Chapter 27: Raiding the Westerlands
299 AC
Robb
He looked on the glowing and fertile hills of the Westerlands on his right and the sea on his left. Much and more can be said about its inhabitants, but the land itself was beautiful. The afternoon sun reflected beautifully over the ocean, as his army snaked along the road next to it.
He was on the march with some of his army. He had split up his forces so they could cover more ground after taking Ashemark. First, they had spread thinly, taken out all holdfasts and small keeps of its knightly houses in the vicinity. Secondly, they were now spreading across most of the northern Westerlands.
He himself was on his way to the Crag with Jon, Ser Brynden and almost half his force. Lady Maege Mormont was scouring the lands between the Tumblestone and the ruins Castamere for cattle. She would drive them together to the Riverlands to feed both its people and the army in the future. If his estimations were correct, he wouldn't need to worry about feeding his army for months after this campaign.
Meanwhile Lord Glover and Harrion were raiding the coast from the Straits of Fair Isle to his own position. All the gold, valuables and prisoners they could find would be transported to Ashemark, which was strongly garrisoned. He had decided it would serve as his base of operations in the Westerlands.
Lastly the Greatjon was raiding the gold mines. He had already raided Castamere and was now marching to Nunn's Deep, after depositing his loot in Ashemark as well.
They would reach the Crag in three days his scouts had told him. The castle wasn't too strongly garrisoned. The Westerlings were a proud but impoverished house. Their lord, Gawen Westerling was being kept prisoner in Seagard and most of its forces were destroyed at the battle of the Camps.
He expected a short but fierce resistance, as he had to storm the keep. It was what it was, he didn't expect the Westerlands to surrender without a fight. He would like to keep the blood shedding to a minimum, especially for his own forces, but some of it couldn't be helped.
The most important thing was that they would take another Westerlander keep. He would show the Lords of the Westerlands that still stayed with Lord Tywin in Harrenhall that their lands weren't safe as long as they served him. He would also show the Lannisters what happened when you angered the North and House Stark.
Lastly, he would get revenge for the Riverlands. If the Westermen thought they could plunder, sack and pillage their way through his mother's family lands then they had something coming. He would feed all the Riverlanders that had to flee from their homes with food and coin they got from the Westerlands. See how Lord Tywin liked that.
"You think it will work?" Jon asked from next to him.
"The plan you mean?" he responded.
"Yes, do you think Lord Tywin will come? Will we manage to get him to break west?" his brother clarified.
"Yes, I think so. We have already taken out House Marbrand and most of its vassals. The Old Lion's own mother was a Marbrand, so that should anger him some at least. Once it becomes clear to him and his lords that we are not only taking everything in these valleys that we can but are also picking off their keeps one by one, they will want to go home to protect their lands. How long it will take I cannot say, it might take a while. After Nunn's Deep and the Crag we will see."
"If they're not here yet by that time, we can do the same as we did to the Marbrands to Houses Sarsfield and Banefort and all the smaller houses in between. If they don't come then I would be very surprised, but it wouldn't be a problem. We could send most of our loot to the Riverlands and ask for some reinforcements to start threatening Lannisport until they come. Anyway, the idea is always the same, the longer they wait the more the Westerlands will burn and the more coin we will bring back to the North and Riverlands in the end." he explained casually.
If Lord Tywin wanted to let his vassals burn, he wouldn't complain. His lords were eager for both the loot and to show the North's fury upon the families that had killed his father. He would give them that, it could even enrich and feed his lands and people in the next winter.
"You almost make it sound easy. Pillage and conquer a little until the Old Lion shows up and we kick him a little until the cat makes a mistake and falls in our trap." Jon huffed.
"Well, that's because that's basically what it is now. The Westerlands are in complete disarray. The last reports I received told me of how a Ser Damion Lannister was trying to reform the few survivors of Oxford at Lannisport. It doesn't seem like he is having much success at it and there is no way for him to find easy, trained reinforcements."
"No, the Northern and Central Westerlands are up for the taking. The keeps in the south and southeast will be too heavily fortified, and Casterly Rock is impregnable. For the rest it will just take time. If we are careful and methodical everything can fall, even Lannisport or the Golden Tooth if the Old Lion gives us too much time." He said decisively.
"Lannisport, Robb? Are you sure that wouldn't be reaching a little?" his brother asked, always the sceptic. However, he liked it like that. He kept him sharp and made sure he went over his plans a third and fourth time until he was sure of everything.
"We'll see. If Lord Tywin comes earlier, we won't even march near it. It's just a possibility. We'll take the Crag first and then we'll see." He responded, as he shrugged.
At this, his brother nodded. "Aye, first we'll take the Crag. Together."
He looked at Jon, who started resembling his father more by the day. "Always together." he responded as he clasped his right hand on his brother's left shoulder.
They then talked a little about home and their siblings until finally Jon said. "Robb, see that hill over there? To the right around a mile from here." He looked to where his brother pointed. "Yes?"
"Could be a good safe place to set up camp tonight, no?" his brother asked as he looked questioningly at him.
"Aye … Aye it would." He responded, as he looked to how far the sun had already lowered. They wouldn't be able to march much further today anyway.
"Owen?" he shouted out, as he turned in the saddle.
"Yes, Your Grace?" the man shouted back from behind him. "We'll set up camp tonight on that hill to the right there. Can you make sure that it is signaled down the line, so everyone knows?"
"Of course, Your Grace! Consider it done." The man said as he turned his horse and started riding down the line. Soon the hornblowers sounded the familiar signal he had heard every day on the march now.
As they went off the road and up the hill, he complimented his brother. "Good find brother, this will do excellently!" Jon smiled at him but stayed silent, until asking softly a little later. "Do you know where they are?" He didn't have to specify who he meant, as they both felt it. "Yes, they are hunting a little to the east of here. They won't be long I don't think." he responded honestly.
"I thought the same thing … How do you think we can know?" Jon asked.
"I don't know … I just feel it. Like in the back of my head I feel his presence or something. It has become stronger ever since you told me you felt it too and I started paying more attention to it. I can feel where he is almost all of the time now and if he howls it's almost as if I can hear what he says." he responded in a hushed voice, so his men wouldn't hear.
"Yes, for me it's the same. Two nights ago, I even woke up with the taste of blood in my mouth and a little later Ghost entered and he still had blood from his kill on his snout. Do you think it could be … what we last spoke about?" Jon asked and his grey eyes looked fearful.
"That we could be wargs, you mean?" he whispered. "I don't know. I don't feel different. I just feel more connected to Grey, that's all. It also feels safer, like the more we understand each other the better we can protect each other and our loved ones. I don't know how to explain it, but Grey thinks of you and Ghost as pack. He knows you are family and he would die for you just as I would."
"No one is dying." His brother responded hushed but harshly. "Not for me or for anyone else, we already lost father. I won't lose anyone else." As he said it, he could see his brother's jaw clench as his eyes looked fiercely in the distance.
"No, no of course not." he responded. "It's just he knows what you and our siblings mean for me and that he agrees that we protect the pack. That's all."
Now Jon nodded. "Ghost is the same. If I think back at it. It was Ghost who notified me of the Kingslayer's charge in the Whispering Wood. It was like he was saying you were in danger and you needed help. He did the same at Oxcross, when I got that spearman that was charging you."
"Hey, I had that one!" he responded fiercely. "I was just waiting until I could deflect his spear and counterattack to reach his neck with my sword."
"Sure, you did." his brother laughed. "Whatever the case. I know what you mean."
He nodded at that. A few seconds later he asked. "Do you think Grey will think the same of Alys and … and our child?"
"Of course, he will. Don't you remember how Grey was with Alys those days in Moat Cailin? That was the only time I have ever seen him leave your side for so long. To keep watch over Alys. He will do the same for you child, I'm sure. To be honest, you might want to keep him in check. Between Alys and your child, you might not even see the damn direwolf anymore." his brother laughed, as he winked at him.
He gave him a sour look, but inside he felt better and less worried. He still couldn't believe he was to be a father. The biggest problem was that the man who he wanted to ask for guidance, wasn't here anymore. His father would've known what to do. He always did.
They then had to stop talking as they had to guide the men in setting up camp. Jon took over half his duties, as he was used to by now. It gave him some more time to think on the campaign and the politics and he knew that's why his brother did it.
After a small meeting with his commanders they all went to their sides of the camp. He sat at a campfire with his closest battle companions. His brother, Tor, the Smalljon, Owen Norrey, Dacey Mormont, Domeric Bolton, Robin Flint, Lucas Blackwood, Ser Perwyn and Olyvar Frey and the elder ones, Ser Donnel Locke and Ser Wendel Manderly.
They were having a great time, telling stories and drinking ale. The ale they raided from the Westerlands was not as good as the one from the North, but as the Smalljon was wont to say, "If you drink enough of it, you almost don't taste the difference anymore."
Suddenly they were interrupted, as a guard arrived at their fire. "Your Grace?" he asked.
"Yes?" he responded.
"A message has come by rider from Ashemark, Your Grace. He says it's urgent."
He nodded, sad to leave his friends. "I'll come back after." he said to them and all nodded but Jon, who stood up.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked his brother.
"Coming with you, got anything against that?" he asked as Ghost silently walked up next to him and Jon started scratching his neck.
"No" he responded calmly. As Grey Wind came to his side as well and he copied his brother's move. They looked at each other and laughed then.
"Bloody hell, those wolves scare the death out of me. How they obey you is not natural I say" the Smalljon interrupted as he drank deeply from his ale.
He looked at his friend, but it was Jon who responded. "Well, scaring you isn't the most difficult thing there is, Umber." At this, his friends all started laughing. "He, if you didn't have your damn wolf, I would make you eat those damned words, Snow." the Smalljon scoffed.
"Aye, you would, but I do have Ghost so there is nothing you can do." His brother laughed as they turned around and followed the guard to the messenger.
They walked to ono of the tents he used to see his lords in and saw the messenger already there. "Tell me, good man, what brings you here and makes you say it is so urgent.
"A raven from the North came, Your Grace. I was sent here to deliver you the news immediately." the messenger said as he bowed deeply. He still wasn't used to people doing that, but he made sure that he didn't show any signs of his discomfort.
The man gave him a letter and he broke the seal and started reading. Behind him, he felt Jon read over shoulders.
The content hit him like an aurochs. The ironborn had attacked the North. They had taken Moat Cailin, were sieging Deepwood Motte and were raiding along the Stony Shore with a considerable force. This was a disaster. Without Moat Cailin they wouldn't be able to retreat North, nor would his reinforcements ever be able to make it south.
The only good thing about was that apparently Victarion Greyjoy had lost almost two thousand of his most veteran men in the taking of the fortress. The force at Deepwood Motte was led by Asha Greyjoy, Lord Balon Greyjoy's daughter. He didn't know much about her and would ask around to anything that knew. The news might also trouble Lord Galbart, so he would need a plan to deal with this quickly.
The last commander angered him to no end. On the raiding party along the Stoney Shore was spotted Aeron Damphair, another one of Balon's brothers. However, it was not Dampharid that led the force. Theon Greyjoy had been seen leading the raiders.
The boy he had played with for years. The boy his father had raised like a son as long as he had been in his home. His father had even sent him to King's Landing because he didn't want the boy to feel lonely without him and Jon.
That damned squid, he would show him what they did to people like that in the North. He should have listened to Lord Rickard, those ironborn are all the same. The man had only been back to the Iron Islands for a few weeks, after leaving for a decade, and already he was pillaging the North's shores.
He also became scared. All his siblings and Alys and his unborn child were all in the North. The ironborn could threaten them …
"They won't go to Winterfell." his brother stated, clearly seeing the expression on his face.
"How do you know that?" he asked surprised.
"Ironborn never venture that far inland. They would be cut off from reinforcements and would have no easy way to retreat. Besides they would be in hostile territory without any knowledge of the land. No way the forces from Moat Cailin or Deepwood Motte would ever be able to establish supply lines stretching to Winterfell. If they try the either the Manderlys, Dustins and Cerwyns or the vassals of the Wolfswood would bleed them dry. It is complete folly." Jon responded simply.
He thought about his brother's words. They made sense to him. Strategically, marching to Winterfell would be folly. They would be far better off attacking Bear Island, Flint's finger or the Rills or even Barrowton. They might hold it for a lot longer as well. Still something bothered him.
"You said no one has any knowledge of the terrain. Well, Theon has. He travelled with father dozens of times. He knows most of the keeps of the center of the North. He knows their families as well. Best of all he knows Winterfell." he said, unsure about what that unthankful squid would do.
"True and Theon is stupid enough to try it, but he doesn't have the manpower. Sources tell of less than five hundred men along the Stony Shore. That's not enough to take Winterfell. Especially now, with all the new recruits raised and being trained. They aren't able to go south now, so they can be put to work fighting the ironborn." his brother said, managing to calm him.
"You are right. Besides the Cerwyns have a lot of troops nearby as well. Trying to do anything there would be foolish." he agreed with Jon.
"Yes, it would. Even if they tried it would fail. Cley would never abandon Winterfell and he could march there in a day." Jon said, completely calm.
"Good! We'll still need to discuss this the lords. Lord Galbart won't like this one bit." he sighed.
"Yes, and I don't think Dacy or Lady Maege will either. The Mormont's history is notorious for fighting the ironborn. Their island has always been threatened by them. They won't like the possibility of having their home attacked." Jon added.
"Yes, that's true." He mused. "I will call another meeting now. Would you get our lordly friends? I will send men to get Roose Ryswell, Ser Ryman Frey and Lord Deddings. We will make those ironborn pay, that I promise you."
"Of course, Robb." his brother said, and he left the tent. He gave orders to some of the guards to get his other lords and sighed. Why couldn't any of this go without surprises?
After his first victory, he heard his father had been killed. After freeing Riverrun and reuniting with Bran, he heard his grandfather was dying. Besides that, his men decided to make him king, not only of the North but the Riverlands too. Now, after Oxford everything seemed to go swimmingly. It seemed that sentiment was clearly wrong, as at the same time the ironborn must have been sailing to his homeland.
He went to one of his chests and got a map from the North out of it and another one more specific of its western coast. How to deal with this?
(five days later)
Jon
He stood in line just behind his brother. He looked up to the enemy walls in the dark, as he closed his visor. To his right, he already saw Black Walder and his men move out with their ladders and ropes. To his left, the Smalljon was on the verge of doing the same.
Robb had asked him to stay at his side for this battle and so he found himself standing here silently, behind the battering ram. He saw his brother strap Ice to his back, as he picked up a smaller sword and a shield emblazoned with a growling direwolf.
"Men, we march!" he called out and they started moving forward. Loyal men started pushing the battering ram towards the castle. It took a while before they were in range of the enemy archers but when they got there, they noticed the castle had awoken. He saw how dozens of men were running up the ramparts. Archers positioning themselves towards them.
He looked around and saw that not all their men had seen this. "Men, shields up! Their archers will soon be in position! Believe me, you don't want to get yourself shot before we have plundered their wine cellar tonight!" He called out loudly.
A roar of approval came from all the men around him, as he saw them all raise their shields. "Don't worry about the wine Snow, it'll all be finished by the time you arrive!" Owen Norrey said, as the men moved beside him. He heard his brother snigger and Lady Dacey laugh at this, but he didn't respond. He had to focus.
Soon the arrows were flying towards them. First a few, then more and more as more of the archers got in position. "Keep your shields up men, don't let them falter!" he screamed once more.
By then the ram reached the gate and soon the sound of hardened wood pounding on reinforced oaken gates was heard. He looked around and saw how both the Freys and the Umbers had made contact with the walls. Both seemed to be creating a foothold on the walls, although the sound of heavy fighting was heard even over here. It was only interrupted by the rhytm of the ram pounding on the gate every twenty seconds.
He closed the distance between himself and Robb and protected his left flank with his shield. Soon he heard the sound of wood breaking. "Ready the first two groups of swordmen!" his brother shouted out and he saw some two or three hundred swordsmen moved forward close to the wall. Two hits of the ram later, the gate shattered open.
"Fort the North!" he shouted loudly as he charged forward with the men. Less than a second later he was stopped in his tracks, as he heard a scream coming from his right.
He turned around and saw Robb laying on the ground. He saw how an arrow had hit him in the right shoulder. In the place where the arrow had hit, his tunic was quickly turning red. It was as if time stood still. He was frozen at the sight of his brother.
"Protect the King!" he suddenly heard Owen shout out loudly. This snapped him back to reality. He immediately ran back and put his shield above Robb. Soon multiple others joined and a small shieldwall was formed in front of their King.
"Robb? Robb are you alright?" he asked, the worry clear in his voice.
"Argh, yes. It hurts like hell, but I think I'm fine." His brother responded and his voice was still clear.
"The wound is deep, but it doesn't appear to have hit anything vital." Owen said. "He is losing blood, so we need to get him to a healer in the camp. If we get him there in time, he'll be fine!"
"Good, I'll take him." He immediately said. Everyone agreed, everyone except Robb. "No," his brother grunted, "you need to lead the men, Jon. They'll follow you! Take Grey and take command of the force in the center. Take this damned bloody castle for me and if you find that fucker who shot this arrow, throw him from the battlements!" The cursing wasn't Robb's usual speech, but he was clearly in pain.
"Are you sure, Robb? I want to stay with you, Grey too." He responded, as he saw the grey direwolf nuzzle itself against his brother, clearly worried.
"Yes Snow, the men need to see a Stark lead them. You're the next best thing that's available and my brother!" his brother tried to joke, but the delivery was horrible as it was mixed in with grunts of pain.
"Fine, Dacy and Owen I expect you to lead the King to safety." he said in a very commanding tone.
"Of course, Jon." they said almost in unison.
"Grey, to me. We have an archer to kill." he said to his brother's direwolf. The wolf in question looked at him and then back at Robb. It seemed as if he looked at the arrow and connected the dots, as he growled softly and walked up to him.
The castle had been easy pickings. Less than half an hour later the remainders of its garrison had surrendered. They had been led by a Ser Rolph Spicer, the brother-in-law of Lord Gawen Westerling.
Ghost and Grey Wind had outdone themselves. After forcing themselves through the defense at the gates with him and the push of the men, they had ran up the stairs to the battlements. He had followed, as clearing the battlements was his plan anyway. He had seen the wolves kill a man and throw three more down the wall, two went off the outside and one off the inside the yard. It didn't matter, none of them could have survive their fall.
He had gotten the surrender of Lady Sybelle and her Westerling children. After that he had marched his guards in the castle securing the lord's chamber for Robb. Lord Gawen couldn't use it anyway, as he was rotting in Seagard's dungeon. After posting multiple sentinels in front of the doors and in the halls and stairwells, he picked up the Maester and almost dragged him outside to Robb. After his first treatment they brought Robb inside to rest.
Lucas Blackwood and Owen Norrey would take watch tonight, so he left and went to sleep in a smaller adjacent room himself. He was completely exhausted after the battle and the march before, he longed to a half decent bed. He had no use for anything fancy, so he just slept in what he thought to be the personal servant's quarter of the lord.
He stripped himself of his armor and laid down on the bed. He felt the strains of battle in his arms and shoulders and closed his eyes, hoping he would feel better on the morrow.
(Ten days later)
It was a clear morning and the weather was mild. The sun reflected upon the water of the Sunset Sea and the sound of an awakening army could be heard. He looked up from the battlements at their army's camp. The men were well rested and in good spirits. Most of the wounded were healed or if not, they were out of mortal danger and slowly healing. One member of the last group was his brother.
Robb is healing slowly, but well. He was being treated by the Maester and the daughter of House Westerling, Jeyne. The girl seemed kind, but his instinct said something fishy was going on. He especially had this feeling when Ghost was in the room. It was as if he could use some of the direwolf's heightened senses.
Whatever the case, he would keep an eye out for it. In the meantime, they had received news. Lord Renly Baratheon was dead, killed by his brother Lord Stannis or a woman if you might believe the rumors. Whatever the case, the woman was dead and the elder Baratheon brother had won much by it. It was said that all the Stormlords and a few of the Reach joined his force. The Tyrells, Tarlys, Rowans and most of the other Lords of the Reach had retreated back into the Reach.
This probably meant that Lord Stannis would be marching on King's Landing. It served the Lannisters well, he hoped Stannis killed them all for his father.
Robb had tried to ally himself with Renly through raven messages, but that all seemed futile now.
Thinking once more of his brother, he decided to go to the Maester to get the messages and visit him after. He marched from the battlements into the yard and greeted the guards that he came across.
In his brother's relative absence, it seemed most of the army accepted him as their new commander. The Northmen certainly did, although most of the Riverlanders refused to listen to him. The largest group of them, the Freys, scoffed at him due to his bastard status. Lord Deddings and his men treated him cordially, but even they would look at him with clear scepticism.
The only exception were the Blackwood troops, as Lucas had been given a small detachment of men from his father to join him in the western campaign. They treated him with respect and followed his orders well, probably due to his good relationship with Lucas himself.
He knew Robb wanted him to take control of the army. He was trying but didn't know if it would be enough. He walked up the stairs towards the Maester's quarters and knocked on the door. He heard the sound of the man running around before the door was unlocked.
"Ah, master Snow." the man said with some contempt. These Southerners were all the same, thinking themselves better simply because of his birth. "What can I do for you?"
"I would like to get the messages. I will take them up to the King myself." he said with a tone that gave no space for arguing.
The Maester looked irritated at that but relented. He went deeper into his room and got multiple paper scrolls, one standing on its own and the other in a bundle, and gave them to him. He thanked the man and left.
Arriving at Robb's quarters he found Ghost guarding the door, but it was no surprise. He knew his wolf was there. He … felt it.
He knocked on the door and shouted "Robb, it's me. I have today's correspondence with me."
"Aye, come in Jon!" His brother shouted.
He opened the door and went inside. He saw his brother sit up in bed, his chest bare if you didn't count the bandage wrapped around his shoulder. Jeyne was awkwardly standing next to the bed with Grey nearby. He looked at the direwolf and the beast seemed to scoff, as if saying "don't ask me, I don't know what is happening either".
He decided to ignore it for now. He nodded friendly to Jeyne and asked her if he could have some privacy with the King and she nodded and left.
"Word has come, Stark. Don't know what it says yet. I waited on you to take a look at it." Robb nodded silently as he gestured for the scrolls. He handed them over and Robb read them aloud. The first one was a simple message from Lord Rickard, it mentioned how multiple small sellsword companies had been seen docking at Duskendale or Maidenpool to join Tywin's force.
The latter town surprised them both. It was Riverlander territory and still held by Lord Mooton. The rest of the message explained how an earlier company had destroyed the town and the Mootons had been locked in their castle ever since. The Lannisters freely used the docks as they pleased, as long as their numbers were big enough. That was concerning although not world changing. Whatever they did, they remained control over the port of Duskendale with access to supply Harrenhall.
It was the second message that peeked both their interests. "News has come from the Vale. It has been sent on from Riverrun." Robb whispered. He started reading the unusually long message, divided over multiple scrolls, aloud.
To His Grace Robb Stark, son of the good Lord Eddard
Your messages have been well received and I thank you for notifying us about the situation with your cousin despite your familiar ties. I only have questions why your honorable father didn't notify me when I last saw him. Knowing full well what he was about to do to in King's Landing, he might have thought it prudent to wait.
Multiple Vale Lords have raised their questions to Lady Lysa. Instead of answering the rumors and the nobility of the Vale, she has locked up multiple nobles who questioned her. Even going as far as executing young Ser Michel Redfort.
The Vale is now in open civil war. Houses Royce, Redfort, Hunter, Waynwood, Templeton, Belmore and their vassals, most notably the Coldwaters, Tollets and Hardyngs, have sided against the Lady Lysa who is accused of adultery and placing her bastard in the seat of the Arryns.
We have rallied around Harrold Hardyng, Lord Jon Arryn's grand-nephew who will from now on take the name of Arryn after his grandmother and will be raised to the lordship of the Vale under the guidance of the above mentioned lords and lady.
Houses Grafton, Lynderly, Waxley, Breakstone and Royce of the Gates of the Moon have joined Lady Lysa. She has also managed to raise most of the direct Arryn levy along with the castles of the Giant's Lance. Most of the other houses have chosen to stay neutral for now.
I will notify you and yours of the upcoming battles in the Vale, as a way to uphold and possibly renew the friendship my House had with House Stark under your father.
We remember.
Yohn Royce, Lord of Runestone
The room fell silent after Robb had read the last words of Lord Royce's letter. He looked at his brother and finally said "It seems the Vale has finally joined in."
"It seems so, but we seem to have gotten an extra enemy against us in my aunt and some of the Vale" his brother mused in thought.
"Better an open enemy, then a false friend." he scoffed. "Lady Lysa has spurned her family and its words long enough. She has also betrayed her husband, let her pay the price."
"Aye, aye you're right of course. Still this is big news." the answer came.
"Lady Lysa seems heavily outnumbered. Most of the stronger Vale Lords have banded together against her. Many of the averaged and smaller sized lords seem to stay neutral. I don't think Lady Lysa has a chance." he continued, as he realized how many of the strongest lords had joined against Robert Arryn.
"There is always a chance, but they seem heavily outnumbered yes. We will need to closely monitor the situation, but everything seems good for Lord Royce. The only problem is that the Eyrie could hold out for years under siege." Robb said, only moderately happy at the news, clearly worrying about the length of that civil war.
"Aye, that's true, but you forget something brother." His brother looked questioningly towards him. "What did I forget?"
"Don't you remember the stories of our father from when winter came upon the Vale when he was only nine or ten years old? The Arryns had to leave the Eyrie due to the wind and the cold and all had to move down to the Gates of the Moon." He smiled knowingly.
Now his brother's face lit up a little. "Aye they'll have to move in a couple of months at the last. 'The Gates of the Moon' is still described as a formidable castle, but not unassailable. That might work!"
"Aye, so I wouldn't fret too much. Bronze Yohn is a very capable and experienced commander and so is Horton Redfort and the latter will never give up for revenge of his son."
"Good, that means we don't have to worry about the Vale for now. We have a war to fight here." Robb said. "At a later time, the Manderly fleet could support the Royces if necessary, but for now it's not ready yet."
He nodded, before asking "Any developments of the war here?"
"Not much, a rider has come from Harry detailing his position. He has raided another seven villages and a small town, he rests at the town now and will soon continue his path. The Greatjon has captured two gold mines in the Pendric Hills and is closing in on Nunn's Deep now as planned."
"Good, what are your plans here?" he asked.
"The moment I'm able to ride a little, we will depart here. I will go to Ashemark and heal there further, while the army continues. If they would have to wait on me, we would lose too much momentum."
"Who will lead?" he asked, afraid of the answer that would come.
"You will." Robb replied dryly, as his blue eyes looked deeply into his own grey ones.
"Robb, I can't … the Northmen might accept, but the Riverlanders will never serve under a bastard. The Freys might start a mutiny." he complained, fearful of being the cause the campaign would start failing.
"The Freys will fall in line or I will order lord Rickard to burn the Twins down to the ground." his brother replied angrily. "The Northmen will follow you, as will the Blackwoods and the Deddings, if I ask them too."
"Maybe, but the Freys control over a fifth of the three thousand men we have here. A lot of loyal Northerners are scattered around the Westerlands with Harry, Lord Galbart, the Greatjon or lady Maege. If the Freys don't listen to me, the whole force would be hamstrung."
"Not for long. I intend to give the Freys and one hundred and fifty of their number the garrison of the Crag. This will weaken Black Walder and Ser Ryman's grip on our force and give their house some perceived honor. Besides, by that point I expect the Greatjon to rejoin us with his men. They are loyal to a fault so don't expect any problems."
The presence of the boisterous giant soothed his fears somewhat and so he nodded. His brother's plan would work and he … he would need to learn how to lead an army.
This is all for this chapter!
The Crag falls and Jon comes into his character more and more. A lot of news comes in and the Vale finally kicks off into civil war.
Nothing was changed until now with the Baratheon storyline, as no butterflies had major effects there until now. This will change in the future when it makes sense. Robb only communicated through raven with Renly as he had no one to send here. He needs Ser Brynden and Jon and no other family is available.
Another important note: Theon is noticed along the Stoney Shore with a lot more men than in canon. This is a butterfly and will make more sense later on.
Thank you all for loyally following this story! I will likely update less from now until the end of January, as I am a student with exams. However, this story will NOT be abandoned, and I will be back! Next up we move north again.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Fannic
Reviews:
- George Christian810: Firstly, too good to be realistic? How so? He lost every skirmish until now! Secondly, they are of low quality and they do cost a ton. Tywin realizes that if he doesn't do this it's all over. So he empties a lot of his funds. Thirdly nowhere in GRRM's stories does it say anything about the Company of the Rose still existing after all these centuries. No one mentions cousins, grand-uncles, ... joining them either. So how would they replenish their numbers? If they still exist, they have mostly become very Essosi, unlike the Golden Company who still has many immigrants every generation. Including them would not make sense, GRRM didn't so why would I with these changes?
- Greatazuredragon: The Ironborn will see a much more organized north now. Still they have hit hard and won't be easy to dislodge. Thank you so much for your support!
- Supremus85: No, the yard had been cleared from left over stones and broken walls and the three towers were steadied. A stables and inn was also build. However, no new curtain wall was ever build, Halys Hornwood wanted to build a wooden palisade but that didn't come in time. Its 17 fallen towers where never rebuild either. The ironborn came from the northwest and nothing much was done there. However, the garrison was bigger and better provisioned and the towers sturdier and better defensible. That's why there were more casualties. Basically Ned did everything he could to prepare Moat Cailin to be rebuild, without doing it. All the pre-work, nothing of the actual big work.
- Jaimerey7000: Your numbers are insanely high and a complete deus ex machina. If the companies would still exist, they would never be more than 2000 men. The Golden Company is the biggest most disciplined company by far with 10k, I will not create two companies around that number. Nor would they have any more reasons to join Robb here than they did in canon. There they didn't so they won't here either unless something big changes or more time passes so they can make contact. However, they will never be the numbers you propose.
- Kingmanaena: Thank you so much!
- Angeluszuko-z: Yes, Ramsay was alive for Roose's plans. Neither Robb, nor Rickard or Alys will ever trust them. Domeric is doing his best to change the views towards his house though and is getting more and more respect from Robb, Jon, Harrion Karstark, the Smalljon, ... Maybe he can change something? That said, Ramsay will never be forgiven his crimes.
- Kuman: Yes, Halys will take an important role upon himself. He can also lose his only child left, if he doesn't act. This he will never risk so he will do anything to counter the ironborn.
- Fahri Uchiha: Thank you! A lot more of them, big and small, will come!
- Force Smuggler: No they won't! More on that next chapter.
- Wolf's Pizza: Thank you so much!
A simple reason, if they exist, might just be that they are fighting around Qohor or even further away and it would take them over a year to make contact. Even so, that doesn't chance here so they don't come in the picture (yet). They will also be smaller than the Golden Company, although similar if they would have survived all these centuries. I will keep the idea in mind and maybe if something else happens they could still come.
The Vale Lords have now joined! I was also looking at those pairings, but a few others too. I haven't decided yet so you will see in the future.
That's complicated. Lord Royce would believe so, but by the Lannisters for Cersei's betrayal. He will have convinced some lords of it, but as Lady Lysa isn't openly aligned with the Lannisters it doesn't matter for now. No one believes Lady Lysa and Littlefinger killed him.
Harrold will be the rallying figure for the Vale opposition. He will play a pivotal role, but will be very heavily influenced by Lady Waynwood, Lord Royce and Lord Redfort. It isn't sure he wins or survives this civil war. If he becomes king after that or not is very far off yet. He might just die in battle, it happened a lot in history.
Yes, Balon is still pissed. His two eldest sons were killed and Theon still taken.
The Ironborn numbers are actually very interesting and believable because their society is different. They have thralls working big parts of their economy, so they will be able to raise much more than 1% of their population to arms which is common in middle age societies. Maybe 4-5% which would mean they would need only a fifth of the population for the same amount of warriors. Also, the fact that the children of thralls are considered ironborn fit for their armies is a huge replenishment of warriors that other kingdoms don't have. They also steal hundreds/thousands of women a year for salt wives. Most probably come from the Stepstones, Essos or maybe Wildlings, but in secret many from poor isolated Westerosi villages too. The sons from these saltwives will replenish the population massively once more. Furthermore, realistically only half the fleet was destroyed and some sailors of the other half would have been saved (most made captive). So, a lot of the Iron Fleet would have actually survived. Dispersed, made captive or stranded as they were. The loss of life when Robert attacked Pyke and Lordsport would have been bigger. I imagine a lot of thrall children and ironborn 'immigrants' from other islands replenished the population on Pyke, while the rest suffered but it was reasonable. The wood would most likely be stolen from uninhabited areas in the North. No way they can check and patrol those areas on the western coast. No real houses along the Stony Shore or Sea Dragon Point are even managed, so they can't be powerful ...
Thank you so much for the support!
- Poly19hum: Thank you so much! That's what I was aiming for. Merry Christmas! I promise to read it, but it will likely take a while yet if that's fine?
- Hardy: Thank you so much! It made my day, knowing that my story was now on Reddit! :-)
- Guest1: No there will not be a Tywin POV. There isn't one in canon for good reasons (or we would know of the alliance with the Tyrells, the Red Wedding or the Westerling plot before it happened). Here it is much the same. Tywin will be trying things and they can't be spoiled.
- Guest2: Thank you!