the sword themselves" Luwin suggested.
"Aye it is not a half bad idea. The boys are two and a half name days now and I wouldn't start to formally instruct them till they are six or seven. It could work though I would not have him stay that long. Maybe two years or three would suffice?"
"For that you would need to ask Ser Rodrik on how long he'd need my lord" Luwin answered softly.
"Bring him here then, best get this over with." Luwin nodded and left, returning a few minutes later with a middle-age man with slowly greying hair and a small beard.
"You asked for me my lord?" he asked in a gravelly voice.
"Yes I have been asked abut a possible sword instructor for house Britanican to train their men and their lord. I wanted your thoughts on who would do and how long they'd need."
"Of course my lord" he paused as he thought on the problem. "You would likely need someone to spend a good four to six years to get them in shape. Most lords train from six or seven name days and do so almost constantly from then on. The guardsmen would probably train for a few moons solid before we'd put them on guard duty and after that they train when not on the job. I have no clue what training or level the Britanicans would be at before starting."
"So it would be a five year job you reckon?" asked Eddard.
"Aye that would probably do it to get them to a reasonably level. What are you thinking my lord?" Rodrik asked cautiously.
"I was wondering if you could do it for a few years or until my sons are ready to learn. The guards here are sufficiently trained correct?"
"Aye they are but I would nae let them rest on their laurels and go slack my lord. You have to keep pushing, keep 'em training."
"I'm sure I can do so in your stead or get the captain of the guard to keep up their drills my friend. Would you do so then? It's only temporary and I believe no other than you could do so in five years. By that point my sons will be old enough to train and you can return home. You might even pick up something from them in their drills." said Eddard optimistically attempting to boost his master-at-arms' morale.
"Very well my lord, when should I leave?"
"Not yet my friend, in fact I plan to go visit them myself once the new year has past which should be in a moon or two. After we have celebrated new year I will then go and visit them as it would have been almost six moons since they claimed Stoney Shore and I wish to view their progress."
"Ned are you sure you wish to visit? Surely you can write letters for reports?" Lady Stark said worriedly.
"Nonsense Cat, it will only take a sennight maybe ten days to reach them. I will stay a few days then return. In short I should be back within three sennights. You and Luwin can hold for that long surely? And if anything happens I can request that flying thing of theirs" Eddard explained.
"You must find out more on that my lord, the citadel was quite intrigued by it though they also didn't really believe me either if truth be told. The Britanicans explantation of how it worked while making sense I just couldn't picture it. They said it was like the Sycamore trees' seed which spins and I said but how does that help it fly and they replied that you spin it faster to create lift. Most intriguing what they spoke of. Oh sorry my lord I got slightly distracted, as you command and I'm sure we can cope for a sennight or two without you" Luwin said with some excitement before looking a bit bashful at his outburst. The other just gave him sympathetic smiles or a grunt in the case of Rodrik.
"Thank you Maester, I am always a raven away and there must always be a Stark at Winterfell. Besides reports only give you so much and their plans for new roads, the one to Winterfell will be a boon for the North as it will allow quicker movement westward in case of Ironbron and for trade."
"You will do fine Cat for a few sennights, nothing major is planned after new year."
"Take the bastard with you then, he might like those people and stay with them plus it gets him away from me and our boy."
"Cat he's not a problem to anyone, even those from House Britanican did not care and was their argument not valid about how bastards who have betrayed family were raised badly?" seeing her defeated sigh he nodded. "I will take the boy if you wish. I would rather him go to serve the north with people who will not care of his status and feed him well than rot, starve and freeze away at the wall."
"Father, me wanna see boats" Rob said from where he sat, looking up pleadingly.
"Me too?" asked Jon softly.
"Boys you will both stay here for there must always be a Stark here, You are a Stark Rob and Jon while you may not have my name you have my blood. Stay and guard your mother Rob and Jon help Rob. Can you do that for me when I travel for a short while?" The boys nodded after a quick glance at each other. "Good now why don't you go get ready for dinner, go on." With that the two boys got down from their chairs slowly and went to the door and were assisted by Maester Luwin and Lady Stark. Eddard sighed when they left leaving him alone with Rodrik Cassel. "You sure you're alright with training them?"
"Aye it'll be an experience, besides it might get me ready for teaching your boys a bit more. Been a while since I had green lads to train from scratch. I'm good with it mi'lord."
"Very well then, I will write to Lord Warrington informing him of your assignment and that it is for up to five years, you may return prior to that if you feel they are acceptable. I will tell him we shall leave for Stoney Shore after new year."
"As you wish my lord" Ser Rodrik said before getting a nod from Lord Stark to leave.
AN: Thanks for reading and following this story, can't believe that its so popular. Keep reviewing it means a lot and valid points will possibly be addressed as story progresses. J signing off