145 AC
Ravens flew, from Winterfell, they went South.
Iron Islands, Pyke
"My Lord" a Maester said catching the attention of Toron Greyjoy Lord of the Iron Islands.
"What do you want you sniveling cod?" Toron bellowed.
Internally the Maester sighed, not daring to do it in front of Lord Greyjoy, he knew he would be yelled at and threatened for interrupting the Lord Reaper of Pyke, but he knew it would be worse if he delayed.
"A raven came it's from Winterfell" he answered.
That seemed to catch Toron off guard as virtually no mainlander sent ravens to the Iron Islands unless they had to and the Northern Houses even less so, especially House Stark.
"What do those Wolf cubs want with me?" Toron asked taking the message and looking at it. The message also took him off guard and after rereading it, he stopped and thinked. This surprised the Maester as the Ironborn with the exception of the Harlaw's rarely used their brains.
"Prepare five ships" he roared turning to one of his thralls, who quickly ran off to relay his order.
Only five ships? Too small for a raiding party, so what was going on? The Maester looked at the message that Lord Greyjoy left at the table and couldn't help but feel a bit shocked at the contents. Whatever was going to happen was going to be big that's the only thing he knew from reading the message.
Westerland's, Casterly Rock
Loreon Lannister Lord Paramount of the West knew he was going through a rather turbulent time for the Westerland's and the Lannister's as their monopoly on precious metals was now threatened by the North and in the first time in history of the Westerland's they had to compete in the market they had previously dominated.
They were still an extremely wealthy land and the Lannister's were still the wealthiest family in the Seven Kingdoms, even if it was unknown how wealthy the North was. He tried to stop the North from exporting their precious metals, but it ended in failure when King Aegon pointed out he "couldn't" and if he did, he would create a precedent that could be used later on the Westerland's or any other one of the Seven Kingdoms to stop them exporting goods for no justifiable reason other than the King's whim. So, he had to abandon that idea and try to come up with a new one but for the life of him he couldn't.
He looked at the message on his desk in his solar, perhaps it offered an opportunity or at minimum he would have a chance to meet his opponent face to face to get the measure of the man. Yes, he would go.
Vale, The Eyrie
Sitting on his throne in deep thought was Joffrey Arryn Warden of the East. He had received a raven from Cregan Stark and was contemplating it. His hold on the Eyrie was still tenuous despite there being no one close enough to the family tree to create a rival claimant at the moment. The Civil War in the Vale while short thanks to the crown was still bloody and if he left, he may find a few "problems" when he returned.
However, he knew the Stark's wouldn't send a raven for a frivolous reason, they were known for being practical, blunt and not wasting time. He wouldn't do this for a simple tea party so this was indeed an emergency, but which would be the worst crisis. The one he didn't know about or the one that could potentially happen if he exited the Bloody Gate?
He turned his thoughts to the North, the land of knights without knights it was often called and unfortunately, he had to agree with them. The Reach may boast being the birthplace and heart of chivalry and the Vale may boast being the land of honor and both boast of being the land of Knights. But compared to the North which doesn't boast at all, their Lords were nothing when faced with Northern honor. Truth be told he would believe a Northern Lord over most of the Lords of the Vale with few exceptions.
But that still didn't answer his question, stay or go. As High as Honor were his Houses words and considering what Lord Stark's raven hinted at, he was honor bound to go.
"Prepare my horses and a guard detail of a hundred" he ordered his steward who bowed and left to fulfil the order.
He would ride.
Riverland's, Riverrun
The Riverland's were still healing from the Dance of Dragons over ten years before, since like all major conflicts between the Seven Kingdoms the Riverland's was the battleground. Kermit Tully found himself spending his energy rebuilding after the disastrous war. Luckily the Lord Paramount of the Trident had help from the North, who in an effort to expand their trade had invested in some roads, bridges and the rebuilding of towns and villages along the trade routes to the other Kingdoms.
While the sale of wheat might be down, the trade was now worth more than that, allowing him and the other Lords to repair the Riverland's more quickly, than they previously thought even if it is still ongoing.
However, what really troubled him was the dreams and the event that started them. He remembered one day he woke up in the middle of the night and couldn't get back to sleep. He decided to go for a walk and his walk took him to the godswood in Riverrun, as while they were followers of the Seven, they still had First Men blood coursing through their veins and the castle was designed by his First Men ancestors which of course included a godswood. But it had no weirwood and was little more than a nice garden. However, that night he heard a noise coming from the godswood and he decided to investigate. Hiding he sneaked up and saw a sight that would stay with him for the rest of his life. He saw little people the size of children in the godswood but they weren't children they weren't even human. He recognized them from all the legends and stories he heard as a child, Children of the Forest, he thought they had been extinct since he along with everyone else in Westeros knew they once existed. One of them took out a sapling and placed it into the ground, and then the five Children began to quietly sing a song in a language he didn't understand. Before his very eyes the sapling grew, in twenty minutes a fully grown weirwood tree was in the godswood. They moved to the other side of the weirwood tree, and it wasn't till he had the courage to get up from his hiding place and walk around the new tree. The Children were gone but there was now a face on the tree making it a new heart tree.
Soon afterword's the dreams started, dreams of Ages long since passed. But one dream more than any appeared, the War of the Dawn. He saw his ancestor fighting against hordes of the dead on the very island that Riverrun now sits upon. Defending it with a small group of survivors against what seemed the forces of nature itself as blizzard after blizzard battered his ancestor. Then when it seemed that his ancestor was going to be overrun a relief force arrived. Led by a red headed female they charged the wights and Others besieging the Island and forced them to retreat, the power they had wielded was godlike but the power that female used was like a god.
The dream changed and he saw his ancestor bow to the red head who was now wearing a crown although she looked uncomfortable with it and although he didn't understand the words it translated for him "All Hail the High Queen of the Living Ranma" his ancestor shouted along with everyone else. He saw the rest of the War as his ancestor fought alongside what he could only call legends beings with enough power to smash mortal armies with ease unfortunately the enemy wasn't mortal and didn't use a mortal army. The dreams of the War of the Dawn ended with the sacrifice of the Queen who saved his ancestor among others in her last act.
The first night he had that dream he woke up drenched in sweat and shaking. His family along with many others also had strange dreams of the past Ages. He tried to pray to the Seven in the Sept, but he had received no answer from the stone statues. Eventually he stopped praying to the Seven but to the heart tree, the Old Gods. Then before his eyes the face spoke warning him that another Long Night was due and the warning sign for it, that the North and the Stark's were awake. He converted to the Old Gods there and then and the dreams soon stopped although he wrote them all down so nether, he or his descendants would forget what his ancestors did and the warning the Old Gods had gave.
Now the Stark's had sent a raven, considering that they never abandoned the Old Gods for the Faith of Seven they may have more information regarding what is happening. He would go.
The Reach, Highgarden
Out of all the Seven Kingdoms the Reach was the most damaged by the Dance of Dragons and Lyonel Tyrell knew that. He was but an infant during the fighting, but the devastation was clear, the Reach hadn't been in such a disastrous conflict since Dorne successfully managed to sack Highgarden and destroy the throne of the Gardener King's. They had more dead, crippled and injured than the Field of Fire and countless towns and villages had been destroyed.
But the greatest damage to his family was the weakness in authority that the war exposed when they couldn't control their own bannermen especially the Hightower's. Unlike every other Great House, they didn't earn their title or power but were given it for simply opening the door to Aegon after the Field of Fire. This lack of accomplishments combined with half the Reach's Houses having a better claim to Highgarden and being Lord Paramount of the South made the Tyrell authority fragile at the best of times. The only thing that was keeping them in power was royal favor and the Targaryen's were devastated by the Dance of Dragon's, losing most of their dragon's and family members. If the dynasty were to fall or if the Tyrell's lost the royal families favor it would take less than a moon for their family to be deposed in the ensuing civil war in the Reach to claim High Garden, unless the new monarch supported them.
It didn't help that the Reach was losing money, thanks to the abundance of food that was appearing in the North. They were still wealthy as the North was hardly their only buyer, but it was their most major one and losing it had hit them hard. Of course, with the Lords suddenly losing a portion of their wealth they started to point fingers and several of those fingers were pointed at House Tyrell. Well, he had sent them messages back saying he didn't have control of what happened above the Neck and they knew this, second, he was the only person who tried to do something when the North stopped buying, it failed but at least he tried which was more than they could say for the rest of the Houses in the Reach. Similar to the Lannister's he had sent a message to the King asking for the North to buy the food in order to keep the status quo in the Seven Kingdoms. Aegon refused stating that while there were precedents of forcing Lords to buy from certain suppliers or trade routes, there were no precedents to force them to buy stuff they didn't need or want, especially if they hadn't been defeated in a war and it was part of a clause in the peace treaty. The King was not known for his sense of humor, clearly shown by his nickname Aegon the Unhappy but the suggestion that the only way he could force the North to buy the food was to declare war on it and win sounded like a bad joke with a high level of sarcasm. Even if he could get the Reach's army past the Riverland's without starting a war with it or the crown for breaking the peace, they would never get past the rebuilt Moat Cailin. While the Redwyne fleet would never be able to transport enough troops to defeat the North and it would attract the Lannister and Iron Fleet once it moved into their waters maybe causing a war with one or both of the Kingdoms.
Maybe a face-to-face meeting with Cregan could at least resolve some of the problem but he wasn't entirely confident about that since he not needing food meant not needing food, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to try. He would go to Oldtown for this meeting.
Stormlands, Storm's End
Royce Baratheon knew that he had to reestablish some measure of cordial relations with the royal family since they remembered what his father Borros did. The young Lord Paramount of the Stormlands wondered what his father was thinking when he decided to support the Greens. Yes, they promised him a Targaryen prince for his sisters to wed but he betrayed the oath he swore to King Viserys and indirectly killed a guest who had been offered guest rights with allowing Aemond to go after his relative, young prince Lucerys killing the boy near Storm's End. True the death happened outside the castle, but everyone knew his sister Maris encouraged Aemond to attack and then his father gave his permission with the words "I cannot tell you what to do outside my roof". This dropped his fathers and by extension House Baratheon's reputation into the gutter, with encouraging and allowing an attack on a guest and not just a murder of a guest but kinslaying and allowed said kinslayer to wed one of Borros daughters. It was too much. There was a reason why his father in his original muster could only call 6000 men, only a fifth of what he should have been able to call in that time period. The Stormlands were the only Kingdom beside the Vale that rarely got involved in the darker sides of Game of Thrones (also the North who never get involved at all). They were a martial culture that valued winning above all else, but it still held a sense of honor. If Borros and the Greens had won, his actions might have been forgivable, but they lost and Borros lost his life to thanks to a war he helped start. While his sister Maris was forced to join the silent sisters to make up for her part in that debacle.
This meeting that Lord Stark was calling in Oldtown may be the perfect opportunity to at least open a dialogue with the royal family and the other Great Houses most of whom were enemies of his father. He would go.
Dorne, Sunspear
The Princess of Dorne Aliandra Martell was wondering what to do in response to the raven that Lord Stark sent. The Stark's have rarely sent a raven to Dorne and when they did it was usually trade for spices and other things. The last time was over a hundred years ago according to the Maester. He was calling a meeting of every Major House in Westeros in Oldtown whether they be under the Iron Thrones dominion or not.
She could refuse if Aegon decided to go it's not like he could punish her or Dorne since they hadn't bent the knee to his family and with the current state of their dragons it was unlikely, they ever would. But she couldn't help but feel that something important was going to happen at the meeting plus she would like to meet the man who was responsible for them losing about half their trade. Out of all the Seven Kingdoms it was Dorne that was most affected by the North's new canal system and while she doubted, she would be able to do anything about it she would meet the man who was responsible. She would go.
Crownlands, King's Landing, Red Keep, Small Council Meeting
It had started as an ordinary day but then a raven arrived with a message from Lord Stark.
"Why would Lord Stark call this meeting especially since the only authority that should be able to call such a meeting is you your grace" Ser Gedmund Peake Master of Ships blustered thinking that the message was an insult and attack on the authority of the King.
"He isn't calling a meeting but inviting people to a meeting, there is a difference" Prince Viserys Targaryen Hand of the King replied.
"What's the difference?" Peake asked.
"If he called a meeting, he is saying you don't really have a choice but to go and that he has at least some authority over the person. Inviting means that it is up to the person, that they don't have to go and at minimum the person is his equal since he can't order them to attend" Viserys explained.
"That still leaves the reason why he is going to Oldtown and inviting the other Great Houses to meet him there" Ser Raynard Ruskyn Lord Commander of the Kingsguard pointed out.
"When I met Cregan as a boy during the so-called Hour of the Wolf, he was honest, blunt, to the point and he never said or did anything without a reason. If he believes a meeting is necessary and that it has to take place in Oldtown then I am inclined to agree with him" Aegon said aloud he didn't like the wolf, but he did respect him and sometimes wished that their roles were reversed so he could be Lord Paramount of the North and not be stuck in this city of liars and backstabbers.
"Does that mean you intend to go your grace?" Grand Maester Munkun asked.
"Yes, If Stark believes that something is important enough to have a meeting with the Great Houses and is too dangerous to discuss but in person, then this must be an important matter that can't wait and that needs me to be there" Aegon answered with his uncle Viserys nodding his head in agreement.
"Send ravens informing the Warden of the North and the rest of the invitees that I plan to attend" Aegon ordered looking at Munkun.
Munkun left but not before taking one last look at the message that started this meeting.
Aegon Targaryen III King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm
Your grace, I have discovered something that requires your attention. I will be in Oldtown on the 10th day of the third moon, I have invited all the other Lord Paramount's and the Princess of Dorne. Bring a large contingent of trusted troops.
Your loyal servant Cregan Stark Lord Paramount of the North.
Oldtown, the Hightower
Oldtown was filled with activity and it must be said excitement. As the most important individuals in the Seven Kingdoms converged on the oldest settlement in Westeros in a meeting that hadn't happened in years. It wasn't a Great Council where every noble could and would attend and take part in the preceding's, but it was certainly close to it as a number of nobles curious about what was happening also headed to Oldtown.
Being closer to Oldtown all the invitees arrived before Cregan or so they thought, Cregan planned for them to arrive before him because what he was doing was not only part of a larger plan, but he also wanted to make a silent statement.
It must be said that it was a very awkward initial meeting as many of their Houses just barely over ten years before tried to kill each other with many of the current Lord Paramount's still had regents as they were only children or babes when the Dance of Dragons happened with many of their fathers dying in the conflict. But they made sure no fights broke out between their men as none of them with the exception of Dorne which wasn't involved in the civil war had recovered their strength, they didn't want to start another civil especially since many of their Houses were on the verge of extinction. Even the Ironborn with their lust for battle and proving themselves as the strongest realized provoking a fight would be a very stupid thing to do.
"Ships, sighted they bear Direwolf flags" a watchman with a myrish spyglass announced.
"So, they are finally arriving" Toron all but spat.
"What's wrong?" prince Viserys asked looking at the watchman who was clearly shaken, others turned to the watchman and realized he looked a bit scared and were wondering the same question.
"The ships that Lord Stark is bringing, I have never seen anything like them before and I have seen ships from nearly all corners of the world dock here. Not only their design but their size, those ships heading for us are gigantic, bigger than any ships I have ever seen or heard of" the watchmen rambled/replied.
Viserys indicated to hand the spyglass to him which was done and then looked out towards the approaching ships. His heart seemed to stop a moment and his breath caught in his throat as he beheld the monstrosities that were coming towards him, the watchman seemed to have understated their size. He quietly handed it to his nephew Aegon who also looked and who had a similar reaction, the spyglass was then passed around and it must be said the smallfolk were astounded by the sight of their High-Born Lords looking like someone had hit them over the heads. But they themselves had a similar expression as the Stark's ships came within view.
Though they did not know it these three ships were the new Ships of the Line, that the North had built. This was the statement, that the Stark's had rebuilt their fleet, that the days of Brandon the Shipwright were returning when the North once ruled the waves above the Trident, when the Ironborn were forced from Northern waters. Not only that they had ships that the world hadn't seen before and while the capabilities of these new ships were unknown well most humans usually had a bigger is better mentality especially Lords whether that be army sizes, castles, land, money or anything else. These ships were the biggest on all the seas in the world and most sailors even Ironborn would quail at the site of these behemoths coming at them. Secondly the Stark's were well known for being a practical family, if they decided to build these ships, they were certainly useful in naval combat than just art pieces made to look impressive and just intimidate the enemies. The Stark's always backed up their growls with a bite, usually a fatal one.
As the ships got closer, they could see the names on them. The leading ship was "Herald of the Seas" the one on the left was the "Sea Wolf" and the one on the right was called "Wild Horse" which confused the readers as unlike the other two the name made no sense for a sea vessel.
The crowd was very quiet when the three ships began to dock, and their shadows covered them blocking the sun. The gangplanks were placed down and several guards wearing very good armor covered with runes began to march down it. Then Cregan appeared marching down the gangplank, nobody had seen the wolf in years, but he still had that serious stern expression that Stark's were known for. He marched with a purpose, they could tell that.
"Your Grace" Cregan said kneeling before Aegon.
"It's been a long time, Lord Stark not since the end of the Dance of the Dragons" Aegon replied still eyeing the ships.
"Yes, not since I served as Hand of the King" Cregan said.
"Those are impressive vessels" Aegon said.
"Yes, these three ships are part of the new Northern fleet, along with many other new designs which I admit these are the largest" Cregan replied to the unasked but obvious question.
This seemed to relax the audience slightly knowing that while the Stark's had a new fleet it wasn't made entirely of these gigantic ships.
"When you sent me, a raven informing the crown that you were rebuilding the Northern Fleet, I was surprised but considering your newfound wealth and the canals it was a sensible investment of your new resources, but I certainly wasn't expecting this" Aegon said pointing at the Ships of the Line.
"Yes, these ships were designed by an ancestor of mine and were recently rediscovered when we found a lost secret room filled with many forgotten things. It was also what was discovered in that room that led me to find a long and dangerous conspiracy which is why I invited everyone to this meeting" Cregan explained, not a single lie passing his mouth but not the entire truth either.
"You discovered a conspiracy?" Viserys asked.
"Yes, one that has affected us all, but I will not explain more without being in a secure room" Cregan said changing the focus from his ships to why he had called them here.
"Lord Hightower can provide us with one" Aegon said looking at Lord Hightower who nodded and led them into the Hightower of Oldtown and unknown to all but the Northern contingent the Stark's Reach home.
When they entered into what Lord Hightower swore was a secured room and locked the door behind them, they looked at Cregan expectedly.
"Not yet, all you spies listening or looking into this room you have five seconds to leave before I shove Ice into your peeping and listening holes" Cregan announced loudly, and this announcement caught the other occupants of the room off-guard.
"None of you are leaving? Very well" Cregan said as the five seconds passed in silence. Cregan drew Ice and then stabbed it into the floor where a small hole was, going through the wood like it was nothing. There was shcck sound that they all recognized as a weapon hitting someone and they heard a thud as a body of the spy hit the ground. Cregan withdrew Ice from the now bigger hole in the floor, with its tip now having blood on it.
"Anyone other spy feels like staying?" he asked and immediately afterwards the Lords could hear movement as people began to run away.
"That includes you" Cregan said pointing Ice at a section of the wall and immediately you could hear a thud as someone fell over in surprise then a scramble noise as the person also ran away.
"What I wouldn't do to have someone like you in the Red Keep in my employ" Viserys said shocked, amused and impressed with what he had just witnessed. Something that the other occupants of the room also felt and agreed with Viserys statement as everyone knew that there were spies everywhere in the Red Keep, you couldn't even go to the toilet without half the realm knowing about it in five minutes it seemed.
"Now that you ensured the room is secure despite the promises of our host, could you tell us what conspiracy that you discovered that you felt the need to call us all here with an army" Princess Aliandra said, since altogether they brought more than a thousand men.
"The Maester's have betrayed their oath and betrayed us in how they betrayed their oath" Cregan bluntly stated.
This caused a certain amount of shock, but they now understood the choice of venue for the meeting.
"How did those Rats betray their oath and us?" Toron bellowed/asked.
"Magic once existed and has returned to existence we all know that" they all nodded at that but also signaled for him to get on with it "however many of the Maester's helped it die out. There is a conspiracy that has been going on for thousands of years. This conspiracy desires to rid the world of all magic to leave only their science. To that end they have stolen magical objects and books containing such information, murdered children of both smallfolk and Great Houses if they show magical abilities, altered or omitted history to ensure that all believe magic is dead or never existed".
The audience reeled with the revelation of what the Maester's did.
"I discovered the plot when I discovered the lost room I mentioned earlier, what was there revealed that many things had been stolen from Winterfell and an investigation found it was from the Maester's. My investigator sneaked into the Citadel and found out about this conspiracy. The conspirers were even arrogant enough to list all the members of their conspiracy, what each member did, such as who they murdered and what they stole and even placed all the stolen knowledge and items in sections under the name of the family they stole it from" Cregan informed them his face now icy like the Lands of Always Winter.
The other occupants were also angry because if this was true the Maester's had indeed betrayed them and abused the trust that they had placed with them.
"What is that why the Northern Maester's broke off from the Citadel?" Kermit asked now realizing the connection and the others faces lighting up with realization.
"Yes, while this conspiracy is large not every Maester is a part of it, the Maester's in the North were disgusted with these actions and the Maester oath doesn't say you have to be loyal to the conclave or Order itself. Just that one can't hold titles, land, be celibate and must preserve all Knowledge. Thus, the Northern Maester's came up with the idea of creating a new order in the North free from the poison that is in the Order" Cregan spat.
"Then we must go to the Citadel, find out who is involved in this conspiracy and recover all that was stolen" Royce said the infamous Baratheon fury beginning to take hold.
"Yes, and my investigator has made a map of the Citadel, the list of the conspirators along with all the stolen property is in hidden floors with the secret entrance in the restricted section" Cregan informed them taking out a map showing where the entrance is located.
"Those floors must be secured before we begin arresting the traitors, as long as we have that list of names it doesn't matter if they escape today, we can and will get them tomorrow" Loreon Lannister growled between grinding teeth he would show those so called "Wisemen" how wise it was to anger the Lion. He would show them the meaning of both his Houses words "Hear Me Roar" and a "A Lannister Always Pays Their Debts" and they owed him a big debt.
"Considering that the Northern Maester's broke off from their counterparts years ago, you must have known about this conspiracy for years why wait so long to inform us?" Viserys asked.
"I was waiting for all the Lords to be old enough to have their authority and their regents convinced that it was okay for travel. If I informed you when I found out, four of you were children with regents. One of you was too busy securing their region and leaving in such a short time after the civil war would have been stupid. Leaving only two who could have possibly come, and we needed the King's authority and the Reach's authority to attack the Citadel" Cregan explained and while they didn't like it, they knew Lord Stark was correct. If Cregan wanted to arrest the Maester's he needed the King's permission and the Tyrell's permission to do it as smoothly as possible and to act outside of his jurisdiction as he only has power over justice in the North. And he needed the permission of all the Lords to arrest the Maester's throughout the Seven Kingdoms especially Dorne as the Iron Throne had no authority there.
"Very well let's not keep them waiting" Lyonel said. With that they began to leave the room and gather up their forces to march on the Citadel. The Arryn's had brought a hundred men, so did Tully, Baratheon and Martell. While everyone else brought nearly two hundred men. While Cregan the only one expecting this brought 500 men bringing their total force to about 1700 men against the two hundred guards at the Citadel. It was overkill to be sure as the Citadel while defendable was not built with defense in mind and most of the forces the Lords brought with them were combat veterans who had killed before. The Citadel guards on the other hand had rarely seen combat in the entire history of the Citadel and the current generation of guards with a few exceptions had never been in combat. But if there is one thing any Lord has learned very early its usually better to use too much force to destroy your enemies than too little.
They marched to the Citadel and a plan was formed, they wanted to take it quickly without suffering through a siege or a chance the Maester's could destroy the evidence. King Aegon with fifty of his men would ride to the gate and once they were in, they would turn on the defenders and secure the gate allowing the rest of the army to follow in, a horn would be the signal. Cregan, Loreon, Aegon and Joffrey would secure the secret room while the rest would deal with any resistance the Citadel might offer and detain the Maester's.
"Open in the name of the King" Viserys shouted when they reached the gate.
The gates began to open, and the King's men began to enter with Aegon at their head, as nobody could deny the King especially when he was there in person.
"Your Grace how may we serve you today" said an Arch-Maester who happened to be near the gate.
Aegon looked at him and simply said "You could surrender" immediately his men burst into action running at the guards and securing the gates while one of his men blew a horn which set into motion the army outside the gates who began to charge. There were only 20 unprepared guards at the gates who quickly surrendered when the King's men turned their weapons to them.
They entered and the battle cries began. Growing Strong, We do not Sow, As High as Honor, Family, Duty, Honor, Fire and Blood, Hear me Roar, Ours is the Fury, Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken andloudest of all Winter is Coming.
The various forces began to split up and cries of shock began to break out in the Citadel but not many cries of people dying or weapon clashing. Those with assigned targets quickly made their way to their destination. The doors and metal gates that barred their way to the restricted section weren't built to stop Valyrian Steel and Cregan with his two-meter Great sword Ice quickly made short work of those obstacles.
Cregan followed the directions Ranma gave because of course it was her who had sneaked into the Citadel and discovered the evidence. Having an invisibly spell was certainly useful but after she found where the stash was located and found out what was in it, she had to restrain herself from wiping out the Maester Order then and there. They broke into the restricted section shocking the Maester's there.
"What is the meaning of this" one Maester half shouted and clearly terrified at the site of so many armed men just suddenly bursting in.
"The Maester Order has committed treason and the evidence for that treason is in a secret floor that has its entrance in this room" Cregan said looking at the reaction of the Maester's in the room. Some look confused, others scared while others look resigned, if the Lords and the King accompanying him weren't convinced by his word before they were by the reaction of the Maester's.
"Where's the entrance?" Aegon barked.
Cregan than began to move towards a bookcase with a lantern beside it.
"Here, if the information I was given is correct" pulling on the lantern, which caused a loud click sound as something was unlocked. Cregan than began to move the bookcase revealing an opening and stairs.
"You men guard the entrance to this room and the entrance to the secret room" Viserys ordered pointing at a few random soldiers. Who nodded in acknowledgement and went to fulfill their orders planting themselves at both entrances.
They then headed down the secret staircase into a hallway that had several unlit lanterns that you could carry and a door at the end. While Cregan dealt with the door the others began to light the lanterns. The door was made of very old and strong oak, but it would take nothing less than ironwood or weirwood to truly slow down Ice.
They then went into first of several secret floors in the Citadel and found the room divided into sections and like Cregan said many of those sections were family sections, while others were areas, cultures, time periods etc.
"The list or rather books of names and deeds is in the bottom level, we will have to go through this later" Cregan said and went to another set of stairs that went even lower. Every so often they stopped as they recognized the family names of trusted friends and Lords but every one of them had gritted their teeth at the sight of their family name. Even the Arryn's had a section although it was small. Finally, they reached the bottom secret level and secured the necessary documents and begun to go through them. They decided to go through the more recent books as they probably contained the names of the still living members of the conspiracy as it had been around for a very long time.
"MunKun, Munkun, that bastard, how dare he" Aegon raged as he saw the name of the Grand Maester on the list and his deeds, as the various Lords began to go through the evidence as the Citadel was secured. Munkun had apparently had a hand in the chaos that made up Aegon's regency and when he was sole regent, he had taken the opportunity to poison all the Targaryen's dragons and dragon eggs.
This was the reaction of many of them combined with some very inventive ways to kill said targets of their threats. This had really hit home that the Maester's had betrayed them and considering they were only beginning to go through the books they realized the betrayal was a lot worse and had been going on for a long time. But the sheer breadth of the Maester's crimes, the amount of people they murdered, they amount they stole, really shook them and many thought "how could I have trusted them" and "how didn't I notice".
After three hours of reading, they finally had a break and executed all the Maester's on the list in the Citadel, which was about a fifth, but it was disproportionate as the upper ranks of their Order were filled with the conspiracy's members. About three quarters of the Conclave the Order's Arch-Maester's were executed.
"Not all the Maester's that are part of this treachery were here but assigned to a castle somewhere, we need to get them too. However, we can't send the message by raven since they would most likely read it first and escape, we need to send out riders and ships" Aliandra said tiredly realizing this was going to be a long few days or perhaps weeks.
"We also need to discuss the future of the Maester's" Cregan said catching their attention.
"What's to discuss we should just throw the lot of them into the sea" Toron exclaimed.
"We can't the Maester's are far too important to get rid of, if we do there will be chaos throughout the Seven Kingdoms, a complete collapse of fast communications without their ravens and probably a collapse in healers as the Maester's are often the best or only healer an area has and certainly financial collapse in certain areas due to them being the only land and trade managers. As well as accounting as they are often accountants" Cregan explained making many of their faces pale as they realized what could occur if the Maester's were removed.
Looking at Toron "The Iron Islands would be the worst affected most out of all the Kingdoms and everything I predict will come true there with perhaps the exception of Harlaw as they are the only Lords who actually govern there land instead of just rule over it. The majority of the Iron Islands Pyke included would lose all its healers letting disease run rampant through them, go into an economic collapse due to their being nobody who knows how to manage the Islands. Your Ironborn way looks down on those who are not warriors and most of your people only know how to swing a weapon which will be completely useless in stopping the scenario I am predicting" Toron was now paler than most and looked like he had swallowed a lemon as he realized without the Maester's society would perhaps be destroyed in the Iron Islands. Others also realized that while they wouldn't be hit as badly as the Iron Island's it would still be a crippling blow to lose all the Maester's and certain areas where the Lords left all the work to the Maester would probably end up like the Iron Island's.
"All we can do is clear as much of the rot as possible and keep an eye on the Maester's in the future" Aegon sighed the thought of that happening acting like ice poured all over him cooling his anger. The same with everyone else.
"The other two problems are one we need to consider is the distribution of the stolen goods of the Houses that are now extinct or items that don't belong to anyone in Westeros because they belong outside it or a dozen other things that make the rightful owner unclear" Cregan pointed making them realize it would indeed be a mess.
"The third problem is if more than one person or family has a claim, like the stolen items from House Gardener" Cregan continued.
"What, they belong to me, to House Tyrell, we are the heirs of the Gardener Kings" Lyonel exclaimed, his face now slightly red in anger.
"You know as well as I nearly every other House in the Reach descended from Garth Greenhand has a better claim then you. Even I have a better claim than you as Brandon the Bloody Blade the father of Brandon the Builder was a son of Garth Greenhand, while you are only descended from the female line. The other Houses with male descent are the Oakheart, Redwyne, Fossoway, Bulwer and Tarly. Any one of those Houses and my own have a better claim to Lordship of the Reach and their stolen items" Cregan explained making it sound like he was explaining something obvious which truth be told he was, since with the exception of House Stark all of them heard fairly regularly about the other Houses claim of being descendants of Garth Greenhand.
Cutting Lyonel off, who was puffing up and getting red in the face "Your right that sorting out the items without clear owners will be hard" Viserys said, not wanting Lord Tyrell to go into a tirade.
"So, I suggest we send the items with a clear owner back to their owners, while items that have no clear owners but have a clear area they are from, such as House Bolton's items go to the North and it's up to the Lord Paramount to distribute it. While items that can belong to several regions, from outside Westeros with the exception of the Rhoynar items which will go to Dorne or have no clear owner will fall under the Royal family's purview to hold or distribute as we see fit" Viserys continued.
Everyone else thought about it and while not everyone was happy about it, especially Aliandra as Dorne was independent and most likely wouldn't see any of those items, but it was the best way to prevent fighting over the items.
"Now, Lord Stark you have provided a great service to my family and the realm as a whole ask for any boon, and if it is within my power, I will grant it" Aegon said turning to Cregan.
"Your grace there is only one thing I want from you and that is permission to deal with the Wildlings" Cregan said.
"What why do you want and need permission to deal with the Wildling's" Aegon asked confused.
"It's a little-known law that Aegon the conquer created, the summary of it is that a Lord can't attack or conquer an area outside of their domain without the permission of the King so that only the King can legally declare war against another nation. The area North of the Wall is outside of my domain and the Seven Kingdoms, if I want to attack it, conquer it or colonize it I need permission from the Iron Throne" Cregan explained.
"As for why I want to deal with the Wildling's is because they are growing bolder in their attacks and more numerous, they need to be dealt with otherwise I will have to deal with another King Beyond the Wall in a few decades and I would rather nip it in the bud" Cregan continued.
"You mentioned conquering and colonizing, does that mean you intend to try and hold the land North of the Wall?" Viserys asked.
"You have a sharp mind my Lord Hand, yes although it will probably take generations, I desire to end the Wildlings raids on my land once and for all" Cregan said with a certain amount of conviction in his voice.
Aegon thought about it, it was certainly within his power to give permission and he did promise in front of all the most powerful Lords of Westeros to grant anything in his power. It cost him nothing materially or politically to allow the Warden of the North to do it and it would bring even more land under his family's dominion. However, if the North is successful in the long term, they would grow even more powerful but out of all the Kingdoms the North is the one he would fear the least no matter how powerful. For two reasons, one they would never break their oath of loyalty to him and his dynasty, two the North never plays the Game of Thrones, so a more powerful North actually increases his family's power indirectly.
"Very well, I will sign the necessary documents to give you permission and to organize the conquest in the way you desire, gifting land and so forth to whom you desire" Aegon said.
"Thank you, your grace, and to Lords Joffrey and Kermit I have a personal favor to ask of you" Cregan said catching the attention of the two named Lords.
"It's about two of your vassals the Frey's and Sunderland's. The Sunderland's are pirates, I don't mean they are just harboring them, but family members are actively running and taking part of the pirates there. Attacking ships from both the North and Vale. The Frey's on the other hand are attacking and hunting any crannogmen that they come across. They have actually made a sport of it where they would ride North and hunt down any crannogmen they can find like they were animals" Cregan said his voice and face now icy sending shivers down more than one spine.
The two Lords looked shocked and ashamed of what their bannermen were doing as they didn't doubt the word of Cregan Stark, it was quite clear what Stark wanted but he decided to say it anyway.
"I want them punished and I don't mean that they send an apology and some gold as compensation, I want them actually punished. One House is hunting humans like animals while the other is engaging in piracy and slavery" Cregan hissed.
Joffrey got the message "You want them stripped of their land and titles and execute the ones involved in those actions so they can never be a threat again and to set an example to their replacements" Cregan nodded.
Legally they were entitled to do that as the laws both Houses had broken certainly earned such a sentence and they always wanted to deal with their most unruly vassals, but the cost would probably be high.
Seemingly knowing what they were thinking "In case you are worrying how difficult it might be to bring both Houses to their knees, you won't deal with them alone. The North would aid you in they decide to resist or if nether of you want to send your own forces as long as we have your permission the North would do it alone. However, if that happens the North then claims the land it seized as compensation for doing it alone" Cregan said.
This caused both Lords to pause and to think over the pros and cons. Losing the Three Sisters wouldn't be a blow to the Vale as they offered little coin in tax's and nothing militarily as they never joined the musters or provided their navy. In fact, they probably lose more coin than they gain thanks to the actions of pirates and smugglers. They also lose dozens of smallfolk to the island's pirates every year, attacking small, isolated villages or fishing boats and other easy targets. The only thing Joffrey had to lose was prestige if the Islands were incorporated into the North which would easily be compensated by the prestige, he would gain by ensuring the pirates were punished and could never be a threat again and it would help secure the support of the Vale's coastal Houses which included some of their most powerful. Securing his hold over the Vale in its entirety.
Kermit's thoughts were in the opposite direction as the Frey's land offered a lot militarily and financially to the Riverland's and losing it would cost more than some prestige, he may find some of the Riverland's in revolt if he did that. But if he led an expedition against the Frey's, it would help secure his rule as he didn't exactly cover himself in glory during the Dance of Dragons but a victory against the Twin's would secure it. Very few would complain even the Frey's own vassals wouldn't as nobody liked the Frey's. For every one noble, brave and honorable Frey there would be at least ten opportunist weasels that would happily stab everyone in the back for more money and power. Usually, he would be worried but with the support of the North they would be able to siege both sides of the Twin's plus if they attack just after winter the Frey's wouldn't have the time to gather their forces or have enough food to last a long siege. It was certainly doable. It would certainly be profitable if he managed to gain the land for House Tully making them unquestionably the most powerful House in the Riverland's and be able to command their bannermen from a position of strength like the other Lords Paramount's.
"I will aid you in taking the Twin's if the Frey's resist" Kermit decided.
"I will have to summon my Lords, but I will think you will gain a favorable response" Joffrey said after a minute of thinking.
"Very well to the downfall of our enemies and success in the future" Cregan shaking both of their hands in agreement.
Cregan now had the permission needed to begin the conquest North of the Wall and prepare for the Other's return by denying them an army to conquer Westeros, now the question would be whether it would succeed or fail.