Robb
Leading this many people was hard. So many things had to be done and addressed and their lives depended on me making those choices and getting them to the wall and through it was not small feet. That had been the easy part though because now I had women and children in camps right outside the wall that needed food, shelter, water, their animals needed food and water, safety and general things like clothes and such. All this was on me and while father had talked to us about what was going to happen it was supposed to be him dealing with it not me. What if he never came back. It would be on me, and I am not to arrogant to admit I am not ready. Not even close to being ready.
Next was my worry for Jon. Slowly groups had come in all saying the same thing he was coming but with the last group which were very old or injured people. I wanted to go after him but every time it seemed I could, something else would come up. Some new issues to deal with and one more person needing my time. Luckily the men at the wall had not forgotten the arse kicking they had received even if they liked to push their limits sometimes around the free folk.
I did what I could and sent help back to him and to leave extra stuff for father and his fighters. There was no telling what shape they would be in. I just wish I knew what father was going to share with me. He had already shared it with Jon and that didn't bother me so much as just made me more curious as to what it could be. I had seen the change in Jon's eyes which worried me because he had changed so much seemingly in hours. Even meeting Evolet was weird. He went to always being in camp and practicing swords and knife to being with her and coming back after dark and gone before light in the next day. I would find him watching some of the free folk with a look like he was struggling to remember them or had seen them before and were fond of them. But all that was impossible, which made my gut spin as if full of bad food, because what if he felt more at home with the free folk, what if he wanted to leave Winterfell and me.
Some had never been good to Jon and that thought bugged me deeply. He was blood and loyal as could be. He would never turn on his family, even those who had not been nice to him. I knew this and so did Arya and father. I think even the younger boys knew as Rickon seem to be much like Arya and shadow their older brother who spent time with them teaching them anything they wanted to learn and paying mind to their silly games. I need to do better with my siblings. For too long I had ignored them or waved them off when they sought out my time and now seeing this war starting, I feared I would lose them because of it.
"Lord Stark, you have a dispatch from Storms End." A man said handing me off the missive that must have been delivered by a bird this morning. Breaking the seal, I quickly unrolled the missive and started to read growing more and more worried.
"Lord Robb Stark, I hope your father is back from beyond the wall and you can pass this off to him, but I have been informed you are acting Lord of Winterfell and Lord Paramount of the North. I am writing to tell you that my children and I along with very few of my council and household are headed by ship your direction. We should be there within two weeks if the weather holds. Your sister, Lady Sansa, is with us and rest assured she has been protected while at court." King Robert." I had to read it three times. Why in the seven was Sansa at court in the south. Where was Brann or mother at for that matter. I know father had her locked up for something before we left but surely, she would be running things in fathers' absence and helping Bran who was just a young boy still.
Seeing as there was a second message, I unrolled it and looked it over and it confused me even more. I really wish father was here and was dealing with this as I didn't know what his plan had been other than to see how he could fix the wall and get the free people south of it before the war really started.
"The Gift and New Gift are in the sole possession of the Nights Watch and is valued at just under 3 million apiece due to the lack of towns, people, or goods coming from there and with taxes totaling just under 3,000 from Queenscrown/Mole's town yearly. The development of these areas is estimated to bring in 1 million yearly per settlement and the castles along the wall can be bought and privately ran according to the laws on the books. Those belong to the nights watch and are valued at 350,000 apiece as is." Master of Law Lord Jasper and Representative of the Iron bank/Master of Coin Jansen Selby.
"I need maps of all the areas around the wall, the old towers, keeps, and the area of the Gift and New Gift. I also need to see the heirs and the Lord Commander afterwards." Robb said having understood now what his father's plan had been and what he needed to do. There was no reason they could not buy these places or sell them to one of the families of the North and settle those areas. Plus, it would start to help settle the free folk and prepare the land for crops, grazing, and trade. New towns would increase the wealth of the North and it would add people to an area lacking them.
"Here are the maps and Lord Commander asked that I give you these. They are the figures that your father had requested. He said his door is open once you have need of him." The younger man said having returned with maps and with the documents that was waiting for his father.
"Can you bring me some bread and wine while I read over this please." I asked and then sat beside the fire in my room to look over what I had been given. By the time I was done it was frightening because even as short of an amount of time Father had been training us on the books and the running of holds accounts, I could tell the wall was too weak to hold. It would never be up and going in time if something did not change. He also knew that the best way to keep peace between houses is to make it fair. However, some of the lessor lords would not have the financial strength to purchase one of these towers nor the ability to rebuild them. Looking over the map there were also areas that needed to be reinforced because they would get around the wall if it was truly how it looked on the map. He would need to speak to the Lord Commander about this.
Calling in the heirs he took a deep breath and hoped he was understanding his father's will and that he could make this work. They had maybe a week worth of provisions left and thousands of people to feed.
"I have some plans and we will need to act soon. You are all acting Lords and Lady's except for Lyanna for your holds and houses, so you have the power to act in your father's steed. We have thousands that need to be settled and we must step up and do it. There are also week places in the wall that we are going to have to cover quickly. I want you to call all your banner men to assemble in your holds. I will be sending letters to all the others not here to do the same and to start marching towards the wall. I know it is earlier than what I think father had planned but he didn't plan on being attacked either and things moving so quickly. On this map it shows the layout of the wall and lands around it. What do you see." Robb asked them all who stood to get a better look at the maps.
"The area to the left of the wall is separated by a river. Granted a very large river but that can be overcome if really wanted. We are dealing with non-human creatures who we do not know what can do. They could cross there." The heir of house Mazin pointed out. He was a boy of ten and five and very quiet and studious but who could shoot an arrow and hit anything moving or not.
"There is a major gap between the working castles on the wall and the non. All these towers and castles are unmanned. That means those parts of the wall are not being watched nor those gates." Lady Morten pointed out. She and her sister had come with their father being a lessor household of the north and all females it was a time for them to meet potential sons. Lady Morten was a girl of ten and six and should have been betrothed already.
"That is what I see as well. Add in the thousands now south of the wall and a war starting north and no idea how many more is coming we need to get things going. Each Bannerman to house Stark will take one tower and use their men to man it and start repairs. Who here is capable of buying a castle for 350,000 and doing repairs?" I asked and was not shocked that only those of the major houses of the North raised their hands. That would leave two castles that would need to be covered by house Stark and all towers covered and manned adding in some of the major clans of the north. I feared that their house would be thin in coverage and would have to work on that but would take the bulk of the free folk and make it work.
"A group of free folks will follow each one of you to a tower or castle and start setting up their villages, homes, fields, and so on. I will take a group with me, and we will man this tower here on the river and I will call for reinforcements to start to their assigned tower from the houses not here now. It's not ideal but we have to do our parts. Lyanna, Rickard, and Brenden you are all very young and I am not sure about sending you off on your own. I want you three here being my ears and keeping me informed of what is happening north of the wall, supplies coming in, men coming in and where they are being sent. I also need you to send the free folk to the right area once they come through. Samson and Donick you will ride for White Harbor and meet the Royal party and bring them up to speed with all that is happening and what our needs are. I hope they listen and move to call in reinforcements and supplies. But until that happens, we have to plan on our own. If you need help running your tower or Castles get with me and I will find the help you need. We are young and do not think badly if you need that help because if we fail this wall fails and we will have a war south of it and millions will die."
"There is not enough of us to man all the castles or towers." Domeric said still looking at the map even if the other house were to come there were still at least five not manned.
"We start with the Castles that each of you take on. Center the towers between them and then fill in from the ends to the middle ones starting from the far tower down as far as we can and hopefully some of the Freefolk will fill the gaps." I told them and they nodded.
"The major tribes with those on the council should get a tower each spaced between two of the northern held ones. It will mix us up better but keep eyes on both sides of the wall should something change with the Freefolk being so willing to help." Jenks Morrle said.
"We need a warning system of some kind that can pass faster than the birds or a rider if we see others or trouble breaks out. Or gods help us the wall falls in an area" The smallest Jon said, and everyone nodded.
"In a book about old wars they set up a system of fires across the country on the tallest hills. If lite it would be seen by the next hill and the message would be sent down the line. We could build something across the top of the wall and at the bottom that can be lit to send the message that, that part has been attacked. If lit in both the top and bottom, then the wall has fallen, and reinforcements need to be sent to stop them." Henderson Mazin said and that was the best they could do right then.
"Once we get to our places that will be priority then. I will go talk to the Lord Commander and to the Tribes. We need provisions and men. Start thinking about that issue. I think most things for repairs, at least basic will be found around the towers and castles. Each hold will send supplies to their designated places on the wall, and I will write letters requesting more goods from the south. I need each of you to write down the tower or the castle that you're taking. If it is a castle, I need the document signed for the amount I gave you and handed to me this evening. We start preparing to leave in the morn." I said moving to the other side of the room to get to the door.
Making my way to the Lord Commanders solar I was nervous but also worried. I just hoped I was doing the right thing but a part of me was second guessing everything about what I just set up. What if they could not get their towers or Castles going? What if I was jumping the gun and father and the others were able to already stop the war before it came farther south. What if he hadn't meant to take over the wall as I just basically did. Knocking I waited to be allowed entry and squared my shoulders and zone my father in his personality. I could not afford to be a child any longer.
"Come Lord Stark," The lord commander answered, and I stepped into his solar that was warm and inviting even in this harsh of a place.
"I have looked over your figures and I have a solution for the issues that the wall is facing. Father had already sent inquires in as well and we have those answers. If you agree, then house Stark will buy The Gift and New Gift to include the towns of Mole's town and Queens Crown for the price of 1.5 million. Then each castle or tower will be bought for the price of 150,000 at which time we take over the running of the wall and upkeep. This would total 4.5 million gold dragons. We will bring people into man it and rebuild. Those in the Nights Watch will reinforce places that we need and maintain the wall, Castle Black, East watch by the sea, and the Nights Fort to begin with. The money paid to you will go to restock, repair, and train new recruits of the watch and as we get more, we will send them to the other castles to help man them." I laid out to the lord commander and knew that he really did not have a choice in the matter.
"How will we make money or grow food to attract new recruits and feed them? Joer asked.
"Each castle or tower will be run by one of my banners or the free folk until this war is over. They will be responsible for feeding the Nights Watch and then we will work out a deal afterwards where you are getting what you need because the way I see it another year and you will not be able to go on as there is little to nothing coming in now and no way of changing that." I said not trying to sound cocky but knowing from what I read to be true.
"7 million and we keep Castle Black and have a say in how the wall is run," he said, and I could not help but think how cheap we were getting off and hoping father would be incline to see it that way.
"5 and half." I responded.
"6 and half final offer." He said and I stood up with my hand out.
"I accept. I will get the paperwork drawn up and signed tonight and we can send it off to the Iron bank. Now groups of us will be leaving for each area that I am sending them to. Including me as I want to put eyes and men at the West watch by the water. It is a weak point that needs to be manned immediately. I will need you to send some of your men as most of mine will be starting off for their own areas to man. I will leave my father and Jon letters for when they come in as to the plan and where I will be. I received a letter from the King as well and he should arrive in the North in two weeks. I hope to be back by then but if not send Jon or hopefully father is back, and he can meet him." I tell the man who had stood as well and who looked exhausted but a bit relieved with this deal and knowing his men would be taken care of for now.
After that I went out to the area that the Free folk were set up and talked with those who were acting leaders and told them the plans and talked about who would take what tower to man and where their people would have for their permanent use to set up villages and how after the war they could go back beyond the wall or stay and just travel back and forth during summer and winter with permanent settlements. All they had to do was agree to the taxes paid to the Stark House, follow the rules that were set out by the House Stark and recognize our house as the law of the land, and agree that if we needed to call the banners they would answer our call as allies. We were not asking them to bend the knee or swear allegiance to our house or the crown just be allies and follow the laws and pay their share. Past that they were free to do as they wanted. It helped that I knew the old language and had become even more proficient in it since being around them all the time and that I was willing to embrace them and find areas that suited them and their animals to the best of my abilities and knowledge. I had to admit that on some I had to ask questions on because I was not sure how they were taken care of. This seemed to make them trust me more as I switched out areas with their help that would work for each group.
Afterwards I retreated to my rooms and wrote out the letters to my father, Jon, Bran, our bannermen, directions for where everyone was going and then started on planning on how. This part seemed to just come naturally to me. I could plan and think of military things easily. It was the political part and the leading the daily stuff that was hard for me. After sending the missives off or having them left for father and Jon before meeting with the three youngest whom he was leaving here and going over everything that needed to be done and asking Maester Aemon to watch over them and to help them until their parents showed back up or their own people came for them which he had sent off for. Children had no place here now with a war starting. Each house was waiting for their men to arrive and then would move off to their assigned tower or castle and start working on it. The mountain clan and men from the nights watch would leave in the morning with me for the 10-day ride to the end of the wall and to man it. I hoped that Bran would get supplies headed that way as soon as he could and be there around the same time. The women and young men who had been sent south by their leaders or fathers were going to also go with each group to fight and help man the wall. It would not be easy for any of them but hopefully their fathers or clan members would appear soon to take over.